Saturday, October 5th, 5pm: “Paths to Abstraction”
Gallery Director Matthew Swift offers remarks and leads discussion on ephemerality and permanence in the work of artists Pamela Ellis Hawkes and Zygmund Jankowski.
My View of Life on the Dock
Saturday, October 5th, 5pm: “Paths to Abstraction”
being put in from Rocky Neck Ave to Niles Beach. Look how pretty and shiny they are. Gloucester’s finest doing a great job directing traffic with a smile. Their biggest challenge today seemed to be keeping the falling leaves from leaving their permanent mark in the wet concrete. Looking forward to walking on them soon.
E.J. Lefavour
These are segments of writings by Nanice Ellis, a spiritual teacher who for me anyway always gives the perfect teaching at the perfect time. Her segment about fog arrived in my email the day before I encountered the fog bow. I believe one or more of you dreamers out there might benefit from reading this.
“Your dreams and desires are not random or accidental. They are specifically chosen just for you.
It might seem as if they originate in your own mind, but this is merely the means in which Life communicates to you.
Life is living consciousness that speaks to you through giving you a personal dream and the inspiration to fulfill that dream. The dream which you are given is the spiritual blue print for your life. You are not required to follow this blue print or fulfill the dream, but when you do, your happiness level is increased, and when you don’t, it feels as if something is missing. Your dream is your purpose, or at the very least contains the seeds of your purpose. When followed, the dream unfolds into the divine plan for your life, ultimately leading you to your Best Life Destiny
If you have a dream, you already have, or will acquire, everything that you need in order to fulfill that dream.
Think of your personal dream as part of the Great Puzzle for humanity. As you fulfill your dream, you complete a piece of the puzzle. Your completed puzzle piece joins with others who have also followed their dreams, and as the pieces come together, the Great Puzzle is completed. This is the beginning of the New Earth; the collective dream of peace, harmony, freedom and abundance for every being on this planet.
You can be, do, or have anything that you desire. The key is clarifying what you desire and taking concrete steps to align with your dream. It means getting out of your own way, releasing fear, doubt and destructive emotional and mental habits. It means becoming the you who has already realized the dream. It means getting focused yet releasing control of the wheel so that the power of the Universe can assist you in every possible way.
Step 1 – Gain Clarity and Insight
Step 2 – Release personal blocks and dis-empowering beliefs
Step 3 – Align with your dream, desire or purpose
Step 4 – Take inspired action
Step 5 – Invoke the power of the Universe to work on your behalf
When your dream seems out of reach, don’t stop believing. Believe even more.”
”Often when we approach the realization of our dreams, there is great fog before the top of the mountain. Many turn back upon reaching the fog, in disbelief that their dreams are near or even possible.
The fog is not the time to turn back and give up. The fog is the time to recommit to your dream, and keep going. Just because you can’t see the mountain top doesn’t mean it is not there. Think about where fog resides …does it not hover just below the peak of the mountain?
How many turn back just because they believe circumstance or conditions? Circumstances and conditions are not to be believed; they are lies, they are deceptive, they are designed by life to separate the real dreamers from the lazy.
What it takes to pass the fog is becoming the person who is already on top of the mountain,
looking down on the path that got him there, in reverence, respect and gratitude, for he knows that it was the path that molded him into the person he had to become in order to realize the dream.
The realization of the dream always comes with sacrifice – sacrifice of disbelief, doubt, self-criticism, ego, self pity, and ones past self. No one makes it to the mountain top with any of these inner burdens.
The fog represents all that the dreamer has carried with him up to this point. The fog seems heavy and impassable, but fog is just fog. It is intangible. Try to capture a jar of fog. It is impossible. There is nothing there, nothing to hold on to.
To make it to the top of the mountain, in dream realization, one must let go of everything that clouds his vision, and as he does, the clouds lift and the fog is gone. Often one realizes that he is only steps from the top of the mountain.”
This morning’s fog was incredibly beautiful, but the most magical scene was a complete fog bow I encountered walking over to Eastern Point. I have seen hints of them before – the start or end of one, but never a complete and clearly visible one. It is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. If there is a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow – I wonder what awaits one at the end of a fog bow. Fog bows are also called white rainbows and sometimes are called sea dogs by mariners.
E.J. Lefavour
Special FOB’s Don from Island Art & Hobby and Susan from Toodleoos stopped into the gallery today and let slip the fact that they had gotten engaged on Tuesday 9/17 on Susan’s 50th birthday. Don got down on one knee to propose in Newburyport, where they met and had their first kiss – don’t know if both things occurred on the same day. So sweet and such a great couple. I always thought they were married, as apparently did many people. They also just celebrated their 5th anniversary of being together. Best wishes to both of them.
