North Shore Arts Scene

It’s going to be pretty quiet in Cook County this weekend, but maybe that’s good — there’s lots of time to enjoy all the events which are happening.

Look to a fantastic art exhibit that opened last weekend at the Johnson Heritage Post, a plein air painting opening at Tettegouche State Park with an artist’s talk by Neil Sherman on Friday night and a performance and two workshops by a world-class musician from Congo and his quartet, Siama Matuzungidi. And not to forget, this is the Mountain Meltdown Weekend at Lutsen Mountains with 10 different bands. And there are lots of things happening in other communities on the North Shore this weekend as well. Here are the details:

Siama Matuzungidi, a prolific composer and guitarist and native of the Democratic Republic of Congo, will be in Grand Marais this weekend with his quartet, the World Congo Quartet.

A sought-after studio musician, Siama recorded hundreds of popular songs during the golden era of soukous music in the ‘70s and ‘80s and toured Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. His signature sound and commitment to innovation helped fuel the popularization of soukous (“the sound of happiness”), which is still widely enjoyed on dance floors worldwide. Now a Minnesota resident, Siama brings his feel-good acoustic music, including songs inspired by traditional music from his childhood in rural DR Congo, to US crowds. Here’s a recent PBS special about Siama’s life and music:

While in Grand Marais, Siama will teach two workshops at the Grand Marais Public Library on Friday, April 6:  at 1 pm and 2:30 pm.  The first will be an interactive presentation of word and music at 1 p.m. and a singing workshop at 2:30 p.m. All invited. He will be interviewed on WTIP’s The Roadhouse on Friday night where he and his wife will perform and talk about their music. The Roadhouse airs from 5-7 p.m.

On Saturday night,  Siama will perform in concert with his Congo World Quartet. Featuring Siama, singer Dallas Johnson, global music drummer Tim O’Keefe, and renowned cellist Jacqueline Ultan, the quartet creates a unique fusion by blending a colorful palette of musical influences with Siama’s traditional Congolese music. The result is an uplifting tapestry filled with lush textures and dramatic nuance.

Tickets are $15 adults, $5 youth (18 & under) and can be purchased at www.tix.com or at the door.

Also in Grand Marais this weekend, check out the new show at the Johnson Heritage Post, “Chroma/Creature/Vessel/Vision,” which opened last week.  It really is an extraordinary exhibit of work by a family of artists — Joel Lewis and his grown children Josie, Forest, and Corrie Steckelberg.

 

 

The exhibit will continue through April 22. The Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

On Friday, Grand Marais plein air artist, Neil Sherman, will open an exhibit of his work in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park with a reception at 7 p.m. He will give a brief Artist Talk about his work. All invited.

Further down the shore, the Voyageur Art Club’s Spring Exhibit continues at the Cedar Coffee House with works in a variety of media by members of the club.

The show will continue through April 20 with a reception scheduled for April 12 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The Cedar Coffee Company is located at  1130 11th St.,  just a block north of Super One Grocery Store in Two Harbors.

Also in Two Harbors this weekend, “Fences,” powerful drama by August Wilson, will be performed at the Two Harbors High School April 6-8. The play is a production of Lake Superior Community Theatre, based in Silver Bay. Paul Deaner, artistic director of the theater company.

This is the first time “Fences” has been performed north of the Twin Cities. For tickets, see www.tix.com.

In Duluth, the Lakeside Gallery will hold an opening reception for the “Rooster Invitational” from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday.

More than 20 local artists have contributed work to this show, featuring roosters and chickens. It continues through the month of April. Lakeside Gallery is located at 4431 E. Superior St.

The Tweed Museum of Art continues its collection-based exhibit, “Quiet Simplicity” through May.

In Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery will hold an art opening at 7:30 p.m. (EDT) on Thursday, April 5. Entitled “Strength Through Our Tears: Honoring Our Stories,” the community based art project aims to increase women, police and the community’s understanding of the resiliency and dignity of survivors of sexual violence. The reception is open all.

The exhibit continues through May 13. Other exhibits at the gallery include the Lakehead University Visual Art Deparment Annual Major Studio Exhibition and and the Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School Exhibition.

And for a crazy/wonderful art experience, check out Urban Infill: Art in the Core in Thunder Bay on Saturday, April 7, from 7-11 p.m. Fore the event, he entire downtown Waterfront District is transformed into an artistic experience with art exhibits, music, performance and more. Urban Infill, a production of the Definitely Superior Art Gallery, features works by 400 regional, national and international multi-disciplinary artists at 25 downtown locations, including DefSup, commercial art galleries & spaces, artist studios and empty spaces transformed into new art/performance venues.

Start at DefSup, 250 Park Ave., pick up your Art Map and let Performative Tour Guides show you the way … or explore downtown on your own.  If you miss the Gala Opening, the visual art exhibition continues through April 10. For more info on this incredible art experience, click here.

 Upcoming:

 Join the Clay Club! An exciting free program for community youth ages K-12 to learn about creating with clay will begin soon. Clay Club will be held after school in the ISD 166 Art Room from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays from grades 6-12 and Wednesdays for grades K-5. Participants will engage with the ceramic process while building connections with others and exploring their own creativity. The focus will be on handbuilding techniques, but there will also be limited opportunities to use the pottery wheel.

The program is led by ceramic artist and educator Melissa Wickwire and co-facilitated by ISD 166 Art Teacher Mila Horak.
Advance registration is required by April 10. Register at the ISD 166 office. Direct any questions to melisawickire@gmail.com.

Make bowls for Empty Bowls: 12 percent of Cook County residents go hungry every month. To address this need, each year the Grand Marais Art Colony makes bowls for the Empty Bowls Dinner and Silent Auction: a community art fundraiser to alleviate local hunger needs. Help support this cause this year by attending the Spring Make-A-Bowl for Empty Bowls, April 13 – 15.

Participants will make one wheel-thrown bowl and one hand-built bowl to donate to the fundraiser. There are several sessions scheduled for April 13-15, but participants must register. For more info, click here.

Here’s the music for this week:

Thursday, April 5:

• Boyd Blomberg, Mogul’s Grille, 4 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Jon Kallberg, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.

Friday, April 6:

• Eric Frost, Mogul’s Grille, 4 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• KutDown, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Frogleg, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 7:

• Mountain Meltdown, Papa Charlie’s:

1. Bug Dope, 4 p.m.
2. Galactic Cowboy Orchestra, 2:30 p.m.
3. Ginstrings, 1 p.m.

• Siama Matuzungidi & Congo World Quartet, Arrowhead Center for the Arts, 7 p.m.
• Jim & Michelle Miller, Lutsen Resort, 8 p.m.
• Mysterious Ways, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• White Iron Band, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 8:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m
• TBA, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Mountain Meltdown, Papa Charlie’s, outdoor music

1. Cook County’s Most Wanted, 2:30 p.m.
2. SplinterTones, 1 p.m.
3. Plucked Up String Band, 11:30 a.m.
4. Spruce Roots, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, April 10:

• Eric Frost, Poplar River Pub 6 p.m.
• Tuesday Night Trivia, Grandma Ray’s, 7 p.m.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a great weekend, everyone!

(Consider making a donation of any size to NorthShore ArtScene this week. It’s easy to do and helps support this blog. Click on the icon below, and Thank You!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easter week brings the final snowstorm of the season (maybe), a fantastic art opening at the Johnson Heritage Post, breadmaking, a great play opening on the North Shore and a Celtic Concert and Ceilli Dance, to mention a few.

First up is Bread Baking, the final Skill Share of the season at North House Folk School.

Master breadmaker and North House instructor Caleb Mattison will lead the two-hour workshop on beginning breadmaking from 7-9 p.m. North House this Thursday, March 29.

Mattison will demystify the process of baking artisan bread, from discussing basic ingredients to the fundamental steps and recipes. You “knead” not be afraid to bake. The Skill Share is free and open to the public.

On Friday, the Johnson Heritage Post opens the exhibit “Chroma/Creature/Vessel/Vision,” a collection of classical-style paintings, wooden sculptures, resin-ink color bursts and soft sculptures by the talented artists from the Lewis family. Siblings Corrie Steckelberg,  Forest Lewis and Josie Lewis, along with their father, Joel Lewis, will all have pieces in this show. It should be a great art feast.

The opening reception for “Chroma” is from 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 29. Refreshments will be served. On Saturday, Steckelberg and her father, Joel Lewis, will give an Art Tour at 1 p.m. The public is invited to both events. The exhibit continues through April 22.

The Heritage Post is closed on Tuesdays. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays through Saturdays  from 1-4 p.m. Sundays.

