Jane Deering Gallery shares a few images and news about the next show:
Joy! Joy Halsted | what I’ve been doing in the time of …. (covid) opening November 13th Jane Deering Gallery . 19 Pleasant Street . Gloucester, MA.
‘There is no artist on earth like Joy Halsted,’ wrote Pat Lowery Collins in her 2015 interview with the artist. The multi-faceted Halsted is an inventive, provocative, irreverent, playful, politically-aware, and process-oriented artist. And what has Joy Halsted been doing these many months since life and Covid-19 locked her and all of us indoors? Using process once again to compulsively knit. To knit hats with corona pompoms attached at the top. Anti-corona hats, as Joy nicknames them.
‘Humor is our saving grace,’ she writes. ‘The atmosphere is serious; we’re all feeling a bit lost. As an artist, I felt the need to raise spirits; to offer a new perspective.’
Joy Halsted
Anti-corona hats @ $35 . The gallery will donate to The Open Door. Gallery hours: Friday, Saturday & Sunday 1:00-3:00pm and always by appointment @ 917-902-4359.
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Also, a classic Winslow Homer painting, Weatherbeaten, 1894, from the Portland Museum of Art, Maine, is featured on the cover of the Arts section as part of this review by Murray Whyte. “Mythmakers: The Art of Winslow Homer and Frederick Remington” is up through the end of November.
Just in time for some Halloween eve spirit, curl up with a selection of Boston Globe news columns featuring 19th and 20th century Gloucester ghost reports.
First up a 19th century Gloucester ghost story from 1884 with a title as long as the day, “GHOSTS IN GLOUCESTER: The Mysterious noises in Gould’s Court. An Acadian French Theory of Their Cause–Men Less Brave Than Women. Frequent Gratuitous Rappings Unexplained.”
1884
“I hope we shall not hear that noise tonight,” said the wife of Stephen McKinney as she sat in an upper room of 12 Gould court a week ago. A female companion expressed the same hope, and Mrs. McKlancy continued: “We may not hear it for a fortnight; we have not heard it for the last three weeks, and–”
She did not finish the sentence. At that moment, in the hall below, was heard a rap! rap! rap! as knuckles at the door.
(The writer adds flourish to the dialogue as if the resident was a native French speaker. Decades later Cher Ami was around the corner. Was this area a French quarter?)
1903 Sanborn map detail from plate 17 with Gould Court Gloucester, Massachusetts
Part Two was published the following day: “THE GLOUCESTER GHOSTS. Is Mr. Henry Hatch’s House Really Haunted? A Diagram Illustrating the Scene of the Strange Manifestations. Similar Stories of ‘Old Jeffrey’ and Esther Cox*.”
“Another remarkable case was that of Esther Cox, at Amherst, N.S., a few years ago…”
With a diagram. Not much of a story but it made the front page. Could have titled this tall tale Ghosts of Ghoul court.
In 1896 ghosts were reported at Stage Fort Park: “Gloucester’s Fortress is Alive With Ghosts. Warriors Tremble at Sight of Gliding Specters. Hundreds Turned Out Last Night to See “It.” And “It” Appeared at the Armory Window.”
Writer Henry W. Harris, Jr. quick piece and good read from 1921 considers Rev. Cotton Mather’s account of the Gloucester Ghost Battles of 1692 when the militia was called out to defend Gloucester from ghosts, “war and witch fever”.
“The latter soon located three alleged spirits and fired at them, whereupon they lay down. “I’ve killed three! he shouted to the oncoming soldiery. At this the spirits rose from the place where they had laid down and fired back–under the circumstances there was nothing else for a self respecting spook to do.”
from 1921 Boston Globe article by Henry Harris considers Cotton Mather’s account of Gloucester Ghost Battles of 1692 “war and witch fever”
For more about witches in Gloucester see my 2018 post
1960
Every decade or so there’s a piece about that ghostly place, Dogtown. This one from 1960 describes preservation efforts at the time: “Paradise for Naturalists and Bird Watchers: Cape Ann Moves to Save Romantic Ghost Town”.