E.J. Lefavour
Rocky Neck Gallery’s Summer Artists Series: Family Trees
Mixed media assemblages by Stephen Thomas Martin
Wednesday, September 25 – Sunday, October 13, 2013
Artist’s reception on Friday, September 27, 6-8 PM
Rocky Neck Gallery is pleased to announce the next Summer Artists Series show: Family Trees, featuring the mixed media assemblages of Stephen Thomas Martin. This is the last exhibit in this series for the gallery’s 2013 season. And the first time Rocky Neck Gallery is exhibiting the fascinating and mysterious assemblages by Martin of Amesbury, MA. This new show opens Wednesday, September 25 and runs until Sunday, October 13, 2013.
Martin’s art is both literally and figuratively about reclamation. While the literal incorporates found objects to form the “ground” of the pieces, of more importance, is the figurative element. The search for unique “found objects” he uses in his pieces is a big part of his creative process. In many of his works he incorporates old photos of individuals he discovers at antique shops and flea markets.
As Martin states, “Using these photographs I am giving new life to people long forgotten by family, friends and society. They have not only been reclaimed but are indeed reclaiming a place in the existing world, not to be forgotten again.”
Martin is a self-taught artist now working full time to meet the demand for his assemblages. Prior to this new career, he owned and operated an antique and retail furniture business for twenty years in Newburyport, MA. Martin is the founder and owner of Gallery 206, a pop-up experimental gallery in Amesbury, MA. He is also represented by Galatea Gallery in Boston, MA and is a juried member of the Cambridge Art Association, of Cambridge, MA and Newburyport Art Association in Newburyport, MA. His award winning work is juried into many prestigious shows along with residing in several private art collections throughout the USA. The corporate collections that currently own his assemblages are Growth Coach Management Consultants, Kodiac Venture Partners, and the Italian movie production company, Blue Suede Shoots.
Please join us on Friday, September 27, from 6-8 PM for an artist’s reception. Meet Stephen Thomas Martin and learn about his process reclaiming and reinventing new lives for discarded objects.
Rocky Neck Gallery is located on 53 Rocky Neck Avenue, Gloucester. The hours are: Sunday – Wednesday: 11 AM – 6 PM, Thursday – Saturday: 11 AM – 8 PM. Free parking is available.
Rocky Neck Gallery
53 Rocky Neck Avenue, Gloucester, MA 01930
978-282-0917
http://www.rockyneckgallery.com
Image: “Family Tree” by Stephen Thomas Martin, Mixed Media Assemblage, 12 x 12
The 2013 Annual Art Auction will take place on Wednesday, October 2, 2013. The Silent Auction will take place in the Matz Gallery from August 30, to give visitors an opportunity to see the exhibit of paintings and bid early. Great interest is generated throughout the month as the bid book fills up. The Vocal Auction will be held on October 2, at 7:00 PM. A preview party will precede the auction. Light refreshments are available and a performance of live music is presented. The final vocal auction is always an exciting event. This is an important fundraiser for the library, so please come for an entertaining evening and take home a piece of Cape Ann art.
This little bird flew into the gallery and couldn’t find his way back out. At first I thought it was a vireo, but now I’m not sure. His underside was paler yellow than a gold finch, and above was olive green. Does anyone know what he is? I did eventually catch him, but then he ended up in Diana’s Gallery.
E.J. Lefavour
Some photos from this afternoon’s dedication of the new Harry Cusick Wharf at Gloucester Marine Railways – the completion of a 9 year project involving cutting through a myriad of government agency red tape and paperwork by Alice (I’m so sorry Alice, I forgot your last name). Even a harbor seal and the Ardelle came by to check it out and holler congratulations (Harold, not the seal). Viking gave a great speech thanking all involved in the process. It is a really beautiful wharf, and if you haven’t been to the Railways lately, you should go by and check it out.
E.J. Lefavour
The 29th Annual Annisquam Arts & Crafts Show is coming up Saturday and Sunday, October 12 & 13 (Columbus Day Weekend) from 10:00-5:00 at the Annisquam Village Hall. It is always a wonderful show with over 40 artists and craftspeople, and great reason to take a trip to Annisquam. Look for some of my photo montages there.
E.J. Lefavour
Everyone who came, participated, judged, watched, ate, drank, brought things to share and enjoyed themselves.