In Two Harbors, the Voyageur Art Club of Two Harbors opens its annual spring exhibit: “Petals and Wings” at the Cedar Coffee Company, 1130  11th St. (Behind the SuperOne grocery store.)  The exhibit includes a variety of work by local artists, including some poetry or Ekphrasis: The written word about a work of art.

The exhibit continues through April 30 with the opening reception from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 12. The Cedar Coffee Company is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. It will be closed on Easter, April 1.

“Fences,” a powerful drama by August Wilson, opened in Duluth this week, and will be also be performed in Two Harbors and Silver Bay over the next few weekends. The play is a production of Lake Superior Community Theatre, based in Silver Bay.

“Fences” is one of August Wilson’s 10-plays series, “Century Cycle” about the 20th century African-American experience dealing with universal human and specific Black cultural issues and themes. The play opened on Broadway in 1986 and won the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Drama plus The Tony Award & Drama Desk Award for Best/Outstanding Play. The 2016 movie starring Denzel Washington & Viola Davis won the Academy Award for Best Actress. The film was recently screened at the Grand Marais Public Library.

According to Paul Deaner, artistic director of the theater company, “This is the first time, to our knowledge, “Fences” will be presented in Minnesota north of the Twin Cities and the first time an  all African-American cast will perform a main-stage play production in Duluth and on the North Shore of Lake Superior.”

To give you a taste of the production, check out this short video produced by WSDE-TV.

The final performance of “Fences” in Duluth is on Thursday, March 29 at Lincoln Park Middle School. Performances in Two Harbors will be April 6, 7 & 8 at Two Harbors High School and in Silver Bay April 13, 14 & 15 at William M. Kelley High School.Tickets can be found at www.tix.com.

On Saturday, the North Shore Music Association, in collaboration with North House Folk School, presents a “Celtic Concert & Ceili Dance” with the Twin Cities Celtic group, BARRA.”

The Celtic Concert starts at 7 p.m. in the red building at North House. The dance starts at 7:45. All ages are welcome. Tickets are $15 adult, $10 youth (18 & under) for sale at event only, starting at 6:30 p.m.

Also on Saturday, Papa Charlie’s will feature Erik Koskinen, The Pines, and Dusty Heart during the Spring Ski Ramble at Lutsen Mountains. The music starts at 8 p.m.

And in Duluth on Monday, artist Eric Dubnicka opens his exhibit, “Transmutation: Art of Growth and Love” at the Zeitgeist Arts Cafe.

Dubnicka’s show includes paintings as well as sculptures. The opening reception is from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 2.

The Tweed Museum of Art has opened a new exhibit from their collection entitled “Quiet Simplicity,” which features  tranquil landscapes, seascapes, farmsteads, and portraits that capture men, women and children enjoying the simple pleasures of life.

The exhibit is a romantic stroll through charming vistas of times past.

In Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery is featuring two art student exhibits: The Lakehead University Arts Department Annual Major Studio Exhibition and the Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School Exhibition.

 Upcoming:

 Siama and his Congo World Quartet will be in concert at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts at 7 p.m. April 7. The concert will feature  Siama, singer Dallas Johnson, global music drummer Tim O’Keefe, and renowned cellist Jacqueline Ultan. Siama will also present educational programs at the Grand Marais Public Library that Saturday. Stay tuned.

In Duluth, Adam Swanson will teach a a one-night guided painting class on how to paint a moose at the Duluth Art Institute April 12.

For more information and to register, click here.

Opportunities:

 The Grand Marais Art Colony is hiring a full-time Marketing Manager, who is responsible for all aspects of the marketing, advertising and promotional activities of the organization. Applications are due April 5. For more information and to apply, email info@grandmaraisartcolony. org.

Here’s the music selections for this week:

Thursday, March 29:

• Timmy Haus, Mogul’s Grille, 4 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Joshua Schmidt, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• DJBeavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, March 30:

• Boyd Blomberg, Mougl’s Grille, 4 p.m.
• Matt and Laurel, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• Pete K, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Bug Dope (AKA Rod & Al), Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Clearwater Hot Club, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 31:

• Gordon Thorne & Chris Gillis, North Shore Winery, 3 p.m.
• James Moors, Papa Charlie’s, 3:15 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Celtic Ceilli, North House Folk School, 7 p.m.
• Superior Siren, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Cook County’s Most Wanted, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Sam Miltich and the Clearwater Hot Club, 8:30 p.m.
• Spring Ski Ramble with Erik Koskinen, The Pines, and Dusty Heart , Papa Charlie’s, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 1:

Happy Easter!

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

Monday, April 2:

• David Huckfelt, Monday Night Songwriters Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, April 3:

• Gordon Thorne, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, April 4:

• Briand Morrison with Sam Miltich, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Lots of icy vistas and sunrises this week. But let’s start with wildlife.

 

Here are some ice-scapes:

 

 

 

And some sunrises:

 

And finally:

Happy Easter, everyone!

(If you’ve enjoyed reading NorthShore ArtScene this week, please consider making a donation to keep it alive and healthy this year. Thank you!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Celebrations of community and artistic commitment marks this 4th week of March, with community art shows, artist talks, an education fundraiser and a community choir gather, to mention a few.

First up is the EATS  or Enriching Academics Through Sustenance event at ISD 166 on Thursday night. This special taste treat will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. at ISD 166, featuring delicious finger foods prepared by Cook County restaurants and venues as well as the culinary classes at the school.

Tickets are $25, and the funds will be used to support projects through the ISD 166 Education Foundation, supporting special projects for teachers that enhance the curriculum. Only 150 tickets will be sold, and there just might be some left. They can be purchased through the school or at Java Moose, the Bluewater Cafe or a school board member. The event will also feature live music and a silent auction.

The Spirit of the Wilderness community art exhibit, “Chaos … Cracks … Creativity” continues at the Johnson Heritage Post through Sunday. The exhibit features a broad selection of work by local artists of every age. It’s a fun show and highly recommended. Here’s a quick selection of some of the works in the exhibit.

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

On Friday, fused glass artist Jeffrey Stenborn, who is an invited artist-in-residence at the Grand Marais Art Colony, will give a demonstration of printing on glass at 10 a.m.  Stenborn teaches glass throughout the United States, including at Bullseye Glass and The Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass and received his MFA in glass sculpture from Tulane University.

Pre-registration is requested due to limited space in the glass studio. Call 387-2737 for more info.

On Friday night, WTIP’s the Roadhouse will feature an interview with Karl Jacobs, director of “Cold November”, a coming-of-age film about a young girl’s first deer hunt, shot in northern MN with an all-MN cast. The film popens Friday in Hibbing and Grand Rapids. The Roadhouse will also have the Thunderheads Trio in the studio to talk about their music and play a few songs.

On Saturday, the North Shore Winery will hold a Paint & Sip party at the winery from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The event features Cheers Pablo from Woodbury  to lead its second Paint and Sip party. Chriscell Bedard will be leading the class again this year. No painting experience necessary– just come ready to have some fun. The Winery will provide the canvas, easel, brushes, paints, apron. At the end of the class (2 to 3 hours) each participant will have a great piece of art to take home. The cost is $45, and include a glass or wine or cider. For more information and register, call (218) 481-9280 or email: info@northshorewinery.us.

On Saturday night, Voyageur Brewing will screen, “Saving Snow,” a documentary about how global climate change is impacting winter sports. The screening is free and starts at 7 p.m.

Check out the trailer here.

On Sunday, Bethlehem Lutheran Church will host a “Community Choir Gather: Singing for Joy” at 4 p.m. The event will feature four Cook County choirs. Each choir will share several of their favorite songs. Coffee and treats will follow. All invited.

Exhibits:

 Masterpiece Art, works by students at William Kelly Elementary School, continues in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park.

The show features artwork inspired by master artists through the ages.

At the Zeitgist Cafe in Duluth, Adam Swanson’s exhibit continues through the end of the month.

At the Tweed Museum of Art, the exhibit “Treasures From Home: An Anthology of Gifts from Collectors,” continues with a wide selection of art.

Upcoming:

A new exhibit will open at the Johnson Heritage Post on March 30 with a reception from 5-7 p.m. Entitled “Chroma | Creature | Vessel | Vision,” the family exhibit features work by Josie Lewis, Forest Lewis and Corrie Steckelberg with father Joel Lewis.

Corrie Steckelberg and Joel Lewis will give an tour at the Heritage Post at 1 p.m. on March 31.

Sign up to Make-a-Bowl for Empty Bowls at the Grand Marais Art Colony on Friday and Saturday, April 13-14. There are several sessions each day where participants will throw a bowl on the wheel and make a handbuilt bowl. They will be donated for the Empty Bowls fundraiser, which is held in the the fall. For more information and to register, call 387-2737.

