Five Minutes With Artist/Illustrator Emily Wendland

I discovered Emily Wendland last weekend at the Ochre Ghost Gallery here in Duluth. Her show was called Transcendental Terrain and her work filled the room with an interesting vibe, aided in part by the music of Marc Gartmann’s Fever Dream. The show featured work in a variety of styles and gave visitors to see her range of interests. When I learned about her early support from family I saw a bit of myself. It will be interesting to see where her talents take her.

EN: How did you first become interested in making art? 
Emily Wendland: I've been making art ever since I can remember. My first published piece was a drawing I did of my dog sleeping on my grandmother's recliner when I was 5. It was published in the 'Grandma's Attic' section of the Duluth News Tribune.

EN: That had to be exciting. Describe your life path from there to where you are now?
EW: Since then, my love for drawing was noticed and highly encouraged and supported by my family. I attended various art camps and took all of the art classes available in school. It's been a process, seeking out artistic training and mentorship wherever I can find it, and self-discovery for myself as an artist.

EN: The mixed media pieces are quite interesting. Is this a more recent development and how did it come about?
EW: My passion is for drawing and illustration, but I've always dabbled in mixed media. I think many artists cross medium barriers... we're always looking to explore our ideas and concepts in different ways, and well, I think we just like working with our hands. For my art specifically, there are some things that can be better portrayed in one medium over the other. I decide which medium will best suite the idea that I am working on.

Spores (detail)

EN: Why the interest in spores?
EW: Over the past 2 years, my work has intensified its theming on nature. I love being surrounded by the work of the Lord, and the growing process of fungi has just fascinated me.

EN: Do you use your artistic gifts/talents in your career or is it something you do when you get home and on weekends?
EW: I have been actively pursuing a career with my artistic blessings. I recently received my BA from Bemidji State University, where I studied art and graphic design. I hope to use my training towards a career in illustration, but I plan to continue doing exhibits in the fine arts as well.

EN: What are you currently working on?
EW: Right now I am working on my own illustration pieces. I sell art prints and greeting cards under the business name 'Eew Cute' or 'Emily Wendland Illustration', where I sell them at various gift shops around the country and online.

EN: Where can people see more of your work?
EW: My art prints can be found on Etsy or at shops such as Double Dutch (Duluth), Yellow Umbrella (Bemidji), Unglued (Fargo), Sparrow Collective (Milwaukee). My online portfolio is at the Cargo Collective.

Mark Your Calendars

For most of us this is a bit too busy time of year, but  it can bet easier if you write things on your calendar and plan ahead. Is it because December falls at the wrong time of the year? Maybe we should move it up a little. Or add a few weeks between Thanksgiving and the day we celebrate the holy birth. At least we're not getting bored. If you need a breather from shopping, here are some upcoming events to put on your calendars.

The ArtCracker

On Saturday, December 8th Washington Studios Artists' Co-op will i opening its doors and inviting the public to an event they call The Artcracker. It's essentially a large open house involving the dozens of artists who live and work there at the co-op, with  live performing arts, member open studios and arts and crafts for sale in the halls from 11:00am - 5:00pm. It would be a good idea not to spend all your money at the big box retailers until you have checked out the ceramics, crafts and other locally-created goods that will be on display here and elsewhere. When I say elsewhere I mean...

Phantom Galleries 

Nightmarket

Nightmarket is tonight and every Thursday till Christmas at 1412 Tower Ave and 1112 Tower Avenue in Superior. 1112 Tower Ave is featuring the Phantom Painters group, presenting their works for both show and sale. Kathy Kollodge, Teresa Cox Kolar, Lori Franklin, and Anita Curtis. The work of 11 local artists and artisans will be shared at 1412 Tower, in the New York Building. The hours are from 4 till 9, and yes, it is starting to get dark around four, which is why it's called the Nightmarket.

(in)VISIBLE GIFTS: Celebrations of Community

The Opening Gala for all Phantom Gallery Superior locations will be next Thursday, Dec 13. In addition to receptions at 1112 and 1412 Tower Ave, there will be walking tours (weather permitting), and artist talks starting at 6pm. The artists in this team of exhibits are all inspired by the resonance that happens working together in the same space.

Duluth Art Institute Biennial

As always, the DAI Member show is something to look forward to each January. But every other year the DAI conducts a juried show and it should be stellar. The opening reception for this event, which features works by 39 artists, will be Monday from 5:30-7:00 pm in the John Steffl Gallery. Three awards will be announced, with a check for $1000 going to the winning entry, which is nothing to sneeze at, though I suspect it's like a Super Bowl ring, with greater importance on the achievement than on the cash. Best of luck to all artist friends who passed the first hurdle by being accepted into the show. I will see you there.

PROVE, Ochre Ghost and more

As noted, you will need to mark your calendars in order to schedule all these goings-on around your other Christmas parties and such. So while you're doing that be sure to set aside Friday December 14 for the Under $100 show at the PROVE and Mauro Alves (Mau Ro) will be showing his paintings two blocks east through the alley, with live music by Minneapolis singer/songwriter Jaw Knee Vee who has been compared to a punk version of Charlie Parr. All that at the Ochre Ghost.

I'm only doing a skim here. The Polar Express, the Nutcracker, Bentleyville and assorted Christmas choir programs are all waiting for you here. The Twin Ports doesn't need to be solely a summer vacationland. The lights are fantastic and there's a lot of great things to see and do. And let's not forget the music.

Keep that song going strong.

Tonight, Tomorrow and Beyond

Essentially, I wanted to mention a few art-related happenings coming up in the Twin Ports tonight, tomorrow and beyond, but with the president giving his acceptance speech this evening in Charlotte, it would not be out of order to make a few comments here about the conventions.

