Breaking News: Fun Has Not Been Canceled at Art on the Planet

Watercolors with Anthony Sclavi

Though Cancel Culture has done a lot of steamrolling this year, and Covid-19 has cancelled a multitude of events and activities, there are pockets of our community where Art and Creativity remain a central part of our lives and have not been cancelled. One of these pockets is Art on the Planet in Superior.

Yesterday I received an email from AotP that began in this vein:

The last time we talked we promised that we would find a way for us all to get back to the "FUN" Art to be found in our classroom.... and we are thrilled to announce that art classes are absolutely available for private groups of 6 or less!!!

It appears that they have all the sanitization and social distancing figured out, so all you have to do is call to get set up. Contact Wine Beginnings* (715-392-8466) or message Art On The Planet (artontheplanet@yahoo.com) to schedule any of these private classes:
Paint Pour Peel Jewelry ClassPaint a masterpiece with Checkalski Fine Art
Watercolors with Anthony Sclavi
Liquid Acrylic Paint Pouring
Rachel's Rustic Decor Sign-Making
Customize a Wine Glass Set with Checkalski Fine Art & Wine Beginnings
Color-Wash Cork Trivet Projects with Framing by Stengl
(*Art on the Planet shares building space with Wine Beginnings.)

Artists and artisans whose work is available 
at Art on the Planet:

Julie Abraham, Dennis Aho, Rebecca Aitken, Shelley Alvin, Jill Anderson, Lynn Anderson, Richard Anscomb, John Autrey, Kimberlene Ball, Pete Barnett, Kelly Beaster, Debra Berg, Chelsea Branley, Bridgette's Cadillac, Dave Brochu, Sue Brown-Chapin, Craig Bruce, John Buczynski, Reba Buczynski, Sabrina Bunnell, Valarie Burke, Joseph Carlson, Kyle Carlson, Deb Carroll, Scott Checkalski, Richard Chilton, Jan Chronister, Joleen Clendenning, Rebecca Couch-Iatonna, Denise Denu, Frank Doran Associates, Rachel Eisenmann, Barb Engelking, Ann Esala, Susan Fabini, Elizabeth Fedorowicz, Becky Foster, Mike Fudally, Jeff Fujan, Charlene Galazen, Jack Gergen, Cindy Gilbert, Shawna Gilmore, Jamie Goodiel, Anne Marie Gorham, Jack Green, Mary Gregg, Mary Lou Harris, Paula Hegg, Margie Helstrom, Joan Hendershot, Stanley Hendrickson, Laurie Hernandez, Cameo Hilliard, Celia Hintsala, David Hoad, Susan Holley, Thomas Holmstrand, Joan Holmstrand, Theresa Hornstein, Jan Jenson, Ronalee Johannsen, Dawn Karlon, Marge Kehoe, Lindsey Kilgore, Rachelle Kirk, Denise Kitchak,

Aaron Kloss, Jayson Knutson, Lashana Koivisto, Jessica Krueger, Cari Larson, Patricia Lenz, David Lesczynski, Ki Lindgren, Gretchen Lisdahl, Susan Litehiser, Don Little, Devin Lowney, Bill Lyth, Lee Makinen, Lauren Marmorine, Michelle Marquart, Steve Matheson, Donald Mattson, Sue Matuszak, Sarah Mayne, Martha Miller-Powell, Mary McMahan, Ryan Murphy, Kris Nelson , Janet Nelson, Rachel Nelson, Ed Newman, Susie Newman, Amanda Nindorf, Lydia Noble, Sheila Oak, Rebecca Olson, Kathie Otterino, Kathleen Patchen, Bruce Pauc, Sue Pavlatos, Emily Peterson, Holly Phillips, Laurie Pinther, Esther Piszczek, John Poldoski, Joe Polecheck Tom Postudensek, Michelle Purvis, William Ralph, Sue Rauschenfels, Cari Reder, Kathleen Rehm, Jamey Ritter, Pat Roberts, Gloria Roy, Madison Rupp, Dan Savoye, Patty Schafter, Dani Schmidt, Nancy Senn, Kat Senn, Margee Senn, Rachel Senn, Pat Shehan, Similar Dogs, Betty Steeg, Kristen Stetzer, Richard Stirling, Cassandra Stovern, Caroline Strezishar, Edna Stromquist, Kenneth Swensen, Michelle Swanson, Phaedra Torres, Judy Webb, Jamie Welch, Mary Jo Wiseman, Sandra Wojtoff, Dellwin Wright, Joseph Zastrow, Karen Zeisler

