Tim Young's "Gunflint Pines," is one of the new images in his exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post.
Hard to believe summer is almost over, isn’t it? On the other hand, we are deep into the harvest in our gardens and in the arts. September is a great month for “harvesting” the arts, including a chance to see lots of art shows and events, music, theatre and more.
Tim Young and Anne Cervanka’s exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post is open through Sept. 6 and is a must see, both for those who will see it for the first time and returnees. Young has been selling lots of paintings from this show and replacing them with new work. “The show is quite different from when it was first hung,” Young said earlier this week. Among the new pieces, his painting of the Gunflint Pines. A visit to the Heritage Post to see this fun show again is well worth it.
Also this weekend, a reprise of the Grand Marais Playhouse’s production of “The Wizard of Oz” is at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts. Show times are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. It continues Sept. 3-6 as well. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Visit www.grandmaraisplayhouse.com for more.
Plein air artists will compete in the Quick Paint on Thursday, Sept. 3.
The Grand Marais Art Colony’s Plein Air Festival begins this Friday and continues through Sept. 6. Of particular interest to the public is a presentation by Howard Sivertson at the What’s Upstairs Theatre at the Old Playhouse on Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. (Free and open to the public) and the Quick Paint event on Thursday, Sept. 3, from 5-6:30 p.m. at North House Folk School. From 7-9 p.m. is open grill — people can bring food to grill. It is also free. The Fish Fry at the Art Colony begins at 5 p.m. Friday , Sept. 4, at 5 p.m. as does the opening of the Plein Air exhibit, which continues through Saturday, from 10 a.m . to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Cost for the Fish Fry is $15. All are invited. For more info, visit www.grandmaraisartcolony.org.
The Sleeping Giant Writer’s Festival at Fort William Historic Park in Thunder Bay is this weekend, too, Aug. 28-30. It brings together premier writers from all over the region. For more info, check www.sleepinggiantwriters.com.
Last weekend was the Cook County Fair, this weekend and next is the Minnesota State Fair. Grand Marais will have representation in the State Fair this year, too, when Chef Judi Barsness (Chez Jude) gives a presentation on the Minnesota Cooks Stage on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 1 p.m. Barsness will demonstrate Chez Jude’s New York Strip Steak Herbs de Provence and Butternut Squash & Mushroom Wild Rice Risotto.
Chez Jude in Grand Marais, as illustrated by Kelly Dupre.
In all, 16 chefs from the Renewing the Countryside program will be featured at the event, with complementary tasting included. All of the chefs and their recipes will be included in a calendar, which will be available at Chez Jude after Labor Day.
Here in Cook County, there’s lots to do this weekend. Geology lovers can learn all about the history of the county at Sugarloaf Cove on Saturday at 10 a.m. with renowned geologist John Green. The event is free.
For music, Yeltsi withDuluth’s Sara Softich and Jason Wassau will play at the GunFlint Tavern on Friday and Saturday nights. To hear their music, visit www.sarasoftich.com/. They’re a very fun duo to listen to. Also on Friday, Tati and Sosa from the island of Tonga will be at the Howlin’ Wolf at 9 p.m.
On Saturday, Pete Kavanaugh will rock the tent at the Eight Broadway Stage starting at 1 p.m. and Rod ‘N Real will play at Devil Track Landing from 5-8 p.m. on Sunday.
Also this weekend, Anna Hess and Cheryl Dannenbring will read from their new new book, “Beaver, Bear and Snowshoe Hare” at Drury Lane Books on Saturday at 5 p.m. Next Saturday, Sept. 5, at 5 p.m. Joan Drury will read from her book, “Silent Words,” which has been re-released.
Also, Kah Nee Tah Gallery in Lutsen has new watercolor paintings by Marie Sweeney from Shell Lake, Wis., and new acrylic paintings by Bruce Palmer from Schroeder and St. Paul. The gallery also has new necklaces featuring different shades of jasper by Joan Beard of Schroeder and new ceramic “landscape” cups bowls and small vases by Bryan Johnson of Marengo, Wis.
And the Farm & Craft Market is open on Saturday in the Senior Parking Lot, weather permitting.
