Weekend of Nov. 27-29

Helen Miller makes a big bow for one of her handmade wreaths. She and other local artisans will be featured at the Holiday Market at Last Chance Gallery this weekend.

The Christmas season “officially” starts today, Friday, Nov. 27, and shoppers are eager to see what’s new in Cook County. At least that’s what we found when we called around to galleries, shops and bookstores stores for information for this column on Friday morning. No one had time to talk because they had customers waiting!

Besides a number of sales and specials in shops throughout the county, there are two holiday sales this weekend — The Holiday Market at Last Chance Gallery in Lutsen, which starts tonight (Friday) and continues through Sunday, and the Community Craft Sale and Consultants Open House at the Community Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Painter Anna Hess has created whimsical canvas placemats for the Holiday Market.

The Holiday Market, which is also a benefit for the Cook County Food Shelf, the North Shore Health Care Foundation and the Cook County Community Fund, begins tonight with traditional caroling and a tree-lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Printmaker Dick Nelson will demonstrate his techniques today and Saturday and Anna Hess and Cheryl Dannenbring will read from their new book,  ”Beaver, Bear and Snow Shoe Hare” at 4:30 p.m. Friday and 11:30 a.m. Saturday. The gallery also has a variety of new work by regional and local artists. Refreshments will be served.

The Quilt Show continues at the Johnson Heritage Post with special demonstrations from 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

Also this weekend, the Quilt Show continues at the Johnson Heritage Post, which is open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday. On Sunday, quilters from two quilting organizations, the Sawtooth Mountain Quilters and the Pincushion Quilters, will demonstrate a variety of quilting techniques in the afternoon. The exhibit continues through Jan. 3.

Also for fiber lovers, the Artisan Co-op Holiday Sale at 1825 W. Highway 61 (In the little grey house surrounded by pine trees), begins on Saturday and runs through Dec. 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Knitter and felter Linda Bauer and weaver Mary McDonald are among the artists in this new co-op.

If you want to get out in the woods and find the perfect Christmas tree, David Abazs will lead “Harvest Your Own Tree” on Saturday morning starting at North House Folk School at 9 a.m. The event is free, but participants must have a Christmas Tree Permit ($5/permit) from the US Forest Service at the Gunflint or Tofte Ranger District Stations prior to the day of the program.

And in downtown Grand Marais on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. there will be free horse-drawn wagon rides available for all.

Music this weekend includes Bump Blomberg at Papa Charlie’s in Lutsen and Timmy Hauss at the GunFlint Tavern on Friday night.  On Saturday, Hauss plays at Papa Charlie’s in the afternoon, Blomberg is at Lusten Resort that evening and Michael Monroe will host a Log Cabin Concert starting at 7 p.m. Call (612) 789-2255 for more info on the Monroe concert.

Photo by Jim Brandenburg

By the way, Monroe performed at the Jim Brandenburg Gallery in Ely earlier this week at a holiday open house. He and Brandenburg collaborated on an award-winning video based on Brandenburg’s book, “Chased by the Light” for which Monroe composed the sound track.

The James Moors Duo plays at the Tavern on Saturday night (music starts at 9 p.m.) and Joe Paulik plays there on Sunday starting at 6:30 p.m.

And if you’re going to Thunder Bay, Ontario this weekend (Don’t forget your passport), there are lots of things to do, including the December Dreams Arts & Crafts Show at the CLE grounds on Saturday and Sunday. Also in Thunder Bay on Saturday, the Unique Christmas Shopping Bazaar will be held at the Oliver Road Community Center and St. Paul’s United Church will hold a Sing-Along Messiah.

Cook County’s “Messiah” or the Annual Christmas Christmas Concert is Dec. 6-7 this year at Bethlehem Lutheran Church starting at 7:30 p.m.

In other art news, raku artists Richard Gruchalla and Carrin Rosetti are the featured artists on Venture North which airs at 10 a.m. Sunday. They and more than 20 other artists from Duluth and Superior will host a special holiday open house at the Trade and Commerce Marketplace, Hammond and Broadway in Superior Dec. 5. Called “Off the Wall,” the show runs through Dec. 24.

A little closer to home, raku artist Kristi Downing, who has her studio at Hut Point, about 13 miles east of Grand Marais, will be open through Dec. 9 by appointment. Call 387-1149.

Next weekend is the busiest of the season with art fairs all over the county Dec. 5. Here’s the list: Grand Portage Holiday Craft Sale, the Hovland Artisans Sale at the Hovland Town Hall, the Northwoods Fiber Guild Holiday Sale and Open House at the Grand Marais Art Colony, Holiday Art Underground at Betsy Bowen’s Studio and the Holiday Bazaar at the Evangelical Free Church. Details next week.

And last, but not least, we are sad to report that Grand Marais artist and muralist Lyle Saethre died Nov. 20  from injuries he suffered from a fall. Saethre is well-known throughout the community for murals he has painted on walls all over town telling the history of Grand Marais. He also was a successful landscape painter and very much appreciated in the community for his good humor and good works. He will be missed. Our deepest condolences to his family. They have set up a Caring Bridge site, which continues. Visit www.caringbridge.org and type in lylesaethre. A memorial service will be at Bethlehem Lutheran Church at 2 p.m. Dec. 13.