Grand Marais Art Colony looks to take art outdoors

After receiving a $10,000 grant from the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation board, the Grand Marais Art Colony will move forward with construction of an outdoor classroom behind their Studio 17 space.

Art Colony Artistic Director Ruth Pszwaro told WTIP that the outdoor classroom will host a variety of programs, including some youth programming, art demonstrations, and nature-based classes.

Pszwaro said the Art Colony is working with Alisa Berns of Taproot Landscaping to plan the project. The scope of the work will cover clearing brush and brambles, restoring a retaining wall, improving water runoff, and making the space more accessible to artists with mobility limitations. The plan will also include establishing a pollinator garden.

“In the end, art is messy and there’s a lot of processes that are great to have outdoors,” Pszwaro said, “So we’re looking forward to revamping this space.”

Beyond the practical reasons for establishing a classroom, having a space for students and community members to enjoy the outdoors aligns with the aims of the Art Colony. Pszwaro said, “Why do people come here to create art? That horizon line and the opportunity to see the lake. Those kinds of things we see as why we’re here, why we’ve been here for 78 years, as well.”

WTIP’s Kirsten Wisniewski spoke to Grand Marais Artistic Director Ruth Pszwaro about the plan to build an outdoor classroom. Audio of that interview is below.

Kirsten Wisniewski March 4, 2025