Day: October 2, 2024

Pat Dalpiaz will be manning our shop at 44 Main St- Tomorrow Thursday Oct 3 from noon-5; Friday 11-5; and Sunday 11-3. Closed Saturday Oct 5 

Going, Going…

Exhibition Dates: October 12 – 14, 2024
Reception: Sunday, October 13, 3 – 6 pm

Cove Gallery, 37 Rocky Neck Ave., Gloucester, MA
Gallery open: Friday – Monday, 12 – 6 pm

The Rocky Neck Art Colony proudly presents Phyllis Feld—A Retrospective, a three-day exhibition curated by Dina Gomery, showcasing the works of Phyllis Feld (1941–2023) at Cove Gallery, 37 Rocky Neck Ave.

Phyllis Feld, a Gloucester resident, worked from her studio overlooking the inspiring Cripple Cove. An award-winning artist and cherished member of the Cape Ann arts community, Phyllis passed away suddenly in May 2023 at the age of 81, leaving works in progress and dreams of new creations. She loved painting en plein air, finding the experience both challenging and “liberating.”

A perfectionist with high standards, Phyllis brought the same dedication to her art as she did to her career as a space designer. Her oil paintings are known for their fine detail, tonal depth, and atmospheric quality. She was an active member of the Rocky Neck Art Colony, North Shore Arts Association, Gallery 53 (now The Salted Cod), Central Street Gallery in Manchester-by-the-sea, and the Marblehead and Concord Art Associations.

This retrospective offers an opportunity to honor Phyllis’s memory, celebrate her legacy, and reflect on her contributions to the artistic community. The gallery will be open during Columbus Day weekend, October 12, 13 and 14, from noon to 6 PM, with a reception on Sunday from 3-6 PM.

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RNAC acknowledges the generosity of Mark Goetemann who has donated the use of the former home and gallery space of his late parents Gordon and Judith Goetemann to honor their legacy as artists, as inveterate supporters of artistic excellence, and to carry on their commitment to keeping Rocky Neck a haven for artists and art lovers

September 30, 2024 ~ Sawyer Free Library ~ 

The Gloucester 400+ and Gloucester Celebration Corp have made a $20,000 investment in the Sawyer Free 2025 capital campaign. This generous gift will fund the innovative Gloucester Timeline touchscreen wall located in the Library’s new Local History Research Center. The Local History Research Center will connect residents and visitors with our local history through compelling special and circulating collections, expert assistance, engaging programs and thought-provoking exhibitions.

“On behalf of Gloucester 400+ and Gloucester Celebration Corp, I am pleased to announce a $20,000 gift to Sawyer Free Library’s Local History Research Center for the Gloucester Timeline interactive touchscreen wall,” said the organization’s Executive Director Elsje Zwart. “We are thrilled to be able to participate in this important space within the newly renovated and expanded Sawyer Free Library, where people can come and explore not only the hundreds of stories about the people of Gloucester collected over our quadricentennial plus year and continue to add to them, but also to research Gloucester history and the people who lived and worked here for 400+ years.”

“We are grateful to the Gloucester 400+ organization and the Gloucester Celebration Corp for their generous $20,000 donation to the 2025 Sawyer Free Library,” said Mern Sibley, President of the Sawyer Free Library’s Board of Trustees. “The Library’s Local History Research Center will be a groundbreaking resource for our city, revolutionizing how we preserve, curate, and access our historical treasures. The interactive touch screen wall, funded through this generous donation, will be a signature feature of the center, providing an innovative and engaging way for residents and visitors to connect with Gloucester’s 400+ years of heritage. We are honored that our longstanding community partner, who shares our same commitment to preserving and sharing Gloucester’s rich history, is now a part of the Library’s transformative building project.”

The centerpiece of the Local History Research Center is the 85-inch interactive digital touchscreen wall, designed to enhance research through the Gloucester Timeline. This online research tool chronicles the city’s history. Launched in January 2024, the Timeline already boasts over 1,500 entries covering notable events, people, and places that have shaped Gloucester’s identity. Accessible both in the Library and online, the Timeline has attracted more than 21,000 visitors, providing a captivating and comprehensive resource for historians, scholars, and residents alike.

The new touchscreen wall in the Local History Research Center will make exploring Gloucester’s past a more engaging and collaborative experience. Visitors can interact with the Timeline, searching through categories, subcategories, and keywords to uncover stories of Gloucester’s history over the past 400+ years.

In addition to historical records, the Gloucester Timeline features the Digital Gloucester 400 Stories Project, bringing a modern, dynamic element through personal narratives and oral histories that reflect the strength and diversity of Gloucester’s people. These stories, compiled during the city’s 400th anniversary, ensure that Gloucester’s evolving history remains inclusive and vibrant for future generations.

The Gloucester Timeline is a living online resource that chronicles the key events and figures that have defined the city. Covering everything from art and literature to Gloucester’s vital maritime heritage, the Timeline weaves together stories from over four centuries. It draws from various assets, including photographs, videos, newspaper articles, and other historical documents, serving as an invaluable research tool.

The 2025 Sawyer Free Library historic renovation, expansion, and modernization project began last September and is now halfway completed. With two-thirds of the $29 million fundraising goal already reached, community engagement remains strong. However, there is still much more to raise, making this significant investment from the Gloucester 400+ and other local businesses and community organizations essential to the project’s success.

Expected to open in 2025, the newly renovated Sawyer Free Library will feature a 14,000-square-foot addition, beautifully restored buildings, and sustainable design elements, all of which will support the greater Cape Ann community.

The renovated Gloucester Public Library will offer current and emerging public technology, diverse collections, engaging programs, and new dedicated spaces for collaboration, learning, and relaxation.  It will feature a 100-seat Community Room, meeting rooms, study rooms, a digital learning lab, a teen room, an expanded children’s room, an enhanced Matz Art Gallery, and ample space for its book collection.  

The Library invites the community to learn how to get involved and support this vital project at 2025.sawyerfreelibrary.org.

We plan to attend this super fun event. Join us! Food, fun and some tomfoolery. I’ve even closed the shop Saturday hours in order to attend. (*This week’s hours are Thursday noon-5; Friday 11-5; Sunday 11-3)