Home    Happenings   June 2006 Happenings

Happenings in the Keweenaw Peninsula June 7, 2007 Text © 2007 Copper Country Community Arts Center press release. Photos © 2006 Gustavo Bourdieu and Michele Anderson, as indicated..

Celebrate spring at Houghton's sixth Art and Music Festival June 9 

HOUGHTON -- Celebrate the arrival of spring with the Houghton Spring Art and Music Festival, which will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 9, on the waterfront at the bottom of Huron Street in downtown Houghton. The festival, now in its sixth year, provides an opportunity to hear live local music and shop at regional artists' booths.

The music starts at 11:30 a.m. with harp music by A Harpo, the New Zealand Jazz Apples at noon, Tatterdemalion at 1 p.m., Orphan’s Torch at 2 p.m., Fiddlehead at 3 p.m., Erin Smith at 4 p.m. and the Neverland Rancheros at 5 p.m.

The New Zealand Jazz Apples, with Mike Irish, right, on guitar, perform at the 2006 Art and Music Festival in Houghton. Also pictured are, from left, Scott McIntosh (bass), Mark Lucier (drums) and Jake Pearse (alto sax). The group will perform again at this year's festival June 9, when Irish and Pearse will be joined by Aaron DeGabriele (tenor sax), Jake Posega (bass) and Collin Osenroth (drums). (Keweenaw Now file photo © 2006 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Adam Johnson of Brockit.com, one of the organizers of the festival, says this year's music groups offer an afternoon of jazz, funk, folk and rock.

"The Art and Music Festival features some of the best local musicians and focuses on their most eclectic and original work," Johnson notes.

The art fair starts at 11 a.m. and will feature a variety of art and fine craft. Artists participating include Melanie Walls, feather masks; Charles Young, silver and gold jewelry; Tammy Toj Gajewski, paintings and pottery; Naomi Tillison, jewelry and handbags; Amanda Szot, beadwork; Sue Stephens, felted hangings and wearables; Syliva Schourek, henna body painting; Seri Robinson, wood bowls; Kris Raisanen Schourek, realistic and impressionistic photography; Rita Koch, natural stone and beadwork jewelry; Lynn Torola, pastel paintings; Karen Randell, stained glass; Miriam Pickens, pottery; Carrie Noblet, clay ocarinas; Beth Millner, silver and beadwork jewelry; Kevin Maki, rustic furniture; Drew and Evie Johnson, marmalades and hemp and felted wearables; Jenny Freir, purses; Randolph Cholette, wood boxes and boards; Birchleaf Designs, whimsical wood and fabric playthings; Andrea Baldridge, wearable art for men and women; Native Sisters Soap, herbal butters, salts and soap; Len Novak, drums; and Heather Lindquist, jewelry. Many of the artists will be demonstrating.

Sue Stephens displays her colorful felted hangings and wearables during the 2006 Spring Art and Music Festival on the Houghton waterfront. Stephens will have a booth with samples of her artwork again this year at the sixth annual festival, to be held Saturday, June 9, on the waterfront.  (Keweenaw Now file photo © 2006 Michele Anderson)

There will also be community information and activity booths by MTU-Engineers without Borders, Keweenaw Community Foundation and Green Hope Community Garden.

The Festival, sponsored by the City of Houghton and the Copper Country Community Arts Council, will also feature an information booth and family art activities area. Food and refreshments will be available on site with an extreme bake sale and cookout to benefit the Community Arts Center. Special thanks to Adam Yeoman at the Level II Skatepark, Adam Johnson at Brockit Solutions and Susie and Bob at Good Times Music for support of the event.

There is plenty of parking, and the festival is free and open to everyone. For more information, call the Community Arts Center at 482-2333.

Editor's Notes: To learn about the Copper Country Community Arts Center, visit their Web site.