Wowing the Crowd @ Beaner's One Week Live: Opening Night Delivers the Goods

Let's start with expectations. One Week Live is a series of six evenings of music with three groups each night except midweek's singer/songwriter competition and Friday's four-group menu. Last night's opening featured a set by Dan Dresser, solo guitar, followed by the trio One Less Guest and the wrap up by Jacob Mahon and the Salty Dogs. By evening's end there's little doubt every person in the room was feeling it, that sense that they'd witnessed something exceptional, that unless the earth is shattered by an asteroid we'll be hearing and reading more about these young people who poured themselves out to us tonight.

Dan Dresser, who has been part of the Beaners core from the beginning, or at least seems to have been, is a veteran here and pretty much a known commodity. He writes songs and performs in an easy-going, laconic manner, as if he doesn't have anything to prove. In his standard leather hat and jeans he opened with "Sad & Lonely Is Where You Are." From the start the audience was with him as he sang candidly about relationships and faltered love. "Lovin' you ain't easy on this far away island I've become." Another tune laments, "My heart's made up, I can't go back." The fully packed house was generous with applause, at times even hooting their approval, especially when he showed his vocal range, indicating they were fully engaged.

One Less Guest

The second set featured One Less Guest, a trio comprised of stand up bass, guitar and violin. They sand original songs that were resonating with the audience, opening with a gently flowing tune about Washburn County, followed by "Where You Are" with lyrics that went something like this."I want to bottle up the sunshine... mail it to you and make you smile." The voices blended with a sweet flavor that worked well in this beautiful story in song.

Amping it up a notch they had a mature sense of how to bring energy to their songs then pull back a bit and show their vocal skills, blended harmonies seasoned by the sounds of their instrumental accompaniments.

At one point Lauren Cooper's violin brought to mind Charlie Daniels' "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" and edged toward Scarlet Rivera's violin work on Dylan's album Desire. On stage, Nick Glass and Nick Muska served as bookends, the bass player occasionally using the bow and at times a fanciful finger-plucking style. They were a tight group and clearly in control as they went through their setlist, culminating in a fast kicker sound with awesome violin action, and amazing bass and guitar picking.

(L to R) Joseph Anderson, Adam Johnson, Camille Marston, Owen
Mahon on drum and Jacob far right on guitar.

Jacob Mahon & the Salty Dogs then filled the stage, the room itself bristling with anticipation. The young Mahon from Longville, Minnesota (population 156, outside Walker) has captured a lot of attention since he moved here a couple years back. I don't know if the group he's assembled at this time is going to be a permanent fixture in the Duluth scene, but their performance showed staying power with John Coltrane on sax, Miles on trumpet, Mingus on bass and Jacob's brother Owen on drums. (You'll have to sub a few names for the real team, but they showed some seriously smashing flourishes, tightly choreographed and spot on sophistication. Joseph Anderson, sax, Adam Johnson from upstate NY, bass; Camille Marston of Luck WI, drums; and the Mahons)

I first became aware of the young performer when he won the Duluth Dylan Fest singer/songwriter contest at Clyde Iron Works in May 2017. His confident stage presence and original song made an impression on the judges. I was unaware that the tall, lean and lanky kid from Walker had won the 2016 singer/songwriter competition here at Beaners in 2016. (Wednesday evening 20 competitors will vie for that honor here during One Week Live.)

Jacob Mahon

Before the show I got a few minutes with the now 19-year-old where I inquired about how he got into music. "My dad showed me a Bon Jovi video," he said. He took up the guitar and applied himself to the craft. "A guy (he shared the name but I didn't catch it) taught me chord progressions," he said, following on that by getting lessons. He arrived in Duluth in the Fall of 2016, just in time to make a splash.

He recently released a CD which got a blistering review from the DNT's Tony Bennett, emulating Greil Marcus' famous put down of Dylan's Self Portrait. Of course the daily newspaper can't print what Marcus really said, so he only repeated the first three words a half dozen times. "What is this?" Interestingly, the review didn't phase Jacob Mahon since Bennett didn't really try to understand what the artist was doing.

I asked what he's doing as regards school or work and he said, "I'm making a living doing music." He's been busking down on the Lakewalk through the summer and that's gone well. "My life is music. At this point I'm somewhat unemployable."

