A breezy 60 degrees Jan. 11, 2020 on Long Beach, Rockport, Mass. Gloucester, Mass.
Author: Catherine
posted content / cell phone photos mine, unless otherwise credited
(thumbnail portrait of Catherine at MFA, Boston © David Cox photo)
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Cape Ann Museum Community Conversation Series Kicks off Jan 18, 2020
Courtney Richardson, Director of Public Education and Programs for Cape Ann Museum, shares outreach about a new community conversation series at CAM. “We want to know what you think! Join us to share your feedback about our Library & Archives on January 18, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. There will be chowda!”
Let’s Talk About the Future! CAM Community Conversations Series Starts
The Cape Ann Museum is pleased to present a new series of community conversations on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. As the Cape Ann Museum looks forward to 2023 and the 150thanniversary of the founding of the Museum, originally known as the Cape Ann Scientific and Literary Association, staff is rethinking exhibitions and the work that is being done within the community. To help the Museum plan for the future, please come and participate in a series of conversations about the Museum’s collections, exhibitions, programming and more. Each monthly session throughout the winter will have a specific focus: January 18 – Library & Archives; February 22 – Exhibitions; March 14 – Public Programs. These staff moderated exchanges will give participants a chance to share feedback and ideas for the future. Refreshments will be served. January’s community conversation will be moderated by CAM’s new Librarian/Archivist Trenton Carls and will feature clam chowder from the Gloucester House. Free and open to the public. Reservations encouraged but walk-ins are also welcome. Reserve online at capeannmuseum.org or call (978)283-0455 x10.
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Tomorrow! Check out these unique custom tours by the talented docents at Cape Ann Museum – and new free days #GloucesterMA
The museum is switching up free days in January for days throughout the year including a fixed schedule of second Saturdays of every month.
Courtney Richardson shares news about the debut of a bounty of new Cape Ann Museum tours presented by dedicated docents on Saturdays in January 2020. Peruse the complete list below; a tremendous amount of knowledge and passion went into preparing distinct and engaging programs for museum visitors.
Winter Shorts Return in January!
Theme-based tours of the collection Saturdays throughout January
The Cape Ann Museum is pleased to present a month-long series of specialty tours on Saturdays starting January 4, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. Learn more about the Museum’s collections through Winter Shorts. Each tour has been creatively crafted by one of the Museum’s volunteer docents. Each themed tour focuses on different areas of the collection. Three or four tours are offered each Saturday —sign up for one or more—a great way for members and nonmembers alike to learn about the Museum and Cape Ann art & history. Each tour lasts approximately 20 minutes with time to transition in between. Come for one or all! On these Saturdays, Winter Shorts will replace the 11:00 a.m. highlights tours. Tours are free for CAM members or with Museum admission. Space is limited. Reservations required. For more information visit capeannmuseum.org or call 978-283-0455 x10.
List of tours by date.
January 11, 2020
“Everyday Art Objects” with CAM docent Pat Earle
There are many things in our world what are used on a regular basis but not remarked on for their appearance. Sometimes, when no longer used, these items become recognized and treasured for their beauty. View objects on display now which are admired as artwork and consider what everyday objects might be exhibited by this Museum 50 years from now.
“Cape Ann Morals, Commerce and Culture Viewed Through a 19th Century Piano” with CAM docent Paul Romary
The piano in the rear parlor of the Davis House was built in Boston in 1828 and accessioned by the Cape Ann Museum in 1942. In exploring between those dates, this piano offers a window into the transformation of the mores, commerce and culture of the nation charting Cape Ann from the Federal era of the early 19th century until the Great Depression.
“Angels, Saints and Serpents” with CAM docent Trudi Olivetti
Amid the realistic landscapes and life-like portraits in the Cape Ann Museum, one can find surprising representations of otherworldly beings. Some of these are allegorical and some are sworn to be seen by eyewitnesses. On this brief tour, we will visit some of these and learn their intriguing stories.
“Is that a Lane?” with CAM docent John Day
The Captain Elias Davis house has many treasures: furniture, portraits, pewter, imported serving ware, navigational instruments; a bird cage, a large ship model, a sailor’s valentine, a peep box, and a lady’s fireplace screen. Sometimes overlooked are the landscapes and seascapes on the walls of the several rooms, some of which are among the Museum’s oldest and most historically important paintings. And among these are several with direct or indirect links to the work of Fitz Henry Lane.
