Ricing season has begun. Photo by Andrew Shay.
Greetings from Grand Marais, where the fall season is well underway. The leaves are beginning to turn, the wild rice harvest is going strong, and final harvests are taking place in gardens all over the county. It’s the time of the year for thankfulness and celebration, that’s for sure. Upcoming, of course, is the spectacular Art Along the Lake Fall Studio Tour, which begins Sept. 26th.
Meanwhile, there are lots of things happening in the county this weekend and, of course, art-making continues.
First up is Art Night at Joy and Company, where the public is invited to create a quick art project with a selection of art supplies in the shop. Each week’s theme is different.
Art Night is from 3:30-5 pm on Thursdays at Joy and Company.
The event is held from 3:30 to 5 pm at the shop and is free, with a suggested $5 donation.
Also on Thursday, the Grand Marais Plein Air Competition will hold a Quick Paint at Artist Point starting at 3:30 pm. This is always a fun event when the plein air painters set up somewhere on the Point and have one hour to complete a painting.
Plein air painter David Gilsvik is painting a canvas on the rocks at Artist Point during a Quick Paint competition several years ago. (File photo.)
Plein air painter Bernie Quick, left, one of the founders of the Grand Marais Art Colony, and a student, discuss a painting of the harbor in Grand Marais in 1948. Photograph courtesy of the Cook County Historical Society.
The public is invited to watch, and a spontaneous exhibit of the completed paintings follows. Open to all.
Also on Thursday, the Grand Marais Farmer’s Market will be held in the parking lot of the Community Center from 4:30-6 pm.
Get more summer at the Grand Marais Farmer’s Market on Thursday. Photo by Kristin Elizabeth.
On Friday, the Grand Marais Plein Air Competition exhibit opens at the Johnson Heritage Post with a reception from 5-7 pm.
The Grand Marais Plein Air exhibit opens at the Heritage Post on Friday.
This exhibit is a favorite at the Heritage Post with more than 250 paintings of the landscapes, waterscapes, skyscapes, and peoplescapes of Cook County. It continues through October 5.
Also on Friday, Films on Fridays, a free event screening old-time films at the Cook County Community Center, will be held.
The film this week is “The Men Who Tread on the Tiger’s Tail” (1945, bw) written and directed by Akira Kurosawa. A Japanese drama based on the story of six Samurai committed to protecting one of their clan’s military commanders while traveling through enemy territory.
(I couldn’t find a trailer, but here’s a review.)
The film screening starts at 6 pm. Open to all.
Saturday opens with the Cook County Market, which is held in the parking lot of the Hub from 10 am to 2 pm.
Chain saw sculptures are on view at the Cook County Market.
The market features everything from paintings, pottery, hand-dyed scarves, fused glass, bakery goods, basketry, and more. The public is invited.
The Gunflint Trail Historical Society will hold an event honoring artist James Ellis at the Schaap Community Center from 4-5 pm on Saturday.
The Gunflint Trail Historical Society will welcome artist-in-residence James Ellis.
Ellis is a realist oil painter whose work captures the wild and changing beauty of Northern Minnesota and explores the dramatic landscapes of the North Shore. He describes his paintings as “more than just representations of a place, they are an invitation to connect with its very soul.” James recently appeared on Almanac North (PBS North) in an interview in June 2025 and Duluth’s WDIO “The Lift” in August 2025.
His work has been featured in galleries and collections from Grand Marais and the Iron Range, in various Minnesota State Parks, and as far away as Fairbanks, Alaska. He works out of his studio, Up North Studio (Duluth), and can be found online at jamesellisfineart.com
The public is invited. The artist will have a selection of works for sale.
Also on Saturday, Drury Lane Books will host an Author Panel Talk with author and painter Carl Gawboy and editor Rain Newcomb, moderated by local author and historian Staci Lola Drouillard.
Fur Trade Nation, an author talk panel will be held at Studio 21 on Saturday at 6 pm. Carl Gawboy photo by Ivy Vaino.
In his book, “Fur Trade Nation,” Gawboy offers a fresh perspective on the Fur Trade era, placing Ojibwe technology, kinship systems, cultural paradigms, and women at the heart of this remarkable era, where they have always belonged.
He taught college courses covering the fur trade era for thirty years at the College of St. Scholastica and UMD. Carl collaborated extensively with the Grand Portage National Monument and painted the mural for their visitors’ center. A nationally recognized artist, Carl began working on Fur Trade Nation in 2020. He thought it would only take him a few months. The book process and the pandemic lasted longer than expected.
