Art in the Garden tour July 19 to benefit Community Arts Center

HANCOCK -- The 10th annual Art in the Garden tour will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 19. This annual fundraising event, to benefit the Copper Country Community Arts Center in Hancock, is a self-guided tour of six beautiful gardens in Houghton and Hancock.

Volunteer demonstrating artists and musicians will provide entertainment at each site.

Tour books cost $12 and are available at the Arts Center, 126 Quincy in Hancock. The booklets contain garden details, directions, maps and all the info you need to find the featured gardens.

Art in the Garden happens rain or shine! Get a group of friends together and carpool your way to glorious gardens, fascinating flowers and precious plants! Visit the Copper Country Community Arts Center Web site to learn about the many activities your participation will support.

Photo of potato flower © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu.

Keweenaw Krayons' Thimbleberry Jam Fest to offer music, food, hike / bike tours, fun July 20 at Mountain Lodge, Copper Harbor

MOHAWK -- Celebrate with Keweenaw Krayons at their 9th Annual Thimbleberry JAM Fest from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, July 20, at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and in Copper Harbor.

Browse the vendor booths, grab some food and thimbleberry sundaes, and JAM with an amazing line-up of musical artists! Get your picture taken with Oreo the Skunk. While waiting for the bus or trolley, visit the unique Copper Harbor shops, have your face painted, listen to street musicians and watch Bob and Jason juggle.

Carol Rose, left, and Susan Hallwachs of Keweenaw Krayons take a break during the 2007 Thimbleberry Jam Fest at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge. The Lodge will host the festival again this year, and shuttle buses will take visitors to and from Copper Harbor and Fort Wilkins as well. (Photo © 2007 Michele Bourdieu)

This year's festival includes Guided Trail Hike/Bike Tours from Noon to 4 p.m., leaving from the Lodge at the top of each hour. Explore the hike/bike trails from the Lodge to Copper Harbor. The Tours are courtesy of the Copper Harbor Trail Club. A limited number of mountain bikes will be made available by Keweenaw Adventure Company.

Parking is limited parking at the Lodge so consider parking in Copper Harbor and taking one of the shuttle buses. The Red Jacket Trolley and the Copper Harbor School bus will provide transportation from various bus stops in Copper Harbor (including Fort Wilkins) to the Lodge all day -- for no charge, but donations are certainly appreciated!

Frank Fiala picks up passengers in Copper Harbor during a shuttle run to the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge during the 2007 Thimbleberry Jam Fest. This year Frank will also offer round-trip rides to the festival from Calumet. (Photo © 2007 Michele Bourdieu)

Save fuel by riding with Frank Fiala on the Red Jacket Trolley from Calumet to the Lodge in the morning and back at the end of the day. The Trolley will pick up passengers along US 41. $10- round trip. Reservations required! Call 337-4706 or email staff@keweenawkrayons.com.

The Music Line-UP on stage at the Lodge*

11 a.m. - Noon -- Jazz with Kirsten Gustafson and Dave Ziegner
Noon - 12:15 p.m. -- Don Rupp on the harmonica
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. -- Augustine Family Band
1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. -- On the Spot Blues Band
3 p.m. - 4 p.m. -- Mz. Behavin’ and the Swing Cats
4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. -- Rhythm 203
5:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. -- Blue and the Swill Merchants
6 p.m. - 7 p.m. -- Squeaky Clean Cretins

*Schedule subject to change

Activities will include a Sweepstakes with prizes donated by the vendors and a 50/50 Drawing.

Street Musicians are wanted to play at the shuttle stops in Copper Harbor and/or on the bus and trolley. No pay, but you are welcome to put out your hat/guitar case, etc.

For more information call 906-337-4706 or email staff@keweenawkrayons.com.
Check www.keweenawkrayons.com for updates.

Editor's Note: The Thimbleberry drawing above is by Jordan Kariniemi.

Beekeeper comments on bee exhibit at Community Arts Center

Melissa Hronkin's representation of the Queen Bee atop several hives is part of the exhibit, "Icarus Rising: Lessons from the Bees," on display at the Community Arts Center in Hancock.

By Gustavo Bourdieu *

HANCOCK -- For the past forty years I've been raising bees -- either as a hobby or as a business. These marvelous insects are truly enviable for their organization and work ethic. I have participated in many classes and workshops demonstrating the advantages of raising bees and the benefits they provide for humanity. Not only do bees produce honey, pollen, royal jelly, propolis and wax; but their work of pollination -- visiting millions of flowers and plants to enable nature to do its work of bearing fruit -- is incalculable.

Pictured here with some of his bees, Gustavo Bourdieu, author of this article and photographer for Keweenaw Now, has been a beekeeper for many years. (Photo by Gustavo Bourdieu)

Last Thursday the editor of Keweenaw Now (my wife) asked me to take photos at "Icarus Rising," an art exhibit on bees at the Community Arts Center in Hancock. Never in my life of many years had I seen such dedication toward these insects. I was impressed by the attractive presentation of the art works, but also by the variety of information -- a little of everything.

Artist, teacher and beekeeper Melissa Hronkin holds up a "queen cage" as she speaks about her art and bees during the reception held for her on Thursday, July 10, in the Community Arts Center in Hancock. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Mead (wine made from honey) and different varieties of honey snacks were served as refreshments, and visitors were even offered small gifts of "queen cages."

Visitors taste a variety of snacks prepared with honey during the July 10 reception for Melissa Hronkin and her exhibit, "Icarus Rising: Lessons from the Bees," at the Community Arts Center in Hancock. The exhibit continues through July 31. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

I wish to congratulate Melissa Hronkin for her excellent work and her compilation of bee-related information presented at the exhibit. Since I'm not an art critic, I can't comment on the art; but for me this was a great display of dedication that attracted many art lovers, friends and students, who filled the gallery with their comments of praise and admiration.

In this video clip, Melissa Hronkin comments on her art during the reception for her exhibit, "Icarus Rising: Lessons from the Bees," July 10 at the Community Arts Center in Hancock. (Video clip © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Many thanks, Melissa, for such a beautiful exhibit. Keep up the good work!

* Translated from the original Spanish by Michele Bourdieu.

Editor's Notes: "Icarus Rising: Lessons from the Bees," encaustic and beeswax collage and assemblages by Melissa Hronkin, is on exhibit at the Community Arts Center in Hancock through July 31. Don't miss it! Hronkin, who teaches art at Ontonagon High School, will offer a workshop -- "An Introduction to Experimental Encaustics and Beeswax collage" -- from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, at the Community Arts Center. For details see our previous article on the exhibit and the workshop, posted July 8. Also, visit Melissa Hronkin's blog to read more about her bees and her art.