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Fish Pic Weekend, Art Talks and Theater

mila horak

The second section of Mila Horak’s Community Paint Project has been installed on the wall of Birch Bark Books & Gifts. 

It’s Fisherman’s Picnic weekend!

The height of the summer season has arrived and, with it, the 88th annual Fisherman’s Picnic, which will be held Aug. 1-5 this year.

Fisherman's Picnic is put on by the Grand Marais Lion's Club.

Fisherman’s Picnic is put on by the Grand Marais Lion’s Club.

It’s a time for family get-togethers, class reunions, picnics, fishburgers and lots of games, contests and activities for every age.

A birds-eye view of Harbor Park during Fisherman's Picnic.

A birds-eye view of Harbor Park during Fisherman’s Picnic.

The games and contests have been competitive for the last 88 years and there’s no doubt they’ll be that way this year. Here’s a photo from the archives of the Cook County Historical Society, taken in at the Fisherman’s Picnic in 1948.

Herring contest at Fisherman's Picnic in 1948. Photo courtesy of the Cook County Historical Society.

Herring contest at Fisherman’s Picnic in 1948. Photo courtesy of the Cook County Historical Society.

And here’s a photo taken in 2014.

Autumn Pechan takes on the cross cut saw at Fisherman's Picnic in 2014. Photo by Judy Griesedieck.

Autumn Pechan takes on the cross cut saw at Fisherman’s Picnic in 2014. Photo by Judy Griesedieck.

The weekend also includes the Big Fish Contest, blacksmithing demonstrations, the Friends of the Library Used Book Sale, the Pincushion Mountain Walk-Run, softball and tennis tournaments and lots of live music  (see the Music Schedule, below.), to mention afew.  In short, Fisherman’s Picnic has something for everyone. For the complete schedule of events, click here.

There are lots of other things to do and see this weekend, too.

On Thursday, the Arrowhead Sketchers will meet again to sketch, paint or take photographs, as they have been doing all summer.

Plein air painter Neil Sherman sets to work during the Arrowhead Sketchers event last Thursday from the roof-top deck at Voyageurs Brewing Co.

Plein air painter Neil Sherman sets to work during the Arrowhead Sketchers event last Thursday from the roof-top deck at Voyageurs Brewing Co.

This week, the Arrowhead Sketchers will meet at the home of JD and Connie Lehr, 4676 Cascade Beach Rd. from 5-7 p.m..  The Lehr home offers incredible views of the North Shore spanning from Tofte to Grand Marais plus unique architectural opportunities.  Free and open to all.

The Grand Marais Playhouse Summer Theater Festival continues this weekend with performances at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts. The comedy, “The Game’s Afoot,” will be performed at 7 p.m. Thursday and Saturday.

Show time! Getting ready for a performance of "The Game's Afoot." Great reviews for both shows!

Show time! Getting ready for a performance of “The Game’s Afoot.” Great reviews for both shows!

The musical, “The Pajama Game” will be performed at 7 p.m Friday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The shows continue through next weekend. Tickets are available at the door.

On Friday, all kinds of activities will be going on in Grand Marais at Fish Pic, including lots of live music in Harbor Park. The Duluth band, the Black River Revue is playing at the Gun Flint Tavern this weekend, too, and will be talk about their music and play a few songs on WTIP’s “The Roadhouse.

The Black River Revue will be in town this weekend.

The Black River Revue will be in town this weekend.

The Roadhouse airs from 5-7 p.m.

Saturday will be very busy downtown, but there are lots of other activities as well.

The Library Friends Used Book Sale is at the Cook County Community Center starting at 8 a.m.

At North House Folk School, basket weaver April Stone be will be giving basketmaking demos from Thursday through Sunday and will be teaching a mini-class rom 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday. For more info, call North House at 387-9762.

April Stone will give a basket wearing demonstration at North House Folk School from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

April Stone will give basket wearing demonstrations at North House Folk School on Thursday through Sunday.

Lots is happening at the Grand Marais Art Colony, too. At noon on Saturday, artist Karina Cutler-Lake will give an Artist Talk at noon entitled “Elements and Properties of Design.” And at 1 p.m. Anna Hess will give a glass painting demo at the Art Colony.

And Last Chance Gallery in Lutsen will hold a bronze pour at 4 p.m. on Saturday. The event is open to the public.

At 5:30 p.m. in Grand Marais,  potter Mark Lusardi will be hosting a raku firing experience at the Grand Marais Art Colony.

