Art in March!

March is here and with it comes longer days, fun art and craft fairs, art openings, and more. Scroll down for details and links!


This list is updated as new events become available throughout the month, so feel free to check back and discover what may be new! Note that some classes and events have registration deadlines. 

Draw with me in March!

Wednesdays, March 2 & 9, 6-8:30 p.m.

Zentangle on Zoom! Foundations

Mondays, March 7 & 14, 6-8:30 p.m.
Zentangle on Zoom!
Wednesday, March 16, 6:30-9 p.m.

Details on all events, and more, below!
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All events are listed in chronological order, where possible. Click on colored text throughout to link to more information. 

Tuesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 10:30-11 am.
Tuesday Storytime at the Library!, Superior Public Library, 1530 Tower Avenue, Superior
"Join us every Tuesday through May 3rd at the library for stories, crafts, and FUN!"

Tuesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Duluth Art Institute Member Open Studio, DAI Lincoln Park Building, 2229 W. Second Street
"Duluth Art Institute members are invited to bring supplies and artistic visions to the Lincoln Park facility to connect with other creative people and spend time experimenting with their medium of choice. Each session includes time to create and optional end-of-session group critiques. Non-members can attend one free session of open studio before becoming a member. Members receive three free sessions. The ongoing cost is $5 per session. Scholarships are available. Email espooner @ duluthartinstitute.org for more information. Check link above for covid protocols."

Tuesdays, March 1, 15, 29, 4-6 p.m.
Teen Open Studio (13-18 years old), DAI Lincoln Park Building, 2229 W. Second Street
"Duluth teenagers are invited to a free after school art program. Bring your works in-progress or create something totally new. College art students are present to help you at every open studio. All supplies are provided and no previous art experience is required—everyone is welcome. Every Teen Open Studio includes food since it is hard to make art on an empty stomach. We encourage you to register online, but drop-ins are welcome. Masks are required, except while eating or drinking. Teen Open Studio meets bi-weekly. If you need transportation assistance to Teen Open Studio, contact info@duluthartinstitute.org and we will set you up with a bus pass. Check link above for covid protocols."

Wednesday, March 2, 6-8 p.m.
Figure Drawing Open Studio, DAI Lincoln Park Building, 2229 W. Second Street
"Sessions are open to all serious artists, from beginner to expert. Every session includes a live model, starting with short gestural poses and moving into longer holds. Work time is self-directed, no instruction offered. Headphones and water bottles are welcome. Paper, sketching materials, and easels are available. Artists must individually register online for each session. Check-in at the door is required. Attendees must be 18+. Cost: $10/session; 
This program is made possible by a grant from the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation. Check link above for covid protocols."

Wednesdays, March 2 & 9, 6-8:30 p.m.
Zentangle on Zoom! Foundations with certified Zentangle (R) teacher Esther Piszczek
For those who are new to the Zentangle method of pattern drawing or who would like to explore the foundations of this method in more detail or who just love to draw on Wednesdays. RSVP required the Monday prior to each class. Class limited to 8 screens. Zoom link will be sent out on the day of class to all registered students.
Cost: Financial Ability: $15-$40; Financial Strain: $0-$15

Wednesday, March 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Mount Royal Book Club, an Online Event
"The Mount Royal Book Club meets on the first Wednesday of each month to discuss fiction and nonfiction titles. Meeting are held online. To join, email Emily Blomberg at eblomberg @ duluthmn.gov for the Zoom link."

Thursday, March 3, 5-8 p.m.
Shop & Sip, Mr. D's Bar & Grill, 5526 Grand Avenue
"More than 15 crafters and vendors offer a variety of products at the Shop ‘n’ Sip shopping event. Admission is free and there are gifts for the first 15 shoppers."

