North Shore Arts Scene

These are the fine days of winter — lots of snow, a warmer sun. longer days and lots to activities in Cook County.

First up this week is an Open Carving Night at North House Folk School. The event, which is part of North House’s Wood Week, invites members of the community as well as participants in the Wood Week classes and workshops to an evening of carving starting at 7 p.m.

Bring your own small carving project and hand tools and join in the fun of Wood Week at North House. Check the website for more details on Wood Week events here.

And this is season for the Grand Marais Playhouse‘s Community Youth Play. This year, they will perform the musical “Quilters,” based on a book by Molly Newman and Barbara Damashek, with lyrics and music by Barbara Damashek.

The musical will feature lots of great voices and live music. Performances are at 7 p.m. Thursdays through Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sundays. The play continues through March 17. Tickets are $10 adults, $5 youth (12-17) and $3 Child (under 12). They are available at the door.

On Friday, Corrie Steckelberg, who is a Juried Artist in Residence at the Grand Marais Art Colony, will hold an open studio from 9-11 a.m. in the Founders Hall.

The event is open to the public.

This is the weekend for lots of outdoor activities, too. On Saturday, Skyport Lodge offers sled dog tours with their resident musher, Adam Treful, all day long. There will be a bonfire in the front yard, too.

Also on Saturday, there will be Snowmobile Races on Poplar Lake and music in the evening at Poplar Haus by The Sprigs.

On Sunday, one of the highpoints of winter: The Dog Days of Winter, Sled Dog Derbies and Skijoring Races at Trail Center Lodge. Plan on a great time watching the excitement as dog lovers of every age get out there and race their dogs.

Volunteers are still needed to help out with event. For all the info, click here. Here’s a video of some of the action last year:

On Tuesday, the newly formed North Shore Artists League will hold its monthly meeting at the Johnson Heritage Post from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. All artists are invited. Free.

 On Tuesday night, March 12, Corrie Steckelberg and printmaker, Christine Forni, who is also a Juried  Artist in Residence at the Grand Marais Art Colony this week, will talk about their work at the Wunderbar.  Entitled “Party with a Purpose: Meet the Art Colony’s Artists-in-Residence,” the event will feature wine tasting and a chance to purchase a bottle or a cocktail as well as talks by the artists about their experience at the Art Colony. The Party runs from 5:30-7:30 p.m. All invited.

Deadline: Artists who plan on participating in “Thin Places,” a community art exhibit organized by the Spirit of the Wilderness Church, must bring their artwork to the Johnson Heritage Post from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13. The exhibit opens with a reception from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, March 16.

Exhibits:

The Art of Healing, an exhibit organized by the Violence Prevention Center, continues at the Johnson Heritage Post through Sunday, March 10. This is an amazing exhibit, featuring work in a variety of media by professional as well as amateur artists, all working to the theme of art as healing. Here are just a few of the pieces you will see in this exhibit.

 

The Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and from 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

A new exhibit has just opened in the halls of the Cook County Courthouse.

Woodcuts from Betsy Bowen’s “Tracks in the Wild” will be on exhibit for the next few months.

The Cedar Coffee Company in Two Harbors has opened a new exhibit work Devin and Brighid Getten. Devin is a photographer, Brighid is a multi-media artist.

An artists’ reception will be held at the Coffee Company from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, March 8. The exhibit continues through March.

The Tweed Museum of Art continues its exhibit “Space: Time & Place,” a selection of photographs from its collection.

Upcoming:

A reception to honor illustrator and painter, Keith Morris,  and photographer Jim Ringquist, both of whom have been exhibiting their work at the North Shore Hospital & Care Center this winter, will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, March 14. All invited.

And the opening reception for Masterpiece Art, paintings and drawings by students at the Silver Bay Elementary School inspired by the word of the Masters, will be held in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park at 7 p.m Friday, March 15. Stay tuned for details.

Here’s a chance  to listen to a great interview on WTIP Community Radio  with Michael Bazzett, a poet with Cook County connections and accolades from New York City.

Bazzett’s book of poems, “Popol Vuh,”  a translation of the Quiche Maya creation story, was selected by the New York Times as one of the 10 best poetry books in 2018,

Click here to listen. The interview is a little more than 15 minutes. He talks about his life as a poet and why he wrote this book, and reads a selection from it.

Music:

Here’s the music for the week:

Thursday, March 7:

• Billy Johnson, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne & the Wildcats, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s. 9:30 p.m.

Friday, March 8:

• Joe Paulik, Voyageur Brewing, 4 p.m.
• Portage, Grandma Rays, 6 p.m.
• Briand Morrison & Roxann Berglund, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Billy Johnson, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 9:

• Billy Johnson, North Shore Winery, 3 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Papa Charlie’s, 3:15 p.m.
• JohnRuss, Papa Charlie’s, 6:45 p.m.
• North Shore Community Swing Band, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Lutsen Resort,  7 p.m.
• Brothers in Arms, Grandma Ray’s 8 p.m.
• Jon Miller, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.m
• Rhino, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 10:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Aprés Ski Acoustic, Papa Charlie’s, 3:30 p.m.
• Open Stage with Joe Paulik, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.

Monday, March 11:

•  Teague Alexy, Monday Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 12

• Joe Paulik, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Open Mic Night with Bump Blomberg, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, March 13:

• Jam Session, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
• Faith Boblett, Wednesday Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

We found some great photos this week. Let’s start with wildlife:

 

 

 

We’re not sure if this qualifies as wildlife, but it’s pretty wild.

And then, there was snow.

Jean Fitts Cochrane posted this photo the other day. She calls this wolf “Platterpaws” and she said they see his marks frequently on their ski trails.

 

And then,  lots of ice.

 

 

 

 

 

 And finally, this:

Have a great weekend, everyone!

If you would like to make a donation to NorthShore ArtScene, click on the button below. And Thank You!

Another weekend of fun is coming up, including an art exhibit opening, a Mexican music jam and dance class and a concert,  and lots of outdoor activities.

First up is a Maple Syruping Skill Share with Marybeth Garmoe at North House Folk School at 7 p.m. Thursday. Garmoe will cover the process of gathering maple sap, how to reduce it, as well as how to use it once completed. The workshop is open to all and free.

Also on Thursday, the nationally known musicians, the Sones de Mexico Ensemble, who are in Grand Marais this week, will lead a music jam and folk dance at the Grand Marais Art Colony from 7-9 p.m. Participants are invited to bring their instruments and plan on having a great time. Tickets are $5. Open to all.

The Sones de Mexico Ensemble is the country’s premier folk music organization specializing in Mexican “son,” including the regional styles of huapango, gustos, chilenas, son jarocho, and more. The two-time Grammy-nominated group has toured nationally and internationally, including performances at the Getty Museum in L.A., New York’s Carnegie Hall, and the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

The Sones de Mexico Ensemble will be in concert at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on Friday at 7 p.m.  Tickets are $15 adult, $5 for youth 18 and under. Here’s a video of some of their music.

Sones de Mexico will also teach a 2-day residency at Great Expectations School this week with themes including the musical geography of Mexico, Mexican tragic ballad songwriting, Danza de Los Viejitos mask-making, and Ancient Aztec dance.

Also on Friday night, the Johnson Heritage Post will hold an opening reception for the Art of Healing, an exhibit sponsored by the Violence Prevention Center. The reception is from 5-7 p.m.

The exhibit will contain artwork by Cook County residents whom have used art as a means to respond, explore, express and heal from their personal experiences with domestic & sexual violence. The exhibit will run through March 10. The gallery hours at the Heritage Post are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

Also, Poet Michael Bazzett, the son of Maureen and Bob Bazzett, whose book of poetry, “Popol Vuh” was named best poetry book of 2018 by the New York Times, will talk about his work on The Roadhouse on Friday. The Roadhouse airs from 5-7 p.m. The Plucked Up String band will also play.

Saturday is a great day to explore the outdoors and enjoy the exhibits and the shops in Cook County. The snow is fantastic this year, and all the trails are in great shape.

For fishermen, the Annual Trout Derby hosted by the Cook County Ridge Riders will be on West Bearskin Lake this year. Registration opens at 9 a.m. Saturday. Food and beverages will be available.

Also, Skyport Lodge holds sled dog tours all day on Saturday and Tuesday. Reservations are highly recommended.

Call 387-9414 to learn more.

Exhibits:

 The North Shore Winery continues its exhibit of George Morrison poster prints.

The Polar Vortex exhibit at Tettegouche State Park continues this week, with a closing reception at 5 p.m. on Friday. The photographs depict Lake Superior during the Polar Vortex by students of John Gregor.

A new exhibit opens at Tettegouche on Tuesday, March 5. Entitled Masterpiece Art, the show features artwork from students at William Kelley Elementary School who were inspired by a variety of artworks by the masters. The exhibit continues through March 30.

In Duluth, this is the last weekend to see the Members Show at the Duluth Art Institute.

