Three Visions of Gloucester
Peter Vincent, Jeff Weaver and Don Gorvett
in a new show at the Cape Ann Museum
The Cape Ann Museum is pleased to announce the opening of their latest exhibition, Vincent, Weaver, Gorvett: Gloucester, Three Visions on Saturday, October 24 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. The opening reception is free and open to the public. The exhibition will remain on view through February 28, 2016.
Gloucester, Three Visions explores the work of three unique artists – Jeff Weaver, Don Gorvett and the late Peter Vincent – each of whom has lived in and been inspired by Gloucester’s working harbor for over 40 years.
During the early 1970s, the lives of Weaver, Gorvett and Vincent converged in Gloucester. They had each studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and for a time, Don Gorvett and Jeff Weaver shared studio space in an apartment building on the Fort; Peter, who lived in Rockport, was a frequent visitor. For each artist, Gloucester’s hardscrabble working waterfront was the attraction. Struggling to recover from the ravages of urban renewal, while at the same time weathering the slow steady demise of the city’s fishing industry, Gloucester Harbor in the early 1970s was a gold mine for the three artists.
Today, Jeff Weaver maintains a studio in Gloucester. After painting signs and murals in the 1990s, he turned his focus to watercolor and oil. Jeff can frequently be seen around town, brush and palette in hand, looking to capture the particular flavor of the city he calls home. Weaver has received numerous awards, including Marine Gallery at Mystic Seaport “Best in Show,” and Guild of Boston Artists “Silver Medal.” Don Gorvett currently lives and works in Portsmouth, NH, having maintained a studio in Gloucester for many years. He excels at the exacting art of reduction wood block printing and is a dedicated teacher. In 2013, Mr. Gorvett was awarded a medal for his lifetime achievements in the arts by Salem State University. Peter Vincent, who passed away in 2012, secured a solid reputation as one of New England’s most well regarded marine artists. In 1986 he was honored with the coveted Mystic Invitational Award for excellence in painting.
Related Programs
Saturday, November 7 at 9:30 a.m. ~Â The Art & Life of Peter Vincent: A Gallery Talk with Eoin Vincent
Saturday, November 14 at 9:30 a.m. ~Â Jeff Weaver Gallery Talk
Saturday, December 19 at 10:00 a.m. ~Â Don Gorvett Gallery Talk
Saturday, January 23 at 2:00 p.m. ~Â A Conversation with Eoin Vincent, Jeff Weaver and Don Gorvett
These programs are free for Museum members / $10 nonmembers (includes admission). Space is limited, reservations required: (978) 283-0455 x10 or info@capeannmuseum.org. Updates and details at capeannmuseum.org.
Please invite friends to join us for this event!
THE SARGENT MURRAY GILMAN HOUGHÂ HOUSE ASSOCIATIONÂ PROGRAM AND ANNUAL MEETING
OCTOBER 24, 2015, 3–3:15 PM: Annual meeting of members,
Falcon’s Nest at The Hive, 11 Pleasant Street, Gloucester: Â
- President Amanda Hurd will give a brief report to the members on the Association’s activities since its last annual meeting.
   Members who are unable to attend the meeting may give their proxies in writing to any other Member of the Association or by email to the Clerk (joannmichalak@me.com).
- Images from the Costume and Textile Collection will continually be displayed.
3:15–4 PM: “Layers of Women’s Clothing,” An Illustrated Talk from Our Costume and Textile Collection, also Falcon’s Nest at The Hive
Mary Hurd, Costume Director, Brandeis University Department of Theater Arts, Anita Canzian, Head Draper, Huntington Theatre Company and Jennifer Nieling, Curatorial Intern, Nantucket Historical Association will give an illustrated talk on the Museum’s Costume and Textile Collection which they recently completed inventorying and digitizing. Free to the public.  Â
4:15–4:45 PM: The program will continue at the Sargent House Museum, 49 Middle Street, with viewing and refreshments:Â
- A few costumes may be viewed in small groups in the meeting room with brief comments by the speakers. Â No touching of the costumes or bringing refreshments into the room will be allowed.
- Socializing with light refreshments in the Gift Shop.
Trident Gallery is pleased to present a series of new paintings by Patti Sullivan, one of Gloucester’s great expressionist and colorist landscape artists.
Sullivan’s series of paintings of cormorants along Gloucester’s Back Shore in 2013 represented a significant development in her work. Influenced by recent travel in Alaska, she endowed the familiar scene with a haunting remoteness. The paintings show a rugged, elemental landscape at the boundary of our world, where land meets sea and humans meet animals as foreigners.
During the past year, Sullivan has continued her exploration of this coastline with a series of paintings of a particular large rock not far offshore. Though continuity with the earlier series is evident, especially in the large painting Solstice (2013), and in the enchantment of Sullivan’s rich colors and varied surface textures, the differences are striking.