January 18, 2020
“The Material World” with CAM docent Gail Anderson
A British redcoat, an elegant silk dress, lavish upholstery and carpeting. Have you ever looked carefully at the use and depiction of fabric in the museum’s collections……and what that material might indicate about the owner or wearer? This Winter Short will explore artworks and artifacts to discover hidden meanings folded into fabric.
“Geology as Destiny” with CAM docent Ed Becker
The landscape of Cape Ann has been shaped by ancient geologic forces – from the collision of tectonic plates to the scraping of glacial ice. Using examples from the Museum’s collection, we’ll explore how this geologic history led to Cape Ann’s important quarry industry, and to landforms that have inspired artists for over two centuries.
“Cape Ann Really Rocks” with CAM docent Hazel Von Rosenvinge
Fishing wasn’t the only booming industry on Cape Ann. Granite quarries speckle the landscape. Rocks were shipped all over the world. Learn more about the people who worked in the quarries and the impact the industry had on this place.
“Let’s Have a Show of Hands” with CAM docent John Huss
Visit an array of exhibits and see how artists portrayal of HANDS helps deliver their message. HANDS are on display on canvas, in stone and on film. It’s a fast and fun tour!
January 25, 2020
“Judith, John and Universalism” with CAM docent Sarah Wetzel
Musings on Judith Sargent Murray born in Gloucester May 1,1751 -nearly to the day 200 years before me -and her husband the Rev. John Murray. Exploring her voice and influence during the time of the birth of our country and the establishment of the first Universalist Church here in Gloucester.
“Sailing Solo” with CAM docent Doug Stewart
What kind of person would willingly spend two months, maybe three, alone in a small boat being tossed around by waves while trying to sail 3,000 miles to Europe? Meet two of them, both Gloucester fishermen, in the Museum’s Maritime Gallery and see the actual boats they sailed. One of the men, Danish immigrant Alfred Johnson, was the first person in history to sail alone across the Atlantic. The other, Nova Scotian Howard Blackburn, was the first to do so without fingers!
“From Tragedy to Beauty: Thacher Island and the Fresnel Lens” with CAM docent Suellen Wedmore
This multi-media presentation on the Island of the Twin Lights, includes a brief history of the island and lens, shared photographs, a piece of a Fresnel Lens that you may hold in your hands, music, movement, and the reading of two poems relating to Maria Bray’s 1864 heroism. She is joined in this presentation by Cape Ann Museum members Barbara Brewer and Juliana McGovern, who participated in Suellen’s 2016 CAM presentation “Mind the Light.”
COMPLETED TOURS Continue reading “Tomorrow! Check out these unique custom tours by the talented docents at Cape Ann Museum – and new free days #GloucesterMA”
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Reminder | Bruce J. Anderson webinar January 15th and a nice message for #GloucesterMA #InspiringSiblingStory
The Bruce J Anderson 2020 application deadline is all heart: February 14, 2020
That’s more than a month away, and the stellar team at The Boston Fund is hosting a Webinar next week to help with any questions. They make it easy to participate.
Bruce J Anderson- an inspiring sibling story
Every year, we share the Bruce J Anderson announcement for its upcoming grant cycle which has supported wonderful local projects. After posting the 2020 call, Larry Anderson wrote a message for GMG readers about the fund honoring his brother and the family’s love for Gloucester and Cape Ann. It’s often difficult for families to get together in one place as years go by, and here six siblings gather again and again for something so positive. (I have another post in mind about sibling tributes which I’ll share with Larry soon.) Thank you so much for sharing the story and sparking ideas!
“Thanks for recognizing the Bruce J. Anderson Foundation. Bruce was my brother. He loved Gloucester, where he spent most of the summers of his life and where he lived and worked at the time of his death many years ago. His six siblings — three sisters, my two brothers, and I — have been fortunate to be able to keep his generous spirit alive through the modest but steady efforts of the foundation created in his name. We have been gratified to be able to support the worthy organizations you name, as well as many others on Cape Ann. We are always glad to hear from new community-minded groups. So please take advantage of the January 15 webinar offered by the capable, helpful folks at The Boston Foundation, who administer the Bruce J. Anderson Foundation.” – Larry Anderson
Photos above show happy results from their support — installation views at Cape Ann Museum from the travel exbibit Once Upon a Contest Selections from Cape Ann Reads
Next Week! About the webinar
A word from the Bruce J Anderson team at The Boston Fund
The Bruce J. Anderson Foundation, a supporting organization of the Boston Foundation, has launched its 2020 request for proposals.