As a songwriter Mahon has drawn inspiration from Tom Waits, the Grateful Dead, Joni Mitchell and even some 90's Hip Hop, as well as Dylan, "Obviously." His commitment has been to the music, writing two to three days a week when not busking.

Jacob Mahon wore a white shirt and necktie for the show, with baggy tan shorts. Once the group was efficiently assembled onstage they sized up the space, looked to Jacob the cue and then let go with an uncorked energetic burst that seemed a cross between Tom Waits and the Talking Heads, the lead singer Mahon looking comfortable being over-the-top. It was fun watching them perform because Camille on trumpet couldn't keep a straight face, smiling broadly and almost on the verge of laughing at Jacob's antics. After the first number Jacob stated, "That was in G major," which --for this evening at least -- became his schtick.

A second tune followed and then a riff that showed their skill as a team. The fourth tune was another power blam, and the group was hitting on all cylinder, pure uninhibited power, and really tight. This song ended with Jacob saying, deadpan, "That's my brother on drums." It's no understatement to suggest the drummer could have been playing with Hendrix at one time.

The group wasn't all about instrumentals. Their fifth cut involved four-part harmonies as uplifting as the Fab Four in their day, with sax player Joseph Anderson switching it to clarinet. Jacob Mahon's humorous take on everything is woven throughout the performance, spliced into the lyrics with no sutures showing as he sings, "I am what I am... if you can't see the nice in the spice, don't go with habaneros."

He's ready.

Bro' Joseph has the humor thing as well, remarking at the end of that song, "This crowd is McDonalds." A beat. "I'm loving it."

The set list was comprised entirely of songs written by Jacob Mahon, the second half of the show including "Guillotine", "The Way I Am" and "It Only Comes To You in the Dead of Night." The second to last song was another four-part harmony that you could swim in just before the explosive summing up "Dead of Night" that concluded the show with several flourishes that showed an exceptional level of professionalism.

Afterwards I spoke with the 22-year-old trumpet player Camille Marston who said she's been playing since 6th grade. The group she'd been playing with before meeting Jacob here at Beaners was called The Skunch Brothers.

The feeling I had by night's end was something akin to when I saw Sly & the Family Stone back in the early 70's. Energy and harmonies, and a rollicking good time.

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Tonight is Day 2 of One Week Live at Beaners. You can review the full schedule for this week's OWL events here.

Local Art Seen: Eris Vafias @ Beaners

I had a couple meetings at Beaners this week, one of my fave spots to meet for business (Thank you, Jason & Becca), just across the parking lot from Zenith Bookstore (Thank you, Bob).  

This front room toward the street this month features paintings by Eris Vafias. I've seen a few of these before but the whole series together made for a nice presentation that I enjoyed very much this week. The skies were blue and the extra sunlight (once the overcast skies diminished later in the week) made the paintings come alive.

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NOTE: WEATHER PERMITTING, Laura Velvet & the Bookhouse Boys will be performing tonight at Barker's Island in conjunction with the kickoff of the Dragonboat Festival this weekend. Details HERE

Art as a Story Telling Medium: Hermantown High Student Show @ Beaners

Mya Austin raced to complete this piece in time.

When we were in school in the Sixties we may have been lacking in real-world life experience, but we were not devoid of thinking about some of the profound conundrums of our time. The issues of race relations, materialism, war and teenage angst were all real enough in the books we read and the music we listened to. Though I don't recall a single incidence of mass shootings in our schools, being in the midst of the Cold War and having practiced air raid drills while growing up taught us that the world was not an entirely safe place, and the worst could wipe us out in a flash even while loitering between classes.

These thoughts came to mind while taking in the current Hermantown High student show at Beaners, with artwork designed to make people think. In March I visited the art class to get a sneak preview of the show, and promised to do a follow up. If you get a chance, drop in and grab some Beaners coffee, say hello to Jason and Becca, or whomever is serving, and slip into the front area where various monthly art exhibitions are displayed.

Some of the work here was shared on my March blog post, but when I slipped in for the opening reception I quickly noticed plenty that was new. The theme is The Illusion of Control, and every piece has a story. What follows are a few of these stories, visualized.

If it looks like a man with a Rorschach test for a head, that's because it is.

When a person is slightly off kilter, that is, mentally ill, it's evident to everyone.