First, though social media was part of the last presidential election, it has really stepped up from back of the stage to near center stage as a player in the election. I was surprised how few television networks carried the Clinton nomination speech, choosing to air NFL football and other programming instead. Only public television carried convention coverage... but you could follow along endlessly on your mobile devices, whatever else you were doing.

Last week, for example, Clint Eastwood received over 16,000 comments a minute (not all positive) during his speech in Tampa. Mitt Romney received over 17,000 comments a minute. I don't know the numbers for former president Clinton yet, but the speech was a stream of one-liners that made for manifold tweets and re-tweets. I'm sure his numbers were superb. Certainly his content hit the mark as regards setting up the Dem response to last week's salvo from the GOP.

But enough of that. There are a couple art events here in Duluth tonight that I hope to see some of you at. If you have a smart phone or iPad with you, I'm sure you can catch as much of the convention as you need to. The tube (do they call TVs that any more since most are flat panel displays) will not be necessary.

Picture Flood Relief 

Tonight at JJ Astor, the restaurant atop the Radisson, 505 W. Superior Street, John Heino and Crystal Taylor are dishing up a feast for the eyes in a Silent Auction to help raise money for flood relief. The retail value of Heino's 30 mounted, matted and framed prints ranges from $150 to $375 each. But real deals are possible, and fifty percent of the proceeds go to the Twin Ports Region Long Term Flood Relief Fund.

Time: 5:00 till 7:00 p.m.


Awesome Autumn Art Show Reception at Beaner's

For artists the waiting list to put work on display at Beaner's is just under a half mile long, but proprietor Jason Wussow knows how to pick 'em and this month's featured artist is painter Aaron Kloss.

Come to Beaner's in Duluth for a evening of art and live music. The show is titled Awesome Autumn. The reception will feature a live jazz band and music from local singer/songwriter Greg Tiburzi. The event is free and best of all they'll have plenty of their irresistible chocolate truffles.

Time: 6:00 till 9:00 p.m.


Ochre Ghost Gallery
Big Iris in a Tiny Room and Pictures from Other People Public Event

Tomorrow night, September 7, Ochre Ghost Gallery will be displaying a 7 foot tall, 300 pound sculpture that they want to cram into our gallery before artist Travis DeVere Stejskal hauls it to Michigan to try and win $100,000. Amy Kozak will be gracing the walls with her cut-ups and collages of found materials, photo heavy. She's got slides and negatives and old magazine photos for days. Since the show will be up only for a couple days, so you will want to be there Friday night to check it all out.

Time: 6:00pm until 10:00pm in CDT


~WUNDERLAND~

Opening Reception Saturday, September 8, 2012

As if all this weren't enough already, the Zeitgeist Arts Café will be hosting an opening reception for WUNDERLAND, a collaborative art show between Erin Sayer (Cult Status Gallery-Cult Sisters) and Eris Vafias (Limbo Gallery).

The show will feature art by Sarah Heimer, Whitney Saurer, Louisa Greenstock, Gina Louise, Erin Sayer, Eris Vafias, Patty Mahnke, Lydia Walker, Kristin Martin and Joanie Tony, female artists from the Twin Cities and the Twin Ports. Saturday night there will be music via Venus DeMars. Though everyone is welcome, to get the most out of this show you're invited to come dressed as your favorite character from Wunderland.

Time: 5:00-8:30pm Saturday

And to think we're only scratching the surface. For more regional happenings, check out today's Wave or this week's Reader Weekly. Will I see you tonight? I hope so. Have a great day.

Eight Minutes with Artist Wynn Davis

As even the most tin-eared local knows, we have a lot of great music here in the Northland. One of my personal aims is to draw attention to the richness and variety we have here in the visual arts. Sometimes the two are woven together as in the re-issue of Charlie Parr’s wonderful album “1922.” The cover art for Parr’s offering was created by Wynn Davis whose work will be on display at the Ochre Ghost beginning July 20. The opening tonight should be a good one. The show is titled A Field Menagerie to Birds of North America.

Ennyman: Where are you from originally and where do you live now?

Wynn Davis: I have always lived along the St. Croix River Valley. I grew up in River Falls, Wisconsin along the St. Croix River across from Afton State Park, and currently reside up the river a little further north in Stillwater, Minnesota. I definitely plan on permanently residing in Duluth in the near future though. Much of my family has native ties to the Twin Ports area. I love the outdoors, running, and the community and culture of Duluth as a whole.

E: How did you first become interested in art?

WD: I’ve always enjoyed collecting and creating things growing up. A traditional photography class I took in high school really curbed my interest in art and the process of making art. After changing majors my freshman year of undergraduate studies in I pursued a degree in Art Education with an emphasis in photography. My parents are both retired educators, so I had a keen sense of awareness in regard to the education profession. Post-education I have had the time to steer and develop my ideas and draftsmanship via the medium of graphite drawing. I reached a point with photography where the print could no longer be a means to an end, especially with how I wanted to communicate my ideas visually. Photography obviously still plays a major influence as both a tool and a vehicle for inspiration.

E: Your drawings are quite fascinating. How did you end up having an opportunity to illustrate Charlie Parr's latest CD?

WD: I met Charlie at his RealPhonic performance at the James Hill Library in St. Paul earlier in the year, as I have been a great admirer of his lyricism and musicianship. His work is authentic and full-bodied, and that is something to be said in a world often fixated on compromising quality, instant gratification, and felonious profiteering. Anyway, we began collaborating for his next album release after I sent him some of my work. The confluences of styles seem to work well with one another. He had an idea in mind and I felt I had a good idea of how to articulate it.

