Entries into the guest books at lodges tend to be kind of boring, but I like how this group made a comic out of their stay at Heston’s Lodge on Gunflint Lake a month ago. Flipping through the stack of archives reveals this group has been making the trip for at least a dozen years, and they always leave a comic behind.

If you haven’t heard, the Duluth Art Institute will soon be starting screenings of Robert Hughes’ Shock of the New, which is a fantastic eight-part series on the rise and fall of the modern art movement. Not only will you be able to rest your eyes on the handsome and talented Robert Hughes, but you will be able to do it for free.
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He’s been clogging up the airwaves with his “January in Duluth” posts … now it’s time to bid him farewell.

(januaryinduluth.wordpress.com/).

Before he flees, he has agreed to give us a presentation on what he’s been up to.
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Prøve Gallery announces an open call for submissions for the show “Strange Objects.” (more…)

Last night I attended a very special evening of area writers sharing essays, poems and stories at Teatro Zuccone. It’s really exciting to see this kind of event assembled. Kudos to all involved. If winter is the off-season for the Duluth arts and culture scene, you’d never know it by all the things happening in our community these days. Here’s a link to my review of the event last night and the writers who alternately made us laugh or think more deeply about the meanings of our lives, sometimes at the same time.

The Podium at Teatro Zuccone

Duluth Underground Bass is a new student organization at the University of Minnesota Duluth. For the most part, we really like bass music. Anything and everything with lots of bass and funky rhythms. Some of us like it so much that we put on parties and shows and such and try to share our love for the bass with other people.

We have done pretty well, but there is a lot of room for improvement. So far we’re hosting a monthly gig at Stargate Nightclub called BassGate. It’s on first Thursdays of every month and it’s 18+. My favorite thing about BassGate is that it’s for the bass heads. The regular crew doesn’t come out and we completely take over the club, have our own DJs play the music they want to play and we all dance how we want to dance. Everyone has a good time.

If anyone is interested in seeing what we’re about, come on out to February’s BassGate next Thursday. “Dress Your Best” is the theme and we’ll be blessed with selections from Andrew Koch, Matt Harris, Cam Dickison, Jimmie Townsend, and Jordan Berndt.

If a man is worth knowing at all, he is worth knowing well. Simon Gray has been doing fascinating creative work for quite some time. Many here have appreciated his whimsical paintings and cartoons. He was willing to be interviewed for Ennyman’s Territory this past week. It’s a good read. With pictures.

Drop in and check it out.

The Superior Council for the Arts and North End Arts Gallery are showing University of Wisconsin-Superior student-artist paintings, weaving and sculpture until Feb. 11.

North End Arts Gallery is in the Red Mug Building at 1323 Broadway St. in Superior. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. T-TH-F-S.

Wednesday evening at the Depot there were four art openings in one … including the Member Show, and exhibits by Kathy McTavish, Steve Read and Emerging Photgraphers. Here is my take on the night. The DAI is a gift to our community in so many ways. Check in and check it out.

View from the balcony down into the Great Hall. Music by Tangier 57 permeated the scene as friends of the arts enjoyed the Member Show below.

The Tiny Art Show, a large group exhibition at the Prøve Gallery showcasing small pieces of artwork, will be held Friday, Feb. 10. All mediums are welcome, including but not limited to; canvases, prints, custom toys, stickers, and sculptures. As long as it fits in a 12-inch by 12-inch box, it qualifies as tiny art.
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Anyone can submit to this exhibit!

Yes, the 4x v2.0 is here! Last year we had over 130 entries into this unique and wonderful exhibit open to all! Submissions for the 4x need to be delivered or postmarked by Jan. 31 in order to be eligible. Submitted prints have to follow one main rule: one side must be 4 inches! Let’s see how creative you can get!
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This is the last weekend to check out my collection of original concert posters from San Francisco featuring The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, Cream, and many more bands of the 1960s. The posters are all from 1966-1968 and most of the artist went on to create the album covers that everyone loves from the era. The show is free, and the original concert art is among the most rare ever produced and the most collectable.

The Skyway, Brian Stewart from http://www.stew-art.com/pleinair.htm

I came across this water color image from Brian Stewart while engaging in my newest time trap, curating the “Duluth-o-Philia” board on Pinterest. This does evoke a location for me, but for the life of me, I can’t remember the place. Bonus question, is it still there even?

Tangier 57 would like to invite you to take a little trip with us.

