Meteorological Spring

Greetings from the North Shore, where, technically, we entered “meteorological spring” on March 1. It felt like that a little in northern Minnesota this week, but not in Maine.

Meanwhile, we all know that more often than not, March comes in like a lamb and goes out like a lion, so we shall see. Meanwhile, longer days have been fun. And art-making continues.

First up is the Art Counter Project at Joy and Company, a weekly opportunity to make art at the shop.

This week, make an accordion book with friends and neighbors. All Supplies provided. Free and open to all.

Also onThursday, the annual E.A.T.S fundraising event will be held at ISD 166 from 5-7 pm.

Each year in early March, the Cook County Schools Education Foundation hosts E.A.T.S., an event created around community and local flavors. To date, over $200,000 has been granted directly to ISD 166 teachers and students since it got started.

The public is invited to experience the ultimate culinary celebration during this festive evening as the school hallway transforms into a vibrant multi-dining extravaganza! Historically, more than 15 local eateries, along with the High School’s Culinary Arts students, are on hand, offering samples of their best dishes.
Participants can also participate in the popular silent auction of quality items generously donated by local businesses and individuals. This past year, there were over 100 high-quality items, from gift certificates to locally crafted art, and other unique offerings.
The event also features live performances from the ISD 166 Choir/Band and other talented local musicians.
And 100 percent of the proceeds from entry tickets and the silent auction go directly to supporting educators and students within the school by funding grants that offer unique experiences for students through innovative instruction and co-curricular programs that go beyond funding available from ISD 166 or other sources.

On Friday, North House Folk School will host the Carver’s Conference, a day-long event with demonstrations, speakers, and more as part of Wood Week at the school.

Here is the schedule:

9 am: Featured Demonstration: Japanese Style Wood Turning with Jarrod Dahl.

10:30 am:   Featured Demonstration: Guitar Building with Drew Heinonen.

Other events during the Carver’s Conference include:

• Afternoon Sharpening Clinics, 2-4 pm
• Dinner on a Stick, 6 pm
• Featured Presentation: Reflections on a Life of Traditional Work with John Beltman, 7 pm.

All events are free and open to all.

Also on Friday, the Grand Marais Public Library will screen the film “Ace in the Hole” as part of its Friday Night Reels series. 

In the film, a cave collapse in New Mexico traps a man, and all eyes turn toward the tragedy, including those of Charles “Chuck” Tatum (Kirk Douglas), a washed-up newspaper reporter who sees the incident as a ticket back to his former days at the top of the journalism heap.

Here is the trailer:

The film is free and starts at 6 pm.

Also on Friday, an opening reception for painter Eric Klepinger will be held in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park at 7 pm. His exhibit will be on display throughout March.

Also on Friday, Alison Aune and Kirsten Aune will open an exhibit at the  Prøve Collective in Duluth. The title of the show is “Colors from the North.”

The exhibit features paintings, textiles and other works. It is open through April 25.

The Grand Marais Public Library will host a workshop on making beaded  bookmarks on March 11.

 Chris Determan will teach the class, which starts at 6 pm.

Supplies will be provided, and participants are encouraged to design a bookmark that reflects their own style. All skill levels are welcome. Adult supervision will be required for younger attendees as sharp tools will be used.

Free and open to all.

Exhibits:

The Winter Plein Air exhibit opened at the Johnson Heritage Post on Friday. The exhibit features plein air paintings by members of the Outdoor Painters of Minnesota, who spent one week at YMCA Camp Menogyn at West Bearskin painting in all kinds of weather. In all, 25 artists participated in the painting retreat. Here are a few examples of what you will see.

The exhibit continues through March 22. The Heritage Post is open from 10 am to 4 pm Thursday through Saturday, and from 1-4 pm Sunday. Free and open to all.

At the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, an exhibit featuring the work of Patricia Deadman is on view through April 6.