E: When did you begin doing pictures with birds? 

WD: I am basically self-taught in the medium of drawing. I took one or two drawing classes very early in my undergraduate tenure, but it was not until about a year and half ago that I really became more serious about it. The theme of birds has stemmed directly from my participation in the outdoors. I run over 5,400 miles a year in various wilderness areas and urban terrain, my favorite being the Superior Hiking Trail! I’ve always found a curiosity and ever present likeness to the individual characteristics, habits, and resourcefulness of birds. Whether it’s waking up in the morning to their song, or witnessing a crow fly off with a happy meal bag in its mouth from the side of a road… they never fail to fascinate me. This of course melded with my earlier emphasis in traditional black and white photography, which now serves more or less as a reference tool. Old documentary courthouse and historic society gravure plates of the late 19th Century also captivate me. As a result my ideas are usually a raw amalgamation of ideas that I form into a collage, which in turn becomes for what I hope to be a successful drawing that is completely seamless.

E: You seem attracted to precision draftsmanship. How did you first become interested in Bosch, Brueghel, van Eyck and Caravaggio?

WD: I am infatuated with art history, particularly early figurative work by the Dutch Masters. Their diligence in observation, careful consideration in precision draftsmanship, and unbridled passion for the process of art is not only admirable, but also contagious. Their work can make you feel what a seedy atmosphere inside an old tavern was like through chiaroscuro. Make you feel the pain and anguish in facial expressions such as in Caravaggio’s masterpiece of “The Crucifixion of St. Peter.” These are qualities I often struggle finding in the constant thrust of modern contemporary art. Currently I believe the work of Laurie Lipton’s graphite drawings are at a very high level and her work ethic and visual scope has been a great influence to me.

E: Why is art an important part of life?

WD: Well, I am no philosopher, but I think it is important to live a simple and healthy life. Art along with other passions brings forth meaning and joy in the things that are simple and true. If you wake up anticipating the things you enjoy doing, than you are more than likely enjoying life. I also think art plays a vital role in challenging conventional methods of thinking.

TO SEE MORE works by Wynn Davis, drop by the Ochre Ghost Gallery in downtown Duluth tonight at 7:00 or visit WynnDavis.com

Tonight, Tonight: A Good Night for Gallery Hopping

The theme was Intergalactica

I can't say enough about last night's Artist Kamikaze IV in which at least fourteen teams were paired for a show which now hangs at the Luce for the remainder of June. Eris Vafias and the Limbo Gallery get the credit for putting it together, and the teams of competing artists get all the enjoyment as the devote themselves to three months of innovation and execution. I will most assuredly be writing more about some of the things I learned in this year's project. But we'll save that for another time as this morning I want to highlight a few happenings for gallery goers to look forward to tonight in downtown Duluth.

In a nutshell, if you do not have time to read any further, there are openings at the Ochre Ghost, the PROVE, the Washington Galleries and the Zeitgeist lobby. If you plan your route, each is two blocks from another, a most leisurely stroll... and if we're lucky the afternoon storms will have dissipated for a beautiful night on the town.

Ochre Ghost

Morgan Pease returns to Duluth for a solo exhibition of his new work. Pease is a young artist in his mid-twenties who hase been fascinated with triangles and movement. He studied paint, print and draft at University of Minnesota Duluth before heading off to St. Paul. He's traveled part of the world and like bicycle-riding. I first noticed his work at the Duluth Art Institute in 2010 and am certain he will be presenting some interesting pieces tonight.

PRøVE Gallery 

If you've been there you already know you love the space down on the ground floor of the Sons of Norway Building. Last night as I was heading in to the Artist Kamikaze opening I stopped to see what's on the docket for tonight's show. This month it will be a photography show featuring work by Ryan Tischer, John Heino, Andrew Perfetti and others. Curated by Richard Hanson, the lights were on early as they spackled nail holes and scratched their heads as to how best to display the many works on hand. 

Washington Galleries

Emma Rustan’s show at Washington Galleries, two blocks up the hill from PROVE, is titled “Goodbye, Blue Skies.” Among other things (according to yesterday's Wave) the event "will include re-creations of old portraits of military personnel, railroad workers and regular people in moments of outdoor leisure. She also has a series inspired by Homegrown Music Festival. The opening reception is from 6-9 p.m. and will include music by Kyle Ollah.

Zeitgeist Lobby

One of the great additions to the arts scene in recent years has been the Zeitgeist Building, Teatro Zuccone and the Zinema. A staple of this venue is the art in the lobby. My brother recently reminded me that my first show in New Jersey several decades ago was in the lobby of a theater in Bernardsville. This month's lobby "gallery" will feature paintings by Robert Dewitt Adams. Adams is new to Duluth, but not new to the arts. His shows at the Seattle Art Museum, the San Francisco Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Museum clearly make one aware that he's been around. Let's give a warm welcome to Mr. Adams.

As for other things happening, stay current by reading DNT's The Wave on Thursdays and The Reader, which has added a number of pages to cover the arts. We have great theater happenings (I suggest the two Tennessee Williams plays) and a vibrant music scene. So...

In the meantime, I do hope I'll run into you tonight on the town. Embrace as much as you are able. And be enriched.

This beautiful piece by Ryan Tischer will be on display tonight at the PROVE.

Last Night on the Scene

Vince Larson's piece drew me in.

Unless you've been sleeping under a rock you probably noticed that this week has been Duluth/Superior's (DuSu) 14th Annual Homegrown Music Festival, with 175 bands in countless venues around the Twin Ports including the relatively high profile Trampled By Turtles, just back from a stint on Letterman.

