Art’s Corner, July 2024

On Saturday morning I went to the Calumet Farmer’s Market to pick up some delicious sourdough bread, Vietnamese Garlic Noodles and a book by Deborah Frontiera. Afterward, I stopped by the Calumet Art Center in the Big Green Church. I saw the beautiful stained glass piece representing the Quincy Mine that used to be in the McDonalds, now the Den, in downtown Houghton. Then I saw this large awe-inspiring sailboat made out of stones, driftwood and wire, by Brian Hirvela. 

The Calumet Art Center has a large gallery space featuring many local artists, including Wayne Walma, Bobbi Shirey, Lori Laurie and Bonny Lynn. The variety and quality of work is exceptional. There is also a lot of space in the center for classes which often feature stained glass, woodworking, and an art playtime for grown-ups. Donna Lenard is teaching a watercolor class, “Abstract Flowers”, on Saturday, July 13. The Center is open with regular hours from Wednesday through Friday 11-4 and Saturday, 11-2. It’s pretty awesome how many incredibly talented artists there are in our community.

You may have seen Brian Hirvela at the Copper Harbor and Eagle Harbor Harbor Fairs during August. Next week a show of his work will open at the Calumet Art Center. His work includes sculptures built from driftwood, stones, old wire hangers and other gathered materials.  He found a box of frames that nobody wanted; they had no glass and no wires, but they were so beautiful that they inspired Brian to try something with them that he’d never done before. He created a stunning series of painted cardboard collages. “Someone once said I make beauty out of chaos.”

Brian Hirvela’s booth at the Eagle Harbor Art Fair.

Born and raised here, Brian went to Calumet High School. Like so many others, he moved away, but returned and has been back home since 2013 when he retired. Having grown up on the beach near Calumet, he liked to play with rocks and sticks. In 2017, was walking on the same beach, and found pieces of driftwood that resembled sailboats. So he started constructing sailboats out of these pieces and …  “I sort of had a knack for it. I made a series of them, and submitted a picture to the Copper Country Associated Artists for the Eagle Harbor Fair, and they accepted me. It was this wonderful moment of approval.” He’s been marketing his work at the two summer fairs for the past 7 years. Not in it to make money, he’s just selling to afford more craft supplies, make space in his home, and enjoy the good feeling when someone wants one of his pieces. 

In April of 2023, Brian joined the Board at the Calumet Art Center in the Big Green Church, became president of the Board in May, and was in a position to look for grants, do fundraisers and schedule classes. He’s interested in finding ways that the community can continue to support and enjoy the center, as well as discovering what sort of outreach the Center can do.

Brian also chairs the Board at the CLK Food Pantry next door. When he first started working there in the spring of 2022, the Pantry was on Pine Street. Brian’s mom, Lorraine Hirvela, passed away on the exact day the Pantry was supposed to move to it’s current location next door to the Art Center, in the Episcopal Church, where the Bishop welcomed them as an independent organization. Thanks to an amazing group of volunteers, the move was successful, and Brian had time to grieve. He is thrilled that he can help someone have a full stomach for a few days, who might be struggling because of job or housing insecurity. The center offers pre-organized bags of food with vegetables, meat, dairy Currently there are some summer offerings like hot dogs, and kid’s bags with Kraft mac and cheese, a favorite. The pantry is open Tuesdays and Fridays from 9am till noon. Many different denominations participate in funding this through the CLK Council of Churches. 

Brian was very close to his mom, who was an super volunteer in the Calumet-Laurium community. He was so happy that she was able to see the work he was doing before she passed. Art and the Pantry. Loving and caring for people and self were lessons from Lorraine that have helped Brian process his grief. 

“It’s crazy to see 7 years of art laid out,” he said.

Painted cardboard collage by Brian Hirvela.

On Sunday, July 14, the Calumet Art Center will present “Br!AN VII 2017-2024”, and exhibit of Brian’s art over the last seven years in the Sanctuary of the Big Green Church, with the beautiful stained glass windows. The show will be in chronological from wood and rocks to cardboard. Featured, will be models of Italian Hall, the Calumet Colosseum and the Quincy Mine out of cardboard, paint and glue. Light refreshments will be available. 

Learn about opportunities to contribute to the Art Center and the CLK Food Pantry on their Facebook Pages and the Art Center’s website.