Newcomb teaches English at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Cloquet. Editing Fur Trade Nation was Rain’s sabbatical project. Prior to academia, Rain worked in publishing for more than a decade.
Drouillard is a descendant of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Anishinaabe and lives and works in her hometown of Grand Marais. Her first book, “Walking the Old Road: A People’s History of Chippewa City and the Grand Marais Anishinaabe (Minnesota, 2019),” won the Hamlin Garland Prize in Popular History and the Northeast Minnesota Book Award for nonfiction and was a finalist for a Minnesota Book Award.
A book-signing will follow. The public is invited.
Also on Saturday night, the Ancia Saxophone Quartet will be in concert at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts at 7 pm. The concert is sponsored by the North Shore Music Association.
In its press release, the North Shore Music Association writes: “Praised for their “energy, precision, and huge dynamic range” (Eugene Rousseau), the Ancia Saxophone Quartet is one of the most dynamic and innovative chamber ensembles on today’s music scene. With over 30 years of performances across North America, Europe, and Asia, Ancia has earned a reputation for pushing the boundaries of saxophone repertoire through compelling interpretations and bold commissioning projects.
“Chamber Music America calls Ancia an ensemble that “approaches the commissioning and performing of new works as a special mission.” The group has premiered works by some of today’s most influential composers, including Libby Larsen, Jennifer Higdon, and Lei Liang. Their latest album, Confluence (Albany Records, 2023), features an environmentally-themed work by Larsen that premiered at the World Saxophone Congress in Strasbourg, France, and was spotlighted on NPR’s Performance Today.
“Based in Minneapolis, Ancia’s adventurous programming bridges centuries and genres—from the sacred mysticism of Hildegard von Bingen to the jazz brilliance of Duke Ellington. Their performances are celebrated not only for technical mastery but also for their emotional depth and audience engagement.’
Tickets for this concert are on a sliding scale. To find out more, click here.
On Sunday, international journalists with the World Press Institute will begin a visit to Cook County. They will hold a panel discussion at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on Sept. 16.
International journalists with the World Press Institute will be in Cook County Sept. 14-18, with a presentation at the ACA Sept. 16 and a community potluck at the First Congregational Chuch on Sept. 17.
In their 4-day stay, the journalists will learn about the community’s people, culture, and industries.
Cook County Higher Education will host a public discussion panel at 7 pm on Sept. 16 at the ACA and a community potluck at the First Congregational Church at 6:30 pm on Sept. 17, giving residents the chance to connect with and hear directly from the journalists. These events are a unique opportunity to share local stories and experiences while fostering global connections. For more info, click here.
Exhibits:
Hazel Belvo opened an exhibit, “Walking the Croftville Road” at Studio 21.
Hazel Belvo opened a stunning new exhibit at Studio 21 on Friday. The exhibit, entitled “Walking the Croftville Road,” features works inspired by her years of daily walks on the picturesque road that hugs the shore of Lake Superior.
Each piece portrays one month in the annual calendar, and the colors are inspired by the book, “The Medicine Wheel,” by Sunbear from Turtle Mountain Ojibwe. The medicine wheel, also known as a sacred hoop, is a symbol of healing and health that represents the connection between the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual realities.
An American artist, art educator, and feminist leader, Belvo has been an exhibiting painter for more than 60 years, showing her work nationally and internationally.
This is an extraordinary exhibit, “lush … inspiring,” as one viewer commented, and is not to be missed. It continues through Oct. 25.
Also at Studio 21 this month is an exhibit of works by Arrowhead Artist, Cecilia Rolando.
Cecilia Rolando is the Arrowhead Artist of the month.
Rolando is an illustrator, photographer, and painter. Working in an intuitive style, the artist works and creates in a wide variety of artistic styles, from abstraction to portraiture to landscapes and botanicals. The exhibit continues through the end of September.
Studio 21 is open from 10 am to 5 pm Thursday through Saturday. Free.
An exhibit of watercolors by Chris Dillon continues in the Great Hall of Tettegouche State Park.
Touched by Water, watercolor, by Chris Dillon. It is one of the pieces on view at Tettegouche.
Adam Malmanger is exhibiting at the Historic Train Depot in Two Harbors.
Historic Train Depot Museum in downtown Two Harbors. Photo by Adam Malmanger.