If you've got a day job it's hard to take in so much night life, so I relegated myself to catching as many of the art openings as possible, which had more reasonable hours. I believe this was the first year the Homegrown Art was linked to the Homegrown Music, and it made sense. The bands played later hours, so nearly any night of the week you could take your date to a nice dinner, catch some art and have the rest of the evening for dancing, be-boppin' or jiving. What's your pleasure?

Tonight's officially the last night, if you're not worn out yet, an eight-day week. Still not too late to catch some action. Head to www.duluthhomegrown.com to see what's hot.

***

Nancy Miller's Dylan is a big "Yes!"

Friday night I was able to catch the openings at Ochre Ghost and Washington Galleries before heading down to Cirque Du Soleil. After the circus, a spectacular event about which much more could be said, we tried to get in to Tycoons to see Uprising. The place was over capacity and we decided to get some rest instead, getting home near midnight anyways. From what I hear we missed a great show.

At the Ochre I met Vince Larson, an artist who has also been part of the ad agency scene like myself. He had a striking piece on the back wall. Nancy Miller's mosaic Dylan is yet another fabulous addition to her eye-catching Dylan tributes. Last year during Dylan Fest her bust of Dylan was featured in the window of this same gallery.

I also had two pieces on display here, Episode 34 and my portrait of Mingus. In the front of the space there were three very small pieces by Robert DeWitt Adams that I liked and this other very interesting tryptich with echoes of Rauschenberg.

Echoes of Rauschenberg were evident in this tryptich at Ochre Ghost.

Saturday night the PROVE Gallery featured another great collection of Homegrown Art curated by Jeredt Runions and team. The show included works by Tara Stone, Adam Swanson, Tara Lynn Austin and many others. It was nice to see the gallery so packed, with many new faces checking out the scene. The regular gallery hoppers were there as well. You could hardly turn around without bumping into an artist, musician, writer or fan of the arts.

The PROVE is such a wonderful space for art. Part of it is due to the fact that they have a different mission. Unlike many of the other local galleries that cram paintings into every available space, the shows and events here feed plenty of breathing room for each piece. The collective has done an admirable job of refurbishing what had once been a run down basement space into a showcase for artists and their works. Last night's show was called Saturday Morning Cartoons, and many of the pieces were as whimsical as the show's name. This picture here of a young woman looking at Adam Swanson's work struck me funny because it looks as if one of Swanson's animal characters has leaped from the painting onto the woman's shoulder.

Two pieces by Lindsey Graskey were back on the left. Graskey is another young independent artist whom I was unfamiliar with. She explained, "I'm just getting back into it. Here collage/mixed media pieces created a striking impression, again perfectly suited to this show's theme. Kudos to the curator.

Many of us lingered for quite some time, but the crowd thinned in order to begin attending music venues.

When I arrived at Sacred Heart, in the company of friends, I found a full house entranced by the music of the Marc Gartman's Fever Dream featuring Gartman, Steve Garrington and Alan Sparhawk, who seems to be really getting around this week.

At the back of the room Mayor Don Ness seemed to be actually glowing. (Maybe that's the way he always is when he's out on the town with Laura.) The Homegrown Music Festival draws out such a large amount of community involvement. Perhaps it was the music or perhaps the ambience of this very special place, but there's no denying the atmosphere tingled a bit.

I asked Mayor Ness about his interest in music. "I never played in a musical band," he said. He noted that he was the only one in his family without a gift in music. "I really appreciate the talent here and see it as my role to promote and support it."

Ness went on to say, "We've made a lot of progress in the arts. It's a different city than it was. You can really see the broader community embracing the arts."

I mentioned one of my own new interests and asked his opinion about restoration of the Armory. "I think people aren't opposed, but they're a little cynical about it. There's been a little progess," he said. It's a great building and needs to be saved."

For what it's worth I'll throw in this plug for the Scarlet Rivera concert coming up May 18 at Weber Hall. All proceeds go to the restoration of the Armory. Scarlet, whose thrilling violin is the spice that gave Bob Dylan's Desire album such flavor, will be accompanied by Gene Lafond and the Wild Unknown. You can purchase tickets for Desire In Duluth here at Ticketworks.com.

The night was still young when I began heading west toward home. Most of those at Sacred Heart wove their way to other venues for yet more music at Sir Ben's, Carmody's, Roscoe's, Pizza Luce, Tycoon's, Lake Avenue Cafe, Rex, and a host of other great spaces for music and entertainment. I myself dropped into the Powerhouse in Proctor to catch the Centerville All Stars who were working up a sweat and playing the hearts out. Way to go. Dance floor was active, lots of smiles on faces. They really know how to rock.

Meantime, life goes on. I managed to get home before turning into a pumpkin. Lights out. And much more to look forward to.

Sacred Heart after dark. Sparhawk, Gartman and Carrington.

PLEASE CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THAT YOU MIGHT ENJOY THEM MORE FULLY.

Lists

Lists can be fun. I've compiled my share over the years. Favorite movies, favorite songs, favorite authors, favorite books by favorite authors. In fact one of the earliest pages on my original website is called My Favorite Things and is a page of lists of this kind.

Then there are to do lists. Lists of character traits for an upcoming novel. Restaurant menus are little more than elaborate lists of dining options... Appetizer list, desserts, lunch fare, dinners, sides. Oh, and let's not forget the wine list.

When I was young and seeking employment after a year in Mexico, the book What Color Is Your Parachute was recommended to me. I'll never forget the exercises in the Appendix of this book, designed to help us gain self-understanding so we can better determine what kind of career would most suit who we are. It's a great book, continuously updated and relevant. Anyways, one exercise was to make a list of seven things you did up to that point in your life that brought you personal satisfaction. Then you were to run this list through an analytical process to see what the elements were that made these particular life victories so meaningful. It's a great exercise and can potentially change your life. And immensely useful for job seekers.

