Stephan Hoglund took this incredible shot of the northern lights last week and got national coverage with it. CNN featured it on its iReport site.

This has been and continues to be a very busy week in Cook County with sled dog races, art and snow sculpture events, ski and snowmobile events, theatre, music and more.

Mark Tessier took this photo of the start of the Gunflint Trail Mail Run Sled Dog race on Monday.

On Monday and Tuesday, 12 mushers and their teams set out from the Devil Track Landing for a two-day race called the Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race. The teams raced to Loon Lake and back to Trail Center where they rested for five hours and then raced back to Devil Track.

Odin Jorgenson  (Coville) won the race with Frank Moe (Coville) coming in scond, Peter McClelland (Isabella) third and Kevin Malikowski (Outing) fourth.

Odin Jorgenson with his winning team at Gunflint Mail Run race on Monday. Photo by Stephan Hoglund.

One of the reasons we’re including this in our arts blog is that Grand Marais photographer Stephan Hoglund was featured on CNN’s iReport Web site with a photo from the race as well as information about it.  Click here to see it.

Hoglund is developing a regular presence there, which is very cool.

Other photographers were out as well.

Also this week, the Grand Marais Art Colony’sWinter Arts Festival featuring the Winter Plein Air event and the Snow Sculpture Symposium started this week, with artists painting winter landscapes at Camp Menogyn

on the Gunflint Trail and snow sculptors beginning to work on snow blocks positioned all over Cook County.

The Art Colony will feature the paintings created

Plein air painter Mary Pettis works on a landscape at Camp Menogyn. Photo by Kjersti Vick.

during the week at an art show on Friday. The opening reception is at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, with refreshments by Chez Jude. The paintings will be up through Feb. 12.

The snow sculptures throughout the county will be completed on Friday, too, and the public is invited to see them all. The snow sculptures are at  the Grand Portage Lodge & Casino, Harbor Park (Joynes Ben Franklin, Grand Marais Art Colony and Grand Marais Parks Dept. ), Bearskin Lodge and Gunflint Lodge on the Gunflint Trail as well as Bluefin Bay,

Joi Electa and Shanna Hinker work on a snow sculpture. Photo by Mark Tessier.

Chateau LeVeaux, Caribou Highlands and Lutsen Mountains. The snow sculptors include  Bob Fulks  (Clawson, Mich.), Vic Germaniuk and Oscar Mattis  (Thunder Bay), Will Tanner &Friends (Twin Cities), Joi Electa and Shanna Hinker  (Two Harbors) and Cook County residents Tom McCann, Dave Seaton, Ray White and Rick Skoog & Friends.

On Thursday, there is a performance of “For the Birds“ a chamber suite with music, poetry, comedy, tragedy, artistry”  with Zeitgeist & Kevin Kling  at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts at 7 p.m.

The event is sponsored by the North Shore Music Association, the Grand Marais Playhouse and Community Ed, one of three events sponsored by the nonprofits in the next six weeks at the  ACA.

Kling, a writer and humorist, will give a workshop for storytellers, poets and writers at the ACA from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2. The workshop is $15 or free for anyone who has a ticket for the performance. For more info, call 387-1272.

On Friday, WTIP Community Radio will live stream the Cook County Pursuit Cross County Race on Pincushion Mountain at 1:30 p.m. High school cross-country teams from throughout the region participate in this race, and the program will include interviews and a chance to watch the action as it happens.

Click here to see the WTIP site and bookmark it for the Friday race.

This weekend is also the start of the Winter Tracks Festival, a two-week event featuring everything from snowmobile races to a 400K cross-country ski event, where participants work to ski every trail in the county. The Volks Ski 400 is Feb. 11.

This weekend, Grand Portage Lodge & Casino is hosting the Easter Seals Snowarama. It runs from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. with poker runs during the day and dinner and dancing to the Bed of Roses Bon Jovi tribute band at 9 p.m.

Also this weekend, Lutsen Mountains is hosting a Family Fun Festival including a day of family racing and events on Saturday. The Cook County Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club will hold a fun run on Saturday as well, with Timmy Haus playing music at Devil Track Lodge that night.

And, if you’re fascinated by Dala horses,  master carver Harley Refsal  will give a talk and presentation about the beloved Scandinavian carved horse at North House Folk School at 7 p.m. Free.

So there’s plenty to do this weekend. There’s lots of great live music, too. Check the schedule below for more info.

In other art news, Staci Drouillard interviewed Grand Portage photographer Travis Novitsky about his work in her series, Annishinaabe Way: Lives, Words and Stories of Ojibwe People broadcast on WTIP Community Radio. To listen to this interview, click here.

"All That Glitters," acrylic, by Aaron Kloss, a new artist at Sivertson Gallery.

Sivertson Gallery has new work by landscape painter Dave Gilsvik as well as paintings by Duluthian Aaron Kloss, a new artist at the gallery. Also, the gallery is beginning to receive new work for the Inuit Premiere and it is “spectacular,” said Sherri Moe. She also said Sivertson Gallery in Duluth will be opening this month with a new name as well as a new look. Siiviis is the name of one of the fishing boats owned by the Sivertson family when they fished out of Isle Royale, she said. The gallery will re-open this month with the grand opening set for Earth Day.

Look for the Grand Marais Art Colony’s 2012 Catalog in your mail boxes this week. Copies can also be found at the Art Colony.

The arts organization is offering lots of fun things to do for Valentine’s Day, too, including Community Ink Day, a chance to print your own Valentines (Sat., Feb. 4, 1-4 p.m.), I Heart Glass with Nancy Seaton,  (Feb. 11, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.) and Wheel You Be Mine? a romantic evening playing with clay  with Joan Farnam (chocolates and wine are the refreshments), Feb. 14 from 5:30-7 p.m. Call the Art Colony to register or for more information at 387-2737 or click here for the Web site.

The key block from Betsy Bowen's "Barn Owl" print.

Betsy Bowen has been working in Texas this month, crafting woodblock prints from “Twelve Owls,” a book written by Laura Erickson which Bowen illustrated. The prints will be available when Bowen’s Studio Gallery opens this spring.

Look for this graphic on the North Shore Highway 61 Web site.

And last, but not least, North Shore Highway 61, which comes

out this week, is offering a $50 gift certificate to your favorite restuarant for participants in the 2012 Reader’s Choice Restaurant Awards. It’s a fun survey. Check it out here.

There’s plenty of live music this weekend, too. Here’s the schedule.

Wednesday:

• Pete Kavanaugh, Bluefin Bay, Tofte, 8 p.m.
• Brett Berka & Friends, Harbor Light Supper Club & Bar, 7 p.m.

Thursday:

• Bump & Barbara Jean, Poplar River Pub, Lutsen Resort, 6-8 p.m.

Friday:

• Jim & Michelle Miller, Mogul’s, Lutsen Mountains, 3;30 p.m.
• Cook County’s Most Wanted, American Legion, 7:30 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, Bluefin Bay, 8 p.m.
• Joe Paulik and Al Oikari, Gunflint Tavern, 9 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday:

James Moors, Mogul’s, 3:30 p.m.

• Eric Frost, Papa Charlie’s, 3:30 p.m.
• The Sivertones, Papa Charlie’s, 6:30 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Cascade Lodge Pub, 8 p.m.
• Jeff Ray, Gunflint Tavern, 9:30 p.m.
• Cook County’s Most Wanted, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday:

• Bump & Barbara Jean, Papa Charlie’s, 3 p.m.
• Al Oikari and Joe Paulik, Gunflint Tavern, 6:30 p.m.

We found lots of interesting photos this week.

First up is a photograph of one of Tom McCann’s vodkacolors, which will be in the show at the Art Colony this Friday. McCann is a plein air painter and likes to paint in watercolors, but the water he uses to dilute the paints freezes in winter, so he decided to try using vodka instead. He said it worked really well above 5 degrees, when it freezes. We’ve had pretty balmy winter weather this week, and McCann painted several vodkacolors for the Winter Plein Air exhibit which opens on Friday at 6 p.m. Here’s one of them.

A vodka-color landscape by Tom McCann.

There were some wonderful landscapes this week, too.

Ilena Berg took this great shot of the frozen waterfalls of the Kadunce River.

Jeremy Lopez captured the delicate colors of sea fog at sunrise.

Ann Jorgenson's sunset over the harbor is almost surreal.

A beautiful sunrise shot from Bryan Hansel.

A winter landscape on Lake Superior by Travis Novitsky.

Have a wonderful, winter weekend!

