Still Life Painting in Oil Continues...

Still Life Painters spent 5 weeks working on creating paintings of meaningful objects. This class wrapped up on Friday, but the painters decided they wanted more!

So, we are continuing the class for 5 more sessions, starting April 13, and giving new painters an opportunity to join the fun.

This class provides students with a step-by-step method to capture objects on canvas with oil paints. Steps include arranging objects, drawing out them out, painting in shadows and color and refinement.

Instructor Neil Sherman is a favorite who breaks down the painting process in a fun and informative manner!

Still Life Painting: Session 2
April 13 - May 11
5 Tuesday evenings
6 - 9 pm
Tuition: $150
Multi-purpose Room

Register Today! 218-387-2737 or arts@boreal.org

Stations Inspire Many

When artwork began arriving for the Stations of the Cross Exhibit, we knew we had something powerful on our hands. The artist journey to express a traditional theme in a contemporary and local context produces emotive imagery that moves audiences beyond the religious realm and into deeper reflection.

The Stations address universal issues such as empathy for strangers, mob mentality and strength in adversity, something that we can all relate to in this complex world.

Over 125 people attended the opening last Sunday and dozens more have dropped by since, including many repeat visitors. People have shared with us how exciting and relevant they have found the exhibit.

Don't miss the exhibit, open daily 10 am - 4 pm through Sunday, April 4. We have some extended hours coupled with live music to offer a more contemplative experience. If you are unable to visit the show, we have posted photos of the pieces on our website, click here to see them. http://www.grandmaraisartcolony.org/photos.cfm?pid=169&eid=19

We hope to see you soon!
Extended Hours:
Tuesday, March 30: Walk the Stations
6-9 pm live music by Alex and Daniel Ditmanson, cello and violin

Friday, April 2: Good Friday
open 10 am - 4 pm
7 - 9 pm live music by Tristan Beaster, classical guitar

Sunday, April 4: Closing Reception
12 - 4 pm live music by Briand Morrison, jazz guitar

What's on your Playlist?

Duluth' PBS Station WDSE has created a new program all about the arts called The Playlist. They are calling it a local arts variety show. The Playlist airs it's first episode on April 1st. Expect good music, humor and a spot on the Art Colony's Stations of the Cross Exhibit!

The producers of the Playlist have a vision of artists engaging with the audiences on their own turf and in their own styles. So, they are handing out flip-cameras for people to use. The footage will be used as "commercials" throughout the show as well as being posted on their website and facebook page.

Producers Karen Sunderman and Steve Ash came to the Art Colony today to teach interested artists on how to use the cameras and upload the clips to the Playlist. They have left a flip-cam at the Art Colony for artists to check-out. Even if you were unable to attend the training, you will still be able to check out the camera.

So, give it a shot, let the Arrowhead region know what you are up to! As they are saying, what's on your playlist?

Mats Abound

Instructor Neil Sherman hosted a successful class on Thursday night entitled, "Mat Your Artwork". Students were trained on the large Art Colony mat cutter, a requirement to rent the cutter ($5/day). The class also touched on color selection and mat techniques.

There was so much interest in the class we are thinking of offering it again soon. Let us know if you are interested so we can arrange another session.

Excitement Brews for the Stations of the Cross Exhibit

Artists have been dropping by all day to turn in their Stations of the Cross Exhibit artwork.

This show is a collaboration between the Art Colony and Spirit of the Wilderness Episcopal Church.

Hung at the Art Colony, 120 W. 3rd Ave. Grand Marais, MN, the Stations of the Cross Exhibit is open daily from 10 am-4 pm, March 21-April 4.

The exhibit explores biblical themes in contemporary art and is a representation of how our community expresses this in a local context.

Almost 30 artists, of a variety of spiritual backgrounds, have created original artwork for the show in mediums ranging from woodblock prints to watercolor, glass to textile, photography to wood, and clay to oil paints.

Don't miss the opening of this exhibit on Sunday, March 21st at the Grand Marais Art Colony. From 12:30 - 3 pm, local musician Nathan Baker will play his upright bass as the public walks the stations and reflects on the journey of both artist and Jesus. From 3 - 4 pm, Lisa Palchick will give a lecture on icons in art entitled, "Writing the Icon: A Journey into Another World." Light refreshments will accompany the Exhibit Opening.