Most serious artists have lists of shows where they've exhibited their work. And most writers keep a log of published works, something like this one (though not current.)

Yesterday I had lunch with Brian Lukasavitz, a lawyer who has been involved in contract law related to the music, arts and entertainment scene. One thing led to another and he shared one of B.B. King's Ten Commanments of Bluesville: "Never make a deal with the devil without first consulting your lawyer." It's a humorous observation because how it ties in with other music legends. Go here to read the rest of B.B. King's Bluesville Ten Commandments.

Some people keep lists in their heads about all the things that make them angry. They arrange and re-arrange their list of peeves till it makes them sick. Other people make lists of things that they are grateful for. These people can be nice to be around. 

All my albums have playlists. Many of us have listened to our music so much that we know the order of every song on the album. I'm fairly certain at least one and maybe two of my brothers can, like I, recite in order the titles on all four sides of the Beatles' White Album.

The website ExpectingRain.com compiles a daily list of new and interesting items pertaining to Dylan. Today's list several new YouTube videos and a letter Dylan wrote to Jerry Garcia. And this page at BobDylan.com lists all Dylan's concerts, including the Set List for each concert. For example, you can see what songs Bob played in Santiago, Chile Wednesday night. It must have been a great concert beginning with Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat and concluding with an encore of Blowin' In The Wind.

Do you make lists? If you're not finished with your To Do list for today, I hope you'll include a visit to the Ochre Ghost Gallery on Second Avenue East to check out two of my paintings that we included in the Homegrown Art Festival this year. The opening is at 6:00 p.m.  I'll be there for about 25 minutes before heading off to the Cirque Du Soleil, another item you might want on your To Do list for to-night.

Whatever your plans on this weekend, make the most of it. Get enriched, and enrich another.

A Moose at the Ochre Ghost and More

The invitation to this Saturday's opening at the Ochre Ghost reads: IF A MOOSE DIES IN THE WOODS AND NO ONE SEES IT, IS IT REALLY DEAD?

It's an edgy show featuring new works by Brian David Downs. Fliers for the show include drawings of shrunken heads and socio-mythological paintings and drawings. I don't know about you, but the first time my dad pointed out shrunken heads at the Museum of Natural History in Cleveland, it was both compelling and confusing. Is them things real? Well, Downs' new work is called "an exploration, questioning, and celebration of what it is to be human." Saturday night I'll hope to take it in.

Brian David Downs is an artist residing in Minnesota currently working between paintings, drawings and band fliers. The opening reception will be held Saturday, March 24th, 6-10pm.

Rubber Chicken Theater’s annual Chicken Hat plays
To be honest, I have been wanting to compete in Brian Matuszak's semi-inspired off-the-map X-Games for Theater since I first heard about it years ago. As usual, I chickened out because I've never been to one and thought I should at least see what it's about before I throw my chicken hat in the ring.

Essentially, they have eight writers gather on Friday night to pull information out of a hat that they must incorporate into a play that will be performed live the following night... eight world premieres in one three hour romp. The writers have all night to write and by morning must be prepared to hand their scripts over to directors who then select or acquire actors and actresses to spend the day rehearsing for that evening's live performance. Sounds like a wildly insane concept and therefore appealing.

This year, Senator Roger Reinert threw his fedora into the fray to be one of the writers. For what it's worth, you can catch all the action Saturday night from 7-10 p.m. at the Harbor City International School Theater, 332 W. Michigan St. Tickets are ten dollars at the door.

Good luck, Roger.

In other news, Bob Dylan's first album, modestly titled Bob Dylan, was released fifty years ago this week. For those of you who do not know who Bob Dylan was, I will try to write about him sometime soon. Meantime, as life goes on all around you, enjoy the day.

Ten Minutes with Jessica Liszewski, Artist and Gallery Owner

In the past 18 months a number of new spaces have opened up in the Twin Ports where artists can display their work. The Ochre Ghost Gallery, created by Calvin Stalvig and Jessica Liszewski, is one of these spaces where local artists have a platform to express their ideas to our regional community, located in downtown Duluth at 22 2nd Avenue East. Stalvig has moved on while Liszewski and a team of collaborators continue to carry the torch.

Ennyman: How did you become interested in the arts and who/what were your biggest influences?
Jessica L: I’ve been involved in creative projects ever since I can remember. When I was young I’d draw a lot and experiment with discarded materials. My parents had an antique shop so I’d regularly get boxes of broken trinkets and scrap wood which I could integrate into my sewing, drawing and sculptural projects. Growing up in the-middle-of-nowhere-Wisconsin before the internet created a challenge for seeking out independent art and music.

As a teen my interests narrowed into the underground art realm. I started an art and literature zine with a friend called ‘Canary Flu’ (before the widely know H5N1 bird flu epidemic of the late 90’s- young prophets perhaps??). At that time I was influenced by the thrill of finding abandoned hideouts, dumpster diving, Rita Ackermann and her cover art for Thurston Moore’s album ‘Psychic Hearts’, the Meat Cake comic by Dame Darcy and the burgeoning alternative to mainstream consumerism: the DIY cultural movement.

I moved to Minneapolis in the late 90’s and gravitated toward non-commercial ways of sharing art and music like artist collectives and independent music labels. I met people who did art in huge communal warehouse spaces, went to shows in basements and scoured the underground section of comic book stores for whatever caught my eye.