There were lots of northern lights in the northern latitudes this week. This one was shot in northern Norway by Bjørn Jørgensen on Sunday. Northern lights were expected to light up northern skies on Tuesday night, but it was cloudy here -- disappointing. Here's a link to a time-lapse video of the Northern Lights in Fairbanks, Alaska. There's lots more info on www.spaceweather.com. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BC6flTOGSk&feature=youtu.be

Cook County will celebrate the northern woods this weekend with the running of the Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race on Monday, Jan. 30, and Tuesday, Jan. 31.The race, which has been held in prior years when the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon was cancelled (as it was this year) is always a popular event with a shot gun start, lots of dogs and plenty of excitement.

The mushers will start at The Landing at Devil Track Lodge at 4 p.m. on Monday, take a run up to Poplar and Loon Lakes and then return to Trail Center for a five-hour rest, running back to Devil Track Lodge early on Tuesday morning. The awards will be at noon on Tuesday at Devil Track Lodge. All invited! It should be a fun event. Check out www.boreal.org  and www.wtip.org for the latest details in the coming days.

There will be an organizing meeting for volunteers tonight, Jan. 25,  at Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply at 7 p.m.

Here’s some breaking news! Two of our local photographers made waves this week, winning awards and being published in great places.

Dave and Amy Freeman "drive away" on a dogsled after their marriage. Photo by Stephan Hoglund.

Stephan Hoglund won Wedding Wire’s Bride’s Choice Awards 2012 in photography. On the web site you can read comments from a few of his customers. Amy and Dave Freeman were married outdoors in March, and Hoglund took this great photo of them leaving ona dogsled. Click here to read her and other’s stories… keep scrolling down to find the comments.

Hoglund is offering a photography workshop in Oaxaca this year. To find out more, click here.

Photo by Bryan Hansel.

Bryan Hansel has the cover photo in Superior Outdoors this month, the second cover photo he has had this year.

He’ll be teaching a number of photography workshops this winter, too, including “Winter on Lake Superior Winter Workshop,”  through Lutsen Resort Feb. 10-12 . For more info about all the workshops and Hansel’s work, click here.

Here’s a great opportunity — the Grand Marais Art Colony is taking applications for  a part-time, year-round staff position.  This position is 24 hours per week starting April 2. Applications are due by Feb.27. For more information, call the Art Colony at 387-2101.

Ann and Wayne Russ are teaching dance classes again this year. For beginners or those who want to expand their dance repertoire, the Russ’ will teach the fox trot, two-step, waltz, swing and a Latin dance or two, starting on Wednesday, Jan. 25, in the 4-H Log Building at the Community Center from 7-9 p.m. Partners are encouraged, singles are welcome. No preregistration is necessary. The class is eight weeks.

The Russ’ will also host dance practice sessions for more experienced dancers.

The advanced classes will be on Tuesday evenings at the Grand Marais Art Colony from 7-9 p.m. No preregistration is necessary.

Cook County's Most Wanted play the Harbor Light on Saturday night.

And, if you like to dance. check out the Cook County’s Most Wanted, who are playing at the Harbor Light Supper Club & Bar on Saturday night.

As we mentioned last week, Bump & Barbara Jean were on WDSE’s The Playlist last Thursday. Here’s a video from that broadcast. They’ll play at the Gunflint Tavern on Sunday starting at 6:30 p.m.

For the artists among us. the Grand Marais Art Colony’s Life Drawing sessions start tonight, Jan. 25, from 6:30-9 p.m. It continues each Wednesday through April 4. Those who pre-register get two free sessions. Call now! 387-2737.

For coffee lovers, Fiko, Joshua Lindstrom and his wife’s  new small-batch, artisanal coffee roaster coffee roasting business in Grand Marais, will have a “Going Public” coffee tasting/educational event at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29,  at North House Folk School. All invited to come and taste some delicious brews. Free. The couple hopes to open their new business in the spring. To read more about Fika, click here.

Stephen Menart won the People's Choice Award at the DAI for "Turtle."

There are some interesting art shows out of town, too. The Duluth Art Institute has just opened its Member’s Show at the Depot with a great variety of works from local and regional artists. It continues through March 1. Metal sculptor Stephen Menart won the People’s Choice Award. There are a number of galleries at the Duluth Art Institute’s home at the Depot to enjoy, as well.

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery in Thunder Bay  is featuring an exhibit of creative needlework entitled “Trees,” which continues through Feb. 12.

There’s lots of great music to listen to this week, too. Here’s the schedule:

Wednesday:

• Brett Barka & Friends, Harbor Light Supper Club & Bar, 7-10 p.m.
• The Sivertones, Bluefin Grille, Tofte, 8-10 p.m.

Thursday:

• Bump & Barbara Jean, Poplar River Pub, Lutsen Resort, 6-8 p.m.

Friday:

• Timmy Haus, Mogul’s Grille, Caribou Highlands, 3:30 p.m.
• Pete Kavanaugh, Cascade Lodge Pub, 7-9 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Bluefin Grille, Tofte, 8-10 p.m.
• Timmy Haus Fridays, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday:

Jim & Michelle Miller play the Cascade Lodge Pub on Saturday night.

• Pete Kavanaugh,  Apres Ski Acoustic, Papa Charlie’s, 3:30 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Mogul’s, Caribou Highlands, 3:30 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Papa Charlie’s, 6:30 p.m.
• Jim & Michelle Miller, Cascade Lodge Pub, 7-9 p.m.
• Cook County’s Most Wanted, Harbor Light Supper Club & Bar, 9 p.m.
• Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank, Gunflint Tavern, 9 p.m.
• Jason Swenson Band, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday:

• Memarie Gayle and Chris Calleja, Papa Charlie’s, 3 p.m.
• The Broadway-Swider Duo,  classical, Bluefin Grille, Tofte, 6-8 p.m.
• Bump & Barbara Jean, Gunflint Tavern, 6:30 p.m.

Monday:

• Memarie Gayle and Chris Calleja, Papa Charlie’s, 8 p.m.

And here are some of the cool photographs that have come in recently. Enjoy!

Kathy Gray Anderson took this shot on a very cold morning at Devil Track Lake.

Don Davison took this intriguing photo of harbor ice.

Bryan Hansel's "Orange & Icy V."

And here is a photo by Travis Novitsky in his “Life Is Good!’ series.

Travis Novitsky's "Life is Good!"

By the way, remember the mystery house photo by Bryan Hansel that we published a few weeks ago?

Mystery House by Bryan Hansel.

Well, as it turns out, Pete Harris saw the photo and recognized it immediately as the cover to his pump that disappeared after a storm. He wrote this to me about the photo:

“That is  no mystery. It is the covering for the pump that we use to take water from the lake. It got washed away during a gigantic wind storm from our Croftville home over a year ago. I had it stored high and dry for the season-but not quite, as it turned out.”

Harris walked the beach near Five Mile Rock where Hansel took the photo and found it.

“It is 0.9 mile from where it is now to where it started out from! That’s a good place to let it rest for now.”

So that’s the news for the week. Enjoy the snow, the sled dogs, the dancing, the music and more this weekend!

P.S. The Northern Lights on Tuesday night were spectacular in the Arctic, but petered out when they reached North America, according to spaceweather.com.

The Europeans were out taking great photos, however. Here’s one by Göran Strand of Östersund, Sweden, who took a panoramic photo and wrapped it 360-degrees to create this composition, which he calls Planet Aurora.

"Planet Aurora:" by Göran Strand of Östersund, Sweden.

Until next week …

Otto, the Mini-Schnuazer terrierist, looks ready to tackle anything in this photo taken by Linda Otis on Kimball Creek.

Two big music acts are coming to Cook County this weekend — unfortunately they’re both on the same night, although, weather permitting, it should be possible to catch (most of) both.

The Parker Quartet will perform at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. They will be "in residence" at the ISD 166 after school on Friday to work with young students. Call the North Shore Music Association at 387-1272 for more info.

The Grammy award winning Parker Quartet will be in concert at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday night. This will be quite a concert for Grand Marais. The classical music quartet is internationally acclaimed and has garnered devoted fans where ever it plays. Here’s a video of them playing Ravel’s String Quartet in F Major. (Beautiful!)

The concert is presented by the North Shore Music Association. All invited. Tickets available at tix.com or at the door.

Hip-hop artist Dessa performs at Papa Charlie's on Saturday night.

Dessa and 4onthefloor play Papa Charlie’s on Saturday night, too. The music starts at 9:30 p.m.  You must be at least 21 to attend.

4onthefloor kicks off the evening with their hard-hitting rock ‘n’ roll, followed by hip-hop artist, Dessa, the only female member of the Minneapolis hip-hop collective, Doomtree.

