Artist Drawings & Paintings:

A Juried Exhibition of
Contemporary Works

July 7 – August 6, 2017

Artist Reception:
Saturday, July 8, 4:00 – 6:00 PM

The Rocky Neck Art Colony’s Cultural Center Gallery
6 Wonson Street, Gloucester, MA 01930
Gallery Hours: Thursday – Sunday, 12:00-6:00 PM

Iris Osterman ~ Drawing #8

Barbara Moody ~ Knots1

The Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC) is pleased to present “Artist Drawings & Paintings” a juried exhibition of contemporary works by eleven artists chosen by an art colony committee of jurors. This work is on view at the Cultural Center for five weeks beginning July 7 and continuing through August 6, 2017. The public is invited to meet the artists at the opening reception on Saturday, July 8, 4:00-6:00 PM. Light refreshments and beverages are served.

Oil drawings and pencil paintings? Many artists do both; some very traditional, some not connected to their paintings at all. Artwork selected for this exhibition represents the variety of ways artists approach the techniques of drawing and painting. The jurors for this exhibit sought works that are referential, visually connected, or an entirely separate exercise of expression as well as the use of a strong mix of materials. Artists were asked to classify works as a drawing or a painting to recognize the individual approaches to each discipline. This show gives viewers a chance to consider both sides of painting and drawing and gain a rich insight into artistic process.

RNAC welcomes eleven artists, many from Massachusetts, including Terry Del Percio, Otto Laske and Rokhaya Waring from Gloucester, Susan Emmerson of Dorchester, Eleanor Fisher from Lynn, Stephen Godlieb of Dover, NH, Anne Johnstone from Somerville, Barbara Moody from Beverly, Iris Osterman of Lincoln, Regina Piantedosi from Boxford and Rocky Neck and Julia Van Houten from Jaffrey, NH.

Surf’s Up at the Cape Ann Museum’s
White-Ellery House on Saturday, July 1st!

Insights On Site
A series of one-day installations at the Historic White-Ellery House

The Cape Ann Museum is pleased to present Surfs Up! on Saturday, July 1 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the White-Ellery House (1710), located at 245 Washington Street in Gloucester.

Stop in for a rare chance to see a huge collection of vintage surfboards compiled by Cameron Ahearn, Kerry Sullivan and Jamie Hosker. Boards range from the mid 20th century through the present day. The collection was compiled by Cameron Ahearn’s father and once adorned the walls of The Studio Restaurant on Rocky Neck. This program is free and open to the public.

The White-Ellery House (1710), owned and operated by the Cape Ann Museum, has served as the backdrop for a series of one-day contemporary art installations since 2010. The House is located at 245 Washington Street in Gloucester and is free and open to the public on select Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each month from May through October as part of Escapes North 17th Century Saturdays.

Insights On Site – 2017 Season

June 3
Reading the Past: A Calligraphic Installation — Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord

Using excerpts from the 1848 journal of a 13-year-old Gloucester girl, Gaylord’s installation will bring the rhythms of everyday life alive through her subject’s observations of school and home.

July 1
Surf’s Up! — Cameron Ahearn, Kerry Sullivan and Jamie Hosker

A rare chance to see a collection of surfboards ranging from the mid 20th century through the present day. The collection was compiled by Ahearn’s father, and once adorned the walls of The Studio Restaurant on Gloucester’s Rocky Neck.

August 5
Sphere — Sarah Slifer Swift

In this durational performance, Swift and company explore women’s social and political power through the lens of the historic White-Ellery House. Using movement, film and sound, the performers will examine the complexities of labor, value and respect, as they have been gained, lost or changed over time.

October 7
Taking Care — Alyssa Pittman

In this installation Pittman explores the universal ritual of sweeping and investigates the act and practice of “taking care” of the spaces and places around us. Her work is inspired by the craft of broom making, by the broom as a powerful icon and by sweeping as a symbolic act.

Support for these programs was provided by The Umberto Romano and Clorinda Romano Foundation which celebrates Umberto Romano’s (1906–1982) legacy on Cape Ann through arts education and appreciation and by fostering the work of emerging and/or working artists.

Windhover Season Opens
with Paul Taylor 2 Dance Company

Performance of signature dances as well as “lost” work among highlights

Windhover is proud to announce the annual performing arts season begins with a bang when the internationally renowned Paul Taylor 2 Dance Company takes up residence starting on Tuesday, June 27 until Sunday, July 2, 2017. The company of six dancers will be teaching master classes, culminating in three public performances scheduled for Thursday, June 29 at 7:30pm, Friday, June 30 at 7:30 and Saturday, July 1, at 7:30pm. The performances will be on the outdoor stage if weather allows. Otherwise they will be performed inside the back studio, and it will be first come first-served with limited space. No tickets are required, but a suggested donation of $20 is greatly appreciated.

The PERFORMANCE schedule is as follows:

Thursday June 29 & Friday June 30^th at 7:30pm

Ina Hahn’s choreography to two sections of Bach’s cello suite no.6 performed live by cellist Josh Gordon. The piece is titled: “Fragments of Six”. Sharing the program is Paul Taylor’s work titled “Junction” performed to Bach’s cello suites no.1 & 4.

“Tracer” is the last piece on the program. It was a lost work created by Paul Taylor in 1962 that disappeared from the repertory. The work was reconstructed last year and performed at the 92nd St Y in New York.  It involved a collaboration between the late renowned artist Robert Rauschenberg and choreographer Paul Taylor. Art historian Robert Saltonstall Mattison will provide insights into this collaborative process with an introductory talk beforehand.

Saturday July 1st: at 7:30pm

An all-out Paul Taylor program with masterpieces that include “Company B” with songs sung by the Andrew Sisters. The “Uncommitted”, with music by Arvo Pärt is from 2011. And “Junction” performed to sections of Bach’s cello suites no. 1 & 4 which is a link to Ina Hahn and her choreography, as both choreographers used J.S. Bach’s music as their inspiration for their dances.

MASTERCLASSES:

Open to the public to all ages and all levels are SIX masterclasses taught by company members from the Paul Taylor 2 Dance Company. Donations are welcome. The schedule of classes is as follows, taught in the back dance studio at Windhover.

Wednesday, June 28th

9:30-11:00 am: General class level, all ages.

4:00-5:15 pm: Beginner class

5:30-7:00 pm: Intermediate class

Thursday, June 29th:

9:30-11:00am General class level, all ages.

Friday, June 30th:

9:30-11:00am General class, all ages.

Saturday July 1st:

9:30-11:00am General class, all ages.

For further information, please contact Executive Director, Lisa Hahn at
Lhahn@art-horizons.com or by phone at 978-546-3611.

257 rear Granite Street • Rockport, MA. 01966
www.windhover.org • 978-546-3611

• 40th Annual Magnolia Art Show
• Friday July 14: Show Opens with Artist reception from 7-9pm; Show continues Sat.&Sun., July 15&16 from 10am-4pm
• Magnolia Library & Community Center, 1 Lexington Ave, Gloucester
• MAGNOLIA ART SHOW Turns 40!… The 40th Annual Magnolia Art Show & Sale will be held on July 14, 15 & 16 at the Magnolia Library & Community Center, 1 Lexington Ave, in the Magnolia section of Gloucester.  Admission is free and benefits local artists and the non-profit Magnolia Community Center. The show opens Friday evening from 7-9pm with a champagne reception. The show is open again Sat. & Sun. 10am-4pm. Artists: register at MagnoliaArtShow2017.eventBrite.com   or print a registration at MagnoliaLibrary.org. Questions? email MLCCArtShow@gmail.com  Sponsored by Extreme Truck & Auto and Magnolia Variety Store.
• https://www.MagnoliaArtShow2017.eventBrite.com

Ignite your imagination this summer at Annisquam Arts!

Developed by artist and educator Dawn Southworth, Annisquam Arts tips off its 23rd season by offering a variety of workshops for young artists. Conducted at Dawn’s open and professional home studio on Goose Cove, we have easy access to Gloucester’s cultural center and Cape Ann’s most scenic spots. The entire program runs for seven weeks, June 26 – August 10, with new courses each week.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS

Dawn Southworth is a well-known Boston artist recognized for her mixed media works and installations. Dawn teaches art at Glen Urquhart School, in Beverly, MA, and is a former visiting faculty member at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA. Dawn previously owned Clark Gallery in Lincoln, MA. Her work is represented in many public and private collections, including the DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, the Addison Gallery of American Art, the US Embassy in Morocco, the Boston Public Library, and Fidelity Management and Research. More information about Dawn and her work can be found at www.dawnsouthworth.com.

Haley Stevens is also a member of the Glen Urquhart School faculty, as the After-Care Associate. Haley has a BFA in art and design from Salem State University, where she focused on education and was awarded a Presidential Creativity Award for printmaking. In 2009 Haley received a Gold Medal from the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition. She is also MA certified to teach art and greatly enjoys working with children. It is her goal to inspire young artists to do their best and find their inner voice.

Courtney Kelly is a local North Shore artist and former first grade teacher at Glen Urquhart School. With a one-year-old daughter, she now practices art from her home. Courtney’s passion for art started at a young age, leading her to study Fine Arts at Drew University. She went on to receive her Master’s Degree in elementary education from Lesley University. She loves inspiring children through art and learning and looks forward to embarking on her second summer with Annisquam Arts.

REGISTER TODAY!

You may register online at www.annisquamarts.com, by phone (978) 290-2107, or by brochure, which can be requested by calling or emailing Dawn at dawn_southworth@hotmail.com.

While there is no official registration deadline, we encourage you to sign up early as our workshops do fill up quickly!

ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS

Young Artists’ Summer Studio Workshops

Monday-Thursday, 9:00am-1:00pm, Ages 6-14, $250 per week

Young Artists’ Summer Studio Workshops run Monday through Thursday, 9:00am – 1:00pm for ages 6-14. We’ll have a blast engaging with a wide range of materials and artistic techniques in a multi-sensory studio environment. Small class sizes and individual instruction allow for all levels of ability to be nurtured. All classes are led by Dawn with assistance from Haley Stevens and a few helpers.

