Author: James Eves

Gallery hours during exhibition:
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12 – 5pm and 
By appointment: office@capeanncosmos.com

For the summer attractions, COSMOS Gallery in Gloucester will host two shows featuring the works of collage artists. This medium has no boundaries—it can be two- or three-dimensional; comprised of any texture, surface, or material; created by any number of methods. The unifying talent among the artists: ingenuity. 

The first show, ASSEMBLE I, will open on Friday, June 27 and feature the works of four artists: Brad Greenwood (Los Angeles), Hans Pundt (Gloucester), Matthew Rose (Paris), and Meredith Anderson (Gloucester). Each artist brings a unique approach to the art form. Their aesthetics tend toward the surreal, humorous, beguiling, wry, strange, and erotic. COSMOS Gallery will exhibit a multitude of pieces from each artist, price range $3,000 – $100. 

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

BRAD GREENWOOD
Brad Greenwood received his BA from Ursinus College in 1989 and his degree in painting from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia in 1996. He has had numerous solo exhibitions, including Eat the Wolf in November 2012 at La MaMa Galleria and Unauthorized Biographies at Mixed Greens Gallery in November 2013. A solo show Partly Fiction featured ten years of works on paper and opened at New York’s Steven Amedee Gallery in May 2019. In 2021, a solo show of his new collages was presented at The Nook Gallery at Counterpoint in Los Angeles. Greenwood has also shown in numerous group exhibitions in New York and Philadelphia and has curated multiple shows for HERE Arts Center in New York.

HANS PUNDT
Hans Pundt is an artist and a retired estate horticulturalist on Cape Ann who has created a portfolio of renowned landscapes and intricate assemblage artworks since the early 1980s. His creative work in nature has been honored by awards from the Passage Flower Show in Salem, the Topsfield Fair, and the Boston Flower Show. Hans’ two- and three-dimensional artistic works were launched from his Granite Hill studio beginning in the late 1990s when he was part of the Local Colors co-op. He went on to exhibit at local businesses, Flat Rocks Gallery, Rocky Neck, the Clark Gallery in Lincoln, MA, the Glenn Urquhart School Gallery, and the Cape Ann Museum outreach project. 

MATTHEW ROSE
Matthew Rose graduated from Brown University (1981) with a degree in Semiotics/Linguistics. Influenced by Americans Ray Johnson, Jasper Johns, Joseph Cornell and a handful of French surrealists, he has created a rich life as a visual artist, author (both as journalist and novelist), and traveler/curator. Rose has become renowned for his collage work and prefers paper—“its texture, how it absorbs or not paint, how it rots.” Many of the materials Rose uses come from his walks of the Paris streets. “There is a sensibility here [in Paris…] an openness. It’s easy for me to work here. The street gives me a lot of stuff.” Most any day of the week, Rose can be found in his studio near Montparnasse, manipulating paper, wood, canvas, but has been seen trekking the world, with projects and shows taking him to Israel, Sri Lanka, USA, and Mexico. 

MEREDITH ANDERSON
Artmaking and creativity have always been vital components of Meredith’s life—embedded in her DNA and in the turpentine-scented home in Rockport, MA where she was raised. After completing art studies at Hunter College and working as an art mover, in 2000 she returned to Cape Ann with husband and son, and built a local reputation in graphic design and jewelry creation. Today she freely explores material and form, moving between painting, sculpture, and assemblage. Her work comes from an essential and intuitive place and forms the interpretation of her world. 

Present Time: Readings from the T.S. Eliot House Poets
Featuring Kristin Prevallet, Hoa Nguyen, Erika Meitner, and Maria Sledmere

Date: Thursday, June 19, 2025
Time: 5:00 – 6:30 PM
Location: Rocky Neck Cultural Center, 6 Wonson Street, Gloucester, MA
Admission: Free, RSVP is appreciated 
RSVP Contact: tseliotfestival@gmail.com

Join us for a powerful evening of contemporary poetry as four distinguished poets from the T.S. Eliot House Residency Program gather to share their work. Present Time offers a rare opportunity to experience the voices shaping the landscape of modern poetry—each poet bringing a distinctive vision and lyrical force to the stage.

