My View of Life on the Dock
Howard Anderson from Minnesota who is staying in the family home on Adams Hill in Annisquam, is a year long lover of the blog who came to Rocky Neck with his wife, Joanne, to get a GMG sticker and Did You Know? Book. It is great to be meeting so many FOB’s, and Howard gave me some interesting tidbits for a future Did You Know post. Thanks Howard.
E.J. Lefavour
www.khanstudiointernational.com
Mug Up and Gigi Mederos Opening
That Sunday morning Mug Up at Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Galleryis the place to be tomorrow at 10:00 am, for anyone not planning to be at the parade? Coffee and deviled eggs on the menu, and whatever else might come in the door.
From 3:00 to 6:00pm we are pleased to announce the Opening Reception for Guest Artist, Adriana “Gigi” Mederos’ exhibit. Gigi’s work is exquisite and very unique. Please stop by and welcome Gigi to Rocky Neck.
E.J. Lefavour
www.khanstudiointernational.com
Richard Grant from New Orleans Represents. Richard left New Orleans on June 15 on a cross-country motorcycle adventure, traveling to Robbinsville, NC, the Smokey Mountains, Shanandoah Valley, Pennsylvania back roads to the Pocanos and Catskills, Route 44 across Connecticut and wound up on Cape Ann. The wonderful people at the Cape Ann Visitor Center sent him to Rocky Neck, where he found his way to Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery. Wendie Demuth and I really enjoyed meeting and talking with Richard, a fascinating, charming and adventurous fellow. From here he heads to Maine, Canada and then to Wisconsin to visit family before returning to New Orleans.
E.J. Lefavour
www.khanstudiointernational.com
That Steve and Deanna met and became sweethearts while attending Gloucester High School, and are still together 5 kids and 7 grandkids later? They don’t look anywhere near old enough to have 7 grandkids, do they? They now live in Jacksonville, FL, but come back each year to visit. Also, did you know that Deanna’s maternal great grandfather was Percy Wheeler, Mayor of Gloucester in the 1920’s, and that Steve’s Dad, John Furey, was the football coach for Gloucester High in the late 60’s and early 70’s? Also, Deanna’s paternal great grandfather, Antonio Landoni, came here from Italy and became a stonecutter at the Lanesville Quarry. And Deanna’s Uncle, Jack Sawyer who was the electrical inspector for Gloucester, lived in the Fitz Henry Lane house when he was a boy. Steve and Deanna are also new subscribers to Good Morning Gloucester after meeting Joey yesterday at David Cox’s antique store on Main Street yesterday. When it’s time for the GMG bug to bite you, it bites hard and repeatedly. Two great new additions to the GMG family.
E.J. Lefavour
www.khanstudiointernational.com
Adriana “Gigi” Mederos Guest Artist Exhibit and Opening Reception
June 24-July 7
Opening Reception Sunday, June 26th from 3:00 to 6:00pm
At Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery, 77 Rocky Neck, Gallery 3
Venezuelan artist, Adriana “Gigi” Mederos has lived and worked in the US since 1980 and has produced a diverse body of fine art paintings, printmaking and a hybridization of the two. Her artwork is in private and museum collections around the world. Recently her work was purchased for a collection of contemporary works on paper in Barcelona, Spain and was selected for a permanent collection in Panang, Indonesia.
I’ve known Gigi for a number of years. She is a wonderful artist and person. Come on by and see her work and welcome her to Cape Ann.
E.J. Lefavour
www.khanstudiointernational.com
That Cape Ann and Good Morning Gloucester now rule the Contemporary Art and Culture world – in New England anyway? We all know that Gloucester has a long and prestigious arts reputation and history, but this summer Cape Ann is being heavily promoted (12 pages worth) in the July/August 2011 issue of Art New England. The cover featured artwork is John Sarkin’s I am what I am, and the lead photo on the Focus On Cape Ann is Joey Ciaramitaro’s, as well as feature photos by Wendie Demuth www.wendiedemuthphotos.com Focus on Rocky Neck, and David Piedmonte www.newmoongreetings.com and Angela Cook www.oasisrockport.com on Rockport. There is great coverage on Rockport Art Association and the Outside In exhibit of works by Gloucester artists Gordon Goetemann, Ruth Mordecai and John Sarkin. Rocky Neck Art Colony, Cape Ann Museum, North Shore Arts Association, seARTS, Gloucester Stage Company and a plethora of galleries around Cape Ann, including Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery, with special focus on Joey C. and Good Morning Gloucester are included. Art New England will be available on newsstands soon, so make sure to get yourself a copy so you can see the whole shebang, or you can save 20% off the newsstand price by subscribing at orders_neweng@fulcoinc.com ($28/year vs $35.70/year newsstand price).
