Day: February 23, 2023

ROCKY NECK NOW 2023: THE ANNUAL MEMBERS SHOW

Posted on by James Eves

Location: The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street, Gloucester, MA

Dates:  February 16 – March 19, 2023           

            March 23 – April 23, 2023

Opening Receptions:  Saturday, February 18, 4 – 6 PM; Saturday, March 25, 4 – 6 PM

Gallery Hours: Thursday-Sunday, Noon – 5 PM

Paula Morgan
Bocce Players
Oil on canvas
Susan Guest Mcphail
Patience
Hand-painted and printed paper, acrylic paint
Linda Bourke
Saint Martha 
Mixed media sculpture
Christine Berensfeld
Singing Beach
Gouache on paper

ROCKY NECK NOW 2023, the highly anticipated annual members show, opens the exhibition season at the Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC). In commemoration of Gloucester’s 400+ and RNAC’s 50th anniversary as a non-profit organization, members were invited to reflect on the past, assess the present through the lens of history and look to the future with fresh eyes. The resulting exhibition, divided into two parts, showcases the work of 72 artists that demonstrates where they have been, are now or are headed in their practice. Each show presents a wide range of artistic interpretations with representational, abstract and expressive styles in all media.

The exhibition runs for two consecutive, five-week periods, showing 72 member artists in the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck’s two galleries, Thursday through Sunday, from noon to 5 PM and online at RNACexhibitions.com.

The Artists

Exhibiting in the first show: Suzanne Agostino, Kathleen Gerdon Archer, Christine Barensfeld, John Bassett, Linda Bourke, Jeanne Carey, Betsy Carter, Anne Marie Crotty, Barbe Ennis, Jeannette Esposito, Phyllis Feld, John Grant, Karen Gross, Susan Guest Mcphail, Richard Honan, Linda Kauss, Jane Keddy, Tobi Klein, James Kociuba, Otto Laske, Ira Levine, Barbara Littlefield, Laureen Maher, Paula Morgan, Christy Park, Monica Pepicelli, Mary Rhinelander, Ruth Schneider, James Seavey, Sallie Strand, Suzanne Ulrich, Juni Van Dyke, Karen Watson, Judith Wright

Exhibiting in second show: Meredith Anderson, Lisa Angelini-Adams, Claire Bean, Robert Bent, Elizabeth Bish, Paula Borsetti, Mike Cangemi, Matt Cegelis, Michele Champion, Yhanna Coffin, Alev Danis, Terry Del Percio, Maria Denjongpa, Cheryl Dyment, Cindy Efinger, Seth Goldfine, Dina Gomery, Nancy Gorman, Leslie Heffron, Ann Lafferty, Maria Malatesta, Carmela Martin, Roy McCauley, Elizabeth A. McLindon, Vanessa Michalak, Ed Mowrey, Brian Murphy, R. D. Murphy, John Nedosko, Jenny Pivor, Joyce Roessler, Katherine Richmond, Kathy Roberts, Judy Robinson-Cox, Tom Robinson-Cox, Helen Tory, Suellen Wedmore, Jodi Wright. 

Special Events

The public is invited to celebrate the creativity of RNAC artists at both opening receptions, one on Saturday, February 18 and the other on Saturday, March 25, both from 4 to 6 PM. View the art, meet the artists and enjoy light refreshments, drink and ever-lively conversation. 

For additional public programs accompanying this exhibition, consult www.rockyneckartcolony.org and the RNACExhibitions.com websites for details and updates. 

The Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC) was founded in the mid-19th century and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 1973. With the creation of the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck in 2012, RNAC programs are reaching a wider demographic as the visual arts focus is expanding to include more diverse cultural and educational offerings. The Cultural Center is located at 6 Wonson Street, Gloucester, MA 01930. For more information, visit www.rockyneckartcolony.org.

