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Happenings in the Keweenaw Peninsula February 20, 2006 Press release and photos © 2006 Keweenaw Krayons. Published with permission. Photo of Chef Malcolm Hudson © 2005 Keweenaw Now.

Keweenaw Krayons to celebrate Mardi Gras in Mohawk Feb. 28

MOHAWK -- Keweenaw Krayons Graphic Arts and Marketing Teens will present the Second Annual Mardi Gras Dinner and Silent Auction from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at the Mohawk School. The event is a fundraiser for Keweenaw Krayons, a non-profit art organization, and for New Orleans Habitat for Humanity Musicians’ Village. 

The dinner will feature New Orleans Creole Style Food (Hot & Spicy as well as Mild and Tasty) by Chef Malcolm Hudson of The Abbey. The dinner menu includes such items as Red Pepper Crêpes, Lake Fish Croquettes, Gumbo, Chicken with Sweet Peppers, Crabmeat Casserole, Jambalaya, Beignets and much more.*

Artists are donating their work, others are giving services and Adria Simpson has been busy painting pigs -- all in preparation for the Silent Auction. There will be many piggy banks to bid on in the silent auction, some decorated by Keweenaw Krayons’ youth, and others, like the ones dressed in their Mardi Gras best, painted by artist Adria Simpson. 

Artist Adria Simpson designed this and several other Mardi Gras pigs for the Silent Auction at the Feb. 28 Keweenaw Krayons Mardi Gras celebration in Mohawk.  (Photo © 2006 Keweenaw Krayons. Reprinted with permission.)

Pablo “Pig” Casso, Keweenaw Krayons’ traveling paper mache’ piggy bank will also be dressed for the fun event. 

The Bayou Echo Band and Mz. Behavin' with the Swing Cats will offer music for dancing and listening. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door.**

"Everyone is being so generous with their time and talents,” Keweenaw Krayons’ Director Susan Hallwachs stated. “Chef Malcolm Hudson is donating not only his expertise the night of the event, but is donating countless hours now in the securing of ingredients as well as posting flyers and selling tickets. He has also recruited professional kitchen and wait staff help and has donated a Dinner for Eight to the Silent Auction.”

Along with art donated by local artists and Chef Malcolm's Dinner for Eight, the auction will include such services as an “Olde Fashioned” Photo Shoot from Becky Weeks of Olde Fashioned Photography in Copper Harbor and even an over-the-phone dream time consultation with Margaret Mary Gerhard, a Wisconsin oneirologist.

Hallwachs noted all the teens, staff, musicians and others will be working on a volunteer basis for the event.

“With the devastation of the New Orleans area, we just couldn’t see hosting a fundraiser based on their celebrations without doing something for them," Hallwachs added. "We know the good that Habitat for Humanity has accomplished in our own area so we decided to donate to their New Orleans rebuilding fund. In researching, we found there is money earmarked to help low-income New Orleans Musicians build or rebuild their homes. As we are an art organization, we felt this was a good match and will be donating 10% of our profits.”

In addition to designing and printing flyers, tickets, postcards, selling ads for the program, and more, the teens are busy painting steamboats, trumpets, trombones and streetscapes in order to transform the school’s gym and hallway into a Keweenaw version of New Orleans’ French Quarter. The project has become a collaborative event with youth from the Horizons School Art Program making Mardi Gras masks under the direction of CLK Art Teacher, Deb Muse. CLK’s French Club members are not only planning on attending but are busy posting flyers and selling tickets.

"It’s a generous coming together of the community to keep ART alive,” Hallwachs said.

Gina Stilp, Development Coordinator, New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, wrote an advance thank you for the fundraiser.

“We are pleased to hear that you will be celebrating Mardi Gras way up there in the North, and more importantly, that you will be supporting Habitat's rebuilding efforts," Stilp wrote. "The Musicians' Village sounds like a great fit for your group.” 

* A complete menu is found on the Keweenaw Krayons website.

**You can help the chef estimate how much food to prepare by purchasing your tickets in advance! 

Tickets can be purchased at the following places:

- Keweenaw Krayons in Mohawk Call 337-4706 or email staff@keweenawkrayons.com.
- CLK French Club Members. Visit their Web site.
- Copper Harbor Mercantile. Visit their Web site. 
- Re-Run Sports and Tool in Calumet. Email rerun@rerunsportsandtool.com.
- The Wicker and Willow Company in Houghton. Visit their Web site.
- Or use Pay Pal on the Keweenaw Krayons website.

More information is available by calling Keweenaw Krayons at 337-4706 or emailing staff@keweenawkrayons.com -- or visiting their website.

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