Twin Ports Art Scene for the First Half of March

A Robert Rauschenberg wall design at the Allentown Art Museum

Well, golly it's sure been nice this week in the Twin Ports and the forecast looks brighter still. If you're looking for a nice way to enjoy a cheap date, there are plenty of art galleries in town as well as our staples, the Duluth Art Institute and the Tweed.

The visual arts has truly evolved to enable all forms of expression. Pigments and paints, feathers and fabrics, printmaking and stencils, cardboard and crayons--the creative spirit comes in all forms.

This is a partial summary of just a few of the places you can see and/or participate in events during the next two weeks. Special thanks to Esther Piszczek for her ongoing efforts to keep our community in the loop. You can fill the rest of your March schedule by visiting and bookmarking her Twin Ports Art blog.


Art in March

Marching toward Spring ... Welcome to March!

BUT FIRST, here's a quick peek at what Esther is doing and where she'll be this month:


Mondays, March 9-30, 6-8:30 p.m., Esther Piszczek, certified z e n t a n g l e (R) teacher
Zentangle (R) Pattern Drawing, Advanced, Ordean East Middle School, 2900 East 4th Street

Wednesday, March 11, 6:30-9:00 p.m.

Zentangle (R) & Wine with Esther Piszczek, CZT, Master Framing Gallery, 1431 London Road (RSVP required)

Friday, March 27, 5-8 p.m.
Downtown Duluth Arts Walk, Duluth Fine Pianos, 331 W. Superior Street (next to Starbucks!)
JAZZ@DFP, 6-8 p.m.: Ryan Frane, piano, & musicians to be decided

Details on all of these events, and more, below!

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All events, including Esther's classes, are listed in chronological order, click on colored text throughout to link to more information. Visit the Creative Education Opportunities page to find classes to explore and the Reoccurring Events page for events that happen routinely.

Tuesdays, March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 12:30-3 p.m.

Open Studio at the Duluth Depot, 506 W. Michigan Street

"The Duluth Art Institute offers a regular Tuesday open art-studio session at the Depot. People of all abilities practicing all artistic mediums are invited to bring their own supplies and join the weekly group. Cost: $5 plus a DAI membership (first session is free)."

MY APOLOGIES for not getting this posted before the first activities of the week. This info wilil usually appear first at Twin Ports Art. (So go there and book mark it.)

Thursday, March 5, 2-6 p.m.

Painting by Tonja Sell

Opening Reception: Jury Exhibition, University of Wisconsin-Superior, Kruk Gallery, Holden Fine and Applied Arts Center, 2144 Catlin Ave. and 19th St., Superior, WI
"The annual juried exhibition showcases work from across medium from UWS students. This exhibition highlights the depth of talent on campus and offers a space for surprising new voices in the visual arts. This year’s juror is UWS alumni and nationally recognized encaustic artist, Natalie Salminen Rude. Working professionally in the arts since 2004, she maintains a studio, teaches encaustic workshops both locally and internationally, exhibits and facilitates discussions on spirituality and what it means to live as an artist within the context of commitment. Gallery Hours:  Monday-Thursday, 2-6:00 p.m.; Awards Reception: March 25, 12 noon; On View: March 5-26

Thursdays, March 5 & 19, 4 p.m.
Winter Farmer's Market, Duluth Folk School, 1917 Superior Street
"Community Action Duluth’s Seeds of Success program is partnering with the Duluth Folk School to host the Lincoln Park Winter Farmer’s Market. Come down on the first and third Thursday of the month, from November through March!"

Thursday, March 5, 4-6 p.m.

Write On!, Duluth Public Library, Gold Room, 520 W. Superior Street

"Calling all young writers! Poems! Songs! Graphic novels! Short stories! WHATEVER your genre, “Write On” is the place for you to launch your next writing piece. “Write On’ is a series of 4 workshops expressly designed for young writers, ages 10-18. Each workshop is a pop-up, stand-alone event. You can attend one, or all four! Your choice! You do not need to bring any completed writing to attend, but the option to share and receive feedback will be provided. There will also be brain food (pizza!) while supplies last. “Write On” is free-of-charge, but registration is required. Event Type(s): Author/Literary Event; Age Group(s): Tweens, Teen"

Thursday, March 5, 5:45-7:45 p.m.
Career Planning for Artists: Funding Your Art Beyond Grant Writing, Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, 424 W. Superior St., Suite 104
"The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council hosts a career planning class for artists. The class focuses on defining values, identifying key choices and developing a plan to achieve career goals. The curriculum is designed for visual, performing and literary artists. Classes are free, but participants must sign up via Facebook or email Info@aracouncil.org."