The First Congregational Church will host “Celebrating 100 Years of Shared Community Space” with a benefit concert of jazz and gospel music featuring Chris Gillis, Thomas Stamps and Friends on Sunday, April 15 at 3 p.m. Stay tuned for details.

Hungry Jack Outfitters is teaming up again with plein air artist, Neil Sherman, for a plein air painting trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Sept. 3-6.

For more info, click here.

 Artist News

The Plucked Up String Band has launched a Kickstarter campaign for the final push to make their debut album, “Rooftop to the Floor.”

For more information on this exciting project, click here.

Ron Piercy has moved into his new gallery, Yellowbird Fine Art Gallery, at the corner of Second Street and Highway 61. The gallery’s current hours at 11 a.m. to 5 p.m, Saturday or Sunday, or by chance.

The gallery will hold its Grand Opening over the Memorial Day weekend.

Melissa Wickwire is working on a new series of tiles in her studio.

A photo by Travis Novitsky is featured on the cover of the latest Lake Superior Magazine.

And finally, David Gilsvik has new work at Sivertson Gallery.

Here’s the music for the week:

Thursday, March 22:

• John Russ, Mogul’s Grille, 4 p.m.
• Maria Nickolay, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, March 23:

• Gordon Thorne, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Voyageur’s Brewing, 4 p.m.
• Portage, Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.
• Pete K, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• North Shore Community Swing Band, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Thunderheads, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
• Billy Johnson, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 24:

• Billy Johnson, Papa Charlie’s, 3:15 p.m.
• Jon Cron, North Shore Winery, 3-6 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Michael Monroe, Log Cabin Concert, 7 p.m., rural Grand Marais, michaelmonroemusic.com
• Brothers in Arms, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Thunderheads, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
• The Suburbs, Papa Charlie’s, 9 p.m.

Sunday, March 25:

• Briand Morrison , Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Joe Paulik, Wunderbar, 11 a.m.
• Black River Revue, Papa Charlie’s, 3:30 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Monday, March 26:

• Joe Paulik, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Phil Heywood, Monday Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.
• Joshua Schmidt, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, March 27:

• Open Mic at Papa Charlie’s with Bump Blomberg, 7 p.m.

So…here are some of the photos we found this week:

First, wildlife:

 

 

 

And we found lots of sunsets/sunrises this week:

 

 

 

And here are a few “calming” photos:

 

And a beauteous night photo:

And finally, this one, by Sarah Hamilton.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ah, St. Patrick’s Day weekend brings lots of Irish music in venues all over the county, the St. Urho’s Festival and Parade in Finland and the Dulutsen: North of North Music Festival at Papa Charlie’s, not to mention great art shows and exhibitions up and down the North Shore.

First up is the new exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post which opened last Friday. Entitled “Chaos…Creativity…Cracks: Spirit of the Wilderness Church,” the exhibit features work by artists in the community of every age. It’s really a fun exhibit, with lots of great work by students at USD 166 as well as emerging and professional artists who live in Cook County.

Here’s a brief sampling of what you can find in this exhibit.

 

 

,

The exhibit continues through March 25. The Heritage Post’s winter hours are from 1-4 p.m. Thursday and Sunday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

North House Folk School continues its Skill Share program with a presentation by Marco Good on how to take care of chain saws, a must for people living in the Northwoods. Good is an experienced logger who has been working the woods with his horses for years. He will lead the Skill Share at North House at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Good will talk about everything from the anatomy of a saw and its proper handling to how to sharpen the chain as well as share his wealth of experiences. Note: This will be a demonstration and lecture; participants will NOT be operating chainsaws during this skill share. It’s free. All invited.

Onward to the weekend! On  Friday, the Grand Marais Public Library will present Rangoli Sand Art with Shakun Maheshwari at noon.

 

Rangoli designs are a temporary floor art that people create and redo on a daily basis in India in order to bring good luck and happiness to the home. In the presentation, participants will learn about Indian culture, history, and celebrations through art as well as explore the use of art made from chalk, sand, or rice flour by creating stylized Rangoli designs with flour or colored sand. All invited. Free.

Also on Friday, the skip of the U.S. Olympic Curling Team, John Shuster, will be interviewed on WTIP’s The Roadhouse, and talk about his experiences. The Roadhouse airs from 5-7 p.m. on Fridays.

Also on Friday, the Dulutsen: North of North Music Festival begins at Papa Charlie’s, featuring a wide variety of popular musicians and their bands from Duluth.

On Friday, the music starts at 8:30 p.m. with Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank with Ryan Young and Erik Berry of Trampled by Turtles, Superior Sire and Irish American (Teague Alexy & Erik Berry)

On Saturday evening, Alamode, Haley Bonar and The Social Animals will play, with music starting at 8:30 p.m.

Sunday is Family Day for the festival with Two Many Banjos performing from 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Monday brings Charlie Parr, a favorite in Duluth and Papa Charlie’s, for a free Singer/Songwriter concert at 8 p.m.

The Grand Marais Art Colony will feature two presentations by its Juried Artists-in-Residence on Saturday. Both are free and open to the public.

At 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, printmaker Gabriella Boros will give an Artist Talk and Demo in the Print Studio.

Gabriella’s woodblock prints touch on a variety of topics, including modern political upheaval and ecological destruction as filtered through the Hebrew book of Isaiah, female empowerment, and botanic healing. Gabriella will present and demonstrate her methodology, from from the ideation through the printing process and also share from her portfolio of work. Free. All invited.

At 2 p.m. on Saturday, Artist-in-Residence David Andree will open his exhibition, “Speculations in Time: Contemporary Approaches to Working from the Landscape” in the Founders Hall and give an Artist Talk about his work.

Andree’s residency focuses on furthering four related bodies of work that explore flux in the landscape: Land Harps, Collaboration Drawings, Color Studies, and Current Castings. Expanding on the traditions of perceptually-based location painting and drawing, David explores intersections with sculpture and digital practices such as sound and video. He will share about his artistic investigations which are thematically focused on the unique sense of time within landscapes and the temporary and fragile nature of existence. The presentation is free. All invited.

In Finland, this weekend is St. Urho’s Day, and they community celebrates with a two-day festival featuring music, food and the ever-popular St. Urho’s Parade. Everyone is invited, especially if they wear purple and green, St. Urho’s colors.

This is always a fun time in the Finland community. There’s the Miss Helmi contest on Friday and a Tug of War over the Baptism River on Saturday, as well as the parade, which will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday. To see the complete schedule of activities, click here.

Exhibits:

 The Masterpiece Art exhibit at Tettegouche State Park continues this month, with works by students at the William Kelley Elementary School. The students, lead by local artists, learned about masterpiece artworks and then did their versions of them.

The exhibit in the Great Hall continues through March.

The Tweed Museum of Art in Duluth has a number of exhibits on display, including “Treasures From Home: An Anthology of Gifts from Collectors” and “Fine. Re/Fine. De/Fine,” the 2018 Biennial Faculty Exhibition for the University of Minnesota Duluth Department of Art & Design.

 

And, at the Joseph Nease Gallery in Duluth …

At the Zeitgeist Arts Cafe in Duluth …

At the Thunder Bay Art Museum in Thunder Bay …

Upcoming:

EATS or Enriching Academics Through Sustenance, the annual fundraiser for the Education Foundation at ISD 166 will be held on Thursday, March 22, from 6-7:30 p.m.

Local restaurants, along with the ISD 166 culinary arts students, provide restaurant favorites or their food specialties.  Ticket holders will sample food, as well as take in the festive spirit of the evening while listening to music provided by Jim Lundorff (Sawtooth Elementary teacher) and the high school choir and band students.  Ticket holders also have the opportunity to bid on great silent auction items, which are provided by individuals and members of our Cook County business community. The Education Foundation awards grants for projects and activities that enhance the curriculum at ISD 166. Nearly $119,000 in grants have been provided by this foundation.

Tickets are available for $25 and can be purchased at the PK-12 office, Java Moose or the Blue Water Cafe. Only 150 tickets will be sold, so get yours now.

Community Share:

To celebrate Harbor Park and springtime Grand Marais, the Cook County Historical Society is collecting stories, memories, and anecdotes about the Grand Marais Harbor (Bear Tree Park/Harbor Park) as part of the Harbor Park Sound Garden project, presented by Wavelets Creative.

The SPRING Sound Garden in Harbor Park is a free outdoor sound + performance installation on Sunday, May 27 from noon – 5 p.m. The Sound Garden will combine music, poetry, history, dance, storytelling, sculpture, and visual art into an immersive sensory experience, and will include archival photos and history tours of Harbor Park and the surrounding area. Submit your memories and stories by April 1 to be included in the collection. To submit stories please email: jhp@boreal.org

Here’s the music for the week:

Thursday, March 15:

• Joe Paulik, Mogul’s Grille, 4 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, North Shore Wintery, 6 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Thorne, Gillis, Stamps & Roth, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
• Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, March 16:

• Pete K, Mogul’s Grille, 4 p.m.
• Jim McGowan, Voyageur Brewing, 4 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Alamode, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Jim & Michele Miller, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.

