Greetings from the North Shore, where we welcome Fall and the nights of spectacular northern lights. Add to that frosty mornings and the beauty of northern forests in this changing season, and you can understand why we are feeling pretty invigorated this week. That’s all to the good, especially since woodpiles are calling to be organized, the harvests pulled in and winter clothes/equipment inventoried for the months ahead.
Meanwhile, we make art.
Joy and Company offers opportunities to do that every week during Art Night, a free event from 3:30-5 pm on Thursdays. The community is invited to the shop to create in several different media.
This week, it is White Box Art Night, and people will be given a white box with art supplies in it to make something beautiful. A $5 freewill donation is appreciated. Open to all.
This Thursday is the last day for the Grand Marais Farmer’s Market this season.
The Farmer’s Market is held in the parking lot of the Cook County Community Center from 4:30-6 pm.
Also this Thursday, there will be a Free Open Studio to make bowls for Empty Bowls at the Grand Marais Art Colony‘s Ceramic Studio from 5-8 pm. There will be one more free Make-A-Bowl event on Oct. 24. Also, the public is invited to Paint-A-Bowl at Studio 21 Oct. 17-18. (See poster below.) All the bowls will be donated to the Empty Bowls fundraiser which will be held at Up Yonder on Nov. 14.
Anyone who can make bowls (on the wheel or hand-building) without assistance is welcome. No instruction will be provided. The bowl-makers are also invited to help trim and glaze them.
On Thursday Night, WTIP Community Radio will host Cook County Trivia from 6-8 pm at Up Yonder.
This is a bar-style Trivia, with lots of great questions and is free. The public is invited.
On Friday, the Johnson Heritage Post will host an opening reception for a new exhibit: “Splendor of the North Shore: By Land and Sea,” featuring paintings by Tom Dimock.
The exhibit features plein-air paintings as well as studio work, focusing on the beauty of the Northwoods and Lake Superior. The opening reception is from 5-7 pm. The public is invited.
The Heritage Post is open from 10 am to 4 pm Wednesday through Saturday and from 1-4 pm Sunday. Free.
On Saturday, the Cook County Market opens in the parking lot of The Hub at 10 am.
The market is open through 2 pm and features a great selection of locally made arts and crafts including knitwear, glasswork, pottery, leatherwork, paintings, jewelry, rock lamps, balms, lotions, and more. Open to all. The last day of this season’s market is the Saturday of MEA weekend, Oct. 19.
Bluefin Bay will hold its first Oktoberfest on Saturday at the resort in Tofte.
The free event will run from noon to 8 pm and feature classic German cuisine, German beer, competitions, and local arts and crafts, including ceramics, candles, weaving, woodwork, and more. A kid’s crafting station will have various activities as well from noon to 6 pm. Oktoberfest is open to the public.
A Solar Home Tour will be held from 1-4 pm on Saturday as well, sponsored by the Cook County Local Energy Project.
The tour features four homes in Grand Marais that have solar PV array systems. Talk to the homeowners, ask questions, and meet like-minded people. The tour starts at 1 p.m. at 987 Old Ski Hill Road, caravanning to the next stops.
The tour is open to all and is free.
The Cook County Historical Society will hold its Annual Meeting at the Heritage Post from 2-4 pm Saturday.
The event will highlight the Society’s newly configured strategic plan, provide information about what to expect as the Historical Society enters its 100th year, and read a few excerpts from the newly published book “At the End of the Caribou Trail: Tait Lake and the Life of Cap & Billie Peterson.“
Registration requested. Register here.
Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center will host a presentation by Don and Ann Luce from 2-5 pm Saturday.
The title of the presentation is “A Shared Fascination with Water: Paintings by Don Luce and Photography and Video by Ann Luce.”
Both Don and Ann have long shared a passion for water. In his paintings, Don seeks to capture intimate views of the patterns of watery worlds. Streams, ponds, lakes, and particularly shorelines have been a focus of his fascination. In her photographs and especially her swimming videos Ann has immersed herself in the color and movement at the water’s surface. Her poetry gives viewers a deeper appreciation of each body of water she has explored. In this illustrated talk, Don and Ann will discuss the paths that have led them to their art and a shared commitment to the preservation of our natural world. The presentation is free.
In Duluth, painter Aaron Kloss will hold an Open Studio on Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm featuring his latest paintings and cards.
The public is invited.
On Sunday, the Grand Marais Writer’s Guild will meet at Cook County Higher Education or via Zoom from 2-3:30 pm.
The event is open to anyone who writes. The meeting features discussion, writing prompts, and more with Rose Arrowsmith. Free. For more info, click here.
On Monday, there will be special events at the Grand Portage National Monument to celebrate Indigenous People’s Day.
The day will feature two special guests, Carl Gawboy and Lori Anishnabie.
