Staff photos/Rhonda Silence Above: Artistic women! Sandy Updyke of Moose Valley Photography, Maxene Linehan, Barb Wiltz, and Mary Jo Flack are a few of the talented people showing in the Hovland exhibit at Johnson Heritage Post. Above right: This lovely Inuksuk earthernware pot was handcrafted by Maxene Linehan. Right: Bremen Town Musicians (Hovland style) is a delightful carving by sculptor Don Ross. The show runs until June 21.
There is only one more week left of the wonderful Hovland artist show at the Johnson Heritage Post in Grand Marais. The exhibit, featuring 14 artists, has received rave reviews since its May 8 opening reception. The show continues until June 21.
With 14 talented artists, it is difficult to pick a work of art to feature. It simply is a show that must be seen, featuring the following artists.
» D an and Lee Ross use stone and
clay—ancient materials—to create modern designs. An especially appropriate North Shore contribution
to the show is Bremen Town
Musicians, Hovland Style.
» D avid Hahn, known all along the
North Shore, submitted several watercolors—Arrowhead Trail in Autumn, Croftville Shoreline, and Chicago Bay Winter. At the opening, Hahn enjoyed visiting with friends. “I just love watercolor,”
said Hahn. “I like the way it surprises
you.”
» N eil Sherman, an oil painter, offers
beautiful oils such as Hovland Dock: No Restoration Necessary and interesting solar plate etchings
such as LL Smith Jr. in Grand
Marais.
» Barb Wiltz, a watercolorist and
mixed-media artist, works from her imagination and fantasy, evident in works such as Fern Shadow,
a delightful piece with a woman
sheltered by fern fronds.
» Joel Lewis offers striking bold oil
paintings such as Superior Sunset
and one of his favorite subjects—
horses, of course.
» L ou Pignolet, a chemistry professor
turned woodworker, has several amazing bowls crafted on a lathe. The wood he uses is from Minnesota, primarily from the North Shore. » Bruce Updyke is also a woodworker,
who has been “conceiving and creating things” for over 50 years. Much of Updyke’s work
incorporates the natural world
around us.
» S andy Updyke, a photographer,
whose forte is wildlife shots, offers several on large canvases. Found
amidst the animals is a lovely still
life, Mossy Rock.
» V irginia Danfelt is a photographer
who likes to experiment. Her works, such as the intriguing Lake Superior ice floe titled On A Mission, are printed in the traditional wet darkroom process and then hand painted using Marshall photo oils. Danfelt explains, “The artistic goal is to create an image
the viewer can recall: a feeling of
being there…”
» Maxene Linehan is a painter, photographer,
and potter, creating
northern-themed images such as
Inuksuk Pot.
» Mary Jo Flack’s portion of the
exhibit is an interesting blend of pyrography, also known as woodburning or fire writing. She uses many other media in addition to wood—paper, bark, and leather. Her renditions of chickadees are wonderful, as is the buck peering around a pine bough titled Hidden Strength. Also not to be missed is
her unique “recycled sculpture,” a
leather and feather decorated jug.
» Julie Kean displays what she has
learned making baskets for the past 30 years. Her beautiful pieces
are made of primarily local materials.
» T erry Lewis intertwines her beautiful
beads with natural materials, creating lovely jewelry and outdoor décor. Especially delightful is a hummingbird feeder created from a bright blue wine bottle and complementary beads.
The Johnson Heritage Post is open 1:00 – 4:00 Wednesday through Sunday.
If you miss the exhibition by these talented Hovland artists, many can be found at the Hovland Arts Festival, held each year on the first weekend of July (10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. July 4 and 5).
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