Friday, March 16:

• Jim & Michele Miller, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Space Monkey Mafia, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Dulutsen, Papa Charlie’s, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 17:

• Frozen Britches, Cascade Lodge Pub, 3-6 p.m.
• Jim McGowan, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6-8 p.m.
• Chris Gillis, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Blurry Band, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Velvets, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Space Monkey Mafia, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Dulutsen, Papa Charlie’s, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 18:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Aurora Baer, Wunderbar, 11 a.m.
• Two Many Banjos, Papa Charlie’s, 3 p.m.
• Jim & Michele Miller, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Monday, March 19:

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

Tuesday, March 20:

• Briand Morrison, Bluefin Grille, 6 p.m.
• Open Mic, Papa Charlie’s, 7 p.m.

We found some great photos this week, too. Here’s a sampling:

First, some wildlife shots …

 

 

 

Proof that spring is here:

 

Here’s a fascinating urban shot:

 

And, of course, we found some great landscapes/skyscapes/ice-scapes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally, Here is an awesome northern lights shot by Thomas Spence. It was featured on the front page of www.spaceweather.com recently.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

 

 

 

It feels like early spring up here on the North Shore, although there’s plenty of snow and lots of outdoor and indoor things to do. But the weather has been “balmy,” hovering just a freezing during the day, giving everyone a great excuse to get out there and experience all the North Shore has to offer.

We start the week with a Skill Share at North House Folk School. Scandinavian master carver, Harley Refsal, will be in residence on Thursday, March 8, to give a two-hour workshop on carving from 7-9 p.m.

Participants will choose from several pendant blanks, carve & finish the piece, and braid a lanyard. Walk away from the skill share wearing your finished hand-made piece of jewelry for spring, and the inspiration for future gift ideas. All invited. Registration is not required.

On Friday, look for the opening of “Cracks, Chaos and Creativity” at the Johnson Heritage Post. The community art exhibit features works by artists of every age and is organized by the Spirit of the Wilderness Episcopal Church. The exhibit includes prints, paintings, sculptures, pottery, weaving, glass and more.

The opening reception for the exhibit is from 5-7 p.m. March 8, with guest speaker Wayne Roosa to give a presentation at 6 p.m. Roosa is an art history professor and painter who will discuss the relevance of making art in times of social unrest. All invited. Refreshments will be served. The exhibit continues through March 25. The Johnson Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, as well as Monday, and from 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

Also on Friday, WTIP Community Radio’s The Roadhouse, will feature an interview with Grand Marais painter Tim Young, who will talk about his new work.

The Black River Revue will also be on the show to talk about their music and play a few tunes. The Roadhouse airs from 5-7 p.m. on Friday.

Also on Friday, the Grand Marais Public Library will screen “The Big Sick,” a romantic comedy about a Pakistani comic who meets an American graduate student named Emily at one of his stand-up shows. As their relationship blossoms, he soon becomes worried about what his traditional Muslim parents will think of her. When Emily suddenly comes down with an illness that leaves her in a coma, Kumail finds himself developing a bond with her deeply concerned mother and father. The film is free and starts at 6 p.m.

Check out the trailer here.

Also, to note, bluesman Pete Kavanaugh, who is moving to the Twin Cities, will play the Wunderbar in Grand Marais on Friday night with “The Wunderdogs” featuring Thomas Stamps on vocals and percussion and John Mianowski on bass. The music starts at 8 p.m.

And this Sunday, Trail Center Lodge will host the Dog Days of Winter featuring a snowman competition, skijoring races and dog sled derbies all day long. All invited.

Exhibits:

 Linda Baudry’s plein air exhibit continues at Fika Coffee in Lutsen.

The exhibit and sale, “Art Collectors,” a fundraiser for Art ‘Round Town, continues at the North Shore Winery through March 15.

The show at the Winery includes a variety of works by local and regional artists.

Masterpiece Art, an exhibit of works by students at William Kelley Elementary School, continues in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park this month.

The Masterpiece Arts Program at the school invites local artists to work with students to create their version of works by internationally recognized artists. The arts program has been on-going for 16 years. The Northland Foundation’s Age-to-Age program is underwriting a portion of costs of the exhibit.

In Duluth, the Duluth Art Institute will host a reception for the opening of two new exhibits on Thursday, March 8, from 5-7 p.m. The exhibits include: “The Cut Work Forgives the Plow: Russell Prather” and “Terraria Gigantica: The World Under Glass: Dana Fritz.”

Fritz’ exhibit is a series of photographs of the world’s largest enclosed landscapes: the Biosphere 2’s ocean in the Arizona desert, the Henry Doorly Zoo’s desert in the Great Plains of Nebraska, and Eden Project’s tropical rain forest in notoriously gray and cool Cornwall, England. Taken together, these architectural and engineering marvels stand as working symbols of our current and complex relationship with the non-human world.

Prather earned first place in the 2016 Arrowhead Biennial and creates forms from ordinary objects that change radically depending on the viewers line of sight.

In Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery opened the Lakehead University Juried Student Exhibit, featuring works in a variety of mediums.

The opening reception for the exhibit is at 7:30 p.m. (EST) Friday, March 9.

And the 3rd annual Fibre Arts Exhibit continues at the Baggage Building Arts Centre through March 23.  The Baggage Building is in Prince Arthur’s Park in Thunder Bay.

Upcoming:

 The Grand Marais Art Colony will host two artists in residence this month: printmaker Gabriella Boros and multi media artist David Andree. Both artists will give presentations next Saturday. Stay tuned for details.

Shakun Maheshwari will present “Sand Painting and Rangoli” at the Grand Marais Public Library, Friday, March 16 at noon. Free. Open to all.

Mary Beams will have her videos included in a special exhibit at the Walker Art Museum in Minneapolis March 22. “Animatedly You” features work created in the 1970s where artists pushed the boundaries of traditional animation, exploring everything from the everyday to the out of this world.  Beams’ work includes “Tub Film,” “Seed Reel,” “School in the Sky,” “Going Home Sketchbook,” and “Whale Songs.” The videos were produced from 1972 to 1980. The video screenings will be at 7 p.m. March 22 at the Walker.

“Fences,” a powerful drama by August Wilson, will be performed in Duluth, Two Harbors and Silver Bay with an African-American cast. The play is a production of Lake Superior Community Theatre, based in Silver Bay.

According to Paul Deaner, artistic director of the theater company, “This is the first time, to our knowledge, “Fences” will be presented in Minnesota north of the Twin Cities and the first time an area all African-American cast will perform a main-stage play production in Duluth and on the North Shore of Lake Superior.

“Fences” is one of August Wilson’s 10-play “Century Cycle” about the 20th century African-American experience dealing with universal human and specific black cultural issues & themes. The play opened on Broadway in 1986 and won the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Drama plus The Tony Award & Drama Desk Award for Best/Outstanding Play. The 2016 movie starring Denzel Washington & Viola Davis won the Academy Award for Best Actress. The film was recently screened at the Grand Marais Public Library.
Performances will be March 27, 28 & 29 at Lincoln Park Middle Schoo in Duluth; April 6, 7 & 8 at Two Harbors High School and April 13, 14 & 15 at William M. Kelley High School in Silver Bay. Tickets can be found at www.tix.com

 Opportunities:

 North Shore Health has put out a call to artists to submit proposals for displaying works of at at the opening of its new facility. The art can be original paintings, photography, fiber art, mosaic, mixed media; essentially art work that can be displayed on walls. The deadline to submit is April 13. The installation of the artwork must be completed by May 10. For more information, contact Kimber Wraalstad via phone at 218-387-3260 or via email  kimber.wraalstad@northshorehealthgm.org.

Window Shopping:

 

 

Here’s the music for this weekend:

Thursday, March 8:

• Timmy Haus, Mogul’s Grille, 4 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Billy Johnson, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• DJBeavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, March 9:

• Jim Miller, Mogul’s Grille, 4 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• Common Ground, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Wunderdogs (Pete Kavanaugh, Thomas Stamps, John Mianowski), 8 p.m.
• Black River Revue, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Billy Johnson, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.