Friday, March 6, 5-7 p.m.Opening Reception: Nordic Folk Instruments Exhibit, The Nordic Center, 23 N. Lake Avenue
"Welcome to an exhibit of Nordic Folk Instruments, some rare with ancient traditions as well as the well known national instruments such as the Nyckelharpa of Sweden, Hardanger Fiddle of Norway and Kantele of Finland. Others include langeleik (Nordic dulcimer), zither, sallow flute, Juhikko, pump organ and more.

Related Events (click link for details):
Sunday, March 15, 1 p.m., Presentation with Arna Rennan, host of Nordic Roots Music
Saturday, March 21, 2 p.m., Concert
Saturday, April 4, 2-4 p.m., Nordic Jam Session

Friday, March 6, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Akinomaage: Vern Northrup Artist Talk and Book Signing, Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center, 212 W. Second Street
"The American Indian Community Housing Organization hosts photographer Vern Northrup, a Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe tribal member. More than 60 of his photographs will be on view from March 6 through May 29, 2020. Northrup uses photography as a tool to educate both himself and the viewer about the rhythm of nature, the preservation of tradition and the relationship between resilience and sustainability. $10 suggested donation."

Friday, March 6, 7-10 p.m.

What the Feminist! Community Art Exhibition, Prøve Gallery, 21 N. Lake Avenue

"Featuring works by local and regional artists, as well as artists from across the nation, WTF! is an exhibition of thought-provoking works of art that advocate for social justice, community action and civic engagement."

Saturday, March 7, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

The Abominable Snowman: Crafts and Movie, Green Room, Duluth Public Library, 520 W. Superior Street

"Snowman-themed crafts start art 10:30 a.m. and the movie “Abominable” starts at 11:30 a.m. Age Group: All Ages

Movie Synopsis:
"After discovering a Yeti on the roof of her apartment building, teenage Yi and her two friends embark on an epic quest to reunite the magical creature with his family. But to do so, they must stay one step ahead of a wealthy financier and a determined zoologist who want to capture the beast for their own gain. Rated PG and runs for 1 hour and 37 minutes."

Saturday, March 7, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Paper Bag Princess Day, Zenith Bookstore, 318 N. Central Avenue
"Zenith Bookstore is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Robert Munsch's classic, The Paper Bag Princess. This fantastic picture book is about a princess named Elizabeth who goes head to head with a fierce dragon in order to save a rather snooty prince. Join us for a special story time and activities!"

Mondays, March 9-30, 6-8:30 p.m., Esther Piszczek, certified z e n t a n g l e (R) teacher

Zentangle (R) Pattern Drawing, Advanced, Ordean East Middle School, 2900 East 4th Street
In this class we will further explore the Zentangle method of pattern drawing. This class is open to anyone who has taken Zentangle Pattern Drawing with me in the past. Minimum: 5 students; Maximum: 10 students; Class Cost: $45; Supply Cost: $30; Register online HERE or contact Julie Gandt, Coordinator, at 218-336-8760 x 1 or email: Julie.Gandt@isd709.org

Wednesday, March 11, 6:30-9 p.m.

Zentangle (R) & Wine with Esther Piszczek, CZT, Master Framing Gallery, 1431 London Road

Come experience the fun and relaxation of drawing simple, repetitive line patterns with pen and ink and pencil shading. No previous drawing experience necessary. Class Cost: $35; Supplies: $10 (or use supplies provided without additional cost). RSVP to episzczek@gmail.com. Seats are limited. [NOTE: this class has filled]

You can read about one student's experience here: Local Art Seen: First Lesson in Zentangle with Esther Piszczek, by Ed Newman, Ennyman's Territory, August 18, 2019.

Thursday, March 12, 1-2 p.m.

Social Knitting Group, Mount Royal Library, Blue Room, 105 Mount Royal Shopping Circle

"This group is open to all who love to knit or crochet. All skill levels are welcome."

Thursday, March 12, 4:30-8:30 p.m.