The Tweed Museum of Art is featuring photographs in a new exhibit entitled “Space: Time and Place.:

Also at the Tweed:

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery has opened a new exhibit of student work entitled “Nibi iwe bimaadiziwin: Water is Life.”

The exhibit features works by Hammerskjold High School, Grade 9 and 10 students in the Indigenous Cultural Program for First Nation, Métis, and Inuit students, from across Northern Ontario, illustrating the importance and sacredness of water through art.

The Baggage Building Arts Centre in Thunder Bay has put out a call for artists to participate in their spring exhibition. Deadline for online submissions is March 15.

For more info about signing up for the show: bbac.angie@gmail.com

Upcoming: 

 “The Quilters,” a production of the Grand Marais Playhouse, opens at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 7. Performances are Thursday to Sunday through March 17. Tickets available online or at the door. Stay tuned for details.

Corrie Steckelberg. who will be an artist in residence at the Grand Marais Art Colony, will hold an open studio from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday, March 8, in the Founders Hall at the Art Colony.

The North Shore Artists League will meet March 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Johnson Heritage Post. Natalie Sobanja and Max Linehan will lead a discussion on how artists are using social media to promote their art.  This will be an opportunity to learn from each other what works, what doesn’t, what we know and what we wished we knew.  Bring a bag lunch if desired. Free. All artists in any media art invited.

Also on March 12, artists are invited to participate in Arts Advocacy Day at the Capital in St. Paul. Arts Advocacy Day is a day for artists and arts advocates to join together to share with legislators the importance of art to our lives and our economy. Participants will meet at the Minnesota History Center, learn about advocacy class for new attendees, rally, and then meet your legislator at 8 a.m. the capital through 2 p.m. To register, click here.

And finally, kudos to Christian Dalbec for being a new artist at Sivertson Gallery. Check out this video of him unpacking his photographs.

  Music:

Here’s the music schedule for the week: (Note: WTIP Community Radio is having a membership drive this week, so look for lots of live music, interviews and more at 90.7 on your dial. The radio station can also be streamed online.

Thursday, Feb. 28:

• Jim McGowan, WTIP, 1 p.m.
• Sonos de Mexico, WTIP, 4 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne & Friends, North Shore Winery, 6-8 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Gun Flint Tavern, 6 p.m.
• Jeff Nemitz Tribute Show, WTIP, 7 p.m.
• DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, March 1:

• “Dog Songs” with Carl Solander, WTIP, 1 p.m.
• Common Ground, WTIP, 4 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, WTIP, 6:15 p.m.
• Sones de Mexico, Arrowhead Center for the Arts, 7 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 2:

• “Wheels of Fire with Will and Annie, WTIP, 3-5 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 3 p.m.
• Bug Dope, Papa Charlie’s, 3:15
• AMP-Another Music Program with Sterling & Aaron, WTIP, 5-7 p.m.
• Apres Ski, Papa Charlie’s, 6:45 p.m.
• Roxann Berglund, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• The Big Wu, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 3:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m
• Wu Acoustic Family, Papa Charlie’s,  3:30 p.m.
• Thoresa Aho, Polka Time, WTIP, 5 p.m.
• Open Stage with Joe Paulik, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.
• Mark Joseph, Gun Flint Tavern, 6 p.m.

Monday, March 4:

• Briand Morrison, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Alan Sparhawk, Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, March 5:

• Mukluk Mardi Gras, Gun Flint Tavern, 5:30-9p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Open Mic with Eric Frost, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, March 6

• Charlie Parr, Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Photographs

We’ve been lucky to find great photographs again this week.

First, wildlife:

Here’s a beauteous shot.

And a cutie:

And an intense moment for this Snowy:

Here are a few more Snow Moon shots.

 

 

 

Winter landscapes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here are some fascinating winter photos I found:

 

 

 

And finally, this crazy video:

And finally, this beauty.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

 

 

 

 

It’s a pretty quiet week on the North Shore, although there’s lots of great music, a French film and wonderful art exhibits, and, of course, plenty of snow.

There’s lots happening at the Grand Marais Public Library on Thursday, Feb. 21.  It leads off with a community listening session from 10:30 a.m. to noon. This will be the third, and final, community listening session led by poet Julia Klatt Singer and composer Craig Carnahan in order to gather information and stories about the unique history of Grand Marais and Cook County. The duo will use the listening sessions for inspiration to write poems and music for the Borealis Chorale to perform at their Christmas concerts next December.

The event at the library is free and open to all.

Later that afternoon, the Science Museum of Minnesota will set up an engineering corner in the library for students to try their hand at various challenges provided by the presenters from the museum. It will be from 4-5 p.m. All youth invited.

Then, at 6 p.m., the Grand Marais Writers’ Guild will hold its monthly meeting for “anyone who writes anything.” The meeting is held until 7:30 p.m. All writers invited. Free.

Also on Thursday evening, North House Folk School will continue its Winter Skill Sharing Series with a session entitled “Steeking: Making that Knitted Garment Fit.”

A steek is a “bridge” of extra stitches in a knitted piece that allows knitting in the round and later cut to accommodate a front opening, sleeve or neckline. Participants will learn the history of steeking, when and how to steek and have the opportunity for the hands-on machine sewing and cutting essential for this skill. All invited. Free.

On Friday, the Grand Marais Public Library will continue it’s film series, Friday Night Reels, with the screening of “Faces Places,” a French documentary about 89-year old Agnes Varda, one of the leading figures of the French New Wave, and acclaimed 33 year-old French photographer and muralist, JR, on a road trip of creativity. Check out the trailer below. .

Everyone is invited. The film starts at 6 p.m. Free.

For Celtic music lovers, the Northern Lake County Arts Board will host the Celtic Duo, Patsy O’Brien and Dick Hensold, in a concert at the William Kelley High School Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Friday

O’Brien is from County Cork, Ireland, and is a traditional and award-winning singer/songwriter. Hensold is the leading Northumbrian smallpiper in North America, and has performed all over the world. Tickets are $15 at the door. High School students and younger get in free.

Last week, there were all kinds of events indoors in Cook County. This week, it’s get-out-and-enjoy-the-snow time. There are dog sled tours available all day at Skyport Lodge on Saturday and there’s a a Blast from the Past Vintage Snowmobile Ride at Cascade Lodge starting at 10 a.m. There’s plenty of powder at Lutsen Mountains and the cross-county ski trails are packed and ready, not to mention snowshoe forays into the woods, trips on frozen, snow-covered rivers and fat bike tours.

And, if you’re traveling to Thunder Bay this weekend. check out the snow sculptures at Prince Arthur’s Landing. There are lots of them and are a fascinating and wondrous exhibit of carvings in snow.

Check out this need video and story of the snow sculpture event here.

There’s some interesting music this weekend, too, with Mysterious Ways, including the sheriff of Cook County, playing their energetic rock at two different venues. For a different experience, consider the Grace Notes, which is playing Celtic music and more at The Cove at the Best Western on Saturday night, Gordon Thorne at the North Shore Winery, Common Ground at the Wunder Bar and the Joshua J Schmidt Band at Papa Charlie’s. Check the music schedule below for all the music this week.

On Wednesday, WDSE’s “Historic Trails in Northern Minnesota” will be screened at Voyageur Brewing Co. at 6 p.m. The documentary follows the Gunflint Trail, Voyageurs National Forest trails and the Mesabi Trail through their fascinating pasts, their multi-faceted modern uses, and explore what lays ahead for these winding paths.

Exhibits:

This is the last weekend to see the Winter Plein Air exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post. More than 20 plein air painters spent a week at YMCA Camp Menogyn during the Polar Vortex and came out with some amazing work.

True, a lot of time was probably spent indoors, see below.

But the painters did get outside to make some great work.

The Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

Tettegouche State Park is hosting a photography exhibit entitled Polar Vortex through March 1, when there will be a closing reception from 5-7 p.m.

In Duluth, the Tweed Museum of Art has just opened a new exhibit entitled “Space: Time and Place,” and features photographs from their collection that address movement and engage with spatial dimensionality as structure and symbol. Here’s one of the photographs in the exhibit.

This is the last weekend to see the Member Show at the Duluth Art Institute. The exhibit includes a wide variety of work by member artists in a number of different media.

Carla Hamilton is the featured artist at the Zeitgeist Arts Cafe in Duluth this month.

In Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery notes that this is the final two weeks to see “Exorcism” by internationally acclaimed artist Carl Beam.

This work was the Gallery’s first commissioned piece; measuring 7 ft by 20 ft, it remains to this day the most massive and materially complex piece in the permanent collection.

We thought we might mention some events in the Twin Cities. NCECA, or the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, is coming to Minneapolis for it’s annual convention, Claytopia. It’s only the second time they’ve visited the city. All the potters from miles around are getting ready, and ceramic exhibits have already started. Word is there will be 100 clay exhibits in the Twin Cities by the time the convention starts at the end of March. Here’s just one example:

“Finding the Authentic Self,” which opened  Sunday at the Sabes JCC, was inspired by a song by Minnesota musician Dan Israel. Curated by Steve Basile, a longtime ceramics collector, founder of the Curated Ceramics website and the large, very active and occasionally scrappy Studio Pottery Collectors Facebook group, the show will feature work by 16 potters and one painter.