E.J. Lefavour
www.khanstudiointernational.com
We had a great Mug Up on Sunday. “Quote of the Week”, Greg Bover, baked an amazing strawberry rhubarb pie – yes, he can bake too, on top of coming up with great quotes to share with us each week and installing spectacular pipe organs for C.B. Fisk. Greg is preparing to take the long journey to Cambridge, where he will be working for seven weeks installing the new organ at Harvard’s Memorial Church. Ed Collard must have known there would be pie, as he arrived early and installed himself in the comfy chair right by the table. Alice Walker can be seen sporting her new Good Morning Gloucester t-shirt (doesn’t she look lovely in pink?). Rocky Neck neighbor Sharron Clift joined us for the first time, as did Wendie Demuth (Wendie Demuth Photography, next to Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery), Pete and Joyce Chamberlain (Pete’s exhibit is great but comes down Wednesday evening, so check it out soon if you haven’t), Alma, Adam, Ernie and other FOB’s.
E.J. Lefavour
www.khanstudiointernational.com
That Sterling Hayden (1916-1986) was a famous actor from the 1940’s-1970’s, who stayed on Rocky Neck for a time and liked to eat at Sailor Stan’s, where he sat in the middle booth? Rocky Neck artist, L.A. Dahlmer, recalls sitting across from Hayden at the popular Rocky Neck breakfast spot. Hayden returned to Gloucester in 1983 for the release of Joseph Garland’s book Down to the Sea: The Fishing Schooners of Gloucester, the introduction of which he had written.
I just love this quote from Sterling Hayden’s book: Wanderer:
“To be truly challenging, a voyage, like a life, must rest on a firm foundation of financial unrest. Otherwise, you are doomed to a routine traverse, the kind known to yachtsmen who play with their boats at sea… cruising it is called. Voyaging belongs to seamen, and to the wanderers of the world who cannot, or will not, fit in. If you are contemplating a voyage and you have the means, abandon the venture until your fortunes change. Only then will you know what the sea is all about.
‘I’ve always wanted to sail to the South Seas, but I can’t afford it.’ What these men can’t afford is not to go. They are enmeshed in the cancerous discipline of security. And in the worship of security we fling our lives beneath the wheels of routine – and before we know it our lives are gone.
What does a man need – really need? A few pounds of food each day, heat and shelter, six feet to lie down in – and some form of working activity that will yield a sense of accomplishment. That’s all – in the material sense, and we know it. But we are brainwashed by our economic system until we end up in a tomb beneath a pyramid of time payments, mortgages, and preposterous gadgetry, playthings that divert our attention for the sheer idiocy of the charade.
The years thunder by, the dreams of youth grow dim where they lie caked in dust on the shelves of patience. Before we know it, the tomb is sealed. Where, then, lies the answer? In choice. Which shall it be: bankruptcy of purse or bankruptcy of life?”
He dropped out of school at 16 to go to sea and ended up in Gloucester, where he worked as a Grand Banks fisherman and learned the art of sailing. He was mate on Irving Johnson’s Yankee on its noted circumnavigation in 1937. He was navigator on the Essex-built schooner Gertrude L. Thebaud under Captain Ben Pine in the 1938 Fisherman’s Cup races v. the Canadian schooner Bluenose. Partly due to the intense media coverage of those races, he was discovered by the press: his photo in the Boston Post captioned “Thebaud Sailor Like Movie Idol” led to modeling opportunities in New York and a call from Paramount Pictures. After captaining a voyage to Tahiti, he signed with Paramount in 1941. The blonde, 6-foot, 5-inch actor thrilled audiences in some 60 films. Dubbed the “Beautiful Blond Viking God” by Paramount Pictures, he is best known for his roles as General Jack D. Ripper in “Dr. Strangelove” (1964), for which he was nominated by BAFTA as “Best Foreign Actor”. Other noted roles were a corrupt cop in “The Godfather” (1972), Roger Wade in “The Long Goodbye” (1973), Leo Dalco in Bertolucci’s “Novecento” (1976), and a comedic turn as the CEO in “Nine to Five” (1980). He often expressed his dislike for acting, stating that he only acted to pay for his sailing. Utilizing his love for the sea and knowledge of sailing, he also authored the best-selling 1976 work “Voyage: A Novel of 1896”. He was married three times with six children, and died of prostate cancer. Hayden was a genuine adventurer and man of action, not dissimilar from many of his movie parts.
