Author: James Eves

NSAA Artist Demonstration: KT Morse
Thursday, July 22, 2021, at 6 PM

11 Pirate’s Lane, Gloucester, MA 01930
Open and free to the public

North Shore Arts Association (NSAA) is excited to collaborate with the Rocky Neck Cultural District Partners to celebrate art on Cape Ann every Thursday night in July and August for the Cultural Splash between 4 – 8 PM. During Thursday’s extended hours come experience free artist demonstrations starting at 6 PM by extremely talented, well-known artists.  

We are excited to welcome NSAA’s award winning artist KT Morse, who is giving an oil painting demo on Thursday, July 22, 2021, at 6 PM. Her paintings reflect strong value and color. She is a master of skies and clouds and has become known for her large skyscapes. Her love of painting plein air continues as she has been selected to participate in many nationally juried events. 

KT has been painting primarily in oils for the past eight years and has been accepted as an artist member at the Rockport Art Association, North Shore Art Association, the Hudson Valley Art Association, Lyme Art Association, and the National Association of Women Artists. To see more of her work please go to KT Morse Fine Art. 

North Shore Arts Association is located at 11 Pirate’s Lane, Gloucester, MA 01930. For more information about events please call (978) 283-1857 or email arts@nsarts.org. Visiting hours are Wednesday – Saturday, 10 AM – 5 PM and Sundays 12 – 4 PM.  

Saturday, July 24, at 2PM will mark the 100^th anniversary of the founding of the Rockport Art Association & Museum.  We will be honoring this 100^th anniversary with a public observance on our front lawn that shall include the depositing of a time capsule, live music by The Jazz Imposters, and the release of Legacy & Future: The Story of RAA&M, our just-published 100^th anniversary book!!! 

Copies of Legacy & Future will be available for sale, music will fill the air, and merriment shall abound!  ALL are invited to come on down, so drop on in and become a part of RAA&M history!  The scroll will be available for signing starting at 1PM, and the event itself begins at 2PM.  We earnestly hope to see you there!

NSAA Artist Demonstration: Jude Abbe
THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021, AT 6 PM
11 Pirate’s Lane, Gloucester, MA 01930
Open and free to the public 

North Shore Arts Association (NSAA) is excited to collaborate with the Rocky Neck Cultural District Partners to celebrate art on Cape Ann every Thursday night in July and August for the Cultural Splash between 4 – 8 PM. During Thursday’s extended hours come experience free artist demonstrations starting at 6 PM by extremely talented, well-known artists.  

We are excited to welcome NSAA’s artist Jude Abbe, who is giving an oil painting demo on Thursday, July 15, 2021, at 6 PM.  As an oil impressionist, Jude strives to share her love of light and shadow. Her work has been exhibited with, North Shore Arts Association, Rockport Art Association & Museum, Hudson Valley Art Association, Allied Artists, American Artist Professional League and Kent Art Association. 

North Shore Arts Association is located at 11 Pirate’s Lane, Gloucester, MA 01930. For more information about events please call (978) 283-1857 or email arts@nsarts.org. Visiting hours are Wednesday – Saturday, 10 AM – 5 PM and Sundays 12 – 4 PM.  

44 Main Gallery – 
44 Main Street, Gloucester
Next to Cafee Sicilia Bakery

Meet the Artist:
Wednesday, July 14, 4:30-6:30pm.

Jonathan Wilson has worked as a photojournalist and commercial photographer in India, California and Indiana. Primarily a visual communications educator, Wilson served as Program Chair and Dean of the School of Arts and Design at Ivy Tech Community College, Columbus, Indiana for 38 years before retiring and moving to Gloucester.

As a fine artist, Jonathan has participated in more than 31 group and solo exhibits, including work displayed at the Columbus Ohio Museum of Art, University of Toledo Museum of Art, Lafayette Museum of Art, Indianapolis Museum of Art/Columbus, Washington University, John Mellencamp Center for the Arts, and Indiana Art Director’s Club.Wilson says of his work:“Figuratively Speaking includes 17 photographs from India, Mexico and now Gloucester, my new home. The photographs are about people in their environment, where form, gesture and timing come together to express what I’m seeking in most of my work, which is an attempt to document the human condition.” 

Valetango Company’s Trust Me. Trust Me Not fuses tango and dance-theater to explore the opposing forces of trust and distrust 

Rockport, Massachusetts

Valetango Company performs Trust Me. Trust Me Not outdoors at Windhover Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday July 11 and Tuesday July 13^th at 7:30pm. Valetango, led by award-winning choreographer Valeria Solomonoff, redefines Argentine Tango, stripping the form to its bare bones and committing to a dance-theater aesthetic that  tells non-traditional stories and explores relationships of collaboration and power. 

Co-presented by Windhover and the Gloucester Stage Company as part of GSC’s Neverdark series, Trust Me. Trust Me Not explores the importance and fragility of trust and the longing for profound togetherness. The show is directed by Orlando Pabotoy, Obie Award winning theater director; choreographed by Orlando Reyes Ibarra, 2019 ATUSA tango champion; Rodney Hamilton, former principal dancer with Ballet Hispanico, and Valeria Solomonoff, dancer and ACE and HOLA award winning choreographer. It will be performed by Rodney Hamilton, Valeria Solomonoff and Fabio Angelo. 

