There's a New Art & Gift Shop in Town: Rabbit, Bird and Bear Fine Art & Gifts

This week I learned of a new Art & Gift Shop in Downtown Duluth:  Rabbit, Bird & Bear Fine Art & Gifts. The shop is next to Hanabi at 114 First Avenue West, a stone's throw from Joseph Nease Gallery on First Street.

I have been a longtime follower and fan of the work of Michelle LeBeau, owner/CEO who was Executive Director for AICHO for 13 years. 

"We opened our first shop in Cornucopia WI at Ehlers General Store until the Sept 15th -- we had a hugely successful time there, but it was only a seasonal shop so we decided to open a shop in Duluth," LeBeau said. "We closed down in Corny on the 7th and opened in Duluth on the 15th."

LeBeau previously 

Noteworthy work by Moira Villiard who continues to impress.

worked with AICHO staff to create the art galleries and Indigenous First gift shop. Her background includes 47 years in leadership roles in various non-profits here in Duluth including Women's Coalition (Safehaven), Women's Transitional Housing, Women in Construction and finally AICHO.  

"I retired in January 2023 and after a month was so bored that I knew I had to start working again.  I was in Red Cliff visiting Rabbett Strickland and the idea came to open a gallery in Bayfield. At the time I couldn't find available space so luckily found the spot in Cornucopia -- once I decided to open a shop," LeBeau explains. "I reached out to all the artists I had been working with the past 15 years and invited them to be a part of the new gallery. Everyone I reached out to was very happy to be part of a new shop."

As it turns out, while in Cornucopia LeBeau met additional artists that have now become part of her shop here in Duluth. 

"Avery Makes Room For Them is our gift shop coordinator -- he worked previously at Les Kendall's Smokehouse and Indigenous First. Avery is an artist in his own right.  I had a lot of help from my family and Avery setting the shop up so it went really smoothly."  

Michelle's son, Zach, is also an artist the store carries. "He makes custom knives and his partner Kim Nordin sells her jewelry in the shop. My grandson, Stone, named the shop," she said. "I feel very lucky to have had the support of my family and all the artist's we represent.  Our start-up loan came from NE Entrepreneur Fund."

LeBeau intends to open a second location in Washburn WI at the Washburn Cultural Center in June 2023. "We also have a space in Bayfield that will open this January."  

FOR MORE INFORMATION, including hours:

Visit https://www.rbbartgifts.com/

Open Every Day Till Christmas: Lots to See at Two Loons in the Lincoln Park District. Buy Local.

I started with this photo because (a) it's colorful, and 
(b) Somerset Maugham wrote a fun short story called
Mr. Know It All. 

I stopped in at Two Loons Gallery & Boutique in Duluth's Lincoln Park District to pick up a calendar for 2022. Yes, it's hard to believe we're turning the page on another year. For Christmas shoppers desirous to shop local, there are a whole host of shops in the West End, and places to eat or fetch a libation. The photos here are from Two Loons, but since we're just two weeks from Christmas, you should stroll the whole neighborhood. 

Today is a good day for it. It's Saturday, and here in Duluth every Saturday is a Small Business Saturday. Buy local and you'll be circulating your cash in the neighborhood. 

Aaron Kloss is a local artist who has gained a following. 
Here's a book he and Chuck Haavik partnered to publish.

Susie Newman, the Down Home Creator, has decorated 
goose egg ornaments and goose feather quill pens here.
Both have been popular, all of it home grown.

The Northland has lots of cribbage players, and almost as many
varieties of cribbage boards. Imaginations run wild and free.

Night lights, not bright lights.

A lump of coal, in the event you need to give one. If you give them 
a lump on the noggin could get you arrested.

A doll for doll collectors who have all the rest.

Scandanavians-R-Us here in the North Country

Jammin' with Boondock Enterprises

The store is overflowing with goodies and treasures. 

If you've never been, check it out.

