North Shore Arts Scene

Summer is totally here. This weekend, look for the the Hovland Arts Festival, the Book Arts Weekend at the Grand Marais Art Colony, Artist Talks, mini classes at North House Folk School and the Art Colony, art openings, arts & crafts markets and lots of places to hear music. Next weekend, the huge Grand Marais Arts Festival in downtown Grand Marais will be held July 14-15. Good times!

We start with the Book Arts Weekend at the Grand Marais Art Colony where a wide variety of classes are being offered in this historic art form.

There are still openings in a few of the classes, including the Bookbinding Studio Tour with Conservation Bookbinder Scott Husby in Hovland on Saturday at 7 p.m. For more info and to register, click here or call 387-2737.

The bookbinding theme for this weekend continues at North House Folk School where bookbinder Skyler Hawkins will be doing demonstrations on the campus Thursday through Sunday as well as holding a mini-class on Saturday.

Also, July is Youth Series Month at North House, where a different course will be offered to children from 9-14 on Friday afternoons from 1-4 p.m. This week, they will learned how to make folded paper boxes. The class is $15. For more info and to register, call North House at 387-2737.

Tettegouche State Park will open “Un Petit Monde: A Solo Photographic Exhibition by Kurt Moses” with a reception from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Great Hall on Friday, July 6.

Photographer Kurt Moses uses miniature model figures the size of a penny, and photographs them on location in real-world environments. “My goal is to capture a whimsical, evocative photo which initiates a storyline and allows the viewer to draw their own conclusion,” he says. Moses is a Minnesota native and a professional photographer with a graphic design background, He is the creative mind behind the project. His wife, Edwige, comes from the tiny French island of St Martin. The husband and wife team started this fine art photography project called Un Petit Monde (a small world) in 2010. They live on the road full-time and volunteer in State and National Parks across the country. The exhibit continues throughout July.

In Thunder Bay, the Definitely Superior Art Gallery opens its July exhibits with a Gala Opening Reception from 7-10 p.m. (EDT) on Friday. The event celebrates the 30th anniversary of the member-run gallery and features the Members Exhibition as well as an interdisciplinary installation by internationally acclaimed artist Ann Hamilton.

The opening receptions at DefSup are always a huge community affair in Thunder Bay and include music, food and a great selection of art. Highly recommended. The exhibit continues through July.

On Saturday, look for the Cook County Market in the Senior Center parking lot in Grand Marais, which opens at 9 a.m. featuring a wide variety of arts and crafts from Cook County residents. Work in clay, metal, wood, fiber as well as jewelry and stones are exhibited here. Produce from Round River Farm is available at 10 a.m. The weekly Market is held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Hovland Arts Festival is on for this weekend, too. One of the highlights of the Cook County summer season, the Hovland Arts Festival is held at the Hovland Town Hall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The festival features talented local artisan/crafters and local musicians along with other folks from the surrounding area, including neighbors from across the border in Thunder Bay.

The festival is a family-friendly event, and includes great live music, food and a playground for the kids. Here’s the music schedule for the festival:

Saturday music: 10 – 11:30 p.m. Jim McGowan, 12-1:15 p.m. Joe Paulik, 1:30 -3 p.m. Briand Morrison & Roxann Berglund

Sunday music:  10:30 – 12:30 p.m. Bump Blomberg, 1:00 – 3 pm. Axtel

Everyone is invited to this fun event. Free.

Andy Ness, the Print Studio Intern at the Grand Marais Art Colony, will be very busy this week. On Saturday, Ness will give an Artist Talk about his work from noon to 1 p.m. in the Print Studio.

Ness received his BFA in sculpture from Pratt Institute and his MFA from RISD. He has participated in both group and solo shows in New York City, England, and Italy. Participants will learn about his wide-ranging artistic endeavors. Free. All invited, but come early — space is limited.

On Sunday, Ness will teach a mini-class at the Art Colony entitled “Printmaking Outdoors: Solar Prints and Drain Covers” from 9-11 a.m. The cost is $15. For more info and to register, call 387-2737.

And then on Tuesday, July 10, Ness will give an Artist Talk about the art of Paul Thek, an American sculptor who was one of the first artists to create environments or installations.

The Artist Talk is free. All invited.

Also this weekend, the Johnson Heritage Post will host author Jennifer Case, who will give a presentation on her research into her family’s ownership of the former Sawbill Lodge at 4 p.m. on Saturday. She is the author of “Sawbill: A Search for Place.”

Sawbill Lodge was built in the 1930s on Sawbill Lake, where the campground and canoe launch near Sawbill Outfitters currently are. The Lodge was removed in the early 1980s and the cabins were demolished. Solbakken Lodge ended up buying the lodge structure and moving it to their site on Lake Superior, where it still exists. The presentation is free. All invited.

And, on Wednesday, Boreal Corps will hold “Letters on the Library Lawn, ” a children’s public health writing kiosk, at the Grand Marais Public Library from 2:30 to 8 p.m.  BorealCorps is a Cook County children’s story scouts club for all ages able to write, up to 16, seeking to improve and protect public health, civic life and the Northwoods environment by writing letters, creating newspapers, and making activist art. Free.

Exhibits:

The Northwoods Fiber Guild exhibit, “Through Our Hands V: Sun, Moon, Stars” continues at the Johnson Heritage Post with a wide selection of works by local artisans including weaving, felting, quilting, knitting, paper art, multi-media works and more.

The Johnson Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday as well as Monday, and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. It is closed on Tuesdays.

The Duluth Art Institute continues the exhibit  Niiyo-wiij-anishinaabe (Four Friends), works by Carl Gowboy, George Morrison and Joe Geshick.

Niiyo-wiij-anishinaabe (Four Friends) celebrates the individual’s journey including the viewer, the fourth friend. The exhibit continues through July 24.

The Tweed Museum of Art is featuring a number of exhibits, including this work by Grant Wood.

In Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery‘s spectacular exhibit, “Uprising: The Power of Mother Earth: A retrospective of Christi Belcourt with Isaac Murdoch” continues.

Spanning more than 25 years of art-making, the exhibition of about 35 works celebrates Belcourt’s many inspirational, artistic, and collective achievements. The exhibit also features Murdoch’s art whose iconic images, including Thunderbird woman, has been become an international symbol of the Indigenous resistance movement against resource extraction.

Upcoming

 The Grand Marais Arts Festival is next weekend, July 14-15, in downtown Grand Marais. More than 70 local and regional artists are featured in this great show, which includes art-making activities, demonstrations and more.

Also during the Arts Festival, the Art Colony will hold “An Artful Evening on the Harbor,” a fundraiser event for the Art Colony. The event will be held in Harbor Park on Friday, July 14, and will feature food, beverages, and live music, as well as live and silent auctions.

Tickets to the Artful Evening are limited, although some may be available at the door. For more info, click here.

Artist News:

And finally, a little note: Jim Sannerud took sculptor Greg Mueller‘s chair-making class last week. This is what he built… he calls it “High Chair.”

Here’s the music for the week;

Thursday, July 5:

• Gordon Thorne & Friends, North Shore Wintery, 6 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Lutsen Resort, 6:30 p.m.
• Wunderdogs, Wunderbar,  7 p.m.
• Ma’iingan Duo, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Shaky Ground, Gunflint Tavern, 8 p.m.

Friday, July 6;

• Gene Lafond and Amy Grillo, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• Kilborn Quartet + Boats and Bridges, Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.
• The Yellow-Bellied Sap Suckers, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• The Thirsty River, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Bluefin Grille, 9 p.m.

Saturday, July 7:

• Cook County’s Most Wanted, Birch Terrace, 3 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Cascade Lodge Pub,  6 p.m.
• Dave Cofell, Voyageur Brewing Co., 6 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Music on the Deck, Papa Charlie’s, 6:30 p.m.
• Michael Monroe, Log Cabin Concert, 7 p.m., rural Grand Marais, www.michaelmonroemusic.com
• Pushing Chain, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• The Thirsty River, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Average Mammals, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Circuit Breakers, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 8:

• Dave Cofell, Wunderbar, 11 a.m.
• Spruce Roots, North Shore Wintery, 3 p.m.
• Virgil Cain Band, Skyport Lodge, 4 p.m.
• Ocelot Wizard, Gunf Flint Tavern, 7:30 p..

Monday, July 9:

• Ocelot Wizard, Gun Flint Tavern, 7:30 p.m.
• Courtney Yasmineh, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Bug Lite, Bluefin Grille, 9 p.m.

Tuesday, July 10:

• Ocelot Wizard, Gun Flint Tavern, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, July 11:

• Old Sap, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.

We are so grateful for our photographers that capture these beautiful images of the North Shore. Here’s our selection for the week — let’s start with wildlife.

Maybe these two don’t quite qualify as wild …

 

Look at this youngster’s huge feet!

 

 

 

Here are some “flowerscapes.”

 

And we found some beautiful landscapes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are a few local event photos that might be of interest.

 

Have a great weekend, everyone!