The photographer has 13 pieces in the show. The exhibit will be up through October.
Painters Adam McCauley and Cody Paulson are exhibiting works at the Duluth Folk School.
Byzantium, acrylic, by Cody Paulson, is one of the works on view at the Duluth Folk School.
The exhibit continues through the end of the month.
This is the last weekend to see a film installation at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.
The Moth is on view at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery through Sept. 14.
The Gallery presents “The Moth” as a film installation, with key film locations in Thunder Bay, and a multitude of local artists in the cast and crew, including lead actor Sarah McPherson, muralist Shelby Gagnon, artist Leanna Marshall, artist Shayne Ehman, and music artist Sara Kae. The film premiered this year as a part of the ImagineNATIVE Film Festival in Toronto, one of the most important and relevant film festivals in North America. Learn more about it here.
Upcoming:
The Art Along the Lake Fall Studio Tour is Sept. 26-Oct. 5 this year, featuring more than 40 artists working in the county.
The Fall Studio Tour is a 10-day self-guided tour along Minnesota’s North Shore during peak fall colors.
The Art Along the Lake Fall Studio Tour is Sept. 26-Oct. 5 this year.
Art Along the Lake is a 10-day self-guided tour along Minnesota’s North Shore during peak fall colors.
Neil Sherman works on a painting.
From Tofte to Grand Portage to the Gunflint Trail, this event offers the unique opportunity to meet local artists in their home studios and gain insights into their creative processes.
Passing By, bead painting, by Jo Wood.
Whether you’re revisiting a favorite gallery or seeing an artist for the first time, there’s always something new to discover and beautiful scenery to enjoy along the way. Many locations showcase guest artists’ work, and all venues are open daily from 10 am to 5 pm.
Check out all the artwork here.
Artists at Work:
Grace Lake, oil, by Franklin Carmichael.
Alert, acrylic, Jeff Boutin, currently has work at Siiviis Gallery in Duluth,.
Doing Their Thing, acrylic on canvas, by Christi Belcourt.
Online Fndings:
Matriarchs of Grand Marais:
Portraits honor women who shaped our community
For over six months now, Grand Marais painter Jan Attridge has been painting portraits of women who have impacted Grand Marais and her life. “The portraits are a way for me to give back,” Attridge said.
WTIP‘s Chuck Olsen visited her recently to talk about the project. Click here to listen/read and see the nine Matriarchs of Grand Marais.
Jan Attridge with Anna Hamilton. She painted Anna and her sister, Sarah, together as two of the Matriarchs of Grand Marais. The sisters founded Hamilton Habitat, Inc., building affordable homes for members of the community. Photo by Chuck Olsen. Click here to learn more.
Sparky Stensaas Kayaks the Sax-Zim Bog
Online Music:
Live Music:
Thursday, September 11:
- Bump Blomberg, Gunflint Tavern Rooftop, 5:30-8 pm
- Pete Kavanaugh, Cascade Lodge Restaurant & Pub, 6-8 pm
- Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6:30-8:30 pm
- Silent Disco Dance Party!, Caribou Highlands Courtyard, 7-10 pm
Friday, September 12:
- Mysterious Ways, Birch Terrace Supper Club & Lounge, 5-8 pm
- Bump Blomberg, Moguls Grille and Tap Room, 7-9 pm
- Jim & John, Bluefin Grille, 8-10 pm
- Landscapes Band MN, Gunflint Tavern Rooftop, 8-11 pm
- Slapdash Bluegrass, Up Yonder, 9-11:59 pm
Saturday, September 13:
- Britt Malec & Moonbeam Singers, Cook County Market at the Hub, 10-2 pm
- Pat Eliasen, Birch Terrace Supper Club & Lounge, 5-7 pm
- The Land Scapes, Gunflint Tavern Rooftop, 5-8 pm
- Emma Tweten, Cascade Lodge Restaurant & Pub, 6-8 pm
- Ancia Saxophone Quartet, Arrowhead Center for the Arts, 7 pm
- Bump Blomberg, Moguls Grille and Tap Room, 7-9 pm