Trust me. Trust me Not was developed in part through an artist residency at Windhover last summer. Each year, Windhover hosts 7-10 dance companies from greater New England and New York, providing choreographers a space to create, develop and rehearse new dance works. “We love it when artists return to Windhover to present a full performance of work they developed here,” says Windhover Artistic Director Lisa Hahn. “It shows the full scope of what we do at Windhover, and the way we support dance, from creation through opening night.” Trust Me. Trust Me Not began as a research project through a Fellowship at the Center for Ballet and The Arts, NYU and was developed through residencies at “Aire” Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana and “Danspace” at Judson Church as well as Windhover.

Tickets are $34 and can be purchased at www.windhover.org and through the Gloucester Stage Neverdark site at https://gloucesterstage.com/neverdark/. Trust Me. Trust Me Not is presented under and open-air tent and will happen rain or shine. For more information about Covid safety protocols, please visit https://gloucesterstage.com/keeping-you-safe/

About Windhover

For more than 50 years. Windhover has served the community as a place to learn, perform, and share the beauty of dance and the related arts in a natural setting.

In 1967, Herbert and Ina Hahn purchased the last farm in Pigeon Cove, a small village by the sea some two miles north of the town of Rockport, Massachusetts. The farm, on 4.5 acres of land, included a main house, cow barn, stables, slaughter house, various outbuildings and pasture land.

In less than a year Herb Hahn single-handedly converted the barn into a dance studio, the stable into a library, sheds and out-buildings into dormitories and he renovated the main house to function as a dining-kitchen complex. The performing arts camp for teenage girls opened in the summer of 1968 and during its seventeen years was filled to capacity with students from the USA, Canada and Mexico. During that period new buildings were added including a chapel/theater, a second dance studio, an outdoor stage for dance and theater performances, and a dining hall and kitchen in the main barn.

Windhover turned into a 501©3 non-profit organization in 1983 that offers dance classes, a teen dance intensive, residencies and performances in all of the performing arts to the Cape Ann Community and beyond.

On Monday, July 5th, Windhover Performing Arts Center’s first Latin Dance Social event will feature dancers and instructors from MetaMovements Latin Dance Company (New York City and Boston) and will include a wide range of styles, including Salsa, Casino, Bachata, Cha Cha Cha, and Merengue. The event welcomes participants of all experience levels, with a Latin Dance Lesson Intensive from 3:30 – 5:30 PM taught by Anara Frank, followed by a Latin Dance Party from 7:00 -10:00 PM.

Latin Dance Intensive, 3:30 – 5:30 PM with Anara Frank and other instructors

MetaMovements’ instructors will break down and demonstrate the Latin Dance styles of Salsa, Casino, Bachata, Cha Cha Cha, and Merengue, with different instructors teaching for various experience levels. Beginners will train in basic steps both on their own and with partners, while experienced dancers will practice more advanced steps and partner work. No partner needed, and comfortable shoes are encouraged.

Latin Dance Party, 7:00 – 10:00 pm

Attendees will dance the night away to the rhythms of Latin dance and music on Windhover’s beautiful grounds. A brief complimentary lesson will be available at 7:00 PM for all levels. The evening will also include special demonstrations and performances by MetaMovements Latin Dance Company, as well as fun line and group dances for everyone to join in.

Between dances, participants can relax under the trees or enjoy the historic property’s picnic tables under the bistro lights. Beer and wine will be available for purchase at the concession stand. Attendees are also encouraged to bring their own picnics to enjoy in between the Latin Dance Intensive and the Dance Party (no outside alcohol will be permitted).

Tickets are $15 for each event, or $20 for both. Tickets for the event may be purchased at www.windhover.org and through the Gloucester Stage Box Office athttps://gloucesterstage.com. Event happens rain or shine, with a tent provided in case of rain. To keep all participants safe, proof of vaccination will be required. Masks are not required but suggested for those choosing to rotate partners.

About Windhover

For more than 50 years. Windhover has served the community as a place to learn, perform, and share the beauty of dance and the related arts in a natural setting.

In 1967, Herbert and Ina Hahn purchased the last farm in Pigeon Cove, a small village by the sea some two miles north of the town of Rockport, Massachusetts. The farm, on 4.5 acres of land, included a main house, cow barn, stables, slaughter house, various outbuildings and pasture land.

In less than a year Herb Hahn single-handedly converted the barn into a dance studio, the stable into a library, sheds and out-buildings into dormitories and he renovated the main house to function as a dining-kitchen complex. The performing arts camp for teenage girls opened in the summer of 1968 and during its seventeen years was filled to capacity with students from the USA, Canada and Mexico. During that period new buildings were added including a chapel/theater, a second dance studio, an outdoor stage for dance and theater performances, and a dining hall and kitchen in the main barn.

Windhover turned into a 501©3 non-profit organization in the 1980’s and now offers dance classes, a teen dance intensive, residencies and performances in all of the performing arts to the Cape Ann Community and beyond.