Nowadays all of these life experiences have come together to support the development my work and artistic style. I search the Internet for inspiration and keep photo files. I live in a tenant’s cooperative where there is a collection of hundreds of old National Geographic magazines. I attempt to reproduce textures, patterns and color combinations that draw from a lot of different current and historical native cultures. I combine ideas and develop new aesthetics for characters in a sort of unified, futuristic, natural, post-apocalyptic tribe of scavengers. I guess that ties back into my childhood methods of creation, you know, collecting remnants and trash and turning it into something attractive yet awkward, wearable yet uncomfortable.

E: Were you surprised by the excitement the Crim City Collective show generated for Ochre Ghost Gallery?
JL: The Crim show ‘King Ghost’ was a great experience. At that time, not only were we still a new gallery with the ambition to bring something innovative and collaborative to the community, but the Crim City Collective was also just starting out. It was great to be able to provide them with the space to do their work and introduce our gallery through community participation. I really like that, bringing people together to work on art. They had approached us with a proposal to utilize their new style of working, Maximalism, which is heavily based in action and link-think. In the end we created a work that explores ideas of major action, instant information and free association without reservation, thought or planning. People really dug being able to write, draw and paint on the walls throughout the process and during the opening. It showed Duluth that we’re a different kind of gallery, one that you might not be used to, one that takes risks.

E: What is the mission for the Ochre Ghost Gallery?
JL: Ochre Ghost Gallery is an independent gallery space devoted to highlighting local and national emerging and underground art. Founded in September 2010, we’ve provided a commission-free, supportive environment for over seventy artists at the start of their careers or who are developing innovative genres of expression. The mission of Ochre Ghost is to provide non-commercial space in order to show work and try-out different mediums and subject matters. As an independent gallery we have the flexibility to experiment with the art we chose to show.

E: What's your take on the Duluth arts scene and where do you see your place in all of it?
JL: Before moving to Duluth in late 2008 I had the opportunity to come up and check it out quite a few times. I was excited to see a city of modest size offer so many opportunities for its folk to engage in the arts. This was ultimately one of my motivators to change location. On the surface Duluth appears to have a disproportionately large number of arts groups for its size. From performance art to music to visual art, there really is a lot going on here. After a few months of being a Duluth resident I began to notice the mainstream and somewhat tourist-centric nature of a lot of it.

Along with this discovery, however, I was slowly being introduced to some of Duluth’s hidden gems, both artists and venues. I was excited about what was already happening but recognized the potential for more variety, more guts. Since opening the gallery in 2010 I have definitely become more active in the Duluth arts scene, but it seems to me we’ve gained a lot of momentum this past year. We’re at a point now where we’re developing partnerships and moving forward as a city that supports more diversity in the arts. Annie Dugan at the Duluth Art Institute is doing a lot to make this happen. She’s been working really hard to use the support the DAI already gets from the community to help spread the word about lots of cool stuff that’s happening. I just want to say that I’m thrilled I happened to be living here when I could no longer ignore my dream to open an art gallery. Things are going pretty well for us!

E: Thanks for your time and contribution to the Twin Ports art scene.

The original version of this interview appeared on page 37 of the March 15 Reader Weekly. You can see more Reader articles at DuluthReader.com.

Hoppin'

Someone told me they were looking forward to seeing pictures on my blog of Jessica L's works from her show last weekend at Ochre Ghost. I was surprised. I didn't know that there were people reading my blog to see what they missed in the local arts scene. My recommendation is always to see things first hand. Get up and get out there. Some laptops and computer screens distort pictures by making them look wider. Colors, too, need adjusting. But it's the scale that you'll miss. This was especially true in some of the work we saw while gallery hopping downtown last night. And what better environment than an art show for sipping wine and meeting friends?

Last night there were three such events that we attended. We failed to make it to a fourth at the Red Mug featuring new paintings by Eric Dubnicka. The exhibiton of forty paintings runs through April 30th, 2012, so I know for sure I'll get a chance to check it out.

We started at the Washington Gallery in the old Washington Elementary School where works by artist Kelly Thompson were displayed. The gallery space offers nice high ceilings and is spacious enough to accommodate a good crowd. Thompson titled this event "The Art SHOW" and it was listed as a Best Bet in The Wave, a staple of Thursday's Duluth News Tribune devoted to the arts.

Upon entering the space one was quickly aware of the size of some of her pieces. I asked where her studio is and she said she does a lot of work in her kitchen. When I noted that it would be difficult to paint those larger pieces in a kitchen Thompson said she painted them in the back yard. Her use of color in many instances reminded me of Chagall. Next stop, Ochre Ghost.

This week's opening there featured paintings by Whitney Saurer, a young oil painter whose disturbing images are wonderfully rendered. Portugese artist Paula Rego once said, "If you put frightening things into a picture, then they can't harm you." I half wondered if that is part of the impetus behind some of these canvases. Saurer's skills are clearly evident in the large works which filled the gallery's walls.

Despite the somewhat macabre nature of the images, Saurer clearly has a sense of humor, as you can see from this November entry in her Wordpress blog. You can see more of Saurer's work on Facebook.

Saurer seemed to be enjoying the excitement surrounding her show, titled "Nos. 1-5: New Work By Whitney Saurer." The gallery space was packed, but the young artist was easy to find with her blue hair, wide smile and energized composure.

From here we marched through the alley two blocks to the PRØVE which featured a miscellaneous variety of arts following the theme "Strange Objects."

If you didn't get out last night, Washington Galleries will be open from 1-5 p.m. this afternoon. You might want to begin with episode five of the Robert Hughes documentary film series, "Shock of the New" at the Zinema 2. It's been generating a lot of buzz as we step back in time to get our bearings on where art has been. Artist and critic Ann Klefstad will be leading the discussion after. You really shouldn't miss it.