A number of local artists were featured in interviews over the course of 2011 at Ennyman’s Territory. Links to each can be found here and here.

Celebrate the arts in 2012. Get to know your local artists. And remember that you don’t always have to understand a work of art to be moved by it.

Greetings from the Homegrown Music Festival steering committee! The Winter Fiasco kicks off 2012′s Homegrown: The Apocalypse band registration, which runs Jan. 15 to Feb. 15. Band registration is online only (unless you’re Jim Hall). Also, Prøve Gallery is hosting a Duluth / Superior rawk poster art show during the Fiasco. If you have art you would like to display, please contact Richard Hansen: richard [at] soundunseen [dot] com. Spanks!

Our camp may be dismantled, but we remain resolute in our unity. We love this city. If you, too, aim to make it better, there’s only one thing left to do:

Join us.

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Occupy Duluth on Facebook

I just posted a fascinating look at the artist behind Chronicle: The Graphic Novel, which premiered at Friends of Industry last summer, at Ennyman’s Territory.

Rolf’s Chicken Photo Shoot — another reason why I love this town.

Last night’s opening/reception at the new Prøve Gallery in Downtown Duluth was as exciting as the first. For those interested in the arts, I have posted a few photos with commentary at Ennyman’s Territory.

Don’t forget the two shows tonight in Superior at Mr. Lucky’s and Goin’ Postal. The Superior Telegram featured these two events in a front page story this week by Maria Lockwood titled Mixing art and business.

It was a full house, everyone alive as the Duluth art scene spreads its wings.

Large composition by Jeredt Runions is one of many sights at the Goin' Postal show Saturday night from 6-9

Lots of arts related things to see and do this second weekend in December. Here are a few more ideas absent from yesterday’s Wave.

Prøve Gallery has announced the opening of a new show, Second, on Friday, Dec. 9. Second will feature the work of Alexander Hanson, Nikki Burger, Michael Beachy, Brittany Sanford, and Zach Gorr. Prøve Collective members Anthony Zappa, Justin Iverson, Nickolas Monson and Steven J Read will also be presenting work. The DJ collective the Crunchy Bunch will be spinning records, food will be provided by Clyde Iron Works and micro-brewed beer will be provided by Carmody Irish Pub.

I enjoyed the first show immensely. Last night I met with three of the young men from the PRØVE collective who started this new gallery and published the interview at my Ennyman’s Territory blog.

This event is free and open to the public.

The Prøve Gallery promises to be an exciting addition to the Twin Ports arts scene.

Just posted at Ennyman’s Territory, an inside glimpse of the creative energies that drive John Heino.

John Heino photo from his Radiance series.

Just posted at Ennyman’s Territory, “Twin Ports Area Arts Scene Gears Up for the Holidays.”

This is a small collection of things to see and do here in Duluth and Superior. Always get the full skinny by reading The Wave and The Reader.

Saturday was the Asian & Pacific American Culture Show at UMD.
“How We Came to Be Here” was hosted by UMD’s Asian Pacific American Student Association. Kate and I enjoyed a night of Asian arts, cultural performance, and delicious Asian cuisine catered by Sala Thai. (more…)

Are you:

• An alum of the School of Fine Arts at UMD?
• Still living in the Twin Ports area?
• Currently making a portion of your income through creation of your art (music, visual arts, theater)?

A student group through UMD’s School of Fine Arts is looking to organize an alumni panel event and discussion in the Spring of 2012 for students of the SFA. Our mission is to provide our students the opportunity to a.) hear from those in the area who have succeeded in creating their art for a living and b.) ask questions about the ins and outs of doing so.

If you are an alum of UMD’s School of Fine Arts and are interested in helping to provide an important educational experience for our students, please email ellis477 @ d.umn.edu with the subject: SFA Alumni Panel.

Look forward to hearing from you talented people!

Below, just a few photos from Nerd Nite at Teatro Zuccone in Downtown Duluth, November 2011.
Nerds, can you chime in with your best memories? (more…)

The informal gallery opening Thursday night at Prøve Gallery, in the Sons of Norway building across Lake Avenue from the Technology Village, was the most exciting night I’ve experienced in Art in Duluth in some time. (more…)

Artist with a tool belt
Cartoonist and author Chris Monroe found inspiration for her picture books while toiling in a hardware store. Now she’s working with Kevin Kling on a tale about sibling rivalry and love.