Local Art Seen: Second Friday Art Crawl Here In Duluth

Friday evening featured several art openings here in Duluth. The sky clear and the heat turned high it was a perfect evening for a leisurely exploration of various happenings here.

William Hurst of Blue Lapis Photography is the featured artist this month at The Red Herring Lounge. The first fifty people to show up were each given a free ticket for a taco from the food truck, an innovation I had not seen before. He had hoped to display his photos on stretched canvas but I myself don't the that form of presentation to be as thrilling as the intensity offered by anodized aluminum. Hurst's photos are saturated with color or vivid contrasts and nearly jump from the surface. A number of photographers were there along with the amiable Hurst. If you missed the opening, stop in sometime to take ten.

From here I jumped over to the Gimaajii Mino-Bimaadiziyaan to see the Three Women~Three Artists~Three Friends Art Opening with Joy Kops, Rachel Eryn Weizenegger, and Wendy Savage. The exhibition generated a lot of energy, which you could feel in the building as soon as you arrived. The best way to feel what this event was like would be to check out Ivy Vainio's photos which she posted on Facebook. The attendees at this show were a virtual who's who of the local arts watchers and Native artists.

I was not familiar with two of the artists, and left feeling I ought to know more. Joy Kop's work with perler beads lined walls in a third of the room. Her "Tree of Life" was an intriguing addition to the exhibit. I found Rachel Weizenegger's paintings and charcoal drawings to be engaging. She primarily presented small detailed images drawn from nature. I left wanting to see more.

"Nano'se?hame" by Rachel Weizneggar

Esthe's Tangled Piano, detail

Next stop: Pierce & Piszczek's piano shop featuring Esther Piszczek's Zentangle-inspired work and an exhibit of new artwork by Ladonna Tornabene, Ph.D. and Margie Helstrom. I felt a necessity to check out the Tangled Piano Esther has been working on. Schubert and Chopin accompanied a relaxing visit on this busy evening.

My last stop before heading home to do painting in my own studio was Benchmark Tattoo where Michael Wiltse's Tarot de Marseille is the featured exhibition this month. I'd heard interesting things but didn't know what I'd find. Wiltse's long-time interest in tarot hasn't just been for the mystical element, but also for the artwork involved. His view is that modern tarot decks have become generic and lost the art which once were so vivid.

During the 15th century tarot cars were generally hand-painted for royal families in France and Italy. Only later were they mass produced due to advances in printing technology. This deck, however, was a labor of devotion and a long time in the making. It includes some rare cards with controversial stories. Benchmark is across the intersection from At Sarah's Table, so you may wish to combine a dinner or appetizer with the visit.

Here are a few additional images from the evening:

At the Piano Shop

"Tree of Life" by Joy Kop

The Food Truck

Don't forget, this is Day 2 of the 4th Bayfront in the Park Art Fair. Someone asked me what the difference is between the Park Point Art Fair and Bayfront. Park Point has a 44 year history and features 120 artists plus music there's a wonderful family feel. Art in Bayfront Park is a juried show, and artists who display must "pass the bar" so to speak. Ken Bloom, director and curator of the Tweed Museum of Art, served as head judge this year, along with a team that included Rod Oman, wood carver James Vannet, Duluth artist Kelly Beaster, art historian Nadia Kurd, Sheila Staubus of the DAI and AJ Atwater. (EdNote: Not to be missed -- Kuth/Atwater Affordable Abstract Art Show this coming Friday in Lakeside. Sneak peak here.)

Meantime, art goes on all around you. Let your soul be nourished by it.

Friday Night's Art Crawl and Other Twin Ports Happenings This Week

“The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious - the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science.” ~ Albert Einstein

A Twin Ports tradition is taking place... The Friday Night Art Crawl. Now in its fourth year, here are some of the openings and events I'm aware of, plus a view additional items of note. I begin with the latter.

Cleave Land, the Documentary

Having been born into Cleveland's "Little Italy" district, I am looking forward to tonight's Zinema showing of a new documentary by filmmaker William Payne. The film "explores the impact of sub-prime mortgage foreclosures, extreme poverty and rampant drug violence in the ghettos of Cleveland, Ohio. The movie speaks through the voices of the community members trying to make a difference, the politicians struggling to fix the problems, and the police officers that confront the harsh reality in the streets of Cleveland every day."

The Zinema will screen this new documentary as part of their Explorer's Club series tonight at 7:30 pm.

Following the film, there will be a panel discussion moderated by Karen Sunderman of the Playlist. On the panel will be Police Chief Gordon Ramsay, Citizen Review Board Member Renee Van Nett, Xavier Bell of Community Action Duluth and filmmaker William Payne.


Second Friday Art Crawl

Love Your Local Artist
This is the fifth annual Love Your Local Artist event at the Superior Public Library. Not often that you get to sip wine and rub shoulders with artists of all stripes... and some polka dots. Opens at 5:30 and runs till 8:00 p.m. A great way to start your evening, or end it.

Bravissimo Kickstarter Party
This event isn't really part of the art crawl per se, but it's Friday, and you may wish to lock it on your calendar as an alternative. Ellen Sandbeck's FB invitation reads, "Come help us celebrate the Kickoff of the BRAVISSIMO Music Game Kickstarter campaign! Eat, drink, be merry, play the game, watch the hilarious Kickstarter video!"
Event is 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. at 2532 East Fourth Street, Duluth.

Another creative music-themed event is the Artists' Reception at Pierce & Piszczek Fine Pianos from 6-8:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. Music by Aleks Tengesdal (Cello) and Angela Tengesdal (Piano).
This is a joint artists' reception featuring the lovely nature photography of UMD Professor Ladona Tornabene, Ph.D., and Esther Piszczek's Zentangle (R) inspired art. Last month she showed me a piano she was going to tangle. Friday evening we can check on her progress.

Beyond Light - New Photography by Ryan Tischer

Tischer is a distinctive Duluth landscape photographer who will be  exhibiting new photography at Washington Gallery from 6:00-9:00 p.m. The exhibit will also be open Saturdays & Sundays 1:00-5:00pm through March 1st.

PROVE Gallery
I'm not really sure what's on the docket for this Friday at the Prove. Will have to wait and see. Usually there's something from 7 till 11. Might be that Kathleen Roberts of the collective will be around the corner at the Pineapple Arts Poetry Event that she is co-hosting with Faith King. "Bandage up your hearts, put the whiskey in a flask, and come on down! Or just read something happy…"

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Artists & Their Art
The North End Arts Gallery is holding the opening for their first SCFTA exhibit of 2015 on February 12, from 5-7 p.m. The gallery is on the 2nd Floor of what is coming to be nown as The Red Mug Building. It's upstairs from the new Spirit Room, and will be worth checking out.

Studio 15
Lydia Walker has been very active making Studio 15 into a fun place to be creative. Studio 15 has been hosting a number of classes for kids and adults, with this coming Sunday being a chance for kids to have Fun with Erupting Paint. Lydia announces her events on the Twin Ports Arts Align pages at Facebook if you want to follow along for future events. Pre-registration is required in order to have a suitable supply of materials.

Have fun.