This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited; RSVPs are appreciated.

Featured Poets:

Hoa Nguyen
Author of several acclaimed poetry collections, including As Long As Trees Last, Red Juice: Poems 1998–2008, and Violet Energy Ingots—a finalist for the 2017 Griffin Poetry Prize. Her sixth book, A Thousand Times You Lose Your Treasure, was shortlisted for the National Book Award, Kingsley Tufts Award, and the Governor General’s Literary Award. Nguyen currently teaches at Toronto Metropolitan University and mentors’ writers at Guelph University and the University of Toronto.

Maria Sledmere
A poet and scholar based in Glasgow, Scotland, Sledmere is director of SPAM Press and Senior Lecturer in English & Creative Writing at the University of Strathclyde. Her many publications include Languishing, cute (with Ian Macartney, 2025), Midsummer Song (2024), Cinders (2024), and An Aura of Plasma Around the Sun (2023). Her work explores ecopoetic, dream logic, and experimental lyricism.

Erika Meitner
The award-winning author of six poetry collections, Meitner’s Holy Moly Carry Me won the 2018 National Jewish Book Award and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Her most recent work, Useful Junk (2022), examines intimacy, embodiment, and digital life. She is a professor of English at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and her next collection, Assembled Audience, is forthcoming from Milkweed Editions in 2026.

K (Kristin) Prevallet
A poet, essayist, and scholar based in Gloucester, MA, and the current Residency Administrator of the T.S. Eliot House. Prevallet has published seven collections, including A Varied and Tender Multiplicity: A Materia Medica of Plants, Poems, and Spells (Station Hill Press). Her work has appeared in The New Republic, Harvard Review, Boston Review, and Peripheries.

The Shape of Abstraction: Tracing a Visual Revolution

Presented by Adria Arch

Wednesday, June 25, 7 pm

The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck

6 Wonson Street, Gloucester, MA 01930

Offered in conjunction with The Shape of Things, on view at The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, June 5 – July 13, 2025

The Shape of Abstraction is an image-based discussion about the language of abstraction: how Western art history came to embrace abstraction, and how it manifests itself today in contemporary art. Boston artist and educator, Adria Arch, will discuss early practitioners including Hilma Af Klint, Kandinsky and O’Keeffe, through the abstract expressionists like Pollock and Krasner, and to contemporary artists who enliven today’s conversations with their own take on this style of artmaking.

This visually rich presentation will trace abstraction’s radical departure from representational traditions, examining how artists began to express emotional, spiritual, and intellectual concepts through non-objective forms, colors, and compositions. Arch will highlight pivotal moments when artists broke from convention to develop a new visual language that prioritized formal elements over literal depiction.

Special attention will be given to pioneering women abstractionists whose contributions were often overlooked in traditional art historical narratives. The lecture concludes with an exploration of how contemporary artists continue to push the boundaries of abstraction, incorporating new technologies, cultural influences, and conceptual frameworks that revitalize this enduring artistic approach.

About the speaker

Adria Arch is a Boston-based sculptor, painter, and installation artist who has been awarded residencies at Vermont Studio Center, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Sanskriti Foundation in Delhi, and in Auvillar, France. Her work is included in many private and public collections including the DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Danforth Art, and the Fitchburg Art Museum, as well as Fidelity Corporation, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. In 2019 her work was featured at the Fitchburg Art Museum, and in 2020 at the Cahoon Museum of American Art.  Most recently, Arch was commissioned by Google to create a permanent room-sized installation.  Arch has shown at the Boston Sculptors Gallery, Brattleboro Art Museum in Vermont and the Danforth Museum in Framingham, MA. This year, she will present solo exhibitions at Lake George Arts Project and at San Luis Obispo Art Museum in California. Arch has taught at Montserrat College of Art, Endicott College and Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She has lectured at the Danforth Museum, the Weston Arts and Innovation Center Women in Installation series, and the Boston Sculptors Gallery.

