Author: James Eves

Live Weekly Concerts at the Cultural Center in Partnership with the Cape Ann Guitar Society

Gloucester, MA — March 2026 — Rocky Neck Art Colony, Inc. is pleased to announce the inaugural March Music Month, a new pilot program featuring a series of live musical performances curated by Cape Ann Guitar Society. Concerts will take place each week in March at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, located at 6 Wonson Street, Gloucester, an intimate and historically significant venue known for its exceptional acoustics.

March Music Month expands Rocky Neck Art Colony’s artistic offerings by introducing live music into a space traditionally dedicated to visual arts. Past performances revealed the Cultural Center to be a warm, inviting setting for concerts, inspiring the organization to envision this program as an annual event with future opportunities for expanded performances and educational workshops.

“This series is part of our broader effort to welcome new and more diverse audiences to Rocky Neck,” said Elizabeth Carey, CEO. “Music is a powerful, accessible art form, and these performances invite both longtime supporters and first-time visitors to experience the Cultural Center in a new way.”

The series features five performances showcasing a wide range of musical styles.

Sunday, March 8 with Daniel Villela on Classical Guitar at 3:00pm

Sunday, March 15 with Jason Ji on Fingerstyle Guitar at 3:30pm

Sunday March 22 with Steve Lacey on Jazz Guitar at 3pm

Saturday, March 28 with Andrew Cohen on Blues Guitar 1pm workshop; 3pm concert.

Rocky Neck Art Colony is proud to partner with Cape Ann Guitar Society, a newly formed 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to elevating local guitarists and bringing global talent to Cape Ann. 

In addition to March Music Month, the Cultural Center will host “Women by Amy Sudarsky: Nude Portraits from the Last Decade,” on view from March 4 through March 29. The exhibition features life-size paintings of women who meet the viewer’s gaze with pride, warmth, and quiet strength. Sudarsky, Artistic Director of Rocky Neck Art Colony, has previously taught drawing and painting at Boston University School of Visual Arts and Lesley University College of Art and Design. The exhibition will be open during concert dates and by appointment throughout March.

A modest admission fee will be charged for concerts ($15 for RNAC Members; $20 for Non-Members). Proceeds will help support this pilot program, with the goal of building momentum and establishing March Music Month as a signature annual event.

For performance schedules, tickets, or more information, visit rockyneckartcolony.org or click HERE. 

The Rockport Art Association & Museum (RAA&M) in Rockport, MA is currently receiving consignment submissions of works by Historic American Artists, Highlighting the Cape Ann School, for its Annual Art Auction. The consignment deadline is March 7, and the Auction will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026 – Live Online Only. The Auction Preview Exhibition will be on view for two weeks prior to the auction in the Hibbard and Maddocks Galleries of the RAA&M.

Each year, this prestigious fundraising event attracts serious collectors from across the country, as well as those just starting an art collection. The auction features works by master Cape Ann artists of the past such as: Aldro T. Hibbard, Emile Gruppé, Anthony Thieme, Antonio Cirino, W. Lester Stevens, Jane Peterson, Frederick Mulhaupt, Harry A. Vincent, Max Kuehne, Frederick J. Waugh, Marguerite S. Pearson, Charles Paul Gruppé, Harrison Cady, John Whorf, Theresa Bernstein, Charles Vickery, Paul Strisik, Charles Movalli, and many more. The RAA&M auction specializes in Cape Ann art, but is not limited to this region and also includes works by numerous other prominent historic American artists.

The auction, now in its 41st year, began with a bequest by founding member Antonio Cirino (1888-1983). Cirino left his artwork to the Association with the stipulation that the art be auctioned to help support the organization. The auction quickly evolved to include other historic Cape Ann artists and has been the RAA&M’s major annual fundraising event ever since.

For more information about the Rockport Art Association & Museum and its Annual Art Auction, please visit www.rockportartassn.org/auction.

To make an appointment or to inquire about consigning, please contact Margaret Redington at
978-546-6604, ext. 1002 or auction@rockportartassn.org.

