News from Heidi Mae: Fairs + NEW Online Shop!

Greetings from snowy northern Minnesota!  What a change from a year ago when I was celebrating Loy Krathong in warm and sunny Thailand.  The landscape in Thailand was green, even in their "winter".  Here in Minnesota, I'm so grateful that the color has finally shifted from the brown of late autumn to winter white.  I enjoy how snow brightens up the landscape…  and I love sharing the beauty of winter through my art.

After years of setting up my portable "shop/gallery" at local art fairs and exhibits, I have finally set up my online "shop".  You may now visit "MeanderWithHeidiMae" on Etsy for my latest card collections and select fine art prints.  Click this link to meander through my shop!  Please contact me with questions about products, purchases or special requests.

Now Open!
An Esty Shop by Heidi Mae Niska Photography:
MeanderWithHeidiMae
https://www.etsy.com/shop/MeanderWithHeidiMae

For northern Minnesota friends, here are two upcoming events where you will find me and/or my photography:

NLAA Annual Holiday Art Fair
Ely Community Center
30 S. First Avenue East
Ely, MN
Saturday, December 7, 10 - 4

Lyric Center for the Arts
Holiday Boutique
514 Chestnut Street
Virginia, MN
throughout December, Thurs - Sat, 11 - 3

News from Heidi Mae: Art Fest in Duluth

I'm truly excited to be a part of a new event in Duluth this upcoming weekend.  Hanging out a stone's throw* from the lake with artists (and friends!) in a lovely art space will be uplifting; displaying my new winter card collection and a selection of new prints will be satisfying; but, truthfully,… a not-so-secret enticement for me is the specialty chocolate!

I will feature three new winter card collections as well as new mini-cards.  Shown here is a collection of four 5" square cards featuring white and blue.

Holiday ART Fest

Saturday, November 23, 9-5

Sunday, November 24, 10-4

On the Rocks Art Studio

307 Canal Park Dr
Duluth, MN 55802

(in Canal Park 3rd floor above the DQ and ICO)

Some of the artists/artisans who will be there:

Yours truly, world wondering gypsy, hmn

Travis Melin of Travis Melin Images

Meadowlands Chocolate

And, I've heard there will be rock sculptures, stained/fused glass & more.

Come if you can as it'd be lovely to see you!
Please share event info with friends!

* To be truthful, it's farther from the lake than I can throw a stone.  But, we will be very close. ;)

News: Words to Art Exhibit

Photographers and poets have come together for a  "Words to Art" exhibit at the Waterfront Gallery in Two Harbors.  Photographers each submitted two photos which were then used by the poets for inspiration for their creative writing.  I'm delighted to be included in this exhibit which begins on Saturday!
Photographers include Jay Steinke, Travis Melin, Heidi Mae Niska, Shawn Thompson, Val Doherty, Brian Rauvola, Susan Dykstra, John Gregor and Christian Dalbec.

Poets include Deborah Cooper, Gary Boelhower, Shelley Getten, Terry Miller, Sheila Packa, Diane Friebe, Micky McGilligan, Lisa Angelos, Laurie Hill, Mary McReynolds-Pollinen, Julie Gard, Robbie Tietge, and Ruth Schmidt-Baeumier.


Words to Art
Waterfront Gallery,
Two Harbors, MN
September 21 - November 2, 2013
Opening Reception: 3 - 5 pm, September 21
Poetry Reading: 3:30 - 4:30 pm, September 21
More info: Address & Hours

News: Exhibit in Ely

The sun is hot, rain abounds, June berries are ripe, and the Greenstone Juried Art Show, one of Ely's best art events of the summer, is on tap to begin this Saturday!  Fifty eight artists are featured in this year's show, including some of Ely's favorites.  If you follow my meandering, you will not be surprised that my contribution this year strays from the typical northwoods theme.  Go to the show to check out a trio from my travels!

Greenstone Juried Art Show

July 20 - 28, 2013

Ely Art & Heritage Center

Ely, MN

Gala Event: July 20, 7 - 9 pm, $30

Exhibit: July 21 - 28, 1 - 4 pm, free

Event Info: elyecho.com

Ely Art Info: Ely Greenstone Public Art

Exhibit News: Contemplative Meandering

Contemplative Meandering:

A Photography Collection of Southeast Asia by Heidi Mae Niska

1 - 3 March 2013
Reception: 1 March, 7pm
Koffeebook, Kad Kong Ta
Lampang, Thailand

Update: exhibit has been extended through March 10th !