About Rocky Neck Art Colony

The Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC), 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. On picturesque Rocky Neck in Gloucester, Massachusetts, RNAC operates three exhibition spaces, open to the public for free, The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck (6 Wonson Street); The Salted Cod Arthouse (53 Rocky Neck Ave.), a partnership gallery and café; and Cove Gallery (37 Rocky Neck Ave.), open seasonally in the former gallery of local artists Gordon and Judith Goetemann. Check the website, www.rockyneckartcolony.org, for hours, openings and special events. For more information, see the website or call 978-515-7004.

Local Author Dan Duffy Uncovers 50-Year-Old Family Mystery in Powerful New Memoir, In Search of Brother Rich.  Hosted at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck on Thursday, June 12 from 7-8:30pm.  The Reading and Book Signing is FREE and OPEN to the public, donations to Rocky Neck Art Colony are appreciated.

Part memoir, part true-crime investigation, one man’s lifelong search for his missing brother takes readers deep into the mystery, memory, and meaning of family.

After five decades of searching, local author Dan Duffy has released In Search of Brother Rich, a gripping and deeply personal nonfiction account of his quest to solve the decades-old mystery surrounding his older brother’s disappearance.

In December 1970, Rich Duffy, a Vietnam War veteran seeking peace and healing, vanished near the banks of the Rio Grande River after moving to a commune in Corrales, New Mexico. He was never seen again.

What followed was a fifty-year journey—equal parts detective work, soul-searching, and devotion. In his new book, Duffy shares, for the first time, the painstaking investigation he undertook to uncover what happened to his brother. From retracing Rich’s final steps to finding and interviewing members of his communal family, In Search of Brother Rich reveals both the unraveling of a mystery and the resilience of a brother’s love.

“In Search of Brother Rich is the truest thing I’ve ever written,” says Duffy. “It’s my attempt to honor my brother, to give voice to his story, and maybe—just maybe—help others who are still searching for something lost.”

With vivid storytelling, emotional depth, and a relentless commitment to uncovering the truth, In Search of Brother Rich is a story for anyone who has ever longed for answers, lost someone too soon, or held onto hope against the odds.

The book is now available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook formats through Amazon: https://a.co/d/ggZ9cAZ

About the Author
Dan Duffy and his wife Helene have been innkeepers at The Beech Tree B&B for the past fourteen years. He is a docent at the Cape Ann Museum and a member of the Sandy Bay Yacht Club. He has spent much of his life investigating the mystery surrounding his brother’s disappearance. In Search of Brother Rich is his second memoir; he published his first book, Brother, Brother, in 2016.

About the Rocky Neck Art Colony
Located in Gloucester, Massachusetts, the Rocky Neck Art Colony is one of the oldest continuously operating art colonies in the United States. A vital part of the Cape Ann cultural community, RNAC fosters creativity and connection through exhibitions, programming, and artist residencies. As a nonprofit organization, RNAC is committed to supporting emerging and established artists while preserving the rich artistic heritage of the region.

Salted Cod Gallery is pleased to present Coco Berkman’s striking linoleum prints on view as guest artist throughout the month of June. A celebrated printmaker with a distinct voice and a deep commitment to process, Berkman brings a rich collection of works that transform everyday struggles into profound visual statements. Each piece begins as a much-revised drawing—drawn, redrawn, torn, taped, and refined until it feels true. That drawing is then transferred to a linoleum block, carved with fine tools, and finished with layers of ink and color.

Salted Cod Gallery invites the public to experience Coco Berkman’s work throughout June, each one the culmination of careful, intuitive labor.

Salted Cod Art House features Rocky Neck Art Colony juried members.  Be sure to stop by, as each day, one of the 24 artists are there to meet and greet.

June Guest Artist: Coco Berkman

Dates: June 1 – June 30

Location: Salted Cod Gallery, Gloucester, MA

53 Rocky Neck Avenue • Gloucester, MA 01930

Open Wed-Fri, 3pm-10pm; Sat & Sun, 11:30am-10pm

info@saltedcodgallery.com

Website:  www.saltedcodarthouse.com  

Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 photographs by Annisquam photographers will be on display and for sale in the Village Hall studio, 34 Leonard Street.  

Proceeds go to the care and maintenance of the Village Hall campus. 