“Leading the drive to save the area from dumping and real estate development are several naturalists, including John Kiernan…President of Dogtown Foundation, Inc., is Dr. Melvin T. Copeland, former professor at the Harvard School of Business Administration and author of a history of the school. Working closely with him is another of the trustees, Elliott C. Rogers. A book by the last two men “The Saga of Cape Ann” has just been published…the handiest compendium on the history and byways of Cape Ann…”
Herbert A. Kenny, Boston Globe, March 20, 1960
And from October that same year, “Want Ghost Town Dead”
Did you know about all the amazing classes and programs offered by Rose Baker Senior Center? Look up! The exterior view from Rogers incorporates new panels based on art by Juni Van Dyke to express the vibrancy generated within this Gloucester institution.
Fine artist Juni VanDyke resides in Cape Ann and has been the stellar Director of the arts program at Rose Baker Senior Center since 1993.
The figurative mural series feature some of the many classes and special performances and events available through the center: yoga, balance & fitness, performances, art, dance, computer, and bridge.
next exterior renovation step ✅
Looking forward to a monumental Juni Van Dyke mural on the vertical wall “1” bring her color mastery and original work downtown, and break up the blue blocking.
I checked in with Jane Deering to hear more about the show and how opening day went for this affordable art show/young collector boost and during a pandemic.
“The idea came to me about a year ago while thinking how I might make art more affordable for the many young people who’ve come to the gallery, expressed how much they admire the shows but were not able to purchase, even something at $100. Then COVID struck and I needed to get creative to stay alive.
As you know, Catherine, I’ve been living in London a long time. This sparked my memory of how the Royal College of Art started something back in 1995 called Absolut Secret (sponsored by Absolut Vodka — get it?) which raised money for scholarships to the RCA by offering small works (signed by the artist on the back) for a tuppence. Buyers wouldn’t know who the artist was until they bought the work and turned it over. One lucky buyer snapped up a David Hockney! So … I confess I stole my idea for Absolute Secret 2020 from the RCA. Sometimes theft can bring good?
Anyway … I contacted all the artists I’ve worked with over the years and asked each if they’d donate a small work. The outpouring of YES! was heartwarming. Oh, the wonder of artists. Such generosity and goodwill. I’m so grateful to all of them. Works have come from the many who have studios here on Cape Ann and parts throughout Massachusetts, but also New York, Maine, Vermont, California, England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany and Barcelona.
Yesterday’s opening was also a wonder. One of my favorite stories was of a young man (27 maybe?) who emailed back and forth with me for days over his obsession with a particular work. He asked if coming to stand in line by 12:30 would be too late? Ha! He was first in line (working all the time on his cell phone), first in the door when we opened at 1 o’clock, and first to get his special piece. Good for him!
Lots of conviviality. Lots of cheer. Some disappointments, of course; especially those who sent requests via email only to hear that their pics had sold. Can’t please everyone so my apologies to all who may have missed out. There are still many marvelous pieces to be had and several artists have brought me additional works to put up as the show thins out. Again, the generosity of artists!
Oh!…I’ve been asked ‘Why $20?’ Well, it’s the dreadful year 2020 so I thought I’d put the number 20 in a more upbeat light. And — back to the affordability factor — I wanted all those who find art beyond their purse strings to be able to have something wonderful. This show was meant for them.
And I hope that those who have the means, will return and support these wonderful artists (and the gallery) by buying art at a fairer price.
Thanks to all!”
Jane Deering, Jane Deering Gallery, October 16, 2020
The invitation for this wonderful show- through November 3, 2020
Maybe I can leave $20 for a twenty something art fan? Artists are so generous.
Views looking in
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A new business has opened downtown during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Captain Vito’s Fresh Seafood opened on 53 Washington Street in Gloucester, Massachusetts, utterly transforming the space formerly held by wonderful Giovanni’s barbershop (and tailor shop at the back). Sclafani’s Italian bakery is located next door.
Good Morning Gloucester 