Author: James Eves

The Annisquam Village Church, where violinist and composer Scott Moore is Artist-in-Residence, will host Moore and his wife, violinist Erica Pisaturo, for a performance Saturday, April 26 at 7:30pm. The program is titled ‘Dreams and Dances’ and spans some 300 years of music: from the capricious elegance of Telemann’s Canonic Duos to the tender melodies and swirling textures of Moore’s Suite for Two Violins, which the composer describes as “equal parts ballet score, barn dance, Impressionist painting; like little postcards to favorite influences from all over music, art, literature, and life.” Folk music is the connection to another work on the program, Bela Bartók’s rustic Duos, whose evocative titles include “Whirling Dance,” “Bagpipes,” “Harvest Song,” and “Mosquito Dance.” And the world of ballet provides common ground with the other composer on the docket, Sergei Prokofiev, whose Sonata for Two Violins (from 1932) is a window on the modernist neoclassicism made famous in works like Romeo and Juliet (1935), Lieutenant Kijé (1934) and Peter and the Wolf (1936).
“The intimacy, beauty, and lush acoustics of the Village Church are an ideal place to play music like this,” offers Moore. “There’s something fascinating about the idea of a violin duo. It’s transparent, elemental: there’s the fire, sonorous beauty, and all the other qualities we associate with the violin, writ double, amid the dynamic of an ensemble of two—at once duel, duet, dance. . . . We’re excited to play this program of rare delights.” — Scott Moore
A reception will follow the concert.
Annisquam Village Church
820 Washington Street . Gloucester MA
$25 suggested

Everyone’s favorite little fundraiser that supports Rocky Neck Art Colony is back online April 17 – 21, 2024.   Participating artists have donated original artworks, 6″ x 6″, to be sold in support of RNAC.

Here’s how it works: 

Take a look at all the artwork for sale on April 17   (https://rockyneckartcolony.org/big-tiny-art-event/   then come back over the next four days to buy the work you fall in love with.

 On April 18, everything is priced at $200. Act fast or you might lose out on your favorite.

 The next day, the 19th, everything is priced at $150. On April 20, each piece is $100 . On April 21, last day, everything goes for $50 each.

Important Dates:

 Online auction (Check back soon for the auction link)
April 17 – preview only
April 18 – all works $200
April 19 – all works $150
April 20 – all works $100
April 21 – all works $50

Claim your winnings:  The pickup party and BIG reveal is 5:30 – 7:30 Wednesday, April 24. Find out who made your masterpieces while enjoying refreshments and live music by Anne Gilson and friends.

About RNAC: The Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, fosters excellence in the arts through exhibitions, workshops, residencies, historical tours, and vibrant cultural events for its members and the public. Operating three exhibition spaces on picturesque Rocky Neck in Gloucester, Massachusetts, RNAC invites visitors to explore The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck (6 Wonson Street), The Salted Cod Arthouse (53 Rocky Neck Ave.), and Cove Gallery (37 Rocky Neck Ave.). All spaces are open to the public for free. For more information, visit www.rockyneckartcolony.org or call 978-515-7004.

The New England Experimental Art Group opens its 23^rd group exhibition at Charles Fine Arts, 196 Main Street, Gloucester, MA 01930. Works on view in the exhibition range in medium to include paintings, mixed-media, graphics, sculpture, digital art and photography. The exhibition runs from April 18 through May 18 with an artist reception on Saturday April 20 from 4-6pm. The gallery is open Thursday and Friday 1-4, Saturday and Sunday 1-5 pm. There will also be a gallery talk with Nella Lush “The Act of Creating” on Saturday, Aril 27 at 4PM.

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.   

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 Leader, 978.886.4582 or via email at experimentalartgroup.com.

Saturday, March 30^th, 2PM, Cape Ann Museum. 
Free for Members, $10 for guests  
Click here to register.