Pieces will be accompanied by short essays, written by the artists, that address the exhibition theme. The exhibit continues through the end of March.

And FYI,  Here’s an article about Claytopia.

Upcoming:

Maple Syruping, Skill Share, at North House Folk School, 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 28. Free.

The Art of Healing Exhibition by the Violence Prevention Center, Johnson Heritage Post, opening reception, 5-7 p.m., Friday, March 1. Stay tuned for details.

Sones de Mexico, Mexico’s premier folk music organization specializing in Mexican “Son,” and a variety of regional styles, will be in concert at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on Friday, March 1 at 7 p.m.

They will be in concert for an evening of music and dance. Everyone invited. Tickets are $15.

There will be an Artists Talk with Keith Morris and Jim Ringquist at North Shore Health at 7 p.m. March 14. Morris has been exhibiting his illustrations and paintings in the hallways of the hospital. Ringquist has been exhibiting his photographs. All invited.

Artist News:

Betsy Bowen’s latest book, “The Lost Forest” has arrived in her studio.

Mike Loeffler, artisan in residence at North House Folk School, is exhibiting his bird bowls at the Norway House in the Twin Cities, along with two Norwegian craftsmen.

Music:

Here’s the music for the week:

Thursday, Feb. 21:

• Eric Frost, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Open Stage, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
• DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 22:

• Matt Trost and Laurel Clark, Voyageur Brewing, 4 p.m.
• Portage, Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.
• Jon Miller and the Home Brews, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Jim and Michele Miller, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Mysterious Ways, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 23:

• Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 3 p.m.
• James Moors, Papa Charlie’s, 3:15 p.m.
• The Grace Notes, The Cove at Best Western, 5 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Papa Charlie’s, 6:45 p.m.
• Common Ground, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• The Sprigs, Voyageur Brewing, 7 p.m.
• Chris Silver Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Mysterious Ways, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 9 p.m.
• Joshua J Schmidt Band, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 24:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Rhoda Anderson, Wunderbar, 2 p.m.
• Chris Silver Band, Papa Charlie’s, 3:30 p.m.
• Rhoda Anderson, Gun Flint, 7 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 24:

• Actual Wolf, Monday Songwriter’s Series, Papa Charle’s, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 25:

• Jim and Michele Miller, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Open Mic with Eric Frost, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 26:

• Jam Session, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
• John Mark Nelson, Wednesday Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

We found some great photographs this week. Here is a selection.

Wildlife:

 

 

 

 

We found lots of Lake Superior ice shots:

 

 

 

 

 

And some fantastic Snow Moon shots:

 

 

And this incredible shot by Thomas Spence. It was the featured shot on www.spaceweather.com on Wednesday.

And finally, a portrait of one of the photographers that make all of this possible:

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!

Looking at all the events scheduled for this week, you’d think summer was here. It’s not. Instead, we’re in the Northwoods celebrating winter, and that includes lots of cozy time inside.

First up on Valentine’s Day is a Lunch and Learn at North House Folk School, part of the on-going Northern Fibers Retreat there.  On Thursday at noon, Mary Richert will give a presentation about the Community Felted Rug Project. Come learn about the 3-week project and see the beautiful result. Free. It is too late to sign up for the catered lunch, but everyone is invited to bring their own.

Then that evening, the 2nd annual Valentine’s Day Hotdish Hoe-down will be held at the Wunderbar. This should be a totally fun time with square dancing and a homemade hot dish competition.

The dancing starts at 5:30 p.m. with the No Promises String Band (fiddle, banjo, piano and upright bass) who will play Old Time music for a family square dance. Then, there’s a break for the hotdish potluck competition and lots of sampling. Dancing continues from 8-10 p.m. No experience and no partners needed. All invited. Tickets are $10 for the hotdish assortment. The regular menu at the Wunderbar is available as well. All welcome.

Friday is really busy in Grand Marais.

At noon, Martha Owen, sheep farmer and resident fiber artist at the John C. Campbell Folk School, will give a presentation at North House Folk School entitled “Sheep and Wool Through Story and Song.”

She will host a session of storytelling about her life raising sheep and angora rabbits and pursuing her passion for craft. She will share tales, good humor and maybe even a tune or two on her banjo during the Lunch and Learn session. All are welcome. The deadline to ordered catered lunch has passed, but please do bring your own lunch. Open to all.

At 5 p.m, the WTIP’s The Roadhouse will host three artists who will talk about their work and upcoming presentations: photographer Craig Blacklock, author Mary Ellen Ashcroft and photographer Bryan Hansel. The show airs from 5-7 p.m.

At 6 p.m. on Friday, Drury Lane Books will host the a capella group, SVEA, for an outdoor concert by the bonfire, weather permitting.

The music is part of the the Many Lights Fundraiser, which raises funds for the ISD PTA so fifth graders can go to Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center later this year. It’s also an art installation, as candles are lit in the ice globes scattered on the shore of Lake Superior.

The ice globes are funded by donations to Cook County High School. Each light is $5. The lights are lit just before the SVEA concert. The public is invited to drop by the school and make their donations before Friday. The concert is free.

Also on Friday night, photographer Craig Blacklock will give an Artist Talk at the Grand Marais Art Colony at 7 pm. Blacklock, who has won numerous awards and has published 18 books of his photography, is currently exhibiting a selection  of his photographs at the Art Colony. The year 2018 marked the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and Blacklock’s exhibition celebrates this anniversary and the beauty of the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers.

The Blacklock’s exhibition has shown in such prestigious locations as the Mill City Museum and the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. The Artist Talk is free. All invited.

And finally on Friday at 7 p.m., the Northwoods Fiber Guild will host a “Show & Share” at North House Folk School, part of the Northern Fibers Retreat.

And the Hygge (pronounced hoo-gah) Festival continues in Grand Marais. Lots to do, including a Fireplace Tour. Check out the locations here.

On Saturday morning, the Northwoods Fiber Guild will host Fiber For Kids! from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Families are invited to join skilled artists from the Northwoods Fiber Guild to create hands-on fiber projects designed specifically for kids and a helpful adult. Students will choose and create their own fiber crafts such as tapestry weaving on a cardboard loom, Suminagoshi Japanese ink marbling on paper, felted wool bracelets, sewing felt critters, and Kumihimo braiding projects. Everyone will leave with at least 4 completed projects. All invited. The cost is $15 Adult/Child. Additional $5 per child.

And then, at noon, weavers Janet Meany and Mary Erickson will give a Lunch & Learn presentation on at North House Folk School entitled “Kangaspuut: Finnish American Weavers & Their Looms.” They will talk about how old handmade looms and the rag rugs woven on them carry the stories of Finnish immigrants in Northeastern Minnesota. All invited. Free. Bring a lunch.

Author Mary Ellen Ashcroft will read from her new book, “OMG: Growing Our God Images” at Drury Lane Books at 5 p.m.

The author will also answer questions and be available to sign her book. Open to all.

We continue with lots to do this week with the Pincushion Mountain Winter Ski Festival on Sunday.

The festival celebrates the 4oth anniversary of the  North Superior Ski and Running Club. A wide variety of races will be offered all day, and the public is invited to sign up for a race or two or come up and cheer the racers on.

On Tuesday, there will be an informational meeting for the launch of North Shore Crafters, a new organization that will work with people who want to make extra money by crafting at home. The meeting will be held at the Wunderbar at 5 p.m. At the meeting, woodworking, felting and sewing will be presented. Participants will be able to sign up for a workshop to receive instruction and given patterns and materals to get started. Instructors include Wood: Merlin Kiel, Howard Hedstrom and Jim Sannerud; Sewing: Sara Jane Tompkins, Mary Ellen Ashcroft and Judie Johnson; Felting” Karen Kobey, Elise Kyllo and Bonnie Gay Hedstrom. For more info, email maryellenvicar@gmail.com, Judiej@boreal.org or bkennedy@boreal.org or call Beth at 387-1314.

Also on Tuesday, the Grand Marais Art Colony will hold a session of  “Artist to Artist Input: Critical Response” with Lynn Speaker from 6-8:30 p.m. This is an artist-led critique session. The process allows artists to ask questions about their work in a non-judgmental setting through a facilitated dialogue between artists, peers, and audiences. There is a $10 suggested donation. Call the Art Colony at 387-2737 for more info.

On Wednesday, the Art Colony will host a Community Conversation: The State of the Arts in Cook County  as well as the rest of the state via a Skype conversation with Sheila Smith, executive director of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts. Find out what’s happening and how you can be involved. The session runs from noon to 2 p.m. All invited.

