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From the Grand Marais Art Colony - April 23, 2025

Each year the Art Colony hosts Sawtooth Elementary Kindergarten - Second Graders for Art Days, and it is just how it sounds! The students explore various art materials, work on projects, and learn creative techniques. Then they get to exhibit their work and share it with the community. The art projects are also oriented around elementary learning goals and standards when possible.

This year the theme is North Shore Luminescence, featuring artwork that glows and a walk-through installation. When you think of things that glow in our region, your first thoughts might naturally go to Northern Lights or fireflies, which will definitely be a part of the show. But did you know that we have glowing mushrooms on the North Shore that emit a faint, greenish glow in the dark? If you travel to Michigan’s Superior coast you might find a Yooperlite Rock that exhibits a vibrant fluorescent glow and similarly, the northern flying squirrel casts a bright pink phosphorescence when exposed to UV light.

First grade teacher, Stephanie Lindstrom, states, "We are excited for our third year collaborating with the Grand Marais Art Colony to offer a creative and fun learning experience for students, stretching out into our community.  Students are looking forward to showing off their creations at the community exhibition. We hope to see you there!"

The community is invited to the installation’s opening reception, May 16, 2025, from 3:30 - 5:30 pm at Studio 21 (21 West Highway 61). The exhibition will be up and available to experience through the month of June. The Art Colony’s Studio 21 is open to the public May 23 through October 18, Thursdays - Saturdays, 10 am - 5 pm.

The Art Colony and Sawtooth Elementary would like to thank the following for supporting these activities: Arrowhead Cooperative’s Round Up grant, WISE, and the Cook County Schools PTA.