Friday, March 9:

• Portage, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 10:

• Eric Frost, Papa Charlie’s, 3:15 p.m.
• Sonofmel, Cascade Lodge, 6 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Papa Charlie’s, 6:45 p.m.
• Jim & Michele Miller, Skyport Lodge, 7 p.m.
• Common Ground, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Chris Silver Band, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Ghost Wagon, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• The Hoolies, Grand Portage Lodge & Casino, 9 p.m.
• Mark Joseph & the American Soul, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 11:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Ghost Wagon, acoustic, Wunderbar, 11 a.m.
• Chris Silver, Sunday Bluegrass & Folk, Papa Charlie’s, 3:30 p.m.

Monday, March 12:

• Open Mic night at Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.
• Mike Munson, Monday Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, March 13:

• Jon Kalberg, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.

Open Mic, Papa Charlie’s, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, March 14:

• Joe Paulik, Local Showcase, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Here are some of the great images we found this week.

First, wildlife:

 

 

 

Winter landscapes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winter’s beauty — lots of fluffy snow— visited the North Shore over the weekend. According to some experts, 31 inches of snow has fallen here over the last two weeks. So, yes, there’s plenty for everyone right now. It’s gorgeous, too, as are the sunsets these days.

Meanwhile, indoors, there’s plenty going on as well.

North House Folk School will hold its Winter Series: Community Programs every Thursday evening in March featuring skill share workshops from 7-9 p.m. on the North House campus.  Free. This week, March 1, Nate Johnson will present a workshop entitled Winter Animal Tracking. In it, participants will learn to identify and interpret the tracks, movements, and behavior of northern fauna from veteran tracker and trapper Nate Johnson. The program will be classroom-based, but skills learned can be applied to tracks found in your backyard and beyond. Look for signs on campus for the location of the workshop. All invited.

On Friday, the Grand Marais Public Library continues its Friday night movie series with “The Glass Castle,” chronicling the adventures of an eccentric, resilient, tight-knit family. Brie Larson plays a young woman who is influenced by the joyfully wild nature of her deeply dysfunctional father and finds the determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms. Check out the trailer here.

The movie at the library starts at 6 p.m. Free.

Also on Friday night, a reception will be held at 7 p.m. for the photographers who participated in the “Winter Wonderland” exhibit at Tettegouche State Park.

A total of 20 large-scale images are included in the exhibit by the photographers who participated in a workshop by John Gregor of Cold Snap Photography. The exhibit continues through Sunday.

On Saturday, Twin Cities musician Mary Bue and her band Electric Witch, will be in Grand Marais. Bue has been voted one the top performers  of 2017 by both the Minneapolis Star Tribune and City Pages.

Bue and her band will perform at Wunderbar at 8 p.m. on Saturday night and for brunch at 11 a.m. on Sunday. She will also be a guest on WTIP’s Women in Music program at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Speaking of live music, there’s lots to choose from this weekend.  Also,  WTIP Community Radio is holding its winter membership drive this weekend, and musicians are scheduled to be in the studios from Thursday through Sunday. See music schedule below for all the details.

On Sunday, fisherman are invited to Gunflint Lodge and Gunflint Lake for the annual Trout Derby, a fundraiser for the Cook County Ridge Riders snowmobile club. Registration is from 9-11 a.m. A fishing contest, picnic lunch, and contests and raffles will be featured. All invited.

Movie lovers are invited to Cook County Higher Education from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday for Swedish Movie Sunday.

 Rose Arrowsmith DecCoux, who just taught a beginning class in Swedish at CCHE, will host the event. The movie is in Swedish, but subtitles are included for those who don’t know the language. Refreshments will be served. Free and open to all.

On Tuesday, Arts Advocacy Day will be held at the Capital Building in St. Paul and artists, arts administrators  and art lovers are invited to attend. The event is organized by Minnesota Citizens for the Arts. Each year, from 500 to 1,000 arts advocates join together for a rally at the Minnesota History Center Auditorium in the morning, split up into teams with experienced leaders and walk together to legislator offices to educate them about the arts in their communities and ask them to support arts funding.

Previous Arts Advocacy Days have resulted in significant increases in state arts funding that goes out in grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils.   To find out more, click here.

Exhibits:

Danny Saathoff’s installation at the Grand Marais Art Colony, “Swinging the Compass” continues through March 3.

Saathoff is a jewelry artist, metalsmith, kinetic sculptor, teacher, and sailor. He teaches metalsmithing at Carleton College and at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts. He recently completed a commissioned sculpture for the Humphrey terminal at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. This kenetic installation focuses on the effects of climate change on Lake Superior. The Art Colony is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Free.

In Lutsen, The Collector’s Art Sale continues at the North Shore Winery through March 15, featuring a great range of local and regional artists, including works by Betsy Bowen and Kari Vick.

The art sale is a fundraiser for Art ‘Round Town to support its work in developing public art projects.

In Two Harbors, David Gredzen’s photography exhibit continues at the Cedar Coffee Co., 1130 11th Street through March 26.

Gredzens work focuses on landscapes on the North Shore.

At the Tweed Museum of Art, art student McKenzie Haas has a solo show of her work.

And Adam Swanson’s exhibit continues at the Zeitgeist Arts Cafe, 222 E Superior St., in Duluth.

In Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery is featuring a number of exhibits, including “At Pelican Falls: Rebecca Belmore,” a multi-media exhibit.

Belmore’s exhibit continues through March 11.

Upcoming:

 “Chaos…Cracks…Creativity — Spirit of the Wilderness Church Exhibit,” will have an opening reception at the Johnson Heritage Post on Friday, March 9 from 5-7 p.m.  The guest speaker for the opening is Wayne Roosa, art history professor at Bethel University. The exhibit runs through March 25.
All artists in the community are invited to exhibit two pieces in the exhibit.. The deadline to get things into the show is March 5 & 6. Artists are invited to bring their pieces to the Heritage Post March 5 & 6.

Also on Friday March 9,  will be an opening of an exhibit at Tettegcouche State Park entitled “Masterpiece Art,” featuring a wide variety of works by elementary students at William Kelly Elementary School in Silver Bay. Artists from the community have been working with the students by showing them masterpiece works of art and then inviting them to copy them as best they could. The show will feature everything from self-portraits to collage, mixed media pieces, painting and more. Mixed media artist and potter Joyce Yamamoto and printmaker Jerry Riach are among the artists who worked with the students.

The Grand Marais Art Colony will host an Art Excursion: Duluth Gallery Tour to galleries in Duluth, including the Joseph Nease Gallery, the Upper Midwest’s new contemporary art gallery which just opened in Duluth. Participants will be able to get a behind-the-scenes look at the new facility and view of the exhibit of new work by regionally and nationally recognized artists. To learn more click here.

Opportunities:

Lann Briel of MNartists.org will be at the Grand Marais Art Colony this weekend to present an information session and a workshop on how artists can take advantage of the MNartists.org website. The information session is from noon to 1 p.m. on Saturday with the workshop from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday. Both workshops are free.

The Grand Marais Music Collaborative is offering free music lessons on a select basis to students interested in learning to play an instrument. The Collaborative is looking for students 12 and older. They will match them with an area instructor on the instrument of their choice subject to instructor and funds availability. The Collaborative will pay for the lessons with funds raised from our many fund raising activities and through generous donations from area individuals and area institutions. Lessons will take place at the high school band room. For more info, contact Karina Roth at Karina_roth@hotmail.com or Todd Miller at snowday@boreal.org or visit the website at www.thegmmc.org.

The Scenic Route

Will Moore, music director of WTIP Community Radio, recently interivewed Jack Klatt on the Scenic Route about his music. Klatt also had plenty of time to play a few tunes. Check it out here.

Here’s the music for this week:

Thursday, March 1

• Live Bands on WTIP
  Briand Morrison & Roxann Berglund, 1-2 p.m.
  Boyd Blomberg & James Moors, 4-5 p.m.
  North Country Fair, 8-9 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, Mogul’s Grille, 4 p.m.
• Russ Viton (John Russ), Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
  Plucked Up String Band, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne and Friends, North Shore Winery, 8 p.m.
• Mark Joseph and American Soul, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, March 2:

• Live Music on WTIP
  Timmy Haus, 1-2 p.m.
  John Gruber & Russ Viton, 4-5 p.m.
• Jim Lundorff, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• Bug Dope, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Brothers in Arms, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• DJBeavstar, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 3:

• Live Music on WTIP
  Common Ground, 3 p.m.
  Maria Nicolay & Belinda Cullen, 4 p.m.
  Kilborn Quartet, 5 p.m.
  Mysterious Ways, 6 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne & Chris Gillis, North Shore Winery, 3 p.m.
• Bug Dope, Papa Charlie’s, 3:15 p.m.
• Jim & Michele Miller, Cascade Lodge pub, 6 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Papa Charlie’s, 6:45 p.m.
• Pushing Chain, Poplar River Pub, 7 p.m.
• Mysterious Ways, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Mary Bue & Electric Witch, Wunderground, 8 p.m.
• Shaky Ground, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
• 4onthefloor, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 4:

• Live Music on WTIP
  Gordon Thorne on the Gospel Truth, 9 a.m.
  Mary Bue on Women in Music, 3 p.m.
• Mary Bue(Solo),Wunderbar, 112 a.m.
• Sonja and Lee (Feeding Leroy), Papa Charlie’s, 3:30 p.m.
• James Moors, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s, 8 p.m.