(Here’s a great opportunity to support this weekly blog that keeps you up-to-date with what’s happening on the North Shore. Consider donating today, and Thanks!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer continues in Cook County this week, with poetry, Artist Talks, music and some great art exhibits, not to mention fireworks and July 4th celebrations throughout the county.

Up front and center are two events at Drury Lane Books- a Full Moon Reading with Amy Schmidt  from 8-9 p.m. on Thursday and a Writer’s Salon with Margo Galt from 7-8 p.m. on Saturday.

Schmidt is a talented and published poet as well as a musician. She lives with her family in Hovland and will be reading from her work by the bonfire at Drury Lane Books as the moon rises over Lake Superior.

 

 To listen to an interview on WTIP Community Radio by Jay Andersen with Amy about her work, click here. The public is invited to the Full Moon Reading by the bonfire. Free.

Margot Galt, author of “The Heart Beat of Wings” will read from her chapbook at a Writer’s Salon at Drury Lane Books from 7-8 p.m. Saturday. Galt is also the author of “Turning the Feather Around: My Life in Art,”  her 1998 biography of George Morrison, Minnesota’s premier Ojibwe artist. Margot spent years as a Minnesota writer-in-the-schools, traveling the state in all weather to inspire young people to write.

Galt has also taught writing at the University of Minnesota, Hamline University, and Metro State. She lives in St. Paul. The Writer’s Salon is free and open to the public.

The Grand Marais Art Colony will feature two Artist Talks this weekend, too.

On Friday, sculpture artist Greg Mueller will present images of his work and discuss recent projects that have come to fruition through the collaborative effort of diverse players at an Artist Talk at the Cook County Higher Education at 7 p.m. Friday.

Note that painter Kami Mendlik, who was originally scheduled to be a part of this event, is not able to be present.

And then on Saturday, Andy Ness, who is the summer intern in the Grand Marais Art Colony‘s Print Studio, will give an Artist Talk from noon to 1 p.m.

The title of his talk, “Artists Who Explore Memory” will include a presentation and a discussion of artist who explore memory, including Louise Bourgeois and Christian Boltanski. The event is free and open to the public, although space is limited, so come early.

Other events of note this weekend is an Artist Reception and Talk at North Shore Health for its inaugural art exhibit on Friday, June 29 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the North Shore Health Front Lobby and Multi-purpose Room. The two artists currently being displayed are the late painter Ade Toftey and photographer Lynn Anderson. Anderson will speak about her photography and Ade’s daughter, Susan Hildebrand will speak about her father’s art. All invited.

Musician Jim McGowan will be on WTIP’s The Roadhouse on Friday to talk about his music and play a few songs. The Roadhouse airs from 5-7 p.m

And the Cook County Market will be held in the Senior Center parking lot from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 30, featuring a variety of work by local artists and artisans in wood, clay, rock, wool, metal and glass as well as baked goods and produce from Round River Farm in Finland. This week, jazz musician Fred Anderson will play at 10 a.m.

And, to top off the week, July 4th celebrations will be held throughout the county, including the July 4th Celebration in downtown Tofte, which includes live music with  Cook County’s Most Wanted, activities, booths and a parade at 1 p.m. Fireworks are scheduled in Tofte, Grand Marais and Grand Portage around 10 p.m. on Wednesday.

And here’s a newbie: The Johnson Heritage Post has installed a blow-up of a historic photo by Maude Small Toftey in front of the gallery for the public to enjoy. It’s also a great place to take a memory photo.

In Duluth, the Duluth Art Institute will hold an opening reception for “Niiyo-wiij-anishinaabeg” in the Great Hall at the Depot on Friday from 5-9 p.m. The exhibit, a collaboration between the Duluth Art Institute and the St. Louis County Historical Society, will showcase more than 50 pivotal works by three prolific artists: Carl Gawboy, George Morrison and Joe Geshick. Each artist has had a profound impact on contemporary art and  has a unique voice that celebrates Anishinaabe life.

The exhibit continues through July 24.

The opening of this exhibit will be held in conjunction with the Duluth Art Walk, which will be held from 4-8 p.m. in galleries in downtown Duluth.

The event is organized by the Downtown Duluth Arts Collective, a group of committed colleagues, representing over 25 arts businesses & groups, individual artist studios and cultural centers in the downtown neighborhood.  Participating galleries include the Joseph Nease Gallery, Lizzard’s Gallery, Ryan Tischer Photography, Zeitgiest Arts Cafe and AICHO gallery, just to name a few.  For more info about the Arts Walk, click here.

Exhibits:

 The exhibit, “Through Our Hands V: Sun, Moon, Stars,” featuring a wide variety of work by members of the Northwoods Fiber Quild, continues at the Johnson Heritage Post.

The exhibit, which features everything from beading to stained glass, felted sculptures, knitting, quilting, fiber paintings  — in short, any art form using fibers, continues through the Grand Marais Arts Festival, July 15.  The Heritage Post is closed on Tuesdays. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and Mondays and from 1-4 p.m. on Sundays.

This is the last weekend to see the Peregrine Falcon Exhibit at Tettegouche State Park. The exhibit, which features work by a number of different artists who have previously shown their work in the Great Hall, is a celebration of the 30-year successful effort to save the falcon from extinction.

In Two Harbors, Wood-fired potter Dick Cooter and Handweaver Debbie Cooter are exhibiting their work at the Cedar Coffee House.

• There are several exhibits at the Tweed Museum of Art, including “In Solidarity: Women of Print.”

In Thunder Bay, the exhibit “Uprising: The Power of Mother Earth: Christi Belcourt — A Retrospective with Isaac Murdoch” opened to accolades at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.

“Uprising” continues at the gallery through Nov. 25.

Upcoming:

The Hovland Arts Festival will be held July 7-8 in the Hovland Town Hall this year, featuring a wide variety of work by local artisans and artists.

The festival also features live music and refreshments. Musicians include Jim McGowan, Joe Paulik, Brian Morrison and Roxann Berglund, Boyd Blomberg and Axtell. Stay tuned for details.

Also that weekend, the Grand Marais Art Colony will host “Book Arts Weekend” featuring a variety of workshops and classes as well as a tour of a Book Binding Studio.

The classes include a variety of ways to bind books (click here for classes.)

Also, Scott Husby will host a Bookbinding Studio Tour on July 7. Husby has been conservation bookbinder since the 1970s, and has worked at the Library of Congress, the Folger Shakespeare Library, and the Smithsonian, and also served as the rare books conservator for Princeton University. Participants will have the chance to visit Scott’s hand bookbindery and learn about his more than 40-year career.

 

Husby will showcase the tools, equipment, and materials used in making hand-bound books as well as an assortment of historical bookbinding models. To sign up, click here.

And finally, the Grand Marais Art Colony has introduced a new component the Grand Marais Arts Festival, which will be held in downtown Grand Marais July 14-15.

Entitled An Artful Evening, the fundraising event will be held in Harbor Park from 5-7 p.m. on Saturday, July 14 and features live music, an artful auction, the Taste of Cook County food and beverages and more. For tickets, click here.

Here’s the music for the week:

Thursday, June 28:

• Frozen Britches, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Lutsen Resort, 6:30 p..
• Eric Frost, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 7 p.m.
• Don Juan Trio, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.

Friday, June 29:

• Josh Cleveland, Voyageur Brewing, 4 p.m.
• Dead Larry, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m
• KutDown, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Cook County’s Most Wanted, Birch Terrace, 5-9 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Bluefin Grille, 9 p.m.

Saturday, June 20:

• Jim McGowan, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Gene Lafond and Amy Grillo, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Dead Larry, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Woodblind, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 1:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Boyd Blomberg, Wunderbar, 11 a.m.
• Black River Revue, North Shore Winery, 3 p.m.
• Cook County’s Most Wanted, Skyport Lodge, 4 p.m.
• Open Stage with Joe Paulik, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.
• SplinterTones, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Monday, July 2:

• Open Mic, Grandma Ray’s, 7 p.m.
• Eric Frost Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Bluefin Bay, 9 p.m.

Tuesday, July 3:

• Mysterious Ways, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, July 4:

• Cook County’s Most Wanted, Tofte 4th of July celebration, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Jam Session, Gun Flint Tavern, 6:30 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Bluefin Bay, 9 p.m.

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

As usual, let’s start with wildlife.

 

 

 

 

We found some wonderful landscapes, too.

 

 

 

 

 

 And finally, this cutie pie:

 

Have a great weekend, everyone! And Happy 4th!

P.S. If you enjoy reading NorthShore ArtScene every week, consider making a donation today. Just click on the button below, and Thank You!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Summer Solstice! The longest day of the year dawned bright and clear on the North Shore this morning, with the promise of of a perfect day to come. This weekend, the Solstice will be celebrated with  the opening of the Northwoods Fiber Guild’s exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post,  the North House Folk School‘s Wooden Boat Show & Summer Solstice Festival, a presentation about canoe trips in the Boundary Waters more than 100 years ago, workshops, classes, craft markets and more. In short, lots to do.

