Cape Ann Artisans Welcome Spring with the 34th Annual Open Studio Tour June 3-4
Studios abuzz with newly inspired work!
The 34th Annual Cape Ann Artisans Open Studio Tour is just around the corner, Saturday and Sunday, June 3 and 4. For artists and visitors alike, the Cape Ann Artisan tour delivers a full creative immersion and that rare opportunity to re-ignite artistic juices. After winter hibernation and travels, in anticipation of the tour, Cape Ann Artisans studios are like beehives abuzz with activity – a chance to try something new, rearrange the studio, refresh the collection of work in time for Spring!
Visitors come from far and wide and right next door to enjoy the tour and its popularity is one of the driving forces that propelled Gloucester into the “top ten destinations for craft lovers” as designated by a recent poll held by American Craft Week.
Each artist aims to delight with the range of work and the process of creating it. CAA President, Pamela Stratton, who wears many hats, takes time out from her acupuncture practice to focus on new work, and this year will showcase her mixed media mosaics. “When thinking of this year’s Artisans tour, the word ‘evolving’ comes to mind. We have added one new artist and several artists who were on sabbatical have returned to the fold. As artists we try new techniques and materials and sometimes team up to work collaboratively. So the tour is always new. You may visit the same studios but the art and the artist have evolved,” comments Pam on the upcoming tour.
Beth Williams – Celebration – Tribal Necklace
Bottle Neck Beauty No.3
Pam Stratton Storm – Mixed Media
Here’s a sneak peak of what is in store this year.
Beth Williams, a long time Artisan and nationally acclaimed glass artist, has emerged from the dreariness of winter to plow headlong into May’s exhilarating sunshine. Travel to the southwest was her catalyst for new color ideas, thoughts, and directions. Her studio will showcase finished pieces that echo these recent desert inspirations.
Terry Del Percio Piemonte, painter and David Piemonte, photographer (husband and wife team) are among a small group that was on sabbatical and will return this year. With renewed energy, Terry shares her artistic pursuit, “Like many other painters, I started out painting objects, landscapes and living things. After a year of looking inside, Terry will be sharing work that has evolved from her deepest meditations.
Deborah Gonet, the newest Cape Ann Artisan, a mixed media artist, shared her point of view on whether she knows what to expect will result when she starts working on a piece. Deborah candidly writes in a recent From the Studio blog post, “While I might have a general idea of color, texture and overall composition I do not [know]. I find that if I pay attention to each layer I most often wind up someplace very different than my initial idea. The encaustic medium truly encourages exploration, experimentation and an appreciation for the small gifts that occur when you don’t plan and instead react in a way that feels right.”
Rob Diebboll, oil and water color painter, ventured back to Good Harbor Beach after spending much of 2016 on Cape Hedge and Long beaches. He experimented with the muted colors of the colder months by using fog as the foil for the human and canine figures passing by in their coats. The resulting “Dogs in Fog” will greet visitors that drop into his studio.
Mary Ann de Buy Wenniger, collagraph printer is delving further into her art form. She hones her skills through “natural and plastic plate-making materials, inks, paints and papers,” as ways to realize her imagery. “No two prints are the same as color changes reflect playfulness, different environments and times of day and life,” according to Marianne. Ask Mary Ann about her new exhibit “Aprons with Attitude!”
Jacqueline Ganim-DeFalco, sea glass jewelry artist, has found new inspiration “in a bottle” and not the kind you might think! After many years of pondering artistic uses for historic “bottlenecks” she has created exciting new designs with her precious collection of these disappearing treasures. Visit Cape Ann Designs to find out more about the new “Bottleneck Beauties” that also incorporate beads from fellow artisan, Beth Williams.
Camilla MacFadyen, hand printed textile artist, describes her studio as a “sanctuary” where she can climb into a pocket and experience “suspended animation” to focus on where the media takes her. Camilla is pattern making for new dresses, a coat and a Japanese inspired tunic. She is also combining solid and transparent fabrics; printed silk organza, linen and hemp, and using appliqué and embroidery to finish the pieces. Camilla will transform her studio using textiles to create a larger piece of environmental art, and invite the viewer to journey through the work with the theme “follow your path.”
Read more about each Artisan on www.capeannartisans.com where you can also sign up for the email reminders about the tour and download the brochure. You can jump on to the self-guided tour at any point and visit as many Artisans as you like. The self-guided Cape Ann Artisans tour takes place throughout Gloucester and Rockport will include 20 studios and 22 Artisans. The full group of 2017 Artisans are:
1. David Archibald
2. Cynthia Curtis
3. Rob Diebboll
4. Jacqueline Ganim-DeFalco
5. Deborah Gonet
6. Elizabeth Harty
7. Camilla MacFadyen
8. Anni Melançon
9. Sinikka Nogelo
10. Bond Street Studio: Terry DelPercio-Piemonte & David Piemonte
11. Marcie Rae
12. Margaret Rack
13. Mi Robertson
14. Pam Stratton
15. Bart Stuyf
16. Twin Lights Studio: Erin O’Sullivan & Scott Place
17. Mary Ann de Buy Wenniger
18. Beth Williams
19. Ruth Worrall*
20. Sara Wright
*Note for 2017 Ruth Worrall will be hosted at Bart Stuyf’s studio
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A family from Milford Connecticut enjoying Stacy Boulevard.
Good Morning Gloucester 