Hot Glass Cold Beer Pop-up, Ursa Minor Brewing Company, 2415 W. Superior Street

"Lake Superior Art Glass teams up with Ursa Minor for a pop-up event featuring blown glassware made in their “hot shop.” Guests can buy a pint glass at the event and fill it with a free pint from Ursa Minor’s taps. Live music at the event is performed by Kevin Buck."

Thursday, March 12, 6-8 p.m.
The Great Fairlawn Puzzle Derby, Fairlawn Mansion, 906 E. 2nd Street, Superior, WI
"Teams of 3-4 people will battle to be the first to complete a 500-piece puzzle. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Open to all ages. Light refreshments will be served. $40 per team (8 teams max). For reservations or more information, call 715-394-5712."

Thursday, March 12, 7-9 p.m.

Fly Fishing Film Tour 2020, Clyde Iron Works, 2920 W. Michigan Street"

The 14th annual Fly Fishing Film Tour is features exclusive shorts in both fresh and saltwater that tell the stories of everything from fishing guide fairytales to serial steelhead semantics, canyon conservation in Colorado, mountain biking for marlin, jumping jaguars and jungle fish in whitewater rapids, and the audacious Aussies who explore the largest coastline in the world. Discounted tickets can be bought from Great Lakes Fly Shop or Superior Fly Angler. Regular-priced tickets can be bought online."

Thursday, March 12, 7-11 p.m.
Choice Unlimited's Rock & Roll Heaven Masquerade Ball, Greysolon Ballroom, "More then 400 donors, supporters and party goers can enjoy hors d’oeuvres, festive drinks, live music by Midwest Mayhem, dance performances, and a curated silent auction at Choice Unlimited’s annual masquerade ball. This is an adult event (18+). All funds raised will support the Artists Revealing Talents and Skills programming at Choice Unlimited, including Bold-choice Theatre Company.

"Ron Houk of Kool 101.7 will serve as master of ceremonies. Diamond M.C. Entertainment will provide DJ services. Alan Johnson Photography’s photo booth will be set up. Tickets: $30 in advance; $40 at the door."

Saturday, March 14, 8 a.m.-10 a.m.

Sip & Stitch*, Dovetail Cafe, Duluth Folk School, 1917 W. Superior Street

"Do you love fiber? Would you like to join a community with similar interests? Bring a project to work on – knit, crochet, embroidery, or whatever tickles your fiber fancy. A fiber ringleader will be on hand to answer questions and oooo and ahhh over your handiwork. Before settling in, grab a glass or a bite to satisfy your sipping and noshing needs and meet us in the back half of the main hall at the Dovetail Cafe. Let’s enjoy a cozy morning, sipping and stitching. *If you are brand new to stitching and looking for detailed instruction, keep an eye on the Duluth Folk School calendar for relevant upcoming introductory classes."

Saturday, March 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Niiwin Indigenous Foods Market, 102 E. 4th Street
"Purchase affordable goods from local and indigenous food producers. Fresh breads, manoomin (wild rice), syrup, canned veggies, hazelnut flour, a variety of teas, hominy, eggs and more."

Saturday, March 14, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Nice Girls of the North 2nd Saturday Marketplace, Lakeside Lester Park Community Center (the former Lakeside Library), 106 N. 54th Ave. East 

"Free coffee, cookies, and a friendly atmosphere await while you browse a collection of handcrafted clothing and bags, pottery, jewelry, stained glass, photography, personal care products, baby items and much more. One central checkout, most major credit cards accepted." Guest Artist: Cindy Hale from Clover Valley Vinegar

Saturday, March 14, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Paper Crafternoon, Gold Room, Duluth Public Library, 520 W. Superior Street
"Join us in the Gold Room for a Paper Crafternoon. We’ll be making fun and easy paper crafts. Great for all ages! Event Type(s): Arts & Crafts; Age Group(s): Preschool, Kids"

Saturday, March 14, 7 p.m.
Duluth Playhouse's Mardi Gras Bash!, Underground Theater, 506 W. Michigan Street
"Join us for a magnificent masquerade fundraiser and prepare to be whisked away as we parade from one engaging and immersive entertainment to the next at our second annual Mardi Gras Bash! Feel free to dress up, dress down, or come in costume. Tickets: $35 (includes beverages, good eats, amazing entertainment and fundraising fun like you've never experienced)

Saturday, March 14, 7-9 p.m.
Climate Emergency Poetry, Wussow's Concert Cafe, 324 N. Central Avenue
"18 poets, including past Duluth poets laureate, share poetry presenting life in the time of climate change. Folk reggae band Woodblind will provide music.