Twin Lights: Anne Rearick and Willie Alexander

 A Celebration of Life, Color, Beauty and Light

Location: The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street, Gloucester, MA

Dates: July 1 to August 1, 2021

Hours: Thursday noon to 8PM; Friday through Sunday noon to 5 PM

Gloucester MA — The Rocky Neck Art Colony is proud to present Twin Lights: Anne Rearick and Willie Alexander at the Rocky Neck Cultural Center, 6 Wonson Street in Gloucester. The exhibition, described as “a celebration of life, color, beauty and light,” will include photographs by Rearick and paintings by Alexander inspired by their beloved home of Gloucester, Mass. The artist reception is on Saturday, July 10 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public. 

Anne Rearick is the recipient of numerous grants, fellowships and awards. Her photographs are in the collections of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, the Centre national de l’audiovisuel in Luxembourg, and numerous others. 

“Willie and I have been making art of one form or another our whole lives,” says Rearick. “We support, challenge and inspire each other. My photographs from Gloucester span the past two decades. I am drawn to the particular beauty and character of this place and its inhabitants.”

Willie Alexander is a singer, songwriter and keyboardist with a long and legendary career, recognized locally, nationally and internationally. Known as the Godfather of Punk, he has been inducted into the Boston Music Hall of Fame. 

“Although I am known for my music, I have been making visual art since I was a kid,” says Alexander. “I try to be natural in my painting, letting the paint do the work and not thinking about it too much. I realize that the seagulls and fish in my paintings are unrecognizable, but trust me, they are there. I am inspired by the familiarity of the Gloucester streets that I have known and loved since I was a boy.”

Twin Lights: Anne Rearick and Willie Alexander has been generously sponsored by Mark and Livia Glovsky. The show is live at The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck and online at RNACexhibitions.com starting on July 1, 2021.

The Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC) was founded in the mid-19th century and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 1973. With the creation of the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck in 2012, RNAC programs are reaching a wider demographic as the visual arts focus is expanding to include more diverse cultural and educational offerings. The Cultural Center is located at 6 Wonson Street, Gloucester, MA 01930. For more information visit www.rockyneckartcolony.org.

Judy Robinson-Cox is a recognized Cape Ann photographer with a solo mixed media photomontage show at the Rockport Art Association & Museum from June 26 – July 15, 2021, in the Marguerite Pearson Gallery.  

Judy developed her technique about 15 years ago because she wanted to introduce physical texture into the photomontage images she was creating. Each image begins as two digital exposures that are blended into a single photograph to fully capture the essence of the subject. She usually combines an iconic Cape Ann object (e.g. a boat, building or tree) with a close-up view of the surrounding area or location, then collages the image onto a wood substrate and adds more layers, textures, and other elements, creating a one-of-a-kind mixed media piece.  

When Judy began the series, Rocky Neck’s Paint Factory had been abandoned and was a great source of inspiration. At that time, she was able to collect pieces of paint and rust that were sitting on the ground around the building and incorporated them into her artwork. The Paint Factory Door in this show includes some of her last remaining artifacts from that time. 

Come and experience Judy Robinson-Cox’s stunning mixed media photomontages in person June 26 – July 15, 2021. Concurrently his exhibit will also be available online at: https://www.rockportartassn.org/solo-shows where her works can be enjoyed and purchased. 

The Rockport Art Association & Museum is located at 12 Main Street, Rockport MA 01966, and is free and open to the public Thursday – Sunday, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM. For more information please call: (978) 546-6604, email: infor@rockportartassn.org, or visit the Rockport Art Association & Museum website at: www.rockportartassn.org

Ken Ludwig’s “Baskerville” ~ A Sherlock Holmes Mystery

July 2 – 25 Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30pm – 10:00pm and Saturday and Sunday at 3:30pm – 6:00pm
Windhover Performing Arts Center (257R Granite St, Rockport, MA 01966)
From the award-winning mastermind of mayhem, Ken Ludwig, comes Baskerville, a fast-paced comedy about everyone’s favorite detective solving his most notorious case. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson must crack the mystery of “The Hound of the Baskervilles” before a family curse dooms its newest heir. The timeless duo investigate a dizzying web of clues along with three actors who deftly portray more than 40 characters. Does a wild hellhound prowl the moors of Devonshire? Can our heroes discover the truth in time? Join the fun and see how far from elementary the truth can be.
https://gloucesterstage.com/baskerville/

Valetango Company presents Trust Me. Trust Me Not

July 11 and July 12 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Windhover Performing Arts Center (257R Granite St, Rockport, MA 01966)
Valeria has been featured in documentaries such as PBS’s Surrender Tango and Tango in Berlin, in films such as Dance the Gender and Venuz Boys and on TV programs internationally. She has danced for the promotion of Julio Iglesias and YoYo Ma’s tango CDs.
https://gloucesterstage.com/valeria/

Lift: Lifting Up Stories of Today’s Youth

July 18 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Windhover Performing Arts Center (257R Granite St, Rockport, MA 01966)
An Apprentice Company Devised piece directed by Dee Dee Batteast.
https://gloucesterstage.com/lift/

THE SEARCH FOR MY IDENTITY

July 20 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Windhover Performing Arts Center (257R Granite St, Rockport, MA 01966)
A one-woman show performed by Dee Dee Batteast, last seen at Gloucester Stage in No AIDS, No Maids.
https://gloucesterstage.com/lift/