CAPE ANN ADVENTURES

Week 1: June 26-29

This week, we’ll be on the go! Sketchbooks in hand, we’ll follow the footsteps of legendary Cape Ann artists such as Stuart Davis, Nell Blaine, Marsden Hartley, Milton Avery and Edward Hopper. We’ll make daily excursions to some of the area’s most scenic destinations and inspiring galleries and studios. A Gloucester harbor boat shuttle will bring us to explore the Rocky Neck Art Colony…and to get an ice cream of course ☺ Walking shoes, swimsuit and a towel are encouraged this week!

CRAZY COOL COLLAGE

Week 2: July 3-7 (Class runs Monday-Friday with no class Tuesday July 4)

Clip, cut, collect, compose, construct – this week is all about creative collage! Made with a variety of materials, our creations will include 2D whimsical drawings and 3D found-object sculptures, and a whole lot in between. We’ll experiment with a combination of printmaking, photography, and magazine collage, with inspiration from  the mixed mediums of Robert Rauschenberg, cutting edge pieces by Kurt Schwitters, the Twentieth Century’s greatest master of collage, and the crazy upside-down world of Julian Schnabel.

WOODWORK WONDERS

Week 3: July 10-13

This week, the studio door will open to a woodworking shop!  We’ll be inspired by one of nature’s greatest treasures to create abstract wood sculptures like Louise Nevelson, wacky driftwood portraits, and mobiles with wood scraps, sea glass and buttons à la Alexander Calder  We’ll even build our own personalized step-stools. Together, we’ll safely learn about tools like hammers and various joining and gluing techniques to make our constructions sturdy. From the decorative to the functional, wood is a perfect, versatile material to fire-up our imaginations!

FROM TRASH TO TREASURE

Week 4: July 17-20

From the beach to the recycling bin, our art materials this week will come from unlikely places! We’ll cast the sand beneath our feet into whimsical sculptures, and make funky 3D pieces with driftwood and found objects. Colorful shards of pottery, buttons, marbles, shells, and other collected treasures will help us see that art is truly everywhere. Come with your imaginations revved up as we transform discarded remnants into modern masterpieces!

PLAYING WITH PATTERN

Week 5: July 24-27

Pattern, color, and designs galore! We’ll use a variety of fanciful techniques to flex our creative muscles. From collage to block printing, you’ll have your family and friends mesmerized by your creations! We’ll experiment with a craypas-watercolor resist and try our hands at bold optical illusions. Looking to color experts like Paul Klee, Pablo Picasso, and Frank Stella, we’ll turn blank canvases into eye-popping masterpieces.

ANIMAL KINGDOM

Week 6: July 31- August 3

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Come on an artistic safari, guided by the works of Henry Rousseau, Deborah Butterfield, and Franz Marc. Along the way, we’ll use a variety of fun and sophisticated techniques. Make animals spring to life in colorful 3D paper-mache masks and beautifully detailed metal embossings. Channel your spirit animal in an Aboriginal dream drawing and get messy with a big chalk-pastel masterpiece. This week, set free your imagination to run wild!

ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO!

Week 7: August 7-10

Learning to draw is the goal! Ancient cave paintings, modern-day graffiti, traditional Chinese calligraphy, what do these varying techniques have in common? We’ll spend this week celebrating the humble line, the foundation for every great masterpiece! With tools like ink, charcoal, oil stick, and pastels we’ll draw inspiration from the textured drips of Jackson Pollock, the spirited marks of Jean-Michel Basquiat, and the punchy dots of Roy Lichtenstein.

Afternoon Specialty Workshops

Monday-Thursday, 2:00pm-5:00pm

Ages 6-14, $225 per week

For two weeks this summer, Dawn is teaming up with Courtney Kelly to offer Afternoon Specialty Workshops. Together, the morning and afternoon workshops provide an exciting full day option for those students who desire a longer day of artmaking fun!

DRAW IT!                                                                            

Week 4: July 17-20

Are you up for an artistic challenge? Whether an avid drawer or a curious beginner, students will learn advanced techniques using graphite pencil, color pencil, and markers. Each day, students will learn the essentials of drawing by experimenting with new and varied subjects. Students are instructed step by step and encouraged to incorporate their own creative vision and personal flair!

PAINT IT!

Week 5: July 24-27

This week’s class is designed to build on the “Draw It” class, but it can also be taken as a single class. Students will experiment with several unique painting mediums, including watercolor pencil, watercolor paint, oil sticks, and acrylic. From portraits and landscapes to animals and abstract work, we’ll will explore different techniques and tricks to make brilliant masterpieces to hang on our walls!

LOCATION

Dawn Southworth’s studio

63 Bennett Street South  • Gloucester, MA 01930

Phone: 978-290-2107 • Email: dawn_southworth@hotmail.com

New England Premiere of

Principles of Curiosity

in Gloucester Tuesday, June 27

New Movie Presents the Foundations of Scientific Skepticism and Critical Thinking

Cape Ann Skeptics in conjunction with the Cape Ann Cinema & Stage are presenting the first New England screening of a new movie from Skeptoid Media – Principles of Curiosity. The documentary was written and produced by Brian Dunning, founder of Skeptoid Media.

“This documentary explores the pseudoscience that permeates pop culture and offers a simple process that anyone can follow to learn to tell what’s real from what’s not,” said Dunning. “It’s designed for people of all ages with an emphasis on teaching students how to critically evaluate what attempts to pass as the truth.”

The screening is set for June 27 at the Cape Ann Cinema and Stage, 21 Main St., Gloucester, MA. Doors open at 7:30 with a meet and greet with Brian and Ryan C. Johnson, the movie’s director. The showing begins at 8:00 with a question and answer session to follow.

Advance tickets are not required, but are recommended and can be obtained online at https://skeptoid.org/store.

Dunning emphasized that “In this age of fake news, alternative facts and endless conspiracy theories, it’s essential our students learn the basics of critical thinking. My goal with this movie is to introduce the thinking process essential to sorting out truth from fiction.”

In addition to theatrical screenings, the 40-minute documentary is designed for the classroom. Dunning has created lesson plans and other educational materials for classroom use. There is no charge or fees for use of the film in educational settings.

Dunning’s other work includes the popular podcast Skeptoid. Each weekly episode, download by over 100,000 listeners, explores a claim of pseudoscience, applying a “skeptical eye” to the claims in an effort to find the truth.

The film is nonprofit, noncommercial, and released under a Creative Commons license for free public and private showings worldwide.

Cape Ann Skeptics:

Since 2010 this group has held monthly meeting for skeptics and those who want to learn more about skepticism. Speakers present information on a wide variety of topics followed by lively discussions. For more information visit www.capeannskeptics.com.

Windhover Season Opens with
Paul Taylor 2 Dance Company

Performance of signature dances as well as “lost” work among highlights

Windhover is proud to announce the annual performing arts season begins with a bang when the internationally renowned Paul Taylor 2 Dance Company takes up residence starting on Tuesday, June 27 until Sunday, July 2, 2017. The company of six dancers will be teaching master classes, culminating in three public performances scheduled for Thursday, June 29 at 7:30pm, Friday, June 30 at 7:30 and Saturday, July 1, at 7:30pm. The performances will be on the outdoor stage if weather allows. Otherwise they will be performed inside the back studio, and it will be first come first-served with limited space. No tickets are required, but a suggested donation of $20 is greatly appreciated.

 The PERFORMANCE schedule is as follows:

Thursday June 29 & Friday June 30^th at 7:30pm

Ina Hahn’s choreography to two sections of Bach’s cello suite no.6 performed live by cellist Josh Gordon. The piece is titled: “Fragments of Six”. Sharing the program is Paul Taylor’s work titled “Junction” performed to Bach’s cello suites no.1 & 4.

“Tracer” is the last piece on the program. It was a lost work created by Paul Taylor in 1962 that disappeared from the repertory. The work was reconstructed last year and performed at the 92nd St Y in New York.  It involved a collaboration between the late renowned artist Robert Rauschenberg and choreographer Paul Taylor. Art historian Robert Saltonstall Mattison will provide insights into this collaborative process with an introductory talk beforehand.

Saturday July 1st: at 7:30pm

An all-out Paul Taylor program with masterpieces that include “Company B” with songs sung by the Andrew Sisters. The “Uncommitted”, with music by Arvo Pärt is from 2011. And “Junction” performed to sections of Bach’s cello suites no. 1 & 4 which is a link to Ina Hahn and her choreography, as both choreographers used J.S. Bach’s music as their inspiration for their dances.

MASTERCLASSES: Open to the public to all ages and all levels are SIX masterclasses taught by company members from the Paul Taylor 2 Dance Company. Donations are welcome. The schedule of classes is as follows, taught in the back dance studio at Windhover.

Wednesday, June 28th

9:30-11:00 am: General class level, all ages.
4:00-5:15 pm: Beginner class
5:30-7:00 pm: Intermediate class

Thursday, June 29th:

9:30-11:00am General class level, all ages.

Friday, June 30th:

9:30-11:00am General class, all ages.

Saturday July 1st:

9:30-11:00am General class, all ages.

 For further information, please contact Executive Director, Lisa Hahn at
Lhahn@art-horizons.com or by phone at 978-546-3611.

257 rear Granite Street • Rockport, MA. 01966
www.windhover.org • 978-546-3611

Traditional Sicilian Puppet Shows
during FIESTA!!!

FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 3:OO PM
at the CAPE ANN CINEMA,…

The WORLD FAMIY PUPPET THEATRE
PERFORMS THREE TRADITIONAL SICILIAN PUPPET SHOWS:

– GRATTULA BEDDATULA – Sicilian Cinderella

– SICILIAN FISHING VILLAGE – Medieval tin soldiers Rinaldo and Orlando tame the sea dragon!

– CANTASTORIE – Song-story about a young boy from the Fort’s yearning to walk the greasy pole and win the contest at St. Peter’s Fiesta.