E.J. Lefavour
www.khanstudiointernational.com
That in September 1606, Samuel de Champlain landed at Rocky Neck to caulk his shallop (an open rowing boat), and created an accurate chart of the harbor, which he called le Beauport? If you consider the drawing of a chart to be art, then Rocky Neck had its earliest Gloucester Harbor inspired creation as far back as 1606.
E.J. Lefavour
www.khanstudiointernational.com
Jim and Rosemary Banks devoted FOB’s from Boca Raton, FL and Gloucester have arrived back on Cape Ann and represent at Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery. Jim is the uncle of Kenny McCarthy, who does the podcast with Joey.
E.J. Lefavour
www.khanstudiointernational.com
That the Rocky Neck Art Trolley has arrived at Madfish Wharf on Rocky Neck? Trolley driver, Christian O’Donnell transports young art appreciators Gabrielle Olsen, Lily Muniz, Garrett Olsen and Niah Silva on a tour of the galleries at Madfish Wharf. The young visitors immensely enjoyed the 3d photo exhibit by Chris Murray at Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery. Look how prepared driver Christian is with his tire pump at the ready, to make sure his passenger always have a safe and comfortable ride.
E.J. Lefavour
www.khanstudiointernational.com
Boston Horn splits the crystal air and wails at Madfish Grill on Rocky Neck. These guys are amazing. Really! Joey says he doesn’t know anyone else that can use the word amazing three times in the same sentence, but if something is amazing, you have to says its amazing, and these guys are amazing! (I think that was four). They will be back on Rocky Neck in August, so watch for them.
E.J. Lefavour
www.khanstudiointernational.com
These are photos from the first Mug Up at Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery. We will be holding Mug Up every Sunday at 10:00. Tomorrow is Father’s Day, so if you’re a Dad and can’t make it, we understand. Everyone’s invited. Greg Bover has said he is bringing some edible offering. Offerings are gratefully accepted and consumed by all.
Happenings on Rocky Neck
Alma McLaughlin hosted the most amazing re-opening of her new two shop location at 75 Rocky Neck last night. All the famous and infamous artists, colorful and beautiful people, characters and denizons of Rocky Neck and beyond were there. If you were there, you know you were at the happening place. If you weren’t, well, sorry, you missed a magnitude thing. Paul Morrison hightailed it over from Rockport as soon as he heard “stuffed mushrooms”; I think that’s Paul’s hand you see reaching into the food shot. If you missed last night, you should schedule a trip to Alma’s Art & Antiques as soon as possible. The shops are chock full of great art and really neat collectibles at very affordable prices. Karen Roberts from Sailor Stan’s did an amazing job with the food, which never stopped coming and was incredible, believe me, I tried it all! Afterwards a bunch of us headed to Madfish Grill and wore holes in the floor dancing nonstop and wildly to Boston Horns’ great funk and soul. Wendie Demuth says she can’t dance; but that girl kicked up a storm and wanted to marry both the horn players (which I think is illegal in this state, and at least one of them was already married).
This is an early tip to everyone out there in GMG land who will be on or near Cape Ann on Thursday, July 7th from 5:00 – 9:00pm. We are planning an amazing Night on the Neck that you and the whole family will enjoy and not want to miss. Mark your calendars now – details to follow soon.