Thursdays-Saturdays, March 3-5, 16-19, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 20, 2 p.m.
Flying Solo, UMD Marshal Performing Arts Center, 1215 Ordean Court
"This show includes five one-person plays written and performed by University of Minnesota Duluth students. They include biographical, autobiographical and fictional stories, plus literary adaptations. Directed by Tom Isbell. The performance on Sunday, March 20, will include American Sign Language interpretation. Tickets: $25 adult, $20 Senior/UMD Faculty/UMD Staff/Veteran, $15 Student, $10 UMD Student (advance) or Free rush @ door"

Friday, March 4, 5:30-8 p.m.
Book Signing: Zero Waste Kids, Cloquet Public Library, 320 14th Street, Cloquet
"Join Rob Greenfield and April Hepokoski at the Cloquet Public Library for the release of Rob's new book, Zero Waste KidsZero Waste Kids is a solutions-oriented book that teaches through projects and activities how to reduce, reuse, and recycle at home, at school, and in the communit
y. Zenith Bookstore will sell books at the event before and after Rob's talk."

Saturday, March 5, 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m.
Virtual Writer's Cafe, a Live Online Event
"Long-time Lake Superior Writers member Gail Trowbridge hosts a virtual meetup for writers. This event is free to both LSW members and the public, but registration is required. Email writers@lakesuperiorwriters.org by Friday, March 4; you will receive an email with a Zoom link close to the event."

Saturday, March 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Carl Gawboy’s New Paintings, Old Stories Art Exhibition, Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center
"This art exhibition is by Bois Forte Ojibwe citizen and Finnish American Carl Gawboy. More than 30 watercolors, acrylics and ink washes will explore Anishinaabe and Finnish cultural life, landscapes and spiritual teachings. Click here for required reservation. Gallery viewing hours will be every Friday from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. between March 11 and May 27. Gawboy will host viewing hours on March 11, April 1, April 15, April 29, May 13 and May 20. The event is free with a $10 suggested donation."

Mondays, March 7, 14, 21, 28, 5-7 p.m.
Berkenstein Arts Movement, DAI Lincoln Park Building, 2229 W. Second Street
"The Birkenstein Arts Movement (BAM) Program is a robust after school program that teaches youth how to build community and apply the creative process to problem solving. We designed BAM for youth currently enrolled at Lincoln Park Middle School. Artists receive art instruction ranging from drawing, sketching, painting, ceramics, collage, and photography. Leadership training coincides with all instruction. If you or someone you know is a fit for BAM, please email engagement@duluthartinstitute.org. BAM Program ends May 30, 2022."

Mondays, March 7 & 14, 6-8:30 p.m.
Zentangle on Zoom! with certified Zentangle (R) teacher Esther Piszczek
A more advanced class for those with some experience with the Zentangle method of pattern drawing or who just want to go for it. RSVP required the Friday prior to each class. Class limited to 8 screens. Zoom link will be sent out on the day of class to all registered students. Cost: Financial Ability: $15-$40; Financial Strain: $0-$15

Wednesdays, March 9, April 6, 4-7 p.m.
Rosemaling Class with Tara Austin, The Nordic Center, 23 N. Lake Avenue
"Tara Austin is an artist with an MFA in Painting who specializes in the folk art of Rosemaling. Austin’s work is part of a revival of rosemaling in the Upper Midwest which builds upon traditions while infusing each piece with contemporary reworkings that may ensure relevance to new generations. Her company, Scandi Bijou, provides painted heirlooms for the modern lifestyle, including Dala horses and rosemaled décor." Cost: $75 per class (All supplies included)

Wednesday, March 9, 6-7 p.m.
Superior Shares, a Free, Virtual Open Mic
"Lake Superior Writers hosts this virtual open mic. Ten 5-minute reading slots are available on a first come, first served basis, with priority given to members of Lake Superior Writers. Participants will be notified ahead of time if they’ve been selected to read. Readers are asked to limit adult content and language. Graphic violent or sexual content is prohibited. To register, email writers @ lakesuperiorwriters.org and indicate if you’d like to read. A Zoom link will be sent the day of the event."