Exhibit News: 2013 Ely ArtWalk

With February upon us, the time is here for the Ely ArtWalk, an annual exhibition of art, coinciding with the Winter Festival in Ely, MN.  Someone is making tracks on the other side of the world, and although she will not be in attendance for the events, she will be represented with her art.  Last June, Heidi Mae delivered her poppy series to EAW, and in January, she sent 3 photographs from SE Asia, all possible with the help of dear friends.  Thank you, Steve Voiles, Polly Carlson-Voiles, and Travis Melin!!!

Peruse the streets of Ely in the next 10 days and enjoy over 400 pieces of artwork from area artists! Heidi Mae's art will be at Music Outfitters this year (#28 on the map).  Pick up a map at local businesses or view it online (map).

Feb. 1-10, 2013
Ely ArtWalk: ElyArtWalk.org
Ely Winter Festival: ElyWinterFestival.com

Visit Music Outfitters in Ely to see this poppy collection AND a trio of Heidi Mae's latest work from Southeast Asia!

Up,Up, & Away
3"x3" photos on cotton paper, deckled edge, 5"x5" frame

Poppy
3"x3" photos on cotton paper, deckled edge, 5"x5" frame

Poppy Series
Set of mini-cards

News: Boundary Waters 2013 Calendar

Part of the photography process for me is to present my work, my observations of the world, for others to enjoy.  Meandering half a world away from my cherished north country, I miss the opportunities for art shows and face-to-face conversations.  (Yes, I miss you all!)  So... I am especially delighted to again be included in Ravenwords' Boundary Waters & Quetico calendar.

Those who have the 2013 Boundary Waters calendar will enjoy an hmn northwoods moment for the upcoming month of January.  The photo was first featured on a 2009 Meandering blogpost Wide Open Spaces and commemorates a favorite winter activity: skiing on the lakes at the close of the day, soaking up the last sun rays before the temperature drops with the sun.

Raven Productions produces this calendar each year and features photographs with the spirit of the BW and Quetico from local photographers (Jim Brandenburg, Ken Hupila & more).  See the calendar or visit their website for the complete photographer list (click here).

Purchase the 2013 calendar in local Ely shops, buy online through Ravenwords' website (ravenwords.com), or contact Heidi Mae directly... or indirectly.  ; )

News: Exhibit in Ely while HMN meanders

HMN is cruising... on winding paths half a world away, eating fresh pineapple each day, twisting tongue in cheek with new sights, tastes and sounds.  And back home in Minnesota, those annual Ely events keep marching on.

Ready for a good time in Ely?  One of the best summer art events is the Greenstone Juried Art Show.  The exhibit begins this Saturday with the Gala Event at the Ely Arts & Heritage Center overlooking Miners Lake and continues with the exhibit through July 29th.  Two of my photographs featuring classic northwoods subjects were chosen for the show this year and will be displayed as fine art canvas prints.  Since I cannot attend this year, I look forward to hearing reports from those of you who do!

Lily, 24" x 16" photograph on canvas 

On the Rocks, 15" x 10" photograph on canvas

Classic north woods: wild rice & lily pads in late summer & a great blue heron landing with the sunset.  These remind me of good times with friends and quiet evenings on the water.  Prints are available for purchase.  Email info[at] heidimaeniska.com.

Greenstone Juried Art Show
July 21 - 29, 2012
Ely Art & Heritage Center
Ely, MN
Gala Event, July 21st, 7-9 pm, $30
Exhibit, July 22-29, 1-4 pm, free
Detailed info: Hometown Focus
More info: elygreenstone.org

PS. I will not be at Blueberry Festival...  the calling for the open road won out this year.

News from Heidi Mae: Lake Vermilion Festival

We're adding some spice to life with some spontaneity: visit us at the Lake Vermilion Harbor Festival this weekend!

Lake Vermilion Harbor Festival

Tower, MN (near the train depot)

Saturday, June 2, 10 am - 5 pm

Sunday, June 3, 10 am - 4 pm

I'll have a table inside the community building, which is across the parking lot from the train museum.  This may be my last sales event of the year!  Hope to see you!

"Form" - Stuntz Bay Boathouses, Lake Vermilion

Heidi Mae Niska Photography

News: Ely Summer Times 2012

The summer season has arrived in northern Minnesota and so has the 2012 edition of the Ely Summer Times.  One of my Kawishiwi Falls photographs was chosen for the cover image this year!

After rain for two days and rain in the forecast for the foreseeable future, perhaps featuring water as the cover image is appropriate.  The substantial rainfall is certainly appreciated after a dry winter and spring and all too vivid memories of the last week's fire adjacent to the city of Ely and last summer's raging Pagami Creek fire that burned over 90,000 acres.  Last week the ground was incredibly dry; now the short-cut grass is swimming in expanding puddles.  Splish, splash!