There are many kinds of addictions that can trip us up. This piece (above)
depicts power, vanity, beauty, alcoholism and drug abuse. 

Amanda's painting of Hera is a snapshot of the goddess after she kills Zeus, her husband.

This scene from the Garden of Eden...

... is followed by this picture featuring a serpent wrapped about
an arm tattooed with the words "Me Too" in Hebrew.

For excellent examples of art being used to portray stories, I recommend checking out the weekly cover art from The New Yorker. Always timely, every picture tells a story.

In the meantime, if you're in the vicinity of Spirit Valley/West Duluth, stop in and check it out. There's more than meets the eye.

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. 

December Twin Ports Art Happenings

Here's my guarantee: If you can't find some original Christmas gift ideas by attending some of the events in this list, then I'll eat my drawing of a hat.

OK, so if you're from out of town and can't be there, I get that. Your second best plan will be to check out some of the local arts and craft events in your own home town. Creative people are everywhere to be found and I'm sure you will see something you haven't seen before, that will bring a smile to someone's face.

Here's a list of happenings for December, most of it courtesy Esther Piszczek.

The Red Herring Lounge
December 4, 6-9 p.m.; 208 E. 1st Street;
Group Opening: Ryan Lemahieu, watercolor/pen & ink, Chris Monahan, monoprints, Esther Piszczek, Zentangle (R) Inspired Art, Friday,  Art will hang Dec. 4-Jan. 5.
Listen to Where's Art with Annie Dugan, Duluth Art Institute Executive & Artistic Director, on KUMD, here!

Art Noel ~ A Merry Holiday Mixer
Friday 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Art on the Plaza
126 Belknap Street in Superior, in the Plaza

Lake Superior College Student Art Exhibition
Monday, December 7, 5-7 p.m.
Opening Reception Lake Superior College, 2101 Trinity Road, Exhibit Details: Monday, 12/7, 12-9 p.m.; Tuesday, 12/8, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.; Wednesday, 12/9, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

Over 100 works on display for 3 days only! Including ceramics (by Esther P and her talented fellow students), jewelry, metal arts, sculpture, design, drawing, painting, photography.

Pierce & Piszczek Fine Pianos
Friday, December 11, 6-8:30 p.m.
405 E. Superior Street Featuring Esther's Zentangle (R) Inspired Art and UMD Professor Ladona Tornabene's, Ph.D., nature photography amid many beautiful pianos.

More Art Receptions (organized by date)

Red Mug
Thursday, December 3, 5-7 p.m.
Chris Monroe, author, illustrator, cartoonist
916 Hammond Avenue, Superior

Beaner's Central

Thursday, December 3, 6-9 p.m.
Elliot Silberman, portrait artist
324 N. Central Avenue
At the opening Elliot plans to do a number of demonstrations. His approach to portrait drawing is both educational and fun to watch. The exhibition features a cross-section of the public as seen through his eyes, from New York, Florida, Arizona, and the Midwest.

Pizza Luce
Kristina Wheatman, Eclectic Collection Art Show
Opening, Thursday, December 3, 7-9 p.m.
Art will hang Dec. 3-Jan 5
11 East Superior Street

PROVE Collective
Plys With Purpose 
Closing reception, December 5, 6-10 p.m.
In-Person bidding ends 9 p.m.
21 North Lake Avenue

Zeitgeist
222 E. Superior Street
Café: paintings of the late Mark Arvilla, on display through January 2016.
Atrium: Amber Burns, Northern Force, Monday, December 7, 7-9 p.m.

Benchmark Tattoo
Apprentices Jeremy Souders & Kyle James, tattoo flash paintings, Counterculture, 1831 E. Eighth Street

Studio 15
Group show featuring holiday gifts from local artists including Todd Olson’s origami, Dawn Clemons’s fiber arts, Nina Holtz’s ceramics, Janet Billig’s paintings, and jewelry by artists Richard Rosvale and Joe Thoennes.
15 N. 3rd Avenue W.
New holiday hours: Mon-Wed: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thu. 1-5 p.m.; Fri-Sat: 1-4 p.m.

Art Fairs, Gingerbread, and Opera!