Here are the captions for the attached images:

Featured Consignment in 2025:
Winter, Vermont by Emile Gruppé (1896-1978)
Oil on canvas, 40 x 50 in.

Featured Consignment in 2025:
Bearskin Neck by Antonio Cirino (1888-1983)
Oil on canvas mounted on board, 8 x 10 in.

On Saturday, Dec. 20 at 2:00 The Rockport American Legion Band and the Rockport Elementary School Chorus will perform our holiday concert at the First Congregational Church of Rockport.  

12 School St., Rockport, MA 01966

Admission is free.

The program:

The Rocky Neck Art Colony, in partnership with the Rocky Neck Cultural District, is pleased to announce the third annual Rocky Neck Holiday Art Trek on Saturday, December 13, from 12–5 PM. This festive community event invites visitors to explore the galleries, studios, shops, and restaurants of Gloucester’s historic Rocky Neck Cultural District while discovering unique, locally crafted holiday gifts.

Guests will find a broad selection of original artwork and artisan-made items, including paintings, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, and other one-of-a-kind treasures perfect for holiday giving.

Participants may start their journey at any of the ten participating businesses, where they can pick up a Holiday Art Trek Passport—or download it in advance at www.rockyneckartcolony.org. Visitors who collect stamps from all ten locations are invited to stop by The Salted Cod to enjoy a complimentary cup of hot chocolate and receive a free gift.

Highlights of this year’s Art Trek include: 

·       Artisans Makers Market at Gloucester Stage Company

·       A behind-the-scenes look at tools and techniques at David Calvo Wood Carving Studio

·       Artist demonstrations and live music at the Rocky Neck Cultural Center

·       Local Artisan Market, mulled wine, cider, and pub fare at 51 Rocky Neck Restaurant

·       Holiday gifts and refreshments at East Gloucester Provisions and Moxie Gallery

·       And many more festive stops throughout the district.

For details and to download your Holiday Art Trek Passport, visit www.rockyneckartcolony.org. Join us on Saturday, December 13, and experience the creative spirit and holiday warmth of Rocky Neck.

Join us on facebook for updates

Come get your Christmas and Holiday shopping done while you sip a beverage, listen to music and buy from over 55 local vendors – food gifts, soaps, lotions, artwork, jewelry, home goods, all unique handcrafted items – something for everyone on your list!

Join us on facebook for updates

Come get your Christmas and Holiday shopping done while you sip a beverage, listen to music and buy from over 55 local vendors – food gifts, soaps, lotions, artwork, jewelry, home goods, all unique handcrafted items – something for everyone on your list!

Join us on facebook for updates

Come get your Christmas and Holiday shopping done while you sip a beverage, listen to music and buy from over 55 local vendors – food gifts, soaps, lotions, artwork, jewelry, home goods, all unique handcrafted items – something for everyone on your list!

Thursday, November 6, 2025 | 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM at Tonno Gloucester

Join Discover Gloucester for its Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at Tonno Gloucester. This annual event spotlights the leaders who elevate Gloucester’s visitor economy and celebrates the people and partnerships that make our city a dynamic, year-round destination.

Guests will enjoy a seasonal lunch by Tonno, network with local partners, and hear quick updates on Discover Gloucester’s initiatives and the economic impact of tourism, arts, and culture across the community.

“This event is a celebration of Gloucester’s creative energy and collaborative spirit,” said Amanda Pollock, Executive Director of Discover Gloucester. “Each year we honor those who go above and beyond to make Gloucester welcoming, vibrant, and strong.”

This year’s Award Recipients are:
Exceptional Service Award Laura Dow, The Vista Motel
Cultural Heritage Award Caleb McMurphy, Hammond Castle Museum
Harbor of Learning Award Justin Demetri
Outstanding Appreciation Award Ringo Tarr
Tobin Dominick Award Michael De Koster

Event Schedule:
11:30 AM Registration
11:45 AM Annual Meeting
12:00 PM Lunch
12:15 PM Awards Presentation
1:30 PM Program Concludes

Tickets are $60 per person, inclusive of tax and gratuity. Open seating. Please share any dietary needs in advance at amanda@discovergloucester.com. 

