The Arrowhead Center for the Arts was crowded with art and music enthusiasts who gathered on Saturday, October 6 for a wonderful evening of entertainment for a great cause. Proceeds from the evening will be used toward restoration of Dawn and Sea, an oil painting by Grand Portage artist George Morrison donated to Cook County High School in 1952. Award-winning singer-songwriter Keith Secola and George Morrison’s son, jazz guitarist Briand Morrison, were among the performers on the ACA stage.
The Arrowhead Center for the Arts was crowded with art and music enthusiasts who gathered on Saturday, October 6 for a wonderful evening of entertainment for a great cause. Proceeds from the evening will be used toward restoration of Dawn and Sea, an oil painting by Grand Portage artist George Morrison donated to Cook County High School in 1952.
The Minnesota Museum of American Art will be including the painting in a national tour of Morrison’s work and has volunteered to pay half the $3,500 needed for restoration of the painting. The school had to come up with the rest of the money to restore the beloved painting. And, when the painting is returned in May 2015, the school would like to create a museum quality display for the painting, currently valued at $30,000.
The benefit concert came close to raising enough money for the restoration, thanks to George Morrison’s son, Briand Morrison, who coordinated the fundraiser. Briand Morrison, a talented musical artist, performed with Roxanne Berglund. Morrison also performed on the ACA stage with award-winning Ojibwe singer songwriter Keith Secola.
Rounding out the evening was the blues man Pete Kavanaugh, storyteller Rose Arrowsmith DeCoux and the Grand Portage youth drum, Stonebridge Singers.
Grand Marais Playhouse Artistic Director Sue Hennessy was delighted with the community’s response. “Thank you to everyone who attended,” she said. “We are very close to the goal of paying for the restoration. We raised $1,180. We still need more money to cover the school district’s share of the restoration and then we need to raise money to create a proper display case for the painting when it returns for the national tour.
“Plans for another fundraiser are under way. Stay tuned!” said Hennessy.
Donations to the school district for the restoration are still being accepted.
For more information, contact Hennessy at (218) 387- 1284 ext. 2.
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