Local Art Seen: Adam Swanson @ the Magnolia Cafe

Detail from lower corner of the Owl below.

This week's Magnolia Salon took pace not at Oldenburg House, where they usually gather, but rather at its namesake, the Magnolia Cafe just off the main intersection in Carlton. The reason for the switcheroo was to host an Opening Reception for an exhibition of paintings by Adam Swanson.

The place was packed with friends of the arts. Room at Table Catering added their upscale appetizers to the down-home goodness of the Cafe. Guitarist Spencer Walton provided a musical accompaniment and Pippi Ardennia added some brightness.

The 6 to 8 reception followed on the heels of a 4 to 6 reception for Kris Nelson that took place at the Pine Knot offices, a two-stop art crawl. The packed Cafe was full of energy. Midway through the festivities things quieted down for Adam Swanson's "artist talk" in which he gave an overview of his career for those unfamiliar with his background or how he came to this neck of the woods.

Nearly right off he noted that he is not related to the Oldenburg House Swansons, though it is very possible back in time they may share mutual bloodlines.

At one time Adam lived and worked in Antarctica, hence the occasional appearance of penguins in his paintings. His transition to the Northland was not as challenging as it might be for someone who only lived in the tropics previously.

When he came to Duluth they lived in town initially. He initially did as much painting as he was able but supplemented the family income with a bartender job. This enabled him to cut back hours slowly as his commission work grew, which it did. Eventually he as able to obtain enough work to move out of Duluth and begin painting full time.

Today he paints every day from 8 to 5 with 60% of what he paints as commission work. Swanson said he was grateful that he's never had to do work he doesn't like "just to make the money."

Swanson paints on Masonite panels, a versatile tempered hardboard with a smooth surface. He gessoes and primes the surfaces before painting. As for subject matter, he likes painting humans interacting with nature, and as is readily apparent, he loves color.

Swanson is currently working on four murals which we be unveiled this summer in a few locations. In the meantime, if you're in the Carlton area, be sure to drop in for coffee and other treats at the Cafe and check out the rest of Adam Swanson's paintings on display at this time.

White Owl or Snowy Owl? 

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

Building Community: The Magnolia Salon at Oldenburg House

There's something new happening at the Oldenburg House in Carlton. It's a weekly gathering called Magnolia Salon. Magnolia Salon is an informal group of questioning individuals who come together weekly for the purpose of creating ‘inter-cultural understanding’ through discussions of ideas such as creativity, peace, freedom, justice, respect, sustainability and community development. Magnolia Salon is initially organized by Oldenburg House, Oldenburg Arts and Cultural Community (OACC), and Magnolia Café. The first season of The Salon will be held on Thursday evenings from 6-9 p.m. in the Carlton Room at Oldenburg House beginning February 1 (This Thursday) and continuing through May 31, 2018.

It's exciting to see such an intentional effort to organically build an extended sense of community, a place where people can gather to talk about things, to experience camaraderie, and the stimulating exchange of ideas, enhanced by beverages and food provided by Magnolia Café.

OACC staff and partners will organize the ‘menu of ideas.’ Oldenburg House staff will set-up the Carlton Room for each salon, provide the service staff, and secure wine and beer through its liquor catering partner. Magnolia Café staff will provide a menu of light supper offerings, coffee and tea.

FOOD AND DRINK MENU: Soup, sandwiches, cookies, scones, coffee, tea, juice, smoothies, wine, beer, soda will be available in the Kitchen. A weekly menu will be prepared and used in promoting the Salon.

SET-UP: The Carlton Room at Oldenburg House will be set up with 6-8 tables of four. The Dining Room will be set up for guests’ unstructured personal conversations. The Living Room will be set up for the ‘Menu of Ideas’ discussion, including screening videos and facilitated discussions. Guests will be able to join in the ‘Menu of Ideas’ or not as mood conduces.

MENU OF IDEAS: "Inspiring creativity in daily life’ is the theme for the first season of Magnolia Salons. The first seven sessions described below are illustrative to get us started, though not confirmed. OACC and Zeitgeist will convene a panel of curators – individuals who are considered by their peers to be both creative, inclusive and generous in their thinking - to generate the weekly menu of ideas for the Magnolia Salons. The curators will also advise OACC and Zeitgeist in developing its Ideas Festival.

Here's my makeshift snapshot of the first two evenings...

February 1: Making It Up 
This is the kick-off, the launch, the lifting of the curtain, the opening act, the introduction of the players, early dawn, part one as the wheels begin to turn. Glenn, Emily and friends are pushing their craft off away from the shore, eager to see what lies ahead. Join them in this fledgling effort to spread their wings. Meet new people, share ideas, and let's begin.

February 8: Rehearsal
It's the evening before Cookin' at the O with Glenn Swanson, Jason DeLaire and Peter Schiemke. The musicians’ rehearsal will be the focus for the Menu of Ideas.

Future guests will present ideas about creativity as a lifestyle and creative confidence. Musicians will share their special gifts as will artists. Follow Magnolia Salon here on Facebook.

THIS MONTH 

in the Carlton Room

February 9 & 10

Jason Delaire will be Cookin' @ the O

Jason is a saxophonist and keyboardist, singer, songwriter and producer. Jason has toured nationally and/or recorded with renowned artists such as Donny Osmond, Michael Bolton, Prince, Alexander O’Neal, Richard Marx, Solo, Oleta Adams and Bobby Brown.

DETAILS HERE

RELATED LINKS
Oldenburg House Emerging as a Northland Hotspot: Read it in The Reader.
Oldenburg House B&B