My View of Life on the Dock
Even though it was a little cloudy on Sunday the beach and Magnolia Pier never disappoints.
Wander into Arts Abound on Lexington Street in Magnolia, and you’ll find a quiet world of local art. Fine art photography, watercolors and paintings, hand painted silk clothing, gifts, jewelry, and even home accessories. There are two common threads running through the shop—local creative talent and Susan Wheeler.
First, Susan Wheeler. An artist herself and a former pastry chef, the idea of opening a retail store with a cooperative bent and filled with unique, hand-crafted things just felt right. Wheeler had been coming to Cape Ann regularly from Vermont to visit her mother, Vivian, 93, who had moved to Magnolia in 1980. Eighteen months ago, she moved here permanently, and as she got to know Lexington Avenue and its retail community, Wheeler first thought there might be room for a creative meeting place to run art workshops, offer graphic design and maybe some retail items for purchase.
“I started with an open mind,” said Wheeler. “But there’s so much artistry here on Cape Ann. It hasn’t been a problem finding talented people who make beautiful things.”
Nearly two years in, Arts Abound has established itself and evolved. The store in the spirit of other Cape Ann retailers focused on local artists, like Local Colors, the artists’ cooperative retailer on Main Street in Gloucester or Gallery 53, the juried art gallery run by members of the Rocky Neck Art Colony, also in Gloucester. Today, Arts Abound has 23 artists on her roster, nearly all from Cape Ann. They help Wheeler by offering their pieces on consignment, and Wheeler promotes and sells their work. And she is an enthusiastic promoter of their work, their talent, and their artwork.
The journey It hasn’t been without challenges. Less than six months into her new venture, the pandemic hit and like most businesses, Wheeler adapted. She offered hand-sewn masks (selling hundreds), offered appointment-only shopping, personal shopping and home delivery. She also put plans for workshops and education on the back burner and took on freelance graphic design projects.
Wheeler has also really gotten to know her retail neighbors along Lexington Avenue, where by chance nearly all are women-owned and the community is tight. There’s Shakteau Interiors, All Purpose Flowers, Jennifer’s Hair Salon, among many others. This summer, the neighborhood brought back its popular Sunday Magnolia Farmer’s Market, which closes down Lexington Avenue, brings in music, and most retailers set up displays on the sidewalks outside. It’s a real community feel.
Wheeler packs the space with all manner of artists, spanning painting, photography, pottery, glasswork, silk-screen, collage, and more. Besides Wheeler’s own work, there is Stephanie Mason, Brenda Malloy, Melissa Cox (the photographer, who is the artist behind Local Colors in Gloucester), Karen Keough, Lisa Knebel, Tin Can Sally, Donna Ardizzoni, Dave Fernandes, Erik Hahr, Alissa Cohen, John Abisamra, Alan Bourgault, Kaitlyn Manley, Christine Gauthier-Kelley, Derek, Miriabilio, Hermit Hill, and Larry Parsons.
“We’re not just a local independent store,” she said. “Of all the artists featured here, and just about all of them are local.”
Looking ahead, Wheeler is excited about continuing to celebrate the work of local artists. She’s also excited to reconnect with some of her original ideas about making a space for people to mix and learn with artists’ workshops and reception that boost a bigger sense of community.
Took the grand kids over to shop at Marshalls Farm Stand for great veggies and fruit and of course went to visit Stratton the gentle horse and our friends the Alpacas, Maze was very engaging with the kids.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 6, 2021
MARI MARTIN PERFORMS FRIDAY AUGUST 13 AT MUSIC ON MEETINGHOUSE GREEN
The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation presents Mari Martin in a free Friday evening concert on Meetinghouse Green at the corner of Middle and Church Street, August 13 at 6:00 p.m. Mari Martin has been enthralling audiences from Cape Ann to Santa Barbara with her compelling voice and signature stage presence for over 25 years. Her influences and songs range from the Beatles to Stevie Wonder, the Rolling Stones to Billie Holiday. Add a dash or two of Bonnie Raitt, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald and Eric Clapton and you can hear her musical versatility.
Free-will donations go to the evening’s featured local non-profit partner, HAWC, a group committed to ending the domestic violence epidemic, educating the community, and offering help for abused women, children, and men in Massachusetts. Local food vendor for the evening is Jalapenos. The 2021 summer music series is dedicated in memory of Harry Hintlian for his encouragement, generosity, and for making the Meetinghouse a net zero building. For more information, a full schedule of upcoming concerts, and to sign up for the GMF newsletter, visit www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org.
CONCERT DESCRIPTION
Mari Martin has performed at the Shalin Liu, the Cabot, the Obie Awards in Los Angeles, the Majestic Ventura Concert Theater, Santa Barbara’s Lobero and Granada Theatres, and hundreds of weddings, events, benefit concerts, and clubs from the East Coast to the West Coast. She has sung back-up for Kenny Loggins, opened for and shared the stage with Tower of Power, WAR, the Moody Blues, Travis Tritt, the Average White Band, Alan Parsons, and many others. As Mari wrote over 20 years ago on her website, she continues to pursue her life and musical career with gratitude and joy.
Music on Meetinghouse Green, now in its sixth season, features nine free Friday evening concerts with great music, favorite foods from local vendors, and benefits a different North Shore non-profit organization each week through free-will donations from the audience. Concert goers bring lawn chairs and blankets to spread out across the spacious green. Performances are handicap accessible, parking on the Green is limited to persons with disabilities only.
