Isle Royale National Park celebrates its 85th anniversary with an art exhibition and open gallery. The main reception will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Feb. 15, 2025. The Isle Royale gallery will be open in the Rozsa basement gallery room from Jan. 31 to Mar. 28, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturdays 1 p.m. – 8 p.m. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. The reception and show are free for all. There will be free food and refreshments provided on Feb. 15.
A premier of Libby Meyer’s piece, The Land That Speaks When We’ve Ears to Listen, performed by the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra will follow the reception, starting at 7:30 p.m. The piece captures distinct moments experienced while on the island. It is broken up into seven short movements which represent these memories. They include Mr. Moose, Paw Prints, Mccargoe Cove, Marauding Mosquitos, Dancing Dragonflies, a soprano and tenor setting of an M. Bartley Seigal poem titled Hushful and Still Closer Comes The Red Fox, followed by Northern Lights.
Terri Frew, professor and Director of the Rozsa Art Gallery, picked a selection of Isle Royale works from the National Park Service in Calumet to be featured in this exhibition. Many different art mediums will be featured including photos, paintings, drawings, written works, as well as sculptures and craft media. Professor Frew speaks on choosing pieces for this show, ”I was prioritizing the non-traditional abstract representations of the island, and less so the more traditional pieces.” Looking through this abstract lens may provide a rare and unique perspective of the island.
All of these pieces were completed by former artists in residence at Isle Royale National Park. Each artist was given three weeks on the island to create art, with the agreement of donating their piece to the park after completion. The work focuses on representing the beauty of the natural world, filtered through the voice of the artist. For those who haven’t been to Isle Royale before, the show provides a taste of what being on the island is like. Attending the show is a great way to connect and build community through art and nature.