The Queen of Fenway Court: Isabella Stewart Gardner

Sunday, August 15th & Tuesday, August 17th
Windhover Performing Arts Center (257R Granite St, Rockport, MA 01966)
Isabella Stewart Gardner possessed an energetic intellectual curiosity and a love of travel. A leading American art collector, philanthropist, and patron of the arts, she often spent summers in Gloucester. You know the legacy, now learn the story of her life as an eccentric female millionaire.
https://gloucesterstage.com/isabella-stewart/

Seared

August 6 – August 22 Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30pm – 9:30pm and Saturday and Sunday at 3:30pm – 5:30pm
Windhover Performing Arts Center (257R Granite St, Rockport, MA 01966)
Brilliant, hot-headed chef Harry scores a mention in a food magazine with his signature scallops, and his business partner Mike finally sees profits within reach. The only problem, Harry refuses to recreate his masterpiece for the masses. Mix in a shrewd restaurant consultant and a waiter with dreams of his own and it all goes to hell in this hilarious and insightful new play that asks us to consider where art ends and commerce begins.
https://gloucesterstage.com/seared/

Reparations

September 3 – September 19 Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30pm – 10:00pm and Saturday and Sunday at 3:30pm – 6:00pm
Windhover Performing Arts Center (257R Granite St, Rockport, MA 01966)
Ginny, a successful book editor, invites a young, Black aspiring author, Reg, to her apartment after a boozy book party. She wakes up to find that a night of tenderness and passion is turning into a tumultuous morning-after when he threatens to reveal a dark secret from the past. As family friends join for an ill-timed paella feast, all four are soon embroiled in whether the young writer is due reparation. Personal revelations lead to laughs, tears, and coming to terms with racial injustice and personal betrayal in this poignant new play by James Sheldon.
https://gloucesterstage.com/reparations/

Laiona Michelle: A Night with Nina Simone

SEP 12 & 14 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Windhover Performing Arts Center (257R Granite St, Rockport, MA 01966)
Following her critically acclaimed performance in American Hero, Laiona Michelle steps into the role of Nina Simone in a new musical. This exuberant show reveals a life in between the black and white keys—a passionate journey from classical piano child prodigy to the High Priestess of Soul, told through the words and music of American icon Nina Simone.
https://gloucesterstage.com/little-girl-blue/

Think of Me Tuesday

October 1 – October 17 Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00pm 
Windhover Performing Arts Center (257R Granite St, Rockport, MA 01966)
Most seasoned voters, wherever they cast their ballots, might recall a fabled local candidate who despite never winning, continues to run and run and run. Year after year, election after election, in the same tattered tweed jacket, Jim ‘Buddy’ Chum is undeterred by yet another embarrassing rejection. He’s the punchline for a running joke about a joker who keeps running…and losing. Buddy is Fishtown, Massachusetts’ forever Mayoral candidate on a quixotic campaign for his shot at the top office – he’s not against progress, he just doesn’t want to be around when it gets here.
https://gloucesterstage.com/think-tuesday/

July Movie Series

Come have a unique summer experience with a big screen movie on the oceanside lawn of the Hammond Castle Museum! Bring a picnic dinner, chairs or a blanket, and come early to spend time on the back lawn or stroll around the Castle. Doors open at 6pm.  Movies starts at sundown (approx. 8pm)

July 8 – The Secret of the Kells
July 15 – Monty Python and the Holy Grail
July 22 – The Princess Bride
July 29 – Young Frankenstein
Doors open at 6pm. Movies starts at sundown (approx. 8pm)

$20 Adults, $10 Children 6-12, Children 5 & under free.
Visit hammondcastle.org for more details and to purchase tickets! 

The Museum is located at 80 Hesperus Avenue, Gloucester, MA.  978-283-2080

Bubbles and Books

Join us each Monday morning in July and August for story time, followed by a bubble party on our back lawn. Stories start at 10:15 am. Feel free to bring a blanket for your little one to cuddle with while we enjoy some classic prince and princess stories and explore lesser known favorites too. Child 5 & Under: Free, Child 6-12: 9.00, Adults: 14.00, Seniors 65+: 10.00.  Visit hammondcastle.org to purchase tickets.  The Museum is located at 80 Hesperus Avenue, Gloucester, MA.  978-283-2080

Medieval Arms & Armor at Hammond Castle Museum 

July 10 or Aug 14, 10-11:00 am

Join Hammond Castle Museum Curatorial Director, John Leysath, as he walks us through the world of medieval arms and armor. This presentation will delve into the history, engineering, and use of armor.  There will be many examples of armor for visitors to see in person. There are two opportunities to attend this event; July 10 or August 14. Adult: $20, Child 12 & Under: $15, Child 5 & Under: Free. Please visit hammondcastle.org to purchase tickets. The Museum is located at 80 Hesperus Avenue, Gloucester, MA.  978-283-2080

Renaissance Music Day

Hammond Castle Museum will be filled with the sounds of traditional medieval, renaissance, and Celtic instruments and vocals on July 11 from 10am – 4pm. Performing in and around the Castle, four New England music groups will play throughout the day.  Offsite parking will be available in addition to Museum parking. $20 adults, $10 children 6-12, children 5 & under free.  Please visit hammondcastle.org to purchase tickets. The Museum is located at 80 Hesperus Avenue, Gloucester, MA.  978-283-2080

Award-winning photographer and mixed media artist, Judy Robinson-Cox, has exhibited her photography and mixed-media pieces on Cape Ann for over fifteen years. Better known for her macro photographs of miniature figures, Judy also shows a type of photography that she calls “Mixed Media Photo Montages”. Rockport Art Association is pleased to present an exhibition of these pieces in a solo show of Judy’s work from June 26 to July 25, 2021. 