Wednesdays, March 9, 16, & 23, 6-9 p.m.
Painting with Color, DAI Lincoln Park Building, 2229 W. Second Street
"Learn how to make the best use of your oil colors! In this three-session oil painting class, students learn about the properties of color pigments, the interaction of colors, color relativity, color harmony, and designing a painting to employ the best use of your available colors. Students will work directly from still life arrangements and from imagination to explore color effectiveness. Artist Matt Kania will teach using oil colors, but students using acrylics or gouache are welcome to attend. Pastels and watercolors are not recommended for this class. If rescheduling is necessary due to bad weather, class will meet on the following Tuesday. Click link above for covid protocols." Cost: $90 ($105 Non-Member)

Thursday, March 10, 7-8 p.m.
Photography Presentation with Erika Larsen, a Live Zoom Event
"Photographer and storyteller Erika Larsen leads a presentation about her time living with the reindeer herding communities of far-north Scandinavia. A Q&A will follow. Larsen’s “Walking with Reindeer” exhibit can be seen at the Nordic Center of Duluth through March 6. Email nordiccenterofduluth@gmail.com or call 218-831-7983 to request the Zoom link."

Thursday, March 10, 7:30 p.m.
Kirov by Night, UWS Experimental Theater, Holden Fine and Applied Arts Center, 1805 Catlin Avenue, Superior
"University of Wisconsin-Superior’s University Theatre hosts a 10-year anniversary production of “Kirov by Night,” the live variety show hosted by Andrew Kirov. The performance will include a guest appearance by Superior Mayor Jim Paine and several comedy sketches featuring UW-Superior graduates.

"The show is styled as a late-night talk show similar to The Tonight Show with sketch comedy similar to Saturday Night Live. The performance is free, but donations will be accepted to support a project to replace the seating in UW-Superior’s Manion Theatre. Guests are encouraged to arrive early. Masks will be required. The Experimental Theatre is in the Holden Fine and Applied Arts Center on the UW-Superior campus."

Saturday, March 12, 9-11 a.m.
Mystery Writing Workshop, A Live, Online Event
"This virtual workshop will discuss how to write a mystery novel. Hosted by Jeanne Cooney, author of the Hot Dish Heaven mystery series. Her new series, It’s Murder, kicks off in March with the release of It’s Murder, Dontcha Know. She’ll provide information about the types of mysteries and the mechanics involved in writing them. She will review the steps commonly followed in writing mysteries, from establishing the protagonist’s wishes and hooking the reader to scattering clues and tying up loose ends. Cost: $10 (members of Lake Superior Writers); $20 (non-members); Registration deadline is Wednesday, March 9."

Saturday, March 12, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Nice Girls of the North Second Saturday Marketplace, Spirit of the Lake Community School - on the corner of 54nd Ave East and Superior Street (Lakeside)
"At the Nice Girls of the North Second Saturday Market you'll be treated to lively music and a friendly atmosphere. Browse a collection of handcrafted clothing and bags, pottery, jewelry, stained glass, photography, personal care products, baby items and much more. Artists are on hand as personal shoppers to help you select just the right one-of a kind gift for every occasion. Click link above for covid protocols." Guest ArtistPamela Clifton Jewelry

Sunday, March 13, 1:30-4 p.m.

SoulCollage, St. Scholastica Monastery, 1001 Kenwood Ave.
"SoulCollage is a method of self discovery through the creation and analysis of a deck of collaged cards. The monthly SoulCollage Circle provides space for participants to play with images and allow their minds and hearts to come alive. Making the SoulCollage cards is part of the process and helps participants learn a bit about themselves.

"The annual cost to attend sessions is $220. Attending a four-month series costs $80. The monthly drop-in rate is $25. Drop-ins must register by 5 p.m. on the Friday before the Sunday session. For more information or to register contact Dawn Carrillo at dcarrillo @ duluthosb.org or call 320-260-8233."

Wednesday, March 16, 6:30-9 p.m.
Zentangle (R) & Wine on Zoom!, with Esther Piszczek, Certified Zentangle Teacher
Stay home and draw pretty lines with me! RSVP required to me at episzczek@gmail.com by Monday, March 14, at 12 noon. CostFinancial Ability: $15-$40; Financial Strain: $0-$14

Thursday, March 17, 12-1 p.m.
Virtual Artist Lecture: Marking Space with George’s Blues with Seitu Ken Jones, a Live Virtual Event
"In his FREE virtual lecture, Marking Space with George’s Blues, Jones will delve into artistic responses to the environment, specifically how African American artists continue to shape and sustain their well-being. In addition, Seitu will share how he and others have used simple and subtle techniques to mark the sometimes-forgotten presence of people of color on our streetscapes. 
All talks and workshops in the Power of Art series focus on art's ability to raise awareness, cultivate community, and promote social change. The series is made in part thanks to a grant from the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation."