Thanks to a LCC Mass Cultural Council grant from the Gloucester Cultural Council and an anonymous Donor, the Ethnic Arts Center will offer these shows of traditional Sicilian culture at St. PETER’S FIESTA 2017!  Students of the World Family Puppet Theatre will work beside Dora Tevan to perform. The shows are free and no tickets are necessary.  The facility is accessible to persons with disabilities.

For more information, call Dora Tevan at 978-546-3222,
or visit the World Family Puppet Theatre Facebook page,
or the www.ethnicartscenter.org website.

Gallery 53 Artist,
Mary Rhindelander McCarl ~ Artist Demonstration

Artist Demonstrations on Rocky Neck
Fridays, 6:00-8:00 PM
Gallery 53 on Rocky Neck
53 Rocky Neck Avenue, Gloucester, MA 01930
Gallery hours:
Sunday-Thursday, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM;
Friday- Satuday, 10:00AM–8:00 PM.

The Rocky Neck Art Colony’s Gallery 53 on Rocky Neck is sponsoring a series of artist demonstrations this 2017 season. On Friday June 23, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, the public is invited to watch Mary Rhinelander McCarl demonstrate how she prepares hand-decorated paper for use in collage work. Light refreshments will be served. The gallery plans demonstrations by other Gallery 53 artists on subsequent Fridays during the summer. For more information call 978-282-0917. Please plan to stop by and meet the artists.

Mary McCarl, a Gloucester resident, has been a member of Gallery 53 for ten years. She studied sculpture and drawing as a teenager, then received professional training as an historian of the art and culture of the European Middle Ages. She spent some domestic years running art festivals, making costumes and batiks, and participating in a Bicentennial wall quilt project. In retirement she paints with transparent and opaque watercolors and acrylics in addition to working with fabric in wall quilts and collage. In her most recent work she has concentrated on paper collage, the subject of the demonstration. McCarl applies acrylic paints to a variety of papers by scraping and stamping them with instruments ranging from plastic forks to bubble wrap. She then cuts and mounts them on backgrounds of large pieces of watercolor paper, which have also been painted, scraped and stamped, to complete a finished work. All demonstrations are free and open to the public.

Celebrating 90 Years of Fiesta!
With Saint Peter’s Fiesta film series
at the Cape Ann Museum

The Cape Ann Museum is pleased to join in the 90^th anniversary celebration of St. Peter’s Fiesta with three days of films documenting Fiesta’s rich history. The film series will run on a continuous basis throughout each day in the auditorium. Free with Museum admission on Friday and Saturday; free and open to the public on Sunday.

The Greasy Pole (2009)
Runtime: 8 minutes
Created by Emile Doucette, Tom Papows and Michael Pallazola

The Fiesta of St. Peter (1998)
Runtime: 40 minutes
Created by Shep Abbott

St. Peter’s Fiesta is the largest, most colorful of the celebrations which Sicilian immigrants brought to Gloucester. The tradition of celebrating Fiesta began in Gloucester in 1927, and while it remains a deeply religious event at its core, by the 1930s it had expanded to become a City-wide occasion. Fiesta is still celebrated in Gloucester every year in late June and is capped off with four days of music, dancing, parades, fireworks, seine boat races and the traditional greasy pole competition.  On the last day of Fiesta, an outdoor Mass is held, followed by the blessing of Gloucester’s fishing fleet.

Rockport Art Association & Museum’s Experimental Group Opens Fifth Show

What: Unexpected No. 5 Exhibit
Where: North Shore Art Association, Gloucester, MA
When: June 12 to July 8, 2017

Reception Sunday June 25, 2-4 pm Rockport Art Association & Museum’s Experimental Group Opens Fifth Show The Rockport Art Association & Museum’s Experimental Group opens its fifth group exhibition, “Unexpected No. Five” at the North Shore Art Association in Gloucester, MA. This show features artworks of about 80 artists, works of both the RAA&M’s artists and contributing members. Works on view in the exhibition range in medium to include paintings, mixed-media, graphics, sculpture and photography.

The Experimental Group is a creative forum, its main mission is to increase public awareness and to foster self-expression by bringing artists together to explore and share ideas that cultivate creative freedom. The EG is encouraged and supported by the Rockport Art Association & Museum.

If you would like more information about the exhibition, would like to schedule an interview and a walk through, or need additional promotional images please contact: Nella Lush, Experimental Group, Chair, 978.886.4582 or via email experimentalgroupraa@gmail.com

The Rockport Art Association & Museum (RAA&M) is one of the oldest and most active art organizations in the country. The Association has a long and distinguished history that has spanned 96 years

Rockport Art Association & Museum 12 Main Street,
Rockport, MA 01966 www.experimentalartgroup.com

Three Imaginations:
Digital Abstract Art & Photography by
Matt Cegelis, Otto Laske & Ruth Schneider

June 18 – July 28^th, 2017

Meet the Artists Reception Saturday, June 25, 2-4 PM

Centennial Gallery at the Musculoskeletal Center
4 Centennial Drive, Peabody MA 01960
Gallery Hours, Mon-Fri, 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Cegelis – My Parents Are Flowers

Laske – Reprimand

Schneider – Riding My Bike

On June 18, 2017, the Centennial Gallery opens a 6 week exhibition of abstract art and photography by Cape Ann digital artists Matt Cegelis, Otto Laske and Ruthie Schneider.

“Three Imaginations” is on view June 18 – July 28^th, 2017 during gallery hours Monday-Friday from 8 AM – 6PM.  The public is invited to a reception for the artists and friends on Saturday, June 25, 2-4 PM in the Centennial Gallery at the Musculoskeletal Center, 4 Centennial Drive, Peabody.

While markedly different in their background, aesthetics, and set of tools, the three artists share a strong commitment to digital work of quality and an equally strong commitment to educate the public about entirely new kinds of creative processes emerging in the visual arts.

In their work, the artists showcase many of the new kinds of work now possible through the use of intelligent software tools. Their work conveys an expansive breadth of vision both within and between disciplines of visual art, showing that the conventional boundaries between these disciplines have become entirely permeable.

Matt Cegelis uses digital photography as the starting point in his work. From “straight out of the camera” abstract compositions, to explorations of new aesthetic possibilities that he conjures from his images, Matt’s work invites viewers on a journey of serendipitous discovery… using their own imaginations as guide.

Otto Laske combines musical and gestural impulses in consistently experimental work that is focused on achieving a classic balance of lines, shapes and textures. His paintings are characterized by striking color/shape combinations intensified by drawing. His black and white graphic work harks back to German expressionist graphic art of the early 20th century.

Ruthie Schneider merges photographic images to create new and sometimes painterly results that take on a new dimension and interpretation. The use of textures and fragments from her unfinished paintings add subtleties and pique the viewer’s imagination.

All the artwork in the exhibition is available for purchase.

Ignite your imagination this summer at Annisquam Arts!

Developed by artist and educator Dawn Southworth, Annisquam Arts tips off its 23rd season by offering a variety of workshops for young artists. Conducted at Dawn’s open and professional home studio on Goose Cove, we have easy access to Gloucester’s cultural center and Cape Ann’s most scenic spots. The entire program runs for seven weeks, June 26 – August 10, with new courses each week.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS

Dawn Southworth is a well-known Boston artist recognized for her mixed media works and installations. Dawn teaches art at Glen Urquhart School, in Beverly, MA, and is a former visiting faculty member at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA. Dawn previously owned Clark Gallery in Lincoln, MA. Her work is represented in many public and private collections, including the DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, the Addison Gallery of American Art, the US Embassy in Morocco, the Boston Public Library, and Fidelity Management and Research. More information about Dawn and her work can be found at www.dawnsouthworth.com.

Haley Stevens is also a member of the Glen Urquhart School faculty, as the After-Care Associate. Haley has a BFA in art and design from Salem State University, where she focused on education and was awarded a Presidential Creativity Award for printmaking. In 2009 Haley received a Gold Medal from the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition. She is also MA certified to teach art and greatly enjoys working with children. It is her goal to inspire young artists to do their best and find their inner voice.

Courtney Kelly is a local North Shore artist and former first grade teacher at Glen Urquhart School. With a one-year-old daughter, she now practices art from her home. Courtney’s passion for art started at a young age, leading her to study Fine Arts at Drew University. She went on to receive her Master’s Degree in elementary education from Lesley University. She loves inspiring children through art and learning and looks forward to embarking on her second summer with Annisquam Arts.

REGISTER TODAY!

You may register online at www.annisquamarts.com, by phone (978) 290-2107, or by brochure, which can be requested by calling or emailing Dawn at dawn_southworth@hotmail.com.

While there is no official registration deadline, we encourage you to sign up early as our workshops do fill up quickly!

ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS

Young Artists’ Summer Studio Workshops

Monday-Thursday, 9:00am-1:00pm, Ages 6-14, $250 per week

Young Artists’ Summer Studio Workshops run Monday through Thursday, 9:00am – 1:00pm for ages 6-14. We’ll have a blast engaging with a wide range of materials and artistic techniques in a multi-sensory studio environment. Small class sizes and individual instruction allow for all levels of ability to be nurtured. All classes are led by Dawn with assistance from Haley Stevens and a few helpers.

CAPE ANN ADVENTURES

Week 1: June 26-29

This week, we’ll be on the go! Sketchbooks in hand, we’ll follow the footsteps of legendary Cape Ann artists such as Stuart Davis, Nell Blaine, Marsden Hartley, Milton Avery and Edward Hopper. We’ll make daily excursions to some of the area’s most scenic destinations and inspiring galleries and studios. A Gloucester harbor boat shuttle will bring us to explore the Rocky Neck Art Colony…and to get an ice cream of course ☺ Walking shoes, swimsuit and a towel are encouraged this week!

CRAZY COOL COLLAGE

Week 2: July 3-7 (Class runs Monday-Friday with no class Tuesday July 4)

Clip, cut, collect, compose, construct – this week is all about creative collage! Made with a variety of materials, our creations will include 2D whimsical drawings and 3D found-object sculptures, and a whole lot in between. We’ll experiment with a combination of printmaking, photography, and magazine collage, with inspiration from  the mixed mediums of Robert Rauschenberg, cutting edge pieces by Kurt Schwitters, the Twentieth Century’s greatest master of collage, and the crazy upside-down world of Julian Schnabel.