The Magic Flute
Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5, 7:30 p.m.
Weber Music Hall, UMD, 1151 University Drive; General Admission tickets: Adults $10, Seniors $8, UMD Faculty/Staff/Student $5, Student $5, UMD student $3
Alice Pierce, Director of Opera Studio, UMD

Get it Local Gift Fair
Saturday, December 5, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Peace Church, 1111 N. 11th Av. E, Duluth
For artisans and non-profit organizations within the municipal boundaries of Duluth and Superior only. Organized by Wendy Grethen, WendyUpNorth.com.

Duluth Fiber Handcrafters Guild Fiber Fair and Sale
10 a.m.-3 p.m., The Great Hall, Depot, 506 W. Michigan Street

Pepperkakebyen, Gingerbread City
Open Saturdays and Sundays, 1-5 p.m. November 21-December 13
Nordic Center, 21 Lake Avenue
If you've never seen this, it's a must see. Over 150 gingerbread houses. Donations appreciated.
Organized by Dr. Alison Aune, Art Education Professor at UMD. (Thank you to Annie Dugan for her wonderful Art podcast, which contributed to this update, see KUMD link above!)

Handel's Messiah
Two performances hosted by Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra

Cool Yule Holiday Show
Washington Galleries and Studios. December 12.
315 N Lake Ave, Duluth, Minnesota 55806

Classes
Zentangle (R) and Wine  (Apparently not a children's drawing class.)
Wednesday, December 9, 6-8:30 p.m. Master Framing Gallery, 1431 London Road, $35; $10 for supplies; lead by certified Zentangle (R) teacher Esther Piszczek.

Around the Corner (Courtesy E.P.)

Contemplative Meditation Meets Zentangle (R) Always wanted to meditate, but can't sit still? Or, are you a long-time meditator looking for a new approach to entering a quiet, centered space? Join us for a six-hour retreat where meditation melds with art. Various meditation techniques will help us enter a quiet, centered space to create beautiful, intricate line patterns 'one stroke at a time' using the Zentangle (R) method of pattern drawing. No previous drawing experience is necessary.

Saturday, January 30, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., McCabe Renewal Center, 2125 Abbotsford Avenue, Duluth Suggested Donation: $70 (included supplies to take home) Bringyour own lunch. Snacks and beverages will be provided. Facilitators: Episcopal Priest Cindy Peterson-Wlosinski and certified Zentangle teacher Esther Piszczek To Register: Call the McCabe Renewal Center, 218-724-5266 or email McCabeCenter@msn.com Artist Profile!

Woman Today, December Issue, Page 24, Pam Rouleau, Replicating Life in Miniature by Esther Piszczek

Meantime, art goes on all around you.  See you tonight.

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Note: Image at the top of the page is titled Blue Van Gogh by Ed Newman and is available as a limited edition reproduction. 

Twin Ports Happenings: Art, Poetry, The Beatles and More

“Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.” ― Leonardo da Vinci

One of the values that newspapers bring to a region is their documentation of history. If you've got a hankering for what happened back in time around here, the first place to dig would have been the public library. Today we can Google a lot of things, and sites like Zenith City Online bring us endless riches from our oft-forgotten past.

What's a little more difficult to unearth are the grass roots activities going on. I see so much happening in the local arts scene that is not being covered in the papers at all. And if at some point in time there be a major emergence that occurs, drawing national attention to the Midwest as an arts center, it might not be the newspapers that lead the way in documenting what happened. It may be The Playlist and blogs like Perfect Duluth Day or this one that people cull to see what happened.

Maybe. Or maybe it doesn't matter all that much whether the outside world notices. We've got something good going on, and here are few more glimmers from that treasure of local arts activities.

TONIGHT

Duluth Art Institute
Artists Ryuta Naka Jima & Aya Kawaguchi Gallery Talk
5:30 p.m.
Artistic Director Anne Dugan will lead the conversation, and the three will discuss artistic practice and inspiration.

Lizzard's

Painting by Wendy Rouse

An Evening with Wendy Rouse's Paintings
5:00 p.m.

Beaners
Spoken Word Open Mic
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Red Herring
Poetry Motel Thursday Night Slam
8:00 - 10:00 p.m.

SATURDAY

Benchmark Tattoo
Aqueous Volume Eight Release Party
6:00 p.m.

Teatro Zuccone
The Revolution 5 Presents: "The Beatles' #1 Hits"
7:00 p.m.

SUNDAY

Studio 15
Kids Art: Eruptive Art
2:00 p.m.