Photos were selected by judges, local professional photographers Michael Malyzcko and Walter Bibikow.

To see examples visit annisquamstudios.com

A collection of my cityscape paintings will be featured in an upcoming solo exhibition at the COSMOS Gallery in Gloucester, Massachusetts. The exhibition, URBAN CONTOURS, will open on Friday, May 23rd and run though Sunday, June 8th. The show will feature 18 of my contemporary cityscape paintings, including 3 new works never shown to the public before. 

The COSMOS Gallery opened this year and is an outgrowth of Cape Ann COSMOS digital media dedicated to the cultural community north of Boston. The gallery will show artwork of all genres, for artists in the region and sometimes beyond. www.capeanncosmos.com/cosmos-gallery The gallery has convenient parking and is amid the city’s best restaurants and shopping.

The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street, Gloucester, MA 01930 – June 1 at 2:00PM

Date: Sunday, June 1

Time: 2:00PM-3:30PM
Admission: Free and open to the public (donations to RNAC is encouraged)

Gloucester, MA — Rocky Neck Art Colony is pleased to present a special performance by artist and musician Stephen Bates on 

Sunday, June 1 at 2:00 PM. This multidisciplinary event will feature Bates’ original paintings alongside live musical compositions, performed by the artist himself on clarinet, flute, and bass clarinet.

Bates has created four evocative paintings for this performance—three inspired by powerful stories from the Old Testament, and a fourth interpreting William Blake’s visionary poem The Marriage of Heaven and Hell. Each artwork is accompanied by an original piece of music composed by Bates, exploring the emotional and thematic depth of the subjects.

With a distinguished career as a clarinetist in the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra for 36 years (1973–2009), Bates has long pursued a parallel passion for the visual arts. Since moving to Manchester, he has taught silk painting in Gloucester for over a decade, continuing to explore the interplay between music and visual expression.

In this interactive presentation, Bates invites the audience to reflect on and discuss the underlying themes of each artwork after hearing its corresponding musical piece. The stories depicted include Eve’s acceptance of the forbidden fruit, God’s promise to Noah, the worship of the golden calf, and a bold artistic and musical response to Blake’s Marriage of Heaven and Hell.

This event promises to be a rich, thought-provoking experience where music, art, and dialogue converge. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with Stephen Bates’ unique vision at the intersection of creativity and conversation.

For more information, visit www.rockyneckartcolony.org

North Shore Arts Association’s 3^rd annual 
Emerging Artists Open Show is now open for submissions! 

This open call exhibition is the perfect opportunity for students, art enthusiasts, and/or artists earlier in their career to exhibit at two historic Gloucester locations: the North Shore Arts Association and the Sargent House Museum. The Sargent House Museum, originally the home of Judith Sargent Murray, it is now home to a small collection of works by famed painter and relative, John Singer Sargent. Running from July 11 – September 27, 2025, this unique exhibit will be spaced between these two renowned locations on Cape Ann, on display simultaneously for three months.

Artwork must be submitted on Smarter Entry by 11:59PM on June 6, 2025, to be considered for admittance and awards. Artists may submit up to 3 works of art.

Please refer to our Emerging Artists Event Page for the submission guidelines and any additional information.

It’s Just Around the Corner!

Fourteen Cape Ann Artisans are busy preparing their work and studios to welcome residents of Cape Ann and visitors from everywhere this coming June 7-8.    At the end of 2024, the Artisans juried in five new members who jumped on board to join the veterans of the group.   

There’s quite a bit that goes into preparing and getting the word out.  The newly jelled Artisans have diligently posted blogs and created videos to give the public a peek into their studios and creative inspiration.   The new group video has been posted under the “About” page on the Cape Ann Artisans website.   Individual videos are under each Artisans page on the website.  

The 2025 Cape Ann Artisan tour Brochure is also now available.   It’s now a 4-fold pamphlet opening up to a map of the tour.   The brochures can be found at the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and other key visitor locations throughout Gloucester, Rockport, and Essex.  They will also be available at the 95 North Visitor Center operated by the North of Boston CVB, as well as at inns, hotels, and CAA partners such as the Cape Ann Savings Bank and Institution for Savings lobby areas.   It is also downloadable from the CAA website.