WOODWORK WONDERS

Week 3: July 10-13

This week, the studio door will open to a woodworking shop!  We’ll be inspired by one of nature’s greatest treasures to create abstract wood sculptures like Louise Nevelson, wacky driftwood portraits, and mobiles with wood scraps, sea glass and buttons à la Alexander Calder  We’ll even build our own personalized step-stools. Together, we’ll safely learn about tools like hammers and various joining and gluing techniques to make our constructions sturdy. From the decorative to the functional, wood is a perfect, versatile material to fire-up our imaginations!

FROM TRASH TO TREASURE

Week 4: July 17-20

From the beach to the recycling bin, our art materials this week will come from unlikely places! We’ll cast the sand beneath our feet into whimsical sculptures, and make funky 3D pieces with driftwood and found objects. Colorful shards of pottery, buttons, marbles, shells, and other collected treasures will help us see that art is truly everywhere. Come with your imaginations revved up as we transform discarded remnants into modern masterpieces!

PLAYING WITH PATTERN

Week 5: July 24-27

Pattern, color, and designs galore! We’ll use a variety of fanciful techniques to flex our creative muscles. From collage to block printing, you’ll have your family and friends mesmerized by your creations! We’ll experiment with a craypas-watercolor resist and try our hands at bold optical illusions. Looking to color experts like Paul Klee, Pablo Picasso, and Frank Stella, we’ll turn blank canvases into eye-popping masterpieces.

ANIMAL KINGDOM

Week 6: July 31- August 3

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Come on an artistic safari, guided by the works of Henry Rousseau, Deborah Butterfield, and Franz Marc. Along the way, we’ll use a variety of fun and sophisticated techniques. Make animals spring to life in colorful 3D paper-mache masks and beautifully detailed metal embossings. Channel your spirit animal in an Aboriginal dream drawing and get messy with a big chalk-pastel masterpiece. This week, set free your imagination to run wild!

ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO!

Week 7: August 7-10

Learning to draw is the goal! Ancient cave paintings, modern-day graffiti, traditional Chinese calligraphy, what do these varying techniques have in common? We’ll spend this week celebrating the humble line, the foundation for every great masterpiece! With tools like ink, charcoal, oil stick, and pastels we’ll draw inspiration from the textured drips of Jackson Pollock, the spirited marks of Jean-Michel Basquiat, and the punchy dots of Roy Lichtenstein.

Afternoon Specialty Workshops

Monday-Thursday, 2:00pm-5:00pm

Ages 6-14, $225 per week

For two weeks this summer, Dawn is teaming up with Courtney Kelly to offer Afternoon Specialty Workshops. Together, the morning and afternoon workshops provide an exciting full day option for those students who desire a longer day of artmaking fun!

DRAW IT!                                                                            

Week 4: July 17-20

Are you up for an artistic challenge? Whether an avid drawer or a curious beginner, students will learn advanced techniques using graphite pencil, color pencil, and markers. Each day, students will learn the essentials of drawing by experimenting with new and varied subjects. Students are instructed step by step and encouraged to incorporate their own creative vision and personal flair!

PAINT IT!

Week 5: July 24-27

This week’s class is designed to build on the “Draw It” class, but it can also be taken as a single class. Students will experiment with several unique painting mediums, including watercolor pencil, watercolor paint, oil sticks, and acrylic. From portraits and landscapes to animals and abstract work, we’ll will explore different techniques and tricks to make brilliant masterpieces to hang on our walls!

LOCATION

Dawn Southworth’s studio

63 Bennett Street South  • Gloucester, MA 01930

Phone: 978-290-2107 • Email: dawn_southworth@hotmail.com

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Jane Chu announced 89 awards totaling $6.89 million supporting projects across the nation through the NEA’s Our Town program. The Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Library is the lead organization for a grant of $50,000 to fund five cultural organizations in a project titled “Our Gloucester:  Discovering Who We Are Through the Arts.” The NEA received 274 eligible applications for Our Town this year and will make grants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000.

“The arts reflect the vision, energy, and talent of America’s artists and arts organizations,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support projects such as Our Gloucester, to cultivate vitality in their communities through the arts.”

Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken adds: “We are excited and honored to be recommended for a prestigious NEA Our Town Grant. It will provide a great means of bringing all of our communities together to tell the Gloucester Story and to celebrate our diversity, our culture of tolerance and caring, and our heritage in fishing and the arts.”

Five cultural organizations will partner in helping the community of Gloucester answer the questions: “Who are we? What is special about Gloucester? and, What in our culture and heritage is worth protecting and strengthening anew?” The arts, with their power to probe and clarify the deeper truths in society, will be the vehicles for this search and reflection, through both ensemble performances and community-wide discussions. Each partner will engage a broad cross section of citizens through a different art form — theater, music, storytelling, and literature. The answers to these questions can help lay the groundwork for community development initiatives and investments based on the values and assets of “Our Gloucester.”

The partner organizations and their roles in the Our Gloucester project are as follows:

The Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library will present a speaker’s series focusing on innovation in Gloucester. The series will continue a rich tradition of speakers at the library since the founding of the Gloucester Lyceum in 1830.

The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation will present four weekend programs of music reflecting Gloucester’s diverse ethnic community at the historic Universalist Church.

The Gloucester Writers Center is planning three storytelling Fish Tales events, featuring Gloucester school children, ages 12–18; fishing, maritime, and schooner stories; and Gloucester neighborhoods.

Mosaic Gloucester is a large-scale community oral history and mosaic mural project. Launched with the support of the Gloucester Arts and Culture Initiative, the Mass Cultural Council, and Americold, Mosaic Gloucester will bring the people of Gloucester together to tell stories, make tiles, and create a visual depiction of Gloucester. The result will be a beautiful, large mosaic panel hanging in public view on Americold’s building at 69 Rogers Street.

The Folklore Theatre Company will bring together a collaborative playwriting circle of local artists and community members to craft a play centered around a historic meal of diverse Church members in Gloucester. Nine performances will take place in April, 2018.

The Gloucester Cultural Initiative, a new non-profit successor to the MCC-funded Gloucester Arts and Culture Initiative, the group which facilitated the Our Town grant application, will play the role of project manager for Our Gloucester.

For a complete list of projects recommended for Our Town grant support, visit the NEA web site at arts.gov.

To join the Twitter conversation about this announcement, please use #NEASpring17.

Our friends at Cape Ann Plein Air invite you to this Tuesday night’s Selectmen’s Meeting to learn more about how you can get involved in the CAPA Festival from Oct. 8-16. Details are attached.

Windhover Season Opens with Paul Taylor 2 Dance Company

Performance of signature dances as well as “lost” work among highlights

Windhover is proud to announce the annual performing arts season begins with a bang when the internationally renowned Paul Taylor 2 Dance Company takes up residence starting on Tuesday, June 27 until Sunday, July 2, 2017. The company of six dancers will be teaching master classes, culminating in three public performances scheduled for Thursday, June 29 at 7:30pm, Friday, June 30 at 7:30 and Saturday, July 1, at 7:30pm. The performances will be on the outdoor stage if weather allows. Otherwise they will be performed inside the back studio, and it will be first come first-served with limited space. No tickets are required, but a suggested donation of $20 is greatly appreciated.

The PERFORMANCE schedule is as follows:

Thursday June 29 & Friday June 30^th at 7:30pm

Ina Hahn’s choreography to two sections of Bach’s cello suite no.6 performed live by cellist Josh Gordon. The piece is titled: “Fragments of Six”. Sharing the program is Paul Taylor’s work titled “Junction” performed to Bach’s cello suites no.1 & 4.

“Tracer” is the last piece on the program. It was a lost work created by Paul Taylor in 1962 that disappeared from the repertory. The work was reconstructed last year and performed at the 92nd St Y in New York.  It involved a collaboration between the late renowned artist Robert Rauschenberg and choreographer Paul Taylor. Art historian Robert Saltonstall Mattison will provide insights into this collaborative process with an introductory talk beforehand.

Saturday July 1st: at 7:30pm

An all-out Paul Taylor program with masterpieces that include “Company B” with songs sung by the Andrew Sisters. The “Uncommitted”, with music by Arvo Pärt is from 2011. And “Junction” performed to sections of Bach’s cello suites no. 1 & 4 which is a link to Ina Hahn and her choreography, as both choreographers used J.S. Bach’s music as their inspiration for their dances.

MASTERCLASSES:

Open to the public to all ages and all levels are SIX masterclasses taught by company members from the Paul Taylor 2 Dance Company. Donations are welcome. The schedule of classes is as follows, taught in the back dance studio at Windhover.

Wednesday, June 28th

9:30-11:00 am: General class level, all ages.

4:00-5:15 pm: Beginner class

5:30-7:00 pm: Intermediate class

Thursday, June 29th:

9:30-11:00am General class level, all ages.

Friday, June 30th:

9:30-11:00am General class, all ages.

Saturday July 1st:

9:30-11:00am General class, all ages.

For further information, please contact Executive Director, Lisa Hahn at
Lhahn@art-horizons.com or by phone at 978-546-3611.

Ignite your imagination this summer at Annisquam Arts!

Developed by artist and educator Dawn Southworth, Annisquam Arts tips off its 23rd season by offering a variety of workshops for young artists. Conducted at Dawn’s open and professional home studio on Goose Cove, we have easy access to Gloucester’s cultural center and Cape Ann’s most scenic spots. The entire program runs for seven weeks, June 26 – August 10, with new courses each week.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS

Dawn Southworth is a well-known Boston artist recognized for her mixed media works and installations. Dawn teaches art at Glen Urquhart School, in Beverly, MA, and is a former visiting faculty member at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA. Dawn previously owned Clark Gallery in Lincoln, MA. Her work is represented in many public and private collections, including the DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, the Addison Gallery of American Art, the US Embassy in Morocco, the Boston Public Library, and Fidelity Management and Research. More information about Dawn and her work can be found at www.dawnsouthworth.com.