There are lots of live music performances this week as the winter season music series kicks off with a bang. The apres-ski acoustic series continues at Moguls Grille and Papa Charlie’s on Friday and Saturday, and Papa Charlie’s features Timmy Haus every Friday night at 9 p.m. Cascade Lodge Pub has great music a few days a week, including Local Irish Music Night this Thursday, as does Bluefin Grille and the Poplar River Pub. Check the music schedule below for more info.

Michael Monroe will hold a Log Cabin Concert on Saturday as well with a reception at 7 p.m. and music at 8 p..m. Call 387-2919 for more info.

For more classical music, Bluefin Grille continues its Sunday classical music series this week with Betty Braunstein and Vincent Osborn at 6 p.m.

And, if you love to sing, the acapella Harmony Music Circle will be held in the basement of the First Congregational Church Mondays from 7-8:30 p.m. Music is provided, but feel free to bring a song to teach or copies to pass out.

And here’s a music first that is coming up through WTIP Community Radio… The VinylCafe, the hit Canadian radio show with Stuart McLean which airs regularly on WTIP, will do a live radio show at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on March 2.  Tickets are already being sold at tix.com, so log on and get your seat, here. The Vinyl Cafe airs on WTIP at 11 a.m. Sunday mornings and 4 p.m. Tuesday afternoons. Stay tuned for more details about this fun show.

Harbor Light Supper Club & Bar will feature live comedy this Friday and Saturday night with Bryan Miller.

Sterling silver dragon Trollbead.

In other art news, Sivertson Gallery has just received a limited edition of 2012 Chinese Zodiac Trollbeads. The Chinese New Year  begins Jan. 23. 2012 is the The Year of the Dragon. To find out your Chinese astrological sign, click here.

The Attic Gallery of Fine American Crafts is featuring Milkhouse Candles this month, crafted of soy and beeswax with a variety of different scents and in different styles.

There’s lots of activity at the Grand Marais Playhouse this month. Auditions for a murder mystery play will be held on Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. at the ACA. Performances will be at the Harbor Light Supper Club starting June 28.  There is a stipend available to all performers to help cover the cost of participation. For more information, contact the Playhouse at playhouse@boreal.org or 387-1284 ext. 2.

Auditions for a musical will be held on Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. at the ACA. A specific production will be determined by the options available with the performers who attend. Musicians as well as vocalists are strongly encouraged to attend. Performances will be in repertory from July 19 through Aug. 12.

The Playhouse is looking for an individual to play the role of Lady Bountiful in the upcoming production of “The Strategem.” Auditions will be held at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 17.

And finally, “Shout! The Mod Musical” returns for a very limited engagement as dinner theater at the Harbor Light Supper Club Feb. 9,11 and 12.  Reservations can be made through Harbor Light at 387-1142.

Betsy Bowen's pelican print in process.

Betsy Bowen is working on a new woocut print of a pelican, which will be available when her studio gallery opens this spring.

Kiln-formed glass sculptor Michael Tonder  was featured on The Playlist recently. To see this great video, click here. 

Tom Christiansen is making great progress on the free-form sculptures he is making for the new law enforcement center in Duluth. To see some images and read about it, click here.

Here’s the music schedule for this week:

Music this week:

Wednesday:

• Brett Berka & Friends, Harbor Light Supper Club & Bar, 7-10 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Bluefin Grille, Tofte, 8 p.m.

Thursday:

• James Moors, Poplar River Pub, Lutsen Resort, 6 p.m.
• Locals’ Irish Music Night, Cascade Lodge Pub, 7-9 p.m.

Friday:

• Jim & Michelle Miller, Moguls Grille, Caribou Highlands, 3:30 p.m.
• Shane Martin, Cascade Lodge Pub, 7 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, Bluefin Grille, 7 p.m.
• The Canyon Trio, Gunflint Tavern, 9 p.m.
• Timmy Haus Friday, Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen Mountains, 9 p.m.

Saturday:

• Pete Kavanaugh, Papa Charlie’s, 3:30 p.m.
• Shane Martin, Moguls Grille, Caribou Highlands, 3:30 p.m.
• Jim & Michelle Miller, Papa Charlie’s, 6:30 p.m.
• Bump & Barbara Jean, Cascade Lodge Pub, 7 p.m.
• Michael Monroe’s Log Cabin Concert, 7 p.m. reception, 8 p.m. concert, reservations 387-2919.
• The Parker Quartet, Arrowhead Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m.
• The Canyon Trio, Gunflint Tavern, 9 p.m.
• 4onthefloor and Dessa, Papa Charlie’s, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday:

• Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank, Papa Charlie’s, 3 p.m.
• Betty Braunstein & Vincent Osborn, (classical), Bluefin Grille, 6 p.m.

Monday:

• Teague Alexy Trio, Papa Charlie’s, 8-10 p.m.

Tuesday:

James Moors, Poplar River Pub, Lutsen Resort, 6 p.m.
Open Mic with Bump Blomberg, Papa Charlie’s, 7-10 p.m.

So, once again, we have some photos for this week. First up is a photo we found on Eric Larson’s Web site of kiting at the South Pole. Larson is currently working for Adventure Network International leading groups to the South Pole. He wrote:

“It’s Ice Photo Wednesday on Facebook and #IcePhoto on Twitter. Please post a picture of your snow and ice today! Mine? ANI’s @Scott Woolums kiting near the geographic South Pole.”

Here it is:

Kiting at the South Pole.

Travis Novitsky got this great shot of the full moon this week.

Photo by Travis Novitky.

Bryan Hansel took this shot of a little “house” he found on Paradise Beach the other day. There’s no opening in it…. what is it? No one seems to know… fascinating, though.

Mystery House by Bryan Hansel.

Hansel also got up early yesterday morning and took this fabulous shot of the sunrise.

Bryan Hansel took this sunrise shot yesterday.

Stephan Hoglund was shooting at sunset the other day and got this great shot.

Ice and the lighthouse at sunset by Stepan Hoglund.

And last, but not least, Don Davison caught this great image at the the Pincushion Lookout last night.

Sunset by Don Davison.

Have a wonderful weekend!
 

 

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Paul Sundberg caught this winter sunset and the Sawtooth Mountains recently.

Winter has finally come to Cook County with many cross country ski trails open and groomed and lots of snow on Lutsen Mountains. The winter season in Cook County also means lots of great live music opportunities everywhere. Check out the music schedule at the end of this post to get an idea of what’s on tap for the next week. One of the wonderful features of this music is that many venues are featuring local musicians and bands, so visitors and residents alike can get a good taste of the talent we have living here.

Sans Souci Quartet

This weekend, Lutsen Mountains and Papa Charlie’s kicks of the winter music extravaganza with the Snowball Music and Ski Festival through Saturday night with eight bands, apre ski accoustic music and jam sessions. Bands scheduled to play include the Sans Souci Quartet, Dead Man Winter with Dave Simonett of Trampled with Turtles, Smokin‘ Joe Scarpellino, Useful Jenkins, Jon Wayne & the Pain, Roster McCabe, the Limns and Wookiefoot.

The starting next Sunday, Lutsen Mountains features College Week with lots of live music as well.

Sam Black

Another series that is well worth attending is the classical music performances at Bluefin Grille every Sunday evening from 6-8 p.m. Violinist Clare Chopp and pianist Sam Black kick off the series this year.

Also to put on your music radar, the Grammy Award-winning Parker Quartet will be in concert at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on Jan. 14. Stay tuned for details.

The Clearwater Hot Club will be featured on WDSE PBS  North on The Playlist on Thursday night. They will play a few songs as well as talk to host Karen Sunderman about their music. The Clearwater Hot Club is a popular group in Cook County, appearing quite frequently at the Gunflint Tavern during the year. To hear their music, click here.

The Night of the Notorious, a special project of 12 seniors at Cook County High School , will be held at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts next Monday, Jan. 9, at 7 p.m.  As their final project for UMD’s College Writing course, the students will appear as spokespersons for their research topics. Although there is no ticket charge for the event, students are asking for donations for their Spring Senior Show.

Characters who will be depicted include: Phil Jackson, Alice Miller, Kimberly Speas, Richard Alley, Dr. Diane Harper, Donald Tyson, Dr. Simeon Wall Jr, Judge LaDois Cordell, Nevin Schapiro, J.K. Rowling, Haley Barbour and Celine Dion.

In other art news, a couple of deadlines at the Grand Marais Art Colony are coming up in the middle of the month. Snow sculptors and winter plein air artists must register for the Snow Carving Symposium and Winter Plein Air by Jan. 14.  It will be held from Jan. 30-Feb. 12.

Also, artists participating the Spring Theme Exhibit “Rythmns of Darkness & Light” at the Art Colony must register by Jan. 20. The exhibit opens March 23.

For more information, call 218-387-2737 or email arts@boreal.org.

Brian Sherburne glazes a pot during a ceramics class at the Art Colony.