Among the new twists, more artisans will be doing demonstrations of their techniques during the tour.  To help plan your day, here is the list of artists doing demonstrations:

11AM:  Pam Stratton – Pulling Glass Threads

12: PM – Danette English – Wheel Throwing

1:00 PM – John Abisamra – Printing (photos)

2:00 PM – Cindy Efinger – Garden Sculpture

3:00 PM – Melody Phaneuf – Enlarging a Plein Air Study 

Throughout the day – Sara Wright at the Loom

Among the other fun opportunities is to participate in the Grocery Gift Card Promotion.  It’s simple, just sign up on our email list to be entered into a drawing for one of five $20 WholeFoods gift cards.  You can also earn more tickets when you buy art at the studios (with a 10 ticket maximum).

The Artisans tour is among the oldest studio event in the US.  It was founded in 1980 by men and women from the Gloucester/Rockport arts communities who were interested in connecting with each other to share professional and creative perspectives, and in blurring and challenging the line between art and craft.  The full list of Artisans and the new tour route are shown below.  New members are marked with an asterisk.

1. Jacqueline Ganim – DeFalco: Sea Glass Wearable Art, Garden Stones & Sculpture
2. Nina Goodick – Functional Pottery*
3. John Abisamra – Photography
4. Tina Frassica – Quilting*
5. Katrina Abbott – Pottery and Textiles*
6. Danette English – Ceramics
7. David Archibald – Plum Cove Pottery, porcelain and stoneware
8. Sara Wright – Handwoven and Knit Accessories
9. Pam Stratton – Mosaics, Mixed Media, Eco Printed silk scarves, Jewelry, Sculpture
10. Rob Diebboll – Oil and Watercolor Painting
11. Kathryn Roberts – Watercolor Painting*
12. Sinikka Nogelo – Contemporary Painting & Experimental Arts
13. Cindy Efinger – Mosaic and Sculpture*
14. Melody Phaneuf – Oil Painting

_________________________________________________________  

What:  The 42^nd Annual Cape Ann Artisans Open Studios

Where:  Gloucester and Rockport, MA

When:  Spring Tour: Sat & Sun, June 7-8   Fall Tour: Sat & Sun, October 11-12 10AM-5PM

Summer Mini-Tour August – date to be announced on our website.

For General Information contact info@capeannartisans.com or leave a message with Pam Stratton, 508-284-0086.   For Media inquiries, contact Jacqueline Ganim-DeFalco, 978-283-8333.

Premiere Location: Cape Ann Community Cinema is located at 37 Whistlestop Mall, Rockport
Date: SAT 5/10/25
Screening Times: (3) separate at 6:30pm, 7:30pm, and 8:30pm 
Purchase Tickets: Please email billdwyerband@gmail.com to arrange ticket purchases!

TRAILER: https://youtu.be/EAfXYDOIE-Y?si=mShl6Dv9OBrHzNP3 
WEBSITE: wonsonrockproductions.com 

SHORT FILM DESCRIPTION:  “A Little Human Spark” is a short film (13mins & 10secs) that was shot in Gloucester in late 2024 with a local Cape Ann cast! It recently won an IndieFEST.com Award of Recognition (2025) & has official film fest selections in NYC & Massachusetts. 

SHORT PLOT SUMMARY: Dream Voice Solutions (DVS), a vocal coach and singer-songwriter content placement company is getting driven out of the business after 25 years by artificial intelligence. The tangled web unravels in grand, karmic fashion. 

Cove Gallery, 37 Rocky Neck Avenue, Gloucester, MA.  May 15 – June 8, 2025 

Opening Reception:  Friday, May 16 from 5-7PM
Dates: May 15 – -June 8, 2025
Hours: Sun.-Mon. 12-5PM; Thurs., Fri. and Sat. 12-7PM
Admission: Free and open to the public

The Rocky Neck Art Colony is thrilled to announce “Energy of Color,” an immersive and vibrant new exhibition at the historic Cove Gallery, located at 37 Rocky Neck Avenue in the heart of Gloucester’s Rocky Neck Cultural District.