And finally, on Wednesday, Cook County photographer, Bryan Hansel, will give a presentation at the Grand Marais Public Library at 6 p.m. Entitled “100 Days on the Road: The Life of a Landscape Photographer,” Hansel will present pictures, talk about the work it took to make them, what’s it like to run away from a sandstorm, shoot whitewater canoeing and photographing in the pouring rain.

Hansel’s presentation will cover a year of his adventures visiting locations such as Death Valley, the Black Hills, the Rio Grande River, the Boundary Waters, Glacier National Park, the Grand Tetons, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the Great Smoky Mountains and more. All invited. Free.

Exhibits:

 The Winter Plein Air exhibit continues at the Johnson Heritage Post Gallery with more than 100 paintings of the Northwoods in winter.

The Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m Thursday through Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

An exhibit of photographs of the North Shore taken by students of John Gregor continues in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park.

The title of the show is “Polar Vortex.” The class had been scheduled months in advance, but that week the Polar Vortex arrived. The photographers went out to shoot anyway.

In Duluth, a new exhibit of paintings by Sarah Brooke has opened at the Duluth Pottery, 1924 W. Superior St.

The exhibit is entitled “Sacred Selves” and continues through March 31.

The Tweed Museum of Art is opening a new photography exhibit on Tuesday, Feb. 19 entitled “Space: Time and Place.”

The Fibre Exhibition at the Baggage Building Arts Centre in Thunder Bay features work by more than 20 artists, including weaving, crocheting, quilting, textiles and knitting.

The exhibit continues through March 24.

Opportunities:

Lynn Speaker will teach a workshop on funding sources for artists at the Grand Marais Art Colony from noon to 1:30 on  Feb. 21. For more info, click here.

And next week, North House Folk School will start it’s free Skill Sharing series with Steeking: Making that Knitted Garment Fit. It will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 21. The next Thursday, Feb. 28, the Skill Share will be Maple Syruping. Stay tuned.

Music:

Thursday, Feb. 14;

• Briand Morrison & Rosann Berglund, The Cove at the Best Western, 5 p.m.
• Rod & Carah Boo, Skyport Lodge, 5 p.m.
• Second Annual Hot Dish Hoedown, No Promises Swing Band, Wunderbar, 5 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne & the Wildcats, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Poplar River Pub, 7 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
• DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 15:

• Colleen Myhre, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• SVEA Bonfire Concert, Drury Lane Books, 6 p.m.
• Jim & Michele Miller, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Charlie Roth, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Black River Revue, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Cook County’s Most Wanted, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 16:

• Jon Cron, Papa Charlie’s, 3:15 p.m.
• J Squared and the Makers, Papa Charlie’s, 6:45 p.m.
• Michael Monroe, Log Cabin Concert, rural Grand Marais, 7 p.m., www.michaelmonroemusic.com
• Gordon Thorne, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• North Shore Community Swing Band, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Tony Peterson and Colleen Myhre, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 17:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.m
• Eric Frost, Papa Charlie’s, 3:15 p.m.
• Open Mic with Joe Paulik, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Papa Charlie’s, 6:45 p.m.
• Billy Johnson, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 18:

• Joe Paulik, Bluefin Grile, 8 p.m.
• Dusty Heart, Monday Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Open Mic Night with Eric Frost, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.
• Fathom Lane, Wednesday Songwriter Series, 8 p.m.

Photographs:

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

Wildlife:

Here’s an icy animal:

And no animal at all.

Other winter stories:

 

 

 

 

 

And finally, this beauty, which totally shows winter on the North Shore. Enjoy!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

 

The Polar Vortex has passed us by, but it left lots of stories in its wake. It also left memories, paintings and photographs of this incredibly cold time. Last week, the Winter Plein Air exhibit opened at the Johnson Heritage Post with lots of paintings created in that winter cold, and a new show just opened at Tettegouche State Park. Entitled The Polar Vortex, it features photographs from nine frozen-fingered photographers who were out shooting during a John Gregor workshop.

Two Harbors photographer, Christian Dalbec, also helped during the workshop. The photographs are currently on view in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park. A closing reception for the exhibit will be at 7 p.m. March 1.

The opening reception for the Winter Plein Air exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post was well-attended and highlighted work by 20 plein air painters, many of whom have been trekking out to YMCA Camp Menogyn  for 10 years to spend a week warming up by the fireplace and then venturing out to paint in the frigid cold.

The exhibit features work made during the Polar Vortex as well as others painted in the last 10 years. The exhibit continues through Feb. 24. The Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

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

On Thursday, North House Folk School will screen the film of the winter season. “The Islands and the Whales” is a powerful film about the Faroe Islands and whale hunting.  The pilot whale hunters of the Faroe Islands believe that hunting is vital to their way of life, but when a local professor makes a grim discovery about the effects of marine pollution, and the seabird populations collapses, environmental changes threaten to change the community and their way of life forever. The Faroese are among the first to feel the effects of our ever more polluted oceans; what once secured their survival now endangers their children and the Faroe Islanders must make a choice between health and tradition.

Here’s the trailer:

The Islands and the Whales trailer from Intrepid Cinema on Vimeo.

The film will screen in the Blue Building at North House at 7 p.m. Free. All invited.

On Friday, the Grand Marais Public Library will screen “Akron,” a film about two college freshmen who  meet playing football and fall in love. Here’e the trailer:

This film is also free. It starts at 6 p.m. at the library.

This is the week for the Third Annual Hygge Festival, which runs from Feb. 8-14.

The Danish concept of “hygge” (pronounced hoo-gah) has been around for a long time. It refers to the ritual of embracing life’s simple pleasures. Feeling relaxed, cozy and surrounded by the warmth of family, friends, community and fire all encompass the idea of hygge. In Cook County, it also means exploring the Northwoods by skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, dogsledding, skating and more. There are lots of activities planned for this special time in winter. To see them all, click here.

There are some special music events, too. On Saturday night, the Plucked Up String Band will play for a Mukluk Ball at Voyageur Brewing from 6-9 p.m., and the wildly popular band, Cloud Cult, will  perform at Papa Charlie’s starting at 8 p.m. The Mukluk Ball is free. Oops. Just announced. Tickets for Cloud Cult are sold out.

On Sunday, Voyageur Brewing will hold a Chalk Art event at the Brewery. The public is invited to come watch the creation of artwork by chalk artist Max Holmgren of Bear Fox Chalk from 4-7 p.m.

To see his beautiful work, click here.

In Thunder Bay, the Baggage Building Arts Center will hold an “Introduction to Snow Carving” during the day. Learn how to carve a snow sculpture and make your own set of carving tools. Open to adult beginners, dabblers, hobbyists, and the simply curious. Youth 13 and older may participate if accompanied by a participating adult. Space is limited.

The workshop starts at 12:30 p.m., EDT. To register at 1-807-625-8463 with the course code: 408289.

And on Wednesday, the Northern Fibers Retreat starts at North House Folk School. It’s always such a great event, featuring lots of interesting classes and workshops as well as presentations and Lunch and Learns.

Stay tuned for details next week. Meanwhile, click here to find out more and register for classes.

Exhibits:

We’ve already talked about the new exhibits at the Johnson Heritage Post and Tettegouche State Park. Both worth visits.

In Duluth, the Duluth Art Institute has opened four new exhibits: the Arrowhead Regional Biennial, the Annual Member Show, Vern Northrup-Akinomaage and Ray Allard, Jazz Forest. The Member Show closes Feb. 24, but all the others continue at least through March.

Also in Duluth, the Lakeside Gallery, 4431 East Superior St., is featuring work by Sue Rauschenfels this month.

In Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery invites people to come and warm up as they view Riaz Mahmood’s “Burning” video series.

 Upcoming: 

The 3rd annual Hygge Festival continues in Grand Marais through next Friday. Check out all the events here. 

Next Friday, Feb. 15, SVEA will give an outdoor concert (weather permitting) at Drury Lane Books featuring Swedish folk stories and songs, This event is in conjunction with the Many Tiny Lights PTA Fundraiser for the local elementary school. Come see  the lakefront decorated with hundreds of ice lanterns.

Also on Friday, Feb. 15, landscape photographer Craig Blacklock will give an Artist Talk at 7 p.m. at the Grand Marais Art Colony. He is currently exhibiting his work there.

In Two Harbors, painter Bonnie Cutts will give a free artist lecture and demo at the Two Harbors Community Center from 6-8 p.m. If you plan on attending, email authenticartist@sandipillsbury.com The event is sponsored by the Two Harbors Voyageur Art Club. All invited.

And on Saturday, Feb. 16, join local author and spiritual leader Mary Ellen Ashcroft for a reading and signing of her new book, OMG: Growing Our God Images at Drury Lane Books. The event starts at 5 p.m. Stay tuned.

FYI:

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council is conducting a survey on artists’ needs in the Arrowhead Region. Every two to four years, the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council conducts a needs assessment to help determine its programming for the future. This year, ARAC is using a combination of methods to listen to the public, including summaries from outreach efforts, special meetings to get feedback, and this online survey. Your input is welcomed. Take the survey here.

