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Thursday, January 05, 2012

Galleries, cafés to offer art, music for First Friday in Calumet

CALUMET -- First Friday in Calumet, Jan. 6, will feature art exhibits and activities plus great music -- and dance lessons!

Web Felting Workshop at Copper Country Associated Artists

You would think that if a group of artists were to hold a flower making workshop, it would be a good spring or summertime activity; but the Copper Country Associated Artists' (CCAA) Gallery is offering exactly this type of activity to the public on Friday, Jan. 6. These are going to be warm flowers!

Karena Schmidt, frequent guest to CCAA First Friday workshops, has offered to teach the art of Wet Felting. This is a very traditional method of felting that works particularly well with natural fibers because they have "kinks" or "scales" on them which can bond together to form a cloth. Karena, an experienced fiber artist, is going to show participants how to turn wet wool into beautiful flowers. Other designs can be created as desired, and beads can be incorporated into the pieces. If you have a small towel to work on and use to carry your piece home, you could bring that. The finished product will be dried at home, and then it can be sewed or pinned to a hat or coat as a beautiful embellishment.

This workshop will be held in two sessions -- one at 6:30 p.m. and one at 7:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public. Donations are welcome.

Not only is Karena an experienced felter, she also is a naturalist and a knitter who has recently designed a knitted sweater pattern commemorating the wolf and moose studies at Isle Royale called "Moosing Around." The pattern is available at "Yarns and Threads" in Lake Linden and several gift shops in the area. Proceeds from this purchase are to raise funds for the Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Study.*

The Copper Country Associated Artists' Gallery is located at 112 Fifth St. in Calumet.

* Click here to see a photo of Karena with her sweater.
(Photo of felt flowers courtesy Copper Country Associated Artists.)

Ed Gray Gallery to feature new work from gallery artists

During the month of January, the Ed Gray Gallery will feature new work from gallery artists Steve Toornman, Michelle Wegler, Meredith Krell, Georgi Tsenov, Todd Mills, and Todd Springer. The opening reception will take place from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 6, 2012. The show will run until the first Wednesday in February.

The Ed Gray Gallery is located at 109 Fifth Street, Calumet.

Café Rosetta to exhibit "Kabuki" by Melanie Lieb

Just across from Ed's Gallery, the Café Rosetta will celebrate First Friday with "Kabuki," an exhibit of new paintings by Melanie Lieb.

The Café Rosetta will remain open until 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, for the opening reception. Stop in for great coffee, treats and art!

Dance lessons, music by Backroom Boys at Omphale Gallery and Café

The Backroom Boys play a variety of tunes for dancing on this great wood floor at the Omphale Gallery and Café. Musicians are, from left, Oren Tikkanen, Matthew Durocher, Bob Norden, Randy Seppala and John Munson. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

Although many of us have forgotten the old ways, the fact is that Friday, Jan 6, is the last of the Twelve Days of Christmas, as well as the First Friday at the Calumet art galleries in this New Year.

"Madame Julie at the Omphale Gallery and Café at the top of 5th Street is celebrating by bringing in Maestro Chuck Hill from Keweenaw Social Dance to give dance lessons at 6 p.m., and the Backroom Boys will be playing swing and old jazz from 7 until 9," says musician Oren Tikkanen.

Julie DePaul Johnson, co-owner of the Omphale Gallery and Café, prepares not only real espresso coffee but great gourmet dishes as well. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

Twelfth Night is a traditional time for revelry and is also the beginning of the Carnival season that runs through Mardi Gras. Dust off your beads and feathers, put on your dance shoes, and come on down.

The Omphale is also exhibiting lovely oil paintings by Ann Cameron McDonald from Jan. 6 through Jan. 29.

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