Both the Winter and Summer Times have useful information (events and directories of local businesses and services) for Ely residents and visitors, along with interesting and informative articles of local flavor.  Produced by Raven Productions and supported with advertising from local businesses, the Ely Summer Times is available in Ely, MN at stores all around town.  You may also purchase a subscription and have it delivered to you.  Visit the About and Subscription links at Ravenwords.com.

This Friday and Saturday are the last two days to catch the Open Water Exhibit at the Lyric Center for the Arts in Virginia.  Stop by if you can!  More info in this previous News post.

News from Heidi Mae: Open Water Exhibit

Spring greetings!

The Open Water exhibit opens this Thursday at the Lyric Center for the Arts in Virginia, MN.  This annual show celebrates the upcoming summer in the northwoods and features 19 regional artists this year.  Two of my photographs are included in the 28 works of art.

Open Water
May 3 - 26, 2012
Lyric Center for the Arts
514 Chestnut Street
Virginia, MN

Opening Reception: this Thursday, May 3rd, 5:30 - 8:30 pm

Fun fact: This year one of the jurors is my very first photography instructor!

News from Heidi Mae: Kaleva Hall

Kaleva Hall in Virginia is the place to be tomorrow! Warm food, arts, crafts, and lovely people - all part of the Range of the Arts celebration sponsored in part by the Lyric Center. I'll be there with a selection of prints and notecards. Hope to see you!

Arts International Bazaar

Saturday, February 25th

10 am - 2 pm

Kaleva Hall

125 3rd Street North

Virginia, MN

Link to: map

News: Ely ArtWalk, WinterFest, & Art Fair

Having certainly said this out loud on many occasions, I will say (write) it again: I love winter! I love the squeak when walking on cold snow, I love the delicate coat of white that renews the landscape, and I love snow crystals sparkling on a cold, clear night reflecting the twinkle of the stars up above. So, where better to love winter (or to fall in love with winter) than up north in Ely, Minnesota?

In Ely, the annual celebration of winter has begun. Today is the first day of Ely ArtWalk and the Ely Winter Festival. This year my photographs are on display at the Piragis Northwoods Company, one of my favorite shops in Ely (the place to go for canoe outfitting, necessities & luxuries). My fine art photographs include a selection of images from the Ely area and from my travels around the region and the west coast. Visit ElyArtWalk.org for a map of participating artists and stores. Festival dates: Feb. 2-12, 2012

HMN's ArtWalk Display Last Year (2011)

As part of the festivities, Ely's NLAA hosts the annual Art & Craft Fair this Saturday, February 4th. Looking for fine art that's dreamy, whimsical, with a certain sense of spirit? Visit Heidi Mae Niska Photography at the NLAA Art Fair for exquisite fine art pieces and oh-so-delightful cards! I'll have a new special set of cards just for Winter Fest, and, for those who are looking past the winter pallet, I'll have brand new sets of mini cards that will feature color, color, color, oh-so-vibrant color!

NLAA Art & Craft Fair

Saturday, 02/02/2012, 10 am - 4 pm

Ely Community Center

HMN's ArtWalk Display Last Year (2011)

In upcoming days, I will post my ArtWalk photos online so those of you who cannot (or care not to!) walk the streets of Ely can enjoy them as well.

News from Heidi Mae - calendar

Great news! One of Heidi Mae's photographs is included in the 2012 Boundary Waters & Quetico calendar! The January 2012 image of skiers in the snow at the Hegman pictographs was first featured on a Meandering blogpost. Read the original blogpost by clicking here.

This annual calendar is produced by Raven Productions and features photographs from local photographers and those who love the BW, including you-know-who. Purchase the calendar online through their website (click here), find it in local Ely shops, or contact Heidi Mae directly. Yes, she has a few, ready for you!

And, now, with that news out... I'm ready to get back to my regular blogging of photos and words, coming soon!

News from Heidi Mae - Holiday Art Fair

The snow is here and so is the time for Ely's annual NLAA Art and Craft Fair! Local... handmade... creative... gifts from the heart made with love.

5 x 5 Square Greeting Cards

Heidi Mae will have her fine art prints, notecards, and whatever other goodies she can create and fit into her toboggan when she treks on over. And, for the first time, select prints will have special holiday pricing!

NLAA Art & Craft Fair

Saturday, December 3rd, 2011

10 am - 4 pm

Community Center, Ely, MN

3 x 5 Notecards

PS. I'm looking forward to seeing you!