Let’s start with the Northwoods Fiber Guild’s exhibit, “Through Our Hands V: Sun, Moon, Stars,” which opens at the Johnson Heritage Post with a gala reception from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, June 22. This should be a fabulous show, featuring a wide variety of work. The Fiber Guild has more than 50 active members, and they have crafted some incredible pieces for this show–everything from quilting, weaving and felting, scarves and shawls, wall hangings and sculptures … it’s truly a celebration of all things fiber.  Here’s a small selection of what you’ll see.

 

 

 

 

The opening reception for the Northwoods Fiber Guild shows are well-known for their amazing selection of hors d’oeuvres created by Guild members as well as spectacular summer flower arrangements. It is, in short, an event not be be missed. The exhibit continues through July 16. The Heritage Post is closed on Tuesdays. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and Mondays, and from 1-4 p.m. Sundays.

Another huge event this weekend is North House Folk School‘s Wooden Boat Show & Summer Solstice Pageant.

One of the highlights of the summer season, the Wooden Boat Show offers rows of hand-made and unique watercraft to look at and enjoy, a boat parade, craft demonstrations, an evening contra dance, a boat and tool auction, chili and brats, mini-courses, a Speaker Series and much more.

The event starts on Friday and concludes on Sunday with the Annual Member Gathering followed by featured Speaker Martha Greene Phillips, “Canoeing with Dad and the Gang, circa 1900. For the complete schedule, click here.

One of the highlights of the Wooden Boat Show will be a pictorial presentation by Dan Helmerson entitled “Canoe Trip-1917 Style”  at the Johnson Heritage Post at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

The historic photos document a historic 8-day canoe trip in the Superior National Forest 101 years ago. All invited. Free.

And, then, of course, the highly anticipated Summer Solstice Pageant with the Good Harbor Players and GAMEPELAG. The title of this year’s presentation? “Coverest Thyself with Light.” The pageant starts at 8 p.m. on Saturday.

We’ll find out the story line when we watch it, but it’s a pageant full of wonderful puppets of every age, music, laughter and dancing. Come early to get a good spot. Bring a chair if you want.

Also on Saturday, the Cook County Market opens at the Senior Center parking lot at 9 a.m., featuring a wide variety of arts and crafts as well as produce from Round River Farm in Finland. (The produce arrives around 10 a.m.). The Market continues through 1 p.m.

Also on Saturday, the Grand Marais Public Library will host nationally recognized trans activist Ellie Krug, who will speak at 3 p.m. Her topic will be “Living as Other in America: How to Bridge our Divides.”

She addresses topics of diversity and inclusion, and speaks about transgender issues, matters of inclusivity, and strategies organizations and individuals may use to create alliances and tools that foster inclusion.  She will be on WTIP’s The Roadhouse on Friday to give a preview of her talk. The Roadhouse airs from 5-7 p.m.

Also, check out demos and class at the Grand Marais Art Colony this week. Click here for more info.

Exhibits:

The Joseph Nease Gallery in Duluth will open an exhibit,  “James Brinsfield, A Twenty Year Retrospective” with a reception from 2-5 p.m. on Saturday.

In Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery has just opened a retrospective of work by Christi Belcourt entitled “Uprising: The Power of Mother Earth.”

The opening reception for the exhibit is at 7:30 p.m. (EDT) on June 26.

Artist News

 The Stone Bridge Singers of Grand Portage have been offered a unique opportunity—they have been invited to take part in a music festival in France, the Musiques entre Pierres.  Two events are planned to help the Stone Bridge Singers make this journey: a Bingo on Thursday, June 21, at 6 p.m. at the Grand Portage Lodge Event Center. And then Thursday, July 5 at 5 p.m. at the Grand Portage Community Center. Both events will also have Indian tacos and raffles.
For more information, contact Agatha at the Grand Portage Tribal Council office at 218-475-2800.
Here’s a video of the Stone Bridge Singers:

Window Shopping:

 

 

 

Here’s the music schedule for this week:

Thursday, June 21:

• Kyle Ollah, Voyageur Brewing Co., 5 p.m.
• JohnRuss, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Music by the Campfire, Lutsen Resort, 6:30 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Friday, June 22:

• Timmy Haus, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• Brothers in Arms, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Jon Miller and the Home Brews, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Brianne Marie and the Front Porch Sinners, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.

Saturday, June 23;

• Gene Lafond & Amy Grillo, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Jim & Michelle Miller, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Michael Monroe, Log Cabin Concert, 7 p.m.
• Jon Miller and the Home Brews, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Bluefin Grille, 9 p.m.
• Summer Solstice Pageant featuring Good Harbor Hill Players & GAMEPALAJ, North House Folk School, 8 p.m.
• Gambler’s Daughter, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Sweet Siren, Papa Charlie’s, 9 p.m.

Sunday, June 24:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• SplinterTones, Skyport Lodge, 4 p.m.
• Open Mic with Joe Paulik, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Monday, June 25:

• Eric Frost, Bluefin Bay, 9 p.m.

Tuesday, June 26:

• Joe Paulik Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, June 27:

• Jam Session, Gun Flint Tavern, 6:30 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Pete Kavanaugh, Bluefin Bay, 9 p.m.

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

First, wildlife:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some raging river shots:

 

And here are some landscapes:

 

 

 

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

(BTW: If you had a great time reading this blog and looking at all the photos, please consider donating today to keep it alive and well. Just click on the button below to make a donation of your choice. And Thank You!)

 

 

 

 

New-borns cavorting in the woods, sailboats sliding on blue, blue waters and just enjoying the beauty of the North Shore coming into full life after a tough winter is what June is all about. And, since it’s the start of the summer season, there are all kinds of things to see and do.

First up is a fascinating sale of arts and crafts from Asia collected by Karen Flolid when she was a Peace Corps volunteer during the 60s and 70s. She needs to downsize and hopes to find appreciative homes for her prized collection. She will have them on display from 3:30 -5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 14  at the Cook County Community Center. All invited.

The collection comes primarily from six Southeast Asian countries, notably Borneo, where she worked with headhunting tribes. The wide variety of items includes beaded hats, handpainted leather shadow puppets, a great collection of fabrics including batik, wool, intricately stitched pieces and more. She also has tribal aprons, Hmong patterns and batik, caftans, dresses and vests as well as Burmese lacquer boxes and other “hard goods”, to name a few. Flolid will speak at the opening at 3:30 p.m., but the public is invited to come at any time and see what she has collected.

Also on Thursday, North House Folk School will hold two sessions of Try-It: Wood-fired Baking where students will be introduced to baking bread using a wood-fired oven. Each student will get to bake carta di musica and focaccia while exploring the history and science of bread baking.

The sessions are from 1-3 p.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m. Cost is $20/person or $30 for an adult/child pair. Call 387-9762 to register.

And, the Local Food Market, featuring produce and baked goods from Cook County residents, will open for the season in the parking lot of the Cook County Community Center on Thursday. The market is held from 5-6 p.m.  every Thursday during the growing season. Early vegetables, fresh eggs, artisan breads and more will be featured this week. Open to all. Free.

On Thursday night, listen to classic jazz and originals from two northern Minnesota legends: Briand Morrison and Sam Miltich. They will play for a house concert at the Art House B&B from 7-9 p.m.

Refreshments will be served, but BYOB. Tickets are $10 cash at the door. All invited.

To hear a preview of the concert, listen to WTIP Community Radio at 4 p.m. on Thursday where Will Moore will interview the musicians about their music and they’ll play a few tunes.

There are some interesting workshops on Friday.

North House will offer a Try-It: Timber Framing session from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, where students will be introduced to the concept of timber framing by exploring timber framing tools, joinery, and history. As a group, students will raise a small timber frame and take it apart.  Call 387-9762 to register. Free.

And the last Paint-A-Tile class in June will be held at the Grand Marais Art Colony‘s ceramics studio from 1-2:30 p.m. on Friday. The next Paint-A-Tile class won’t be held until the end of July.

Students will learn about ancient Majolica glazes and try their hand at it by painting two tiless. The tiles will be fired over the weekend and students can pick them up on Sunday morning. Pre-registration is required. Call the Grand Marais Art Colony at 387-2737 or click here to register online. Cost of the workshop is $25.

On Friday night, WTIP’s the Roadhouse will interview Duluth poet Bart Sutter on his latest book and Soozin Hirschmugl, creator of sPARKit!, who is coming to Cook County next week courtesy of the Grand Marais Public Library, will talk about the project and how residents can participate. The Roadhouse is aired from 5-7 p.m. Friday.

On Saturday, the Cook County Market, featuring arts and crafts by Cook County artists as well as fresh produce from Round River Farm in Finland, opens at the Cook County Senior Center parking lot at 9 a.m. The produce arrives around 10 a.m.

Also on Saturday, artist Andy Ness, who is the new intern at the Grand Marais Art Colony‘s Print Studio, will teach a mini-class on making sculptures with aqua resin, a non-toxic resin.

