Local Art Seen: Phantom Galleries Superior Features Broc Allen and Michael R Smith

Friday evening was another special night in the Twin Ports with visual arts happenings on both sides of the bridge. Phantom Galleries Superior had an opening featuring the ceramics work of Broc Allen and paintings by Michael Smith. The American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO) had a opening reception for American Indian Artist Leah Yellowbird, whose work I will share tomorrow. And then there was the Plys show at the PROVE, which is becoming a popular event displaying the latest and greatest skateboard art from our region. Edgy is an understatement for some of it. Images from this show will be shared here Wednesday.

The Phantom Galleries Superior (PGS) began in 2011 with support from the Wisconsin Arts Board along with funds from the state of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts. PGS was a unique partnership between Superior Public Art Creating Community Environments (SPAC2ES) and Superior Business Improvement District (BID), the property owners, the artists, and the community. Use of properties is generously donated by the owners. Over the years additional support comes from multiple artistic resources, the BID, and the Morgan Fund of the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation.

John Heino and I did our first collaborative show -- Red Interactive -- with support from Phantom Galleries Superior. The spaces provided have opportunities for a range of exceptional work by numerous artists in the region since its founding. Curator for this show and current director of PGS is Alison Price.

Pedestals showcased Broc Allen's work, walls were alive with Michael Smiths.

For what it's worth, if you happen to be in London... Dexter Dalwood's first exhibition at the Simon Lee Gallery opens today. Details here. 

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

This Weekend in the Twin Ports and Nearby -- Art, Authors and More

If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him. 
~John F. Kennedy

The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider's web.
~Pablo Picasso

This week's Sotheby's auction generated over $158 million in revenue, and happened to be items from one person's collection that was being sold. Of special interest were two pieces by Mark Rothko that together fetched more than $75 million. The most expensive of these was painted in 1970, the year I marched off to college. This piece went for almost $40 million.

This Friday another Second Friday Art Crawl is happening here in the Twin Ports, though with a somewhat different circuit this time. But first... one of the major arts events of 2014, the 60th Arrowhead Regional Biennial, and it will be an exceptional show to take in. Some truly great work, even though it is affordable.

THURSDAY EVENTS

DAI 60th Arrowhead Regional Biennial Reception
The 60th Arrowhead Regional Biennial, started in 1919, drawing talent from across the Upper Midwest. Juried this year by Diane Mullin, senior curator at the Weisman Art Museum, the exhibit will feature 26 works with awards announced at the opening. A special companion exhibition, From the Collection, will open the same night at North Shore Bank of Commerce (NSBC), with a free shuttle running between venues. NSBC has long been a vital partner for the Biennial, both underwriting the exhibitions and collecting work. The bank celebrates this milestone year with an exhibition featuring 57 works by 46 artists collected from past Biennials, offering a unique opportunity to explore the Biennial’s history of excellence. The catalog will be unveiled at both locations. John Steffl, who assembled this collection, may have left his name off the marquis but his fingerprints are all over what has taken place at the NSBC and much of the good work we have enjoyed over the years.

Also opening at the DAI will be "Drawing at the Horizon," featuring work from George Morrison, and "Meaning of Home," by Jo Wood. Morrison's exhibition will explore his process, featuring drawings, notebooks, and source material for his masterpieces. Jo Wood's bead and fiber landscapes celebrate her connection to Nature. She has exhibited throughout the United States and is in the collections of the Minnesota Historical Society (St. Paul) and the Mayo Clinics (Rochester).

This is a must see exhibition, even if you can't make it to the opening reception Thursday.

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Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf will be performed Thursday through Saturday at Teatro Zuccone.

And there will be another Tim Bouvine Book Signing Thursday as well from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at the Bookstore at Fitgers.

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FRIDAY EVENTS

Phantom Galleries Welcomes Broc Allen
A good place to begin your Friday evening art crawl in the Twin Ports will be in the New York Building at 1410 Tower Avenue in Superior. The opening reception for this new show featuring work by Broc Allen and Michael Smith will include an artist talk. Time: 5-7 p.m.

