Local Arts Scene: June Events and Happenings...

The June Twin Ports arts scene is off with a bang, beginning with the DuSu Film Festival that opened last night and runs through June 5. According to an article in the Budgeteer, the festival will feature films, panel discussions, and parties at several venues including Zinema, Teatro Zuccone, Clyde Iron Works and the Comet Theater in Cook. Unlike the Minneapolis Underground Festival, which screened over 100 films last fall, DSFF will screen just 17 feature films and 30 shorts, all of which will have some regional influence.

One highlight in the Shorts category is Esther Piszczek's Life & Art Entangled, a beautiful art documentary created by Directors Dave Cowardin and Joe Olivieri of Lola Visuals. Life & Art Entangled tells the story of Piszczek's transition from prosecutor to artist while she covers a studio upright piano with patterns. Jazz pianist Peter Brown's improvisational playing adds a dramatic backdrop to the narrative. This particular film will air Saturday, June 4.

Note: Every film is Free again this year, though donations will be accepted at multiple points around each of the screening venues and special events. Additional details here.

Tim White: In and Out of Context
The opening reception for photographer Tim White's exhibition in the DAI John Steffl Gallery will be Thursday, June 16 from 5 - 7 p.m.  These 5 - 7 events are ideal for the those who have regular 9-5 jobs during the day. A great way to catch events on the way home from the office. White's work will be on display through September 16.

Soul Portraits: Painting From the Inside Out with Sarah Brokke
These DAI classes on painting will be Friday, June 3, 6 - 9 p.m. and Saturday, June 4 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. You'll find Sarah and the space to work at the Lincoln Building, $95 ($115 non-members)

Friday, June 10, 6-8:30 p.m., Duluth Fine Pianos, 405 E. Superior Street, 2nd Friday Art Crawl, Zentangle (R) Inspired Art by Esther Piszczek, CZT, and nature photography by UMD Professor Ladona Tornabene, Ph.D.; Free parking available behind the building after 5:30 p.m.

Art Openings and Receptions

Thursday, June 2, 6-8 p.m., Beaner's Central, 324 N. Central Avenue, Life House Art Opening with Virgil Cane Talent Show. If you've never heard the Virgil Caine Band, here is a song recorded at Beaner's in February - The Monkey Speaks His Mind.

Monday, June 6, 5-7 p.m., Zeitgeist Arts Atrium, 222 E. Superior Street, Moira Villard's "Real" Art Show, painting and drawing, "REAL is a retrospective art exhibit featuring iridescent portraiture and surrealism created by Moira Villard, the artist whose present preoccupation is navigating the ins and outs of what it means to be 'real'."

Tuesday, June 7, 7 p.m., Studio 15, 15 N. 3rd Avenue W., Rachel Eisenman & Amber Maffo, Music by Ryan Quintana. "Come share in art, music and fun with two beer loving, loud giggling, painting ladies living in Duluth."

The Tweed Museum of Art is re-opening this month in a big way. Next Thursday Vance Gellert’s journey of environmental exploration is revealed as a photographic essay about the unique visual character of the Iron Range. The camera views were made in communities that include Coleraine, Eveleth, Hibbing, and Virginia among others. Gellert, a St. Paul native and pharmacologist, shares images that reveal the changing technologies of mining, the ever-changing landscape, and the unique personalities that all together represent a complex social and economic interdependency.
Opening Reception: June 9, 2016 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The Tweed is also feature an exhibition by Susan Coe and Warrington Colescott. The show is titled "All this is True" and will feature prints, watercolors and drawings. Curator John Schuerman states, “The two artists in this exhibition take us on a difficult tour of power gone awry (or mad) and its casualties.”

One of the images shows deer shooting humans and it brought to mind a drawing is did in high school of fish with fishing poles catching humans who were swimming underwater. One man in the drawing had a hook through his cheek and was being reeled in.

Friday, June 17, 6-9 p.m., Red Herring Lounge, 208 E. 1st Street, Collaborative Art Showcase Alluvial with work by Tina Fox (photography and natural shadow boxes), Leah Beltz (photography), and Jim Richardson (photography) and Zine Release Party: Lunacy. Music by MDFY and Tony Dack, after party downstairs to follow opening reception. Show runs June 17 - July 19.

Red Mug, 916 Hammond Avenue, Superior, Lynne Anderson, Photography. You can also find Lynne's beautiful work at Art on the Plaza, 126 Belknap Street in Superior. I have added some of my own work to the Art on the Plaza collection. Check it out. You can also find some of my paintings at The Break Room in Duluth, kitty-corner from St. Mary's Hospital. (The former Twins Bar.) And while we're mentioning places to see my paintings I might as well note that Goin' Postal (on the 800 block of Tower Avenue in Superior, next to the tracks) has a lot of very nice work by local artists.

Pizza Luce, 11 E. Superior Street: There is always amazing art decorating the walls of Pizza Luce.

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Looking to learn new skills? Try Zentangle Patterns with Esther Piszczek, CZT
Wednesday, June 15, 6 - 8:30 PM, Lincoln Building
$25 ($32 non-members)+ $10 materials fee paid to the instructor Anyone can create beautiful, intricate line patterns "one stroke at a time" using the zentangle (R) method of pattern drawing. We will create beautiful art on a 3.5" x 3.5" paper tile using pen and ink with pencil shading. No previous drawing experience necessary. To register, call (218) 733-7560.

Don't forget the annual family event Art Night Out
Thursday, June 16, 5 - 7 p.m. at the Depot.

The Duluth Art Institute is looking for people to host plein air artists from around the country for its July Plein Air Duluth event, July 10 - 15. If you are interested in sharing your home with an artist for a week, the Duluth Art Institute will trade a family membership for the kindness of Northland hospitality. Email: info@duluthartinstitute.org.

And July 23rd there will be a concert with Eric Andersen and Scarlet Rivera and Friends at the Weber Music Hall. Mark it on your calendar.... More info coming soon.

Meantime, life goes on all around you. Especially here in the Northland.

NOTE: Very special thanks to Esther Piszczek without whose efforts these monthly updates would not be possible.