This dazzling show features the work of North Shore artists who draw inspiration from the striking hues and natural beauty of Cape Ann and beyond. Whether rooted in the shimmering coastal light or influenced by far-flung travels, each piece in this exhibition offers a unique interpretation of color’s emotional and expressive power.

“Energy of Color” explores the profound relationship between artists and their environments. The distinct palettes of land, sea, and sky influence both conscious and instinctive artistic choices. The result is a body of work that pulses with life, emotion, and a deep sense of place.

“Color is more than a visual experience—it’s memory, mood, and moment,” says painter and curator Nic Bannerman. “This show invites viewers to feel the world as we do—through the lens of color.”

Visitors will experience a dynamic range of media, including painting, ceramics, and photography, all unified by their passionate engagement with color as a storytelling force.

Exhibiting Artists:    

·       Nic Bannerman (Painter, Curator)

• Danette English (Ceramic Artist)
• Pia Juhl Nadel (Painter)
• Martin Sorger (Painter)
• Jonathan Wilson (Photographer)

The Rocky Neck Art Colony also gratefully acknowledges the generous donation of space by Mark Goetemann, honoring the legacy of his late parents, Gordon, and Judith Goetemann—beloved artists and lifelong champions of creative excellence. Their former home and gallery continue to nurture art and community in the spirit of their vision.

Join us at Cove Gallery to celebrate the brilliant interplay of nature, history, and human expression—where the energy of color comes vividly to life.

For more information, visit www.rockyneckartcolony.org

SUNDAY, MAY 4TH 10AM TILL 3PM

3 Lighthouse Way, Apt. #2
Gloucester, MA
978-869-3636 . Please Park In The Street

Original Monotypes/mixed media; paintings, drawings
Spirit Stones, Notecards. Magnets, Prints, and Giclees
LANDSCAPES, GODDESSES, SPIRITUAL ICONS, & MORE.

Dear Friends,

Here are some exciting April Happenings…
The first show is on Front St. in Marblehead and the second is at the Shalin Lu Performance Center in Rockport. All Info below!

Show number one:

What: 2-Day Pop-Up Art Exhibition
When: Friday, April 11th 5-8 PM
            Saturday, April 12th 10 AM-4 PM with Artist Demo 1-2:30pm.
Where: 89 Front Street, Marblehead
Who: Katharine Pickering & Ingrid Swanson present “New Works” by Acclaimed Painters Loren Doucette & Matthew Billey 
Vernissage with refreshments
Browse, Buy & Be Dazzled
Special Opportunity: The artists will
be doing a demonstration on Saturday 1-2:30pm.
Please reserve your spot by texting 978-473-9818
Hosted by Milicent Armstrong of Artemis Design Company & Page Minshall of Seaweed Studio

Show number two:

Loren Doucette & Matthew Billey will be showcasing their works inspired by Erica Pistaturo and Scott Moore’s FOLK ELECTRIC album which will be performed live in concert at the Shalin Liu Performance Center, Saturday April 19. That’s right: along with the 11-piece band on stage, the third floor will be filled with vibrant creations in the Folk Electric: Painted Dreams series, providing another opportunity to immerse yourself in the beauty and individuality of these two artists’ work—and an opportunity to take one (or more!) home as they paint live. 

Hope to see you all!
Please check out my updated website at: lorendoucetteart.com
and my ART MENTORING offerings!

Sending love,
Loren 

A juried exhibition of local artists

Location: The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street, Gloucester, MA
Exhibition Dates: April 11–June 1
Opening Reception: Sunday, April 13, 4–6 PM
Gallery Hours: Friday–Sunday, Noon – 5 PM

Gloucester, MA – The Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC) is thrilled to present Intelligence of Touch, curated by interdisciplinary artist and Rocky Neck native Kyle Browne, showcases six young women artists working in Boston and Cape Ann who challenge artistic conventions in two and three dimensional forms.  Dominique Nelson, Alex Troup, Hayley Wolfe, Loretta Park, Kate Wildman, and Browne investigate concepts of mapping, imagined worlds, corporeal landscapes, and transformation, creating unexpected and emotive visual narratives that highlight the energetic exchange between body, material, and concept.