Artist Opportunities:

 Seeking Illustrator: Request for Proposals: The 1854 Treaty Authority is developing a youth activity book which will focus on contemporary and historical practices of maple sugar harvesting. It is now seeking proposals for an illustrator to work with a cultural/language author to complete this educational tool. Proposals must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 28. The request for proposals can be found on the QuickLinks of their website: www.1854treatyauthority.org

Fun Stuff:

Lutsen painter Anna Hess was featured on a recent airing of WDSE’s Making It Up North. Check it out.

And, if you’re curious about dog mushing and the couple who won first and second place in this year’s John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, here’s a great video that tells their story. Blake and Jennifer Freking live in Finland, MN.

Lure of the North from Jonathan Chapman | JCP on Vimeo.

 Music:

Here’s the live music schedule for this week:

Thursday, Feb. 7:

• Gordon Thorne & the Wildcats, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Fred Anderson, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 8:

• Matt Browne, Voyageur Brewing  Co., 4 p.m.
• Portage, Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 9:

• Voyageur Brewing Mukluk Ball, Plucked Up. String Band, 6 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Christopher David Hanson Band, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Brothers in Arms, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Rage N Country, Grand Portage Lodge, 8 p.m.
• Brothers in Arms, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Cloud Cult, Papa Charlie’s, 9 p.m. (Sold Out.)

Sunday, Feb. 10:

Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.

Monday, Feb. 11:

• Shane Martin, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Jeremy Messersmith, Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 12:

• Jon Kallberg, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Open Mic Night at Papa Charlie’s with Eric Frost, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 13:

• Pieta Brown, Songwriter’s Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

 Photographs:

Luckily, we found some great photos this week, many of them ice-bound. Here are some wildlife shots:

 

 

 

 

And we found plenty of photos reminding us of how chilly it’s been.

 

 

 

 

 

And finally these great shots:

 

Have a great weekend, everyone. Stay warm!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Undoubtedly the 20 people who signed up for the 10th annual Winter Plein Air event at YMCA Camp Menogyn this year knew what they were getting into —  a week of painting at below zero temps, (hopefully) gorgeous sunlit days to paint Northwoods winter landscapes, camaraderie with fellow artists, hot meals and toasty places to sleep — those things are always on the menu at this popular Winter Plein Air event.

But windchills at  -50F?  Maybe not. Nevertheless, that’s what the Winter Plein Air artists had to deal with this week as the Polar Vortex plunged into the Midwest, bringing high winds along for the ride. From all reports, the painters have taken it all in stride and ventured out in the cold to paint what they see.

The Outdoor Painters of Minnesota sponsored the event, and the exhibit at Johnson Heritage Post, which opens on Friday and runs through Feb. 24, should be a great show. Not only will the exhibits include work that was completed this week, but selected paintings from the last 10 years as well. In all, more than 100 paintings will be on display.

The Johnson Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 1-4 p.m. on Sunday.

In other braving the elements news, the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon was run in this freezing weather, too, with Blake Freking winning the race and his wife, Jennifer, coming in second. It is the first time a husband and wife team have made the top two in this race. The couple raises their dogs in Finland.

And, for those who want to get outdoors and experience dogsledding for themselves, Skyport Lodge offers sled dog tours all day every Tuesday and Saturday in the winter. The next one is set for Feb. 2.

There are lots of indoor things to do this week, too.

North House Folk School continues its series of movies this Thursday with the screening of “Virginia Minnesota.” The movie was filmed in Grand Marais and on the North Shore and includes local cameos, including World’s Best Doughnuts, North House and the schooner Hjørdis. The film is about two young women, torn apart by a childhood tragedy, unexpectedly reuniting and embarking on an illuminating 24-hour journey.

VIRGINIA MINNESOTA – Trailer from Daniel Stine on Vimeo.

The film will be screened in the Blue Building at North House at 7 p.m. Free. Bring your own refreshments.

Also on Thursday, WDSE’s Making It Up North will feature interviews with three North Shore residents: Teri Davis-Downing, owner of the Wunderbar Campground and Eatery in Grand Marais, Frank Sander, who is building an artist’s sanctuary in Knife River and Lutsen painter Anna Hess. Check out the trailer below. Making It Up North is broadcast at 8 p.m.

And on Friday, the Grand Marais Public Library will screen “The Little Pink House,” a drama about a Connecticut nurse who finds herself at the center of a political firestorm and a Supreme Court case centering on eminent domain. Here’s the trailer:

The film screens at 6 p.m. on Friday. Free.

On Saturday, the Grand Marais Art Colony will hold a Community Ink Day from 1-3:30 p.m. in the print studio. This time, it’s Monoprint Saturday, and participants will have a chance to create their own, unique monoprint art piece for personal use or to give as a gift. Drop in to experiment with design and learn more about the art of printmaking. Youth under 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Instructor is on-site. The tuition is $5. No registration is required.

And Saturday at 6 p.m. is French Film Night at Cook County Higher Education.  The French movie, “The Intouchables”‘ will be screened. The film has English subtitles, so those of varying French language skills can easily enjoy the film. Nancy Dumas will be a host during the event to answer any French language questions that come up. She will also be providing a handout that includes some items to consider while watching the film.

The award-winning film is about a a rich, Parisian quadriplegic who hires an ex-con as his live-in personal assistant. It is loosely based on a true story. Check out the trailer below.

Popcorn and pop will also be provided. The suggested donation is $5.

On Monday, the Mountain Thyme Music Studio will host Celtic Sessions at the Wunderbar from 7-9 p.m. All are welcome. Bring an instrument! Fiddles, whistles, flutes, pipes, bodhrans, guitars, mandolins, banjos, accordions, your voice …  all are welceome. A group of Celtic musicians from Thunder Bay will participate as well.

w

The first hour will be a ‘slow session’ dedicated to teaching one or two tunes, by ear, for everyone to learn. Tunes are played slowly, broken down into phrases and repeated until everyone has the opportunity to learn the tune. This is a fantastic way to improve playing skills.

The second hour will be a regular open session, with participants sharing songs around the circle and playing tunes together for all to enjoy. The group will meet in the lounge area between the pub and the game room. All invited. Questions? Call Michele Miller: 218-475-2656.

On Tuesday, North House Folk School will hold a community class with April Stone entiteld “Weave a Plaited Black Ash Basket.” Participants will learn how to weave a basket of their own in two sessions, Feb. 5 and Feb. 7. Tuition is free. There’s a $20 materials fee. Call North House at 387-9762 to register.

And on Wednesday, Tim Cochrane will speak about the Linklaters: People of the Border Lakes and Isle Royale, at the Grand Marais Public Library at 6 p.m.

Exhibits:

The Johnson Heritage Post‘s “Winter Plein Air | 10 years of Painting in the BWCAW” continues through Feb. 24. All of the artists will have recent paintings as well as some favorites from earlier years.

The Duluth Art Institute has just opened four new exhibits, including the Member Show and the Arrowhead Biennial. The exhibits continue through March.

At the Thunder Bay Art Gallery in Thunder Bay, “Lessons: The Artistry of Learning,” features a wide variety of works and mediums and continues through March 3. Video artist Zoe Gordon is showing her video, “You couldn’t identify a sound looking at a sound wave.”

The video is an eight-second conversation excerpt shared through a visualizer.

Also in Thunder Bay, the Baggage Building Arts Centre continues its Fibre Art Exhibit through February.

The exhibit features a wide variety of fiber art by artists in the region.

Upcoming:

 Photographer Craig Blacklock will exhibit his work at the Grand Marais Art Colony in February. Entitled “Lake Superior and the Enduring Gift,” the exhibit features photographs of Lake Superior as well as the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Blacklock’s photographs also features the beauty of the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers.

Blacklock will be giving an Artist Talk at the Art Colony at 7 p.m. Feb. 15. He will also be teaching “Photograhing Superior’s Frozen Landscape” from Feb. 11-15. For more info, call the Art Colony at 387-2737.

And the Northern Fibers Retreat, sponsored by North House Folk School, is set for Feb. 13-17 this year with lots of classes, demonstrations, presentations, lunch-and-learn events and more. The featured instructor this year is Karin Flatøy Svarstad of Kalvåg, Norway. Stay tuned for details and/or click here.

Artist News:

 Two Harbors photographer, Christian Dalbec, has the cover photograph in the March issue of Lake Superior Magazine.

Timothy Cochrane was nominated for the 2019 Minnesota Book Award for this book, “Gichi Bitobig, Grand Marais: Early Accounts of the Anishinaabeg and the North Shore Fur Trade.”

The awards will be announced April 6.

Josie Lewis, who grew up in Hovland, but now resides in Minneapolis, is putting in a tile installation featuring butterflies at the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport, Concourse F at F4.

And, if you have some extra time, check out this video of a painting restoration. It’s really fun to watch.