Featured Poets: Deanna Erickson; Julie Gard; Tina Marie Higgins Wussow; Shelley Sakry Getten; Ellie Schoenfeld; Sheila Packa; Brady Kamphenkle; Cal Benson; Yvonne Rutford: Liz Minett; Penny Perry; John Herold; Phil Fitzpatrick"

Tuesday, March 17, 5-7 p.m.
Artist Talk: Shaun Chosa: War Paint, John Steffl Gallery, Duluth Art Institute, 506 W. Michigan Street
"Pulling from popular culture, nature and his Ojibwe heritage, Shaun Chosa creates detailed pen and ink work that is evocative and at times whimsical. In War Paint, Chosa translates his ideas onto large canvas with acrylic, 'War Paint is a social commentary on popular culture and its intersection in Indian country. Some blatant, some coded in ways only those people growing up on the Red road would understand.'" 

Tuesday, March 17, 5-7 p.m.
Artist Talk: Andy Messerschmidt, Corridor Gallery, Duluth Art Institute, 506 W. Michigan Street

"Andy Messerschmidt’s work reflects popular culture’s consumption and hoarding of images. Individuals are massing collections of photos online, images representing a life we wish to be living, maintaining facades that can bring personal conflict and stress. His kaleidoscopic realms layer assorted objects with backdrops of wrapping paper, hand drawn mazes and elaborate patterns. Messerschmidt likens the gallery to a temple, reasoning that artwork is elevated simply by appearing in the space. His paintings therefore become the alter, “Shrines to ornamental multiphrenia.” On View: February 14- April 12

Tuesday, March 17, 5-7 p.m.

Artist Talk: Emerging Photographers, St. Louis County Depot Great Hall, 506 W. Michigan Street
"This year DAI hosts 10 University of Minnesota-Duluth photography students in the Saint Louis County Depot Great Hall. Selections made by Exhibitions Director Amy Varsek include digital prints and collages that represent passionate emerging voices. 'The artists in the 2020 Emerging Photographers exhibition are developing meaningful personal relationships with their subjects and therefore producing authentic, thought provoking work.' Students are led by Art + Design professor Gloria DeFilipps Brush whose own work merges literature and photography, embracing and encouraging differences in the observer’s perceptions." On View: March 9-29

Tuesday, March 17, 7-9 p.m.

Duluth-Superior Camera Club Meeting, UWS Yellow Jacket Union, 1605 Catlin Drive, Superior, WI

"The Duluth-Superior Camera Club offers opportunities to improve photographic skills and knowledge, a venue to challenge those skills, and a forum to share that experience with others who have a passion for photography. It also offers educational opportunities, photography meetups, and local and regional photo competitions. Yearly memberships are $30, prorated depending on membership month."

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DO YOU STILL NEED A COOL CALENDAR FOR 2020? 

Ryan Tischer's is sale-priced and the images are awesome.
(He will be releasing his newest images at the March 27 Art Walk.

Do you like B&W Fine Art photography?

Follow Tim White on Instagram @ timwhite_dlh

In fact, there are. LOT of local artists sharing their work on Instagram.

joseph_nease_gallery, margiehelstromstudio, artontheplanet_, tweedmuseum

and adamswansong are just a few who can give you a lift when you need it.

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

September Twin Ports Art Happenings (Part I)

New work by Terry Millikan is on display this month at Lizzards.

Last night I did a little touring of galleries and spaces where public art is on display in Downtown Duluth. The evening air was thick and muggy, holding in suspension wafts of fried foods, pizza and other aromatic delights as I passed various restaurants in the vicinity. A pair of thunderstorms cleared the dense air later but didn't interfere with the early evening walkabout.

This being the beginning of Pride Weekend in Duluth, there was an opening party at Red Herring, where Bill Shipley's paintings continue to hang for a few more days, and then a DuSu Pride Art Show opening reception at the Zeitgeist Atrium featuring eleven local artists. 

What follows are a few highlights for the first two weeks of September, most of them courtesy Esther Piszczek. The first here may be late notification for some of you, but you still have time and we have sunny skies, so you must might want to get down there. (All photos on this page are from last night's Art Walk and do not necessarily correspond to the events cited by each.)

