Author: Joey Ciaramitaro

Hi Joey,

Monday night, Peter Todd was announced as Gloucester’s new Poet Laureate.

Peter requested I take this photo of he and his wife in front of the Fisherman’s Wife statue to commemorate the occasion.  This statue has a special place in Peter’s heart as he  wrote the poem for the Fisherman’s Wife dedication and another for her 10th  anniversary.   

The dedication poem is included below.   

Peter is well know as “Huck Finn” on Cape Ann on Line,  and through his numerous contributions to the My View column in

the Gloucester Times.  Peter wrote the poem for the ground breaking of Gloucester’s World War II Memorial, has published 3 poetry books, and numerous poems which he freely shares with anyone interested (contact

information is included below).   

Peter also just accepted the task of writing a poem for the new Open Door expansion dedication.

One of the things that is so endearing about Peter is his complete commitment to freely sharing his poetry with all.  Peter 

firmly believes that art should be for all of the public.  

Mary Barker

The Fisherman’s Wife

By Peter A. Todd 

thepoetryofpeteralberttodd.weebly.com

In our gathering of endless hope and love

We celebrate Gloucester’s Symbol of Faith

The Fisherman’s wife who reflects the spirit above

That rest in the promise of Jesus for all that await

Our symbol crafted by a woman’s hand

That has captured the hearts and souls of us all

As people cross through American and Foreign land

To experience the heritage that her stature recalls

That of many families who have lost to the sea

Their loved ones for whose sacrifice we have survived

It is in this our symbol of Faith that sets our spirits free

To continue to keep the memories of those lost alive

We pay tribute to St. Peter , Patron Saint of the sea

Just as we honor the Captain’s at ships wheel

It is our symbol of the Fisherman’s wife

That the true reality of Gloucester’s heritage is revealed

Peter can be reached at one of the following:

petertoddpoet.com thepoetryofpeteralberttodd.weebly.com

petertoddblogspot.com capeannsalon.com / huck finn .

SAVE THE DATE

Gordon Goetemann: Extending Boundaries

Exhibit Dates: September 4 – September 28, 2014

Opening Reception: Friday, September 5, 2014, 4-6pm

Artist Talk: Sunday, September 14, 2014, 4pm

The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street, Gloucester.

Gloucester MA—The Rocky Neck Art Colony announces an exhibition featuring the work of Gordon Goetemann opening Thursday, Sept 4 at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street, Gloucester. The exhibit will highlight seminal works of Gordon Goetemann’s career spanning a sixty-year period. As The Rocky Neck Art Colony celebrates a new era as home to Massachusetts’ first designated Cultural District and acquisition of the historic carpenter-gothic church building to create a new Cultural Center, it is fitting to honor Gordon Goetemann, one of its own, whose artistic career mirrors the Colony’s Mission statement to, “Acknowledge the importance of the traditions upon which the Rocky Neck Art Colony was founded and work to keep them vital in the context of contemporary culture.”

This exhibition will showcase Goetemann’s traditional grounding in painting and drawing; and his exploration of abstraction in landscapes and painting to music, along with more current works in contemporary realism.

The Opening Reception will be held, Friday, September 5 from 4 to 6pm. The public is welcome to attend and refreshments will be served.  An Artist Talk will take place on Sunday, September 14 at 4 pm, these events are free and open to the public.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Gordon Goetemann earned a BFA at the University of Notre Dame, and his MFA from the State University of Iowa. He taught for forty years at the university level: studio arts, art history and other subjects at the University of Notre Dame, College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University, and the University of Alberta, Canada among others. He also led lecture tours at sites and museums in Europe, Asia and Africa. Goetemann came to Cape Ann in 1953 to study at Umberto Romano’s School of Art and returned seasonally until moving to Cape Ann permanently. Gordon and his wife, artist Judith Goetemann have owned and operated the Goetemann Gallery on Rocky Neck since 1977.

Gordon Goetemann is a member and former officer of the Rocky Neck Art Colony, a founding board member of SeArts (Society for the Encouragement of the Arts on Cape Ann), served as chairman of the art department at CSB/SJU, as well as a consultant to federal and state agencies and schools in Curriculum Development and Student performance.  He is the founder of the Artists in Residency Program at Rocky Neck Art Colony, which has been renamed in his honor in 2010. Goetemann’s works have been collected by the Cape Ann Museum, the Aldrich Museum of American Art, are also found in private and corporate collections such as Bain and Company, Citicorp, First Bank Systems, John Hancock, IBM, as well as university collections, Carleton College, State University of Iowa, University of Notre Dame and St. Johns University.

Gordon Goetemann: Extending Boundaries VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

ST JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH TO MOUNT GODSPELL, JR THIS FALL!

Gloucester, MA – Calling all young performers! Want an opportunity to sing, dance, act and be a part of an ensemble on stage or “behind the scenes?”

ST JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH is looking for young performers (ages 9 -16) and stage hands to share the “good news” through songs & scenes from Godspell, Jr
beginning on September 5th in Gloucester, MA. All young performers looking to be a part of this exciting musical should contact St John’s Youth Director, Jay DiPrima via e-mail at jay@stjohnsgloucester.org for further information. The first meeting will take place at St. John’s Church, 48 Middle Street on Friday, September 5th from 3 – 5pm.
Rehearsals will then be held each Friday afternoon from 3 – 5pm and each Sunday from noon – 2pm with final performances scheduled for November 14th – 16th.
All are welcome! There are many ensemble roles and soloist songs.  

Based on The Gospel According to St. Matthew, the musical uses major episodes in the New Testament – including the baptism of Jesus, the Last Supper, his arrest and crucifixion – to explore important ideas like compassion, love, forgiveness and sacrifice for the greater good. The show draws on various theatrical traditions and musical styles, including pantomime, charades, acrobatics, vaudeville, folk and rock to create a unique reflection on the parables of Jesus.

Godspell JR. is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI) and its collection of musicals for younger performers. This show will be co-directed by Dr. Jay DiPrima and Mark Nelson, the music director of St. Johns. (Visit the website for their bios)
Interested?

Contact: Jay DiPrima – jay@stjohnsgloucester.org or visit www.stjohnsgloucester.org  and click on “Education” for more Godspell, Jr information.