The Art Colony is offering lots of classes this winter, too, including classes during the Northern Fiber Retreat Feb. 15-19.

Check out the classes at www.grandmaraisartcolony.org. New classes are being added to the roster daily, and a paper version of the class schedule for 2012 will be out shortly.

Sivertson Gallery has a new jewelry artist.

Tia Salmela Keobounpheng, who is the daughter of architect David Samela, crafts her elegant jewelry with oxidized silver, wood and laminate. To see examples of her work and learn more about her, click here.

Andrew Slade's "Skiing the North Shore" is available at the Lake Superior Trading Post.

Andrew Slade’s book, “Hiking the North Shore: 50 Fabulous Days Hikes in Minnesota’s Spectacular Lake Superior Region” was the best selling book at the Lake Superior Trading Post this year. Copies of it and his popular “Skiing the North Shore,” the only guide to cross-country skiing on the North Shore, are available at the store.

The Attic has a great selection of Christmas decorations, including a carved owl with a Christmas hat by Al Sunde of Lutsen.

Last Chance Gallery in Lutsen in open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the winter, or by chance.  The gallery features work by more than 40 local and regional artists including silk scarves and fleece hats, mittens and scarves as well as handmade sterling silver jewelry by Lissa Fleming inspired by Lake Superior.

Great Gifts of Lutsen has a good selection of handmade wool clothing from Bimidji Woolen Mills, as well as recycled wool clothing.

For your sweet tooth, Gunflint Mercantile, which is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays has handmade white and dark chocolate turtles, truffles, peanut butter cups and chocolate-dipped pretzels.

Birchbark Books & Gifts is closed for winter as is the Blue Moose and Betsy Bowen’s Studio. Drury Lane Books, however,  is open throughout the winter on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you’re planning to travel to Thunder Bay, Ontario this weekend, stop by the Thunder Bay Art Gallery where three exhibits will conclude on Sunday:  ”Line by Line” with works by Ahmoo Angeconeb, Angelique Merasty, Norval Morrisseau, Roy Thomas and Michael Robinson; “Red,” works by Haida artist Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas and “Voices of Women,” from the gallery’s permanent collection.

Also, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery is hosting a lino-cut workshop by Brian Holden from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 22. To register, call 807-577-6427. To learn more about the gallery, click here.

Stephan Hoglund’s photos taken during Mountain Stage’s visit to Grand Marais this fall continue to appear on its web site. Check them out here.

Here’s the music schedule for this week:

Mark Murphy of Wookie Foot plays on Wednesday night.

Wednesday:

• Brett Berka & Friends, Harbor Light Supper Club & Bar, 7-10 p.m.
• James Moors, Bluefin Grille, Tofte, 8 p.m.
• Snowball Music Festival Pre-Party: The Limns with Mark Murphy & Friends, Irish Set, Papa Charlie’s, 9 p.m.

Thursday:

• Joe Paulik, Poplar River Pub, Lutsen Resort, 6 p.m.
• Reggae Thursdays, Harbor Light, DJ Austin Oullis, 8-10 p.m.
• Snowball Music Festival: San Souci Quartet, 9 p.m., Dead Man Winter with Dave Simonett (Trampled by Turtles), Papa Charlie’s, 11 p.m.

Friday:

• Paul Christian, Moguls Grille, Caribou Highlands, 3:30 p.m.
• Eric Frost, Cascade Lodge Pub, 7-9 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, Bluefin Grille, 8-10 p.m.
• Paul Fraser, Harbor Light Supper Club & Bar, 7 p.m.
• San Souci Quartet, Gunflint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
• Snowball Music Festival: Smokin’ Joe Scarpollino, 3:30 p.m., Useful Jenkins Acoustic, 5 p.m.; Jon Wayne & the Pains, 9 p.m.; Roster McCabe, 10:45 p.m., Papa Charlie’s.

Saturday:

• Paul Christian, Moguls Grille, 3:30 p.m.
• Gordon Thorne, Cascade Lodge Pub, 7-9 p.m.
• Jeff Ray, Gunflint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
• Snowball Music Festival: Sans Souci Quartet, 3:30 p.m., The Limns Acoustic, 5 p.m.; Useful Jenkins, 9 p.m., Wookiefoot, 11 p.m.

Sunday:

• Clare Chopp & Sam Black, classical music, Bluefin Grille, 6-8 p.m.
• James Moors, Gunflint Tavern, 6:30 p.m.
• Maxi Child’s Trio, Harbor Light Supper Club, 7-10 p.m.

Monday:

• Ben Kyle, Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen Mountains, 8 p.m.

Tuesday:

• The Sivertones, Poplar River Pub, Lutsen Resort, 6-8 p.m.
• Open Mic with Bump Blomberg, Papa Charlie’s, 7-10 p.m.

We have some visual treats for you this week. First up is a series of photos taken on New Year’s Eve at Tim and Berta Bauer’s where people lit and then launched Chinese Wish Lanterns into the night sky. Jim Boyd posted the photos on his Facebook page and suggested that this might be a great event for the community for New Year’s Eve. Here a few of his photos.

Making sure the candle is well-lit before launching.

The paper lantern, with a piece of cardboard soaked in paraffin, is lit and ready to be launched with Tim And Berta Bauer's New Year's wishes.

The hot air from the burning paraffin lifts the wish lantern up, up and away.

Here’s another “newsy” photo.

Off-shore winds brought the ore boats really close to shore this week. Laura Powell Marxen's mother took this shot.

Bryan Hansel got another take on an ore boat with the beautiful light at sunset. He calls it "Ghost Ship."

Our local photographers were out taking other images, too. Here are a few.

Stephan Hoglund's "Powder Bay."

Bryan Hansel's "Icy Stuff."

Travis Novitsky's ice pancakes in Grand Portage Bay. He calls it "Superior Winter."

And, finally, here’s a great shot in honor of snow. Don Davison took it almost a month ago. I’ve been saving it.

Don Davison's "Winter Is Here -- Dec. 15."

Have a great weekend!

 

 

 

]]> http://www.northernwilds.com/northshoreartscene/2012/01/04/the-week-of-the-new-year/feed/ 0 http://www.northernwilds.com/northshoreartscene/2011/12/28/fun-times-for-new-years/ http://www.northernwilds.com/northshoreartscene/2011/12/28/fun-times-for-new-years/#comments Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:56:22 +0000 Joan http://www.northernwilds.com/northshoreartscene/?p=7456

Belgian horses at Okontoe are ready to take you on a sleigh ride of dreams. Photo by Joan Farnam.

Lots of visitors are in the county this week to ski and have a great time during the holidays. One fun event: take a horse drawn sleigh ride through a snowy wilderness at Okontoe  on the Gunflint Trail. Call (218) 388-9423  for more information and to reserve your space, or click here to learn more.

The skiing is good at Lutsen Mountains, and cross country ski trails “over the hill” have great snow. The trails at Bearskin, for example, are groomed and nice  even though there’s not a tremendous amount of snow. To find out more about cross-country skiing conditions, click here and here. (Note: The day after this was published, the North Shore got from 5-6 inches of new snow.)

Here’s a news flash! The Berg Occasional, a free, classic fun race has been organized for this Saturday at Bearskin Lodge on the Trail. It starts at 9:30 p.m. Saturday. All skiers welcome.

The Sawtooth International Ski Race has been rescheduled for Saturday, Fefb.18.

There are some disappointments, though. The Sawtoooth International Cross Country Ski Race set for this weekend has been postponed due to low snow conditions and poor prospects for additional snow by the race date.

The race has been rescheduled for Saturday, Feb. 18, on the Pincushion Mountain trails. For more information, click here.

A little closer to home, the Grand Marais Public Library is holding a Holiday Gaming Night at the library from 6-9 p.m. tonight (Wednesday.)  The public is invited to to play board games, X-Box 360 and Wii games.  There will be tournaments in chess, backgammon and cribbage with $10 awarded to the winners. Participants can also bring their favorite board games, too. (X-Box 360 & Wii rated E and E+ only).

To sign up for a tournament or electronic gaming time slots, call 387-1140. Sign up is helpful but not required.

And there’s an adult pick-up hockey game at the Community Center rink from 7-9 p.m. tonight as well. Call  387-1830 for more info. Skaters are welcome at the rink at any time. The warming house is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m . through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. The warming house is closed on New Year’s Day.

This beautiful ice train is part of the Ice Bar at Moguls Bar & Grille.

Bryan Hansel is recommending the Ice Bar at Moguls Bar & Grille  at Caribou Highlands this winter. The bar is made entirely of ice with this great ice sculpture of a train. The Ice Bar was created by Ice Occasions, which designs ice sculptures and bars in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Check out their web site here. The Ice Bar at Moguls is open from 3-9 p.m. Fridays and from noon to 9 p.m. Saturdays. Check it out!