Plys with Purpose is this month's theme @ the PROVE Gallery in Duluth. No word yet on whether there's an opening at Washington Gallery, but you'll still have more to see if you make it to Trepanier Hall for the Leah H. Yellowbird ~ Art Show. More details here.

Then, hop in your car to the top of the hill for Lenore Lampi's 2-Day Holiday Sale. Lenore Lampi does awesome ceramics work.

Now if you happen to be in Minneapolis and are looking to see some art there, Erik Pearson is putting on a Do the Dow Open Studio event. Just sayin'.

As we get closer to the holidays, there will be plenty more opportunities to BUY LOCAL.

Meantime, hope I see you there.

Top Right: "Looking Up" by Ed Newman

Local Art Seen and More: Friday Night Past

A tryptich of winter scenes by Carolyn Olson.

Friday evening I left the office and over to another excellent exhibition at Trepanier Hall, the former Y now home to the American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO). The show is titled Northern Women: Below Zero Windchill Creations. It featured work by Wendy Savage, Karen Savage-Blue, Joyce LaPorte, Roberta Marie, Laurel Sanders, Carolyn Sue Olson and Ellen Sandbeck.

A portion of the room displayed a continuation of Karen Savage's Minnesota Landscapes series. The them being winter, these included frozen lakes among other things. Karen is now well past the midway point on her 365 days of painting landscapes.

Carolyn Olson's distinctive people serve as a signature for her paintings. She had a triptych of winter activity along with other winter scenes, including people shoveling snow off the roof of a house, which we had plenty of this past season.

Tree Frog Snowflake

Ellen Sandbeck's paper cutouts of snowflakes were especially dazzling. Nearly all of us have produced snowflakes when we were young, folding paper and cutting out designs with scissors. But no one does snowflakes like Ellen. And just like real snowflakes there are no two alike.

Ellen's snowflakes feature that same reproduction of design that you see in a kaleidoscope, except in one case it's a morning glory and in another it is a shrew or tree frog or elk skull. Her skills in this form of reproduction are highly polished now, and I am sure that she will give us no end of surprises in the future.

From here I was off to the ball game. Duluth Huskies had a home game and readers of the Reader were offered free tickets as a way for our local weekly rag to say thank you for being Reader readers.

Across the bridge Phantom Galleries, Superior had a double opening in the New York Building. Susan Loonsk's "Mostly Birds" filled the walls, and Jennifer Murphy's "Of Tidal Pools" spread out on pedestals of various heights, showcasing many unusual 3-D ceramic works that had an 'other worldly" feel for me.

I was sorry to miss Carlton Daze this year. And equally sorry to miss the film festival in Wrenshall again. But the weekend was full nonetheless. Here are a few more images from the weekend.

Meantime... have a great week.

Upcoming Happenings: Twin Ports & Twin Cities

There's a lot happening this weekend and to catch it all will be impossible if you do not have a clone. Let's start with Superior this time. The two-year renovation of Tower Avenue south of Belknap has been completed and a celebration of this event is planned for this weekend, beginning tomorrow. During this Grand Reopening Phantom Galleries Superior will feature two new artists, Susan Loonsk and Jennifer A. Murphy.

Loonsk, a Professor Emerita of Art, Art Therapy, Ecopsychology Art & Meditation at UWS, has titled her exhibit "Mostly Birds." Her mixed media paintings are post-modern in style and use elements of autobiography and narrative to interpret, discover and explore the diverse realities of our world.

Jennifer Murphy's show is titled "Of Tidal Pools." Murphy creates work that lures one in with its curious appearance, and then captivates attention as it is viewed from every angle. The specimens have life, that they appear as if they are about to speak. Whatever they say is left entirely up to the imagination. The two artists can be found in the New York Building 1410 Tower courtesy the Blaine Business Group and Phantom Galleries, Superior.

This weekend is Carlton Daze in Carlton. You can find the calendar of events here. If you need discs for the Disc Golf Tournament, you can find them at Carlton Bike Rental. Check out the art while you're there and say hi to Joelene.

In Duluth, there's another great art show in store for you at Trepanier Hall at 202 West Second Street in Duluth. Northern Women - Below Zero Windchill Creations is the amusing title. The art show will feature work by Wendy Savage, Karen Savage, Joyce LaPorte, Roberta Marie, Laurel Sanders, Carolyn Sue Olson and Ellen Sandbeck. Door Prizes, Food and Music....another event that can't be missed! Opening reception: 5:30 - 7:30.