Judy developed the mixed-media photographic technique because she wanted to introduce physical texture to double exposures that she was creating. Each image begins as two digital exposures that she blends into a single photograph to fully capture the essence of the subject. “I usually combine an iconic Cape Ann object (e.g. a boat, building or tree) with a close-up view of the surrounding area or location”, says Judy. “I then collage the image onto a wood substrate and add more layers, textures and other elements, creating a one-of-a-kind mixed media piece.” 

When she began the series, Rocky Neck’s Paint Factory had been abandoned and was a great source of inspiration. At that time she was able to collect pieces of paint and rust that were sitting on the ground around the building and incorporate them into her artwork. The Paint Factory Door in this show includes some of her last remaining artifacts from that time. 

On Saturday, June 26, at 5PM the Rockport Art Association & Museum, Rockport, Massachusetts, as part of its ongoing 100^th year anniversary celebration, will be hosting Make Way for Nancy: A Life in Public Art.  During this intimate conversation with internationally acclaimed sculptor Nancy Schön and her personal friend, author Anita Diamant, we shall explore Ms.Schön’s art and career, including her Aesop’s Fables: Morals to Live By, an extraordinary series of 24 bronze sculptures based on a selection of the timeless Greek fables which Schön has declared to be “among the most important works of my career.

Regarding what drew her to create this profound series of works, Schön says:

“Aesop intrigued me. I was astonished to discover that he was a Greek slave, said to have written 656 fables. Here was a man who was born about 2,500 years ago, yet we are still quoting his morals. Based on the 24 letters in the Greek alphabet, I decided on a 24 sculpture collection. How sad, yet also reassuring, that we human beings have not changed in all these centuries. I believe these sculptures represent and send a profound message, an indication of our humanity!”

All twenty-four bronze sculptures will be on display and offered for sale at the Rockport Art Association & Museum.

This event is free and open to the public.

For more information on Make Way for Nancy: A Life in Public Art , please our website: https://www.rockportartassn.org/calendar-of-events/2021/6/26/special-event-nancy-schn-amp-anita-diamant. And for more information on Ms. Schön’s Aesop’s Fables series, please see https://schon.com/aesop/index.php

Nancy Schön is a Boston based sculptor known for her warm, evocative representations of human and animal figures. She has received many commissions, both private and public, and is best known for her Make Way for Ducklings sculpture in the Boston Public Garden.
https://www.schon.com/

Anita Diamant is a prize-winning journalist and the author of 12 books, including the best selling novels, The Boston Girl and The Red Tent, which has been published in 26 countries. 
https://anitadiamant.com/

To view works in the exhibition, click onhttps://www.janedeeringgallery.com/exhibitions-jdg-gloucester-ma/beverly-rippel—aggregate-abstractions-and-the-sea

Vendor applications can be downloaded at https://www.holdfasthandcrafts.com/camm2021vendorapp?fbclid=IwAR2I1wx-kb-yrOoNw-4t6TGzFpKyMg8ar2aJlBUb2-pGUNsgUFk4xl–Nzc

As always Cape Ann Makers Market is open to all makers, crafters and artists – we do not accept any vendors who do not make their own products. 100% of the vendor fees from these two markets will be donated to Ocean Alliance.

Cape Ann Makers market is co-sponsored by HoldFast Company, Cape Ann Giclee and Cape Ann Sea Salt Co.

The Rocky Neck Art Colony is pleased to announce that Gallery 53, at 53 Rocky Neck Avenue, is opening its doors for the season on Friday, May 28. The gallery was last open in 2019. Gallery 53 is open daily, May 28 to June 30: Mon-Thu, 11am to 3pm, Fri-Sat 11-7, Sun 10-6;

For more summer hours see below. The gallery kicks off the season with a Gloucester-appropriate themed show: FISH. In this multimedia exhibit, many talented G53 members interpret these aquatic gill-bearing animals with whimsy, realism and humor.