 Celebrate with Us!\

We invite the public to immerse themselves in art and community at our lively Opening Reception on Sunday, April 13, from 4 to 6 PM. Meet the artists, engage in conversation, and enjoy refreshments, drinks, and a welcoming creative atmosphere.

For details on additional public programs and special events accompanying this exhibition, visit www.rockyneckartcolony.org for updates.

About the Rocky Neck Art Colony

The Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to nurturing excellence in the arts through exhibitions, workshops, artist residencies, and vibrant cultural events for both members and the public. Located in the historic Rocky Neck Cultural District of Gloucester, Massachusetts, RNAC operates three unique exhibition spaces, free and open to the public:

The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck (6 Wonson Street) – A hub for exhibitions and events.  The Salted Cod Arthouse (53 Rocky Neck Ave.) – A collaborative gallery and Wine Bar, fostering artistic connections.  Cove Gallery (37 Rocky Neck Ave.) – A seasonal space in the former studio of Gordon and Judith Goetemann, celebrating local artistic heritage.

A special thanks goes out to our Sponsors:  Cape Ann Savings Bank, Massachusetts Cultural Council, Institution for Savings and Neptune Fertilizer.

For gallery hours, exhibition details, and upcoming programs, visit www.rockyneckartcolony.org or call 978-515-7004.

A Special Exhibit Honoring Women’s History Month

Opening Reception: Saturday, March 22, 2025, 5-7:00 PM 
Open to the general public. 
RSVP appreciated. https://bit.ly/ByWomenForWomenRSVP

Exhibit Dates: March 22 to March 30, open daily from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. 
Last admittance: 4:15 PM with the exception on Sunday, March 30 when the exhibit will host a closing reception from noon to 2 PM. 

 Two of Gloucester’s admired cultural institutions, Rocky Neck Art Colony and Hammond Castle Museum, proudly announce their collaboration on a special exhibition in celebration of Women’s History Month. Portraits of Women by Women will be on display in the historic Great Hall of Hammond Castle Museum.

This inspiring exhibit showcases recent portraits by distinguished women artists from the Rocky Neck Art Colony, including Elizabeth Bish, Janice Brand, Robin Colodzin, Susan Ellis, Elizabeth Gauthier, Janet Grover, Joyce Roessler, Amy Sudarsky and Helen Tory. The exhibition highlights the profound impact of portraiture in capturing the essence, strength, and diversity of women’s experiences.

Joyce Roessler is a Cape Ann-based painter and former glass blower whose award-winning work, spanning charcoal, pastels, oil, and watercolor, captures nature’s essence from her Annisquam studio.

Janice Brand is an editor and multi-disciplinary artist exploring media from Chinese ink painting to pottery, while also pursuing diverse interests like tai chi, fencing, and fly fishing.

Helen Tory is a lifelong artist who transitioned from printmaking to painting in 2020, deeply influenced by a self-portraiture class with Amy Sudarsky during the pandemic.

Robin Colodzin is a Gloucester-based artist and software engineer whose work examines the relationship between private and social identities, recently showcased in her solo exhibition Embodied.

Amy Sudarsky is a North Shore figurative painter, former college professor, and Artistic Director of the Rocky Neck Art Colony, where she continues to teach and exhibit.

Elizabeth Bish is a Gloucester-based chiropractor and painter who co-runs the Amend Bish Gallery, where she creates work ranging from landscapes to abstractions.

Elizabeth Gauthier is a Boston and North Shore artist and educator whose Gauthier Gallery serves as both a creative workspace and exhibition space for her paintings.

Janet Grover is a Gloucester artist who, after years away from art, has returned to her lifelong passion with the support of fellow artists.

Susan Ellis is a Massachusetts-based Master Pastelist whose work, inspired by North Shore clam diggers, is exhibited in Newburyport, Essex, Ipswich, and Cape Cod.