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 to provide a safe and more flexible outdoor concert and event venue.
OUR SPONSORS
Thanks to our Sponsors all the series’ expenses, such as for the musicians, are pre-paid. 100% of the free-will donations go to our non-profit community partners.
Platinum John & Janis Bell, J.J. & Jackie Bell, Cape Ann Savings Bank, J. Linzee Coolidge, Scobie Ward
Gold BOMCO, Michael & Mary Ann Bresnan, Landesign, Inc.
Silver Anonymous, Tom Burger & Andrée Robert, JoeAnn Hart & Gordon Baird, Pat Johnson & Jeff Henderson, Susan McKain & Ken Steiner, Charles Nazarian, John & Sandra Ronan
Bronze Jerry Ackerman, Karen Bell, Pamela Bynum & Henry Ferrara, Peter Calkins & Susan Casey, Frederick Cowan, Richard Gardner, Rev. Janet Parsons, Dick Prouty, Joe & Maggie Rosa, Peter & Kathleen Van Demark, Kathleen Williams, Sarah Willwerth-Dyer & Michael Dyer
On Sunday August 8, 2021, the Magnolia Community Farmers will be held from 10 to 1:00. The Magnolia Community Farmers Market gets better and better every week. Thank you to the Staff who run this great Farmers Market.
Great food, gifts and treasures can be found on Lexington Avenue at the Magnolia Community Farmers Market.
When grandchildren come to visit there is always pure joy at the beach.
The flowers near Triton on the Boulevard are so pretty.
We are looking for vendors for the 63rd Sidewalk Bazaar this year! From August 5-7 Main Street Merchants will bring their shops out onto the street, joined by artisans, crafters, food vendors, non-profits, entertainers, kids, activities and much more. For more information, go to https://www.gloucestermerchantassociation.org/
So many great birds, turtles and wildlife over at this peaceful pond.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2021
WHAT TIME IS IT MR FOX? PERFORMS FRIDAY AUGUST 6 AT MUSIC ON MEETINGHOUSE GREEN
The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation presents What Time Is It Mr. Fox? in a free Friday evening concert on Meetinghouse Green
at the corner of Middle and Church Street, August 6 at 6:00 p.m. Named after a Victorian children’s game, What Time Is It, Mr. Fox?
delivers their own brand of smoky cabaret, neo-soul and acoustic noir, sounding something like Leonard Cohen and Amy Winehouse
performing unplugged in a French café. Renowned for their original songs combining rich lyrical imagery with a cinematic sensibility,
their music explores themes of love, spirituality, and identity.
Free-will donations go to the evening’s featured local non-profit partner, North Shore Health Project, a group that works to alleviate
the health impacts of HIV/AIDS in our community, as well as providing LGBTQ+ services. The evening’s food vendor will offer pizza.
The 2021 summer music series is dedicated in memory of Harry Hintlian for his encouragement, generosity, and for making the
Meetinghouse a net zero building. For more information, a full schedule of upcoming concerts, and to sign up for the GMF
newsletter, visit www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org.
CONCERT DESCRIPTION
The band features 3rian King on lead vocals, guitar and keys; Renee Dupuis on lead vocals, keys and melodica; Nathan Cohen on
fiddle and trumpet; Joe Cardoza on upright bass; and Dennis Monagle on drums. In summer 2019, the band premiered their new
multimedia animated musical “Medusa,” a feminist retelling of the myth in a completely sold-out run at the Charles Hayden Planetarium,
Museum of Science, Boston. The team is currently adapting the play into a fully staged theater production.
Music on Meetinghouse Green, now in its sixth season, features nine free Friday evening concerts with great music, favorite foods from
local vendors, and benefits a different North Shore non-profit organization each week through free-will donations from the audience.
Concert goers bring lawn chairs and blankets to spread out across the spacious green. Performances are handicap accessible, parking
on the Green is limited to persons with disabilities only.
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 to provide a safe and more flexible outdoor concert and event venue.
OUR SPONSORS
Thanks to our Sponsors all the series’ expenses, such as for the musicians, are pre-paid. 100% of the free-will donations go to
our non-profit community partners.
Platinum John & Janis Bell, J.J. & Jackie Bell, Cape Ann Savings Bank, J. Linzee Coolidge, Scobie Ward
Gold BOMCO, Michael & Mary Ann Bresnan, Landesign, Inc.
Silver Anonymous, Tom Burger & Andrée Robert, JoeAnn Hart & Gordon Baird, Pat Johnson & Jeff Henderson, Susan McKain & Ken Steiner,
Charles Nazarian, John & Sandra Ronan
Bronze Jerry Ackerman, Karen Bell, Pamela Bynum & Henry Ferrara, Peter Calkins & Susan Casey, Frederick Cowan, Richard Gardner,
Rev. Janet Parsons, Dick Prouty, Joe & Maggie Rosa, Peter & Kathleen Van Demark, Kathleen Williams, Sarah Willwerth-Dyer & Michael Dyer
THE ANNISQUAM EXCHANGE
OUTDOOR FURNITURE SALE
~ONE DAY ONLY~
Saturday, August 7th
~9 am to 12 pm~
THE EXCHANGE IS OPEN
THURSDAYS, FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS ~ 10 am to 4 pm
32 Leonard Street
Annisquam Village, Gloucester, MA
info.annisquamexchange@gmail.com
Good Morning Gloucester 