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- View from the Cottage (Lake Superior right across the street)
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- Side
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- Backyard
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- From H-58, Sullivan’s Creek to the left (can’t really see the cabin from the road
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- Sullivan’s Cabin from the driveway
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- Solar panels (why can’t all of our homes have this? So nice!)
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- Entry way, with screened door
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- Kitchen
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- Dining area
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- Kitchen: modern stove and propane fridge
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- Kitchen supplies, well equipped: toaster, pots and pans, plenty of cabinets
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- Excellent shower
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- Bathroom
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- Bathroom
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- Cleaning supplies
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- Bedroom 1
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- Bedroom 1
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- Bedroom 2
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- Bedroom 2, “closet”
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- Living room
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- Living room
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- Living room with fireplace and propane heater (left)
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- Artist in Residence at work
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- Plenty of studio space to create and let watercolors dry
- Check out some of my watercolors created during my residency at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
- Shop for art (secure Square Store accepting credit cards)
Inside the cabin
Sullivan’s cabin is a 1940’s, 2 bedroom with single beds. It has a living room with a couch, two lazy-boy type chairs, a fireplace with insert and propane heating. For cooking it has a nice kitchen with modern appliances, and a dining area with a table for two. Note that it is off the grid, and is powered by solar electricity (with a propane backup system). The water pump has it’s own smaller solar panel. Artists that need a lot of natural light should know that he cabin is a little on the dark side, naturally, due to being surrounded by woods.
That said, there were plenty of lights (they all had LED bulbs). I brought some of my own lighting (with LEDs) so I could direct the light to my table. Being concerned with running out of power, I was conservative with my energy usage, as I didn’t want to test out the propane backup system (however, I brought lots of backup lights/lamps). During the 3 weeks I was at the cabin, there were very few cloud covered days.
Space
Space was not an issue with one person. Sullivan’s cabin was larger than I thought and I was able to move things around for my studio.
My art tables were set up in the living area due to the larger windows. The lighting was somewhat better in bedroom 2, but the living area had much more space. I work on several paintings at once so the larger space won. It’s ok to move things around as long as it’s put back to it’s original setting.
Communications
Being that it is in a remote location, there is no cell phone coverage (as of October 2017). I was a bit worried about this, but it ended up being very good. There was nothing digital to distract me! The Park provided a walkie talkie radio for any emergencies.
You can also drive about 10 minutes towards Grand Marais to receive cell phone reception (around the Logslide). But for real, it was great to be disconnected and to focus on art (it was like I was transported to 1993-ish before the www – ha!!).
Both restaurants in Grand Marais had wifi connection, so it was nice to visit every so often and post updates to my blog, family and friends.
Outside the cabin
The cabin is perched next to Sullivan’s Creek. A short, hidden path (with Wintergreen!) joins the North Country Trail, leads you to a bridge, where you can check out some nice views of the creek and small cascades.
Since Lake Superior is literally across the street from the cabin, I made almost daily visits to the shore around sunrise and sunset. Also along the shore you will find Wild Blueberry. It was unseasonably warm so I was surprised to see a few Blueberries here and there.
Learn more about applying to the Artist in Residence program at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have if you are applying or accepted to the residency.