Thursday, March 17, 6-8 p.m.
Spoken Word Open Mic, Wussow's Concert Cafe, 324 N. Central Avenue
"The Spoken Word Open Mic series, hosted by Tina Higgins Wussow, is open to all genres. Writers interested in a 10-minute performance slot can simply sign up on arrival. The event occurs on the third Thursday of each month."

Thursday, March 17-May 5, multiple days/times available
Fundamentals of Drawing and Painting for Youth, Great Lakes Academy of Fine At, 810 W. 3rd Street
"Designed for youths ages 10-18, this class series begins with drawing exercises in black and white, using pencil and pen and ink. After basic skills are learned, students advance at their own pace to watercolor. Each class builds on the next, laying a strong foundation of drawing skills, color-mixing and painting techniques. Emphasis is placed on teaching the fundamentals of drawing logically and simply. Students become familiar with the expressive quality of line and improve their eye/hand coordination and focus.

"Three different sessions are being offered during the spring term. Choose from Thursday evenings from 6-8 p.m. or Saturdays from 10-12 or 1-3 p.m. Each session runs for eight weeks. Cost: $200"

Friday, March 18, 5:30-8 p.m.
Art Opening: The Horse of Course, The Nordic Center, 23 N. Lake Avenue
"The Horse of Course, a community event that will feature the work of over 20 local artists as well as works by Chicago-based dalahest artist Linley Erickson. The result is a diverse array of mediums: paint, ceramics, woodworking, ink, textiles and more. Despite the breadth of submissions, all pieces rally around the same common theme; the horse. Many of the works will be available for purchase. For more information, call
 the Nordic Center at 218-831-7983.Exhibit hours: Fridays 12-4 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays 1-4 p.m. On View: March 18-April 10

 


Saturday, March 19, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Mi-zhee-kay Island Family Day with Karen Savage-Blue, Tweed Museum of Art, 1201 Ordean Court
"Celebrate the coming of spring and create art inspired by the Ojibwe legend of Mi-zhee-kay (turtle) Island."

Saturdays, March 19 & 26, 12-2 p.m.
Youth Clay and Weaving Workshop with Liz Vandersteen (ages 9-14), DAI Lincoln Park Building, 2229 W. 2nd St.
"Combine ceramic and fiber art in this wonderful and whimsical project! Starting with a slab of clay, students have the opportunity to use a variety of clay tools to shape their looms. After that, students will color their looms with glazes. Between the two classes, looms will be fired and ready for weaving. Students will receive instruction in slab building, weaving, texture, and color. Each student will create two ceramic loom projects. All supplies included. Full and partial scholarships may be available. Please email the Education Program Coordinator, Emma Spooner, at espooner@duluthartinstitute.org for more information. Click link above for covid protocols." Cost: $60 ($70 Non-Member)

Sunday, March 20, 1-3 p.m.
SunFunday: The Dala Horse, The Nordic Center, 23 N. Lake Avenue
"Learn to create a clay dala horse of your own. Register by calling the Nordic Center
 at 218-831-7983."

Saturday, March 26, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Free Family Day: Experimental Art for Everyone, Tweed Museum of Art, 1201 Ordean Court
"Inspired by the exhibition “Anti-Social Art: Experimental Practices in Late East Germany,” families and friends are welcome to view this exhibition and make their own experimental artworks. UMD art education students will assist participants in exploring different media, concepts and artistic styles. Masks are required."


Saturday, March 26, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
March Madness Craft and Direct Sales Show, AAD Shriners Center & Meeting Facility, 5152 Miller Trunk Highway, Hermantown
"Show features about 40 crafters and direct-sales consultants showcasing their works.
The Daughters of the Nile will be selling lunch."