Also, there’s a call out to artists to participate in the Art of Healing exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post that opens March 1. Organized by the Violence Prevention Center, it’s an open submission show. If you or someone you love has been affected by domestic or sexual violence and has used art as a means to respond, express or heal, they are invited to submit a piece or pieces to the show. Anonymous submissions, including 2D, 3D or written works accepted. For more info, call 387-1262.  Deadline to submit work is Feb. 14.

Music:

 Thursday, Jan. 31

• Gordon Thorne & the Wildcats, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 1:

• Jim McGowan, Voyageur Brewing, 4 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Lutsen resort, 7 p.m.
• Charlie Roth, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Pete K, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• The Dead Pigeons, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 2:

• Briand Morrison, The Cove at Best Western in Grand Marais, 5 p.m.
• Pete K, Cascade Restaurant, 6 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• The Dead Pigeons, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 3:

• Brian Morrison, Mogul’s Grile, 10 a.m.

Monday, Feb. 4:

• Timmy Haus, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Celtic Sessions with Wild Thyme Music Studio,  Wunderbar, 5-7 p.m.

 Tuesday, Feb. 5:

• Gordon Thorne, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Open Mic Night with Eric Frost, Papa Charlie’s, 7 p.m.

Photographs:

Lots of photos of the cold this week. Go figure. Let’s start with some wildlife shots:

 

 

 

 

 

And now, for some brrrrr, cold shots:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally, this one…

Stay warm, everyone!

If you’ve enjoyed reading this week’s NorthShore ArtScene, consider making a donation today. And thank you to everyone who has sent in a donation! Such an honor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hunkering down in sub-zero temps is certainly an option this week, but getting outside and enjoying winter is always a great way to celebrate the season, too. Of particular interest: the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, which starts in Duluth on Sunday and finishes in two locations in Cook County: Lutsen Mountains and the Grand Portage Lodge & Casino.

It will be an exciting series of races. Here’s a video of scenes from 2018 to give you a taste of what to expect:

The Mid-Distance race will end at Lutsen Mountains, with the first teams expected to arrive around 7 a.m. on Monday. In all, 20 mushers have signed up to compete in this race.

The Marathon features 12 teams this year, including local favorites Erin Altemus, Frank Moe, Mary Manning and Blake and Jennifer Freking. The teams are expected to start arriving at Grand Portage around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday and will be arriving through the night. You can watch the race on-line, too, as all the mushers carry devices to show their locations. To watch it, click here.

Best places to watch the race? Favorite check points are the Sawbill Trail, Trail Center, Skyport Lodge and Mineral Center. It’s definitely going to be cold this year, and there’s lots of snow, so look for a great race.

Meanwhile, indoors, there’s lots to do, too.

Thursday is turning into one of those winter evenings where you really need to put on your time-travel suit to enjoy everything that is being offered. This week is no exception.

First up on Thursday is the North Shore Arts League meeting, a continuation of the organizational meeting that was held a few weeks ago. The meeting will be held from 4-6 p.m. at the Johnson Heritage Post. All artists in any media are invited to attend. The Arts League is a network of Arrowhead artists who share their time, talent and knowledge to support each other as artists and artisans. There will be a member show at the Johnson Heritage Post in April. All invited. For more information, contact Kathy Weinberg at klweinberg@gmail.com.

Then, at 6 p.m., Natalie Sobanja will lead a session of the Critical Response session at the Grand Marais Art Colony. This is an artist-led multi-step, group system for giving and receiving feedback on creative processes and works-in-progress. This process allows artists to ask questions about their work in a non-judgmental setting through a facilitated dialogue between artists, peers, and audiences. Students who sign up will be part of the peer critique group and are not asked to bring in their own artwork to this training session. For more information, call the Art Colony at 387-2737. The session will run until 8:30 p.m.

Then, there are two events that start at 7 p.m. — a film screening at North House Folk School and a house concert at the Art House B&B.

The film at North House is entitled “24 Snow” and is a Mikhail Barynin film about raising horses in the Arctic.  Here’s the trailer:

The film is free and will be screened in the Green Building. All invited.

Also on Thursday night, Iron Range musicians Sara Pajunen and Sam Miltich will play for a house concert at the Art House B& B starting at 7 p.m. Both musicians have performed at Art House before, but this is the first time they’ll be playing together, sharing music from the Iron Range. Sam’s father will join them on upright bass.

All invited. The suggested donation is $10. Refreshments will be served. Art House is located arts 8 7th Ave. W. in Grand Marais.

If you’re really determined to stay at home, WDSE’s “Making It Up North” might be of interest. The Emmy nominated program highlights creative entrepreneurs who know what it takes to make it in today’s business environment. Two Cook County residents will be featured: Wunderbar’s Teri Downing and painter Anna Hess. Others on this week’s program are Frank Sander, as he builds his Little Knife Sanctuary/Artist Retreat at Knife River and Patrick Krekelberg and his start-up tech concern, Krekletronics. The program airs at 8 p.m.

On Friday, the Grand Marais Public Library continues its movie series with the screening of “Marshall,” a drama about Thurgood Marshall, the crusading lawyer who would become the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, as he battles through one of his career-defining cases. Here’s the trailer:

The film is screened at 6 p.m. at the library. Free.

And on Saturday, if you’re in Thunder Bay, consider attending “Direlecte,” a fashion odyssey put on by the Definitely Superior Art Gallery. It’s a pretty crazy time with 27 acts of wearable art, fashion and music from 8 p.m.-2 a.m.. at the Black Pirates Pub in Thunder Bay. Expect large crowds, out-of-the-box fashions and lots of music. Here’a video of snippets from last year’s event.

Derelicte 11 from Definitely Superior Art Gallery on Vimeo.

Tickets are $15 at the door.

A little closer to home: the continuation of the Lake Effect Ski/Music Festival at Papa Charlie’s with the bands the People Brothers Band and Pho on Saturday night. The music starts at 9:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, the Reading Groups start at the Grand Marais Art Colony with sessions in the morning and evening.

Each group will be led by a different facilitator and read different books. They will meet in their groups on Jan. 29 and then reconvene at the Art Colony on Feb. 21 for a final discussion. Books and facilitators include:

• “The Death and Life of the Great Lakes” with Ann Possis
• “Blue Arabesque: A Search for the Sublime” with Nina Simonowicz
• “The Gift: Creativity and the Artist in the Modern World” with John Books
• “Wired for Story: The Writer’s Guild to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence” with Rose Arrowsmith DeCoux
• “Water and What We Know: Following the Roots of a Nothern Life” with Lin Salisbury

For more information, contact the Art Colony at 387-2737.

The community listening sessions with Julia Klatt Singer and Craig Carnahan scheduled for next week have been cancelled due to the weather.

The three Community Listening Sessions are:

• Wednesday, Jan.30, 7-8:30 p.m., North House Folk School.
• Thursday, Jan. 31, 11 a.m-12:30 p.m., Grand Marais Public Library.
• Thursday, Jan., 31, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Cook County Community Center.

Exhibits

The Johnson Heritage Post is closed until Feb. 1, when the Winter Plein Air Exhibit opens. Stay tuned.

This is the final week of the Group of Finland Painters exhibit at Tettegouche State Park, featuring a wide variety of work in oil, acrylic and watercolors. Gary Olson is showing the painting below, a reminder of a different season, for sure.

The exhibit of George Morrison prints continues at the Cedar Coffee Company in Two Harbors as well as the North Shore Winery in Lutsen..

And the Tweed Museum of Art is featuring work by Morrison as well, including this painting, which is part of its Intersections exhibit.

Four new exhibits opened at the Duluth Art Institute with a reception Thursday from 5-7 p.m. They will continue through February.  On tap are the Annual Member Show, the Arrowhead Regional Biennial, Akinomaage (Vern Northrup), and Jazz Forest (Ray Allard).

Patricia Lenz has opened an exhibit of her work at the Zeitgeist Cafe in Duluth.

In Thunder Bay, the Baggage Building  Arts Centre is featuring the Fibre Exhibition, featuring work by 24 different Thunder Bay fiber artists. Work includes knitting, crocheting, weaving, quilting and textiles.

The exhibit continues through March 24.

Upcoming:

The Violence Prevention Center is organizing an art exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post entitled “The Art of Healing” that opens March 1. If you or someone you love have been affected by domestic or sexual violence and has used art as a means to respond, explore, express or heal from their experience, they are invited to share in this first Art of Healing event. Everyone has the option to submit work anonymously if they choose to do so. For more information, contact the Violence Prevention Center at 387-1262 or email hope4u@boreal.org

 Music:

Thursday, Jan. 24:

• Gordon Thorne & the Wildcats, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Gene Lafond and Amy Grillo, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Iron Range Music with Sara Pajunen and Sam Miltich, Art House B&B, 7 p.m.
• DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 25:

• North Country Fair, The Wunderbar, 6 p.m.
• Gene Lafond and Amy Grillo, Cascade Lodge Restaurant, 6 p.m.
• North Country Fair, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Matt Griswald, Voyageur Brewing, 8 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Lake Effect Ski Music Festival,, Nooky Jone and Jaedyn James & The Hunger, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 26:

• Jim McGowan, Cascade Lodge Restaurant, 6 p.m.
• Brothers in Arms, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Jacob Mahon & the Salty Dogs, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Lake Effect Ski/Music Festival, The People Brothers Band and Pho, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 27:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Open Stage with Joe Paulik, The Wunderbar, 6 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 28:

• Joe Paulik, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 29:

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

Wednesday, Jan. 30:

• Singer/Songwriter Series, Teague Alexy, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Photographs:

We found only a few wildlife shots this week:

 

And we found lots of moon shots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also found some landscapes:

 

 

 

And finally, this:

Enjoy your winter weekend, everyone!