It was an extremely well attended and fun Mug Up and Bloody Mary Competition. The not so sober judges had a very difficult time deciding on the three award winners: First Place – Rebecca Border (entered as the Gloucester Quilter), Second Place – Deb VonRosenvinge and Third Place – Jerry Olson. The People’s Choice Award winners – Tom Jackson & Cindy Webber were decided by “the People”. Other delicious entries were presented by Al Bezanson, Kirsten Elaine Meyers (Kirsten, you left your purse here!), Tom Martin and finally the team of Hannah Kimberely and Anna Baglaneas Eves.
Special thanks to Alecia Cox DeWolfe for bringing a Mamie’s Kitchen special – cornbread with bacon, scallions and rat cheese (from Cave), and to all who brought wonderful things to eat. There were actually two others who brought deviled eggs – Theo from House of Raven was one, but I don’t know who brought the others. I was so busy rushing from the kitchen to the Judges’ table and back to get the contestants and mixes set up (with the incredible assistance of Gigi Mederos – I could not have done it without her behind the scenes help – and she made the coffee too!) that I never saw who brought in anything else.
The Judges Ed Collard, Fred Bodin, James Eves, Karen Ristuben and Kathy Downer were the ultimate sober judges – up to a point, then after about the 5th entry, they started getting a little on the giggly side. But they stayed the course and completed their judgely duties with decorum.
Thanks to everyone who came and made it a great event, all the contestants who gave the judges and “the People” much to enjoy and deliberate over. The most special thanks to Bob Ryan of Ryan & Wood Distilleries who sponsored the event and made it all possible.
E.J. Lefavour
Biennial GMG Bloody Mary Competition sponsored by Ryan & Wood Distilleries at Khan Studio & the GMG Gallery, 77 Rocky Neck Ave., Gallery 3 on Rocky Neck. Sunday, September 15th 9:30am. Be there, or forever be sorry you missed it.
PS. There will be coffee, deviled eggs and whatever goodies others bring along to share. You don’t have to drink Bloody Marys to come and have fun.
E.J. Lefavour
Took a beautiful walk out Eastern Point this morning with Bernadine Young. The fog gives everything such an ethereal look.
BTW, Bernadine has her incredibly beautiful home on the market, if anyone is looking for something really special. http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/27-Highland-St-Gloucester-MA-01930/56041316_zpid/
E.J. Lefavour
If you missed the last one, you don’t want to miss this one. If you were part of the last one, you’ll want to be part of this one too. On Sunday, September 15th, Ryan & Wood Distilleries will be sponsoring the Biennial GMG Bloody Mary Competition during Mug Up at Khan Studio & the GMG Gallery, 77 Rocky Neck Ave., Gallery 3. Mug Up starts at 9:30 and judging begins at 10:00. Bring on a batch of your most creative Bloody Mary mix. We will add the Beauport Vodka here so that all Bloody Marys contain the same high quality locally distilled vodka, and are of a consistent, acceptable strength (so no one stumbles out of here afterwards).
Speaking of judges, we are looking for a few good men and women with discriminating palates who know and love good Bloody Marys. Ed Collard has already committed, but we need another 3 or 4 judges. If you are interested in being a judge, please email me at khanstudio@comcast.net with your Bloody Mary judging credentials. Fred, you’re already vetted, as is Maureen Malloy, if either of you are interested. Paul Morrison, you’re a shoe-in. We’re always looking for new blood for judgeships, so don’t be shy about applying – James Eves.
If you are interested in entering your amazing Bloody Mary mix in the competition, please email me and let me know, so we’ll know how many entrants there will be. Ryan & Wood will be providing great prizes on top of the world renown you will receive as the best Bloody Mary mixologists in the known GMG universe. Kathy Chapman, Richard Rosenfeld, Talitha Jackson – you need to come back and defend your titles.
If you just want to come to Mug Up for the great comraderie and fun, feel free to bring along some Mug Up type fare to share. There will be coffee and deviled eggs, per usual.
UPDATE: We now have Ed Collard, Fred Bodin, James Eves and Karen Ristuben confirmed as judges. It would be great to have another female judge.
BREAKING NEWS 4:12pm: Kathy Downer of Long Beach is now our final judge for the competition. She has impressive experience as a bartender trainer for 7 years and she ran a bartending school, and on rainy days when she used to be on the other Cape, she and her friends would barhop to find the best bloody mary.
Now we just need some blood mary makers to enter the competition.
E.J. Lefavour