At the Grand Marais Art Colony, we exist to support the enduring human need for creative expression and inspiration. Artists and creative seekers of all levels come from across the country to learn from renowned instructors, create art, and engage together in artistic inquiry.

August Courses

2-6 :: Book Structure as Sculpture
2-6 :: Mentor Series: The Practice of Living as an Artist
2-6 :: Mentor Series: Art Making and Being in the World
7 :: Virtual Presentation and Film Screening: REVERENCE
9-12 ::
19 :: Family Class – Watercolor Monoprints
19-23 :: Working Small with Big ResultsSculpt – Chair
9-13 :: ZigZag Sketchbook
14 :: Mini class:Drawing on Point
16-19 :: Metal Casting with Recyclable Molds
16-20::  Sumi-e: Painting from the Heart
16-20 :: Carboundum and Collagraph Printmaking
16-20 :: Throwing on the Potter’s Wheel: Finding the Center
20 :: Blackware Drum Firing with Coreena Affleck, 4-9pm, $35-$65
21 :: Artist Talk, 10am, Michael Marks, What Remains Here: The Fragmented Landscape as Print and Drawing
21 :: Drop-in Art Lab: Pop Ups and Paper Engineering (ages 8-14)
23-26 :: Expressive Watercolor
23-27 :: Pen and Marker Nature Illustration
27-28 :: Introduction to Calligraphy (ages 13-adult)
28 :: Virtual Artist Talk, 10am, Chotsani Elaine Dean, Trading Post: History, Memory and Place
30-Sep 3 :: Mixed Media Drawing

North House was founded in 1997 by a small handful of inspired locals passionate about traditional craft and cooperative learning.

August Courses

1 :: Small Breads: English Muffins, Biscuits and Buns; online
2-5 :: Young Makers Camp
2-5 :: Youth Sailing Camp
3, 10 & 17 :: Kumihimo: the Art of Japanese Braiding; online
4 :: Families at the Forge
5-8 :: Blacksmithing: The Basics & Beyond
6 :: Painting with Wool: Dala Horse; online
6 :: Woven Pewter Thread Hoop Earrings; online
6-8 :: Gudbrandsdal Rosemaling
7 :: Natural Dyes in the Steam Box
7-15 :: Timber Frame: Build Your Own Larger Frames
9-13 :: Youth Craft Camp: Wood, Fiber, Water
13-15 :: Rosemaling: Os Style
14 :: Mushroom & Fungi Intro
15 :: Mushroom & Fungi: A Closer Look
16 :: Rosemaling: Os Style
20-22 :: Build a SMall Table from Reclaimed Wood
21 :: Mushroom & Fungi Intro
21-22 :: Herbal Foods and Drinks
22 :: Mushroom & Fungi Intro
22 :: Craft of Sail
24-Sep 1 :: Timber Frame: Build Your Own Smaller Frames
27-29 :: Rug Hooking Design: Patterns from Nature
27-29 :: Lost Wax Casting: Sterling Silver Rings

Reid Thorpe’s current work explores the concept or feeling of nostalgia within fragmented landscapes using reflection – and the interplay between sky and water. He uses reflections of water and fragments of sky to create juxtaposition within the work. Whether walking outdoors alone or with his family, he searches for these views through trees featuring colors, sky, and reflection.

Free admission and open to all!

Gallery Hours
Mondays, Wednesdays-Saturdays 10-4; Sundays 1-4, closed Tuesdays

We are bringing everything that is “epic” about the our Heck Epic to our newly named “The Wolf” and sister event, “The Fox.” This year, we are welcoming you to either the 330 mile/three day Wolf or the 120 mile/two day Fox bikepacking events.

The Friends of the Edna G is committed to preserving the Two Harbors tugboat Edna G for future generations, and educating the public about her place in regional and world history. This the year group hosts an anniversary celebration.

Music and entertainment, artist and crafter booths, history booths, food, Edna G tours, games for kids and adults, raffle and contests for artists and writers and a coloring contest for ages 1-3.

contest info here

Saturday 10am-6pm
Sunday 10am-5pm

Stop by our outdoor commons in the center of campus each week to see live traditional craft demonstrations with our talented artisan instructors. Each week a different instructor will be featured and visitors will have the opportunity to observe their hands at work as well as ask questions about the craft. Free

September
2-5 :: Julie Arthur – Weaving

From Appalachia to Minnesota’s North Shore

The bold and evocative styles of John A. Spelman III’s artwork encourages us to consider the lives and landscapes of both the Appalachian region as well as Minnesota’s North Shore during the last century.

To accompany the exhibition, curators Scott Husby and Tracey Cullen have authored a book entitled John A. Spelman, Artist and Printmaker: From Appalachia to Minnesota’s North Shore. The book will be available at the JHP Art Gallery and in local bookshops. All proceeds from sales of the book will be donated to the Cook County Historical Society.

Sugarloaf Cove is an incredible place to explore geology! Step back in geologic time and learn about the formation of the Sawtooth Mountains and Lake Superior. Learn to recognize common rocks found in the area and the story of their formation. What does a Lake Superior agate look like? What about Thompsonite? Did you know lava flows have layers- and Sugarloaf Cove is one of the best places to see them all in one place. It’s all here under your feet – come explore with us!

The presentation is a biographical description of the lives of John and Tchi-Ki-Wis Linklater and the impacts of their lives on others such as Sigurd Olson, university biologists, and on the creation of Isle Royale National Park.

Tim Cochrane served as the superintendent of Grand Portage National Monument for twenty years. His books include Minong-The Good Place: Ojibwe and Isle Royale, Gichi Bitobig, Grand Marais: Early Accounts of the Anishinaabeg, and A Good Boat Speaks for Itself: Isle Royale Fishermen and Their Boats. He lives outside of Grand Marais. Besides researching and writing he enjoys ‘foraging’ for maple sap for syrup, wild rice, and growing apples for apple cider.

John and Tchi-Ki-Wis Linklater — a Metis and Anishinaabe couple— lived most of their adult lives on Basswood Lake. Tchi-Ki-Wis was a Lac La Croix Band member and related to many Border Lakes Anishinaabe people might know such as the Powells and Caribou family at Grand Portage and Lac La Croix. Tchi-Ki-Wis was also an expert artisan of a now largely lost Anishinaabeg craft, the making and weaving of mats from the inner bark of cedar into geometric designs.

John was Metis, of Anishinaabe, Cree, Orkney, and Welsh descent. His family have multi-generational roots working for and trading with the Hudson’s Bay Company in Ontario, Manitoba and further North.

All presentations are family friendly and free to the public – donations are always appreciated.