In addition, Gallery 53 welcomes four talented new members this year:

• Mixed Media artist, Joan Benotti blends the actual with the abstract in mixed media pieces that integrate memory and story with pattern and place. Born in Boston, Benotti lived on the Bahamian Island of Eleuthera and more recently in South Africa. She now resides on Boston’s North Shore. She studied painting at the Rhode Island School of Design and printmaking at Montserrat College and received a grant from the Massachusetts State Council on the Arts in printmaking. Benotti was a founding member of the Bromfield Gallery, a Boston based artists’ cooperative, and an associate member of the Kingston Gallery in Boston’s SOWA district.  http://www.joanbenotti.com/
• Painter Paula Morgan is primarily drawn to color and light situations. She often depicts colorful and calming landscape, dynamic still lifes and marine compositions in juicy, loose strokes. Paula mainly works in oil with an alla prima style and is most influenced by impressionist as well as post impressionist art work. With discovery of the daily painter movement, Paula has ignited a disciplined approach to her art and has been refining her creative focus. http://www.paulammorgan.com/
• Weaver Fran Osten is inspired by the New England landscape and the ever-changing ocean cove immediately outside her studio. She works on multi-shaft looms, including a computerized dobby loom that allows her to escape the orthogonal grid on which much traditional weaving is based. Color and a sense of movement are important to her designs. Using primarily silk, cotton and Tencel yarns, which are hand-dyed, she creates wearables and other handwoven pieces that display great depth and richness.  Each piece is one of a kind. https://www.danforthweavers.com/
• Ceramic artist Diane Slezak’s pottery reflects the shapes and textures of the natural world and highlights the organic qualities of the clay. Depictions of flora and fauna are a reminder of their importance to the beauty and environmental balance in our world. Working mostly in thrown, functional stoneware, the clay surface becomes her blank canvas to carve, pierce, impress and create tactile quality. Multiple glazing techniques enrich her work. Slezak remarks “Taking a lump of clay from mud consistency to a durable, fired work of art is very satisfying. Enhancing my work with designs that reflect my respect for the world around me is essential.” https://www.covetocoastpottery.com/

Images and Captions:

Through the mysterious alchemy of glass, Ellen Garvey successfully fashions a fish that looks like water itself. 

Jeweler Katherine Bagley fuses metals in her earrings,  creating brass fish on an oxidized sterling silver background.

Boatbuilder Richard Honan’s driftwood assemblage, Do Fish Have Lips?, displays a marvel of craftsmanship.

About Gallery 53

A Fine Art and Craft Gallery, Gallery 53 is housed in a historic 19th century building on the water at 53 Rocky Neck Avenue. In addition to providing a place for talented Art Colony members to exhibit, the gallery provides the community with thought-provoking rotating exhibits and a place to purchase unique local art in a variety of price ranges. Paintings, jewelry, pottery, wood, glass, mixed media, hand-pulled prints, and photography are thoughtfully displayed in the gallery with new artists and media added each year.

Gallery 53 is open daily, May 28 to June 30: Mon-Thu, 11am to 3pm, Fri-Sat 11-7, Sun 10-6;

July 1 to Sept. 6: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thu 10-8; Sat 11-7, Sun 10-6;

Sept. 7 to Oct. 11: Mon-Thu, 11am to 3pm, F-SAT 11-7, Sun 10-6.

For more information call 978-515-7004 or visit rockyneckartcolony.org. See Gallery 53 on Rocky Neck on Facebook and Instagram. For more information about Gallery 53 call 978-515-or visit rockyneckartcolony.org/gallery53.

About the Rocky Neck Art Colony

The Rocky Neck Art Colony, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, nurtures excellence in the arts through exhibitions, workshops, residencies and vibrant cultural events for its members and the public. Long renowned for its luminous light, this harbor and coastal location has been a magnet for some of the most revered realist paintings in American art and a catalyst for the progressive ideas of artists such as Stuart Davis, Marsden Hartley, Milton Avery, and Nell Blaine, among many others. Today Rocky Neck continues to attract artists and art lovers to a thriving creative community. For more information about the Rocky Neck Art Colony visit rockyneckartcolony.org or call 978-515-7004.

Cape Ann Artisans Leap Forward in 2021 Welcoming new Artisans, fresh work, new ideas, & a colorful video online!

The Cape Ann Artisans will once again be opening their studios to the public for the 38^th Annual Spring Tour Saturday and Sunday, June 5-6.  The tour is self-guided and includes 14 unique studios and 15 Artisans covering a wide range of media including ceramic arts, painting, jewelry, mixed media, quilting, mosaics, weaving, and more!    To get a taste of the tour, art lovers are encouraged to watch the newly produced video that features one-minute cameos with each of the artisans.   It can be found on the website, Facebook page, and YouTube.

In 2021, the Artisans welcome new artisan Sallie Strand, an abstract painter located on historic Rocky Neck.   In 2020, Chloe Leigh, a jeweler with a studio in downtown Gloucester also joined the group, but this will be her first year participating.  Sallie Strand’s newly completed, welcoming studio on Rocky Neck will be home to her collection of acrylic abstract expressionist works.   Sallie’s  collection also includes oil paintings available for viewing separately in another location.  Her creative talents are many and include a former life as a pastry chef!  Chloe Leigh has enhanced her handcrafted, eco-friendly fine jewelry collection with new works –   hand carved, custom statement and engagement rings.  2021 will surely be a boomerang year for nuptials.   

The Artisans are already feeling the rush of the return to experiencing the arts in person.  

Cynthia Curtis reports that people are coming out of the woodwork to take a class or do Independent Study with open studio time.  Cynthia has also added the Sabi Line of “imperfect” pottery to her collection.  Sabi, the art of imperfection reflects the imperfect time we all felt in 2020.