Did you enjoy NorthShore ArtScene this week? Consider making a donation today. And Thank You!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, when January really rolls around, as it has this week, Minnesotans either layer up and go outside to play, or they find out what’s happening indoors. More often than not, they do a little of both, and there’s lots to choose from this week.

First up on Thursday, is the screening of the film, “Tarfala,” at North House Folk School. This documentary film by Johannnes Ostergard, follows a man who has chosen to spend his life as a caretaker of a lonely ski hut north of the Arctic Circle, right next to Sweden’s highest mountain. It’s fascinating study of a man’s love for solitude in wilds of an Arctic winter.

Check out the trailer here:

The film will be screened at 7 p.m. in the Blue Building. Free. Open to all! Bring your own snacks.

At 8 p..m., local ceramic artist Hannah Palma Laky and Big Lake shopowner Abby Tofte will be featured on the WDSE’s “Making It Up North.”  The Emmy-nominated program is in its second season, and it highlights creative entrepreneurs in northern Minnesota who know what it takes to make it in today’s business climate.

This episode will feature entrepreneurs who have made a living “by hand,” whether through through mediums such as ceramics, jewelry, or photography, or they’ve built a business to showcase local works.  The show will also highlight how jewelry artist Louise Pajack Guillou built Atelier & Stone by collaborating with Wolfskull Creative’s Michelle Bennett, and musician Peter Witrak, who creates kinetic sculptures with statewide appeal.

Check out a snippet of the trailer here:

The program airs on WDSE at 8 p.m. on Thursday. In two weeks, on Jan. 31, Making  It Up North will feature The Wunderbar and a segment on Lutsen artist Anna Hess. Same time, same station.

Scroll down a day to Friday, and go to the Grand Marais Public Library at 6 p.m. to see the film “Chappaquiddick.” The film covers the scandal and mysterious events surrounding the tragic drowning of Mary Jo Kopechne, as Ted Kennedy drove his car off the infamous bridge, are revealed in the new movie starring Jason Clarke as Kennedy and Kate Mara as Mary Jo.

Through true accounts, documented in the inquest from the investigation in 1969, director John Curran and writers Andrew Logan and Taylor Allen, intimately expose the broad reach of political power, the influence of America’s most celebrated family; and the vulnerability of Ted Kennedy, the youngest son, in the shadow of his family legacy.

Check out the trailer here:

The film is free and starts at 6 p.m.

And Friday night will feature a fascinating Artist Talk at the Grand Marais Art Colony with Karen Owlsey Nease, a painter and co-owner of the Joseph Nease Gallery in Duluth. Lake Superior is the primary subject matter in Karen’s work, and she will discuss her depiction of its waters as points of departure in the development of a painting, as well as her uses of it, which span from metaphor to emotional driver to design element.

It should be a fascinating presentation, especially for those who love Lake Superior in all her moods. The Artist Talk is free and will be from 7-8:30 p.m. on Friday. All invited.

For those cozying up at home, listen to WTIP’s The Roadhouse on Friday night. Eric Frost and Friends will be on for the first slot of the show to talk about their music and play a few tunes. The show airs from 5-7 p.m. on Fridays.

On Saturday night, go for the heat and show up for the Winter Gathering and Dance at the Hovland Town Hall from 7-10 p.m. The event is sponsored by the North Shore Music Association.

The SplinterTones are on tap to play for the dance and they’re one of the best dance bands in the county. The band features: Leah Thomas, accordion and vocals; Rick Brandenburg, drums; Jeff DeShaw, bass and vocals; Max Bichel, violin and vocals; Liz Sivertson, saxophone.

There is no admission fee, but donations are appreciated. Families welcome.

There’s lots of great music this weekend (see the schedule below), and some interesting performances during the Singer/Songwriter sessions at Papa Charlie’s next week. On Monday night, Moors &McCumber perform, and on Wednesday night, Rachel Kilgour is on-stage. Music starts at 8 p.m. Free.

Exhibits:

 The Johnson Heritage Post is closed for the rest of the month and opening for the Winter Plein Air Exhibit on Feb. 1. Stay tuned.

Fika Coffee in Lutsen has just mounted an exhibit of prints by Carie Schaefer.

 

At Tettegouche State Park, the Finland Group of Painters are exhibiting a collection of works in oils and watercolors. The exhibit is the Great Hall and continues through the end of the month.

The Cedar Coffee Company in Two Harbors will hold an opening reception for the George Morrison Poster Prints show from 5-7 p.m. Friday.

At the Tweed Museum of Art, the exhibit “Intersections,” featuring 46 selected artworks by 19 Native artists continues through January.

In Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery continues its exhibit, “Lessons: The Artistry of Learning.”

In other Thunder Bay Art Gallery news, the gallery just received word that it was awarded a $2.5 million grant by the Canadian government to be used for the construction of a new gallery in Prince Arthur Park, which is on the shores of Lake Superior. “It’s a go,” gallery director Sharon Godwin told CBC News. Exciting news for the gallery, for sure.

 Upcoming:

Next Wednesday, the Grand Marais Playhouse, in collaboration with the Grand Marais Public Library, will hold a reading of the “It Can’t Happen Here” by Sinclair Lewis. The public is invited to to come, read a few lines or just watch as this historic play unfolds. The reading starts at 6 p.m. Free.

On Thursday, the Arts League of the North Shore will hold its second organizational meeting from 4-6 p.m. at the Johnson Heritage Post. The organization is a network of Arrowhead artists who share their time, talent and knowledge to support each other as artists and artisans. All artists are invited. The Arts League plans to hold a group show at the Heritage Post in April.

Also on Thursday, Natalie Sobanja will convene a Critical Response training session at the Grand Marais Art Colony from 6-8:30 p.m. The process allows artists to ask questions about their work in a non-judgmental setting through a facilitated dialogue between artists, peers, and audiences. Students who sign up will be part of the peer critique group and are not asked to bring in their own artwork to this training session.

Should you want to have your work critiqued for feedback, please call the Art Colony at 387-2737.

And at 7 p.m.  on Thursday, Jan. 24, Sara Pajunen and Sam Miltich will perform  “Iron Range Music” at a house concert at the Art House B&B.

The concert starts at 7 p.m.  $10 suggested donation. Refreshments will be served. The Art B&B is located at 8 7th Ave. West in Grand Marais.

A series of Winter Reading Groups will be meeting at the Grand Marais Art Colony on Jan 29. Each group will be led by a different facilitator and read different books. They will meet in their groups on Jan. 29 and then reconvene at the Art Colony on Feb. 21 for a final discussion. Books and facilitators include:

• “The Death and Life of the Great Lakes” with Ann Possis
• “Blue Arabesque: A Search for the Sublime” with Nina Simonowicz
• “The Gift: Creativity and the Artist in the Modern World” with John Books
• “Wired for Story: The Writer’s Guild to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence” with Rose Arrowsmith DeCoux
• “Water and What We Know: Following the Roots of a Nothern Life” Lin Salisbury

The deadline to sign up is Jan. 22. For more info, click here.

Also at the Art Colony, photographer Jess Oulis Smith with hold photography sessions for artists who want to develop their portfolios. Sessions will be held Feb 5, Feb. 9 and Feb. 12. For more info, click here or call the Art Colony at 387-2737

  Artist Opportunities:

 The applications for the Grand Marais Arts Festival are now open. The deadline to apply is March 7.

The festival Isi July 13-14 this year. To find all the details and apply, click here.

Call for Artists: Artists of every age are invited to participatd in this year’s Spirit of the Wilderness community exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post, which opens March 16. The theme of this year’s exhibit is “Thin Places: Encountering the Surprising Spirit Along the North Shore.” Artwork must be dropped off on Wednesday, March 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Johnson Heritage Post.

For more information about participating in this exhibit, call 387-2314.