This is the last week of the Holiday Art Underground show at Betsy Bowen’s Studio, where more than 40 local and regional artists are exhibiting everything from paintings to pottery, prints to handmade jewelry. The studio is open on Saturday, Dec. 31 and then closes for the season, re-opening in May.

Madeline Young enjoys the bonfire after the shadow puppet show at North House on the night of the Solstice. Photo by Tim Young.

The Winter Solstice Puppet Show & Bonfire produced by the Good Harbor Hill Players last week was a great success. WTIP’s Patrick Knight made a video of the show: Scrappy’s Quest for the Sun.  View it here. After tossing their “gloomies” into the fire, people went indoors to enjoy a winter potluck.

Michael Monroe and Michael Johnson will be on WTIP’s The Roadhouse on Friday night to give a preview of their New Year’s weekend concert series. The program airs from 5-7 p.m.

In art news, Tom Christiansen continues to work on the sculptures that will be installed in front of the new law enforcement center in Duluth. To read about his process and see his work, click here.

Hovland woodturner Lou Pignolet has a new web site. Check it out here.

Joi Electa opened a show at the Coho Cafe in Tofte last week. The exhibit includes a wide selection of her paintings, and will be on view through January.

Nace Hagemann's second book: "Old Minnesota" should be on the bookshelves soon.

Nace Hagemann is publishing a new book, “Old Minnesota,”  which is a book of his photographs centered around a theme.  He writes: ”It is about me noticing our discarded past. Buildings falling down, cars left to rust …. made me think about who enjoyed these things when they were new … they all were important to someone at some time. And then made me think even more about our own lives, that we are all aging too. That we are “rusting.”

“(It) was another project to hopefully push me to stay motivated and realize that every day I live is another day I don’t get back. Hoping that I am living the way I really want to, because we don’t get more time, we only get so much …”

This is his second book but the third publication of his publishing company, Gunflint Trail Productions. He also published “Around a Woodsy Corner”  by Marcy Bollinger.

Also, we just want to note that Birchbark Books & Gifts is open through Saturday before it closes for the winter.

The 2012 issue of the North Shore Visitor is out.

Nina Simonowicz has just completed the 2012 issue of the North Shore Visitor, with great details about all things happening on the North Shore next year. The cover was illustrated by Bill Simonowicz. Beautiful, ah? Check out the North Shore Visitor here.

This is New Year’s weekend, and there are lots of great parties and food events planned for the weekend.

Naniboujou, for example, will hold a New Year’s Eve Dinner  with music by harpist Amy Kortuem. Call 218-387-2688 for reservations.

Other restuarants serving on New Year’s Eve include Chez Jude,  the Crooked Spoon Cafe,  The Pie Place, Lutsen Resort, Papa Charlie’s, Moguls, Trail Center, Windigo, Gunflint Lodge, Cascade Lodge Restaurant & Pub,   Harbor Light Supper Club & Bar and the Grand Portage Lodge & Casino. Call your favorite restaurant and see what they’re planning as we welcome in 2012.

There are plenty of New Year’s Parties on Saturday night  with lots of great music.

Here’s the music/party line-up for this week:

Wednesday, Dec. 28:

• Bump & Barbara Jean, Apres-Ski, Papa Charlie’s, 3;30 p.m.; Bluefin Grille, 7:30 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Apres-Ski, Papa Charlie’s, 6:30-9 p.m.
• Pete Kavanaugh, Birch Terrace Lounge, 7-10 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Gunflint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 29:

• Kate & Bill Isles, Papa Charlie’s, 3:30-6 p.m.
• James Moors, Papa Charlie’s, 6:30-9 p.m.
• Reggae Thursdays at Harbor Light Supper Club & Bar, 8-10 p.m.
• Jake Manders, Gunflint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 30:

• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen Mountains, 3:30-6 p.m.
• Bump & Barbara Jean, Bluefin Grille, Tofte, 7:30-10 p.m.
• New Year Log Cabin Concert Series with Michael Monroe and Michael Johnson,  Friday-Sunday, Good Harbor Hill. Reservations at 218-387-2919
• Pete Kavanaugh, Gunflint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
• Wildwood, Harbor Light Supper Club & Bar, Grand Marais, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

New Year’s Eve, Dec.31

• Eric Frost, Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen Mountains, 6:30-9 p.m.
• Jim & Michelle Miller, Cascade Lodge Pub, Lutsen, 8-10 p.m.
• Michael Monroe & Michael Johnson, Log Cabin Concert, Good Harbor Hill, 8 p.m. Reservations at 218-387-2919.
• Trail’s End Band, Windigo Lodge, Gunflint Trail, 8:30 p.m.
• Cook County Most Wanted, Gunflint Tavern, 9 p.m.
• D’Merritt, American Legion, Grand Marais, 9 p.m.
• Shack Shakers, Grand Portage Lodge & Casino, Grand Portage, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• Wildwood, Harbor Light Supper Club & Bar, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• New Year’s Eve Party with DJ D’Angelo, Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen Mountains, 9:30 p.m. Torchlight parade at 8 p.m. followed by fireworks.

Sunday, Jan 1

• Pete Kavanaugh, Papa Charlie’s. 3:30-6 p.m.
• Jason Swenson, Papa Charlie’s, 6:30 p.m.
• Joe & Jessie, Gunflint Tavern, 6:30 p.m.
• Log Cabin Concert with Michael Monroe and Michael Johnson, call 387-2919 for reservations.

Monday, Jan. 2

The Boomchucks, Papa Charlie’s, 8-10 p.m. Listen to them here.

Tuesday, Jan. 3

• The Sivertones, Poplar River Pub, Lutsen Resort, 6-8 p.m.
• Open Mic Night with Bump Blomberg, Papa Charlie’s, 7-10 p.m.

It looks like we’re continuing our new tradition of posting lots of great photos at the end of each week’s blog. Here’s what we’ve found this week.

Mike Furtman discovered a lot of ducks in the woods and ponds this week and posted some photos on his Facebook page. This one he called "Angel Wings for Xmas Eve."

Don Davison captured this on the day of the Winter Solstice.

"Solstice Shoreline" by Don Davison.

Stephan Hoglund was out shooting on Christmas morning.

"Christmas Morning" by Stephan Hoglund.

A walk on Christmas day netted Sandra Updyke this photo.

Sandra Updyke took this beauty.

Mark Tessier has been exploring the silence of the woods. Here’s one he took recently.

Photo by Mark Tessier.

And we continue to have spectacular sunsets here. Mary Cowan got this shot the other day.

Grand Marais sunset by Mary Cowan.

Now, let’s circle back to the beginning and all the snow fun on the Gunflint Trail.

Trail Center lights up for the holidays.

Happy New Year!

]]> http://www.northernwilds.com/northshoreartscene/2011/12/28/fun-times-for-new-years/feed/ 0 http://www.northernwilds.com/northshoreartscene/2011/12/21/winter-solstice-gloomies-and-a-bonfire/ http://www.northernwilds.com/northshoreartscene/2011/12/21/winter-solstice-gloomies-and-a-bonfire/#comments Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:27:40 +0000 Joan http://www.northernwilds.com/northshoreartscene/?p=7394

Scrappy in flight. One off the scenes in the Winter Solstice Shadow Puppet show, "Scrappy's Quest to Find the Sun."

Hopefully, everyone gets this week’s blog in time to bundle up and head out to North House Folk School for the annual Winter Solstice Puppet Show  & Bonfire  which starts at 6 p.m. tonight (Wednesday). It’s a potluck, so grab some cookies or snacks if you haven’t anything else, but come down and see this great little play.
The title of this year’s production by the Good Harbor Hill Players is “Scrappy’s Quest to Find the Sun,”  and you can see from the photo above that Scrappy seems to have found a raven ally to help him track down the Sun.

Besides a great plot line and fun shadow puppets, there’s live music and singing in the production, too. I can’t wait to see it.

As a symbol of finding the Sun, a bonfire is lit right after the play and everyone gathers around to celebrate. Bring your “gloomies” to throw into the fire, too. Here’s Betsy Bowen’s definition of gloomies: “Something (non-toxic) from your life that represents a low spot to put in the fire and send up in smoke to lighten your load for the coming year.” Your gloomies can be written down on a piece of paper, too, and thrown into the bonfire.

In any case, everyone enjoys the fire and then goes into North House to enjoy a holiday potluck feast with friends and neighbors. Fun times!

There are only a couple of days left until Christmas, and I don’t hesitate to recommend that you stop in all your favorite shops to find last-minute wonders.