E.J. Lefavour
www.khanstudiointernational.com
That John Nesta came to Rocky Neck in the mid-70’s and has maintained his home and gallery here ever since? He is a native New Englander, who graduated from the Vesper George School of Art in Boston and has studied art all over the country. I really love John’s work. He has a gift for capturing the light, reflections, mood, motion and unique beauty of Cape Ann, and he does it using only primary color paints. For those of you who don’t paint, it is possible to use the primary colors (red, blue and yellow, plus white) to create every other color, but it requires great skill in mixing. John finds his inspiration from all over Cape Ann, and his primary interest in his art is to be in love with his next painting; the personal satisfaction achieved by combining the beauty of his surroundings with the integration of color and brushstrokes. He works on location from his Studio On Wheels. His Gallery at 37 Rocky Neck Ave. in the historic Rocky Neck Art Colony is open daily April through Christmas. You can visit his website at www.johnnesta.com.
E.J. Lefavour
www.khanstudiointernational.com
That if you are looking for something amazing to do Friday evening, you need to come to Alma McLaughlin’s Grand Re-Opening at 75 Rocky Neck? Alma pulls out all the stops when it comes to parties (expect shrimp cocktail, beef tenderloin tips with hollandaise sauce, baked stuffed mushrooms, chicken with peanut sauce, wine and more), and you won’t find a more happening place to be than down here on Rocky Neck by Madfish Wharf. Her shop is filled to the gills with art and all sorts of old/new things to view and rummage through. And look for Alma out and about painting this summer around Rocky Neck.
Alma’s Arts and Antiques
featuring fine art by Alma McLaughlin and other local artists as well as shabby chic antiques
75 Rocky Neck Ave
Season Grand Re-opening
Friday, June 17
6:30 – 8:30pm
Alma will offering children’s art classes starting soon –
for more information please call
978-888-5034
978-515-7322
E.J. Lefavour
www.khanstudiointernational.com
That yesterday was National Lobster Day? Who knew, and if I had, I would have posted this yesterday after I took these shots. Also, did you know that Joey C., creator and driving force behind Good Morning Gloucester, is a lobster broker (seller of lobsters)? I’ve realized in my daily discussions with people about Good Morning Gloucester, that many people do not know this fact. He doesn’t talk about it on the blog because he doesn’t want people to think he is using the blog for his own personal gain. I however am a contributor to the blog, whose mission is to let people know about things they may not know. If you are a lover of this prehistoric crustacean, boiled with plenty of drawn butter, baked or stuffed, with linguine, Newberg, Thermidor, bisque, on a roll or in a salad, Captain Joe & Sons, 95 East Main Street, Gloucester is the place to get your lobster (its where all the finest restaurants get their’s), and say hey to Joey. To me, lobster is quintessential New England summer fare – a summer without lobster is like a summer without sunshine.
Also, did you know that the American lobster did not achieve popularity until the mid-19th century, when New Yorkers and Bostonians developed a taste for it? Prior to this time, lobster was considered a mark of poverty or as a food for indentured servants or lower members of society in Maine, Massachusetts and the Canadian Maritimes, and servants specified in employment agreements that they would not eat lobster more than twice per week. American lobster was initially deemed worthy only of being used as fertilizer or fish bait, and it was not until well into the twentieth century that it was viewed as more than a low-priced canned staple food. How far you’ve come dear, delectable lobster!
E.J. Lefavour
www.khanstudiointernational.com
That this right of way to the harbor was dedicated to the citizens of Rocky Neck by Zachariah Stevens in 1832? Zachariah Stevens, (1763-1846), enlisted at fifteen and served as a private and a seaman. He was born at Andover and died at Gloucester, where he was a pensioner.
E.J. Lefavour
www.khanstudiointernational.com
Two-year veteran GMG FOB from Worcester, Rich Laprade, represents at Mug Up on Sunday at Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery on Rocky Neck. Director for this shoot was Rich’s wife, Hollis.
E.J. Lefavour
www.khanstudiointernational.com
That the new shipment of Good Morning Gloucester T-shirts are in?! A bunch of FOB’s came in looking for XL blue and Small Pink T’s and we were out; but there is a good supply of them in now at Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery, 77 Rocky Neck. They go fast, so stop by soon to get your’s.
E.J. Lefavour
www.khanstudiointernational.com
Good Morning Gloucester 