Travis Novitsky took this great photo of the fireworks at Grand Portage on the 4th of July. His work can be viewed at www.travisnovitsky.com.
Fourth of July celebrations were great this year. Even the brief shower on Sunday was welcomed by some — participants in the Tofte Trek. They had been running and/or walking in pretty hot weather and the soft rain was a welcome cool-down, according to reports.
The other events went really well last weekend, too — The Hovland Arts Festival and the Grand Opening of the Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center on the Gunflint Trail.
And so, on to the third big weekend of the summer — The Grand Marais Art Festival.
Painting by Fern Belling.
The Grand Marais Art Colony, which organizes the event, has really been busy this year making sure that everyone who has scheduled an event is part of the festival.
The schedule is almost daunting, there’s so much to do and see. But for sure there will be plenty of art, live music, fiber art demonstrations, an art book sale, storytelling, face-painting and even a sword-fight. To see the complete schedule, click here.
Raven Bowl by Sharon Moen.
Jewelry by Candyce Fitzloff-Westfield.
First up, of course, is the art. The Art Colony is hosting a 20th Anniversary Potluck Reception for the artists and the community on Friday night from 5-7 p.m. In all, 60 artists from all over the region, as well as those who live in Cook County, have registered for booths this year, and on Saturday and Sunday, they’ll display their work in white tents lining the streets downtown. The festival runs from 9 to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Also on Friday night, the Summer Art Underground Show at Betsy Bowen’s Studio opens at 7 p.m. with a reception and refreshments. This is also a fun event, with more than 40 local artists represented.
On Saturday, Birchbark Books and Gifts is holding a benefit for Empty Bowls, a fundraiser for the Food Shelf organized by the Art Colony every fall. Called “A Bowlful of Thanks,” a silent auction of artwork and vacation packages will be held during the day, a dessert reception starts at 6 p.m. ($5) and then Betsy Bowen will give a talk, “How I learned To Be A Writer By Learning To Draw” from 7-7:45 p.m. ($10 donation). The silent auction ends at 8 p.m.
Also on Saturday, the Pie Social starts at 9 a.m. at the Johnson Heritage Post and Library Friends will hold a used Art Book Sale in the Anna Johnson Room at the Johnson Heritage Post from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Outside, the Northwoods Fiber Guild will be giving demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday.
The Cook County Farm & Craft Market will be set up in the Senior Center parking lot from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Artisans of the Tombolo will be at the Grand Marais Gateway Lodge at the top of the hill from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Pie Place will have an outside art exhibit, too, on both days, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
There’s plenty of live music and entertainment outdoors during the Art Festival, too. Here’s that schedule:
Saturday:
Sword-fight scene from “Treasure Island,” 10:30 a.m. in Harbor Park. “Treasure Island” is showing at the Grand Marais Playhouse through Sunday.
Michael Monroe, Harbor Park, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Critters du Jour, Eight Broadway Stage, noon-2 p.m.
The Sivertones, Birch Terrace deck, 1:30-5 p.m.
Rose Arrowsmith-Decoux, storytelling, Harbor Park, 1:30 – 2:15 p.m.
Paul Pederson, Eight Broadway Stage, 2-4 p.m.
Briand Morrison, Harbor Park, 3-5 p.m.
Poet Erin Hart reads at Drury Lane Books, 5 p.m.
Max Bichel, The Pie Place, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Michael Monroe, Log Cabin Concert, 7 p.m. Click for more info.
Monroe Crossing is at the ACA Saturday.
Monroe Crossing, Arrowhead Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m. For tickets, click here. Adults, $10, students $5. To hear their music, click here.
Pete Kavanaugh Group, Gunflint Tavern, 9-midnight.
Sunday:
The Sivertones, Birch Terrace deck, 1:30-5 p.m.
Pete Kavanaugh Group, Devil Track Resort, 5-8 p.m.
Timmy Haus, Gunflint Tavern, 8-11 p.m.
There are also two food events: The Cook County Historical Society’s annual Fish Plank Dinner in Harbor Park, 5:30-7 p.m. on Saturday. Call 287-2883 for reservations, and Chef Judi Barsness’ “Cooking with the Seasons – Summer Foods & Wines” at Chez Jude, Sunday, 5-8 p.m.
That’s a lot to remember. Here’s the link for the schedule again. Also, if you pick up a copy of the July issue of North Shore Highway 61, you’ll find a schedule and lots more details. The publication is free.
Knot-tying demonstration workshop at North House.
And, North House Folk School will be open to the public this weekend (and every weekend during the summer) for a variety of demonstrations. Check out wood-fired bread baking at 2 p.m. Friday, a campus tour at 2 p.m. Saturday and a nautical rope tying demonstration at 2 p.m. Sunday. All are free.
If you really want to get away from it all for awhile, take a ride on the schooner Hjordis through North House (387-9762) and/or fly over everything in a float plane with Sky Dan and his crew. If the wind is right, they take off from the harbor. Check it out here.
In other art news, Poet Sharon Chmielrz will conduct a summer poetry writing workshop at Drury Lane Books July 12 through July 16 with a poetry reading with workshop participants at 7 p.m. July 16.
The UnNamed Stream will play for a barbecue on the beach at Lutsen Resort on Wednesday, July 14 from 5-8 p.m. as part of the resort’s 125th anniversary celebrations.
Carol deSain’s biography of Betsy Powell, Betsy and Saganaga: 1937-2004, is now available on-line. The book has been posted to a Web site which prints on demand. There are new color images in the book as well. To see what she has done and/or to order a copy, click here.
Next weekend is all about flowers. The Grand Marais Garden Club has its flower show at the Cook County Community Center on Friday and the West End Garden Club has theirs at the Schroeder Town Hall on Saturday. Stay tuned for details.
Here’s another music video to end this post. It’s a little edgier than usual, but it has had more than 4 million views. Click here to see.
Have a good weekend!
