Originally a painter with interest in watercolor and sumi-e painting, Tom Co currently works primarily in sculpture and digital art. “Archetypes and Complexes” is a multimedia show exploring the variety of responses to our changing world. The show is on display at the Copper Country Community Arts Center (CCCAC) Kerredge Gallery in May. The reception is this evening, May 4, from 6 to 7:30 p.m at the CCCAC on Quincy St. in Hancock.

Co’s work is very minimalistic; sleek edges that create an impression reminiscent of the sumi-e philosophy which is to capture the essence of the spirit in balance with yin and yang forces creating elegance. This show will feature many of Co’s works with stone and metal sculpture, as well as digital paintings. 

Co lives in Hancock and is Professor Emeritus in Chemical Engineering at Michigan Tech. His work has been featured in several galleries around the country, and he has participated in many exhibitions at the Rosza and Kerredge Galleries.

Across the road from the CCCAC, there’s a brand-new store called ilo. Rebecca Paavo recently relocated here with her daughters and husband, a Copper Country native, after his retirement from the Air Force. This summer, she went to various art and craft shows, and wondered why there was no art supply store locally. When the spot across from the CCCAC opened up, she fast forwarded her dream to eventually open such a shop, and started making plans.

“Ilo is the Finnish word for joy”, Paavo told me.  “We chose our slogan based on the connection of joy found in the gift of being able to create and express ourselves through art; whether that expression is grounded in joy or difficulty, there is joy within the ability to create from it.” 

Paavo is a professional artist and illustrator who likes to dabble in many media, including acrylic and lino cuts. Specializing in pen & ink plus watercolor, she has produced fantasy maps for several fiction novels by authors Brittany Fichter, Melanie Cellier and Deborah Grace White. She has also created murals, maps and designs that are available in her shop and online at www.rebeccapaavoart.com. Her beautiful art creates an imagination provoking atmosphere in this new art store.

Paavo was excited to start ilo given all the local enthusiasm for an art supply store. People she met wanted a place where they could stop in and get supplies and ideas, rather than having to shop online or travel to Marquette. She started by filling her inventory with the brands she has enjoyed using, so that she is knowledgeable about the materials. Co mentioned that he likes the watercolor paper that he found there, and Cynthia Cote, director at the CCCAC, mentioned to me that she is enjoying the watercolor paint sets.  Paavo is also keeping a list of suggestions that she can use to round out her inventory. She is glad to order specific items for customers from her suppliers.

Primarily a mom and home-school teacher, Paavo is providing kid-friendly materials in ilo. Paints tend to have chemicals in them which can sometimes be harmful, so Paavo has found the Natural Earth Paint line, which are all non-toxic pigments and binders derived primarily from plants and blended into high quality archival paints, and sold in Earth friendly packaging. Self-taught in the Waldorf natural style of teaching, she has also brought environmentally-friendly materials and kits that encourage exploratory learning into the shop. 

When Paavo and her family lived off base in Alaska, she taught art lessons virtually. She has plans to start teaching children’s art classes at the shop in September, geared toward other home-schooling families on weekdays. In the past she has taught classes on art basics, like color mixing and perspective, or art history, with discussions and in-class reproduction of famous pieces of art in different mediums. The Nature of Craft was a craft project class focusing on recycling and repurposing materials. Weekend classes for adults and teens may include indigo dyeing, journal making, as well as drawing and watercolor classes.

“We’re really thankful for the warm welcome that we’ve gotten, and it’s great to be up here.”

Paavo is really grateful for the enthusiasm she sees in the people who come into the shop, notably the support she has gotten from the owners of KC Bonkers, the CCCAC, and the City of Hancock. Cote actually sent the CCCAC window washer across to wash ilo’s windows before Paavo did the beautiful painting on the main one. When the window was done, the CCCAC sent over a bouquet of flowers for the opening.  Clay Hillman from KC Bonkers and Paavo keep tabs on what each other is carrying, so they don’t overlap, and sometimes send customers to each other’s store. 

ilo is also hoping to work with the school teachers to provide special discount pricing and free shipping on orders, including the homeschool cooperative and the colleges.

Check out the store website at https://www.iloshop.com/, as well as the Facebook Page for class offerings and more information. The store is open from Tuesday through Saturday, 1-6 p.m., stop by to meet Paavo and imagine some new projects.

If you haven’t seen the current exhibit at the Finlandia Gallery at the Finnish American Heritage Center; it’s a worthwhile stop. My Heroes and Monsters Walk Hand in Hand by Finnish artist Camilla Vuorenmaa is a spectacular show of large-scale paintings on wood and canvas. The show will run through June 15. 

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