Ness will demonstrate how to use AquaResin in sculptural projects and students will have a chance to explore the medium. AquaResin is a water based, non-toxic, sculpting resin. Tuition isi $15. To register, click here or call 387-2737.

Also on Saturday, Voyageur Brewing will host “Painting with Artful Palette” from 2-5 p.m. The theme is Superior Love. The artist-led class includes a canvas and paints. Cost is $35. Prepayment is required.

For those who can’t make it up to the North Shore this weekend, consider attending the Midsommar celebration at the Swedish Institute from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The event features live music, a Pop-up Shop, cow calling and a performance by our very own, SVEA singers.

SVEA is Erika Ternes, Rose Arrowsmith Decoux, Tina Hegg and Yvonne Mills.

Here in Grand Marasi on Tuesday, Bonnie Gay Hedstrom will lead a Dry Felting workshop at Wunderbar from 7-9 p.m. Hedstrom is well-known in the community for her beautiful felted paintings. She will provide materials and instruction. Cost is $20. All invited.

And on Wednesday, potter Guillermo Cuellar and painter David Feinberg will give an Artist Talk at Cook County Higher Education at 7 p.m. The title of the presentation is “Unfiltered: A Conversation about Art and Water.” Both artists will talk about the role of water in their own artistic lives. Free and open to the public. No registration is required. For more info, click here.

Exhibits:

This is the last weekend to see the exhibit, “Northerly Pots: The Long Pleasurable Carry” at the Johnson Heritage Post.

Fritz Lehmberg, owner of Early Snows Pottery near Thunder Bay, has been working in wood-fired pottery for more than 30 years. The exhibit captures the excitement and commitment of this talented potter. The Heritage Post is closed on Tuesdays. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and Monday, and from 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Free.

The Prairie Falcon Show at Tettegouche State Park continues this weekend, with a variety of falcon artwork exhibits in the Great Hall

This weekend, wildlife photographer, Ryan Pennesi, will hold a workshop on photographing wild birds at Tettegouche starting at 9 a.m., and the park will host guest speakers to talk about the history and restoration efforts to save the species from 1-3 p.m. Both events are free. Call the park at 218-353-8809 to register for the photography workshop.

In Duluth, theNew-borns cavorting in the woods, sailboats sliding on blue, blue waters and just enjoying the beauty of the North Shore coming into full life after a tough winter is what June is all abou has a number of exhibits including “In Solidarity: Revolutionary Women of Print,” featuring a great collection of  work by women printmakers.

In Thunder Bay, the Definitely Superior Art Gallery is featuring two exhibits, “Fortify This” and the Lakehead University Retrograduate exhibitions.

 Upcoming:

 The Northwoods Fiber Guild Exhibit, “Through Our Hands V: Sun, Moon, Stars” opens at the Johnson Heritage Post with a reception from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, June 22. The exhibit will feature all things fiber, including weaving, felting, paper art, knitting, beadwork and more. The exhibit runs through July 16.

The Wooden Boat Show and Summer Solstice Festival at North House Folk School is next weekend, too.

Look for details next week. Meanwhile, here’s a link to all the events and classes.

Poet Amy Schmidt will give a Full Moon Reading at Drury Lane Books June 28. Stay tuned.

The Hovland Arts Festival is July 7 & 8 at the Hovland Town Hall in Hovland. The festival features everything from prints to pottery, paintings to photographs as well as woodwork, jewelry, handmade soaps and candles and more.

More than 20 local artists are featured in this show, which celebrates its 13th anniversary this year. There is live music and food available all day as well.

The Grand Marais Art Colony will hold a Book Arts Weekend July 5-7 with Sue Bjerke and Jana Pullmen. The class includes a tour of a local bookbindery studio. For more info, click here.

The Grand Marais Arts Festival is July 14-15, with 70 artists scheduled to set up their tents in downtown Grand Marais. The Art Colony has put out a call for submissions for the Clothesline Art Sale, the historic and popular fundraiser held during the festival. Started in 1947, this year’s “Clothesline Art Sale” features 5-inch x 7-inch original works of art hung in the Art Colony festival booth. Each piece will sell for $35. The artwork is actually hung on clotheslines and people can choose their favorites.

Artists are invited to donate one or more pieces of original works in any media that is hang-able (room for a few three-dimensional items). Draw, paint, collage, sketch, print, stitch, stamp – have fun while supporting the Art Colony! The submission deadline is June 29. For more info, click here.

Artist News:

Anna Hamilton’s first book, “Boy” is available locally at Birch Bark Books & Gifts , Joy & Co. and Trail Center Lodge. The book is a “journey of love, friendship and little white lies, discovered while in the fight against the monster Dementia.” It is also available on Amazon.com

Jim Sannerud has a number of his handmade cutting boards at Betsy Bowen Studios & Gallery.

 

Kim Knutson is exhibiting her feltwork at Kah-New-Tah Gallery in Lutsen.

Ron Piercy, owner of Yellow Bird Fine Art, makes jewelry, including this blue opal pendant.

There’s lots of great music this week. Here’s the schedule:

Thursday, June 14:

• Frozen Britches, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Live Music by the Campfire, Lutsen Resort, 6:30 p.m.
• Briand Morrison with Sam Miltich, Art House B&B, 7 p.m.
• Billy Johnson, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne and Friends, North Shore Winery, 7 p.m.

Friday, June 15:

• Brian Morrison and Sam Miltich, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• Rich Lewis Band, Gunflint, 8 p.m.
• DJ Real Pure Heart, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Billy Johnson, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Jim & Michele Miller, Bluefin Grille, 9 p.m.

Saturday, June 16:

• Andrew D. Huber, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Rich Lewis Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Mysterious Ways, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Brothers in Arms, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Dance Party with DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 17:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Sky Blue Trio, Wunderbar, 11 a.m.
• Broken Hearted String Band, Skyport Lodge, 4 p.m.
• Open Stage with Joe Paulik, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.
• Rich Lewis Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.

Monday, June 19:

• Briand Morrison, Bluefin Grille, 9 p.m.

Wednesday, June 20:

• Jam Session, Gun Flint Tavern, 6:30 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.

As usual, we found lots of great photos this week. Here’s a selection.

Let’s start with wildlife —

First: Moose

 

 

 

 

 

For change of pace, this:

Here are two views of the sacred tree in Grand Portage.

 

And we found some gorgeous skyscapes:

 

 

 

And these beauties:

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, this majestic one:

To finish off… a little pet humor.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

(Here’s a big Thank You! to all the people who have helped support NorthShore ArtScene. Grateful. If you’d also like to make a donation, click on the icon below. And Thanks!)

 

Last weekend was pretty busy and this weekend hikes it up a notch. There’s music, a Block Party, puppet workshops, a memoir writing workshop, art workshops, a Dixie dance, a backyard concert and more. The summer season continues …

First up is a Memoir Writing Workshop at the Grand Marais Public Library at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 7, conducted by memoir author Kate St. Vincent-Vogl.

Entitled “Writing Memoir, Writing Life,” St. Vincent-Vogl will give tips, suggestions and writing exercises on how to write the best story of your life. The workshop is free.

Also on Thursday, the first Good Harbor Hill Puppet Workshops to create puppets and backdrops for the Summer Solstice Pageant at North House Folk School later this month will be held at the Betsy Bowen Studio from 6-8 p.m.

The workshops are open to everyone and are free … and lots of fun. Workshops will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, June 7 & June 14 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 9, and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 10. The Solstice Pageant will be performed at North House Folk School‘s Wooden Boat Show at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 23.

On Friday, a Paint-A-Tile workshop will be held at the Grand Marais Art Colony with a session from 1-2:30 p.m.

Participants will paint two tiles using colorful Majolica glazes during the session. The tiles will be fired and ready to be picked up on Sunday morning. The workshop is open to ages 12 and older. To register, call the Grand Marais Art Colony at 387-2737. One other Paint-A-Tile workshop will be held this month, on June 15.

The Boundary Waters Expo will be held this weekend at Bearskin Lodge on the Gunflint Trail this weekend. The 2-day event celebrating the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness will feature speakers, exhibitors and activities for everyone. The event will be held on Friday and Saturday. Scheduled speakers include Bruce Kerfoot (“Gunflint Trail History,”) Sue Plankis (“Birding in the BWCA,”  as well as talks about wilderness First Aid, fishing in the Boundary Waters and more. For more info and the schedule, click here.

And, for your evening listening, WTIP’s The Roadhouse will feature an interview with naturalist Larry Weber, who will talking about his latest book, “Web Watching: A Guide to Webs and the Spiders that Make Them.” Also, a new band, The Wunderdogs with Pete K., John Mianowski and Thomas Stamps will be in the studio to talk about their music and play a few songs. The program airs from 5-7 p.m. on Fridays. (The Wunderdogs play at the Wunderbar on Friday night.)

There will be lots to do in Grand Marais on Saturday, too.

First up, the Cook County Market will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Senior Center parking lot, featuring a wide variety of artisans, food and live music. New this week: organic produce from Round River Farm in Finland.