In addition to contemporary works, the exhibition will feature a copy of Winslow Homer’s The Lookout – All’s Well painted by Irene Fenton Hammond, wife of John Hays Hammond Jr., who resided at Hammond Castle Museum until her passing in 1959 and was a member of the Rocky Neck Art Colony.  

Also on display will be a painting by Natalie Hays Hammond, the accomplished artist, playwright, and sister of museum founder John Hays Hammond Jr. Her painting, Costume Designs, Series B, No. 3, Medieval Abbess, is on loan from the Hammond Museum & Japanese Stroll Garden in North Salem, NY, which Natalie founded in 1957.

This exhibit is open daily from Saturday, March 22 through Sunday, March 30 daily from noon to 5 PM and the last entrance is at 4:15 PM, with the exception on Sunday March 30 when the exhibit will host a closing reception from noon to 2 PM during which time purchased paintings may be picked up. 

Attendees will have access to the small interior rooms leading down to the Great Hall and the Great Hall. The Museum will be closed to tours.

Admission: Children ages 12 and under are free with tickets. Teens and adults are $15.

Opening and Closing Receptions:

   Opening Reception: (Open to the Public) Saturday, March 22, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

     Rocky Neck Art Colony and Hammond Castle Museum guests are invited to attend.

Closing Reception (Open to the Public): Sunday, March 30, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

      The public is invited to attend the closing reception, during which time purchased paintings may be picked up.

Attendees of the opening reception will have the unique opportunity to meet the artists and experience the works within the stunning setting of Hammond Castle Museum. The closing reception offers a final chance to appreciate and acquire these exceptional artworks.

Hammond Castle Museum Executive Director, Linda Harvey said, “Being able to collaborate with our friends at the Rocky Neck Art Gallery as well as the Hammond Museum & Japanese Stroll Garden fulfills our mission to support and promote the arts as a STEAM Museum and a cultural arts hub for the community. We’re delighted to host this very special exhibit during our first winter season open for events.”

Historical Context:

The collaboration between Rocky Neck Art Colony and Hammond Castle Museum holds deep historical significance. Irene Fenton Hammond’s strong ties to the Rocky Neck Art Colony highlight the artistic heritage of the region and its enduring connection to the museum. Natalie Hays Hammond’s artistic legacy was honored in a special exhibition at the museum last fall, and her influence continues to resonate through this exhibition.

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 8, and the Auction will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025 – 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, 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 40th 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.

The Annual Members Show at Rocky Neck Art Colony

Location: The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street, Gloucester, MA
Exhibition Dates: February 21 – April 6
Opening Reception: Sunday, February 23, 4–6 PM
Gallery Hours: Friday–Sunday, Noon – 5 PM

Gloucester, MA – The Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC) is thrilled to kick off the 2025 exhibition season with Rocky Neck Now, the much-anticipated annual members show. This dynamic exhibition brings together an exciting and diverse collection of recent works from 92 RNAC artists, offering a stunning reflection of talent, vision, and artistic passion. With pieces spanning painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, and more, visitors will experience a rich and varied exploration of contemporary creativity—from bold abstracts to evocative realism.

Celebrate with Us!

We invite the public to immerse themselves in art and community at our lively Opening Reception on Sunday, February 23, from 4 to 6 PM. Meet the artists, engage in conversation, and enjoy refreshments, drinks, and a welcoming creative atmosphere.

For details on additional public programs and special events accompanying this exhibition, visit www.rockyneckartcolony.org for updates.

About the Rocky Neck Art Colony

The Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to nurturing excellence in the arts through exhibitions, workshops, artist residencies, and vibrant cultural events for both members and the public. Located in the historic Rocky Neck Cultural District of Gloucester, Massachusetts, RNAC operates three unique exhibition spaces, free and open to the public:

The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck (6 Wonson Street) – A hub for exhibitions and events.
The Salted Cod Arthouse (53 Rocky Neck Ave.) – A collaborative gallery and Wine Bar, fostering artistic connections.
Cove Gallery (37 Rocky Neck Ave.) – A seasonal space in the former studio of Gordon and Judith Goetemann, celebrating local artistic heritage.

For gallery hours, exhibition details, and upcoming programs, visit www.rockyneckartcolony.org or call 978-515-7004.