Please find the request for proposals here,
and note the application deadline is Friday, February 14, 2020.
We will be hosting an informational webinar on Wednesday, January 15th from 12:00-1:00 pm EST. Those interested in attending can join us to hear about the Bruce J. Anderson Foundation’s grantmaking priorities, and the process for applying for funding. Please note that this webinar is not mandatory and your attendance will not affect how your application is reviewed. If you would like to participate in the webinar, please accept the attached calendar invitation so we can know your plans for attendance.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Loren Van Allen at loren.vanallen@tbf.org or 617-338-1621.
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winter sunrise Good Harbor Beach – marsh walk loop
From Salt Island side walked the beach and circled round Thacher Road at the back of Good Harbor Beach, about 6:30-6:45am. Photos possible from the safe and great new walkway (thanks Gloucester DPW)
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GHS boys basketball home games today! 🏀🏀
January 7, 2020 GHS boys basketball home games tonight vs. Beverly
Freshman game at 4pm
JV game at 5:30PM
Varsity at 7:00PM
- Find all the GHS sports schedules and bus times here main page http://northeasternma.org and Gloucester specific page here
- GHS Basketball twitter = @FishermenBball
- GHS Fishermen Athletics twitter = @FishermenGhs
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Sample This | great new sign at 116 Main Street #GloucesterMA and 50% sale on winter stock
Sample This is now located at 116 Main Street Gloucester Massachusetts (formerly the Deborah Coull Salon, Gloucester location)
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Open window
I noticed the open window because a bird hopped in. I didn’t stop to see what ensued but I was reminded about a GMG reader question: Who remembers Cher Ami and homing pigeons of Gloucester?
There’s a 2nd little pane missing on the Main Street side.
What’s in a name?
The 1810 brick building, Gloucester’s first, at the corner of 2 Main and 3 Washington Streets, now features Tonno Restaurant. The exterior has remained relatively unchanged since it was built in 1810 by Col. James Tappan. On the inside it’s been mixed use more often than not (various businesses, restaurants and lodgings). As a result it’s gone through a lot of rebranding: Puritan House, Tappan’s Hotel, Atlantic House, and Capt Bills are a few of the names associated with this historic structure. The Blackburn Tavern signs were added in 1978 for a restaurant.
Still Standing
The brick building at the other end of Main Street with Halibut Point Restaurant & Pub was Howard Blackburn’s actual tavern.
Fun fact: Col. Tappan taught young Daniel Webster.
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So this is the Danvers RMV (plenty of room for another branch at #GloucesterMA Crossing)
The new Registry of Motor Vehicles is situated in a long empty, 6,983 ft’ free-standing building in the Danvers Crossing Shopping Plaza, 8 Newbury St. (Rt. 1), Danvers, Massachusetts. The Hardcover and Costco are across the highway. Businesses sharing the parking lot include Ann & Hope, Dollar Store, David’s Bridal, and Monkey Joe’s. (I didn’t know there were still Ann & Hopes.) A number of vacancies remain. The shopping center was originally built out in 1990.
Prior to this move, the RMV had landed at Liberty Tree Mall. This new branch was expected to receive 500 visitors per day. It’s open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. rather than the 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. broadcast ahead of time. We have been a couple of times recently to this new one; they were quite helpful. (Make certain to arrive by 4pm on any given day or you’ll have to make a second trip. We learned this the hard way arriving for the first time at 4:35pm.) I never visited the RMV when it was in the mall. I have mostly been to the Revere location.
Reporter Paul Leighton followed the RMV Danvers relocation for the Salem News,
“The good news for North Shore residents is that the Registry of Motor Vehicles is finally planning to open a branch in Danvers after two years without one in this area. The bad news? The new place will cost taxpayers a lot more than the old one.
The registry announced last week that it had signed a 10-year lease to open an RMV branch in a former restaurant building at the Danvers Crossing shopping plaza on Route
The rent for the first year will be $350,616 — nearly 10 times as much as the $41,729 that the state paid in the final year of its lease at the Liberty Tree Mall.
A spokesman for the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, which handles leasing for the state, said the agency does not comment on lease negotiations.