Saturday, March 26, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Treasures of the Earth Green Goods Craft and Art Fair, Peace Church, 1111 N. 11th Avenue E.
"Shop for products made by local artisans who use natural materials such as stone, wool and wood, or recycled materials at the 12th annual Treasures of the Earth Green Goods, Craft and Art Fair. Wildlife and nature art will be included. Masks are required. Free parking is available."

Saturday, March 26, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Hillside Makers Market, Perception Coaching, 929 E. 9th Street
"Hillside Makers Market showcases local vendors of homemade gifts. For more information email Haley @ perceptioncoaching.net or call 218-213-3441."

Tuesday, March 29, 6:30-8 p.m.
"Lake Superior Writers’ Book Club for Writers will feature Brian Malloy. He will discuss his book The Year of Ice, give a reading from it, and answer questions about how he came to write his book, the techniques he used, and its road to publication. You do not need to be a member to attend. Register for this event by emailing writers@lakesuperiorwriters.org
You will receive an email with a Zoom link close to the event. We will be recording each event and making it available to those who register for one month afterwards. So even if you cannot attend, you can watch the session later!"

Wednesday, March 30, 7 p.m.
Dala Horse Creation with Linley Erickson, A Live Virtual Event
"Artist Linley Erickson will lead a virtual how-to presentation on the creation of a dala horse. Call The Nordic Center at 218-831-7983 to receive the Zoom link."

On View
February 4-March 6
Sami: Walking With Reindeer, The Nordic Center, 23 N. Lake Avenue
"The Walking with Reindeer exhibit will feature photographs by Erika Larsen, a storyteller and lecturer who lived in the Scandinavian arctic alongside Sami families in 2007-11. Her work has been displayed at the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery and The National Geographic Society. The exhibit also will include Sami artifacts from the collection of the Sami Cultural Center of North America. Artist Talk: Thursday, March 6, 7-8 p.m. via Zo
om. Email nordiccenterofduluth@gmail.com or call 218-831-7983 to request the Zoom link."

March 2022
Cassandra Quinn, Depot Performing Arts Wing, The Depot, 506 W. Michigan Street
"Cassandra Quinn is a contemporary mixed media collage artist living and working in Duluth, MN. Best known for compositions of vivid color featuring female subjects and/or rabbits."

January 26-April 3
Beth Livensperger: Don't Like Mondays, Duluth Art Institute, George Morrison Gallery, 506 W. Michigan Street
"Beth Livensperger’s large-scale collages depict women navigating the banal yet psychologically-charged space of office interiors, foregrounding female relationships across generations, from adversarial to supportive. In these pieces, receptionists are trapped behind tiny desks, a lone employee drowns in paperwork, and a manager delivers bad news to a subordinate. Men are relegated to bit parts—with visible hints that they still call the shots."

March 18-April 10
The Horse of Course, The Nordic Center, 23 N. Lake Avenue
"The Horse of Course, a community event that will feature the work of over 20 local artists as well as works by Chicago-based dalahest artist Linley Erickson. The result is a diverse array of mediums: paint, ceramics, woodworking, ink, textiles and more. Despite the breadth of submissions, all pieces rally around the same common theme; the horse. Many of the works will be available for purchase. For more information, call
 the Nordic Center at 218-831-7983." Exhibit hours: Fridays 12-4 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays 1-4 p.m.

December 20-Spring 2022
Twin Ports APIDA Collective: Like Me, Like You, Duluth Art Institute, John Steffl Gallery, 506 W. Michigan Street
"Cross the threshold: be welcomed into the life of Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans (APIDA) who live, work, and enrich the Twin Ports with their cultures, gifts, and histories. Bear witness to the stories of your APIDA neighbors and friends reckoning with stereotypes, myths, assimilation, and years of invisibility, documented through podcasts and videography, through two-dimensional work including photographs and paintings, and through sculpture, jewelry and the written word. Individual narratives come together to reveal truths about living as APIDA in the Twin Ports."