Saturday, September 1, 1:30 p.m.

Shawna Gilmore is also featured at Lizzards.

Historic Arts & Theater District Walking Tour
Endion Station Public House, 200 Lake Place Drive
Duluth’s Historic Arts & Theater District is a nexus for performing, visual and culinary arts. Participants in this three-hour guided walking tour sip locally brewed coffee and learn the philosophy driving Duluth Coffee Company, delve into the stories behind Duluth’s dynamic art community while sampling cuisine at Zeitgeist Arts Café, sneak a peek at the newly restored NorShor Theatre, and explore the excitement buzzing around the local craft beer scene at Blacklist Artisan Ales. The tour starts at Endion Station in Canal Park and ends at Blacklist Brewing in Downtown Duluth. Cost: $30

Sunday, September 2, 6-7:30 p.m.
Closing Reception and Artist Talk: Jonathan Thunder: Suspension of Disbelief, The Duluth Art Institute, Corridor Gallery, The Depot, 506 Michigan Street
"The term suspension of disbelief has been defined as a willingness to suspend one’s critical faculties and believe something surreal. Thunder’s project will feature sound and what he calls ‘animated canvases’, a hybrid of hand painting and animation. The space will serve as an area for the artist to experiment with a variety of media and modes of installation in working towards a large-scale exhibition." On View: July 12-September 2.

Mondays, September 3, 10, 17, 24 p.m.

I saw some of Karen Nease's earlier work last night.

Tangling Mondays, Mount Royal Library, 105 Mount Royal Shopping Circle
This group meets in the the old Yarn Harbor space, which was taken over by the library awhile back (on the left when you walk in). It is open to anyone, but primarily focused on pattern drawing. Bring your supplies and something you want to finish or start. No instruction, no fee, no organization. It's wonderful to tangle together, if schedules align, and lovely to tangle alone. If you find yourself alone, no worries, another Monday is right around the corner. Enjoy!

Tuesdays, September 4, 11, 18, 25, 12:30-3 p.m.
Open Studio at the Duluth Depot, 506 W. Michigan Street
The Duluth Art Institute offers a regular Tuesday open art-studio session at the Depot. People of all abilities practicing all artistic mediums are invited to bring their own supplies and join the weekly group. Cost: $5 plus a DAI membership (first session is free).

Tuesdays, September 4, 11, 18, 25, 12:30-3 p.m.

Zeitgeist Atrium Pride Art Show

Open Studio at the Duluth Depot, 506 W. Michigan Street
The Duluth Art Institute offers a regular Tuesday open art-studio session at the Depot. People of all abilities practicing all artistic mediums are invited to bring their own supplies and join the weekly group. Cost: $5 plus a DAI membership (first session is free).

Thursday, September 6, 1-4 p.m.
First Thursdays Open Studio, Duluth Art Institute Lincoln Park Building, 2229 W. 2nd Street
"Bring your supplies and artistic spirit to the beautiful and inspiring historic Lincoln Building. Connect with other creative people, spending time experimenting with your medium of choice. Each session will include time to create and optional end-of-session group critiques." $5/session + DAI Membership, no registration required, just drop in.

Thursday, September 6, 5-8 p.m.
Duluth Shop 'n Sip, Mr. D's Bar & Grill, 5622 Grand Avenue
"Grab a beverage and indulge in some retail therapy. Over 20 crafters and vendors will provide a variety of products." 

Thursday, September 6, 6-9 p.m.
Art Opening: Mythropology: The Year of Painting, by Zoey Cohen Leege, Red Herring Lounge, 208 E. 1st Street
"Painter Zoey Cohen Leege shows works based on photos she took of Lake Superior throughout the year and inspired by her love of archeology, extinct creatures and forgotten places. Clancy Ward and friends will perform music." FB Event Page

Friday, September 7 , 8 p.m.
Greater Downtown Council's Movies in the Park: Despicable Me 3 (PG), Leif Erikson Park [Postponed from Friday, August 31 due to expected rain]
"Gru meets his long-lost charming, cheerful, and more successful twin brother Dru who wants to team up with him for one last criminal heist." (animated)
September 7-14, Plein Air Grand Marais, multiple locations in Grand Marais
September 14, Final Reception & Awards, Johnson Heritage Post Gallery, 115 W. Wisconsin Street, Grand Marais Plein Air Grand Marais will feature: •Competition •Quick-Paint •Mini-Workshops •Open Class Exhibit •Berton Boxes •Children's Painting Activities •Daily Paint-Outs •Panel Discussion •Hootenanny
A culminating exhibit of work by competition artists will be hung at the Johnson Heritage Post Gallery following the Plein Air Grand Marais from Sept. 14 to Oct. 7.