The Red Feather is a selection of works from a new and significant donation to the gallery’s collection by the late artist and curator Patricia Deadman (b. 1963 – d. 2024). Patricia loved taking photographs and making them her own. She was constantly documenting the world around her, travelling widely across Canada, Europe and Mexico, using her camera lens to shift, destabilize, and reveal people as entities of energy and light. Experimental and prescient of an explosion of photo editing software — and long before TikTok collage trends – she manipulated printed photographs by hand with graphite, wax, and other materials. In a never-before-seen series of 49 miniature images inspired by textures and colours of ceremonial regalia, including beads, feathers, skirts, headdresses, shawls, and ribbons worn by powwow dancers, Deadman created her own genre of event photography.

 Upcoming:

Finding the Funny, a free writing workshop by Gina Ramsey, will be held at Studio 17 on March 14.

Gina Ramsey knows a funny story when she sees one… or when it smacks her world and leaves her both groaning and taking down notes for a future funny tale. Gina has published three anthologies under her “Burnt Gloveboxes”® series – and yes, the glovebox started on fire – highlighting how when things go bad, they often go funny, too. She will talk about humor and more at this workshop.

The class will be held at Studio 17 starting at  10:30 am. Free. To find out more, click here.

,The 2026 Seconds Pottery Sale “Who Needs Perfect?” , a fundraiser for Care Partners, will be held from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday, March 21, at the Hub.

 

The Cook County Potters have been collecting their pots for this sale all year. It’s a great way to get wonderful pots and help out others at the same time. Look for mugs and bowls, plates,  pitchers, and more. The sale is by donation only. All proceeds will be donated to Care Partners. The public is invited.

Kudos:

 Emma Tweten is the new administrative coordinator at the Grand Marais Art Colony. She starts next week.

Emma will take over student registration and communication tasks, as well as a host of other administrative responsibilities. She has lived in Grand Marais for four years and is a musician and songwriter who you can find playing at many of the venues in the county. She is a welcome addition to the art team.

Opportunities:

Applications are now open for this fall’s Artisan Development Program at North House Folk School.

The Artisan Development Program (ADP) nurtures the growth of the next generation of traditional craft artisans. The program offers professional development, including mentorship, education practice, studio space, and time for artisans committed to pursuing craft education as a professional pathway. Resident Artisans in the program build in-depth experience in their craft, while enhancing the vitality of North House Folk School as craft ambassadors for the school. Participants cultivate meaningful relationships, develop craft and teaching skills for future leadership, and forge connections with regional, national, and international institutions and artisans.

The 10th cohort of the Artisan Development Program begins Sept. 8. The application period is open now through Monday, March 30, at noon. For more info and to apply, click here.

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council has opened a new round of  Emergency Relief Fund Program grants.

The grant provides $500 or $1,000 to individual artists who have a critical need relating to personal healthcare, housing, equipment, or legal emergencies since January 1, 2025. This program is intended to serve the Arrowhead community by addressing an individual artist’s recent and substantially disruptive emergency or disaster. The program application is available beginning March 22, 2026, with a deadline of May 3, 2026, at 11:59 pm. This program is unique in that it is non-competitive, meaning that all results will be determined by a random numerical drawing rather than by a community review panel.

To find out more, click here.

Artists At Work:

 Online findings:

 Making It Up North: Catherine Meier

Physical Theatre: The Statement 

Sparky Stensaas in Northwest Minnesota

Online Music:

 Playlist courtesy of Annie Possis

 Live Music:

Here are photos we found this week:

Wildlife:

 

Potpourri:

Landscapes, Icescapes & Skyscapes:

 

 

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Note: Supporting NorthShore ArtScene is a great way to keep it coming to your inbox every week. We so appreciate your contributions!

We are grateful for the help and support from Jeremy Lopez for his Live Music schedule and tech support, and Yvonne Mills for her great proofreading. Thank you, both! And to Visit Cook County for its outstanding Events Calendar.