Round River Farm is located in Finland and produces a wide variety of produce for a CSA. This week, they will have spinach, lettuces, cilantro and (maybe) radishes. They plan to be at the Cook County Market every Saturday through the September.

Also new– the first Grand Marais Block Party will be held on Saturday with lots of live music, events, food, a Grand Marais Playhouse performance, a local author/illustrator reception, kite-making, print-making demos, wine tasting and more.

This should be a fun event. There will be a walk/run sponsored by Voyageur Brewing and a variety of musicians playing on 1st Ave. W. during the day, as well as a chance to explore all the interesting shops in the neighborhood. Picnic & Pine is even going to offer S’Mores in the afternoon. Click here for more information, maps and the complete schedule.

Also on Saturday, the Friction Farm, a modern folk duo that has written songs inspired by children’s books, will sing some songs and talk about reading at the Grand Marais Public Library at 10:30 p.m. Saturday.

Also, the Cook County Historical Society will hold at Open House at the Johnson Heritage Post from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday.

Participants will have the opportunity to meet the new staff and board members, and learn about future plans for the Society’s historic sites and art gallery. All five sites will be open for visits: the Lightkeeper’s House and Museum, Bally Blacksmith Shop, St. Francis Xavier Church and a 1930s fish house replica with fishing tug Neegee. There will be refreshments and activities at the Heritage Post. All invited.

And, a top-vote getter for Saturday: The Big Dixie Swingers, who will play at the Wunderbar on Saturday night from 8-10 p.m.

Winners of the 2017 band division of the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association’s Americana Roots Contest, the Big Dixie Swingers of New Orleans are a traveling musical collective headed up by fiddler Aaron Gunn and banjoist Elizabeth Vargas. The band is committed to reviving the music of America’s rural radio stations and stages and their sound blends old time country and pre-war era pop, spinning it back out as western swing-style dance band numbers. So, the event at the Wunderbar is an event for dancing! The North Shore Music Association is sponsoring the event. Tickets are $15 at the door. Here’s an example of their music:

It should be a fun time.

On Sunday, the Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center will host a Shrimp Bowl fom 4-6 p.m. as a fundraiser for the Gunflint Trail Historical Society. The event will be held at the Seagull Lake Community Center. All invited. The suggested donation is $15.

On Monday, the Voyageur Brewing Co. hosts a Community Collaborative Drawing session from 4-6 p.m. Open to all.

And, on Wednesday, June 13, Kristy Kutch will give a demonstration on creating with colored pencils at the Art Colony starting at 4:30 p.m.

Colored pencil is gaining prominence as a fine-art medium and it offers some remarkable techniques and tools. Kutch will demonstrate how to layer, blend, and create interesting textures painting with colored pencils. All invited. No registration necessary.

Exhibits:

 The exhibit, “Northerly Pots: The Long Pleasurable Carry” continues at the Johnson Heritage Post.

The exhibit features a variety of work by this acclaimed Thunder Bay potter. The exhibit continues through June 17. The Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays through Saturdays and from 1-4 p.m. Sundays. It is closed on Tuesdays.

The Spring Art Underground Show continues at Betsy Bowen’s Studio featuring works by more than 30 local and regional artists.

Minnesota potter, Guillermo Cuellar, is the featured artist in the Grand Marais Art Colony‘s Gallery Store this month.

Cuellar is teaching a class the Art Colony this month and will be one of the featured speakers at an Artist Talk. Stay tuned for details.

The Peregrine Falcon Show continues at Tettegouche State Park with a wide variety of work by local and regional artists.

Upcoming:

Jazz musicians Briand Morrison and Sam Miltich will be in house concert at the Art House B&B on June 14 at 7 p.m.

The $10 admission fee includes a smorgasbord of snacks and punch. BYOB. All invited.

The Wooden Boat Show and Summer Solstice Festival will be at North House Folk School June 22-24.

This highly anticipated event features workshops and presentations, lots of wooden boats, an auction, and the Summer Solstice Pageant, to name a few.Stay tuned for details.

The Northwoods Fiber Guild will hold an opening reception for its exhibit “Through Our Hands V: Sun, Moon, Stars” at the Johnson Heritage Post from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, June 22.

The exhibit will include weaving, knitting, felting, basketry, beadwork, quilts, paper, clothing, jewelry, accessories, wood carving, rugs, wall hangings, and mixed media andn continues through July 16.

And here’s a great opportunity for opera fans and those who have never gone to an opera before. Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” will be performed at the renovated NorShor Theatre in Duluth on Friday, June 22 and Sunday, June 24. The NorShor used to be the Duluth Opera House back in the day, so it’s just great that opera is being performed there again.  The performance is a production of Lyric Opera of the North. Stay tuned for details For tickets, see www.loonopera.org

Here’s the local music schedule:

Thursday, June 7:

• Gordon Thorne & Friends, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Live Music by the Campfire, Lutsen Resort, 6:30 p.m.
• Billy Johnson, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.

Friday, June 8:

• Billy Johnson, Voyageur Brewing, 4 p.m.
• Black River Revue, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• WunderDogs, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Bug Dope, Bluefin Bay, 9 p.m.

Saturday, June 9:

• Mark Miller, Cook County Market, Senior Center parking lot, 9:30 a.m.
• Friction Farm, Grand Marais Library, 10:30 a.m.
• Live music on 1st St. and the Grand Marais Block Party.
• Common Ground, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• The Cruisers, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.
• Pete K, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Black River Revue, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• The Big Dixie Swingers, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.

 Sunday, June 10:

• Mark Miller, Wunderbar, 11 a.m.
• Open Stage with Joe Paulik, 6 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Monday, June 11:

• Mel Parsons, Monday Singer/Songwriter Series, Papa Charlie’s, 9 p.m.

 Thursday, June 14:

• Briand Morrison & Sam Miltich, Art House B&B, 7 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Bluefin Bay, 9 p.m.

As usual, we found some interesting photos this week. Here’s a selection.

Let’s start with some wildlife shots.

 

 

 

And here’s a wildflower shot.

And  here are a few black and white beauties.

 

 

 

 

And then two BWCA beauties– one at dawn, one at dusk.

 

And finally, this evocative photo by Bryan Hansel.

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

The “official start” of summer over Memorial Day weekend was followed early this week by another gift of the season–rain, and plenty of it. So this weekend, there’s lots of energy on the North Shore to celebrate the warm season and lots of things to do.

The weekend starts with the Northern Landscapes Festival at North House Folk School. This popular festival focuses on discovering the birds, wildflowers, insects and more of the dynamic and rich landscape on the North Shore. Field-focused courses form the backbone of the event, including classes on birdwatching, geology, landscape photography and more with evening presentations rounding out the full weekend schedule.

The Northern Landscapes Festival also features public presentations, and they’ll be great this year. On Friday, June 1, Bob King, a Duluth-based astronomer and Duluth News Tribune photographer, will give a presentation on the summer sky. Entitled “Summer Sky Spectacular: Planets, Satellites and the Milky Way,” The presentation is at 7 p.m. If the night is clear, King will set up a telescope to observe Venus and Jupiter around 9 p.m.

And on Saturday, renowned ecologist Bernd Heinrich and author (“The Mind of the Raven”) returns to North House to teach a class on his latest book, “Bumblebee Economics.” He will also give a presentation at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 2, entitled “Bluejays, Crows and Ravens: Behavior and Ecology.” Few people know more about the world of corvids than Bernd Heinrich, having spent a lifetime observing and studying the smartest birds on the planet. Discover the rare abilities of our commonly obvserved feathered friends, the bluejay, crow and raven as Bernd shares images and stories of these unique creatures.

Both presentations are free to North House members. A $5 suggested donation for all others. For more info on the Northern Landscapes Festival and to register for workshops, click here.

Also on Friday, the Grand Marais Art Colony will host “Paint-A-Tile,” an opportunity for the public to come to the ceramic studio and paint tiles with their own designs.

This is one of a series of Paint-A-Tile opportunities that are scheduled this summer. Registration is required. For more information, call 387-2737 or visit www.grandmaraisartcolony.org.

Also on Friday, singer/songwriter Jon Kallberg will be on WTIP Community Radio’s The Roadhouse to talk about his music and play a few songs. Kallberg plays original acoustic guitars and electronic keyboard with live loops. Also, ecologist Bernd Heinrich will be on the show to talk about his life’s work.

The Peregrine Falcon Show at Tettegouche State Park opens on Friday with an artists reception from 7-8:30 p.m. The exhibit celebrates the 30th anniversary of the successful effort to restore wild peregrine populations, which were nearly extinct throughout most of North America due to human activity, such as DDT pesticide use. A number of falcon-related activities are scheduled for the exhibit this month, and on Friday, the art show opens.

The art show is a group show featuring multiple artists who have already or will soon have shows at Tettegouche. Adam Swanson, Lauri Olson Hohman and Deborah Kirkeeide are among the artists represented. The exhibit continues through the end of the month. On June 9, there will be a live falcon demonstration from 2:30 -4:30 p.m., a wild bird photography workshop on June 16 and a retrospective on the work that was done to restore peregrine populations from 1-3 p.m. June 16. Stay tuned for details.