Haley Stevens is also a member of the Glen Urquhart School faculty, as the After-Care Associate. Haley has a BFA in art and design from Salem State University, where she focused on education and was awarded a Presidential Creativity Award for printmaking. In 2009 Haley received a Gold Medal from the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition. She is also MA certified to teach art and greatly enjoys working with children. It is her goal to inspire young artists to do their best and find their inner voice.

Courtney Kelly is a local North Shore artist and former first grade teacher at Glen Urquhart School. With a one-year-old daughter, she now practices art from her home. Courtney’s passion for art started at a young age, leading her to study Fine Arts at Drew University. She went on to receive her Master’s Degree in elementary education from Lesley University. She loves inspiring children through art and learning and looks forward to embarking on her second summer with Annisquam Arts.

REGISTER TODAY!

You may register online at www.annisquamarts.com, by phone (978) 290-2107, or by brochure, which can be requested by calling or emailing Dawn at dawn_southworth@hotmail.com.

While there is no official registration deadline, we encourage you to sign up early as our workshops do fill up quickly!

ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS

Young Artists’ Summer Studio Workshops

Monday-Thursday, 9:00am-1:00pm, Ages 6-14, $250 per week

Young Artists’ Summer Studio Workshops run Monday through Thursday, 9:00am – 1:00pm for ages 6-14. We’ll have a blast engaging with a wide range of materials and artistic techniques in a multi-sensory studio environment. Small class sizes and individual instruction allow for all levels of ability to be nurtured. All classes are led by Dawn with assistance from Haley Stevens and a few helpers.

CAPE ANN ADVENTURES

Week 1: June 26-29

This week, we’ll be on the go! Sketchbooks in hand, we’ll follow the footsteps of legendary Cape Ann artists such as Stuart Davis, Nell Blaine, Marsden Hartley, Milton Avery and Edward Hopper. We’ll make daily excursions to some of the area’s most scenic destinations and inspiring galleries and studios. A Gloucester harbor boat shuttle will bring us to explore the Rocky Neck Art Colony…and to get an ice cream of course ☺ Walking shoes, swimsuit and a towel are encouraged this week!

CRAZY COOL COLLAGE

Week 2: July 3-7 (Class runs Monday-Friday with no class Tuesday July 4)

Clip, cut, collect, compose, construct – this week is all about creative collage! Made with a variety of materials, our creations will include 2D whimsical drawings and 3D found-object sculptures, and a whole lot in between. We’ll experiment with a combination of printmaking, photography, and magazine collage, with inspiration from  the mixed mediums of Robert Rauschenberg, cutting edge pieces by Kurt Schwitters, the Twentieth Century’s greatest master of collage, and the crazy upside-down world of Julian Schnabel.

WOODWORK WONDERS

Week 3: July 10-13

This week, the studio door will open to a woodworking shop!  We’ll be inspired by one of nature’s greatest treasures to create abstract wood sculptures like Louise Nevelson, wacky driftwood portraits, and mobiles with wood scraps, sea glass and buttons à la Alexander Calder  We’ll even build our own personalized step-stools. Together, we’ll safely learn about tools like hammers and various joining and gluing techniques to make our constructions sturdy. From the decorative to the functional, wood is a perfect, versatile material to fire-up our imaginations!

FROM TRASH TO TREASURE

Week 4: July 17-20

From the beach to the recycling bin, our art materials this week will come from unlikely places! We’ll cast the sand beneath our feet into whimsical sculptures, and make funky 3D pieces with driftwood and found objects. Colorful shards of pottery, buttons, marbles, shells, and other collected treasures will help us see that art is truly everywhere. Come with your imaginations revved up as we transform discarded remnants into modern masterpieces!

PLAYING WITH PATTERN

Week 5: July 24-27

Pattern, color, and designs galore! We’ll use a variety of fanciful techniques to flex our creative muscles. From collage to block printing, you’ll have your family and friends mesmerized by your creations! We’ll experiment with a craypas-watercolor resist and try our hands at bold optical illusions. Looking to color experts like Paul Klee, Pablo Picasso, and Frank Stella, we’ll turn blank canvases into eye-popping masterpieces.

ANIMAL KINGDOM

Week 6: July 31- August 3

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Come on an artistic safari, guided by the works of Henry Rousseau, Deborah Butterfield, and Franz Marc. Along the way, we’ll use a variety of fun and sophisticated techniques. Make animals spring to life in colorful 3D paper-mache masks and beautifully detailed metal embossings. Channel your spirit animal in an Aboriginal dream drawing and get messy with a big chalk-pastel masterpiece. This week, set free your imagination to run wild!

ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO!

Week 7: August 7-10

Learning to draw is the goal! Ancient cave paintings, modern-day graffiti, traditional Chinese calligraphy, what do these varying techniques have in common? We’ll spend this week celebrating the humble line, the foundation for every great masterpiece! With tools like ink, charcoal, oil stick, and pastels we’ll draw inspiration from the textured drips of Jackson Pollock, the spirited marks of Jean-Michel Basquiat, and the punchy dots of Roy Lichtenstein.

Afternoon Specialty Workshops

Monday-Thursday, 2:00pm-5:00pm

Ages 6-14, $225 per week

For two weeks this summer, Dawn is teaming up with Courtney Kelly to offer Afternoon Specialty Workshops. Together, the morning and afternoon workshops provide an exciting full day option for those students who desire a longer day of artmaking fun!

DRAW IT!                                                                            

Week 4: July 17-20

Are you up for an artistic challenge? Whether an avid drawer or a curious beginner, students will learn advanced techniques using graphite pencil, color pencil, and markers. Each day, students will learn the essentials of drawing by experimenting with new and varied subjects. Students are instructed step by step and encouraged to incorporate their own creative vision and personal flair!

PAINT IT!

Week 5: July 24-27

This week’s class is designed to build on the “Draw It” class, but it can also be taken as a single class. Students will experiment with several unique painting mediums, including watercolor pencil, watercolor paint, oil sticks, and acrylic. From portraits and landscapes to animals and abstract work, we’ll will explore different techniques and tricks to make brilliant masterpieces to hang on our walls!

LOCATION

Dawn Southworth’s studio

63 Bennett Street South  • Gloucester, MA 01930

Phone: 978-290-2107 • Email: dawn_southworth@hotmail.com

ESSEX MERCHANTS GROUP ANNOUNCES BEST OF ESSEX ONLINE AUCTION

Essex Merchants Group is excited to announce its Best of Essex Online Goods and Services Auction. The auction will go live on Monday June 5th and run until 10:00 PM on Monday June 19th, 2017.

Participants will have the opportunity to bid on over 120 items donated by Essex friends and businesses.

Items include gift certificates from the town’s restaurants and many of its antique shops. Bid on fine art, specialty gift baskets, marine goods, landscaping and carpentry services, concert tickets, museum memberships and more. Fishing charters and cruises on the Essex River are well represented.

Some of the other highlights are a sculpture by Chris Williams; oil paintings by local artists, Teri Eramo of Eventide Fine Art Gallery, Kim Thayer of Thayer Art, Robert Hanlon of Walker Creek Furniture and Art Gallery and Marcia Savory of Savory Scenes; crab cakes and Caesar salad from Timothy Hopkins Catering and Cogswell’s Grant tickets to Herrmann’s Royal Lipizzan Stallions.

Beginning June 5th, follow this link to the auction www.essexmerchantsgroup.schoolauction.net/auction2017

Best of Essex Online Auction 2017 Homepage
www.essexmerchantsgroup.schoolauction.net
Bid in the Best of Essex Auction on over 120 items!

where you can browse, register and bid!

Essex Merchants Group originated in 2008 with the mission of “promoting Essex, Massachusetts as a destination for shopping, dining, recreation and appreciation of its history, natural beauty and open space”.  All proceeds from this auction will be utilized to that end.

For additional information, contact Bob Coviello at:
robertcoviello@hotmail.com or 978-768-7039.

Unexpected No. 5 Exhibit
North Shore Art Association, Gloucester, MA

June 12 to July 8, 2017
Reception: Sunday June 25, 2-4 pm

Rockport Art Association & Museum’s Experimental Group Opens Fifth Show

The Rockport Art Association & Museum’s Experimental Group opens its fifth group exhibition, “Unexpected No. Five” at the North Shore Art Association in Gloucester, MA. This show features artworks of about 80 artists, works of both the RAA&M’s artists and contributing members. Works on view in the exhibition range in medium to include paintings, mixed-media, graphics, sculpture and photography.

The Experimental Group is a creative forum, its main mission is to increase public awareness and to foster self-expression by bringing artists together to explore and share ideas that cultivate creative freedom. The EG is encouraged and supported by the Rockport Art Association & Museum.

If you would like more information about the exhibition, would like to schedule an interview and a walk through, or need additional promotional images please contact: Nella Lush, Experimental Group, Chair, 978.886.4582 or via email experimentalgroupraa@gmail.com

The Rockport Art Association & Museum (RAA&M) is one of the oldest and most active art organizations in the country. The Association has a long and distinguished history that has spanned 96 years

Rockport Art Association & Museum
12 Main Street, Rockport, MA 01966
http://www.experimentalartgroup.com

Friends,

Beginning Sunday June 18, we will be welcoming visitors on Conway Tours/Gray Line Coaches for four straight afternoons as part of Sail Boston. With the Chamber, the RCD will be organizing greeters at Dock Square from approximately 2:30-4:30 in the afternoon.  Since the visitors will not be here for long, our hope is to give them a taste of Rockport so they will want to come back for more.