From 11 am – 1 pm in the Heritage Center, Gawboy, a nationally recognized artist and author will give a presentation on his book “Fur Trade Nation: An Ojibwe’s Graphic History” followed by a book signing.
At 1 pm, Anishnabie will demonstrate the traditional practice of fish hide tanning in the Ojibwe Village. Both events are free.
Note: Every year Indigenous Peoples’ Day also marks the last day the Historic Depot site will be open until Memorial Day weekend the next year.
This fall, North House Folk School will hold a Community Craft Night on Tuesdays from 5:30-7:30 pm through Nov. 12.
All crafters are welcome to bring a project to work on or just see what others are doing. Free. All are welcome.
Exhibits:
Painter Katherine Boyce is currently exhibiting her work in the Great Hall at Tettegouche State Park.
The painter is inspired by the beauty of the North Shore. To see more of her work, click here.
In Duluth, Carolyn Olson has just opened a new exhibit at Lizzard’s Gallery & Framing.
The gallery is located at 11 W. Superior St.
The Tweed Museum of Art is featuring a virtual exhibit of its ceramic holdings on its website entitled “Clay Culture.”
The Thunder Bay Art Gallery has just opened a new exhibit entitled: petal, clay, berry, leaf: natural inks, dyes, and pigments in Northern Ontario.
This is an exhibition that wanders off the beaten path. This group exhibition presents new expressions and experiments with natural inks, dyes, and, pigments in Northern Ontario by four women artists at different stages of their careers.
Works of painting, textile, installation, video, and photography cultivate new experiences of color, landscape, gentleness, and community for the viewer. The exhibit continues through Jan 5.
Opportunities:
The North Shore Music Association is accepting applications for a director, a part-time position.
The director will work closely with the NSMA Board to fulfill its mission of bringing live music and dance events to the North Shore throughout the year. Responsibilities include scheduling and overseeing monthly musical events; grant-writing and fundraising; and promotion and marketing. For more information, contact Wayne Russ at wayneruss@boreal.org.
Upcoming:
The 6th annual Grand Marais Apple Festival is next week, Oct. 17-19, with lots of activities planned and apples to eat and pick. Crosby Bakery will have apple pies for sale at the Community Orchard as well, and David Bedford, who developed the Honeycrisp apple, will speak at North House on Oct. 19 followed by an apple tasting. Stay tuned.
In other news, singer/songwriter John Lowell will be in concert at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on Oct. 26 hosted by the North Shore Music Association.
Here’s a song from his latest album.
Tickets are $20. Click here to purchase. They are also sold at the door.
Artists at Work:
Online Findings:
The Emmy-award-winning Pacifica Quartet will be in concert at the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Duluth on Oct. 13, hosted by Matinee Musicale.
Online Music:
Live Music:
Thursday, October 10:
- Pat Eliasen, Raven Rock Grill at Skyport Lodge, 6-8 pm
- Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6:30-8:30 pm
Friday, October 11:
- Buffalo Galaxy, Up Yonder, 9-11:59 pm
- The TH3, Gunflint Tavern’s Rooftop Bar, 9-11:59 pm
Saturday, October 12:
- John Gruber, Cook County Saturday Market (Senior Center Parking Lot), 10 – 2 pm
- Buffalo Galaxy, Up Yonder, 9-11:59 pm
- The TH3, Gunflint Tavern’s Rooftop Bar, 9-11:59 pm
Sunday, October 13:
- Medicine River, Gunflint Tavern, 3-6 pm
- Watershed, North Shore Winery, 3:30-5:30 pm
- Eric Frost, North Shore Winery, 5-7 pm
- Open Stage, Up Yonder, 6-9 pm
Wednesday, October 16:
- Community Sing-Along, First Congregational Church, 6 pm
Thursday, October 17:
- Gordon Thorne, North Shore Winery, 6:30-8:30 pm
- Open Old Time Appalachian Music Jam, Log Cabin or Community Center, 7-9 pm
- North Shore Swing Band, Up Yonder, 7-9 pm
Friday, October 18:
- Bump Blomberg, Gunflint Tavern’s Rooftop Bar, 6-9 pm
Saturday, October 19:
- John Gruber, Cook County Saturday Market (Senior Center Parking Lot), 10-2 pm
Sunday, October 20:
- Medicine River, Gunflint Tavern, 3-6 pm
Photographs:
Here’s a selection of photographs we found this week:
Wildlife:
Potpourri:
Northern Lights:
Landscapes. Waterscapes & Riverscapes:
Have a great weekend, everyone!
BTW: If you enjoyed NorthShore ArtScene this week, please consider supporting the arts and entertainment news you rely on every week! Your contribution makes it possible. Donate today and Thank You!
A special thank you goes out to Jeremy Lopez (Live Music schedule, tech advice, music suggestions), Yvonne Mills (proofreading), and Kari Carter (caption corrections.) Also, thanks to Visit Cook County for their great Events Calendar.