Another striking piece by Terry Millikan

Saturday, September 8, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Nice Girls of the North 2nd Saturday Marketplace, Lakeside Lester Park Community Center (the former Lakeside Library), 106 N. 54th Ave. East
"Free coffee, cookies, and a friendly atmosphere await while you browse a collection of handcrafted clothing and bags, pottery, jewelry, stained glass, photography, personal care products, baby items and much more. One central checkout, most major credit cards accepted."

Saturday, September 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 
Lake Superior Harvest Festival, Bayfront Park, 350 Harbor Drive
Lake Superior Sustainable Farming Association’s 25th Harvest Festival features one of the largest farmers markets in the region, live music, food, artisan wares, family activities and informational exhibits. The festival will continue rain or shine.

Sunday,September 9, 7-9 p.m.
Gag Me With A Spoon - A Community Storyshare
Teatro Zuccone, 222 East Superior Street
Adeline Wright hosts this evening of storytelling and open mic journal sharing in the style of the Moth and Mortified podcasts. There will be featured storytellers and a musical guest. Member of the audience are also welcome to sign-up on the night for an 8 minute open mic journal-sharing segment. Suggested Donation: $5 at the door. FB Page; Perfect Duluth Day Event Listing

Wednesday, September 12, 6:30-9:00 p.m.
Zentangle (R) & Wine, Master Framing Gallery, 1431 London Road
Come experience the fun and relaxation of drawing simple, repetitive line patterns with pen and ink and pencil shading. No previous drawing experience necessary. Class Cost: $35; Supplies: $10 (or use supplies provided without additional cost). RSVP to episzczek@gmail.com. Seats are limited.

Thursday, September 13, 6-9 p.m.
Opening Reception and Artist Talk, Amanda Breitbach: Land/People, George Morrison Gallery, Duluth Art Institute, The Depot, 506 Michigan Street
"Amanda Breitbach's Land/People investigates the decline of family farming and the emotional and spiritual issues that underlie the human relationship to land, making larger, universal relationships visible through Breitbach’s, and her family’s, own experiences. The three year project combines panoramic and aerial images of her family’s farmland in eastern Montana with intimate photographs of family members and domestic spaces. Viewers are invited to look both into and out of frames that emphasize the relationships between the spaces inside and those outside and to move between those spaces." On View: September 13 - October 28, 2018.

Carla Hamilton at the PROVE

Thursday, September 13, 6 - 9 p.m.
Opening Reception and Artist Talk: Aaron Squadroni: Mesabi Land Portraits, John Steffl Gallery, Duluth Art Institute, The Depot, 506 Michigan Street "Aaron Squadroni is an artist from the Mesabi Iron Range in northern Minnesota. His work is centered on mining imagery and metalpoint drawing techniques. Squadroni’s most recent work focuses on the Hull Rust mine, located in Hibbing, Minnesota, which is one of the largest open-pit mines in the world.

"He draws with metal and found mine materials such as overburden rock, tailings, and taconite pellets from or near the mine site. Due to the unpredictability of drawing with these materials, Squadroni approaches his drawings as a collection of experiments. Each aerial image is named according to the latitude and longitude of the location that it is taken from. Focusing on the themes of nature, industry, and memory, he creates drawings that explore the visible and unseen tensions in the mining landscape." On View: September 13 - October 28, 2018.

Thursday, September 13-Saturday

Aerial Sunrise by Eric Horn. Zeitgeist Atrium

Earth Rider Fest: One Year Anniversary Party with ART on TAP vendors!, Earth Rider Brewery, 1617 N. 3rd Street, Superior, WI
Featuring: Earth Rider Fest Bier, Live Music, Art On Tap Vendors, Kids Craft Tent, Food Trucks, Games Buy your 3-day pass now and receive a pint of Earth Rider Fest Bier at the event! Tickets are available at the Cedar Lounge taproom or Eventbrite. Kids are free with their adults. Attendees must be 21+ after 8 p.m. Sorry, dogs are not allowed at Earth Rider Fest. Tickets: Thursday & Friday: $5; Saturday: $7

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We'll share more in the week ahead.
Meantime, art goes on all around you. Engage it.... 