February 17-April 2022
Kristen Kaas - Refuge, Duluth Art Institute, Corridor Gallery, 506 W. Michigan Street
"Kristen Kaas weaves natural and synthetic fibers to create unique contemporary wall hangings, wearable accessories, and fiber sculptures. Her three-dimensional structures in crisp white and subtle shimmer contrast against bold darks and lines of black."

January 18-May 15
Visual Culture Lecture Series: Sara Blaylock, UMD's Solon Campus Center, 1117 University Drive
"The Tweed Museum of Art is featuring the work of independent artists working in the final decades of East Germany. Guest Speaker Sara BlaylockTuesday, February 8, 6-7 p.m.

March 5-May 20
Carl Gawboy’s New Paintings, Old Stories Art Exhibition, Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center
"This art exhibition is by Bois Forte Ojibwe citizen and Finnish American Carl Gawboy. More than 30 watercolors, acrylics and ink washes will explore Anishinaabe and Finnish cultural life, landscapes and spiritual teachings. Click here for required reservation. Gallery viewing hours will be every Friday from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. between March 11 and May 27. Gawboy will host viewing hours on March 11, April 1, April 15, April 29, May 13 and May 20."

Featured Class: Sunday, February 13, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Knitting a Teeny Spring Bunny, Yarn Harbor, 4629 E. Superior Street
"Learn to knit an adorable toy with the Teeny Spring Bunny pattern by Tatyana Grigoryan! Cute and quick, this is the perfect class for spring. The teeny hand-sized bunny toy is knitted flat in 6 simple pieces, with optional jacket, bib and carrot. The finished piece can be made in a few hours and is great as a gift, but cute enough to keep for yourself!

"This pattern is a beginner friendly knitted toy. Students must already be comfortable with knit and purl stitches, and following a very basic pattern. You will learn to do increases and decreases, sew seams using mattress stitch, chain stitch and straight stitch, simple embroidery, and everything else needed to complete this cute little project! Cost: $45"

Learn a Tangle!
Frozen Falling, created by Hong Kong CZT Cat Kwan, is a fun organic tangle. Click the link to learn how to draw this tangle line-by-line. Add some simple shading or a touch of color and use it to decorate envelopes, holiday cards, and bills. You can learn how to draw this tangle and many more on Linda Farmer's, CZT, blog at tanglepatterns.com.

Book & Film
Patterned Peace, by Esther Piszczek, CZT, published by Whole Person Associates, Duluth. Available on Amazon.com and Duluth Fine Pianos. Original, hand-drawn artwork ready to color. Includes full pattern index.
 
Life & Art Entangled, a 17 minute art documentary created by Lola Visuals featuring Zentangle (R) inspired artwork on a piano created by fine-line pattern artist Esther Piszczek, CZT, and the improvisational jazz piano music of Peter Brown. Life & Art Entangled debuted at the 2016 Duluth Superior Film Festival. Watch at YouTube.com.

Places to find my art in the Twin Ports:
Art on the Planet, 1413 Tower Avenue, Superior (ceramics, notecards, playing cards)
Duluth Fine Pianos, 331 W. Superior Street (next to Starbucks) (full gallery)
Master Framing Gallery, 1431 London Road, Duluth (notecards) 

Thank yous!
Thank you to Ed Newman for interviewing me for this article: Zentangle goes Zoom with Esther Piszczek, by Ed Newman, Ennyman's Territory, July 4, 2020.

Thank you to Amanda Hunter at Joseph Nease Gallery who put together 59 second videos for all participating artists of the Downtown Duluth Arts Walk's first virtual tour on March 27. Here is a link to the video she made of my work.

Thank you to Brian Barber of Perfect Duluth Day for featuring my artwork in January 2019: Perfect Duluth Day Selective Focus: Esther Piszczek

Other Places To Find Art
Where to find more local art events and profiles: Ed Newman's blog: Ennyman's Territory.
Connect with me on Facebook and stay updated on my classes/events on my web page, Eternal Possibility, and my Zentangle.com page, Esther Piszczek!

Thank you to Ed Newman, Perfect Duluth Day, and all others who contribute to this list.