Local Art Happenings As We Enter the New Year

In a few hours 2014 will come to a close. For many of us it's been a year of both achievements and disappointments, a year of satisfactions and sorrows. And a year rich in beauty. After a lingering look back, we turn the page and turn our faces to what lies ahead. I sincerely hope that for each of you 2015 will be a very special year in a way that deepens some aspect of your life in a profound way.

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Pink Aspens by Kenneth Marunowski

Here in the Twin Ports the art scene is bursting out of the gate like a flash-bang. There will be some exciting openings over the next ten days. If you can make any that will be good. If you can make all, that will be great.

Esther Piszczek's Visions at Benchmark Tattoo.
The opening will be this Friday, January 2 from 6-9 p.m.
Benchmark Tattoo, is located at 1831 E. 8th Street.  Her Zentangle-inspired art will be on display through the end of the month. And if you're interested in doing Zentangle creations, she teaches classes. You can find her on Facebook or email at episzczek@gmail.com

Kenneth Marunowski will be sharing new work for the month of January in the Zeitgeist Atrium.
The opening for Ken's show is Monday, January 5th at 7pm, which will include free food from the Zeitgeist Arts Cafe and half-price whiskey.

Marunowski is originally from Ohio, having received his Bachelor degree at Kent State. His plein air painting and drawing is stellar. Having also studied French he spent his junior year abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France at the Marchutz School of Painting and Drawing. (I'm jealous.) You can read more about the artist and this event here.

Ineke Grounds is the featured artist for January at the Red Mug Coffeehouse in Superior. The opening is slated for Thursday January 8. The show spotlights new work and is titled Bloom. The Red Mug always assembles wonderful receptions, and the time is just right for the after-work crowd, 5 - 7 p.m. I hope to see your there.

Second Friday Art Crawl
There are at least three places in Downtown Duluth where a art-fan can walk, talk and gawk on January 9.

The PRØVE Collective has announced the theme of their January event as Vestiges. In addition to being a release party for issue IV of their PRØOF Magazine, there will be an art exhibition featuring work pertaining to the impact of new media on old media. In addition to featuring art & writing by Jeremiah Moriarty, Sharon Rogers, Susanna Gaunt, Sheila Packa, Robert Adams, Hanna Newman, Devon O’Shaughnessy, Kevin Ealain, Darren Houser, Deanna Erickson, Andy Mattern, Samuel Orosz, Ed Newman, and em westerlund, featured artist and writer Brian Beatty will be reading from his work along with other select writers. 7 - 11 p.m.

If you like the early part of the evening for art before getting dinner and taking in a show, you can begin a few blocks east at Pierce & Piszczek Fine Pianos, 405 E. Superior Street. This is a joint art exhibit with nature photographer Ladona Tornabene, Ph.D. and Esther Piszczek. The artwork is displayed in a setting of beautiful, new YAMAHA and vintage pianos. Light refreshments will be served.

For your libations after these two shows, head over to The Red Herring on first street and check out the work of Patricia Canelake. It's always full of life.

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One final item of note: Today in 1869 French artist Henri Matisse was born.

During the year ahead... let ideas challenge you and beauty wash over you. Have a truly great 2015.

PRØOF Magazine Call for Art: Vestiges

PRØOF Magazine Sends Out A Call

PRØOF, Duluth, Minnesota’s publication of contemporary art and literature, is accepting submissions to its fourth issue, ‘Vestiges,’ coming out in January of 2015. ‘Vestiges’ will focus on the loss of print publications for all mediums of art. Any format or style of written or visual work addressing this theme is acceptable, and contributors are encouraged to think outside of the box.

Issue overview: The loss of print mediums for artists is devastating, and at once, thrilling. We forge ahead into a new domain of online publishing, and since PRØOF Mag is an entirely online publication, we are seeking visual art, poetry, flash fiction, essays, and short stories surrounding the disappearance of print. Please venerate, celebrate, cherish, admire, or disparage, condemn, disregard, or bits of both, so that we may put together a wide ranging dialogue on the subject of publishing.

**please note: If you are selected for this issue of the magazine as a writer, or a visual artist, you will be in consideration for inclusion in our January 2015 exhibition. We will be showcasing selections from the magazine, as well as hosting a reading with the featured artist, Brian Beatty. We may not be able to print, but we have the gallery space, and the tenacity, to create this transmedic event!

PRØOF Magazine: PRØOF is published by Prøve Collective of Duluth. Our mission is to showcase the talent of local, regional, and national artists and writers and foster the discussion of important ideas about arts and culture. PRØOF is proud to be based in Minnesota, and it will focus on one local artist in each issue, bringing them into larger discussions of regional and national art.

Click this link for submission information.