RT Quinlans
Benefit for Eric Swanson and his Family
2:00 p.m. till Midnight

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Because I don't cover the music scene here, you will want to make sure you follow the Reader and the Transistor. The Trib shines a spotlight in a few places each week as well, including this week's bluegrass festival in Canal Park. Also there's a car show at the DECC this weekend, Motorhead Madness. Cars can be works of art, too. At one time, automakers produced cars with real style, and many of those lost gems can be found this weekend in the DECC.

Meantime, life goes on all around you. Get into it.

Educating Yourself About New Artists and Some Local Activities for the Weekend

Yesterday I heard a radio spot promoting the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. In the ad they mentioned three or four artists and it dawned on me that I myself was familiar with the names because of my art school background, but that for the average Joe the names may mean nothing. If that's you, here's an easy way to become familiar with artists old and new. I use it from time to time and you can, too.

Let's get familiar with the works of Chuck Close.

1. Open a new tab in your browser.
2. Google "Chuck Close"
This will open to a page with links to websites about Chuck Close and Chuck Close related news. You also will see a bio of the artist a a few small images which are examples of his work.
3. At the top of the page you will see the word "Web" highlighted in red. To the right of this you will see other tabs greyed out. Click on the tab adjacent to the word Web that says "Images"
4. In a matter of seconds you can see what kind of work Chuck Close does. It doesn't give you the scale, per se, but you can go further if you like and discover how large the pieces are.

Next time you hear mention of an artist whose work you're unfamiliar with, do a quick Google search and learn something new.

* * *

Game Night @ Beaners
Meantime, there are a couple happenings tonight worth reminding you about. The first is a game night at Beaners Central where the public is invited to come and play Ellen Sandbeck's new game Bravissimo! Details about the Ellen and how the game came to be can be found here. The video footage shot tonight will be used in a Kickstarter campaign in January. I believe there will be half-price wine and beer to boot!

Winter Welcome Soiree & Patricia Canelake Art Opening @ Red Herring
Bob Monohan continue to bring new juice to the Twin Ports scene. Tonight his Red Herring Lounge is doing a re-mix of the cocktail offerings along with an art opening featuring paintings by Knife River artist Patricia Canelake.

Patricia Canelake loves putting paint on large canvases, though she also does plenty on a scale that fits in your home. Her down-home subject matter includes goats and barn animals, and is often thought-provoking and sometimes just plain fun. Here's a link to some examples of her work. Her show is titled "A Rosy View."

The Weekend at a Glance
For a short list of arts-related activities for the weekend ahead, skip back to the list I assembled earlier this week. It doesn't cite night life and music, but it has a pretty good snapshot of things to see and do. Missing here is the new show by the Superior Council For The Arts (SCFTA) in the North End Arts Gallery (two floors up from The Red Mug.) And if your event is missing and ought to me listed, feel free to add it here in the comments. We might as well get the word out.

Meantime, art goes on all around you. Enjoy it.

Throwback Thursday: Five Years Ago Today

Gangnam Style at Chalk Fest 2013

What follows is a blog entry from July 10, 2009, Tools of the Trade. Other events on his day include Howard Hughes' record flight around the world in  91 hours (1938), and the opening day of what became known as the Scopes Monkey Trial in Dayton, TN. (1925) A Bible Belt town, there are still no liquor stores in Dayton. If you go out to eat you can only order beer and but you can bring your own wine if you know where to get it. (Hint: Pick up your wine at Wal-Mart.)

On this day in 1999 the U.S. Women's Soccer Team won the World Cup. his coming Sunday it will be Germany vs. Argentina for the Men's World Cup final.

Before diving into it, here's a quick recap of art-themed events happening this weekend. For full details see Monday's blog post.

Tonight
Sue Rauschenfels opening at Beaners.
The Chef is playing at Zinema in the Zeitgeist Building
Friday
Brent Kustermann @ Washington Gallery
TYPES @ The Prove
Swedish Immigration Opening Reception @ Nordic Center
Pineapple Arts 4th Year Celebration
Friday-Saturday
3rd Annual Chalk Fest in Two Harbors

Tools of the Trade
Every trade has its tools, and the visual arts is no exception. For drawing I have used a variety of pens, though for more than a decade I favored the Rapid-o-graph with its even lines and uninterrupted ink flow. If I had more time I would do more with pencils, but they are currently not my strongest suit. Instead, I favor brushes. I simply love the process of applying paint, ink or pigment by means of brushes.