Come see and participate in a raku firing at the Grand Marais Art Colony at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, hosted by Mark Lusardi of the Continental Clay Co. in Minneapolis.

Come see and participate in a raku firing at the Grand Marais Art Colony at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, hosted by Mark Lusardi of the Continental Clay Co. in Minneapolis.

A number of artists and artisans in Hovland will set up in the parking lot of the Chicago Bay Marketplace in Hovland on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The tents will be up with artists showing their work at the Chicago Bay Marketplace on Saturday.

The tents will be up with artists showing their work at the Chicago Bay Marketplace on Saturday.

Artwork will include photography, ceramics, glass chimes and jewelry, goat milk soaps, knit goods and yarns. All invited.

And, if you want to get away for a bit and enjoy the Northwoods, remember,  the Biggest Blueberry Contest continues on the Gunflint Trail.

Photo by Ada Igoe.

Photo by Ada Igoe.

The final round of the contest ends on Saturday, Aug. 12, which means there is still plenty of time to participate in the contest.  The contest is open to the public and all ages. There are weigh stations at Bearskin Lodge, Boundary Country Trekking, Nor’Wester Lodge, Way of the Wilderness, Golden Eagle Lodge, Hungry Jack Outfitters, Rockwood Lodge, Tuscarora Lodge, Gunflint Lodge and Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center, all of which are along the Gunflint Trail. And there are still plenty of berries out there.

The Fisherman’s Picnic Parade, the best parade of the year in Grand Marais, will start at 1 p.m. on Sunday.  All are invited to join in the fun, catch some candy and enjoy the excitement of a good parade. The Thunder Bay bagpipers will perform in Harbor Park afterwards.

On Monday, Mary Ann Ashcroft will give the Full Moon Reading at Drury Lane Books at 7:30 p.m. Each full moon, the bookstore invites the public to gather outside around the fire to hear local writers read their own work or the work of others. Ashcroft was an English professor for many years and is now vicar of Spirit of the Wilderness Episcopal Church.  She has published a number of books, including “Dogspell: The Gospel According to Dog.” The event is free and open to the public.

And finally, sculptor Greg Mueller, who is working at Last Chance Gallery this summer, will give an Artist Talk at the Johnson Heritage Post at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. The talk is entitled “Public and Collaborative Sculpture Projects.” Free. All invited.

Exhibits

Artist Kari Vick opened a debut exhibit of her work at the North Shore Winery on Ski Hill Road in Lutsen this week.

Kari Vick's Otter is one of her pieces on exhibit at the North Shore Winery this month.

Kari Vick’s Otter is one of her pieces on exhibit at the North Shore Winery this month.

The exhibit includes original etchings, paintings and cngravings, prints and cards. It continues through this month.

The exhibit “Marie Westerman & Jill  Ewald – Threads of Time and Place” continues at the Johnson Heritage Post through Aug. 13.

"Shiny Object," weaving by Marie Westerlind, is at the Johnson Heritage Post.

“Shiny Object,” a weaving by Marie Westerman, is at the Johnson Heritage Post.

In Duluth, the Tweed Museum of Art, on the campus of the University of Minnesota-Duluth, continues its exhibition of a newly curated exhibition of 47 photographs from the museum’s permanent collection.. The exhibit is entitled:  “A Thousand Words.”

André-Kertesz. "Satiric-Dancer," 1926. gelatin-silver-print.

AndréKertész. “Satiric-Dancer,” 1926. Gelatin silver-print is at the Tweed Museum of Art in Duluth.

In Thunder Bay, Definitely Superior Art Gallery continues the 29th annual Members Show as well as installations by Amanda Strong and Jeneen rei Njootli.

"Four Faces of the Moon" by Amanda Strong is at the  Definitely Superior Gallery in Thunder Bay.

“Four Faces of the Moon” by Amanda Strong is at the Definitely Superior Gallery in Thunder Bay.

The exhibits continue through Aug. 12.

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery continues its exhibit, “The Perspective From Here: 150 Artists From The North.”

Daphne Odjig, "The-Grand Entrance,"1989, acrylic-on-canvas.

Daphne Odjig, “The Grand Entrance,”1989, acrylic on canvas, is on exhibit at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.

The exhibit continues through Sept. 24.

Upcoming

 The annual Pow-Wow and Rendezvous Days will be in Grand Portage next weekend. Stay tuned for details.

Grand Marais photographer David Johnson will open an exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post Aug. 18.

Photographer David Johnson will have a solo exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post this month.