Photos, top to bottom:
Gustave Campini, Friends of Industry, at the PRØVE
Charcoal drawing by Kelly Thompson
Two faces by Kelly Thompson
At the Ochre Ghost
Oil painting by Whitney Saurer

Wooden Teeth & Romantic Scandals

The first portion of this blog entry is reprinted from a blog entry in May 2009.

I’ve been listening to an unabridged audio presentation of P. J. O’Rourke on The Wealth of Nations. It appears to be a relatively brief overview of that rather hefty tome by Adam Smith. O’Rourke is a satirist, libertarian and economic conservative who hails originally from Ohio. His early writings appeared in the National Lampoon, where he helped launch the careers of John Belushi and Chevy Chase.

To be quite frank, the book has not been a compelling read, but I’ve hung in there and there are some good sentences. And it is a much more entertaining book than the tedious nine hundred-plus page original, though the original (by Adam Smith) has had far more influence than this book will ever have.

The reference to wooden teeth and romantic scandals is more or less a comparison of Smith to our founding father, George W. Neither wore big happy grins, nor did their personal lives offer much grist for the rumor mills. O’Rourke addresses this matter only because it seems proper to assess the private lives of public philosophers, though for some reason he suggests public figures in government ought not be subjected to the same scrutiny.

Adam Smith kept no personal diary so that unlike our modern public figures whose every life detail is summarized in Wikipedia we know very little about the man except a notation by Sir Walter Raleigh, which may or may not be reliable.

There was another interesting sentence about fluctuations in the price of silver over the previous four centuries, but all in all, as I approach the end of the book I am pretty much ready for the next read.

March 4, 2012
The stack of books clamoring for my attention is a bit daunting right now, not including the numerous downloads patiently waiting in my Kindle. That list includes Neuromancer by cyberpunk author William Gibson, Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson, In the Company of Rilke, My Seinfeld Year, The Quotable Will Rogers, Being and Nothingness, Reverie, Raylan: A Novel, Dali Dreams of Gala and more. Who can tell what a day will bring forth.

On the Twin Ports arts scene front, there’s an art opening that could be worth attending. Ochre Ghost Gallery owner Jessica Liszewski's exhibition Irresistible Sorcery will be Jessica's first solo show at O.G.G. and it promises to be magical. There will be live music from Duluth songwriters Kyle Ollah and Lee Petersen with doors opening at 6:00 p.m. and carrying on till the usual ten o’clock closing.

If you’re on the mailing list, which you really ought to be if a fan of the local art scene’s bleeding edge, then you will have received member/curator Gustaf Ekstrand’s invitation, which included this description of Liszewski’s event….

An unpredictable spell has been cast by winter's witches.

The witch of weather has revealed that her polarity is bi-curious, sending the Arctic and North Atlantic Oscillations spinning wildly with lust. In an effort to seduce her, they have cast a spell on La Niña, the powerful temptress who just last year aroused record wetness in Australia, causing severe drought in the envious African horn.

The spell has sent La Niña's stimulating powers to the subconscious depths of her mind, only becoming active during her nap time dreams. Now aware of this, she has set herself up for hibernation, vowing to hypnotize the witch of weather into winter wind permanence by constantly dreaming of arctic lap dances. She has built a dream cave in an unused bear's den, and furnished it with an empress-sized bed clad with a comforter made from the plush pelt of a fur worm.

From the heights of Skunk Hill, a sorceress descends from her communal castle armed with gemstones and agates. She is sending her favorite hunters and warriors out to find the fabled den and wake La Niña from her hibernation, to break the hypnotic spell of her gyrations and ensure us all a proper beach life where Superior shores North and South meet.

If the quest fails, our beach life may be forever frozen in the slushy, icy essence we now find ourselves.

See you later, kids. Enjoy the show.

Five Cool Shows Featuring Twin Ports Visual Artists This Weekend

The Twin Ports arts scene is sizzling. Despite a bit of chilly weather dropping in from the north, Friday night will be a great evening to enjoy the arts. Here’s a brief overview of just a few of tomorrow night’s events.

Love Your Local Artist
Beginning at 5:30 there will be as many as 28 artists displaying work at the Superior Library, sponsored by Friends of the Library, in a show titled warmly, Love Your Local Artist. There will be refreshments, including wine, and music. This event is a great way for the community to discover the wide array of creative expression taking place in our backyard. Not only will you get a chance to see and purchase original works, you will have an opportunity to meet the artists themselves and discuss their work. I’ll have some new pieces on display, joined by Andrew Perfetti, Jeredt Runions and many others. This was a great event last year with 14 artists, and this year you can double your pleasure as you begin a night of gallery hopping.

ACROSS THE BRIDGE....

PRØVE GALLERY
The theme for this month’s show is "Good things come in small packages." The 2012 Tiny Art Show is a group exhibition showcasing small pieces of artwork, curated by Richard Hansen. When the call to artists went out, the essential instruction was that pieces must be able to ship in boxes no larger than 12" x 12”. A whole swath of artists has contributed to this event including Aaron Kloss, Andrew Lindberg, Anna Crea, Austin Boe, Christopher Hagen, Coleman Miller, Ed Newman, Jason Whitcomb, Karen Burmeister, Kay Nelson, Lindsay Schmitt, Lucas Anderson, Marcus Meldahl, Marla Peterson, Nicole Richardson, Pamela Clifton, Reese Nurmi, Robert Adams, Scott Scheirbeck, Sharon Rodgers, Jacob Swanson, Garit Pederson ... and PRØVE Collective members Justin Iverson, Nickolas Monson, Steven Read, and Anthony Zappa. This is, like, a BIG collection of TINY ART! The DJ collective the Crunchy Bunch will be spinning records. The event is free and open to the public.

