Local Art Seen: Red Mug, Beaners, Red Herring

Chris Monroe is on a roll....

Thursday eve last week I was able to drop in on Chris Monroe's book signing at The Red Mug in Superior. Illustrators who can engage people emotionally are a special breed, and you can tell by fan turnout wherever she goes, Chris Monroe has the gift. 

Sometime last year she had a chance to display a lot of her illustrations from her Monkey With A Toolbelt story at the Duluth Art Institute. Fans turned out en masse. Likewise her previous book signing here at the Red Mug filled the place to overflowing. Her work fills the walls for the rest of December and if you get a chance grab a tasty lunch while you're there. While standing in line be sure to check out the shelves behind you for last minute Christmas gifts.

Over at Beaners' Coffeehouse in Duluth we found Elliot Silberman busy sketching patrons who turned out for his show. Elliot's career as a portrait artist has taken him all over the country. Here's a shot of Elliot bringing Beaners proprietor Jason Wussow to life. You can see examples of Elliot's drawings here at Beaners throughout the month of December or at his new website. 

Friday evening I swung by The Red Herring to catch the opening of a three-person show there featuring work by Esther Piszczek, Ryan Lemahieu and Chris Monohan, brother of Bob Monohan, public face of the Herring. The complexity of Lemahieu's drawings if quite striking, and some of the new pieces appear to have grown in scale. Chris Monohan's work has a welcoming feel. You can find them beyond the bar on the left as you head toward the facilities in the back. Esther's decorative work is always uplifting, revealing an abundance patience that belies the energy she brings to the art scene here.  

The lighting is not the best for viewing art, but is suitable enough. Grab a cocktail and saunter around the perimeter for some eye-catching designs. 

Detail from larger piece by Lemahieu

Print by Chris Monohan 

There's plenty more to see and do this week. Bill Shipley will be giving his Tweevenings talk tonight at the Tweed. And 2nd Friday art crawl is three days ahead. More announcements can be found in the Transistor and the Twin Ports Arts Align section of Facebook.  Maybe we'll see you soon.