Save the Date Gloucester Meetinghouse

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

Thank you, Kathleen Williams, for always keeping us up to date on what great events are happening at the Gloucester Meetinghouse.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 2023
ANNUAL BACH BIRTHDAY CONCERT MARCH 19 FEATURES RARELY PERFORMED WORKS WITH FOUR HARPSICHORDS AND STRINGS
The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation presents a concert of rarely heard pieces for three and four harpsichords with a period string ensemble.
at the Gloucester Meetinghouse, corner of Middle and Church Streets on Sunday, March 19 at 3:30 p.m.
Four virtuoso harpsichordists will be joined by the acclaimed string ensemble ‘Arpeggione’ in a musical extravaganza to celebrate the birthday of
Johann Sebastian Bach. The harpsichordists, Elliot Figg, Frances Fitch, Lenora McCroskey, and Peter Sykes, will perform the Concerto in C-major
and Concerto in D-minor by Bach for three harpsichords and strings, the Banchetto Musicale, No. 1 by Johann Hermann Schein for strings and
harpsichord continuo, and an extremely rare performance of the Concerto in A-minor for four harpsichords alone by Bach, adapted from Vivaldi.
Members of the ‘Arpeggione’ string ensemble include Emily Hale, violin; Lisa Brooke, violin; Lauren Nelson, viola; Benjamin Swartz, cello; and
Pablo Kennedy, double bass. They perform on wonderful instruments that reproduce the sounds from the time the music was written.
The historical setting of the 1806 Meetinghouse with its concert hall acoustics provides a spacious, warm, and clear musical experience for
concert goers to enjoy these unusual and delightful works featuring multiple harpsichords.
The concert, co-sponsored by H. Woody Brock and Scobie Ward, is part of the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation’s annual Autumn-Winter-Spring Series
of concerts and events. GMF is committed to presenting musical, cultural, and civic events for the Cape Ann community that are not available anywhere else.
on the North Shore.
Tickets are available online at http://www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org or at the door. Preferred seating is $35; general seating $25; students with ID $5;
children under 12 free.
ABOUT THE GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE FOUNDATION
Founded in 2015, the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is dedicated to preserving the landmark building as a civic hub, entertainment venue,
and community center. In addition to its work to preserve the historic 1806 Meetinghouse, GMF is currently raising funds to restore Meetinghouse Green.
The GMF has received a $130,000 grant from the Community Preservation Act and a $2,000 grant from the Essex Heritage Partnership Grant Program
towards a total project goal of $340,000. Construction is scheduled to begin in fall 2023.
For more information, a full schedule of upcoming concerts and events, and to sign up for the GMF newsletter, visit http://www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org.
We thank the sponsors of the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation’s 2022-2023 Autumn, Winter, Spring Concert and Event Series:
GUARANTOR: H. Woody Brock, Patricia Roach & Robert Martin, Scobie Ward
PLATINUM: Anonymous, Peter Calkins & Susan Casey, Linzee Coolidge
GOLD: J.J. & Jackie Bell, John & Janis Bell, Karen Bell, Cape Ann Savings Bank, Susan Gray, Andrew Spindler & Hiram Butler
SILVER: JoeAnn Hart & Gordon Baird, Charles Nazarian, Patricia Poore
BRONZE: Beth Graham & William Schulz, Sandra & John Ronan, Holly Tanguay, Sarah Willwerth-Dyer and Michael Dyer
SPECIAL THANKS: Massachusetts Cultural Council, Essex County Community Foundation

a Visit To Appleton Farm Store

Posted on by Pat D

We saw online that the Appleton Farm Store in Ipswich/Hamilton was making room for maple products and therefore were having a little clearance sale on limited items until the end of February. So, off we went! I am always impressed by the variety of items available in the store. We came away with some jam, biscuits, salad dressing and sparkling tea drink. In addition to the sale items there is an additional 10% discount available by showing your Trustees membership card. Give it a try when you have a chance but make the effort to get there before the end of February to take advantage of this sale. It’s a good time to visit the Farm and the maple products are already on the shelves!

Yesterday someone asked me what makes me qualified to be a judge in the Singer Songwriter Challenge @machacagloucester

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

After listening to this clip I’m sure you’ll agree you can’t get this kind of hard hitting analysis just anywhere-