Menu: Seasonal lunch by Tonno featuring salad, entrée, dessert, coffee, and tea. Vegetarian and gluten-free options available upon request.Register at https://resy.com/cities/boston-ma/venues/tonno-gloucester/events/discover-gloucester-2025-11-06.

Media Advisory: Cape Ann Artisans & North Shore Art Association Invite you to a Holiday Pop-Up Art Trifecta! –

We’d so appreciate your support on this collaborative event!   

The Cape Ann Artisans are pleased to join the North Shore Arts Association (NSAA) for its Annual Holiday Pop-Up alongside its two final shows of the season.  While NSAA hosts SYNERGY and a New Members Show, seven of the Artisans will display their work to create a festive marketplace for holiday shopping!

Synergy hosts up to 57 artists showcasing a range of artworks, each in their own windows of wall space combining the collaborative nature of group shows with the individuality of solo shows to create an unforgettable exhibition. 

Alongside these two shows, these Cape Ann Artisans will exhibit their work and invite you to share some festive refreshments to welcome the holiday season!  The exhibiting Artisans include:

Katrina Abbott Ceramics, printed and knitted goods
John Abisamra Fine Art Photography
Tina Frassica Quilting
Jacqueline Ganim-DeFalco Cape Ann Designs – Sea Glass Jewelry & Hair Accessories
Nina Goodick Functional Pottery
Beth Williams Contemporary Art Glass Jewelry and Sculpture
Sara Wright, Hand Woven and Knit Accessories

The seven participating artisans are part of the larger group of 14 juried artisans that host the annual Spring and Fall Cape Ann Artisans Open Studios.   The Artisans have been an integral part of the arts seen since their founding 42 years ago.  Over the years, they have often collaborated to host a holiday event under one roof and exhibit their work out of the studio. This is a unique opportunity to see the artisans together, add to your art collection, and find one-of-a-kind artful gifts.

Member Showcase is Rocky Neck Art Colony’s final exhibition of the season featuring seven distinctive bodies of work by RNAC members – John Bassett, Michelle Champion, Eser Costanza, Joanne Hurd, Patricia Scialo, Brian Murphy, R. D. Murphy – selected by juror Shana Dumont Garr.

Dumont Garr selected works that “possess remarkable vibrancy of color, composition, and method. Some of this vibrancy emerges through palette and medium; others through a sense of whimsy or the handmade.” This exhibition celebrates artistic excellence and innovation across a wide range of media and subjects. By featuring more work from fewer artists, Member Showcase invites viewers to engage more deeply with each artist’s vision and process.

The public is invited to celebrate Member Showcase at the Opening Reception on October 26, 4-6pm. View the art, meet the artists, and enjoy light refreshments and lively conversation.

R. D. Murphy, Cranberry Highway Starts Here; Patricia Scialo, Still Life in Blue With Lace; Joanne Hurd, Pretty Bug Dance; Michelle Champion, Winter Sun; John Bassett, X Acerbate

Show Dates:
October 24 – November 16, 2025 

Opening Reception:
Saturday, October 25, 4-6pm 

Artists Gallery Talk:
Saturday, November 8, 4pm

Next up on the COSMOS Gallery walls, Nella De Luca Lush and Steve Lush — two celebrated artists with uniquely captivating portfolios of work. And yes, partners for life, working in individual artistic directions.  
 

Nella De Luca Lush 
Nella was raised in Southern Italy and paints with a color palette and surface textures that suggest classical influences. And yet, her compositions are elegantly contemporary, distilled into the essence of shapes and elements. Nella describes her genre as “representational abstract” art, blending hints of reality with the freedom of self-expression. Nella Lush 

Nella’s work has been recognized by prestigious art organizations. She is a signature member of the American Society of Marine Artists and the National Association of Women Artists, where she founded the Massachusetts Chapter. Her art is part of collections worldwide and has been exhibited at venues such as the Noyes Museum of Contemporary Art, Mystic Seaport Maritime Gallery, and Whistler House Museum. Nella is represented by White Room Gallery in NY, Centre Street Gallery in Nantucket, Cortile Gallery in Provincetown, and Thornhill Gallery in NH. 