Ada Igoe created a great gift guide this year in North Shore HIghway 61.

Here’s a fantastic  gift list that Ada Igoe developed for North Shore Highway 61. Click here to see and download the PDF to peruse at your pleasure.

Birchbark Books & Gifts has a great selection of  books by local authors, and many of them are signed, including books by John Henricksson, Betsy Bowen, Howard Sivertson, Dr. Roger MacDonald, Beryl Singleton Bissell, Cameron Norman and Karen Lohn, to name a few. The shop also has a selection of CDs by local musicians.

The Attic still has some of those Krazy Socks, made of fun random colors and designs.

The Blue Moose’s Christmas shop is open through Saturday, too, with lots of holiday items.

The Tall Tales Yarn Shop in Tofte has lots of handmade items, as well, including baskets. Check it out here.

Drury Lane Books is open on Christmas Eve day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with outstanding books to choose from.

If you’re looking for handmade art, the Holiday Art Underground Show continues at Betsy Bowen’s Studio through the end of the month. The gallery will be open on Saturday, Dec. 24 at 11 a.m.

Scarves by Crimson Tate can be found at Sivertson Gallery.

Sivertson Gallery, which always has such beautiful work, has a great selection of unusual and unique stocking stuffers, too, or, as Sherry Moe puts it, there are lots of “trinkets and treasures.”

Joynes Ben Franklin is also a must-stop for stocking stuffers… my recommendation? Flour sack dish towels. They’re hard to find in most places in the country and loved by everyone who uses them.

Oh.. and you can get gift cards at every place in town… coffee lovers would especially appreciate one from the Java Moose  in Grand Marais and/or Moon Dance Coffee Shop in Lutsen.

Some of your favorite restaurants are open for Christmas buffets, including Lutsen Resort, Bluefin Grille, Moguls and Papa Charlie’s. Call for more info.

Naniboujou's famous dining room.

After Christmas, Naniboujou Lodge in Hovland will hold two Christmas Caroled Dinners with caroling by the Muus family and fabulous food. The dinners are held on Tuesday, Dec. 27 and Wednesday, Dec. 28 starting at 7 p.m. Punch is served at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are required for this festive event. Call 218-387-2688 to order your tickets. To find out more about Naniboujou, click here.

This week, it’s pretty quiet for music and entertainment, although there are places to go. However, there are lots of music choices during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, so I’ve listed them here. I’ve also included a list of New Year’s Eve parties and who is playing where.

Here is the music schedule.

Wednesday, Dec. 21:

• Pete Kavanaugh, Birch Terrace Lounge, 7-10 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 22:

• Reggae Thursdays at Harbor Light Supper Club & Bar, 8-10 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 23:

• Bump & Barbara Jean, Gunflint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

The Tavern is open on Dec. 24, closed on Christmas Day.

Monday, Dec. 26:

• Bump & Barbara Jean, Bluefin Grille, 7:30 p.m.
• James Moors, Gunflint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 27:

• James Moors, Apres-Ski, Papa Charlie’s, 3:30-6 p.m.
• Bump & Barbara Jean, Gunflint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
• Buckets & Tap Shoes, Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen Mountains, 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 28:

• Bump & Barbara Jean, Apres-Ski, Papa Charlie’s, 3;30 p.m.; Bluefin Grille, 7:30 p.m.
• Timmy Haus, Apres-Ski, Papa Charlie’s, 6:30-9 p.m.
• Pete Kavanaugh, Birch Terrace Lounge, 7-10 p.m.
• Joe Paulik, Gunflint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 29:

• Kate & Bill Isles, Papa Charlie’s, 3:30-6 p.m.
• James Moors, Papa Charlie’s, 6:30-9 p.m.
• Reggae Thursdays at Harbor Light Supper Club & Bar, 8-10 p.m.
• Jake Manders, Gunflint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 30:

• Timmy Haus, Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen Mountains, 3:30-6 p.m.
• Bump & Barbara Jean, Bluefin Grille, Tofte, 7:30-10 p.m.
• New Year Log Cabin Concert Series with Michael Monroe and Michael Johnson,  Friday-Sunday, Good Harbor Hill. Reservations at 218-387-2919
• Pete Kavanaugh, Gunflint Tavern, 8:30 p.m.
• Wildwood, Harbor Light Supper Club & Bar, Grand Marais, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

New Year’s Eve, Dec.31

• Eric Frost, Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen Mountains, 6:30-9 p.m.
• Jim & Michelle Miller, Cascade Lodge Pub, Lutsen, 8-10 p.m.
• Michael Monroe & Michael Johnson, Log Cabin Concert, Good Harbor Hill, 8 p.m. Reservations at 218-387-2919.
• Trail’s End Band, Windigo Lodge, Gunflint Trail, 8:30 p.m.
• Cook County Most Wanted, Gunflint Tavern, 9 p.m.
• Shack Shakers, Grand Portage Lodge & Casino, Grand Portage, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• Wildwood, Harbor Light Supper Club & Bar, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• New Year’s Eve Party with DJ D’Angelo, Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen Mountains, 9:30 p.m. Torchlight parade at 8 p.m. followed by fireworks.

Back to the present — there were some unbelievably spectacular sunsets this week and we have images of some of them.

Stephan Hoglund got this shot of a storm cloud approaching Grand Marais about 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 15.

Paul Sundberg captured this sunset on Dec. 18.

Grand Marais Harbor Dec. 18. Photo by Paul Sundberg.

Then Stephan Hoglund got this shot the next evening.

Grand Marais Harbor sunset on Dec. 19.

The next day, we had quite a blow, and Bryan Hansel sent me this image.

Bryan Hansel was out in the high winds yesterday and got this gorgeous shot.

Meanwhile, up the Trail, skaters were out exploring the ice again.

Kate Watson enjoys all that beautiful ice! Photo (maybe) by Nathaneal Kuenzli.

And Layne Kennedy sent on a photo of ice from another perspective.

Photo by Layne Kennedy.

And then someone sent along another crystalline shot… this time of sand magnified 4 times. It’s taken by Yamping Wang and can be found on Nikon’s Small World site.

 

Sand magnified 4 times. Photo by Yamping Wang.

And here’s a perfect holiday photo from Stephan Hoglund.

"Christmas in Grand Marais 2011" by Stephan Hoglund.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

 

 

]]> http://www.northernwilds.com/northshoreartscene/2011/12/21/winter-solstice-gloomies-and-a-bonfire/feed/ 0 http://www.northernwilds.com/northshoreartscene/2011/12/14/trunk-shows-high-teas-the-winter-solstice/ http://www.northernwilds.com/northshoreartscene/2011/12/14/trunk-shows-high-teas-the-winter-solstice/#comments Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:21:12 +0000 Joan http://www.northernwilds.com/northshoreartscene/?p=7334

Bryan Hansel got out at dawn on the coldest morning so far to take this intriguing photo.

Everybody might be  getting ready for Christmas, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t interesting things to do in the county this week.

Stephan Hoglund was one of the local skaters to explore Seagull Lake ice the other day.

Lots of people have been skating on frozen lakes, and we received some photos from Stephan Hoglund who explored Seagull Lake with fellow skaters earlier this week. (i.e. before it started raining.)

Frozen-lake skaters are a special bunch, and  in this photo you can really see the exhilaration they feel when they get on a big wilderness lake with miles of good ice to explore. Photo ops also abound.

Hoglund captured this image on Seagull Lake.

Here is what he wrote on his Facebook page:

“Went all the way around 3 Mile Island , Palisades and back…amazing day …”

He also includes warnings about open water and thin ice on parts of the lake.

It can be risky and dangerous … not advised unless you really know what you are doing.

Ice skating opportunities are available in town at the Community Center’s rink. Colder weather is expected this weekend.

There are some great shopping opportunities this weekend, too.

The Holiday Art Underground Show continues at Betsy Bowen’s Studio, which is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. The show continues through Dec. 31.

Sivertson Gallery is having a Trollbead Trunk Show on Friday through Sunday with all kinds of new selections in this beautiful bead collection. The gallery always has a fantastic selection of great gift items, too… definitely worth a look.

Great Gifts of Lutsen is also having a Trunk Show Extravaganza this weekend featuring four new artisans, including beach stone earrings by Emily Cihlar. More than 20 jewelers are included in the show, which continues through Sunday.

Also, the Blue Moose Gallery continues its popular Christmas Show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday when the gallery closes for the season.

This is also the weekend for Christmas High Teas. Chez Jude’s popular event is Friday and Saturday. Reservations are recommended. Call 387-9113.

The Pie Place also holds a Holiday High Tea Friday through Sunday. For more information, call 387-1513.