Photographer David Johnson will have a solo exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post this month.

 Window Shopping

Ron's World Rocks is featuring this yellow topaz ring. The stone was mined in Brazil and sourced in India. It is mounted on sterling silver with a black patina.

Ron’s World Rocks is featuring this yellow topaz ring. The stone was mined in Brazil and sourced in India. It is mounted on sterling silver with a black patina.

 

Jeff Luedloff has crafted  fine wooden vessels, mirrors and tops that are featured at Last Chance Gallery in Lutsen.

Jeff Luedloff has crafted fine wooden vessels, mirrors and tops that are featured at Last Chance Gallery in Lutsen.

 

David Gilsvik has new work at Sivertson Gallery including "Lily."

David Gilsvik has new work at Sivertson Gallery including “Lily.”

Here’s the music schedule for the week.

Thursday, Aug. 3:

Music in Harbor Park — Fisherman’s Picnic:

  •  Joe Paulik, 11 a.m.
  • North Shore Community Swing Band, 1 p.m.
  • Common Ground, 3 p.m.
  • Plucked Up String Band, 7 p.m.

Other Venues

  • Joe Paulik, Music by the Campfire, Lusten Resort, 6:30 p.m.
  • Lazy Lightning 420, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
  • Cook County’s Most Wanted, Grandma Ray’s, 9 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 4:

Music in Harbor Park—Fisherman’s Picnic:

  • Joe Paulik, 11 a.m.
  • Bug House, 1 p.m.
  •  Brothers in Arms, 7 p.m.

Other Venues:

  • Matthew Griswold, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
  • Eric Frost, Eagle Ridge Resort, 7 p.m.
  • Black River Revue, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
  • Bug House, Grandma Ray’s, 9 p.m.
  • Michael Monroe, Bluefin Grille, 9 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 5:

Music in Harbor Park–Fisherman’s Picnic:

  • Pete K, 11 a.m.
  • Michael Monroe, 1 p.m.
  • Dat Dere Jazz, 3 p.m.
  •  SplinterTones, 7 p.m.

Other Venues

  • Briand Morrison, Voyageur Brewing Co, 7 p.m.
  • Gene Lafond and Amy Grillo, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
  • Michael Monroe, Log Cabin Concert, rural Grand Marais, 7 p.m., ino at michaelmonroemusic.com
  • Earth, Wind & Todd, Grandma Ray’s, 9 p.m.

Sunday, August 6:

Music in Harbor Park–Fisherman’s Picnic:

  • Michael Monroe, noon
  • Shriner’s Band, 2 p.m.
  •  Thunder Bay Bagpipers, 2:45

Other Venues

  • Plucked Up String Band, North Shore Winery, 2 p.m.
  • The Beavers, Skyport Lodge,  5 p.m.
  • Bug Dope, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 7:

  • Her Crooked Heart, Papa Charlie’s, 8:30 p.m.
  • Briand Morrison, Bluefin Grille, 9 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 8:

  • Joe Paulik, Gun Flint Tavern, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 9:

  • Date Night at North Shore Winery, Chris Gillis & Friends, 7 p.m.

Here’s a selection of fun photos we found this week:

It’s been hot.

July 29 near Silver Bay by Shawna Marie Willis.

July 29 near Silver Bay by Shawna Marie Willis.

But there’s always Lake Superior …

"Leaping Into a Superior Summer" by Layne Kennedy.

“Leaping Into a Superior Summer” by Layne Kennedy.

Youngsters are growing up …

"Loon Family" by Paul Sundberg.

“Loon Family” by Paul Sundberg.

And feathers are being renewed …

"This morning ..." by Nancy Hemstad Seaton.

“This morning …” by Nancy Hemstad Seaton.

The weather has been perfect …

"Sunset Paddle" by Sheila Smith.

“Sunset Paddle” by Sheila Smith.

 

The start of the International Sail Boat Race from Grand Marais to Thunder Bay by Jean itts Cochrane.

The start of the International Sail Boat Race from Grand Marais to Thunder Bay by Jean Fitts Cochrane

And the forest is thriving.

"Gooseberry Falls State Park" by Jamie Rabold.

“Gooseberry Falls State Park” by Jamie Rabold.

 

Tom Lake by Sandra Updyke.

Tom Lake by Sandra Updyke.

The moose seem to be thriving, too.

Thomas Spence caught this image of a healthy and alert bull moose the other day. Enjoy!

Bull Moose by Thomas Spence.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

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