Some of my brushes have been with me since my Ohio University days in the early 7o's. A few have been used so passionately for so long that they are practically nubs.

To the uninitiated a brush is a brush is a brush. But the reality is that brushes vary in type and style because they have different functions. Each applies color or pigment in a different manner, and the brush makes a difference in the outcome. Not only are the styles, sizes and shapes different, but the bristles themselves are made of different materials, from synthetic to camel's hair.

Many brushes are designed for special effects, such as the fan brush or the liner brush. Certain brushes are useful for scrubbing the paint into the canvas and some for laying it on thick, such as the mop brush. (I suppose if you had a really large canvas you might enjoy trying to use a mop itself.)

Some artists are adept at painting with a palette knife, which lays down paints in a thick coat or scrapes off areas for alternative effects.

And occasionally, the fingertips make a good tool for applying color. I have used my fingertips in many paintings, sometimes to apply the pigment as a woman would apply mascara. And sometimes to spray the paint across the surface for special effects.

Speaking of spraying, I have even used a toothbrush for a few pieces. The stiff bristles make an excellent mechanism for spattering, and even for rubbing it in. I am referring to discarded toothbrushes, not the one I am about to brush my teeth with.

You probably didn't know, though you might have guessed, that the various parts of a brush each have names, from toe, bristles and belly to heel, ferrule (the metal part that holds everything together) and handle. The heel, the portion of the fibers underneath the ferrule) is not visible. Many of my brushes have had their toes worn off. And a couple have no belly left either. I still love what they can do.

For the record, I love my large paint brushes, too, from my days painting houses and apartments. Maybe some other time I can talk about those dear old friends as well. For the record there is one rule especially important whether working with art brushes or large paint brushes: clean them. You can't ignore this important need. Take the time it takes, don't shortcut this basic maintenance reality. It's like friendship. You just have to give it the time it needs or you will ruin a good thing. Then you'll have to start all over...

The two images here are ink on paper. I have fallen in love with the way ink works, whether for wet applications or dry brush techniques. And both of these are on the wall at my show this month at The Venue @ Mohaupt, at 2024 West Superior Street here in Duluth. Hope you can make it.

[EdNote: This Venue show, titled First Hand Experiences and which exhibited five years ago this month,  was my first in over thirty years, featured 130 piece.]

Twin Ports Art Scene for the Week Ahead: A Few July Happenings

Two Harbors Chalk Art Instructor

We're serving up a lot this week in the arts, not only things to see but things to participate in as well. Let's start with today.

Zentangle Pattern Drawing at Ordean Middle School
For the next four Mondays, July 7 - July 28, Esther Piszczek is teaching a class on Zentangle pattern drawing. If you've seen her work you know what we're talking about. See the example here on the right. Add a few new tricks to your next show. 4-6 p.m. 2900 E. 4th Street, Duluth

Anyone can create beautiful, intricate line patterns “one stroke at a time” using the zentangle method. New patterns will be taught each class as we create beautiful art on 3.5" x 3.5" paper tiles using pen and ink. No previous drawing experience necessary. Relaxation is a common side effect. There are 3 seats left in this class. Register online at www.duluthcommunityed.org Put "zentangle" in the search box (Class ID 7125) to find the July session.

Sue Rauschenfels Art Exhibit Opening Reception 

"Henry" by Rauschenfels

Beaners Central is a  great place for coffee before work, great soups and sandwiches throughout the day, a stellar music for the evening crowd. But Jason has also made it a great space for artists, and this month Sue Rauschenfels watercolors are on display. The opening reception is this Thursday, which will include music from the Blue Water Big Band. Reception is 5-7.

Third Annual Sidewalk Chalk Fest

Wallace & Grommet in chalk

Two Harbors is celebrating its annual chalk festival and everyone is invited. Friday there will be free chalking art clinics and deomonstrations in Thomas Owen Park at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., and then the serious chalk art adventure will commence Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

I think it would be cool to combine this with Grandma's Marathon though. You can't start your run until you've made some chalk art. What do you think? (Just kidding.)

North Shore Drive is beautiful this time of year. This might be a good excuse to take a drive. See what the locals and friends are up to. Sponsored by the Waterfront Gallery, the art making will continue on Sunday, again at 8:00 a.m.  Enjoy!