Papa Charlie’s has booked  a great show on Saturday featuring the wildly acclaimed band Gentleman Hall. Grand Marais native Jacob Schmitt, aka Cobi Mike, is in the band, which is creating quite a buzz around the country. Here’s their web site. They will perform with Quietdrive.

On Monday at 7 p.m., there is a free swing dance lesson at the 4-H Log Building at the Community Center, followed by an hour of open dancing to holiday tunes at 8 p.m. Festive holiday attire encouraged. For more info, call 387-2358.

The piece de resistance for celebrating the season is the Winter Solstice Puppet Show & Bonfire at North House Folk School next Wednesday, Dec. 21 at  6 p.m. followed by a community potluck. The Good Harbor Hill Players start working on the show this Thursday night at 6 p.m., with work sessions scheduled every night at 6 p.m. at North House until show time. Volunteers of every age are welcome!

In other art news, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery is planning a Roy Thomas retrospective exhibit next summer. In preparation for the retrospective, the gallery is  asking the public to assist it with locating three paintings: The Spirit of Life Givers, (1996), Simplicity and Confusion, (1998), The Eagle has Landed, (1996.) For more information, contact Curator Nadia Kurd at curator@theag.ca or call (807) 577-6427.

Beryl Singeton Bissel’s book, “A View of the Lake,” has been nominated for a Minnesota Book Award.

There are a few spaces left for in Bryan Hansel’s Lake Superior Winter Photography Workshop at Lutsen Resort Feb. 10-12.. This is his most popular workshop and fills up quickly. For reservations call 663-7212 or 800-258-8736 or click here.

He also has created a new newsletter. To subscribe, click here.

Jerry Vandiver (Nashville) and Shy-Anne Hovorka (Thunder Bay) who performed in Grand Marais last year, sing a song they wrote together about the Boundary Waters at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe during a singer/songwriter circle there recently. Listen to it here.

There’s lots of great music this week, too.

Jacob Schmitt (aka Cobi Mike) of Grand Marais plays with Gentlemen Hall, which will be at Papa Charlies on Saturday night.

Wednesday:

• Eric Frost, Jessa Wallendahl Frost & Bill Hansen, Moguls, Caribou Highlands, 5-9 p.m.
• Brett Berka & Friends, Harbor Light Supper Club & Bar, 7-10 p.m.

Thursday:

• Reggae Thursdays with Austin Oullis, Harbor Light, 8-10 p.m.

Friday:

• Ian Alexy, Gunflint Tavern, 8:30-midnight

Saturday:

• North Shore Voices Choir, Lutsen Lutheran Church,  Lutsen, 3-4 p.m.
• Live Comedy at Harbor Light, 8:30 – 11 p.m.
• Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank,  Gunflint Tavern, 8:30-midnight
• Gentlemen Hall & Quietdrive, Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen Mountains, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday:

• Joe Paulik, Gunflint Tavern, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Truth be told, I received a lot of great photos  this week, and I’d like to post them. (Subscribers: If this proves to be a problem to download, please email me at joan.farnam@gmail.com)

First, photos of the eclipse. It was cloudy in Grand Marais, but cleared briefly in Minneapolis, where Layne Kennedy had his camera in hand. It wasn’t cloudy at all in Egypt.

Lake Harriet and the eclipse by Layne Kennedy.

Antoine Gigal created this image in Egypt.

Ice was a great subject this week, too. Here are two great images.

Icy Tree by Don Davison

Superior Winter by Travis Novitsky.

Here’s a beautiful close-up.

Macro Ice by Travis Novitsky.

Stephan Hoglund got this shot of Grand Marais in early winter. If I remember right, he referred to it as grunge Grand Marais, but I really like it.

An intimate view of Grand Marais taken by Stephan Hoglund.

Here’s a tryptich of a Grand Marais Christmas season moonrise by Bryan Hansel.

And then this final shot by Stephan Hoglund.

Stephan Hoglund took this photo during the last Winter Solstice.

Have a great weekend!

Stephan Hoglund captured this gorgeous sunset the other day.

Frozen wolf tracks on Agnes Lake.

Winter is here and avid ice skaters are celebrating that fact on small lakes up and down the North Shore. We’re heard reports of skaters on  Devil Track Lake and photographer Paul Sundstrom said Agnes Lake off the Caribou Trail is good for skating. Wolves, otters and beavers were out on the ice when it was softer and their tracks have frozen into permanent marks on the glassy surface. We’re not recommending skating on lakes, it can be dangerous; so understand the ice conditions if you go. But people who know what they’re doing are sure having fun!

This weekend, there are some fun things to do in town, too.

A Chili Fundraiser for the Guatemala medical mission for nurses Patty Doherty, Teresa Borak and Joyce Klees to travel to Guatemala as volunteers for Partner for Surgery, will be held at Betsy Bowen’s Studio Friday, Dec. 9 from  5-8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 10 from 11 a.m until the chili is gone. The Holiday Art Underground Show is on exhibit at the gallery as well with work by more than 40 regional and local artists.

Also on Friday night, the Community Music Circle will play from 5-7 p.m. followed by a reader’s theater performance of selections from Bowen’s newest book, “Burr & Hamilton” by Jeff Humphries, at 7:30 p.m. Bowen did the woodcut  illustrations.

Performers are Betsy Bowen, Marco Good, Marcia Hyatt, and Dick Swanson. 

Burr & Hamilton“ is an artistic work, exploring American politics in 1804 written in a specific form of Japanese poetry by a professor of French studies who lives in New Orleans.  Bowen’s monochrome woodcuts reflect the starkness of the most famous duel in American history.  This is the first book produced by Philsgood Press, operated by Phil Bowen, Minneapolis.

Other fun events this weekend include the Grand Portage Community Bazaar in the Grand Portage Lodge & Casino conference room Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event features local arts and crafts including beading and jewelry, and  Native American baked goods including freshly baked bread loaves in a variety of flavors as well as fry bread, a special treat!

D’Merritt will be playing later that evening.

Then on Sunday,  the Cook County High School Band will hold a Christmas Gift Sale at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts from 4-7 p.m. Lots of baked goods, handcrafted items, homemade socks & jewelry, silent auction items, games, lighted Christmas trees, candles, prints and more will be featured. This fundraiser is a great opportunity to support the award-winning band’s performances outside the county.

For entertainment, Harbor Light Supper Club & Bar brings in Austin Oullis on Thursday nights to play reggae from  his great collections of vinyls. Friday and Saturday are comedy nights at Harbor Light.

Jason Swenson Band

The Jason Swenson Band plays at Papa Charlie’s on Saturday night. Swenson is a Minnesota singer and songwriter performing over 50 dates a year as a solo artist and band member. He has opened shows for Jonny Lang, Gear Daddies, Tim Mahoney, and GB Leighton, and his original songs have been played on radio and television stations throughout the Midwest.

To hear the band, click here.

Bump & Barbara Jean play the Gunflint Tavern on Friday night, Saturday’s band to be announced.

Nancy Daley in her studio.

In other art news, Nancy Daley was recently featured on WTIP radio in the latest edition of  ”Artist Open House” with Jay Andersen. To listen, click here.

Stephan Hoglund has  a new blog featuring lots of great photos. Check it out here.

Sivertson Gallery has new giclee prints by Marian Lansky. The artist also collaborates with her husband, Rick Allen, a Duluth printmaker who also showwork at the gallery.

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council has approved grant applications totaling $22,220 to be awarded in Arts and Cultural Heritage Community Arts Learning Grants in the Arrowhead region.

Hazel Belvo of Grand Marais received $5,000 to create a two-week art appreciation experience for the community of Grand Marais and Cook County consisting of an open studio and lectures.

North Shore Music Association was also awarded $5,000 to present the Grammy Award winning Parker Quartet, offering a full day of K-12 workshops and an all-ages evening performance at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on Jan 14. Stay tuned for details about this fabulous concert.. Listen here.

And  the Good Harbor Hill Players received a $3,000 Rural and Community Grant from ARAC to create and perform an original shadow puppet show with live music to observe the Winter Solstice outdoors on the harbor in Grand Marais Dec. 21.

"Blaze Maple Rays" by Aaron Kloss.

Here’s new work from Aaron Kloss, a Duluth emerging artist who might soon be exhibiting in Grand Marais.

Christmas is less than three weeks away and everbody is sharing their favorite inspirational videos, it seems, which is sort of nice, truth be told. Here’s a “share” from Jim Ringquist, one of those fantastic TED videos. Host photographer/videographer Louie Schwartzberg  calls it “Gratitude.”  Click here to view.

And if you haven’t seen “Piano Stairs” yet, here’s your chance.

Richard Gruchalla and Carrin Rosetti will hostan Open House and Studio Sale in Duluth.