Washington Galleries
If you get your car parked in the right spot, you can begin at the PRØVE, then walk up to see Ryan Tischer's landscape photography exhibit "Bound to the Light" at the Washington Galleries from 6-9 p.m. The exhibit is comprised of images from Minnesota's North Shore and southern Utah, including Zion and Canyonlands National Park.

If you think this is a strange combination of landscapes, Tischer would remind you that “no matter where you travel and photograph, there's always one element that's equally important –the light.”

Tischer titled this exhibit “Bound to the Light” because he feels both connected to and at the mercy of light. “Sometimes I'll be in the right location, with a great composition, but the sun comes up and it's bland, so I just shrug it off and show up again the next morning. But when all the elements do come together, it can be truly magical and makes all your efforts worthwhile.”

Ochre Ghost Gallery
After you hit the Tischer exhibit, you'll glide back down the hill to the Ochre Ghost for the Robert DeWitt Adams’ exhibit, Cold War Toys featuring multimedia paintings from 6-10 p.m. Influenced by the war toys and movies of his childhood, Adams strives to understand how they contribute to one’s identity and world view. Taking inspiration from the graphic style of Soviet propaganda, he interweaves this with fragments of capitalist marketing as well as Dada, folk and pop art.

"I am interested in formation of identity, and use collage and fragmented paintings to invoke the layering of experience that creates the self,” Adams explains in his statement. “I am interested in beauty that is overlooked, in discarded objects, neglected environments, and in this case, the phenomenon of war. I take an aesthetic approach, investigating the appeal of colorful battle maps and game boards, the attraction of uniforms and flags."

Diorama-rama 5
AS IF this isn’t enough excitement for one evening… the Diorama-rama returns to the Sacred Heart Music Center at 8 p.m. featuring miniature scenes and live music… The Diorama-rama is a community art event that everyone is welcome to participate in. The more diorama, the better the event. Musical guests include: DJ 45, The Black-Eyed Snakes, Cockfight, and Dan Anderson and his Silk Sheiks. There will also be animation’s by Duluth’s own Bridget Riversmith. It’s $5.00 at the door but you just might want to go so you see what the excitement is all about, in case you want to participate next year with your own diorama.

SATURDAY offers even more opportunities for those seeking to satisfy an aesthetic itch. Love at the Snoodle VI promises to be the biggest blowout yet for Tonya Borgeson and Emily Herb, beginning at the Staecoach Gallery (3rd Avenue West) then moving to the Snoodle out by the Duluth Zoo. In addition to contributions from 35 local artists there will also be music and fire dancers, among other visual delights.

This show will be like a progressive dinner, if you’ve ever done that kind of thing. There will be a traveling Art Reception, starting at the Stagecoach downtown from 5:00-6:45 with art, music and refreshments. A limo or bus will transport guests to the Snoodle where they can enjoy the Bionic Wow Puppet show, art, music, a fire-dance performance and more refreshments

Here’s Tonya, an art instructor at Lake Superior College, can be seen here giving the scoop on "Love at the Snoodle" for The Playlist.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE WAVE AND THE READER FOR OTHER EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS, BECAUSE THERE REALLY IS PLENTY HAPPENING.

Openings Tonight at PRØVE, Ochre Ghost and Washington Galleries

If you're looking to get out and about in the Twin Ports tonight, check out the art openings at Ochre Ghost, PRØVE and Washington Galleries.

For one night only at the Ochre Ghost Gallery from 6:00 p.m. till 10, internationally acclaimed recluse painter Angorki Spytec of Soudan, Minn., will be exhibiting a retrospective of 10 Years of his most recent work: Paintings and Boxes. Ochre Ghost is located at 22 N. Second Avenue East, and if you've never been there, tonight would be a great night to check in.

From here you can take the alley two blocks over to Lake Avenue and catch a whiff of the energy on display at the PRØVE, with refreshments provided by Sir Ben's and DJ work by the Crunchy Bunch, who seem to be a fixture now at this gallery.

This is the PRØVE's third show, titled Field. The five young men who opened this gallery in November are excited about this show which has new works from other artists besides themselves. Thematically the call went out for art that was made of pieces that were repeated and varied but when assembled combined to make a whole.

The back wall, for example, is a series of sixteen small colorful pieces which have been assembled in something of a grid that catches your attention and stands together as a much larger whole as a result.

According to Anthony Zappa, one of the reasons this show features the work of other artists is because Steven Read's energy was diverted to an exhibit he has assembled for the Duluth Art Institute called (un)natural reactions.

When I stopped by last night to grab the pictures you see here, I spoke with Nicolas Monson and Anthony Zappa about some of the things they have learned through this new experience of owning a gallery and curating shows. Zappa said the biggest lessons have been in the practical realm. "Scheduling and organization" was mentioned. "We've learned the importance of meetings." The gallery is as much a business as it is a venue to show their work.

Four of the five principles have known each other for four years. The fifth member of the team, Rick Hansen of Sound Unseen, brings another dimension to the group. "Rick brought us a ton of publicity," Monson said. "He has connections" that the students didn't have and that has been a big help.

For more on the PRØVE check out Christa Lawler's review in yesterday's Wave.

When you finish seeing all there is to see at the PRØVE (including your friends) and if it's not unreasonably cold, take that short uphill hike to the Washington Gallery at 315 Lake Avenue for an art exhibit titled "Lost, Found and Reassembled," featuring works by artists Gary and Jacob Swanson and Madison Ohm. Looks like fun to me. 6-9 if you've got the time.

Check it out... it's a Twin Ports Art Walk. Wear your best scarf.