Danvers state Rep. Ted Speliotis acknowledged the new lease payments will be much higher at Danvers Crossing. But he said that’s more a reflection on the great deal the state had at the Liberty Tree Mall.
Speliotis said the registry moved into the mall during tough economic times, when malls and other retail landlords were desperate for tenants. Liberty Tree even offered the space for free for the first three years, from 2010 to 2013.
“We were in the worst recession of our lifetime and the mall needed the foot traffic,” Speliotis said. “That was a once-in-a-lifetime deal.” Read the full article, “RMV deal finally done, but taxpayers will pay” April 30, 2018: here
The Danvers RMV wasn’t busy the times we went December 2019. Still, it remains a bit of a slog* to get to that RMV (or Revere or Wilmington) from Gloucester. Having been to this new one, I’m not sure why there can’t be a branch in Gloucester as well, perhaps at Gloucester Crossing.
*Having to go 5x in the past two months plus needing to get there by 4pm makes it a slog. Revere and this are a toss up.
Gloucester Crossing
Photos below: Gloucester Crossing December 2019 looking in the direction of Starbucks (on right) and future pharmacy (free standing building on left, next to Aspen Dental)
Before the Danvers build out- What about a DMV at Gloucester Crossing post here
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First light first day 2020 dawning #GloucesterMA
New decade dawning: Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year.
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Here’s to a new decade when the clocks strike 12 midnight New Year’s Eve!
12 more hours to go 2019!
clocks! goodlinens studio, Gloucester, Mass.
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All candles lit Temple Ahavat Achim lobster trap menorah #GloucesterMA
Temple Ahavat Achim, Gloucester, Mass. Hanukkah December 2019
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Restaurant comings and goings at both ends of town: Pier 23 Kitchen at 23 East Main closed and is for sale | Trio at 64 Main Street closed – new owners fresh start in the new year #GloucesterMA
Pier 23 Kitchen on 23 East Main Street closed. The restaurant is for sale: contact (978) 887-9895. Pier 23 owners and AJ’s contributed major upgrades and renovations at this busy spot. (Mooters, LaRosas, and Cacciatores preceded AJ’s at the Harbor.)
The new sign for Oliver’s Harbor Restaurant and Bar features tiles at each end and heralds a change in ownership at 64 Main Street. The Bragas sold Trio which they had reconfigured after opening Italiano Restaurant in the former La Trattoria space and completing a major renovation and build out replete with a new industrial kitchen. Last year they added additional outdoor seating.
64 Main Street on Gloucester’s West End as Italiano 2017 and Trio 2018:
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Jon Sarkin featured in three person art exhibition at Princeton | opening reception January 4, 2020
PRESS RELEASE from The Arts Council of Princeton:
Three Individuals Who Became Artists By Chance to be the Focus of
“Inside Out…When Worlds Collide” An Exhibition at the Arts Council of Princeton January 4 through February 22
Princeton, NJ – The Arts Council of Princeton will present “Inside Out…When Worlds Collide,” an exhibition of works by three individuals who became artists by chance. The exhibit will be on display in the Arts Council’s Taplin Gallery, from January 4 through February 22, 2020. (website here)
Join us on Saturday, January 4 from 2-3PM when the three artists will be creating works of art while the public can watch prior to the Opening Reception to be held from 3-5PM.
Becoming an artist was not the initial intention for Jon Sarkin, Jennifer Levine, or Kenneth Lewis Sr. Through distinct circumstances, art and the need to create became the driving force in their lives. Despite receiving no formal training, these artists are consumed in the process. Their work conveys joy and frustration and questions life on the canvas. It is out of the ordinary, provocative, imaginative, and even obsessive-compulsive.
According to co-curators Ruthann Taylor and Colette Royal, “The show addresses the power of self-taught artistic talent and the drive of the human spirit to create.”
Meet These Extraordinary Artists
Jon Sarkin, of Gloucester, MA, was working as a chiropractor when he suffered a massive stroke one hot day in 1988. He felt a throbbing, excruciating pain in his head and heard a ringing in his ears. After surgery, his brain began to swell and bleed. When Sarkin woke up, he was a completely different man. After the critical phase of the stroke passed, Sarkin began to have a ferocious need to draw and paint. The stroke, says Sarkin, “made art my top priority in life. It made it more important than just about anything.” Sarkin is the subject of the book Shadows Bright as Glass, which traces his journey from doctor to manically-compulsive artist. website here:https://www.jsarkin.com/
Jennifer Levine, of Montclair, NJ, started painting at age 40 when she was going through a divorce. “I had no experience, but needed something to hold onto as I faced the ordeal. I read Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way and it led me through a process that ultimately changed my life in the most profound and wonderful way. Through drawing and painting, I was able to unearth the depth of my being and find a way to express myself that served others,” says Levine. “Now I paint because I love the process – the feel of the paints and the brush on the canvas. I love the unknown magical alchemy of going from nothing to something. I like discovering the images that appear on the canvas I like how people react and get nurtured or informed or uplifted by the pieces.”