Local Art Seen: Terry Millikan's "Meditations" @ Lizzards

Saturday afternoon Lizzards Art Galler & Framing hosted a reception for a exhibition featuring a new series of Mandalas by Terry Millikan. The images have been produced using a variety of media. What's fascinating is how several of the images appear almost three-dimensional as if embroidered.

The word mandala is a sanskrit word that means, literally, "circle." In Hinduism and Buddhism it is a symbol of the universe.

For Millikan there is a Southwestern influence woven into many of the the patterns reproduced here. Each has its own design.

The pieces vary in size as well as design.

Terry Millikan, right, shares how the pieces came about.

Looks like a circle of beads or peas on this one. It's just a drawing.

Millikan's Meditations series became an opportunity to explore ideas 

she's been thinking about for a long time. It's just one more reason to

stop in at Lizzards this holiday season.

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BONUS TRACKS

Adam Swanson had set up an easel inside Perry Framing yesterday. If you were

downtown doing some Small Business Saturday shopping, you could have 

stepped in off the street and visited with the popular local painter while he worked.

TONIGHT

If you don't have other plans, Beaners Central and Zenith Bookstore are hosting a special event celebrating the publication of The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen. Authors Chef Sean Sherman and Beth Dooley will be on hand for readings, signings and sample recipes, with books available for purchase. Author talks begin at 6 p.m. at Beaner's Central Coffeehouse. Samples of cedar-maple tea will be served throughout.The book, published in October, has been receiving stellar reviews. Some have called it life changing.  

Excerpt from Amazon.com: Here is real food—our indigenous American fruits and vegetables, the wild and foraged ingredients, game and fish. Locally sourced, seasonal, “clean” ingredients and nose-to-tail cooking are nothing new to Sean Sherman, the Oglala Lakota chef and founder of The Sioux Chef. In his breakout book, The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen, Sherman shares his approach to creating boldly seasoned foods that are vibrant, healthful, at once elegant and easy.

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

Spotlight on Painter Wendy Rouse

Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

You don’t have to be an artist to appreciate art. So if you’re ever looking for a form of cheap entertainment that will reward you for as long as you live, I recommend strolling through some of the local art galleries from time to time. There are a number of places in Canal Park and Downtown that are easily accessible. See what's new. See what strikes your fancy.

I first noticed Wendy Rouse’s work at Lizzard’s Gallery and Framing on Superior Street, one of the galleries I frequent, perhaps in part due to its convenience and also its wide range of artists represened. Whenever I see things I like, I ask, “Who did that?” Rouse’s paintings are not only beautifully executed, they sparkle with imagination. Her recent show "Layered Transparencies" with Kate Whittaker at the Duluth Art Institute has undoubtedly brought her new fans.

EN: What can you tell us about your formal training?
WR: I graduated from UMD in 1982 with a Bachelors of Fine Art. My education there was great for developing my individuality and creative thinking but woefully short on any practical academic training. After UMD I worked as a watercolor artist, owned and operated a restaurant and had a family (a wonderful life). 20 years later I went back to school for the academic training I always wished I had. The whole family and I moved to New York City where I earned my MFA in painting from the New York Academy of Art. Which is where I learned to paint and draw in the realistic way I work now.

EN: Where do you live and where is your studio? 
WR: My current home is 15 miles north of Duluth, out in the woods, close to Fish Lake. My studio is in Duluth on the East Hillside, a little upstairs apartment. One room is for drawing and watercolor and the other for oil painting. It is important for me to separate home from work/art. When I try to have my studio at home the art takes over, I love to paint and once I start it is really hard for me to stop.

EN: How did you become interested in art? 

WR: In high school I had an excellent art teacher, Mel Kumsha. He introduced me to watercolor painting and I never looked back. It was perfect timing since I was headed in some wrong directions during my teen years. Art gave me something healthy to do with my energy. Art is a powerful positive force for the world. If people were encouraged to explore their artistic side, I am convinced there would far fewer problems.