Steve Lush 
Steve acquired an early joy of drawing from the cartoon works of Saul Steinberg in the New Yorker magazine. His subsequent passion for art blossomed in many different mediums. He was drawn to the world of model ship building, and explored watercolors, oils, collage, mixed media and welded steel sculpture. Each medium became a steppingstone in his evolution as an artist. Steve Lush  

Steve is a member of the American Watercolor Society, the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, the American Society of Marine Artists (ASMA), the New England Watercolor Society (NEWS), and the New England Sculptors Association (NESA). Steve’s art is part of many private and corporate collections throughout the United States and Italy, including the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, the Museum of America and the Sea, Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT., the Coast Guard Art Program (COGAP), The Heritage Asset Collection at the Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT. ,the Noble Maritime Museum, Staten Is., NY., and the Customs House Maritime Museum, Newburyport, MA. 

The artists share a gallery in SoWa, 450 Harrison, Boston MA. 

An Ongoing Dialogue Exhibition 

The COSMOS Gallery exhibition will feature a wide selection of artworks by the two artists, representing their evolution over the years. The range will include large oil paintings along with more modestly priced works on paper. The COSMOS Gallery show is their first joint exhibition in many years.  

COSMOS Gallery, Gloucester 

COSMOS Gallery opened February 2025, with frequent exhibitions for mostly regional artists and no constraints on aesthetic genres. The gallery is an extension on the Cape Ann COSMOS media platform and mission to enrich the good cultural life!  

COSMOS Gallery 
20 Pleasant Street 
Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930 

www.cosmos-gallery.com

The Ipswich Cultural Council (ICC) will be hosting the 39th Annual Ipswich Art Show & Sale on October 17–19, 2025 at the Ipswich Town Hall Gym, 25 Green Street, Ipswich, MA

Opening reception: October 17th at 6pm

The Ipswich Art Show and Sale showcases local artists and raises funds for the Ipswich Cultural Council, which in turn funds Ipswich community arts, humanities, and science grants. The Ipswich Cultural Council is a local, appointed council that works in concert with Mass Cultural Council to create cultural opportunities for the people of Ipswic

Member Showcase

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

Dates: Friday, October 24 – Sunday, December 8

Opening Reception: October 26, 4-6 PM

Gallery Hours: Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Noon – 5 PM

Free

Gloucester MA — ROCKY NECK ART COLONY (RNAC) announces its final exhibition of the season, Member Showcase, featuring seven distinctive bodies of work by RNAC members, selected by juror Shana Dumont Garr.

Dumont Garr selected works that “possess remarkable vibrancy of color, composition, and method. Some of this vibrancy emerges through palette and medium; others through a sense of whimsy or the handmade.”  This exhibition celebrates artistic excellence and innovation across a wide range of media and subjects. By featuring more work from fewer artists, Member Showcase invites viewers to engage more deeply with each artist’s vision and process.

Shana Dumont Garr is a contemporary art curator, writer, and educator based in Greater Boston. She is a curator at Emerson Contemporary and a professor in the Department of Visual & Media Arts at Emerson College. Previously she served as curator of Fruitlands Museum in Harvard where she co-curated the New England Triennial at Fruitlands at the deCordova Sculpture Park + Museum. She also held curatorial positions at Kingston Gallery, Boston and  Montserrat College of Art, Beverly and UNC Chapel Hill.

The public is invited to celebrate Member Showcase at the Opening Reception on October 26, 4-6 PM. View the art, meet the artists, and enjoy light refreshments and lively conversation. 

Exhibiting Artists: John Bassett, Michelle Champion, Eser Costanza, Joanne Hurd, Patricia Scialo, Brian Murphy, R. D. Murphy.