On the mark: Summer hums along in Cromwell

On June 28 the Cromwell Area Community Club hosted its fourth annual midsummer steak fry, silent auction and variety show. It was a lovely evening. Some people remained well past the events, enjoying the Kaleb Anderson Memorial playground.

Our silent auction solicits one-of-a-kind donations from community members who have designed and made things themselves: paintings, photographs, sculpture, quilts, weavings, table runners, placemats, homemade jellies, pickles, breads and soaps, handmade jewelry, woodworking, books, and potted plants. Zimmer Farm and Lynn Swatek donated a basketful of farm fresh goodies. Brandon Eiler's handsome terrarium of Tokyo Sun Sedum was presented in a white ceramic pitcher made years ago by Ebba Hedin.

We also welcome offers of services. This year, Floodwood's Rich Cuisine offered four Cuban sandwiches at Floodwood's upcoming Catfish days. Rising Phoenix Community Farm offered a farm share with its Community Supported Agriculture north of Prairie Lake.

Our goal is to showcase the creative work of artists and crafters as well as to raise funds for community projects. We showcase accomplished artists' works, including some "not for sale," just for oohing and aahing. This year, we mounted Jo Johnson's "White Spirit Horses Rush To Shore," several of June Collman's stone sculptures, Ken Hanson's "Rogers Lake," Carole Hill's oil portrait of Marinus Markusen, Kris Nelson's Yoga Chair, and Lloyd Backus' "Bayfield." We also host first-ever artworks: Deb Nichols' painting, "Misty Moon," and Deb Levinsky's "A Weaving," both for bidding.

Fabric artists donate unique and often hotly contested creations, including the Bethany Quilters' full-sized quilt and Lindsay Lally's quilted Christmas hanging. Sharon Stenberg shared a remarkable quilted purse. Geri Lind always lavishes us with table runners, placemats and pot holders and, this year, three watercolors, her first efforts. Out of birchbark and tiny stones and sand, June Collman fashioned a framed "Textures in Nature."

Every year, John Dahlman shares some of his best photography: cardinal, deer, flowers. Will Stenberg donated a magical photo of two swans dancing chest-to-chest - we aren't sure if it depicts two males fighting, or a mating dance.

The Cromwell Industrial Arts program donated a dozen beautifully crafted cutting boards, a lamp stand, four field hockey sticks, and a capacious utility shelf. Philip Hanson shared a whimsical birchbark whirligig. Mitzi Harp offered cabin signs with droll messages, such as "Life is Better at the Lake."

After consuming steak, potatoes, veggies and ice cream, we encourage participants to make a last bidding dash. Then winners pick up and pay for their items, while community members of all ages dismantle the display area, making way for our variety show.

Rod Walli opened up with a slightly domesticated version of Jimi Hendrix's "The Star-Spangled Banner" on electric guitar. Cromwell-Wright School's Aurora Gervais sang a lovely version of Tate McCrae's "One Day," and Larissa Homstad danced to Imagine Dragons' "Believe."

Minnesota Sings candidates shared their vocal sweets. Joey Kotiranta gave us a stylish performance of Bob Merrill's "Mambo Italiano." Pearl Schulte performed a sweet, sad version of Tracy Chapman's "Give Me One Good Reason." Louis Switzer sang an energetic "Despair, Hope and Snacks," composed by ChiyoKo. Amarah Parks shared her own composition, "A Droplet of Rain," sweetly accompanying herself on the guitar.

Pianist Mary Dahlman served up a jazzy, high-energy version of Andraé Crouch's "Soon and Very Soon." Walt Collman played Amanda McBroom's "The Rose" on his saxophone, and he and I on piano dished up Chris Lawry's "The Jazz Singer." My cousin Martha Markusen on the Indian flute played "All the Pretty Little Ponies" with me on piano. And 94-year-old Siiri Peterson and I played Henry Mancini's "Moon River" on recorder and piano.

Arnold Collman read his essay, "Ernie," an account of a chance visit with an old man and his dog in a rock shop. Jennie Hanson read a long reminiscence by Ellen Peterson, the early and longtime manager of the Wright Co-op, which celebrates its 100th year this summer.

The Bethany Lutheran Church Choir sang a fast, waltz-like version of "Jesus Loves Me." Daniel Belden sang his ethereal version of "Shenandoah," in cadences that felt like rowing the river. Rob and Deb Switzer swung into Wilson Phillips' "Hold On," a duet that celebrates a happy partnership. MaryRose Varo, playing her guitar, sang a powerful song she composed for her mother.

We broke up about 9 p.m., after all sang "Over the Rainbow" and "If I had a Hammer," to Varo's guitar. We walked into the dusky evening feeling we'd shared hours of fellowship, artworks, music and performance. And there were some of us with locally made, one-of-a-kind artworks - made by our neighbors - under our arms.

Ann Markusen is an economist and professor emerita at the University of Minnesota. A Pine Knot board member, she lives in Red Clover Township.