Monday, March 5:

• Sarah Morris Trio, Monday Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, March 6:

• Jim & Michele Miller, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Open Mic, Papa Charlie’s, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, March 7:

• Pushing Chain, Local Songwriter Showcase, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Here are some great photos we found this week:

First, wildlife:

 

 

 

 

And here are some landscapes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winter is in full swing on the North Shore, with plenty of powder on the ski slopes and well-groomed ski and snowmobile trails throughout Cook County. There are two events this weekend to celebrate that fact. The Gunflint Lake Cabin Fever Festival at Gunflint Lodge, complete with outdoor games and a fat-bike course on Saturday. Also on Saturday, the Lutsen Trailbreakers Snowmobile Club is hosting its 3rd annual Vintage Snowmobile Ride at Cascade Lodge on Saturday. Registration starts at noon with the ride on the trails starting at noon.

Indoors, there are lots of opportunities to see movies and look at great art this week.

Three different films will be screened in Cook County in the next few days.
On Thursday at 7 p..m., North House Folk School will screen “Sami Blood,” a powerful story about a reindeer-breeding Sami girl and her fight for identity.

Exposed to the racism of the 1930’s and race biology examinations at her boarding school, the Sami girl, Elle Marja, starts dreaming of another life. To achieve this other life, she has to become someone else and break all ties with her family and culture. It’s a powerful story. Here’s the trailer:

The film starts at 7 p.m. and is free. Bring your own popcorn.

On Friday,  the Grand Marais Public Library will continue its Friday Reels film screening series and show “Queen of the Katwe.” The film is about a how a Uganda girl’s world changes dramatically after becoming a chess star. Here’s the trailer:

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

“Saving Snow,” a 53-minute documentary on the how a warming climate is affecting the snow season in the U.S., will be screened at Lutsen Resort at 7 p.m. on Saturday and at North House Folk School at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27.  The film will be screened at a number of different venues on the North Shore in the coming weeks, too.

“Saving Snow” explores how our disappearing snow season is more than just a frustration for winter sports enthusiasts. It means lost income for the many towns and small businesses that depend on winter tourism and recreation to stay afloat. “Saving Snow” focuses on people coming to terms with these changes. But it also presents solutions. The film highlights individuals and organizations who are working to reduce their communities’ impacts on the environment and raise awareness of the need for action.
Here’s the trailer.

Saving Snow Trailer from Adaptation Now on Vimeo.

“Saving Snow” will also be screened at Tettegouche State Park at noon on March 10, the Two Harbors Public Library at 6:30 p.m. March 22 and at Voyageur Brewing Co. at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 24. Free. All invited.

And next Tuesday, Feb. 27, Staci Drouillard will give a presentation at Cook County Higher Education entitled:  “Chippewa City – People and Stories.”  A Grand Portage descendant, Drouillard began interviewing Chippewa City elders in 1987, which forms the basis of her book “Walking the Old Road: Chippewa City & The Grand Marais Chippewa,”  which will be published by the University of Minnesota Press. Drouillard told some of these stories on WTIP Community Radio. To hear them and learn more, click here.
The presentation is from 5-7 p.m. on Feb. 27. Light snacks will be provided. Donations appreciated. All invited.

Exhibits:

A new exhibit has opened at the Grand Marais Art Colony. Entitled “Swinging the Compass,” the sculptural installation by Twin Cities artist Danny Saathoff focuses on the effects of climate change on Lake Superior.

The Grand Marais Art Colony is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The exhibit, which is a kinetic installation, is in the Founders Hall and continues through March 3. Stop by and experience this extraordinary work. Check out a short video here.  Saathoff was recently interviewed on WTIP Community Radio. Listen here.

The North Shore Winery is exhibiting artwork from the Collector’s Art Sale, a fundraiser for Art ‘Round Town. The artists include John Franz, Betsy Bowen, Bonnie Gay Hedstrom, Kristin Blomberg, Anna Hess, Kari Vick, Peter Max, Bruce Johnson and Marshall Ferster. The sale will continue through the end of February.

At Tettegouche State Park, Winter Wonderland, a photographic exhibit of landscapes on the North Shore, continues through the end of the month.

The Tweed Museum of Art has a number of exhibits,  including its 2018 UMD Faculty Show entitled “/Fine/Refine/Define.” The museum also features a weekly exhibit of a student’s work as well as “Chance,” a multi-media exhibit.

“Treasures from Home: An Anthology of Gifts from Collectors” is also ongoing, with a wide selection of donated works, including the photograph below of French actress Catherine Deneuve by Mary Ellen Mark. The photo was taken in Grenoble, France.

A new exhibit has opened at the Duluth Art Institute. “Territory: Emerging Photographers 2017″ features works by student photographers  Riley Loew, Haley Pehrson, Wilson Johnson, Chris Wodicka, Joanna Harms, and Krista Mathes. The opening reception is Thursday, Feb. 22 from 5-7 p.m.

The photographic exhibit continues through April 2.

The Joseph Nease Gallery in Duluth is featuring a new exhibit entitled “Sweep,” a show featuring a wide range of local, regional and national contemporary artists. The exhibit opened about two weeks ago and it has been so popular that the gallery has extended its run through May. The contemporary art gallery opened in 2017 and is located at 23 W. 1st St. in Duluth.

 A Reminder:

Artists who plan to participate in the Spirit of the Wilderess community art exhibit “Chaos … Cracked … Creativity,” must bring their work to the Johnson Heritage Post by March 5 & 6. Artists are permitted to bring two pieces. The exhibit, which is open to community members of all ages, opens March 9 and runs through March 25. For more info, questions, contact creative@boreal.org or maryellenvicar@gmail.com

Artist News 

Grand Marais photographer Scott Benson received an Honorable Mention in Lake Superior Magazine’s Photography Contest in the People/Humor Category. Congratulations, Scott!

Here’s the music for this week:

Thursday, Feb. 22:

• Timmy Haus, Mogul’s Grille, 4 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Pete K, Poplar River Pub, 8 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Dance Party with DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 23:

• Eric Frost, Mogul’s Grille, 4 p.m
• Matt and Laurel, Voyageur Brewing, 4 p.m.
• Pete K, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Portage, Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Thunderhead Trio, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 24:

• Gordon Thorne & Chris Gillis, North Shore Winery, 3 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Papa Charlie’s, 3:15 p.m.
• Jim & Michele Miller, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Papa Charlie’s, 6:45 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• SplinterTones, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Thunderhead Trio, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Viva Knievel, Papa Charlie’s. 9:30 p.m.

Sunday Feb. 23:

• Briand Morrison, Moguls Grille,10 a.m.
• Carah and Rod, Wunderbar, 11 a.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Papa Charlie’s, 3:15 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 26:

• Joe Paulik, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Jack Klatt, Monday Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 27:

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

Wednesday, Feb. 28:

• Ben Kyle, Wednesday Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

We found some interesting photographs this week. Here’s a sampling:

 

 

 

 

Here are some lovely landscapes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And last, but not least, this great shot by David Johnson. He calls it the saber-toothed bear tree.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

(FYI: If you’d like to make a donation of any amount to keep NorthShore ArtScene alive and well, click on the button below. And thank you!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second week of February means the Northern Fibers Retreat at North House Folk School, a Collectors’ Art Sale at the North Shore Winery and the Johnson Heritage Post and a great selection of live music throughout the county.

First Up is the Collectors Art Sale, a Fundraiser for Public Art, sponsored by Art ‘Round Town. Artists and members of the community have donated a great selection of original art or pieces they have enjoyed and are ready to pass on to the organization for this sale. Paintings, drawings, sculptures, fiber art, fused glass, pottery and more are featured in these exhibits. Proceeds from the Collectors Art Sale will be used for public art projects.

The Art Sale opens at the North Shore Winery in Lutsen at 6 p.m. Thursday night, with music by Twin Cities songwriter Billy Johnson. That exhibit continues through the end of the month.

On Friday night, the Johnson Heritage Post will host a second opening with a reception from 5-7 p.m. with music by Gordon Thorne and Randy Sabien. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be provided for a donation at the door. The exhibit at the Heritage Post continues through Sunday at 4 p.m.