And, if you’re going to be in Duluth this weekend, raku potters Richard Gruchalla and Carrin Rosetti are hosting a Studio Sale and Open House with new work at their studio at 1600 London Road, east end of building, lower level.

The studio sale is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 9 through Dec. 17.

On a much more somber note, a story about Steve Posniak and the Ham Lake Fire has recently been published in the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine. It is very interesting, but sad, too . Here’s the link if you’d like to read it.

There’s plenty of music to listen to this weekend. Here’s the schedule:

Thursday:

• Reggae Thursdays at Harbor Light,  Harbor Light  Supper Club and Bar, Grand Marais, 8-10 p.m.

Friday:

• Community Music Circle, Betsy Bowen’s Studio, 5-7 p.m.
• Portage, American Legion, 6-8 p.m.
• Paul Christian,  Harbor Light Supper Club and Bar, 7:30 p.m.
• Bump & Barbara Jean, Gunflint Tavern, 9 p.m.

Saturday:

• Paul Christian,  Harbor Light Supper Club and Bar, 7:30 p.m.
• D’Merritt, Grand Portage Lodge & Casino, Grand Portage, 9 p.m.
• Jason Swenson Band, Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen Mountains, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday:

• The Sivertones, Gunflint Tavern, 6:30 p.m.
• The Maxi Childs Trio, Harbor Light Supper Club and Bar, 7-10 p.m.

This week, I’m going to end with another Stephan Hoglund beauty. Enjoy!

Photo by Stephan Hoglund.

And a special thanks to Ann Possis for her editorial/copyediting/two-handed help to put NorthShore ArtScene  together this week! Thank you, Ann!

Have a great weekend!

Travis Novitsky is a master photographer of the night sky. Here is his "Tower Galaxy." He has also made a time-lapse video of the rotating galaxy in the night sky. Check his web site at www.travisnovitsky.com. In his gallery he has included a great selection of his videos, including the northern lights.

This is the weekend that many look forward to during the holiday season because there are so many opportunities to find great handmade items by local artists and artisans. We also get to enjoy the considerable  musical talents in our community on Sunday and Monday at the Christmas concert at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Kelly Dupre's linoleum block print, "Moon Glow" will be in the Holiday Art Underground Show which opens Friday evening with a sneak peek.

First up is the  Sneak Peek at the Holiday Art Underground Show at Betsy Bowen’s Studio. This is always a wonderful art opening featuring live music — this year Joe Paulik and Jesse Wilkinson will play — as well as refreshments  and exhibits of new work by more than 40 local and regional artists.

Paintings, woodcut prints, pottery, jewelry, clothing, watercolors, photography and more will be on view, not to mention copies of Betsy Bowen’s latest books as well as her 2012 calendar. Bowen illustrated two new books this year:  “Twelve Owls,”  written by Laura Erickson and released this fall, and “Burr and Hamilton,” written by Jeff Humphries and released last month.

The opening festivities for this show are from 5-9 p.m. Friday and continue through the weekend. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The show is up through the end of December. The gallery will then close until spring, although online orders can be made at www.woodcut.com.

The Northwoods Fiber Guild Holiday Open House & Sale features an incredible selection of handmade items.

The Northwoods Fiber Guild’s Holiday Open House at the Grand Marais Art Colony is this Saturday, Dec. 3, with an incredible selection of all things fiber. Braided rugs, knitted and woven scarves, woolen hats and mittens, sweaters, vests, felted purses, jewelry … the list goes on and on. The sale, which also features homemade holiday treats, demonstrations and a fun hands-on craft table for adults and children alike, is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This always a fun event and highly recommended. Get there early for the best selections!

The Evangelical Free Church has its annual Christmas Craft and Bake Sale Dec. 3, too, at the church at 120 E. 5th St. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Here you’ll find handmade craft items, baked goods and lunch. Part of the event is a benefit for youth programs.

Also this weekend, the Artisans of the Tombolo hold a holiday open house at 221 W. 1st St. featuring weaving, fused glass jewelry and knitted items, to name a few. Karen Lohn, author of “Peace Fibers” is hosting the event on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and copies of her book will be available.

The Blue Moose Gallery is holding a special Christmas Gift event this week, too. It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Dec. 4, when it closes for the season.

This is the last weekend of the ”Northern Photography” show at the Johnson Heritage Post before it closes for the season. It is open from 1 -4 p.m. through Sunday.

Lutsen Mountains will feature a special “Rail Jam” for snowboarders and trixters on Saturday, Dec. 3, with the Nathan Miller Band playing on Saturday night. There’s a movie premiere at 5 p.m. on Saturday, too.

Tim Young gave a demonstration at Last Chance Gallery, which handles his work.

And there will be open house receptions in Tofte on Saturday, including at the Tall Tales Yarn Shop &  Coho Cafe.

Last Chance Gallery held its holiday opening and reception last weekend. Artists Tom Christiansen, Kristin Blomberg, Tim Young, Anna Hess, Lester Morrison and Dick Nelson gave demonstrations, and Marcia Hyatt read from her book, “How Have We Mythed?”

Click here to see a great video of Tim Young painting his iconic pine trees.

Last Chance is open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the holiday season and represents more than 40 local and regional artists.

The weekend concludes with the highly anticipated Community Christmas Concert at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Sunday and Monday evenings at 7 p.m. Directed by Bill Beckstrand, the concert features a  100-voice choir and  20-piece orchestra performing seasonal favorites and pieces from “The Messiah.” Donations are accepted. (Note: 7 p.m. is a new time for this event. Get there early to find the best seats, and then sit back and enjoy!)

In other art news, Harbor Light continues its live comedy shows on Friday and Saturday nights. The jokes start at 8:30 p.m.

LaRue’s, a jewelry, eclectic clothing, and gift store based in Minneapolis,  has opened a branch on the North Shore at Cedar Cliff Retreat, No. 32 County Road 34 at Hwy. 61 in Lutsen. A holiday open house will be held fom 3-8 p.m. Saturday.

Chez Jude will hold its annual Christmas High Tea on Friday and Saturday. Reservations recommended. For more, info, visitwww.chezjude.com.

Emily Cihlar has Lake Superior stone earrings at Great Gifts in Lutsen.

Painting by Liz Sivertson.

Liz Sivertson has brought in new work to Sivertson Gallery.

If you will be in the Twin Cities this weekend, Layne Kennedy has a turned wooden bowl show at his home on Saturday from 10 a.m.-Noon, 4209 Garfield Ave. South-Minneapolis.

Grand Hill Gallery in St. Paul is exhibiting paintings by Neil Sherman, Richard Abraham, Joshua Cunningham and Stuart Loughridge  through Jan. 7. Sherman will have eight new paintings and some solar plate etchings on display.

In other Neil Sherman news, he will teach a class in winter plein air painting through the Grand Marais Art Colony this winter. To see a video of Neil painting, click here.

Last week I gave you an audio link to an hour-long interview with Native American songwriter Keith Secola on WTIP radio. Here’s a short video of that same interview, including a song.

Music and entertainment this weekend:

Wednesday:

• Brett Berka & Friends, Harbor Light Supper Club, 7-10 p.m.

Friday:

• Live Music at the Gunflint Tavern, 9 p.m.,
• Live Comedy Shows at Harbor Light, Harbor Light Supper Club, Grand Marais, 8:30-11 p.m.

Saturday:

• Nathan Miller & Unstoppable Company, Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen Mountains, 9:30 p.m.
• Live Comedy Shows at Harbor Light, Harbor Light Supper Club, Grand Marais, 8:30-11 p.m.
• Live Music at the Gunflint Tavern, 9 p.m.,

Sunday:

• Annual Community Christmas Concert, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 701 W. 3rd Ave. W., Grand Marais, 7 p.m., donations accepted.

Monday:

• Annual Community Christmas Concert, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 701 W. 3rd Ave. W., Grand Marais, 7 p.m., donations accepted

People have been sending me lots of  stuff this week and I’ll share them with you.

First off, Bryan Hansel sent this cool video of Lake Superior ice.  Bon Iver shot it for Holocene at Gooseberry State Park. Click to view.

There’s plenty of snow on the Gunflint Trail. Here’s a shot taken near Trail Center.

Snow at Trail Center.

Lake Superior ice is beginning to form. Here are two images.

"Ice Bubbles" by Travis Novitsky.

"First Ice" by Paul Sundberg.

Spaceweather.com posted a lot of cool photos of Venus and the moon together in the sky a few days ago. I liked this one best.

This one was taken by Thad Soske somewhere in Colorado. Do you recognize the mountain?

P.S. A big Thank You! to Kristine Bottorff who helped put the blog together this week with everything from fact-checking to keyboarding. Thanks, Kristine.

Have a great weekend, everyone!