Saturday brings the Grand Opening of the Big Lake, a new gallery on 12 First Ave. West. in Grand Marais. The gallery features a wide variety of artwork including paintings, pottery, prints and jewelry as well as a big selection of cards, kids’ clothing and more.

The opening is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and features homemade lefse and events throughout the day. All invited.

Also on Saturday, look for artisans on the streets of Grand Marais in two markets: The Cook County Market and the Cook County Makers Cooperative Market.

The Cook County Market celebrates its 21st anniversary this year and features a variety of artisans working in wood, fiber, metal and clay as well as homemade sweets, massage services and live music.

The Cook County Market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays in the Senior Center parking lot. For more info, click here.

The Cook County Makers Cooperative, a recently formed organization to support artists and makers in the county, has organized a Makers Market that is located in the lot between the Beaver House and 8 Broadway Gallery and Studios in downtown Grand Marais. Hours are still fluid, but check out the space this weekend.

This new enterprise is encouraging people who make things to check out the new space and talk to the founders. For more info, contact Jayne Richards at 387-4590 or Mike Smieja at 612-558-1501. For more info, click here.

The Grand Marais Art Colony has a crafted a “refresh” of their gallery store with lots of new work.

And here’s a fun opportunity to get inspired and inspire others. Check out this interactive sculpture, “Inspiration Exchange” by Greg Mueller, which is located on a stairway at the Grand Marais Art Colony.

The little boxes are open for the public to use as a way to inspire others. Check out a box… if you get inspired, exchange what you find for an “inspiration” of your own. Right now, the boxes contain quotes, a bird’s nest, a rock … and who knows — the contents can change daily. Be part of this inspiration exchange and check out the sculpture this weekend.

n Duluth, the Duluth Superior Film Festival got started this week and continues in a number of different venues through Sunday with a variety of dramas, documentaries, experimental films and more. The film festival is headquartered at Zinema – Zeitgeist (222 E Superior St) in Duluth.

Of particular interest is the screening of “Virginia,” a film that was shot at a number of North Shore locations, including Drury Lane Books in Grand Marais. Here’s the trailer:

VIRGINIA MINNESOTA – Trailer from Daniel Stine on Vimeo. “Virginia” will be screened at Zinema Theater, Saturday, June 2, at 7 p.m.

Here’s another trailer from the film festival … a New Zealand documentary entitled “Living the Change.”

 To find out more about the film festival and see the schedules, click here.

There are a number of interesting on-going exhibits on the North Shore this weekend, too.

“Northerly Pots: The Long Pleasurable Carry” continues at the Johnson Heritage Post.

The exhibit features work by Thunder Bay potter Fritz Lehmberg and continues through June 17. The Heritage Post is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Wednesday through Saturday. It is open from 1-4 p.m. Sundays and closed on Tuesdays.

“The Art of Creating a Buzz: A Beehive Exhibition,” featuring bee boxes painted by local artists, is on exhibit at the Grand Marais Art Colony through Thursday, May 31.

The Tweed Museum of Art is featuring a number of exhibits, including the University of Seniors exhibit.

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery in Thunder Bay is exhibiting “Fresh Perspectives: Secondary School Art” through June 10.

Upcoming:

The Grand Marais Public Library will host a memoir writing workshop at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 7, with Kate St. Vincent-Vogl. This free workshop is entitled “Writing Memoir, Writing Life” and is intended for audiences 12 to adult. The author conducted a writing/editing workshop at the library earlier this year. For more info on the workshop, contact the library at 387-1140.

The North Shore Music Association is bringing in the Big Dixie Swingers, a New Orleans-based band to play for a dance at the Wunderbar on June 9.

The music starts at 8 p.m. Stay tuned for details.

Artist News:

Gwen Danfelt, manager at Drury Lane Books, has a new program on WTIP Community Radio entitled “Talking Books.” The program airs on the last Monday of the month on North Shore Morning.

 To listen to her first broadcast, click here.

Here’s the music for this week:

Thursday, May 31:

• Gordon Thorne & Friends, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Bug Lite, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
• Pushing Chain, Wunderbarm 7 p.m.

Friday, June 1:

• Joe Paulik, Voyageur Brewing, 4 p.m.
• Bug House, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Chris Koza, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.

Saturday, June 2:

• Jon Kallberg, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Pushing Chain, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.
• Common Ground, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.

Sunday, June 3:

• Briand Morrison, Moguls Grille, 10 a.m.

Monday, June 4:

• Briand Morrison, Bluefin Grille, 9 p.m.

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

Wildflowers are blooming like crazy now, too.

Here’s a beautiful sunset:

And cloudscapes were great this week.

 

 

 

And finally, this classic shot:

Have a great weekend, everyone!

If you have enjoyed my blog this week, please consider making a donation to support it. As you can probably tell, it takes a lot of time and effort to put it together … it’s a labor of love, for sure.

 

There are lots of moving parts this weekend in Grand Marais as it celebrates Memorial Day and the beginning of the summer season. The Art Along the Lake Spring Gallery Tour features art openings, demonstrations, a Sound Garden, a Block Party, classes and workshops.  Plus, the Cross River Heritage Center and the Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center both open for the season this weekend, with special receptions and new exhibits. Plus, there’s lots of great music, including Duluth’s Charlie Parr, who will play at Voyageur Brewing Co. on Saturday from 4-7 p.m., a great chance to get up-close and personal with this versatile musician.

The details:

The Grand Marais Art Colony has opened an exhibit of beehives painted by local artists. Entitled “Creating a Buzz: A Bee Hive Exhibition,” the exhibit features real bee boxes decorated by Jeff Niesen, Betsy Bowen, Jan Attridge, Karen Cedarmoon,  Cedar Adams and Greg Mueller.

The exhibit is the project of beekeeper Bob Janicek, who will host a Meet-and-Greet at the Grand Marais Art Colony from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday. The exhibit continues through Sunday.

Excuse the pun, but the Art Colony is going to be a beehive of activity this weekend. It will hold the Grand Opening of the refreshed Gallery Store and the installation and unveiling of a public art sculpture by Greg Mueller entitled “The Inspiration Exchange.” Besides a number of workshops, (painting tiles, making glass window ornaments) the Art Colony is holding a real Block Party on Saturday where the street will be closed off and a number of activities for all ages will be held. The Block Party is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes string wall art, chalk the walk, hula hoop making, glass window ornaments, puzzles, screenprinting, and good coloring old-fashioned coloring books, and should be fun for all.

And that’s just a small part of the Memorial Day whirl.

Yellow Bird Fine Art will hold its Grand Opening this weekend, with a reception from 4-6 p.m. on Friday. Refreshments will be served, and Joe Paulik will play. The gallery features handmade jewelry by owner Ron Piercy, sculptures, paintings and ceramics.

There will be stone drilling demonstrations all day Friday at the gallery and Paula Gustafson will give an oil painting demonstration from noon to 2 p.m. On Saturday, there will be a Q&A about jewelry design. All welcome.

The Spring Art Underground Show at the Betsy Bowen Gallery opens with a Sneak Peak reception from 5-8 p.m. Friday. The show includes work by more than 40 local and regional artists in glass, ceramics, paintings, fiber and more. The show continues through June.

And to top off the Friday events in Grand Marais, the Johnson Heritage Post Gallery will hold the opening reception for “Northerly Pots: The Long Pleasurable Carry,” with work by Fritz Lehmberg of Early Snows Pottery near Thunder Bay.

Lehmberg has been making wood-fired pots for more than 30 years in his pottery tucked inside the woods just outside Thunder Bay. The reception will be from 5-8 p.m. The exhibit continues through June 17. The Heritage Post is closed on Tuesdays. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and Monday, and from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday.

Also on Friday, jazz guitarist Briand Morrison will be on WTIP’s The Roadhouse talk about his music and play a few songs. The Roadhouse airs from 5-7 p.m. Friday.

In Schroeder, The Cross River Heritage Center opens for the season with a reception from 6-8 p.m. on Friday featuring refreshments and live music. There are new exhibits in the center this year, too, including “Children of the Finnish Homestead.”

Kah-Nee-Tah Gallery in Lutsen will have a wide variety of demonstrations over the weekend, including wool spinning on Friday and stone carving, gemstone jewelry and silk and wool dyeing demonstrations on Saturday.

And, at 4 p.m. on Saturday, there will be Bronze Pour at the Mueller Studio (formerly Last Chance Gallery) in Lutsen.

Also on Saturday, Steve Frykman of Art of the Elements Gallery in rural Grand Marais, (306 County Rd. 44) will give a demonstration of chipping and faceting glass.

For a complete schedule of all the events during the Art of the Lake Spring Gallery Tour, click here.

And on Sunday, the Harbor Park Spring Sound Garden will be held in Harbor Park from noon to 5 p.m.  The event will celebrate the coming of spring, and the history, geography, and ecology of Harbor Park and Lake Superior with music, art, poetry and more.