Both exhibits are eclectic and offer a wide variety of artwork to support public art in the county. Prices range from $5 to $450, fitting everyone’s budget. If you see something you like, you can purchase it, beautify your home and help out a great cause. All invited.

Also on Thursday night, North House Folk School will screen “Shepherdess of the Glaciers,” a fascinating film about a shepherdess in Laddakh, India and her family of 300 sheep and goats who are like her own children. Trace her footsteps across the snowy, isolated landscape in this beautifully shot and uniquely personal documentary of a woman and her flock on the other side of the world. The film was the Grand Prize Winner at the 2016 Banff Film Festival.

Here’s the trailer.

All invited. The film is free. Bring your own popcorn and snacks.

The Northern Fibers Retreat starts at North House Folk School with classes on Thursday and runs through Sunday. The event is a collaboration between North House, the Grand Marais Art Colony and the Northwoods Fiber Guild.

A wide variety of classes will be offered, including, needle felting, beaded doilies, weft-faced weaving, making a blanket coat, natural dies, bookbinding, knitting, spinning fibers and more. To see the complete class schedule, click here.

There are several public events over the weekend, too.

On Friday, Feb. 16, Maureen Hark will demonstrate how to care for textiles, including how to hang them in a Lunch & Learn at the First Congregational Church. The event is from noon to 1 p.m. Participants who haven’t signed up for the catered lunch are encouraged to bring their own. Free. No registration required.

On Friday night, the Northwoods Fiber Guild will host a Show & Share at the Grand Marais Art Colony at 7 p.m. The event, which is one of the highlights of the retreat, encourages instructors and participants to come together and share their favorite projects. Free.

On Saturday, the Northwoods Fiber Guild will hold “Fibers for Kids” from 9:3-11:30 a.m at North House. Cost is $15 per child/adult pair, $5 for additional family members. This is always a popular event, as everyone gets to try all kinds of fiber techniques and bring their work home.

Also on Saturday, Carol Coburn will present “Attire From Across the Atlantic: Recreating 19th Century Norwegian Emigrant’s Clothing” in a Lunch & Learn at the First Congregational Church. Participants who haven’t pre-ordered the catered lunch are encouraged to bring their own. Free. No registration required.

And finally, on Saturday night, Robbie LaFleur, the coordinator of the Guild of Minnesota Scandinavian Weavers Study Group and the featured speaker for the event, will present “From Virgins to Spaceships: A Visual Voyage through Norwegian Tapestry” at North House Folk School at 7:30 p.m. The presentation is free. All invited.

Also this weekend, the Grand Marais Public Library continues its weekly film series with the screening of “Fences,” starring Denzel Washington.  The film was nominated for several Oscars including Best Picture, and a won for Best Supporting Actress, Viola Davis. It is the story of a working-class African-American father who raises his family in the 1950s, while coming to terms with the events of his life. Here’s the trailer:

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

On Monday, Thunder Bay will hold SnowDay on the Waterfront at Marina Park featuring snow sculptures, lots of winter games for children and youth, public snow carving, kicksledding and a skating party. The SnowDay will be held from noon to 5 p.m. (EST). All invited.

On Tuesday, Feb. 20, artist Danny Saathoff  will give an Artist Talk at the Grand Marais Art Colony at 5:30 p.m in conjunction with his exhibit. “Swinging the Compass” that opens that day and runs through March 3.

 

The exhibit focuses on the effects of climate change on Lake Superior. Saathoff is a jewelry artist, metalsmith, kinetic sculptor, teacher, and sailor (not necessarily in that order). He teaches metalsmithing at Carleton College and at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts. He recently completed a commissioned sculpture for the Humphrey terminal at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport.

Also at the exhibition opening, Mary Dougherty will speak about a Lake Superior project of her own entitled “Words for Water.” The project is a simple way to encourage people who live in the Lake Superior basin (or who love Lake Superior) to think and act collectively when it comes to any legislation, industry or regulations that affect water quality. Mary poses the question, “if you could speak for water, what would you say?” and the participant writes their word or phrase on a chalkboard. She takes their photo, adds it the collection of words she’s gathered and stitches it into a collective love story to Lake Superior. To see examples of her project, click here.

Dougherty has also just published a cookbook, “Life in a Northern Town: Cooking, Eating, and Other Adventures along Lake Superior.” She plans to open a cooking school this spring.

And on Wednesday, Feb. 21, Amy Demmer, executive director of the Grand Marais Art Colony, will give a presentation at the Art Colony entitled  “Our Arts Economy” at noon as part of the Art Colony’s Community Conversation series. Bring a brown bag lunch. Community conversations are a way for the local community and Art Colony members to connect and dialogue about various aspects of the arts in a guided discussion format. All welcome.

Also on Wednesday, Mary Mulari will give a presentation about Vintage Aprons at the Grand Marais Public Library at 6 p.m. Mulari, who designs aprons herself, will talk about how vintage aprons bring out lots of fond memories and stories of women from the past, including relatives and grandmothers. Aprons tell women’s history through a homespun, common cover-up garment, she says.

The program is a review and explanation of both vintage and new-age aprons with historical details of styles, types, and embellishments. Participants are invited to bring their own aprons to share stories and details about them. Free. Open to all.

 Exhibits:

The photographic exhibit, Winter Wonderland, continues in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park.

The exhibit features 20 photographs crafted a few weeks ago on Lake Superior.

In Duluth, the Joseph Nease Gallery, 23 W. 1st St., has opened its second exhibit, “Sweep,” featuring the latest work of a group of experienced  at a high point in their craft, “Sweep” is a regional and national survey of more than 20 contemporary painters. Running the gamut from magical realism to hard-edged abstraction, the paintings displayed in “Sweep” address the subjects of beauty, ethnicity, justice, history, spiritualism, landscape, story-telling, and formalism.

At the Tweed Museum of Art, the exhibit “Treasures from Home: An Anthology of Gifts from Collectors,” continues, featuring a wide selection of works.

And Adam Swanson’s exhibit at the Zeitgeist Cafe in Duluth continues as well.

 Upcoming:

 The North Shore Music Association will host Celtic Music & Ceili Dance with BARRA at North House Folk School March 31. Stay tuned for details.

Here’s the live music schedule for this weekend.

Thursday, Feb. 15:

• Boyd Blomberg, Moguls Grille, 4 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Billy Johnson, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• North Shore Community Swing Band, Grandma Ray’s, 7 p.m.
• Thorne, Gillis, Stamps & Roth, Gun Flint Tavern, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 16:

• Timmy Haus, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Moguls Grille, 4 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne & Randy Sabien, Johnson Heritage Post, 5 p.m.
• Common Ground, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Bug Dope, Bluefin Grile, 8 p.m.
• Bllly Johnson, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• If Eye May, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 17:

• Gordon Thorne & Chris Gillis, North Shore Winery, 3 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Papa Charlie’s, 3:15 p.m.
• Maria Nicolay, Hungry Jack Lodge, 4 p.m.
• Jim McGowan, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Papa Charlie’s, 6:45 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Bug House, Grandma Rya’s, 8 p.m.
• Brothers in Arms, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• SplinterTones, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 18:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Billy Johnson, Wunderbar, 11 a.m.
• Eric Frost, Papa Charlie’s, 3:15 p.m.
• John Russ, Papa Charlie’s, 6:45 p.m.
• Bug Dope, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
• Jim & Michele Miller, Skyport Lodge, 7 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 19:

• Gordon Thorne, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Caroline Smith, Monday Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 20:

• Joe Paulik, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 21:

• Chris Koza, Wednesday Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

We found another set of great photos this week. Here’s a selection.

Let’s start with wildlife.

 

 

 

 

And here are some winter landscapes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally, this one. Check out the caption.

It’s Hygge Festival week in Cook County, a festival celebrating coziness, friendship and the love of winter in the Northwoods.

 This is the second annual festival and will feature several new events, including fat tire bike demonstrations, knitting lessons, a cross-country skiing tour at twilight, a SVEA concert in front of the bonfire at Drury Lane Books, and a grand fireplace tour, featuring some of the most historic fireplaces in Cook County, 19 in all! For a list of all the grand fireplaces you can experience in Cook County, click here.

Favorite events from last year will also be back, too, including Hygge-themed menus, bonfires with live music and a Mukluk Ball. It kicks off tonight, Jan. 8, with a 5-Course Jazz & Candlelight Dinner with Scandinavian comfort foods featuring music by Briand Morrison at Mogul’s Grille. For the complete schedule for the weekend, click here.

In Duluth, multi-media artist Penny Perry will give an artist talk at the Duluth Art Institute at 6 p.m.