Kenneth J. Lewis, Sr., of Trenton, NJ, is a self-instructed artist who began painting on canvas at the unusual age of 47 years. Kenneth has a spiritual relationship and deep sensitivity for what he produces. On New Year’s Day 2008, Kenneth painted his first piece; he called it “Contemplation”. It was an inner reflective painting as he sat home contemplating his future after 24 years of marriage. He quickly learned he had a very raw and latent gift that could no longer be held back. Lewis painted more as a hobby from 2008 until the death of his mother in 2012. His mother could draw, yet she never attempted to embrace or further explore her talent. He knew that he had to create, not only for himself, but also for his late mother, and for generations that follow. Since that time Lewis has created enormous collections of work. To date he has hosted/curated over 30 group shows, 22 solo shows, and participated in many group shows. He is the curator for Starbucks Trenton.
About the Arts Council of Princeton
The Arts Council of Princeton is located in the Paul Robeson Center for the Arts, 102 Witherspoon Street in Princeton, NJ. For more information, please visit artscouncilofprinceton.org or call (609) 924-8777.
The Arts Council of Princeton, founded in 1967, fulfills its mission of Building Community through the Arts by presenting a wide range of programs including community arts outreach, exhibitions, performances, free community cultural events, and studio-based classes and workshops in a wide range of media. Housed in the landmark Paul Robeson Center for the Arts, Arts Council of Princeton programs are designed to be high-quality, engaging, affordable and accessible for the diverse population of the greater Princeton region. Visit artscouncilofprinceton.org for more information.
*The press release included two photos of Jennifer Levine and Kenneth Lewis works.
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Jack Evans art show opening Saturday January 4th Jane Deering Gallery
PRESS RELEASE from Jane Deering Gallery janedeeringgallery.com 917-902-4359
Jane Deering Gallery presents Jack Evans | AS IS opening Saturday January 4th, 2020 with a reception from 3:00 – 6:00pm at 19 Pleasant Street, Gloucester MA. AS IS is a selection of new paintings and prints by Gloucester’s well-known Jack Evans, owner of Mystery Train Records and respected poet. Evans, self-taught painter, fell in love with the paintings of the 20th-Century abstract expressionists and developed a style influenced by the energy and improvisation of those giants — Kline, De Kooning, Pollock et al. Evans’ passion for art and his tireless commitment to study and exploration is impressive. The exhibition continues through January 31st. Gallery hours: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1-5pm and by appointment.
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What a mess!
Barrels outside Marshall’s, Gloucester Crossing
One store employee said everything outside is Market Basket’s responsibility. Not sure why they’re not emptied or why people keep adding. It reeks back here. (Barrels by pizza shop were empty.) It is their front door entrance.
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There’s a school in the old school | Scatterday’s driving classes 85 Eastern Avenue #GloucesterMA
Scatterday’s Driving Schoolis located on the ground floor in the office building at 85 Eastern Avenue, Gloucester, Mass., in the former Eastern Avenue School. Entrance is at the back. There are various learner permit and driver license packages. Some are concentrated full days; for those, Jeff’s Variety is a quick walk away for class breaks.
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Thankful for Cape Ann Art Haven helping our kids hand paint these beautiful buoy ornaments | Lobster trap tree #GloucesterMA 2019
Great job artists! Thanks for sharing your buoys for our radiant community lobster trap tree
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Oh what a beautiful morning December 25, 2019 #GloucesterMA
What a merry sunrise!
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from stocking stuffers to that just right gift | goodlinens studio and homegoods Main Street #GloucesterMA
Dash of practical and plenty of modern whimsy designs make for great browsing and last minute shopping at goodlinens studio on Main Street in Gloucester. The store carries gorgeous linens plus beautiful kitchen, bath, office, and homegood products– hand made and sustainable plus good design.
Good Morning Gloucester 