News from Heidi Mae

Coming up this weekend: One Special Place, photographs by 22 professional fine art photographers of their one favorite place on Lake Superior.

Can you guess one of Heidi Mae's favorite places on the Lake? Find out by visiting the Waterfront Gallery in Two Harbors, MN! And, view inspiring Lake Superior images from a host of accomplished photographers, including good friend Travis Melin, Craig Blacklock, and, from Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula, Steve Brimm.

Opening Reception: Saturday, September 24, 3 - 5 pm

Exhibit Dates: September 24 - November 5, 2011

Gallery Hours: Wed - Sat, 10 am - 5 pm

More info: Waterfront-Gallery.com, map

View invitation: One Special Place

News - July Events

If you have a craving for blueberry pie and are wondering where to browse through Heidi Mae's photographs, come to Ely's Blueberry Festival July 29 -31! The festival is one of the main summer events in Ely, Minnesota and hosts a variety of art and crafts, food and music. Heidi Mae will be at Booth #12, which is located towards the middle/east side of the tent row along Sheridan Street. You can find out more on ely.org. And, be sure to stop by my tent, I'll let you know where you can find the yummiest blueberry treats of the day! (Don't be surprised to find out that while I will share where to find the festival treats I definitely will not give away my top secret blueberry patch ;)

Coming up next weekend is the Greenstone Gala, the kick-off event for the sixth annual Greenstone Juried Art Show, on Saturday, July 23rd. This year the exhibit will run through July 31 to coincide with the Blueberry Festival. Heidi Mae will have 3 fine art photographs in the exhibit this year. Purchase gala tickets and find more info here.

News from Heidi Mae (Exhibits)

I'm participating in two local area art shows this month, and both have opening receptions this week, a definite sign that hibernation is over!

Open Water - exhibit at the Lyric Center in downtown Virginia, MN

Reception: Wednesday, May 11, 6pm - 7:30pm

More info on gallery hours here:

http://lyriccenterforthearts.blogspot.com/2011/05/open-water-exhibit-reception-may-11.html

Spring Art Expo in Cook, MN

Reception: Friday, May 13, 4pm - 7pm

More info on the reception, exhibit, and related events here:

http://springartexpo.org/?page_id=319

News: Ely ArtWalk and NLAA craft fair

Who loves winter? I do! Especially with the abundance of fresh snow we have this year. Yes, despite the extra shoveling, I do thoroughly enjoy the snow piling up. It's the season for a wondrous winterland of snow angels and snow crystal sparkles on those cold nights after the fresh snow arrives.

Ely tops it off with the annual celebration of winter with the Winter Festival and the ELy ArtWalk. This year the festivities are February 3 - 13th. My photography will again be on display in the Brandenburg Gallery window.

Go to the Ely ArtWalk page for the map and list of participating artists, which include local artists printmaker Beckie Prange and wood craftsman Peter Pestalozzi. Find out more about the Winter Festival fun including the snow sculptures in Whiteside Park and various other activities on their website: elywinterfestival.com.

As part of the festival, NLAA hosts the annual Arts and Craft Fair on Saturday. I'll be there with my fine art prints and notecards.

NLAA Arts and Craft Fair

Saturday, February 5th

10am - 4 pm

Ely Community Center (2 block south of Sheridan Street on 1st Ave. East).

An exciting two weeks are ahead! Hope you can come to Ely and join in the fun!

Heidi Mae's 2010 ArtWalk Display

News from Heidi Mae: celebrate the season

I love, love, love the snow!!! I've been dashing around in my parka and mukluks and am hoping to pull out the skis soon, likely this weekend if the snow forecast comes true. And, despite the extra shoveling, the snow certainly boosts the holiday spirit...

Silver Lake Floral in Virginia, MN initiated the festivities a couple weeks ago with their holiday open house. Right when the door opened at 8 am, the enthusiastic clientele enjoyed browsing through the holiday wonderland for gifts and decor, including the work of local artists, such as my own prints and notecards and also fabric arts by Emma. You can see more photos of the day on the Facebook page for Silver Lake Floral (here).

This coming Saturday brings more of the jolly spirit with a visit from Mrs. Claus to Silver Lake Floral. Children can stop in to visit and also work on a project with the ladies, creating a Christmas decoration. Mrs. Claus will visit from 9 am - 2 pm.

Coming up on December 4th, I will be participating in the NLAA Art/Craft Fair at the Ely Community Center. I'll have a variety of prints available, along with a limited number of framed prints and notecards. Coinciding with the 1 pm parade for "An Old Fashioned Christmas in America's Coolest Small Town", these events are the perfect time to be out-and-about in Ely! Visit ely.org for more details.