 Perry uses a variety of mediums in her art; ink on paper, acrylic paint on canvas, stained glass, both painted and leaded, photography, and wood. All invited. Free.

On Friday, the Hygge Festival continues at Voyageur Brewing with  the Big Lake Pop-Up shop featuring a variety of its artists including Anna Hess, Richard Nelson, Jan Wise, Adam Turman, Jahna Vashti, Mark Herman, Jeff Gray, Nick deVries, Guillermo Cuellar and Natalie Sobanja and Hanna Laky.

The shop will be open from 4-7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at the brewery.

Also on Friday, Thomas King, author of the “The Inconvenient Indian,” a brilliantly subversive and darkly humorous history of Indian-White relations in North America since first contact, will talk about his book on WTIP’s The Roadhouse. Later in the program, musicians Chris Gillis, Thomas Stamps, Max Bichel and Carah Thomas will talk about the music of Mardi Gras and play a few tunes. They will perform at the Wunderbar on Saturday. The Roadhouse airs from 5-7 p.m. on Friday.

Drury Lane Books will host two events on Friday night. At 6 p.m., an ice globe display will be lit by Mila Horak, the art teacher at ISD 166. The event is a fundraiser for Sawtooth Elementary School’s art program. You can buy an ice candle ahead of time from Horak, and enjoy the beautiful display on Friday night. Cost is $5/candle, cash or check payable to PTA. They can be dropped off at the ISD 166 office.

Then, at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, SVEA, an outstanding local acapella group which sings Swedish folk songs, will sing in front of the bonfire at the bookstore.

The performance is open to the public. All invited. Free.

Also on Friday night, The Grand Marais Public Library‘s winter film series continues, this time with a documentary on Angela Davis entitled “Free Angela and All Political Prisoners.” Here’s the trailer.

The film screening is at 6 p.m. Free.

On Saturday, the  Big Lake Pop-Up Shop continues, from 4-7 p.m at Voyageur Brewing. The Mukluk Ball is from 5-9 p.m. at the venue.

And the band Cloud Cult will be in concert at Papa Charlie’s at 9 p.m. on Saturday.

The nationally acclaimed group features the rock band along with violin, cello, trumpet, trombone and French horn. Two live painters create original artwork on stage during each performance. Tickets are $14 in advance, $18 at the door.

And on Tuesday, the Grand Marais Art Colony will host a brown-bag lunch at noon for those participating in the 100Day Project. The meeting will focus on networking, exploring resources, sharing goals and progress.

Exhibits

 Matt Kania is exhibiting his work at Ron’s World Rocks in Grand Marais, including this latest, painted during the Winter Plein Air Retreat last month.

The ‘Winter Wonderland” exhibit at Tettegouche State Park has opened, featuring 20 images by participants in John Gregor’s photography workshop held earlier this month.

The exhibit, which is in the Great Hall, continues through this month.

Photographer David Gredzens will have an opening reception at Cedar Coffee Company in Two Harbors on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 6:30 p.m.

The exhibit of his landscape photographs, “Lake Superior North Shore Reflections” began this month and continues through March 5.

In Duluth, painter Adam Swanson has opened an exhibit at the Zeitgeist Cafe entitled “Art and Science.”

The exhibit features 40 paintings, including four he completed during the Winter Plein Air retreat at YMCA Camp Menogyn last month. The exhibit continues through April 20.

In Thunder Bay, an exhibit entitled “The National Blanket Story” has opened at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, featuring story blankets from across Canada addressing the theme of reconciliation.

The Thunder Bay Story Blanket uses the Thunder Bay flag as the outline with the green Sleeping Giant as the focus. Red maples leaves and Lake Superior continue the story with hand prints from the participants to symbolize all the different people who live in Thunder Bay. The Story Blanket exhibit continues through Feb. 11.

Upcoming

 The Northern Fibers Retreat will be next weekend, featuring a wide variety of classes, workshops and presentation at North House Folk School and the Grand Marais Art Colony.

To find out more and register, visit www.northhouse.org and www.grandmaraisartcolony.org.

 Opportunities

Consider sharing pieces from your art collection with others for “A Collectors Art Sale,” a fundraiser for Art ‘Round Town. Donations in any media are now being accepted. The donor can either donate the piece outright or sell at 50/50.  The artwork will be exhibited at two two different locations: The North Shore Winery, with an opening at 6 p.m., Feb. 15, and at the Johnson Heritage Post, with the opening from 5-7 p.m. Feb. 16. The Art Sale will continue for a month at the North Shore Winery and from Feb. 16-19 at the Johnson Heritage Post. For more information, contact Ann Marie Mershon at 387-2245, amershon@boreal.org The deadline to donate artwork is Feb. 12.

A Call to Artists:  The Spirit of the Wilderness has put out a call for artists to participate in this year’s exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post. The title of the exhibit will be “Chaos, Cracks, Creativity” and artists in every genre and age group are invited to submit a piece for the show.

Questions artists might ask themselves include: How do you as a writer, sculptor, ceramist, wood-worker, glass-worker, painter or fiber artist encounter the chaos? How does your creative process invite the light in? Where do you see muddle and magnificence in the natural world or on the North Shore? How does the natural world create new models for you? Do you seek to soothe or expose, clarify or challenge?

The deadline for entries is March 5 & 6 at the Heritage Post. The show opens March 9 and runs through March 25. For more information, contact Mary MacDonald at  387-1221 or  Bonnie Gay Hedstrom 387-2538 

Artist News

Hovland woodturner Lou Pignolet was featured in “Making it Up North,” a production of WDSE in Duluth. Check it out.

One of Pignolet’s bowls in on exhibit at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. The exhibit, CraftBowl features bowls by regional and international artists.

The exhibit at the American Swedish Institute continues through April 8.

Grand Marais photographer Bryan Hansel‘s photograph of the northern lights was selected for the cover of Lake Superior Magazine recently.

Have you seen this logo on a building downtown?

It’s the new logo for Ron Piercy’s gallery, which will open in April. His gallery is currently located in a space in the same building, but he’ll be moving to the bigger space soon. Stay tuned.

Here’ the music for this weekend.

Thursday, Feb. 8

• Jim Miller, Mogul’s Grille, 4 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Jon Kallberg, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• James Moors, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 9:

• Pete K, Moguls Grille, 4 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• Cherry Dirt, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Portage, Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.
• SVEA, Drury Lane Books, 6:0 p.m.
• Jim & Michele Miller, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m
• Pete K Group, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Sleeping Giant Soul Band, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Mark Verdin Trio, Gun Flint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 10:

• Gordon Thorne & Chris Gillis, North Shore Winery, 3 p.m.
• Shane Martin, Papa Charlie’s, 3:15 p.m.
• Mukluk Ball, Voyageur Brewing Co., 5-9 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Michael Monroe, Log Cabin Concert, rural Grand Marais, Reservations at michaelmonroemusic.com, 7 p.m.
• Jim & Michele Miller, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Mardi Gras Party, Chris Gillis & Thomas Stamps, special guests Carah Thomas and Max Bichel, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Pete K Group, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Cloud Cult, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.
• Tempted Fate, Grand Portage Casino, 9 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 11:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Jim Lundorff, Wunderbar, 11 a.m.
• Briand Morrison, Gun Flint Tavern, 1 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 12:

• Lehto and Wright, Papa Charlie’s, 3:30 p.m.
• Shane Martin, Bluefin Grille, 8 p.m.
• Dead Horses, Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 13:

• Briand Morrison, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 14

Happy Valentine’s Day!

• Briand Morrison, Skyport Lodge, 6 p.m.
• Reina del Cid, Wednesday Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

We found some great photos this week. One of the highlights for everyone was a series of photos Tom Spence took of a Mama Lynx and her four kittens on a snow-covered road near Tofte.

He said on his Facebook page that he stopped when he saw “Mama” sitting quietly alone on the road. He got out of his truck and stood in the snowbank and watched. Suddenly an almost full-grown kitten came over the snowbank on the other side of the road and sauntered over to her, rubbing her, like cats do. Then two more appeared! And then, a fourth!!!

The lynx saw Spence standing there, but didn’t seem concerned, he wrote. After about five minutes, they got up and quietly walked down the road.

What a truly extraordinary experience. “I couldn’t believe it,” Spence said in numerous interviews on the radio, television and in newspapers. Kudos, Tom! To see all his photos, click here.

There are plenty of snow shoe hare in the woods this year, and lynx have been caught by several different photographers. Here’s one by David Johnson.

Owls are plentiful this winter, too.

 And here’s a great portrait of a Marten.

 

 

Not wildlife, but a great portrait of one of the dogs during the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon.

And, of course, there are lots of icy landscapes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And last, but not least:

Have a great weekend, everyone! And Happy Valentine’s Day! 

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