Music:

Here’s the music schedule for this week:

Thursday, Jan 17:

• Timmy Haus Bent Paddle Takeover, Wunderbar 5 p.m.
• Eric Frost, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Briand Morrison. Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Billy Johnson, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
• DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 18:

• Billy Johnson, voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Cascade Lodge Restaurant, 6 p.m.
• JohnRuss, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Eric Frost Band, Wunder bar, 7 p.m.
• Brotherless Arms (Drew Heinonen & Jim Miller), Bluefi Grille, 8 p.m.
• The Millers, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 19:

• Billy Johnson, North Shore Winery, 3 p.m.
• Roxann Bergland, The Cover at Best Western, 5 p.m.
• Cherry Dirt, Cascade Lodge Restaurant, 6 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, Poplar River Pub, 7 p.m.
• Common Ground, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Mysterious Ways, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• The Sprigs, Poplar Haus, 8 p.m.
• Eric Frost Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 20:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Open Stage, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.
• Billy Johnson, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Monday, Jan 21:

• Gordon Thorne, Bluefin Grille,  8 p.m.
• Moors  & McCumber, Monday Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 22:

• Gordon Thorne, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Open Mic Night with Boyd Blomberg, Papa Charlie’s, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 23

• Jon Kalberg, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Rachel Kilgour, Singer/Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Photographs:

We found some great photos this week. Here’s a selection:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here are some landscapes.

A window-scape  …

More landscapes …

 

Some shipping photos:

 

 

 

 

And finally, this beauty:

Have a great weekend, everyone!

(If you’d like to help support this blog, consider donating today. Just click on the button below and donate any amount you want. And thank you!!)

 

 

 

January! When snow falls, and it starts getting lighter every day. The trails and hills are groomed and ready, and artists hunker down to start making for the coming year.

This January is no exception, although the deep snow and ice this early in the season is somewhat unusual. What is not unusual are the opportunities to get together, watch movies, listen to lots of live music, and get things done in the studio.

We have two movie opportunities this month: North House Folk School is running a movie series every Thursday night and the Grand Marais Pubic Library is screening films on Friday nights.

This week, North House Folk School will host the Back Country Film Festival on Thursday, Jan. 10, featuring a variety of films of the backcountry, human-powered recreation and environmental preservation.

Hosted by Superior Highlands Backcountry and produced by the Winter Wildlands Alliance, the film festival will promote the work of compelling storytellers. Doors open at 6 p.m., films start at 7 p.m. There will be raffles and silent auction. Admission is $10, kids are free. All invited.

On Friday, the Grand Marais Public Library will host Friday Night Reels and screen a documentary about Mister Fred Rogers starting at 6 p.m. The film, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” takes an intimate look at Mister Rogers, his work and his views on how to get along with each other. Check out the trailer here:

The film will be screened at 6 p.m. Free. Come early to make sure you get a seat.

On Saturday, the Grand Marais Music Collaborative will host an open mic at Wunderbar starting at 7 p.m. The Music Collaborative brings local music students and experienced music instructors together, fostering the region’s next generation of musicians. The entire GMMC board will be at the event, and many will bring their instruments. The Open Mic will be hosted by Joe Paulik and Pat Flack.

The public is invited to this once-a-year event. It should be a fun evening of music and talk.

On Sunday, the Grand Marais Playhouse will hold a meeting at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts about next summer’s Summer Repertory line-up at 6:30 p.m.. Two shows will be performed in repertory on the weekends from July 18 through Aug. 11. A musical or a farce will be selected based on the interest of the group. For more info, contact Sue Hennessy at 387-1284, ext 2 or send an email to: sue@grandmaraisplayhouse.com

And on Monday, the Playhouse will hold auditions for the play “Quilters” at 3:30 p.m. at the ACA.  This is the annual community youth production with an emphasis on high school actors. There are roles for six women of high school age as well as an adult.  Musicians are also needed for this play. For more information, contact Sue Hennessy at sue@grandmaraisplayhouse.com. She can also be reached at 387-1284.

And at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 16, the Grand Marais Art Colony will host an informational session about this year’s 100-Day Project, The project, developed by an artists’ group in Michigan, invites artists to commit to an artistic pursuit for 100 days — whether it’s writing a book, crafting cartoons, working a new musical composition or just playing with art. The process develops new skills and habits and can be transforming for participants. It’s also fun.

To find out more, come to the Art Colony at noon on Jan. 16. The actual 100-Day Project starts on Jan. 20. For more info, contact the Art Colony at 387-2737.

Exhibits:

 This is the last week to see the exhibit, “Remains of the Lake & the Northern Landscape” at the Johnson Heritage Post featuring a collection of black and white photographs by John Gregor focused on Lake Superior and landscapes by Tami Phillippi.

The exhibit has been well-received and continues through Jan. 13. The Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

An exhibit of George Morrison prints is currently on view at the North Shore Winery.

The Cedar Coffee House in Two Harbors will also mount an exhibit of George Morrison’s prints, with the opening reception set for Jan. 18. Stayed tuned.

A new exhibit has opened at Tettegouche State Park, featuring a variety of work by the Finland Group of Painters, including watercolors and oils.

The exhibit in the Great Hall continues through January.

In Duluth, the “Quiet Simplicity” exhibit at the Tweed Museum of Art continues, with a painting by Richard Emil Miller added this week.

In Thunder Bay, the Definitely Superior Art Gallery, 250 Park Ave.,  has extended its exhibits through Jan. 19 due to public demand. On view are a film,”Qaleidoscope” Untamed: The Annual Regional Juried Show and Comet Chaser: Sarah Mason: A Retrospective.

The exhibits at Def Sup continue through Jan. 19.

At the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, this is the last weekend to see “Reclaimed,” an exhibition of hand-restored axes, hatchets, and sledges by Curtis MacKay Wilson of Fablewood Homestead.

The restored artifacts are important pieces of material and cultural history of Northern Ontario, as well as examples of skilled restoration techniques.

Upcoming:

 Learn to waltz, two-step, foxtrot and swing dance with Ann and Wayne Russ this winter. The couple will be teaching dance classes at the 4-H Building at the Community Center from 7:15-9 p.m. starting Jan. 22. Singles welcome. For more info and to register, call 218 370-8949 or email russ@boreal.org

The Art House B&B will host a House Concert with Iron Range musicians Sara Pajunen and Sam Miltich at 7 p.m. Jan. 24. Tickets are $10 at the door. Refreshments will be served.

The Grand Marais Art Colony will host solar plate printmaker Dan Welden and photographer Craig Blacklock in a series of workshops, exhibits and artist talks in February. Stay tuned.

 

Grand Marais photographer, Bryan Hansel, will give a presentation at the Grand Marais Public Library Feb. 20. His topic?  “100 Days on the Road: The Life of a Landscape Photographer.” Here’s a Google map of where he traveled to take photos and teach workshops last year.

Here is one of the images he captured:

The presentation is free. Stay tuned.

Opportunities:

 More than 20 artists from every medium turned up for the first organizational meeting of the North Shore Arts League at the Johnson Heritage Post on Tuesday. The group discussed how and if they wanted to organize an artist network and support group. The decision? Yes! A steering committee was formed  to guide organizational structure in its early days. The steering committee members are Natalie Sobanja, Maxine Linehan, Bob Swanson, Julie Arthur and Kathy Weinberg.

The group also decided to have a group show at the Johnson Heritage Post in April. The next organizational meeting is set for Jan. 24 from 5-7 p.m. All artists invited. For more info, contact Kathy Weinberg at klweinberg@gmail.com

A call for artists of every age has gone out for the spring exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post sponsored by the Spirit of the Wilderness Church. The exhibit opens in March. The theme this year is “Thin Place.” For more info, contact Greg Mueller at glmuellerstudio@gmail.com and stay tuned for details.

And finally, a call for artists has gone out for the Bimidji Sculpture Walk.

The sculpture festival is held in June. This is the 20th year the event has been held on the streets of the town. Selected artists will receive a $500 honorarium. For more info, click here.

  Music:

Here’s the music schedule for this week:

Thursday, Jan. 10:

• Gordon Thorne & the Wildcats, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Pete K, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 11:

• Briand Morrison, Voyageur Brewing, 4 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• North Shore Community Swing Band, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Colleen Myhre and Ton Peterson, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Pete K, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 12:

• Harris Mills, The Cove, Best Western Plus Superior Inn, 5-8 p.m.
• Frozen Britches, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Common Ground, Poplar River Pub, 7 p.m.
• Grand Marais Music Collaborative, Open Mic, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Colleen Myhre and Tony Peterson, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 14:

• Chris Koza, Singer/Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 15:

• Jim & Michele Miller, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Open Mic with Boyd Blomberg, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 16:

• Singer/Songwriters Sarah Morris Trio, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

We found lots of photos this week. Here’s a selection:

First, wildlife:

 

 

 

 

 

We found these northern light shots.

 

And snow:

And grey beauty.

And some wonderful sunrise/sunsets:

 

 

 

 

And a double sunset/double exposure:

 

And finally, this shot, which certainly tells a story…

Heidi Pinkerton caught this scene when she was out driving the other day. When she got out of her car, the wolf left, but the deer stayed in that freezing river for another hour before venturing onto dry ground, she said.

So that’s it for this week! Enjoy your weekend!

(If you’ve enjoyed NorthShore ArtScene this week, consider making a donation today. And thank you!)