The Spring Sound Garden event will feature a temporary sound installation, combining live musicians and a small choir with 35 small, battery-powered remote speakers distributed throughout the park, each playing a different part of the larger piece of music – a spatial concert you can walk through!  In addition to the sound installation, the event will feature visual art elements by local artists, live poetry, history, and storytelling and interactive opportunities.
The Spring Sound Garden is created by Minneapolis-based award-winning composer/director James Everest. It should be fun, for sure, so saunter through.

Also this weekend, the Cook County Market opens for the season in the Senior Center parking lot. The Market is held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays through mid-October.

The market features a wide variety of artists and artisans working in wood, clay, fiber and metals. There are several new vendors, including Patty-Cakes cupcakes. See you there!

In Duluth, look for some interesting work at the Tweed Museum of Art:

There are three exhibits at the Duluth Art Institute:

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery is currently exhibiting work by secondary school students.

The Definitely Superior Art Gallery spring show in Thunder Bay includes exhibits and installations.

Upcoming:

Next week, the Duluth-Superior Film Festival begins with five days of innovative films, music, director interviews and more in a number of different venues. The festival will include the premiere of “Virginia Minnesota” a film directed and written by Daniel Stine and shot on the North Shore and the Iron Range. The premiere will be on Wednesday, May 30 at the Clyde Iron Event Center at 8 p.m.  For more info on the film festival schedule, click here.  Stay tuned for details.

Here’s the music for the week.

Thursday, May 25:

• Gordon Thorne & Friends, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• Frozen Britches, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• James Moors, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Friday, May 25:

• Two-Bit Revival, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• Portage, Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.
• The Grace Notes, Cross River Heritage Center, 6:30 p.m.
• Don Juan Trio, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Briand Morrison, Bluefin Grille, 9 p.m.
• Saturday, May 26:
• Joe Paulik, Cascade Lodge Pub, 6 p.m.
• Michael Monroe, Log Cabin Concert, 7 p.m. , rural Grand Marais, www.michaelmonroemusic.com
• Charlie Parr, Voyageur Brewing Co., 7 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• Boats and Bridges, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Cook County’s Most Wanted, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.
• Thunder Bay Legends, Grand Portage Casino, 8 p.m.
• Rich Mattson and the NorthStars, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Gun Flnt Tavern, 8 p.m.
• DJ Beavstar, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 27:

• Briand Morrison, Mogul’s Grille, 10 a.m.
• Harbor Park Spring Sound Garden, noon to 5 p.m.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here are some landscapes:

 

And finally… this:

Have a great weekend, everyone!

P.S. If you missed the Ruthie Foster concert at the ACA last weekend and/or want to hear more, check out this interview by WTIP’s Will Moore.

And oh, by the way, I am accepting donations to my blog. Any amount is welcome.

 

 

This would be a great weekend to explore the North Shore. The trees are just beginning to bud and early spring wildflowers are blooming in abundance. Plus the waterfalls are fantastic, and offer such a variety of experiences. From the gorge at Cascade to the thundering of the High Falls at Grand Portage, waterfalls are in this month. And a trip across the border to experience the Kakabeka Falls is definitely worth the trip. The falls are almost as tall as Niagara Falls — something to see.

And, to get a preview of waterfalls on the North Shore, check out this month’s art exhibit at Tettegouche State Park. Photographer and author “Waterfalls of Minnesota,” Lisa Crayford, is exhibiting some stunning photographs of waterfalls this month in the Great Hall there.

And for outstanding indoors entertainment, join 3-time Grammy Award nominee, blues singer Ruthie Foster,  in concert at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night.

Foster is the recipient of seven Blues Music Awards, three Austin Music Awards, the Grand Prix du Disque award from the Académie Charles-Cros in France, and a Living Blues Critics’ Award for “Female Blues Artist of the Year.” She has performed all over the world and performed with a number of famous artists including Bonnie Raitt and the Allman Brothers. This should be a great concert, for sure. Tickets are $15 general admission at aca.tix.com (no fees!) and the  door on the night of show. Here’s a clip of Foster performing “Ring of Fire.”

On Saturday, Drury Lane Books is hosting author Cary J. Griffith to talk about his book “Gunflint Burning–Fire in the Boundary Waters, “ the story of the Ham Lake Fire.

One of the most destructive wildfires in modern Minnesota history, Griffith describes the blaze, the firefighters’ battle, the human toll… in short, “Gunflint Burning”  describes the key events of the fire as they unfold, transporting readers to the front lines of an epic struggle that was at times heroic, tragic, and sublime. He will read from the book, discuss the writing process with the audience, and sign books. All invited.

In Duluth on Saturday afternon, the Joseph Nease Gallery will feature artist talks at 2 p.m. with Tim White and Allen Killian-Moore, both of whom opened exhibits at the gallery recently.  White, a photographer, is exhibiting new work. Kllian-Moore is exhibiting an installation film entitled ““Permanent State of Exception.”

The two artists will discuss the points of connection (and perhaps disconnection) in their work and their process. They will also give tours of their exhibits.  The gallery is located at 23 W. 1st St. in Duluth

On Tuesday, May 22, consider attending a Critical Response Process session at the Grand Marais Art Colony from 5-7:30 p.m. The Critical Response is an artist-led, multi-step, group system for giving and receiving feedback on creative processes and works-in-progress by an individual artist. The process helps the artist by offering he or she an opportunity to ask questions about their work in a non-judgemental setting.

Participants will be observing and participating in the session as part of the peer critique group, but will not bring in their own artwork for this training session. Tuition is $10. For more information and to register, call the Art Colony at 387-2737.

And on Wednesday, the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council will present the 2018 Arts Awards at the WDSE studios in Duluth at 5 p.m. Photographer and documentary filmmaker Craig Blacklock will receive the George Morrison Artist Award and filmmaker Karen Sunderman will receive the Maddie Simon Arts Advocate Award.

Because of limited space, advance reservations are required to attend the ceremony. To RSVP to attend the awards, please visit
https://20thannualarrowheadartsawards.eventbrite.com

This would be a great weekend to visit galleries and shops in Grand Marais, too.

This is the last weekend to see the exhibit “Found: 3 Views on Nature, a Group Art Show” at the Johnson Heritage Post. This show is a wonderful mix of block prints, encaustic paintings, and mixed-media artworks by Stephanie Mostre-Kotz (mixed media), Stanley Leonard (woodblock prints) and Bethany Kepler (encaustic works).

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

In Duluth, the Duluth Art Institute opened three exhibits last week: Jason Pearson’s “Travels with My Twin: Selected Works from the Pearson Brother’s Collection,” Tara Austin’s “Boreal Ornament” and Jonathan Herrera’s “Querida Presencia.”

The DAI exhibits continue through July 1. The Art Institute is located in the Depot and is open daily.

The Tweed Museum of Art on the UMD campus is hosting a Community Day on Saturday, May 19. The event includes art activities for kids and a chance to see the wide variety exhibits at the museum. Open to all. Free.

In Thunder Bay, the Definitely Superior Art Gallery will hold a gala opening reception for two new exhibits on Friday starting at 7 p.m. (EDT). The exhibits include the Lakehead University RetroGraduate Exhibit 2018, and  “Fortify This Collective” which highlights the longevity, creativity, and achievements of Indigenous artists’ production in northwestern Ontario.

The exhibits continue through June 16.

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery featuring four exhibits: “Fresh Perspectives: Secondary School Art Exhibition 2-18,”  “Future Dreams and Aspirations.” “Aaron Veldstra: Tarlacan” and “By Request: Collective Curation of the Permanent Collection.”

Upcoming:

There’s lots going on in Grand Marais over Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-27.

The Grand Marais Art Colony will hold a feature a variety of short classes, including a ceramics class,  Paint-A-Tile, and  a glass class, Glass Window Ornaments, as well as Beehive Exhibit in the Founders Hall. On Saturday, May 26, the Art Colony will host a Block Party where the street will be closed  and a number of festive activitie will be held,  including Community Ink Day: Screenprinting, Hula Hoop Making, and so more.

The Art Colony’s exhibit, “The Art of Creating a Buzz: a Bee Hive Exhibition” should be great. It opens at the Grand Marais Art Colony on May 21 with work by local artists Cedar Adams, Jan Attridge, Betsy Bowen, Karen Cedarmoon, Greg Mueller and Jeff Niesen.  Each of the artists were given a hive to decorate with paints and designs safe for bees. Then at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 26, Beekeeper Bob Janicek and the artists will be at a Meet-and-Greet at the Art Colony.

Here is what Betsy Bowen made for the exhibit. She calls it “Hollyhocks for the Bees.”

Betsy Bowen’s Studio will host the Spring Art Underground Show next week, and the Yellow Bird Fine Art Gallery will hold it’s Grand Opening as well, and there will be special exhibits at other Cook County galleries. In Schroeder, the Cross River Heritage Center will open for the season with a number of new displays as well as demonstrations.  And not to forget, the Harbor Park Sound Garden on May 27. Stay tuned for details and/or check out VisitCookCounty.com for schedules of events for this Spring Gallery Tour.