EN: Where does you inspiration come from for the images you create? 
WR: The things and ideas I paint are very autobiographical. The boreal forest, my daughter, toys, private jokes, objects with personal connections and my love and reverence for the natural world are all things I paint with great detail as a way to understand them and my connection to them. For several years now I have been assembling still lifes on a mirror so I have the added subject of reflections. Reflections represent the still water of inland lakes. So you could say I am inspired by the things around me that are important to me.

EN: Any special favorite paintings and why? 
WR: The paintings that feel resolved are my favorites, when I have a clear idea of what the story should be and how to paint it. My favorite painting right now is one I have at home, it shows my husband , daughter and our dog in our New York apartment and they are all patiently waiting for me to finish painting. It was the first time I painted a fairly large interior with multiple figures so it was a technical accomplishment, but more importantly somehow captures my feeling about a specific time and place. Usually my favorite is the one I am about to start, when the possibilities seem endless

EN: Tell us about your influences. 
WR: The painters of the renaissance have been a big influence for me. Especially the northern painters who painted still life. The instructors at the New York Academy of Art were also a big influence, encouraging and pushing me to find my own unique approach to painting and to paint about the really big things in life, family, love and death.

EN: Currently working on…? 
WR: Currently I am consumed with relocating to San Francisco. My husband and I have purchased a small cafe there and I am excited to be taking on another project with him. After we are settled there I am sure I will start painting again perhaps with more of an emphasis on the human figure. I find my art training has served me well in life, giving me an ability to find creative solutions to problems.

EN: Where can people see your work? 
WR: I plan to continue showing paintings at Lizzards in Duluth. I also have paintings at Stricoff Fine Art in NYC. Right now, interested people can see a lot of my paintings at mnartists.org which is a wonderful website for Minnesota artists. Unfortunately I will have to discontinue that when I move to California this summer. I also plan to show my paintings at our new cafe Farm:Table at 754 Post Street in San Francisco.

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This interview originally appeared this past month in The Reader.

A Dozen Things off the Top of My Head

Glassware by Robinson Scott

1. Which one does not belong in this list of Mother Earth News cover stories?
a. Care and Cultivation of Permanent Garden Beds
b. Double-Duty DIY Solar Solution
c. Incredibly Easy Homemade Pizza
d. Learn to Be Self-Sufficient (Advice from Leading Experts)
Answer: These are all cover features in the 2012 Feb/March 2012 edition. Yummm. Pizza.

2. Just saw Being Julia this past weekend. I really enjoy watching Jeremy Irons. He is so very, very good in whatever he does. The film itself was much more interesting than I expected. Kudos all around.

3. There will be an autumn Twin Port Gallery Progressive in October, the 11th and 12th. Mark your calendars.

4. On September 8, Lee "Colorblind" Johnson and I will be performing jugband music at the Carlton Chicken Swap. Anyone know anyone who might be available to join us and play washtub bass?

Patricia Canelake

5. The Robinson Scott / Patricia Canelake opening at Lizzard's was well attended last night. Nice event, interesting works. Scott, who resides in Anoka, does glass work that is very much worth seeing. Canelake titled her portion of the show "Unleashed." Her large, loose paintings of farm animals and other topics swim in color. I especially liked her mixed media work. Lizzard's gallery is a half block west of Pizza Luce and the Tech Village on Superior Street.

6. We often think we have to move faster and sleep less to accomplish more. Jesus walked everywhere, never took a subway, did not have a smartphone, never wrote a book and yet continues to influence the world nearly two thousand years later. His career, once his life work really got started, lasted less than four years.

7. Currently watching a documentary on Woody Allen. My first date in college was to ask a girl whom I'd met in orientation to go to Woody Allen's Take the Money and Run. I laughed so hard my cheeks hurt. She did not laugh the whole time. I knew then that we had a problem.   

8. There is a call for submissions by the PROVE Gallery for their September show. The theme is whimsy. That is, they are looking for art that is whimsical in nature or created with that kind of light-heartedness. You can find details on Facebook.

9. A cat in the window is worth 100 points, right?

10. Why are people so fascinated with UFOs?

11. I'm currently working on a poster comprised of images of my art assembled to form a bust of Dylan. Would you pay $5 for something like that? Would you pay $10 if half went to flood victim relief?

12. “There’s no black and white, left and right to me anymore. There’s only up and down, and down is very close to the ground. And I’m trying to go up, without thinking of anything trivial such as politics.” ~Bob Dylan

Have a great day, friends.