The powerful, eclipsed, and angular compositions of 2013 have given way to symmetries. Ruggedness has softened into simpler, more abstract forms. The cormorants have receded, and with them the sense of an alien world. Bold gestures in the paint which belonged to the rocks, sea, and sky in 2013 now seem to belong to the artist. Earth tones have become shining bright colors which recall Sullivan’s paintings of Cuba and the Dominican Republic, showing a human and social world of city architecture and people. The new series celebrates personal encounters with landscape and joy in nature’s many-splendored variation.
This exhibition will show the 2013 series together with the 2015 series, each vitalizing and contextualizing the other and suggesting new directions of visual discovery to the imaginative viewer.
Trident Gallery
189 Main Street, Gloucester Massachusetts
978-491-7785 | TridentGallery.com
HOURSÂ (During Patti Sullivan exhibition, October 24 – November 29)
Sat 10-7 • Fri Sun Mon 10-5 • Tue Wed Thu 12-5
DAY OF THE DEAD
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS FIESTAAT LOCAL COLORS ARTISTS’ COOPERATIVE
Saturday October 24th, 6-8:30
The members of Local Colors Artists’ Cooperative in Gloucester are featuring a unique Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead art exhibit at 121 Main Street from October 17th through November 6th with a fiesta reception including refreshments and lively music on October 24th from 6 to 8:30 PM. At the reception, Christine Garrigan, former member, will be offering skeleton face-painting for the event.
The exhibit will highlight Day of the Dead art as well as a festive ofrenda or altar where the public can leave a note of remembrance. “I love celebrating this event as it offers a different perspective to the Halloween season, ” says Kathy Bucholska, a member for 26 years. “We celebrate the return of departed loved ones during this time of year with art, food, photographs, flowers and drink.” Kathy submitted mixed media pieces made from dominoes and colorful skeleton images in addition to skeleton jewelry.
Celebrated originally in Mexico, this holiday welcomes back departed family members on the1st and 2nd of November with music, brightly decorated sugar skulls and orange marigolds. It’s not a sad occasion but a happy one. Death is viewed as the continuation of life where the culture depicts a vibrant afterlife. Day of the Dead art often depicts brightly festooned skeletons doing everyday activities as imagined in the afterlife.
“For me, the DĂa de Muertos Celebration is a way to creatively integrate my own Caribbean cultural heritage and connections with family and friends who have died,” offers Ian Commissiong, a fiber artist who submitted a festive Day of the Dead themed apron and pillow. Â “I love the bright colors typical of the celebration juxtaposed with the starkness of black and white”
“I think it is a great holiday focused on the good times we had with loved ones and not on holiday sale-a-thons,” notes Jim Sousa, photographer who offered brightly colored “skull art” photographs.
Since Day of the Dead art often involves satire and humor about the human condition, the window display has a satiric theme. Â Local Colors’ resident skeleton, Miranda, is featured in the front window doing what she does best: eating, drinking and having fun along with members’ original work in the alcove window and featured wall.
Bonnie Gray submitted a colorful skull painting, adding “Once I understood that the Day of the Dead is actually a joyous time to celebrate the lives of our ancestors, I began to envision this painting. Â I hope it conveys that feeling of joy to the viewer.” Pat Doherty painted a poignant portrait of a small boy being watched over by his mother in spirit. “Just as Dia de Los Muertos is a time to remember family and friends who have passed, I tried to have my oil painting show how a mother’s love is always with you, forever guiding you,” says Pat.
Dave Katz, a photographer, took a humorous approach with a photograph depicting a “die-hard” Red Sox fan (skeleton with Red Sox paraphernalia). Dave says, “I look forward to the traditional gallery event, as it allows us to channel our creativity in unexpected and interesting ways. I’m always inspired by the Day of the Dead artwork created by the other members.”
Sally Seamans, aka Tin Can Sally, went outside  her usual tin medium and created many colorful skeletons with flowered adornments that she calls ‘Sugar Girls’ in honor of the Day of the Dead skulls made from sugar. Ann Schlecht designed a pair of creative skeleton earrings made from tiny beads as well as a skull and cross bone silver charm noting that in ancient times “It was not a symbol of death but of life, reminding us that human life is temporary and that by contemplating our death we find the hidden treasure within each of us, eternal life.”
Donna Amero, a founding member, and Virginia Townsend are displaying their own version of skeleton fish: Donna created whimsical skeleton fish from stained glass while Virginia painted a fun fish skeleton image on her pottery.
More Day of the Dead art will be on display by other members as well as former member, Lois Hertzler, who will be showing her well-known photographs of various skeleton characters just enjoying life after life.
The artists invite the public to enjoy the display, write a remembrance for the altar and celebrate the free event on October 24 from 6 to 8:30 pm with light refreshments, face-painting and festive music at 121 Main Street, Gloucester, MA, 978-283-3996.
Good Morning Gloucester 