Here is what we expect so far:

• Sun. June 18 – 239 passengers
• Mon. June 19 – 556 passengers
• Tues. June 20 – 549 passengers
• Wed. June 21 – 417 passengers

Sue Koehler-Arsenault
Rockport Cultural District

2017 RCD Grants for Festivals and Events

Purpose:

To give material support to arts and culture events to help draw cultural tourists to the Rockport Cultural District, especially during the shoulder seasons of Spring & Fall

Requirements:

• Event or festival must be held in Rockport and sponsored by a Rockport group
• The arts or culture activities must be a significant part of the event
• The event must appeal to and attract visitors from beyond Cape Ann

Use of Funds:

• Up to $400 can be used for general expenses related to stated grant activities as the  organizer sees fit
• A minimum of 20% ($100) must be used for advertising & promotion

Allocation of Funds:

The RCD may make up to 6 grants. Application deadline is June 26, 2017.

• Once the grant is approved, receipts/invoices must be submitted along with             name/address of person to be reimbursed; The Town does not pay tax; A tax exempt certificate will be provided for material costs
• RCD will process reimbursements through Town Accounting Office; expect a 4 week turnaround

Partnership with the RCD:

• Grant recipients must include the Rockport Cultural District logo in            advertising/promotional materials related to the event/festival

Application process:

• To apply, email rockportculturaldistrict@gmail.com
• Decisions will be made by the RCD Grant Subcommittee by July 21, 2017.

Questions?

            Email Sue at rockportculturaldistrict@gmail.com

RCD Festivals and Events Grant Application

Ignite your imagination this summer at Annisquam Arts!

Developed by artist and educator Dawn Southworth, Annisquam Arts tips off its 23rd season by offering a variety of workshops for young artists. Conducted at Dawn’s open and professional home studio on Goose Cove, we have easy access to Gloucester’s cultural center and Cape Ann’s most scenic spots. The entire program runs for seven weeks, June 26 – August 10, with new courses each week.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS

Dawn Southworth is a well-known Boston artist recognized for her mixed media works and installations. Dawn teaches art at Glen Urquhart School, in Beverly, MA, and is a former visiting faculty member at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA. Dawn previously owned Clark Gallery in Lincoln, MA. Her work is represented in many public and private collections, including the DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, the Addison Gallery of American Art, the US Embassy in Morocco, the Boston Public Library, and Fidelity Management and Research. More information about Dawn and her work can be found at www.dawnsouthworth.com.

Haley Stevens is also a member of the Glen Urquhart School faculty, as the After-Care Associate. Haley has a BFA in art and design from Salem State University, where she focused on education and was awarded a Presidential Creativity Award for printmaking. In 2009 Haley received a Gold Medal from the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition. She is also MA certified to teach art and greatly enjoys working with children. It is her goal to inspire young artists to do their best and find their inner voice.

Courtney Kelly is a local North Shore artist and former first grade teacher at Glen Urquhart School. With a one-year-old daughter, she now practices art from her home. Courtney’s passion for art started at a young age, leading her to study Fine Arts at Drew University. She went on to receive her Master’s Degree in elementary education from Lesley University. She loves inspiring children through art and learning and looks forward to embarking on her second summer with Annisquam Arts.

REGISTER TODAY!

You may register online at www.annisquamarts.com, by phone (978) 290-2107, or by brochure, which can be requested by calling or emailing Dawn at dawn_southworth@hotmail.com.

While there is no official registration deadline, we encourage you to sign up early as our workshops do fill up quickly!

ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS

Young Artists’ Summer Studio Workshops
Monday-Thursday, 9:00am-1:00pm, Ages 6-14, $250 per week

Young Artists’ Summer Studio Workshops run Monday through Thursday, 9:00am – 1:00pm for ages 6-14. We’ll have a blast engaging with a wide range of materials and artistic techniques in a multi-sensory studio environment. Small class sizes and individual instruction allow for all levels of ability to be nurtured. All classes are led by Dawn with assistance from Haley Stevens and a few helpers.

CAPE ANN ADVENTURES

Week 1: June 26-29

This week, we’ll be on the go! Sketchbooks in hand, we’ll follow the footsteps of legendary Cape Ann artists such as Stuart Davis, Nell Blaine, Marsden Hartley, Milton Avery and Edward Hopper. We’ll make daily excursions to some of the area’s most scenic destinations and inspiring galleries and studios. A Gloucester harbor boat shuttle will bring us to explore the Rocky Neck Art Colony…and to get an ice cream of course ☺ Walking shoes, swimsuit and a towel are encouraged this week!

CRAZY COOL COLLAGE

Week 2: July 3-7 (Class runs Monday-Friday with no class Tuesday July 4)

Clip, cut, collect, compose, construct – this week is all about creative collage! Made with a variety of materials, our creations will include 2D whimsical drawings and 3D found-object sculptures, and a whole lot in between. We’ll experiment with a combination of printmaking, photography, and magazine collage, with inspiration from  the mixed mediums of Robert Rauschenberg, cutting edge pieces by Kurt Schwitters, the Twentieth Century’s greatest master of collage, and the crazy upside-down world of Julian Schnabel.

WOODWORK WONDERS

Week 3: July 10-13

This week, the studio door will open to a woodworking shop!  We’ll be inspired by one of nature’s greatest treasures to create abstract wood sculptures like Louise Nevelson, wacky driftwood portraits, and mobiles with wood scraps, sea glass and buttons à la Alexander Calder  We’ll even build our own personalized step-stools. Together, we’ll safely learn about tools like hammers and various joining and gluing techniques to make our constructions sturdy. From the decorative to the functional, wood is a perfect, versatile material to fire-up our imaginations!

FROM TRASH TO TREASURE

Week 4: July 17-20

From the beach to the recycling bin, our art materials this week will come from unlikely places! We’ll cast the sand beneath our feet into whimsical sculptures, and make funky 3D pieces with driftwood and found objects. Colorful shards of pottery, buttons, marbles, shells, and other collected treasures will help us see that art is truly everywhere. Come with your imaginations revved up as we transform discarded remnants into modern masterpieces!

PLAYING WITH PATTERN

Week 5: July 24-27

Pattern, color, and designs galore! We’ll use a variety of fanciful techniques to flex our creative muscles. From collage to block printing, you’ll have your family and friends mesmerized by your creations! We’ll experiment with a craypas-watercolor resist and try our hands at bold optical illusions. Looking to color experts like Paul Klee, Pablo Picasso, and Frank Stella, we’ll turn blank canvases into eye-popping masterpieces.

ANIMAL KINGDOM

Week 6: July 31- August 3

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Come on an artistic safari, guided by the works of Henry Rousseau, Deborah Butterfield, and Franz Marc. Along the way, we’ll use a variety of fun and sophisticated techniques. Make animals spring to life in colorful 3D paper-mache masks and beautifully detailed metal embossings. Channel your spirit animal in an Aboriginal dream drawing and get messy with a big chalk-pastel masterpiece. This week, set free your imagination to run wild!

ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO!

Week 7: August 7-10

Learning to draw is the goal! Ancient cave paintings, modern-day graffiti, traditional Chinese calligraphy, what do these varying techniques have in common? We’ll spend this week celebrating the humble line, the foundation for every great masterpiece! With tools like ink, charcoal, oil stick, and pastels we’ll draw inspiration from the textured drips of Jackson Pollock, the spirited marks of Jean-Michel Basquiat, and the punchy dots of Roy Lichtenstein.

Afternoon Specialty Workshops

Monday-Thursday, 2:00pm-5:00pm

Ages 6-14, $225 per week

For two weeks this summer, Dawn is teaming up with Courtney Kelly to offer Afternoon Specialty Workshops. Together, the morning and afternoon workshops provide an exciting full day option for those students who desire a longer day of artmaking fun!

DRAW IT!                                                                            

Week 4: July 17-20

Are you up for an artistic challenge? Whether an avid drawer or a curious beginner, students will learn advanced techniques using graphite pencil, color pencil, and markers. Each day, students will learn the essentials of drawing by experimenting with new and varied subjects. Students are instructed step by step and encouraged to incorporate their own creative vision and personal flair!

PAINT IT!

Week 5: July 24-27

This week’s class is designed to build on the “Draw It” class, but it can also be taken as a single class. Students will experiment with several unique painting mediums, including watercolor pencil, watercolor paint, oil sticks, and acrylic. From portraits and landscapes to animals and abstract work, we’ll will explore different techniques and tricks to make brilliant masterpieces to hang on our walls!

LOCATION

Dawn Southworth’s studio

63 Bennett Street South  • Gloucester, MA 01930

Phone: 978-290-2107 • Email: dawn_southworth@hotmail.com

RESIST: The Art of Protest exhibition and related events, all at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck

June 1-July 2, 2017

• Opening Reception, Saturday, June 3, 4-6 pm

• Kids Resist: Art-making activities for young people, Sunday, June 4, 2-4 pm

• We Resist: Readings in collaboration with the Gloucester Writer’s Center, Sunday, June 18, beginning at 5 pm

• Farmer’s Market in collaboration with the Gloucester’s Farmer’s Market, Saturday, July 1, opening at 5 pm

Jess Semeraro – Use Your Voice

Susan Erony – Never in America

Willa Brosnihan – We Deserve Liberty

The Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC) hosts a new exhibition, RESIST: The Art of Protest, featuring works of art from artists motivated by the current political climate. This five-week exhibition, made possible by a grant from the Bruce J. Anderson Foundation, takes place from June 1, to July 2, 2017 at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street, Gloucester. The gallery is open to the public Thursdays through Sundays from 12 noon to 4 pm.

Over twenty artists from the local community present art inspired by the theme of resistance. More than an exhibit, RESIST gathers together images, writing, music, and other modes of art and activism. RESIST empowers the community and encourages the public to be active participants in democracy. RESIST focuses on involvement, catharsis and fun.

Artists in this show draw from a wealth of experience, materials and modes. Work includes photography, sculptures, installations, collage, paintings, prints and technology. In addition to the traditional gallery opening and exhibit, a series of events—from prose and poetry readings and art activities for children to a Farmer’s Market—featuring local musicians, writers, and community organizers. Please join the artists at the opening reception for RESIST: The Art of Protest on Saturday, June 3, for light refreshments, music by Renee Dupuis and Joe Cardoza, and fun.