Wrenshall, MN is the home of the Free Range Film Festival, now in its eleventh year. Since 2004, this barn has drawn thousands of film buffs and curiosity seekers, eager to watch independent cinema. You can find it at the junctions of County Roads 1 and 4 just one mile south of Wrenshall. Selected films are shown in their massive hayloft on a 14’x 24’ screen with surround sound. While there is officially no charge for admission, the organizers do ask audience members for a $10 donation to help pay for barn maintenance.

In the Twin Cities Even Break Gallery is hosting an all day carnival and fundraiser with live music and open stage - webstream live telethon for The Lonesome Kid who is going to Mississippi in August. Donations get prizes! Details here.

Monday at Town Green Maple Grove, MN (Acoustic) Legends are putting on a free night of exquisitely performed music by five of Minnesota's most gifted artists. Outside. Under the stars. Under clear skies. Under cloudy skies. Over the proverbial top. In one of the metro's premiere facilities. Lonnie Knight, Dakota Dave Hull, Tim Sparks, Tom Lieberman and Dale Menten. It will be a memorable evening to be sure.

At the same location there will be another Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan concert August 6 from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. This year, Scarlet Rivera will be part of the team along with returning artists including the core band members Matt Fink, Lonnie Knight, Stan Kipper, Mark Chico Perez, Ralph Dacut, Gary Lopac, Jim Steinworth and Billy Hallquist. Special guests include Patty Peterson, Barbara Meyer, Gene LaFond, James Loney, Barry Thomas Goldberg, Steve Grossman, Kenny Krona, Aaron Ollswang and Mark Lamoine along with Master of Ceremonies "Magic" Marc Percansky. This event also serves as a benefit to raise awareness and funds to support the ongoing efforts of Guitars For Vets.

And finally, publisher of our local free weekly rag The Reader Bob Boone is giving away free tickets to tomorrow night's Huskies home game in Wade Stadium. It's The Reader's 16th birthday. Last week the coupon to get you in free was on page 55. Pick up a Reader (this week's should start showing up around town today) and find that coupon. Check out the facilities. Our city council has been discussing it, too. The weather's supposed to be nice.

Meantime, life goes on all around you. Be part of it.


Top photos here were borrowed from their respective announcement pages on Facebook and temporarily used without permission.

Local Art Seen: Student Art Shines in Art for Earth Day Gallery Hop

Kailyn Sieler's Mermaid

“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” – Henry David Thoreau

I was able to explore at least half of the participating Twin Ports galleries in this year’s Gallery Hop, and repeatedly rewarded. The other day I shared pictures from the Duluth Art Institute's First Spark student show and thought it might create a nice echo to share a few more pictures of student art that I saw Saturday in Superior and at UMD.

Black and white and wonderful.

The Phantom Galleries – Superior exhibit is titled Seeding the Next Generation, assembled from Superior High School Students by Jeredt Runions, a real connector in the grass roots sector of our arts community. This show is in the New York Building on the 1400 block of Tower Avenue.

Art plays a variety of roles in our lives and in our communities, from therapeutic to social to aesthetic. It’s always exciting to me when I see young people exploring new ways to express all that nebulous “stuff’ of adolescence that is whirling about inside. I am certain that with Runions’ guidance many of young people will have developed new ways of seeing, both themselves and the world around them.

Across the bridge and atop the hill the doors and halls were opened wide for visiting the studio spaces and UMD arts facilities. From painting and drawing to digital and beyond I saw much that was thoroughly engaging. I saw playfulness and seriousness, unpredictability and plenty of material demonstrating that deeper thought was taking place.

The art of print making.

Having immersed myself in the arts program at Ohio University, I experienced some nostalgic moments, especially when I explored the printmaking room with its litho stones, intaglio and the presses.

Learning how to express oneself is a critical part of growing up. Getting exposed to the wide variety of tools for expression is a useful experience. Making art is one channel through which many leaders once traversed, whether it be visual, musical or literary.