TWO LOONS

Art, Gifts, Apparel and Decor

Open 7 Days a Week till Christmas

2025 West Superior Street

https://www.twoloons.mn/

Susie's Christmas Gift Shop for 2020 -- Buy Now and We'll Deliver

This year Susie's Christmas Gift Shop is offering a variety of gift possibilities. Here's what Susie has to say about what she's been doing this year.

I had planned to teach some art/craft classes this year which were cancelled because of the pandemic, so I came up with some "Art Classes to Go" packets. These might be an unusual gift for either a child or adult who may enjoy doing art. Everything is included in the packet to make a completed project.

Art Class to Go Christmas Card Set

Two of the classes are making greeting cards, one for Christmas cards and the other for cards with animal themes using some very interesting and unusual papers of multicultural designs. These two card making classes are appropriate for anywhere from 8 years old to adults. $20 makes 10 cards.

 

Art Class to Go with Watercolors

Another Art Class to Go is designed for children from ages 3 and up. Watercolor paints are used to bring out various textures in some fun papers, and includes animal cutouts to also decorate according to specific instructions using the materials given in the packet. This packet costs $9

In another class I'm offering, you can make 3 metallic looking gift boxes for $14, again appropriate for older kids and adults. (Photo at top of page.) These end up looking pretty classy!

I also have Goose Egg Ornaments for sale ($20), which come in a hand decorated box for storage during the year, and goose feather quill pens ($22) which come with a holder and a bottle of ink. 

 

If you are anywhere in or near Duluth or Superior, Ed or I can deliver to you, or arrange to meet you somewhere. If you are outside of the area I can ship the Art classes for an additional $5,  or feather pens minus the ink for $25.

 

MORE PHOTOS BELOW

Goose Egg Ornaments and Art Classes to Go can be found at Two Loons in Duluth's Lincoln Park District. More of Susie's work can be found at Art on the Planet in Superior.

TO ORDER Contact Susie, here on Facebook or by Email, Downhomecreator AT gmail DOT com.

* * * 

Goose Egg Ornaments. ($20)

Goose Feather Quill Pen ($22) --includes holder and ink.

Art Class to Go (fish texture reveal)

Art Class To Go card designs for kids age 8 to adult.

Rodrigo Bello's Gift

"Dreaming"

We all have gifts of one kind or another... music, public speaking, performing, helping, teaching, etc. It's what we do with out aptitudes and motivations that moves us into various career channels, hobbies or professions. An artists skill set includes having a keen eye, experience with the materials, and a sensitivity to proportion, to color and design. It's astonishing how an apparently simple confluence of light and shade, line, shape and form can evoke deep emotions. When an artist's work accomplishes this, we appreciate what he has done. He has taken his gift and utilized it, and in sharing the products of his imagination and labor we ourselves are uplifted.

"The Actress"

Friday evening I visited Trepanier Hall to experience the program What's Left: Lives Touched By Suicide Exhibition and the art exhibit that will be on display to the end of March. Before entering the exhibit hall, which I will write about sometime soon, I noticed paintings by Rodrigo Bello were on display in the small gallery. An artist from Santiago, Chili, I first encountered his work at the PROVE Gallery downtown in a show titled Transplants. Though his stay in the Northland was brief, the impact of his work has not been so.

I asked AICHO Executive Director Michelle LeBeau about the artist. "He has since returned to Chili, but he made a gift of his paintings to the American Indian Community Housing Association, and these works are now part of their permanent collection," she explained.

Here are some of the pieces from this collection. I share them with you that you might appreciate the stories they tell, but also be inspired to polish your own gifts and talents that you might make a small part of your world a better place.

Thank you, Rodrigo, for your generosity, and to AICHO for sharing your space with the wider public.

"Three Voices" (Detail)

"The Trapezists"

"Chess"

"My Nephew"

"Fishing Day"

"Fishing Day" (detail)