Jacqueline Ganim-DeFalco, Sea Glass Wearable Art,  has recently completed two successful live events – the Line in the Sand Exhibit in Gloucester and a Sea Glass Expo in New Hampshire.   Her new collection features sea glass and leather pendants and she has done a video series on “how to wear your hair” as long hair returned over the past year.

Outside the tour itself, artisans are continually pursuing ways to enhance their skills and expand their creative footprint.   Pam Stratton, Mosaic Artist was recently accepted into NOWA National Association of Women in the Arts and has just completed a show in Marblehead. Pam has continued to beautify her garden with her mosaic art.  She has transformed a tree that had been nearly destroyed in a lightning storm while adding Koi fish to her pond and abstract sculpture atop a new granite pillar in the yard. Rob Diebboll has been creating new beach scenes with his signature figures, dogs, and birds and planning an exhibit in Newport this August.  Deb Schradieck was recently a featured artist in an exhibit at the Beauport Hotel and has been commissioned to paint a portrait of the hotel.   Marcie Rae has been focused on the technique of “chasing” to enhance her jewelry designs.  In chasing, a design is created on metal by hammering small punches into the metal and creating an indentation – or outline.  Details on all these pursuits and more can be found on the “From the Studio” blog on the Cape Ann Artisans website.

The tour is “self-guided” with 14 individual stops to visit with 15 artisans.   Visitors are encouraged to pick up a Cape Ann Chamber Map and align it with the Cape Ann Artisans brochure to follow the tour route.  The Artisans are listed in an order that follows the geography of Gloucester and Rockport.   

1. Jacqueline Ganim DeFalco – Sea Glass Jeweler
2. Deb Gonet – Painting – Mixed Media
3. David Archibald – Ceramic Arts – Porcelain & Stoneware
4. Linda Hogan – Quilter
5. Sara Wright – Fiber Arts- Handwoven & Knit Accessories
6. Cynthia Curtis – Ceramic Arts – Stoneware
7. Pam Stratton – Mosaics
8. Twin Lights Studio| Scott Place and Erin O’Sullivan – Ceramic Arts
9. Deb Schradieck – Painting–Oil & Watercolor
10. Rob Diebboll – Painting – Oil & Watercolors
11. Sallie Strand – Painting- Abstract
12. Sinikka Nogelo – Painting & Sculpture– Experimental Arts
13. Chloe Leigh – Fine Jeweler
14. Marcie Rae – Fine Jeweler

As of mid-May, the 2021 Brochure will become available at all the major tourism outlets including the Cape Ann Chamber and North of Boston CVB locations.  The Artisans will also continue their partnership with Discover Gloucester.  In an effort to become more sustainable, the Artisans have decreased the size of the brochure by 50% and have eliminated the paper map in favor of a collaboration with the Cape Ann Chamber.  The Artisans have been assigned a number on the Chamber’s Cape Ann Tourism Map where the tour can be followed according to the numbers in the brochure and you will also find many other key points of interest around Cape Ann.   Please seek out the Chamber map when picking up the CAA brochure as they will be used in concert.   An electronic map of just the CAA Tour is also downloadable from Cape Ann Artisans.

The 2020 Feedback survey gave the Cape Ann Artisans high marks in terms of Covid safety and we will continue to ask visitors to comply with State of Massachusetts regulations:  wearing of masks indoors, practicing of social distancing, and use of hand sanitizer which will be available at each studio.

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What:  The 38^th Annual Cape Ann Artisans Open Studios

Where: Gloucester and Rockport, MA.

When:   Spring Tour: Sat & Sun, June 5-6 and October 9-10^th  10AM-5PM Daily

Special Event: Mini-Tour*– Sat August 14^th  Mini-Tour Artists to be announced in the Spring.

Contact: info@capeannartisans.com or leave a message with Cynthia Curtis 978-546-6186

BIG NEWS! Windhover’s OUTDOOR SPACE is where the performing arts will thrive this summer. Live performance is back! Windhover has purchased a large, brand new, expansive outdoor stage which will hold music, theater and a large selection of live dance productions all summer long.

The Gloucester Stage Company is partnering with Windhover and is launching their summer season of four plays at Windhover from June through September. With six shows a week and running a total of 13 weeks, Gloucester Stage is launching over 75 productions on Windhover’s outdoor stage, set in the back garden. In addition to that, there is a series of experimental dance, theater and opera events on Sunday and Tuesday nights at 7:30pm titled “Never Dark Series.”

And when Gloucester Stage is not performing, Windhover is presenting a series of professional dance companies from New York which features everything from contemporary tango, to ballet and modern dance, highlighting works by Paul Taylor and Martha Graham as well as cutting edge choreographers. Michael Trusnovec, formerly a soloist with Paul Taylor Dance Co, will perform several solos including one from Taylor’s choreography titled “Spindrift”, with music by Arnold Schoenberg. Martha Graham’s works will be celebrated by performers Lloyd Knight and Xin Ying who will dance the duet “Conversation of Lovers” from the larger work titled “Acts of Light”, with music by Carl Nielsen. These two dancers were featured in the New York Times last Friday, April 30, 2021 in a glowing article titled:  ”Breathing New Life Into Dances”.    Click here to read it: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/29/arts/dance/martha-graham    Annmaria Mazzini will add a contemporary flair to the evening by performing works of her own sizzling choreography. All of this culminates in two stellar outdoor performances on August 27-28,2021 at 7:30pm.