Zentangle design by Esther Piszczek

Paint Pour Peel Jewelry Class. You can do this.

NOT INTERESTED IN MAKING ART BUT YOU'D LIKE TO BUY

SOMETHING FOR A BLANK SPOT ON YOUR WALL OR FOR

SOMEONE YOU LOVE? VISIT THE WEBSITE AND SHOP ONLINE

FOR CURBSIDE PICKUP. Click on the Art2Go tab.

WEBSITE:
https://artontheplanet.weebly.com/

1413 Tower Avenue, Superior, WI 54880 

Gallery Hours - Wednesday - Friday: 11:30 - 6:30 / Saturday: 10:00 - 4:00

Olde Tyme Book Making at Tight Squeek Press

Many years ago I heard a story about a boy who was beat up in school because he said his mother made his cookie at home. They said, "Cookies come from a story. Your mother can't make cookies."

Like baking cookies, or making salad dressings from scratch, we are accustomed to buying our books from a store, either brick and mortar or online. The idea of making a book ourselves is utterly foreign to most of us. Unless you are also an artist.

I've met all kinds of fascinating people through this blog and other social media. One of the most interesting is Spanish artist Pere Salinas, an artist book maker. You can see some of his work here. Book making is an art, one that requires a slower lifestyle to do it well.

So it was with interest that I read the invitation to attend a class on book making by John Hinkel of Tight Squeek Press. Classes begin this coming Monday for five weeks, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.  Participants will learn how to create a hand-made book of medieval structure (hand sewn signatures on real raised cords, hard-bound with leather spine and corners) from scratch.

Sounds way cool to me. For ages ten and up.

Tight Squeek Press is upstairs above Pineapple Arts at 128 West 1st Street. Hinkel is the proprietor of Tight Squeek Press, a small letterpress shop specializing in hand work. Products include limited edition prints, greeting cards and books. According to the literature, all projects generated by the press are original to the press itself, commonly involving hand composition of texts using lead type, multicolor block print illustration from hand-carved blocks, and hand binding with sewn signatures in paper, cloth or leather. Job printing and binding projects are also considered for acceptance.

Cost for the class is $85.

Pineapple Arts has all kinds of classes, though. Classes for kids include drawing, jewelry making and watercolor pastels. Todd Olson, locally well-known for his origami skills, will teach the art of paper folding to kids of all ages, up to age 99. There are also crochet workshops, watercolor painting classes, and figure drawing sessions.

Want to dabble, or get assistance in releasing your inner artist? Stop in an grab a schedule.

SAD NEWS DEPT.
I learned last night that Zimmy's in Hibbing has closed its doors. A couple weeks ago I was trying to contact the world famous restaurant to gather a few details about the contests they would be running for this year's Dylan Days Festival there. One of my great ambitions over the past six years or so was to have one of my own Dylan paintings hang on the walls there with all the other fabulous artwork.

People come from all over the world to meet, greet and eat at Zimmy's and to see the memorabilia there. I am hoping this is a temporary situation as I know how special the place is for many people. Evidently not enough locals to support it, however.

As news unfolds regarding Dylan Days events in Hibbing for this coming May, I will endeavor to keep you posted. Meantime, life goes on. Embrace it.