- DJ Unity, Gunflint Tavern Rooftop, 9-11:55 pm
- Slapdash Bluegrass, Up Yonder, 9-11:59 pm
Sunday, September 14:
- Brilliant Colors Jazz Trio, North Shore Winery, 3:30-5:30 pm
- Timmy Haus, Moguls Grille and Tap Room, 5-7 pm
- Scott Schuler (Campfire Guitar Pull), Caribou Highlands Lodge Courtyard, 7 pm
Monday, September 15:
- Pete Kavanaugh, Gunflint Tavern Rooftop, 7-10 pm
- Shane Martin, Bluefin Grille, 8-10 pm
Tuesday, September 16:
- Eric Frost, North Shore Winery, 5-7 pm
- Briand Morrison, Gunflint Tavern Rooftop, 5-8 pm
- Open Stage hosted by Pete K, Up Yonder, 6-8 pm
- Community Singing, Log Cabin at the Grand Marais Community Center, 7 pm
- Joe Paulik, Gunflint Tavern Rooftop, 5-8 pm
- Anja & Robin, Bluefin Grille, 8-10 pm
Thursday, September 18:
- Bump Blomberg, Gunflint Tavern Rooftop, 4-7 pm
- John Gruber or SonofMel, Cascade Lodge Restaurant & Pub, 6-8 pm
- Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6:30-8:30 pm
- North Shore Swing Band, Up Yonder, 7-9 pm
- Silent Disco Dance Party, Caribou Highlands Courtyard, 7-10 pm
Friday, September 19:
- Steve Blexrud, Gunflint Tavern Rooftop, 3-6 pm
- Southpaws with Caitlin Nicol-Thomas, Birch Terrace Supper Club & Lounge, 3:30-7 pm
- Billy Johnson, Moguls Grille and Tap Room, 7-9 pm
- Jeffrey Foucault and Kris Delmhorst, North House Folk School, 7 pm
- Emma Tweten, Bluefin Grille, 8-10 pm
- Brother’s Burn Mountain, Gunflint Tavern Rooftop, 8-11 pm
Saturday, September 20:
- Frozen Britches (Tom VanCleve & Erik Hahn), Cook County Market at the Hub, 10-2 pm
- Steve Blexrud, Gunflint Tavern Rooftop, 3-6 pm
- Jim Miller, Cascade Lodge Restaurant & Pub, 6-8 pm
- Pete Kavanaugh, Moguls Grille and Tap Room, 7-9 pm
- Billy Johnson, Gunflint Tavern Rooftop, 7-10 pm
Sunday, September 21:
- Billy Johnson, North Shore Winery, 3:30-6 pm
- Timmy Haus, Moguls Grille and Tap Room, 5-7 pm
- Scott Schuler (Campfire Guitar Pull), Caribou Highlands Lodge Courtyard, 7 pm
Photographs:
Short but sweet photo selections this week:
Wildlife:
Black phase Eastern Grey Squirrel by David Johnson.
Who owns the boat? Cormorant or seagull? by Layne Kennedy.
Walleye in the Mississippi? Read all about it in the latest Minnesota Conservation Volunteer Magazine. Photo by Layne Kennedy.
Otter youngsters take a drink by Paul Sundberg.
A family outing by Paul Sundberg.
The Grackle, Lord of Color by Dennis Chick.
A September morning in the forest by Thomas Spence.
Potpourri:
Far too much time was spent trying to photograph this cone, so I gave up, started eating it, and called it good. Photo by Superior Creamery.
A man and his pig, Minnesota State Fair by Lee Ross.
Landscapes, Skyscapes, Waterscapes:
Harvest Moon by David Johnson.
Northern Lights and clouds on Labor Day by Ken Harmon.
Grand Marais Rainbow by Paul Sundberg.
A celebration sunset by Alan Netland.
Last night by John Bragstad.
Sunrise: sunset, Afjordur, Iceland by Layne Kennedy.
Last Night from Kakabeka Falls by Chris Artist.
Fall flow by Sandra Updyke.
Dreaming of Adventure Again by Bryan Hansel.
Remembering my mom, by Travis Novitsky.
Sycamore Canyon, Ariz. by Sparky Stensaas.
An optimal set of reflections and a curious otter by Paul Sundberg.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
PS: Here’s a big thank you to all the people who are and have been contributing to NorthShore Artscene with their generous donations. Thank you so much! It really helps us keep bringing you this information every week.
If you’d like to join this group, just click on the icon below. And thank you!!
And here’s a big shout-out to Jeremy Lopez (Live Music schedule, technical advice) and Yvonne Mills (proofreading) for their strong support. Thank you. And Thank You, Visit Cook County, for a great Events Calendar, from which we borrow extensively.
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