The Versatile Doris Sampson and More, March 8

Snapshot of Doris Sampson's more recent interests.

Duluth, MN ~ Tomorrow night's gallery hopping here in the Twin Ports has some extra-special treats. In addition to the TEXT show at the Prove which I shared here Tuesday there are the usual events at Ochre Ghost and Washington Gallery, and there are bonus openings at Double Dutch, on the corner of Lake and Superior, and Doris Sampson's opening at Just for the Season Gallery in the Holiday Center. The time to plan your trek is now.

I'm willing to guess that everyone in the region is familiar with Sampson's work but doesn't know it. Her series of paintings featuring the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald and subsequent rescue efforts can be seen in numerous locations around the Twin Ports, from the Canal Park Marine Museum to Fitzgerald Hall in the DECC to the reception areas of numerous Twin Ports business establishments. Her skills in are well honed when painting realism, especially the angry sea.

But Sampson is much more than this. I visited her home/studio in West Duluth a couple years ago and was impressed by her range. She is a superb draftsperson who has creatively poured herself into her work for over four decades now. I look forward to seeing what she exhibits tomorrow because Ms. Sampson not only has an imagination, but the talent to do something with it.

Sampson's show is called The Versatility of Doris Sampson, and if you're available during the day she's doing an artist demonstration from noon till 3 p.m. Opening reception will be from 4 p.m. till 7 p.m.  Just for the Season Gallery isn't "just for the season" and if you work downtown you should make it a monthly destination to see what's new. Sampson's work will be featured there through the end of March.

Double Dutch at 1 W. Superior St. is a welcome addition to the gallery crawl that takes place on the second Friday each month downtown.  Tomorrow eve they will feature artwork by Brian Ring and Ryan LeMahieu with an opening reception from 6-9 p.m.

Over at the Ochre Ghost photographer Andy Hartman is showing his work from 7-11 p.m., two blocks down the alley from the Prove show that is featuring 19 artists this month. And two blocks up the hill from the TEXT Show you'll find a two woman show by artists Mary Hunt and Monica Ares. Their opening runs from 4:30-8 p.m, so my guess is to catch it all, you may start with Just for the Season, hop up to Washington and then find a place to park down on First Street. (That's my plan, anyways.)

Hunt’s show is titled “Privacy No More,” dealing with privacy in a digital age. Hunt has an MFA from the University of Delaware but left academia eight years ago to work on her own. She now lives and works in Washington Studios Artist Cooperative.

Ares’ exhibit is titled “Beneath Perceptions.” Her images are created with various media including oil on masonite, graphite on Mylar and more. Personally, I can't wait to take it all in.

Hope to see you on the scene.