Shakespearean Delights, Art & Music

The first weekend of Spring is turning out be quite the weekend. A troupe performing Shakespeare will be here, the Johnson Heritage Post opens for the season with a great community-wide art show with a talk by the director of the Tweed Museum of Art and, in Thunder Bay, the Definitely Superior Art Gallery hosts the multi-disciplinary art blowout: Urban Infill:Art in the Core 11. Here are the details.

First up is a Natural Medicines Workshop by master herbalist Gigi Stafne at North House Folk School on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Many of us feel sluggish by the end of the long winter, and Stafne will show participants how to wake up and celebrate the new season with natural medicines. The workshop will focus on natural ways to cleanse and support your body, from herbal detox tea to skin scrubs. Participants will take home several items to aid in continuing these helpful practices. There is a $5 materials fee. All invited.

On Friday night, the first art exhibit of the season opens at the Johnson Heritage Post Gallery. Entitled “Kindling Curiosity: Lighting the Creative Spark,” the exhibit, which is sponsored by the Spirit of the Wilderness Episcopal Church, features pieces from artists of every age. Established artists, emerging artists and students as well as community members who just wanted to make for the show, are all represented. There are paintings and fiber art, pottery and framed poetry, wood carvings and more in this eclectic show.

Here are a few examples:

The opening reception is from 5-7 p.m. on Friday night.

And a special perk is scheduled for the opening. Ken Bloom, the director of the Tweed Museum of Art in Duluth, will give a presentation at 6 p.m. entitled “Seeking the Spiritual Dimension in Art.” His presentation, which includes a number of images, will focus on how artists and art have evolved over time. All invited. Refreshments will be served.

This is Shakespeare Week and the Bard will make an appearance in Grand Marais this weekend at Voyageur Brewing Co. when the Minnesota SkyVault Theatre takes front/center stage at the brewery on Friday and Saturday nights.

This young theater troupe (the actors are from 12 to 20) won a number of awards at the Minnesota Association of Community Theaters recently, and they’ll be playing music, performing skits as well as a short play, and inviting the audience to join them on stage for silliness and fun. The performances are at 7 p.m. at the Brewery on Friday and Saturday nights, with a youth workshop set for 2:45 p.m. on Saturday. Local actors will join the group as well, so look for lots of Shakespearean fun and laughter this weekend. They will be on WTIP’s The Roadhouse on Friday night. The Roadhouse airs from 5-7 p.m.

Also, if you’ve wanted to learn how to paint, the North Shore Winery will hold a Paint & Sip event at the winery with artist Chriscell Bedard. No experience is necessary.

 

A canvas, easel, brushes, paints and an apron will be provided. The event will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Cost is $50. To register, call 218 481-9280 or email lutsennorthshorewinery@gmail.com.

And in Thunder Bay, this is the weekend for Definitely Superior Art Gallery‘s fantastic public art event, Urban Infill: Art in the Core. The Waterfront District is transformed into a giant art event with 400 local artists setting up in temporary art galleries and store windows to exhibit their work and/or perform. Local art galleries will be open as well, and there will be a number of exhibits at the opening at DefSup on Saturday night as well.

The exhibits at DefSup include the annual Members Show, a selection of contemporary paintings from the Bob Chaudhuri Collection, and an installation by Diane Landry.

The opening reception at the gallery starts at 7 p.m. Urban Infill participants can pick up a map there and then follow the guides to a rather extraordinary art experience in the district.

Also in Thunder Bay, the Lakehead University Juried Art Exhibition has opened at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery with a number of works by 4th year art students.

The exhibit continues through April 2.

Upcoming

 Photographer Ryan Tischer will open a show at Tettegouche State Park April 4 with the opening reception from 7-8:30 p.m. on Friday, April 7.

Pastel artist Lisa Stauffer will teach a class entitled “Still Life in Pastel” at the Grand Marais Art Colony April 8-9.

In the class, students will paint still life models indoors and learn how these lessons apply to all subject matter. Class time will include demonstrations, personal instruction, and group critique. For more info, see www.grandmaraisartcolony.org.

WTIP Community Radio and Bluefin Bay Resort will hold the 7th Annual Fingerstyle Masters Weekend April 21-22. For this year’s event, local musician Gordon Thorne welcomes Nashville fingerstyle guitarist Richard Smith and Twin Cities fiddler Tom Schaefer. The weekend features performances both Friday and Saturday night, as well as guitar and fiddle workshops during the day Saturday.
Pre-registration for the workshops is requested by contacting Gordon at 218-353-7308 or oman4@live.com.

Pianist Andreas Klein will play a solo piano concert, “Unleashing Musical Architecture” at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church at 7:30 p.m. April 22. The concert will feature the work of  Mozart, Schumann, Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, and Argentinian composer Alberto Ginastera. The concert is sponsored by the North Shore Music Association.

Window Shopping

 

 

 

 In Other Art News

 WDSE’s The Playlist has crafted a fascinating video of kiln-formed glass artist Michael Tonder. Tonder’s studio is Blue Sky Glassworks and is located in rural Two Harbors. Check it out.

 

Here’s the music for the week:

Thursday, March 23:

• John Gruber, Mogul’s Grille, 4 p.m.
• Pete K, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, March 24:

• Timmy Haus, Mogul’s Grille, 4 p.m.
• Pushing Chain, Voyageur Brewing, 4 p.m.
• Mark Darling, Gunflint Lodge, 5:30 p.m.
• Portage, Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Mix and Match, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 25:

• Briand Morrison, North Shore Winery, 3 p.m.
• Shane Martin, Papa Charlie’s, 3:15 p.m.
• Jim & Michelle Miller, Voyageur Brewing, 4 p.m.
• SplinterTones, Grandma Ray’s, 4 p.m.
• Mark Darling, Gunflint Lodge, 5:30 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Dat Dere Jazz, Cascade Lodge Pub, 7 p.m.
• Cornmeal and Kind Country, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 26:

• Briand Morrison, Scandinavian Jazz Brunch, 10 a.m. to noon
• Pushing Chain, Papa Charlie’s, 3:30 p.m.
• Scott Fraser, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.

Monday, March 27:

• Dusty Heart, Monday Night Songwriter’s Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.
• Pete K, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, March 28:

• Fred Anderson, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Open Mic with Boyd Blomberg, Papa Charlie’s, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, March 29:

• Phil Heywood, Wednesday Night Songwriter Series, 8 p.m.

 

Here is a selection of photographs we found this week. Let’s start with wildlife.

 

 

 

A demanding seagull, called Steven Seagull, has returned to the Super 8 Motel in Duluth to beg for doughnut handouts. The staff reports that a seagull has turned up for the last 15 years, tapping on the door and squawking to be fed a few times a day.
Is it the same bird each year? It’s not out of the realm of possibility, as ring-billed gulls have lived as long as 23 years. Or perhaps the original Steven shared its knowledge with other gulls. The gull usually leaves in mid-November and returns in mid-March each year. .

Here’s a photo of the results of the last ice storm.

 

And here are two portraits of our photographers at work.

 

Have a good weekend, everyone! Enjoy!

P.S. I hope you enjoy getting this blog every week. It takes a lot of time and effort, but, truth be told, I really enjoy doing it. On the other hand, donations would be good. If you’d like to donate to NorthShore ArtScene to “keep it on the air,” click on the button below. And thanks!