Co-curated by Stevens Brosnihan and Amanda Cook, RESIST brings together twenty or more well-known artists from the local community. In addition to Brosnihan and Cook, contributing artists and community activists include Willie “Loco” Alexander, Nicole Bogin, Willa Brosnihan, Joe Cardoza, Greg Cook, Michele Del Vecchio, Renee Dupuis, Susan Erony, Derek Fenner, Hope Fishburn, Ryan Gallagher, Joe Gallo, Paul Cary Goldberg, George Hall, Jay Jaroslav, Lara Lepionka, Camilla MacFadyen, Somer O’Brien, Adam Orcutt, Jess Semeraro, Joshua Scott-Fishburn, Rosemary Scott-Fishburn, Mark Tiewes, and others. Additional work by artists and artist statements can be found at http://artists-resist.org.

“Gotta give us what we need
Our freedom of speech is freedom or death
We got to fight the powers that be

Lemme hear you say
Fight the power.”

—Public Enemy 

For More Information: Email: info@rockyneckartcolony.org

Rock Bound: Painting the American Scene on Cape Ann and Along the Shore

A special exhibition opening this summer at the Cape Ann Museum

On view June 3 – October 29, 2017

In the years immediately following the Civil War, Cape Ann set out on a path that would make it one of New England’s most vibrant and influential art colonies of the early 20th century. As the foundation on which this growth took place was broad, with countless artists working in a myriad of media, no one trend or style would come to dominate the emerging colony. There did arise, however, a fascination with capturing the “American Scene” as embodied on Cape Ann and in the surrounding areas.

With paintings drawn from private collections and the Museum’s own holdings, Rock Bound will explore the ways in which an array of artists of the early 20^th century sought to capture the natural beauty of the region, the power of the ocean and the hardscrabble way of life that was quickly disappearing in other places. The exhibit will also consider how artists placed local populations and traditions in their context, whether it was carpenters working in the shipyards of Essex, women and children relaxing on wide sandy beaches, or fishermen and quarrymen pursuing their timeless and dangerous ways of life. Artists featured in Rock Bound will include Jane Peterson, Martha Walter, Gifford Beal, Leon Kroll, Marsden Hartley and Stuart Davis among others.

Media contact: Meredith Anderson   (978)283-0455 x15   meredithanderson@capeannmuseum.org

David Rogers, Classical crossover guitar
Folklore Theater

 Solo guitarist David Rogers performs Saturday, June 3rd at 7:00pm at Folklore Theater Company 169 Main Street, Gloucester, MA 01930 (978) 704-1269

Admission: $15.00

https://www.northshorefolk.org  candyzpapa@gmail.com

Termed, ‘a prominent guitarist,’ by the New York Times and praised by The Washington Post for his ‘astonishingly florid’ improvisations, David Rogers presents an evening of solo guitar music with strong leanings towards jazz, world, folk and classical music.

An endorsing artist for GHS Strings, his music has been featured in major guitar magazines such as Fingerstyle Guitar in the United States and Akustic Gitarre, in Germany. His solo and ensemble performances have been broadcast on American National Public Radio and Bayrische Rundfunk.

David will play a program based around Spanish, Flamenco, Up-Tempo Latin, original settings of Leonard Cohen, Rolling Stones’, Roxy Music songs, as well as music by the Beatles, J.S. Bach and original compositions. He will also be premiering an original setting of Tim Buckley’s stunning Song to the Siren.

Insights On Site

A series of one-day contemporary art installations at the Historic White-Ellery House

The Cape Ann Museum is pleased to present Reading the Past: A Calligraphic Installation by Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord on Saturday, June 3 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the White-Ellery House in Gloucester. Using excerpts from the 1848 journal of a 13-year-old Gloucester girl, Gaylord’s installation will bring the rhythms of everyday life alive through her subject’s observations of school and home. This program is free and open to the public.

Gaylord studied English literature at Boston University and since the late 1970s has been working with words, letterforms, design and expressive mark making. In 1992 she began an ongoing series of sculptural works called “Spirit Books.” As Gaylord says of this work, “These books connect my experience of the inherent spirituality and mystery of nature with the long-standing tradition of books as testaments of faith and belief.”

The White-Ellery House (1710), owned and operated by the Cape Ann Museum, has served as the backdrop for a series of one-day contemporary art installations since 2010. The House is located at 245 Washington Street in Gloucester and is free and open to the public on select Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each month from May through October as part of Escapes North 17th Century Saturdays.

Insights On Site – 2017 Season

June 3
Reading the Past: A Calligraphic Installation — Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord

Using excerpts from the 1848 journal of a 13-year-old Gloucester girl, Gaylord’s installation will bring the rhythms of everyday life alive through her subject’s observations of school and home.

July 1
Surf’s Up! — Cameron Ahearn, Kerry Sullivan and Jamie Hosker

A rare chance to see a collection of surfboards ranging from the mid 20th century through the present day. The collection was compiled by Ahearn’s father, and once adorned the walls of The Studio Restaurant on Gloucester’s Rocky Neck.

August 5
Sphere — Sarah Slifer Swift

In this durational performance, Swift and company explore women’s social and political power through the lens of the historic White-Ellery House. Using movement, film and sound, the performers will examine the complexities of labor, value and respect, as they have been gained, lost or changed over time.

October 7
Taking Care — Alyssa Pittman

In this installation Pittman explores the universal ritual of sweeping and investigates the act and practice of “taking care” of the spaces and places around us. Her work is inspired by the craft of broom making, by the broom as a powerful icon and by sweeping as a symbolic act.

Support for these programs was provided by The Umberto Romano and Clorinda Romano Foundation which celebrates Umberto Romano’s (1906–1982) legacy on Cape Ann through arts education and appreciation and by fostering the work of emerging and/or working artists.

Judy Cook’s Songs of the Sea

A musical performance celebrating women and the sea

The Cape Ann Museum is pleased to welcome author and folk singer Judy Cook on Saturday, June 3 at 11:00 a.m. for a musical performance devoted to (wo)men’s relationship with the sea. This program is free for CAM members or with Museum admission. Registration required; please call (978) 283-0455 x10 or register online at Eventbrite. For more information email info@capeannmuseum.org.

Fascinating stories of women and the sea have been passed down in ballad form through the centuries. Add to these a few of the great songs about ships, men and ghosts and the result is a wonderfully entertaining program. The songs and poems in this program range from funny to serious, from chorus to narrative, and from well-known favorites to more obscure gems.

Judy Cook performs each year throughout the United States and Britain. She is recognized for her depth of understanding and storytelling ability in ballad form, her musical talent and her dedication to historical research. Judy’s programs are enthusiastically received at universities, museums, historical societies, festivals, and lecture and concert series.

Last Chance to see this show

Summer Love Fest in Gloucester
Photo Show at the Essen

‘Husband and wife photographers Michael Chamness and Karen Pischke of Gloucester have their photographs on display in downtown Manchester-by-the-Sea at the Essen Restaurant, 4C Summer Street (Route 127) through June 11.

Photos feature landscapes and bird life of Cape Ann. Drop in for a cup of coffee and a sandwich and enjoy!’

Cape Ann Artisans Welcome Spring with the 34th Annual Open Studio Tour June 3-4
Studios abuzz with newly inspired work!

The 34th Annual Cape Ann Artisans Open Studio Tour is just around the corner, Saturday and Sunday, June 3 and 4. For artists and visitors alike, the Cape Ann Artisan tour delivers a full creative immersion and that rare opportunity to re-ignite artistic juices. After winter hibernation and travels, in anticipation of the tour, Cape Ann Artisans studios are like beehives abuzz with activity – a chance to try something new, rearrange the studio, refresh the collection of work in time for Spring!

Visitors come from far and wide and right next door to enjoy the tour and its popularity is one of the driving forces that propelled Gloucester into the “top ten destinations for craft lovers” as designated by a recent poll held by American Craft Week.

Each artist aims to delight with the range of work and the process of creating it. CAA President, Pamela Stratton, who wears many hats, takes time out from her acupuncture practice to focus on new work, and this year will showcase her mixed media mosaics. “When thinking of this year’s Artisans tour, the word ‘evolving’ comes to mind. We have added one new artist and several artists who were on sabbatical have returned to the fold. As artists we try new techniques and materials and sometimes team up to work collaboratively. So the tour is always new. You may visit the same studios but the art and the artist have evolved,” comments Pam on the upcoming tour.

Beth Williams – Celebration – Tribal Necklace

Bottle Neck Beauty No.3

Pam Stratton Storm – Mixed Media

Here’s a sneak peak of what is in store this year.

Beth Williams, a long time Artisan and nationally acclaimed glass artist, has emerged from the dreariness of winter to plow headlong into May’s exhilarating sunshine. Travel to the southwest was her catalyst for new color ideas, thoughts, and directions. Her studio will showcase finished pieces that echo these recent desert inspirations.

Terry Del Percio Piemonte, painter and David Piemonte, photographer (husband and wife team) are among a small group that was on sabbatical and will return this year. With renewed energy, Terry shares her artistic pursuit, “Like many other painters, I started out painting objects, landscapes and living things. After a year of looking inside, Terry will be sharing work that has evolved from her deepest meditations.

Deborah Gonet, the newest Cape Ann Artisan, a mixed media artist, shared her point of view on whether she knows what to expect will result when she starts working on a piece. Deborah candidly writes in a recent From the Studio blog post, “While I might have a general idea of color, texture and overall composition I do not [know]. I find that if I pay attention to each layer I most often wind up someplace very different than my initial idea. The encaustic medium truly encourages exploration, experimentation and an appreciation for the small gifts that occur when you don’t plan and instead react in a way that feels right.”

Rob Diebboll, oil and water color painter, ventured back to Good Harbor Beach after spending much of 2016 on Cape Hedge and Long beaches. He experimented with the muted colors of the colder months by using fog as the foil for the human and canine figures passing by in their coats. The resulting “Dogs in Fog” will greet visitors that drop into his studio.