FRIDAY NIGHT ART CRAWL
This Friday there are openings at the PROVE and Washington Gallery downtown Duluth, and art to be seen at the new Red Herring Lounge. Brent Kustermann will be showing his work at the Washington Gallery. Kusterman considers it to be the duty of an artist to bring a unique perspective to the world, a process "never fully mastered." He uses a variety of mediums to create his work, sometimes even found objects that others might discard to the trash bin. You can some of his work at the Zeitgeist Atrium this week. There's also an interview with Kustermann in the upcoming Reader.

Finally, at the PROVE you will want to be sure to taste, see and hear the TYPES opening.

For the love of typography, hand painted signs, hand lettering, visual pleasures and what inspires us to write, create, draw and compose poetry. Prøve Collective's members Katelynn Monson and Flo Matamoros sat down to brainstorm a curated exhibit to showcase their love for poetry and typography at Prøve Gallery. They picked people in their lives that inspire them to create and are as obsessive, perfectionist, and detailed. Each individual artist has a unique style and method in which they craft the finalized pleasure for you, and mostly, for themselves. We'll see what concoctions they've come up with.

"you and me, in between us our pencils,
black metal, we can hear it, in the seam
white shoes, montana marker sewing
that pane of glass, bending twigs, letters
and between the reading of them,
cursive and wood. wood and cursive.
take a bite."

An exploration of typography and poetry at PrØve Gallery.

Featuring Visual Pleasures by: Cody Paulson, Andrea Campos, Kelsey Malsom, Alexis LeBlanc, Stephen Pepperoni, Flo Matamoros, Tyler Johnson, Elliot McAllister

Limited Pastries by Brandt

Featuring the words of Katelynn Monson, Josef Conaway, Esther Marcella and Paul Peterson performing poetry with The Glacier Academy. This event is sponsored by Positively 3rd Street Bakery

Local Art Seen: River Maria Urke, Esther Piszczek and the Superior Library Show

This month's featured artist at Beaners is River Maria Urke of Stillwater. In addition to her art River, a Duluth native, shared poetry and live music to make for a fully satisfying event.

I'd run into her here outside the popular coffeehouse earlier this winter thinking she was in town to visit her mom and family. Turns out she was doing double duty, stopping in to see Jason to make arrangements for the show.

River had several books of her poetry available for sale including the one I purchased titled Stumbled and Standing, subtitled From Diagnosis to Acceptance: A Woman's Journey with Multiple Sclerosis.

Her transparency, along with the manner in which she takes a simple image to a new dimension, impresses me. One of her poems shared Thursday was title Boxes of Blood. The title alone takes your imagination down a path. It turns out to be an insight about the little boxes you have to check on many forms indicating your race. The end of the poem reveals her playfulness in spirit while sinking home her point.

Her poem Final Diagnosis begins this way...

They said it was this
then they said it was that
but no, not that they said.

I was a mystery,
seven years long.
Too long for me.

That opening stanza says so much, reaches across to so many of us who have struggled with health issues in our families, desiring certainty but learning that doctors are only guessing as well.

The art at Beaners is displayed alongside some of her verses. If you grab a coffee or bite to eat there this month, take a few minutes to read between the lines.

Friday the Red Mug had its opening reception for artist Esther Piszczek. Her work has been appearing in a number of places locally since her relatively recent arrival in the Twin Ports.

Piszczek, a former attorney from the East Coast, is sharing her art in a variety of forms. In addition to simply framing wall art, she has created playing cards, T-Shirts, and even puzzles made with her Zentangle-inspired designs.

This week I learned that the space that formerly housed the Art in the Alley art store is being renovated as a bar to be called Tapas. The space will be opening sometime in late April or early May. I was able to get a sneak peak and another large mural by artist Erik Pearson fills one inside wall, transforming it into a very special space.

The Superior Public Library's 4th annual Love Your Local Artist event was once again vibrant and well-attended. Thank you to everyone involved in bringing local artists into the library where they can share their creativity with a wider public.

Pictured here in sequence: scarves by Daniell LaPort, a display by Andy Booker, Jr., two examples of needle art by Angela Haworth, jewelry by Kate Senn and another intriguing piece by Patricia Lenz.