Local Arts Scene: Holiday Arts and Crafts Season Is Here

I'm fairly certain that you won't have to look too hard to find ways to Buy Local for the Holidays this year. There are events and opportunities on both sides of the bridge here in the Twin Ports, as well as in your own home town as well. Even though next Saturday is promoted as the Buy Local event of the year, you really don't have to wait till then to Think Local.

Benefits of buying local are many. You can actually meet the artisan, and build a relationship with a human being and not just a website. Yes, those A.I. "Assistants" seem to be getting pretty human these days, but there's nothing like a genuine smile with twinkling eyes. Neuroscience says the latter even provides a little dopamine rush.

When you buy local there's also a tax benefit. That is, these are folks who pay taxes locally and help support our community. Who knows where the money goes when you buy online?

Yesterday we visited the Duluth Farmer's Market at 14th Avenue East and Third Street. It was filled with crafters, cheese makers, potters, wreath-makers and all assortment of other creative expressions that would make a home cheerier or a Christmas stocking more delightful.

From there we crossed the bridge to Art on the Planet in Superior. Located on Tower Avenue within a half block of Belknap (park in the rear) it's got all kinds of cool things from wall art to goose quill pens, to Joe Carlson's 4-Leaf Clover pendants, to Kris Nelson Chair Art, and lots more.

I personally like to buy cards and keep them in a drawer where I can shuffle through to find just the right feeling to accompany a check I am sending someone or a birthday greeting. BUY LOCAL. Do as I do... And as I say.

If you do decide to get out and shop around next weekend, there will be the Outdoor Holiday Market on the corner of Hammond and Broadway, kitty-corner from the Red Mug there. Heike McDonald's spices, scarves, novelty items, and scenic gourds are just one booth to stop at. They will no doubt have a bonfire and other booths with friendly people. No robots. (Not yet, anyways.) If the cold is a bit much, grab a coffee at The Red Mug.

There will no doubt be bunches of places to find things in Duluth. Check out Karin Kraemer's Duluth Pottery, then grab another coffee across the street at the Folk School. Need a bite to eat? Tom Hansen has several places on that block now. What's your pleasure? And don't forget to check out the murals that have been added to the Lincoln Park "Craft District" these past couple years.

Now this is cool. A hollow gourd with a cresh inside, lit from within.
You can find these at the Holiday Market next weekend in Superior.
Look for Heike McDonald and say "Hi."

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Tree Table by Rachelle Kirk @ Art on the Planet

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Locally made.

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Hand-painted by Beverly Merritt

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And these boughs smell so fresh. All natural. No fake scents here.

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At the Farmer's Market yesterday.

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THIS JUST IN

Art on the Planet is pairing up with Wine Beginnings for a fun little giveaway leading up to Small Business Saturday! So, when you stop in to get your Small Business Saturday "Passport" stamped for the Superior Chamber of Commerce/Superior Business Improvement District prize drawings on Saturday November 30th, you can enter for a chance to win another fun basket filled with art, wine, and money saving coupons! Winner will be announced at the end of business Saturday, November 30th. 

Homestead by Britt Nicholas. (L) Art on the Planet

All day on Small Business Saturday, shoppers can enjoy free hot chocolate from Rachel's Rustic Decor, participate in her Make and Take Mini Shelf-sitter Sign Workshop for only $8.00 (walk-in's welcome!), browse beautiful and unique offerings from the 140+ artists and artisans represented at Art on the Planet, and take advantage of the special pricing on all Rachelle Kirk art at 25% off as well as deep discounts on Rebecca Couch paintings offered until 12-31-19!

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Lucky 4-Leaf Clovers @ Art on the Planet

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IF YOU ARE BUYING LOCAL, BUT SHIPPING TO FRIENDS OR FAMILY 

OUT OF TOWN, BRING YOUR PACKAGE TO GOIN' POSTAL 

at 816 Tower Avenue, just down the street. They pack and ship 

via USPS, Fedex and UPS. Whatever's your pleasure.

Local Art Seen: Have You Been Buying Local This Year?

Ceramic bowls and plates make great practical gifts.

The weekends leading up to Christmas are often the most complained about shopping days of the year. The stores get taken over by roving mobs of shoppers, parking lots are jammed and the lines long. This Norman Rockwell picture pretty much captures the spirit.

But guess what? There are plenty of alternatives to this madness. One of them is to not procrastinate. Start your Christmas shopping in June. Another is to do what my grandmother did... She started her knitting projects in January, making hats and sweaters and afghans for her numerous grandchildren. A third, this one being the theme for today, is to look for all those special gatherings of artists who have wares that might can fill the bill... or the stocking.

Zentangle-inspired Art Cards by Esther Piszczek

In a culture of mass production, doesn't it seem weird to get gifts that are "in" and make you feel "unique just like everybody else"? Now I don't begrudge getting gifts from big box retailers per se, but there's something to be said about receiving those fascinating kinds of things being produced by local craftspeople, artists, jewlers, and glass blowers.

Kenspeckle Letterpress

Here are some things I saw this past two weekends. I'm sure your community has similar places where creative expression flourishes. Ceramic mugs and bowls make wonderful gifts because they can be appreciated and used for a lifetime. The Northland has more ceramic artists than one can count, it seems, and each has his or her special style. The photo at the top of the page is from Karin Kraemer's cheerful studio in Superior's historic Board of Trade at the corner of Broadway & Hammond.

The whole building was open this weekend, meaning that all the artists who have studios there also had their doors open including painter Terry Millikan, fabric artist Erika Mock and the Mud Sisters, who also have a great variety of practical ceramic arts.

North Shore-O-Poly

Last weekend I came across the inventive Brian Minor's game North Shore-O-Poly. It's a Northland rendition of the classic board game featuring the streets and business of Atlantic City, except in this case the places are all those familiar sights and spaces on our North Shore, from Split Rock Lighthouse to the Gunflint Trail. The project seems to be a family affair, as is any good game.

Speaking of games, Esther Piszczek -- who has applied her drawings to T-shirts, calendars and gift cards -- has now produced several decks of playing cards which are, like, way cool.

Yesterday I found out that Marian Lasky and Rick Allen -- The Kenspeckle Letterpress team -- have been residing on the second floor of the DeWitt Seitz Building in Canal Park. I'd been doing occasional walk-throughs of Sivi's Art Gallery nearby to see their stuff, and now realize I need to take time to get down here to Canal Park's other spaces more often.


Another interesting space in the DeWitt Seitz Building is Mary Reichart's fiber arts space called Otlak on the 4th floor. Reichart, who works with felt, learned some of her techniques by observing locals during a stay in Kyrgyzstan.

Other things you'll find include cookies, candies, jellies and jams, all made locally and with love. Really. And of course there's the wall art that I'm so frequently writing about. You can appreciate it for five minutes in a gallery, or for the rest of your life in your living room. I'm not making that up.

Bottom line: Have you been buying local this year? Start collecting.