Artist News:

The Big Lake Gallery opened this week, with the Grand Opening set for June 2.

The Plucked Up String Band was featured to TPT the other day where they talked about their music and played a few songs. Check out the clip.

Travis Novitsky has the cover shot on the the June/July issue of Lake Superior Magazine.

And Bryan Hansel has some photos on the edition, too.

 

Here’s the music this week –

Thursday, May 17:

• Briand Morrison, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.
• Billy Johnson, North Shore Winery, 7 p.m.
• Robert Hunter, Wunderbar, 7 p.m.

Friday,. May 18:

• Timmy Haus, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• Ruthie Foster, Arrowhead Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m.
• Billy Johnson, Grandma Rays’, 8 p.m.
• Robert Hunter, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Brothers in Arms, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.

Saturday, May 19:

• Gordon Thorne, Lutsen Resort, 7 p.m.
• SisterTree, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Brothers in Arms, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.

Sunday, May 20:

• Timmy Haus, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.
• Open Stage, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, May 22:

• Eric Frost, Poplar River Pub, 6 p.m.

We found some fun photographs this week. Here’s a selection.

First, wildlife:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We found some great landscapes and waterfall shots, too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And last, but not least, this great historical photo.

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

Mother’s Day weekend is celebrated in dance, parades and pottery this weekend — so lots to choose from…

First up is the dance recital by the Cook County YMCA Dancers that opens tonight at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts at 6 p.m. Performances are also at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday night.

Entitled “4 Love,” this highly anticipated spring event stars dancers of every age performing jazz, ballet, tap and multi-media dances in a show that features spectacular lighting and music as well as humor and drama.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or online in advance at aca.tix.com. Tickets are $10 adults, $5 students. Get there early, because these shows often sell out.

On Friday, the Grand Marais Public Library will host psychologist and author Tom Glaser, who will present “Choosing Happiness” at 5:30 p.m. Glaser is the author of “Full Heart Living: Conversations with the Happiest People I Know,” an Amazon.com bestseller. The presentation is free. All invited.

At 6 p.m. on Friday, Blacksmith Cody Myers, who has been the resident instructor at North House Folk School for several weeks, will hold an open demonstration night in the Blacksmith Shop at North House. The demonstration will be from 6-9 p.m.

The community is invited to drop-in, talk to Cody, and get a glimpse of what it’s like to forge molten metal into knives and other functional objects. Free. Open to all.

And on Saturday, Kah-Nee-Tah Gallery will host “Painting with Mom,” with artist Pam Fioritto.

Participants will be supplied with painting materials. The class is $30 and is from 3-5 p.m. To register, click here.

There’s a new place to listen to music in Grand Marais, too. The Cove Lobby Bar at Best Western is featuring live music on the weekends. Chris Gillis and Thomas Stamps will perform jazz from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday.

The new fireplace Great Room is open to the public with a bar and food available. No cover charge.

Mother’s Day weekend is always busy in Minnesota. In Duluth, the Duluth Art Institute will hold an opening reception and Artist Talks with Tara Austin and Jon Herrera.

Austin, a painter, is inspired by rosemaling, a traditional form of decorative folk art that originated in the rural valleys of Norway. Herrara is a printmaker who is exploring the collective memory and historical instances of state-sponsored violence and trauma in this show. He was recently the Artist-in Residence at the Grand Marais Art Colony.

The opening reception and Artist Talks will be from 5-7 p.m. All invited.

And on Sunday, the Magic Smelt Puppet Troupe will hold the “Run Smelt Run” parade on the Lakewalk in Duluth starting at 3:30 p.m. This is a lively spectacle, which starts out at the Lift Bridge near the Maritime Museum and continues on the Lakewalk to the Zeitgeist Cafe, where there will be a smelt fry. The Brass Messengers, a brass band from the Twin Cities, will perform as well.

For those who want to learn how to make smelt puppet art, the Duluth Art Institute will hold Smelt Parade workshops at its Lincoln Park location, 2229 W. 2nd Street, over the weekend. For more info, call 218-370-8980. All are welcome to march in the parade–silver costumes preferred!

Exhibits:

The exhibit, “Found: 3 Views on Nature, a Group Exhibition of  Block Prints, Encaustic Paintings, and Mixed-Media Artworks” continues at the Johnson Heritage Post through May 20. Artists include Stanley Leonard (wood block prints), Bethany Kepler (encaustic paintings) and Stephanie Molstre-Kotz (mixed media). This is a must-see show.

The Heritage Post is closed on Tuesdays. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and Monday, and 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

Photographer Lisa Crayford is exhibiting her work in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park this month.

In Duluth, Ann Klefstad’s exhibit, “carbon,” continues at the Zeitgeist Art Cafe with sculptures, prints and tar paintings, exploring the theme of how burning the carbon that is trapped in coal, oil and tar effects our world.

Also in the Twin Ports, screen printmaker Joel Cooper has a 25-year retrospective on exhibit at the Red Mug Coffee Shop in Superior. Cooper also has work at Lizzard’s Gallery in Duluth.

The retrospective will continue through May. The Red Mug is located at 916 Hammond Ave. in Superior.

And, one of the most spectacular pottery tours in the U.S. is this weekend. The St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour is May 11-13. This year there will be 62 potters from 17 states and England who will be showing at seven host potters’ studios in and around Chisago County.

Studios are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Refreshments are served. For more info and maps, click here.

This is last weekend to see two exhibits at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery in Thunder Bay. The Lakehead University Visual Arts Department Major Studio Exhibition and “Honouring Our Stories” close on Sunday.

Opportunities:

 There is still time to apply for the 2019 artist in residence program at the Grand Marais Art Colony. wo concurrent juried residencies are available in 2019, one in the Founders Hall multi-use Studio and one in the Eco-friendly Printmaking Studio. Juried residents are provided with two weeks of independent studio access, lodging, and a weekly stipend. The deadline is May 18. For more info, click here.

Also, the Art Colony is accepting applications for the Executive Director through May 20. For more information and to apply, click here.

The Art Colony will hold a series of workshops for youth this summer, starting in June.

Entitled “Summer Art Space, ” the workshops will be held on Thursdays from June 14 through July 26. To find out more, click here.

The Cook County Courthouse. the Johnson Heritage Post and Tettegouche State Park are all accepting applications for exhibits. For more information about each: Cook County Courthouse,  Johnson Heritage Post . For Tettegouche State Park, email kurt.mead@state.mn.us

Upcoming:

Blues singer Ruthie Foster will be in concert at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 18. Three-time “Best Blues Album” Grammy nominee has dueted with Bonnie Raitt, performed with the Allman Brothers, and shared the stage with Susan Tedeschi. She’s the recipient of Seven Blues Music Awards, three Austin Music Awards, the Grand Prix du Disque award from the Académie Charles-Cros in France, and a Living Blues Critics’ Award for “Female Blues Artist of the Year.” Listen to her here.

The North Shore Music Association has been working to get Foster here for years. Tickets for this solo show are $15 general admission at www.aca.tix.com (no fees!) and at the door night of show.

Breaking News: The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council has announced the winners of the 2018 Annual Arts Awards. Photographer Craig Blacklock will be awarded the George Morrison Artist Award and WDSE’s Karen Sunderman the Maddie Simons Arts Advocate Award. The award ceremony will be held at WDSE-TV on May 23 from 5-6:30 p.m. For more, click here.

And finally, Lonnie Dupre has a new book out. “Alone at the Top,” chronicles his struggles as he climbs Denali, the highest mountain on the continent.

The book has just been released and is available at Drury Lane Books.

 Music:

Thursday, May 10:

• Gordon Thorne & Friends, North Shore Winery, 6 p.m.
• James Moors, Lutsen Resort, 6 p.m.
• Frozen Britches, Cascade Lodge Pub, 7 p.m.
• Plucked Up String Band, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Friday, May 11:

• Jim Lundorff, Voyageur Brewing Co., 4 p.m.
• Portage, Grandma Ray’s, 6 p.m.
• Cook County’s Most Wanted, Grandma Ray’s, 9 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.

Saturday, May 12:

• Jazz with Chris Gillis and Thomas Stamps, The Cove Lobby Bar at Best Western, 5 p.m.
• Tim Fast, Poplar River Pub, 7 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Gun Flint Tavern, 8 p.m.
• Lowland Lakers, Wunderbar, 8 p.m.
• SplinterTones, Grandma Ray’s, 8 p.m.

Sunday, May 13:

• Open Stage with Joe Paulik, Wunderbar, 6 p.m.
• Boyd Blomberg, Gun Flint Tavern, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, May 15:

• Jim & Michelle Miller, Lutsen Resort, 6 p.m.

Here are some photos we found this week:

First, some wildlife shots.

 

 

 

 

And a few skyscapes, waterscapes and landscapes:

 

 

 

Have a great weekend, everyone! Happy Mother’s Day!!

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