Local Art Seen: Lake Superior Art Festival @ Brighton Beach

What a beautiful day for the artists who shared their work on Brighton Beach yesterday, and for those who came to soak it in. You couldn't have asked for any better. The oceanside setting, I mean our Great Lake which one experiences on a scale comparable to an ocean front, produced a balm-like backdrop for the artists' temporary tent city just above the rocky shore. The lake seemed especially calm, in contrast to its turbulent demeanor a few days earlier.

The sponsors of yesterday's art festival included Republic Bank, Lizzards Art Gallery & Framing, and Paper Hog. Thank you.

44 regional artists participated, from Grand Marais to the Twin Cities, though most hailed from Duluth. Photography, watercolors, stained glass, jewelry, pottery, woodwork, fiber arts and painting were all represented.  What follows are some of my favorite images from a tour of the show.

A small painting from the Art Zoo, by Claudia Faith.

Steer me to the art section, please.

Aaron Kloss has opened a gallery in Lakeside where more of his paintings
can be found. 

I learned that Ryan Tischer will be opening a downtown gallery soon.

Sandra Haff is Steppin' Out with her mixed media assemblages with found objects.

The animalia cutouts were fun. 

Stoneware Pottery by Aaron and Jena Levandowski

One thing that has changed since the first years of the Park Point Art Fair is the advent of the Internet. Nowadays many artists and craftspersons have websites, a social media presence and an Etsy storefront from which they can do business year round. The art fairs provide them an opportunity to instant feedback on new directions and ideas they introduce. 

This particular event appears to have been a bi-product of Lake Superior Artrepreneurs. Perhaps as they grow they will have a website that links to all the individual artists' websites and Etsy stores.  

Next week is the Bayfront Park Art Fair down by the bay. If nothing else, you should go for the food trucks. Let's hope for nice weather. It's another beautiful setting for an art walk. 

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Meantime, art goes on all around you. Are you a collector? Next time, bring something home with you. :-)

Local Art Scene: August Forecast Is Looking Good

Check out the progress at Pierce & Piszczek Pianos

Here in the Twin Ports the August Art Forecast is for another round of impressive exhibitions, openings and happenings. Bookmark this post and refer to it often. There's much to see and do.

Art Festivals
Second Annual Lake Superior Art Festival @ Brighton Beach
Saturday, August 1, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Brighton Beach, Lakeside

Art in Me
Sunday, August 9, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Lester Park "Art in Me is a day of fun, free art exploration with quality make-and-take art projects for all ages." Admission is Free

Bayfront Park Art Fair 
Saturday, August 15, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Bayfront Park Sunday August 16, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. "Bayfront Park Art Fair is a free, two-day fine art festival showcasing over 180 gallery quality artists and entertainers from all across the United States." Admission is free.

Art Openings and Receptions 
Red Mug, Chelsey Miller
Tuesday, August 4, 5-7 p.m., 916 Hammond Avenue, Superior

Solo Exhibitition, "Illusion" by Esther Piszczek
Thursday, August 6, 7-9 p.m.
Pizza Luce, 11 E. Superior Street, August 6-31

Beaner's Central, Choice Unlimited Artist Reception
Thursday, August 6, 6-8 p.m., 324 N. Central Avenue

Studio 15, Nicole Richardson & Mauro All
Friday, August 7, 7 p.m., 15 3rd Avenue W.

Zentangle (R) and Wine
Wednesday, August 12, 6-8:30 p.m.
Master Framing Gallery, 1431 London Road, RSVP required

Pierce & Piszczek Fine Pianos
Friday, August 14, 6-8:30 p.m. 405 E. Superior Street
New art exhibit this month AND be sure to check out Esther Piszczek's ongoing "tangled" piano project.  (Recommended.)

Red Herring, Bill Hearst 
Friday, August 14, 6 p.m., 208 E. 1st Street

Prove Gallery
Friday, August 14, 7-11 p.m., 21 N. Lake Avenue
"HOLD TIGHT is a collaborative ceramic art show by Minneapolis potters, Emily Mohrbacher and Yessica Buenrostro. The exhibition combines handmade ceramic wares with local produce, feminist theory and a smack of humor."

Kuth & Atwater

Duluth abstract painter Elizabeth Kuth and Manhattan/Minnesota artist AJ Atwater will hold a one-time affordable show of over 300 original oils, acrylics, drawings and multimedia works on paper and stretched canvas, opening Friday, August 21, in Duluth’s Lakeside neighborhood. This show features work by two of my favorite abstract artists. One of the coolest things about this show is that each has her own style and approach while producing compelling work. Mark your calendars. More details coming soon.

August Art Exhibits
Amity Coffee, Painter Aaron Kloss... a show worth seeing.
4429 E. Superior Street

Benchmark Tattoo, Michael Wiltse
1831 E. 8th Street
Should be interesting. Full Tarot card deck painted on hand-scraped parchment.

Zeitgeist Arts Café and Atrium, always a quality show no matter the artist.
222 E. Superior Street

August Events

The Duluth Art Institute is hosting two special talks this month, bringing more insight and appreciation for the eight Minnesota comic artists featured in this summer's exhibit in the Morrison Gallery.

Kate Vo Thi on Fin Fang Foom, Marvel’s 1960’s mega monster.
August 4, 5:30 p.m.

David Beard and Tim Broman – Duluth comic arts: a short history.
August 21, 12 noon


Special thanks to Esther Piszczek for assembling much of the information that appears on these monthly forecasts. If you've seen her Zentangle designs and would like to learn how to do it yourself, sign up for her September classses on Zentangle (R) Pattern Drawing: An Introduction. Classes on Mondays, Sept 21-October 12, 5:30-8 p.m., Ordean East Middle School, register online in early September through Duluth Community Education

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