Mary Ann de Buy Wenniger, collagraph printer is delving further into her art form. She hones her skills through “natural and plastic plate-making materials, inks, paints and papers,” as ways to realize her imagery. “No two prints are the same as color changes reflect playfulness, different environments and times of day and life,” according to Marianne. Ask Mary Ann about her new exhibit “Aprons with Attitude!”

Jacqueline Ganim-DeFalco, sea glass jewelry artist, has found new inspiration “in a bottle” and not the kind you might think! After many years of pondering artistic uses for historic “bottlenecks” she has created exciting new designs with her precious collection of these disappearing treasures. Visit Cape Ann Designs to find out more about the new “Bottleneck Beauties” that also incorporate beads from fellow artisan, Beth Williams.

Camilla MacFadyen, hand printed textile artist, describes her studio as a “sanctuary” where she can climb into a pocket and experience “suspended animation” to focus on where the media takes her. Camilla is pattern making for new dresses, a coat and a Japanese inspired tunic. She is also combining solid and transparent fabrics; printed silk organza, linen and hemp, and using appliqué and embroidery to finish the pieces. Camilla will transform her studio using textiles to create a larger piece of environmental art, and invite the viewer to journey through the work with the theme “follow your path.”

Read more about each Artisan on www.capeannartisans.com where you can also sign up for the email reminders about the tour and download the brochure. You can jump on to the self-guided tour at any point and visit as many Artisans as you like. The self-guided Cape Ann Artisans tour takes place throughout Gloucester and Rockport will include 20 studios and 22 Artisans. The full group of 2017 Artisans are:

1. David Archibald
2. Cynthia Curtis
3. Rob Diebboll
4. Jacqueline Ganim-DeFalco
5. Deborah Gonet
6. Elizabeth Harty
7. Camilla MacFadyen
8. Anni Melançon
9. Sinikka Nogelo
10. Bond Street Studio: Terry DelPercio-Piemonte & David Piemonte
11. Marcie Rae
12. Margaret Rack
13. Mi Robertson
14. Pam Stratton
15. Bart Stuyf
16. Twin Lights Studio: Erin O’Sullivan & Scott Place
17. Mary Ann de Buy Wenniger
18. Beth Williams
19. Ruth Worrall*
20. Sara Wright

*Note for 2017 Ruth Worrall will be hosted at Bart Stuyf’s studio

Gallery 53 on Rocky Neck
Opens for the Season. 

Gallery 53 officially opens for the season on Friday, May 26 with an Opening Reception on Saturday, May 27 from 6 to 8pm that features creative artist-made munchies and a selection of beverages.

Orion, painting by Traci Thayne Corbett

Lucky Rock Bottle by Anni Melançon

Driftwood Collage by Richard Honan

Housed in a historic 19th century building, Gallery 53 is a juried member-run gallery that features an original and distinctive collection of fine arts and crafts by Rocky Neck Art Colony members. It is conveniently located on the waterfront between the Studio and Rudder restaurants at 53 Rocky Neck Ave in Gloucester, MA. The gallery hosts Opening and End-of-Seasonparties, showcases work by invited New England artists in seven Summer Artist Series (SAS) shows, and sponsors engaging Artist Demonstrations on Friday evenings. All events are free and open to the public.

Six new artists were juried into Gallery 53 this year: Traci Thayne Corbett, painter; Eric Hahr, silversmith; Richard Honan, found object assemblage artist; Anni Melançon, potter; Connie Vallis, intaglio printmaker and Karen Watson, mixed media collage artist.

Gallery 53 is open daily from May 26 to October 15, from 10am to 6 pm, Sunday through Thursday, and 10am to 8pm Fridayand Saturday. For more information call 978-282-0917.

See Gallery 53 on Rocky Neck on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Art of David Arsenault Gallery
Ramps Up for Straitsmouth

It’s been eighty years since the public has had safe access to Straitsmouth Island, off the coast of Rockport, MA.

The Thacher Island Association, the non-profit arm of the Town of Rockport for Thacher and Straitsmouth Islands, is raising $300,000 for a new boat launch. Paul St. Germain, President of the Thacher Island Association, notes, “The island will continue to be maintained as a wild life sanctuary by Mass Audubon. We have created a full mile of groomed walking trails. Visitors can view the massive and unusual rock formations and a future visitor center and museum will make this a new and exciting destination for boaters and kayakers in the years to come.”

With $75,000 dollars still needed, The Art of David Arsenault Gallery has stepped up to try and make a difference. “I’ve been inspired to paint Thacher and Straitsmouth Islands a number of times. My wife and I appreciate the tremendous work the Thacher Island Association volunteers have done over the years to care for these Rockport treasures. This is one way we can give back.”

On Saturday, May 27^th from 5-9 p.m. the Art of David Arsenault Gallery hosts, “Ramp Up for Straitsmouth,” a benefit with dynamic jazz saxophonist, David Arteaga and a special guest. On Sunday, May 28^th from 1-4 p.m. Paul St. Germain will be sharing updates about the Straitsmouth project in a discussion entitled “What’s New at Straitsmouth?.”

Since opening a gallery in Rockport in 2015, Arsenault has created six different paintings connected to Thacher and Straitsmouth Islands: “Island Cruise,” “Straitsmouth at 6 a.m.,” “Thacher: North to South,” “Seeing Double,” “Autumn’s Early Light,” and “Early for Dinner.”

Twenty percent of sales will be contributed to the Thacher Island Association. Arsenault has created a 12×18 poster to commemorate the event and will be raffling a signed 16” x 40” canvas giclée of “Straitsmouth at 6 a.m.” St. Germain adds, “Arsenault’s art certainly captures the beauty and magnificence of this island as well as many other local sites.”

If you can’t attend but would like to help, donations can be sent c/o the Thacher Island Association, PO Box 73, Rockport, Ma 01966. Or, you can donate at www.thacherisland.org.

Jane Deering Gallery presents Drawn from Life which opens with a public reception on Saturday May 27th from 3:00-5:00pm at 19 Pleasant Street, Gloucester, next to the Cape Ann Museum.  Drawing never dies.  All artists drew, observed and worked from life at some point, including from the life model, as part of their artistic visual vocabulary and learning.

Drawing is an active, investigative pursuit of things we see and wish to know.  It is, apparently, immortal and brings us into a different, deeper and more fully experienced relation to the object.

Artists in this exhibition include five from Cape Ann —Erma Wheeler, Celia Eldridge, Leon Doucette, Melissa Cooper and David Hruby; and four artists from California — Mary Heebner, Isabelle Greene, Connie Connally, and Linda Jones.

The exhibition continues through June 30th.  Gallery hours:  Friday – Sunday, 12noon – 5pm and by appointment at 917-902-4359 and info@janedeeringgallery.  Works from the exhibition can be viewed on the gallery website janedeeringgallery.com.

Flatrocks Gallery opens their fifth season
May 25th with ‘In Deep Water’

A group show meant to inspire people to action. With grace, beauty and humor these artists use their gifts to raise consciousness about climate change, sea level rise, and ocean pollution.

Two exciting artists from ‘over the bridge’ anchor the show, both committed to art as activism.

Resa Blatman, from Somerville brings us her commitment to nature in all its power and vulnerability with work that is at once haunting and lovely. Her artistic process is filled with intention; creating layered paintings and installations using a dynamic mixture of materials. In combining paint, assemblage pieces, and intricately laser-cut mylar forms, she affects deep space and pulls the viewer in. Blatman “seeks to remind us of the precarious nature of our habitat.” Blatman’s work is complex and beautifully rendered, reminiscent of the allegorical and precise painting of the Dutch masters, and inspired by the Baroque, Romanticism, and Victorian decorative art.

Michelle Lougee is an environmental artist, sculptor, ceramicist, illustrator and teacher from Cambridge. Her work focuses on the delicate balance between nature and human society and technology. The duality of this relationship is explored in both materials and subject matter. Her signature material, post-consumer plastic bags is laboriously transformed into yarn and then crocheted into lifelike interpretations of sea life. The results are playful vibrant sculptures. Their animated details are delightful, yet jarring because of the reference to the dangerous infestation of plastics in our oceans. Lougee states, “In my art, I strive to replicate the animated quality that all living things possess. That is what makes nature beautiful. My job as an environmental artist is to capture that beauty in my work while instilling a message into it.”

The show is supported with a few offerings each from four artists of Cape Ann. Adin Murray, an extraordinary painter from West Gloucester, shares examples of his most recent series “Horizon” . For  Murray,  “The space where the sky and water meet is powerful, profound, and humbling….and speaks to the universal truth of constant change.” These commanding hyperrealist paintings represent in the context of the show that which we revere and take for granted.  Local lawyer, musician, community organizer, multimedia artist Karen Ristuben describes herself as an environmental advocate at the core. She brings to ‘In Deep Water’ a version of her multimedia work created for the Boston Museum of Science’s show -Ocean Stories, a collaboration of artists and ocean scientists working across disciplines to communicate the state of our oceans.  Ristuben’s contribution is both visually compelling and inspirational. During  Mia Cross’ stint as the 2016 Goetemann Artist in Residence she spent her early mornings walking the beaches of Gloucester. There she found “scavenging for objects and repurposing them exciting, especially when the objects have carelessly been tossed and deemed invaluable.“ From the debris emerged a guardian angel of the waters. Cross offers her cleverly created physical manifestation to to bear witness to our throwaway society. To visit Rockport artist Nina Samoiloff’s studio, there is no doubt she is committed to cleaning up our shores. The mounds of flotsam divided up by color, product, or material  are alarming.  By arranging her collection into pleasing mosaics, she documents our excess and disrespect with a quiet grace.

With ‘In Deep Water’ Flatrocks Gallery’s aim is to stimulate discussion and inspire viewers to action, with a collection of thought provoking, inventive, beautiful artworks.  In Deep Water runs May 25- July 2. A reception for the artists will be held Sunday, May 28th 4-6pm.The gallery will host the ocean advocacy group, Tidal Shift’s workshop crafting jellyfish from used plastic. for all ages Sunday, June 25th 3-5pm.