Extended hours include:

Tuesday, March, 30:
Walk the Stations
6 - 9 pm: Live music by
Alex and Daniel Ditmanson,
cello and violin

Friday, April 2:
Good Friday Meditation
4 - 9 pm: Exhibit open
7 - 9 pm: Live music by
Tristan Beaster,
classical guitar

Sunday, April 4:
Closing Reception
12 - 4 pm: Live music
and Easter celebration

See you there!

Ubiquitous Book Prints

Illustrator Beckie Prange is in the Print Studio today working on images from her newly-published children's (and fun for adults too) book Ubiquitous.

Ubiquitous features biology-themed poems written by Joyce Sidman, a Duluth poet coupled with Beckie's illustrated prints.


Don't miss this great new book or these talented artists, I believe more books are in the works for both of them. And don't forget to take advantage of renting our Print Studio. It is one of the only non-toxic Print Studios in the Midwest. If you have a project in mind, this is a great resource for you.

Many Hands Make the Work More Fun!

A big THANK YOU to all our volunteers who helped make the catalog and catalog mailing possible! We couldn't have done it without you!

We sent out 5,200 catalogs this year!! More than double our usual amount. WOW!

Catalogs should be in your mailbox today, if you haven't received it already, contact us today and we will pop one in the mail for you. arts@boreal.org or 218-387-2737.

The cover for the catalog is a fused glass piece by instructor Sharon Frykman entitled "Northern Lights Alert."

Sharon will be teaching multiple classes this year including, "Slumping and Sagging Glass: Creating 3-D Pieces" in May, "Slumping II: Glass Plates, Platters or Bowls" in July, "Fused Glass Tiles: Introduction to Glass Fusing" in August and "Art Images in Fused Glass" in September.


3-D Slumped glass vase







This glass platter is an example of what students will make in "Slumping II"









Imagine a wall of your own hand-made glass tiles like these!

Or design your own image in the medium of glass like the crows pictured below.

A Weekend Filled with Woodblock Printmaking & Glass Sculptures

Nick Wroblewski hosted "Woodblock Printmaking"as a collaborative class between the North House Folk School and the Grand Marais Art Colony this past weekend!

Nick is a talented woodblock printmaker from Madison, WI. Click here to check out his website and beautiful artwork. You can view his work here in Grand Marais at Sivertson Gallery. Pictured left is Nick using the Art Colony's Intaglio press to emboss the wood-cut image onto the paper.

Students spent the first day of class carving blocks at the Folk School before coming to the Art Colony to print them off. Featured left a student carves out her image. Next the printmaker applies color and then rolls it out on the press.

Meanwhile, downstairs in the glass studio, Steve Frykman taught "Introduction to Kiln-Cast Glass."

On the first day of class, students created plaster molds which they then filled with glass pieces to create glass sculptures. This 3-day class started this weekend and continues next Saturday when the kiln will be opened to see what the glass sculptures look like. Stay tuned to see the finished pieces!

Pictured here is Instructor Steve Frykman answering a question about filling the plaster molds.

I will leave you with this final image one of the printmaking students created. This print truly captures the sentiment here in Grand Marais; Spring Has Arrived!

First-Ever Winter Plein Air Painting Festival

For our first entry of the Grand Marais Art Colony's blog, we decided to feature our first Winter Plein Air Painting Festival. Nothing like firsts, here at the Art Colony!

Plein Air is a french term referring to a painting executed entirely outdoors.

For four days, 16 talented artists braved the cold to capture the serene winter landscapes of the Gunflint Trail. Yes, you heard correct, painting outside in the WINTER in northern Minnesota!

To give you a sense of the high adventure check out this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dr80ZtK7mLw&sms_ss=blogger

Artists retreated in the evenings to YMCA Camp Menogyn where they were treated to 3 delicious hot meals a day, cozy twig leather furniture and a warm wood stove. Staff was even willing to model for an after-dinner painting session.

Capturing the beauty of winter was a main topic of conversation amongst festival participants and ultimately, it was decided that the element of light was most essential to a compelling painting. Painters relished the warm afternoon light as the sun-set behind whimsical pines and a vivid blue sky. Each canvas exploded with colors one expected from a scene of summer wildflowers, acknowledging that winter is just as creatively inspiring and boldly beautiful as any warm-breezed day.
Mark your calendars for next year, because you don't want to miss this spectacular event that celebrates art and winter in the best of ways! Paintings from the Festival are on exhibit at the Grand Marais Art Colony Gallery through the month of April, so, stop by and check out these gems.

The Art Colony is located at 120 W. 3rd Ave in Grand Marais, MN