Windhover will also feature local dance companies including the Rockport Dance Academy, the North Reading School of Ballet and BoSoma Dance Company, with BoSoma’s three performances featuring both their Youth Company as well as their Professional Company.

All performances will be outside in Windhover’s back garden this summer, and Covid-19 safe regulations will be in place. Tickets will be sold with seats spaced sufficiently apart, and the details of the regulations can be found on both the Windhover and Gloucester Stage websites.

Windhover’s website has been refreshed and will be continually updated with information about new performances, outdoor Master classes, open rehearsals and special events. Please check out:www.windhover.org for details. 

For the second year, Windhover is partnering with “Dykes with Drills” for a Volunteer Work Weekend on Saturday, May 29 and Sunday, May 30^th from 9:00-4:30pm. We are looking for more volunteers for painting, shingling, carpentry and gardening. You can sign up on the Windhover website for either or both days and stay for any amount of time. Refreshments will be served and tools will be provided.

Dance residencies will also be a part of our summer fabric, with several companies from New York including Cornfield Dance, Continuum Contemporary Ballet Company and Valetango Company rehearsing new pieces. Dušan Týnek Dance Theatre will be in residence at Windhover in mid-August,  preparing for the filming of Quarry Dance X at private Cape Ann quarries. Following the success of last summer’s Quarry Dance lX, this year’s quarry dance will be filmed on location for a week, followed by editing and then an online premiere of the 30-minute site-specific dance. The entire company will participate this summer, allowing for more group dance movements and intricate partnering.

Master dance classes and open rehearsals will be sprinkled into the summer calendar for the public’s enjoyment. Closing the Windhover season at the end of September into early October will be a music concert with details to be announced soon. 

Please come and enjoy live performances outdoors this summer at Windhover’s large, expansive and safe space. These events provide uplifting news for arts loving devotees of the performing arts. DANCE, MUSIC and THEATER will be celebrated and experienced after a long, challenging year! Tickets and information can be found on our website. (www.windhover.org)

I welcome everyone to these outstanding performances all summer long. Please come and enjoy.

Warm wishes,

Lisa Hahn, Executive Director                                  windhover@verizon.net

Windhover Performing Arts Center, 257 Rear Granite St. Rockport, MA. 01966  phone: 978-546-3611

40 Under 40

New exhibition showcases emerging artists from Boston’s North Shore

Dates: May 14 through June 30, 2021

Location: The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street, Gloucester, Mass. 

The Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC) reopens to the public with 40 Under 40, its first in-person exhibition since closing due to the pandemic in March 2020. The exhibit will be on view at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson St., Gloucester, from May 14 to June 30, 2021. The Center will be open Thursday through Sunday to restricted numbers of visitors admitted on a timed basis in compliance with Covid safety protocols (visit rockyneckartcolony.org for more information); the exhibit can also be viewed online at RNACExhibitions.com. 

Works for 40 Under 40 were selected by Lydia Gordon, Associate Curator for Exhibitions and Research at the Peabody Essex Museum, from a call to North Shore artists under the age of 40. 

RNAC is thrilled to present this compelling array of works by 30 artists reflecting a diversity of mediums and subject matter. Melding traditional modes of artmaking with experimental techniques and unconventional materials, these emerging artists suggest productive ways of making sense from chaos and for venturing into the unknown. Collectively, the works in the exhibition offer a vision for the future infused with continuity, expansiveness, and hope.

Committed to nurturing excellence in the arts, RNAC embraces the opportunity to amplify the voices of up-and-coming artists through exposure, encouragement, and fellowship. Related programs including artist talks, performances, and professional development workshops, made possible through a generous grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, will accompany the exhibition. Check rockyneckartcolony.org for more information.

At a time when many of the traditional means of support for artists are faltering, Rocky Neck Art

Colony has strengthened its resolve to support and celebrate the arts and to secure the organization’s legacy in order to benefit artists into the future.

Exhibiting artists: Leif Akerley, Jaime Asaro, Isabel Bacon, Natasha Baumgaertel, Melissa

Cooper, Leon Doucette, Siobhan Duncan, Morgan Dyer, Amanda Hawkins, Catherine Headrick, Belle Hornblower, Michael Lamarche, Aron Leaman, Elissa Lincoln, Nicholas Mancini, Brett Mason, Ryan Mason, Vanessa Michalak, Anthony Ohman, Cory OLeary, Sarah Osgood, Morgan Petitpas, Allison Phillips, Mallie Pratt, Lyla Roth, Alexandra Stroup Erin Survilas, William Weygint, Marika Whitaker, and Chloe Wilwerding. 

40 Under 40 has been made possible through the generous support of Mass Cultural

Council; an anonymous RNAC member and Scott Smith, Realtor.

The Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC) was founded in the mid-19th century and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 1973. With the creation of the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck in 2012, RNAC programs are reaching a wider demographic as the visual arts focus is expanding to include more diverse cultural and educational offerings. The Cultural Center is located at 6 Wonson Street, Gloucester, MA 01930. For more information visit www.rockyneckartcolony.org.