Natalie Sobanja
Danny Saathoff
Danny Saathoff is a metalsmith and a sculptor. He began his career designing jewelry, but his thoughts began drifting toward objects beyond the scale scope of the human body. Now his work ranges from very small to very large and everything in between. He teaches metalsmithing at Carleton College and at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts. In the summer, while not teaching or working in his studio, he is most likely sailing Lake Superior with his family. dannysaathoff.com
Kathryn Savage
Kathryn Savage teaches creative writing and plans and implements literary arts community outreach programming at The Loft Literary Center. She received her MFA in fiction from the Bennington Writing Seminars and has received scholarships from the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference and the Vermont Studio Center. Kathryn has written for the Star Tribune, Ploughshares, The Village Voice, and Evergreen Review. kathrynsavage.com
Pat Robinson Schmidt
Pat Robinson Schmidt retired from teaching elementary art in 2012. Her love of art and teaching has propelled her into her next areas of focus: jewelry making and teaching jewelry making. Schmidt is primarily a hand engraver of her own work and commissioned pieces. Presently, her work is represented at Seasons on St. Croix in Hudson, Wisconsin; Waters of Superior Gallery in Canal Park, Duluth, Minnesota; and Veberod Gem Gallery in Minnetonka, Minnesota. silverleafdesignjewelry.com
Natalie Sobanja graduated from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls with a BFA in painting and fibers just before moving to Grand Marias in 1999. Always a curious artist who is inspired by the tactile qualities of different media, Natalie began experimenting with clay at the Art Colony in 2011. As a parent of two boys, she is excited to share her passion for art and clay with the youth of the community. Her recent works in pottery have been displayed at Betsy Bowen’s Studio and are currently at Kah-Nee-Tah Gallery.
Lynn Speaker
Lynn Speaker is a mixed-media artist based in Minneapolis. Her current art practice includes firebased media, gunpowder, printmaking, and installation. Lynn received her MFA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and is a 2007 and 2014 Minnesota State Arts Board grant recipient. She taught as a Women’s Art Resources of Minnesota (WARM) mentor for many years and currently serves on the Art Colony Board of Directors. lynnspeaker.com
Lisa Stauffer
Lisa Stauffer received an MFA in design from the University of Minnesota and studied illustration at Parson’s School of Design. She has worked and taught in a wide variety of media; now she primarily focuses on soft pastel with a special focus on painting en plein air to indulge her fascination with light and color in the beautiful North Shore landscape. Lisa was awarded Master Circle status by the International Association of Pastel Societies in 2009. lisastauffer.com
Nancy Seaton
Nancy Seaton loves color and light. She received a BA from St. Olaf College where she focused on watercolor and blown glass. The Art Colony’s warm glass studio is a great resource she feels lucky to have as part of her life. She lives on the Gunflint Trail with her husband and two boys where they operate Hungry Jack Outfitters.
INSTRUCTORS Simon Stromberg
Simon Stromberg was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. In 1998 Simon moved to the Twin Cities where he studied fine arts drawing, painting, and photography at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and at St. Paul’s College of Visual Arts. Simon established S3Photo in 2004 to showcase his work in the areas of portrait, fashion, dance, product, travel, and fine art photography. Simon has exhibited his work throughout the Twin Cities and at the Minnesota State Fair. s3photo.com
Faith Sullivan
Faith Sullivan is the author of eight novels, including her most recent, Goodnight, Mr. Wodehouse, published by Milkweed Editions in 2015. Additionally, she has penned countless essays and short stories. She has taught workshops around the state as well as courses at the Loft Literary Center. Wife of former Los Angeles Times drama critic, Dan Sullivan, she is the mother of three writers and the mentor of many more. It is her desire to continue writing until her pencil runs out of lead. faithsullivan.com
Joyce Sutphen
Joyce Sutphen grew up on a farm in Stearns County, Minnesota, and she teaches literature and creative writing at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. Her fourth collection, First Words, was published in 2010; in March, 2012, House of Possibility, a letter press edition of poems, was published by Accordion Press; and her latest collection, After Words, was published in May, 2013. She is the second Minnesota Poet Laureate, succeeding Robert Bly. joycesutphen.com
Neil Sherman
Neil Sherman is primarily a plein air artist. Before moving to Grand Marais, Neil was a classroom monitor for Joe Paquet at the Hurinenko and Paquet Studio, assisting with critiques for beginning to advanced students. Neil received a BA from St. John’s University and studied at the Minnesota River School of Fine Arts and at the Hurinenko and Paquet Studio. He is the past board chair of the Art Colony and the current chair of the events committee. neilshermanart.com
Pat Robinson Schmidt
Ginny Sims
Ginny Sims is a ceramic artist whose work references English folk pottery and European porcelains and combines elements of various ethnic traditions use of ceramic ornamentation. Ginny received an MFA from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She has taught at the University of Minnesota and Northern Clay Center, and has been a resident artist at Red Star Studios and at the Art Colony. Ginny is co-founder of the Powderhorn Kitchen, a roving store/gallery and educational vehicle for holistic practices through object making and workshops. ginnysims.com
Danny Saathoff
Jess Oullis Smith
Jess Oullis Smith is a professional photographer located in Grand Marais. Jess specializes in wedding photography, children and families, and graduation portraits, along with fine art photography. oullisphotography.com
Walter Early
Nurturing creativity on the North Shore of Lake Superior since 1947
Lynn Speaker
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