“Be yourself, because those who matter don’t mind, and those who mind don’t matter.” – Dr. Suess

There was also a juried student show on display in the Tweed Museum along with a whole raft of other activities to mark the day. Here are some other things I saw in the corridors of the U and in the museum gallery. I got a kick out of the pantone colors served as cookies.

I still have more to share about the other work I saw Friday and Saturday, but for now here are a few snapshots from the students' shows, a worthy excursion.

“Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.” – Steve Jobs

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

A Visit with Painter/Sculptor/Muralist Erik Pearson

Pearson holds sketch of the new mural he created this year.

I first met Erik Pearson in Fall 2011. We were each part of Phantom Galleries Superior and his particular presentation was sculptural so that I failed to connect his work to the murals we’ve become quite familiar with at the Red Mug. When earlier this year I learned that the former Art in the Alley space across from the bakery was being renovated to become a bar, proprietor Suzanne Johnson gave me a sneak peak of the mural that was being inserted on one of the interior walls. And there was the congenial Erik Pearson in action, whose work graces the Red Mug’s interior and exterior stairwells. Having met previously I finally made the connection.

EN: Where did you grow up and what were your early experiences in making art?

Erik Pearson: I was born and raised in Superior. As a child I was always drawing, painting, and making things, plus, art was always one of my favorite classes all throughout school, culminating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from UWS.

EN: What do you like about mural work?

EP: I love the scale of murals. It's always exciting for me to see the small sketch evolve into a big mural with larger than life characters that take over the wall. I also like climbing on scaffolding and painting at different heights, it gives me a totally new perspective on the work and it's kind of like an adult jungle gym. Finally, it's an amazing experience to complete a large mural and have it on permanent display for the public. You never know who will see it and how they will be affected by it. I still get responses from people who have discovered one of my murals for the first time.

EN: Your murals have a definite style. How did this style evolve and who /what have been your influences?

A familiar face in the crowd?

EP: I paint my murals the same way that I approach my paintings, with many layers starting from darker colors and building up to the highlights. Stylistically, I've always loved the interaction of multiple characters within a very dense composition, it creates an immediate relationship or story that I enjoy exploring. My major influences are German Expressionism (Max Beckmann) and Mexican Muralists (Diego Rivera) with a little bit of poster art thrown in.

EN: Where do your ideas come from?

EP: Most of my ideas come from paying attention to everything all of the time. I store images of the way someone may stand, the color or style of their clothes, the quality of light and shadow during different times of day and weather and use those images when I start to paint or sketch. Musical instruments often appear in my work as do various other "props", I guess it's like putting on a play that has no specific script, but has a lot of interesting characters and a musical score. With my mural designs, I apply my usual tactics but add specific stories that will visually tie the painting to the building, location, or business where it's painted. I do research, gather stories, and talk to the owners about what makes their location unique and use a much information as I can, with many "inside" references.

EN: You also work in other media. What other kinds of art do you make?

EP: Besides paintings and murals, I also create three dimensional and wall relief sculptures of characters that look like they've stepped from one of my paintings, I do an occasional block print, installations, and I write and record songs.

EN: You’ve had some opportunities to do residencies. What is a residency and what makes it so valuable or significant?

EP: In 2001, I was awarded the first art residency of the Lanesboro Art Center in Minnesota. The month-long residency offered a stipend plus a place to live, so I promptly quit my third shift job to pursue the experience. I was able to devote the month to my proposed painting project, as well as, interact with the community in the schools and through public presentations of my work, I also taught an evening drawing class for adults. At the end of the month we had an art reception at the gallery for the work I completed during my residency. The residency in Lanesboro allowed me the time to discover what inspires and excites me about art, it also gave me a boundless determination to become a full time artist. Art has become my full time job since the residency and I have the community and the fantastic people at the gallery and theater to thank for it. I maintain a strong relationship with Lanesboro to this day.

EN: Where can people see more of your work, besides the Red Mug?

EP: I post process photos, projects, completed works, and upcoming events on my Facebook fan page, Erik Pearson Art/Shipwrecked Studio.

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EdNote: The Red Mug has put out a Call for Art for the North Country Dylan Days Celebration in May. We'd like to see your work and share it.