Thanksgiving and a Celebration of Art & Artisans

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Greetings from the North Shore, where the holiday season is launched this weekend with a great variety of festivals and events.

First up is the 12th annual Holiday Market at Last Chance Gallery in Lutsen that begins on Friday and continues through Sunday.

The gallery, which features work by a number of local and regional artists, including bronze sculptures by Tom Christiansen, will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

On Friday, the gallery joins local merchants for Sip and Shop, a local take on Black Friday, with refreshments offered at every stop. Check out Caribou Crossing at Caribou Highlands, Last Chance Galery, Kah-Nee-Tah Gallery, Great Gifts of Lutsen and The Mountain Shop for this unique event.

On Saturday, there will be a bronze pour at Last Chance at 4 p.m. and tree lighting after dark. There will be caroling, and the Lutsen Fire Department will escort the carolers up the road to Clearview for further festivities.

Also on Friday, the North Shore Winery will hold a book signing with author Lise Lunge-Larsen and illustrator Kari Vick, who will sign copies of their new book, “Seven Ways to Trick a Troll.”

The book signing will be from 1-3 p.m.

In Grand Marais on Friday, the community will hold its annual Christmas parade at 5:30 p.m. Entitled “Oh Ole Night,” the parade begins at the Senior Center and will do two loops around downtown, ending up in Harbor Park where there will be tree lighting and caroling. The fireworks begin at 6 p.m.

Then, back in Lutsen, the New Standards Holiday Show will be held at Papa Charlie’s beginning at 8:30 p.m.

The show is celebrating its 11th anniversary this season with its unique twist on a traditional holiday concert – one part variety show, one part homage to the season, one part irreverent, free-wheelin’ spectacle. The trio is joined by a supporting cast replete with vocalists and instrumentalists – and as always – a dazzling lineup of special surprise guests. You won’t soon forget this show, which is now considered a beloved annual tradition in Cook County and the Twin Cities. Tickets are $20 in advance, $26 at the door.

In Thunder Bay, the Definitely Superior Art Gallery celebrates the season on Friday with the opening reception for two exhibits: the 29th annual Regional Juried Show and a short art film installation, “Piotr Skowronski: Facade.”

The opening reception is from 7-10 p.m. and features artist talks and refreshments. Definitely Superior Art Gallery is located at 250 Park Ave. in Thunder Bay. All invited.

The Hovland Arts Festival Pre-Christmas Sale will be held at the Hovland Town Hall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Saturday, featuring a wide variety of artists and artisan work.

Look for photography, painting, fiber art, jewelry, beadwork, pottery, woodwork, wreaths and more. Refreshments will be available. All invited.

Also on Saturday, the Annual Holiday Craft  Sale and Open House will be held at the Cook County Community Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Look for a variety of arts and crafts, the Girl Scouts’  Poinsettia Sale and handmade soaps and lotions. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

And new this year, The Crafty Pint Saturday Market at Voyageur Brewing Co, featuring a great selection of local artists and artisans. The craft market will be open from 1:30-4:30 p.m. on Saturday in the brewery space. All welcome.

In Duluth, there will be a Holiday Pottery and Craft Sale at the Duluth Art Institute‘s Lincoln Building from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The event features work by a number of local potters as well as artisans. A wide variety of refreshments will be served. The Lincoln building is at 2229 W. Second St. in Duluth. Here’s a map.

And on Sunday, Voyageur Brewery is launching a new weekly feature through Christmas: “Holiday Movies in the Brewery.” Each week, a family friendly classic movie will be screened starting at 12:30 p.m. Viewers are welcome to bring their own popcorn.

And next Wednesday, Nov. 29, the public is invited to join the Cook County Creative Economy Team and Artspace, a consulting firm internationally recognized as a leader in developing projects to spur economic growth through fostering living and working spaces for artists. The event wil be held in the Commissioner’s Room at the Cook County Courthouse from 7-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 29.

Artspace is coming to Cook County to look at its creative economy spaces and to meet with artists, non-profits, businesses, government representatives and the public to determine opportunities for growth. Everyone is invited to the meeting entitled: “Growing Our Creative Economy.” Come learn what is going on and express your needs, wishes, dreams and desires for a more robust creative economy in Cook County.

Also on Wednesday, Hannah Palma Laky and Hana Crosby will be the featured artists at the craft market at Voyageur Brewing Co. from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Palma Laky is a local potter. Crosby makes natural body care products and gift baskets as well as homemade jam and holiday cookies.

Exhibits:

 “Begin Continue,” an exhibit showcasing the work of more than 30 instructors at North House Folk School as well as a visual story of North House, opened with a reception at the Johnson Heritage Post last Friday.

“Begin Continue” is on exhibit at the Heritage Post through Dec.14. The gallery is closed on Tuesdays. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and Monday, and from 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

The Tweed Museum of Art in Duluth is currently exhibiting a display of Pacific Northwest Native masks.

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery will open a new exhibit entitled “Converging Lines: Recent Art from the Northwest” on Friday, Nov. 24. The exhibit features the work of regional Indigenous artists and draws inspiration from the connective, emanating power lines found in the works of established Anishnaabe artists such as Norval Morrisseau, Roy Thomas and Ahmoo Angeconeb.

Artists include Kristy Cameron, Elliot Doxtater-Wynn, Shaun Hedican and Cree Stevens. Their work also speaks to current issues and sheds light on contemporary ways of making art. The exhibit continues through Feb. 26.

Upcoming:

Next weekend, Dec. 1 & 2, features the Holiday Art Underground at Betsy Bowen’s Studio and Galleries and the Northwoods Fiber Guild’s Open House & Holiday Sale at the Grand Marais Art Colony. The Holiday Art Underground show opens with a Sneak Peak on Friday, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. The Fiber Guild Sale is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2. Stay tuned for details.

Kah-Nee-Tah Gallery in Lutsen is celebrating its 3rd anniversary with a Holiday Party on Dec. 9 from 4-8 p.m.

The Borealis Chorale & Orchestra Christmas Concert is Dec. 10 & 11 this year. The concert features more than 75 talented Cook County singers and musicians under the directorship of composer/conductor Bill Beckstrand. The concert is held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church each night at 7 p.m. Stay tuned for details.

Window Shopping:

 

Music Schedule:

Thursday, Nov. 23:

• Chris Gillis, The Wunderbar, 2 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 24:

• Ian Alexy, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• Portage, Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.
• Gin Strings, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Jim McGowan, The Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• The New Standards Holiday Show, Papa Charlie’s, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 25:

• Jim McGowan, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Gin Strings, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Common Ground, The Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Mysterious Ways, Grandma Ray’s, 9 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 26:

• If Eye May, The Wunderbar, 11 a.m.
• Jon Miller, Gun Flint Tavern, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 28:

• Fred Anderson, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.

We found some interesting photos this week. Here is a selection:

Let’s start with a few wildlife shots.

 

 

Perhaps these furry creatures had the honor?

And here are some lakescapes.

 

 

And a cityscape:

A snowscape:

And a soon-to-be-consumed-apple-pie-scape.

Have a great Thanksgiving, everyone!