CAM Talk, Why I Create, moderated by Jacqueline Ganim-DeFalco and M. Kristine Fisher, featuring four artists on the panel.

The Cape Ann ARTWaves team and the Cape Ann Museum have been working together for the past year to create a permanent home for the video archive featuring over 75 in depth interviews with local and regional artists and gallerists.   

Thanks to the efforts of the CAM head librarian and archivist, Trenton Carls and his team, all the videos and the highlights reels are now available on the CAM website under the Library and Collections Resources tab.   

To recognize this important moment, the CAM and ARTWaves team have designed a panel discussion to address the core theme that resonates across all the interviews – the essence of creativity.  The panel of four artists will be led by with Cape Ann ARTWaves co-producers Jacqueline Ganim DeFalco and Kristine Fisher.   The conversation entitled “Why I Create” offers an opportunity for the invited artists to share their views on pathways to creativity and understanding nuances of artist and viewer engagement.  Kristine and Jacqueline will also share their insights after three years of hosting and producing Cape Ann ARTWaves.   The artists cover a wide range of styles, approaches, and media – each bringing an important perspective to the discussion.  

The panelists include: Shelly Bradbury, Sculptor;  Nella Lush, painter,  Adin Murray, painter,  and Dana Woulfe, visual artist and muralist.  Kristine and Jacqueline will lead the discussion and also hare their insights after three years of hosting and producing Cape Ann ARTWaves. Registration for the event is required. Click here to register.

For detailed biographies on each artist, please see Addendum to this Advisory. 

Media Advisory| Addendum

Panelist Bios

Shelly Bradbury holds a Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture from Boston University. She has served as an adjunct professor at Boston University and Gordon College, and she has exhibited works throughout Massachusetts and in New York City, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and California. Her prestigious awards include the Helen Foster Barnett Award in Sculpture from the National Academy of Design in New York City, the Audubon Artists Gold Medal of Honor from the Salmagundi Club, and the Anna Hyatt Huntington Award from the Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club. She is an elected member of the National Sculpture Society.  Shelly works from her studio in Ipswich, Massachusetts.

Nella Lush, originating from Italy’s Puglia with a rich artistic heritage, evolved from creating marine landscapes in Spain to “representational abstract” art, showcasing her drive for creative freedom. Her formal education in art history and languages, combined with her cultural background, has significantly shaped her artistic journey. Lush innovative use of oils, cold wax, marble dust, and pumice has secured her membership in elite art associations and representation in galleries across Bridgehampton, Nantucket, the UK, and Provincetown. Her works, found in both private and corporate collections globally, defy conventional art norms and champion self-expression, weaving a connection between humanity and history. As the founder of the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Women Artists and the Experimental Art Group, Lush has been instrumental in advancing women’s art and experimental practices, highlighting her dedication to broadening the scope of artistic exploration.

Adin Murray was born and raised in Manchester, Massachusetts. He received his BA in Art/Biology from Tulane University, and his MFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design. His work has been shown at the Woodruff Art Center in Atlanta, the Rymer Gallery in Nashville, the Pei-Ling Chan Gallery in Savannah, among others. His work has been featured in Faultline, the University of California, Irvine’s literary and art publication, and has also appeared in Southern Living and North Shore Magazines, as well as the Boston Globe. Adin and his wife, author Elizabeth H. Winthrop were also included in the online project Urban Exodus. His work is held in both private and corporate collections nationally and internationally, and is in the permanent collection of the Cape Ann Museum, Gloucester MA.  He is represented by the Jane Deering Gallery. Adin currently lives and works on Cape Ann, Massachusetts.

Dana Woulfe is a visual artist living and working near Boston, MA.  He is known for his colorful abstract paintings and large-scale mural work. A New England native, he grew up in Rhode Island and learned to appreciate the arts at a young age through the influence of his grandmother, an illustrator and painter. After moving to Boston in the mid-90’s to attend Massachusetts College of Art, he became involved in the local graffiti scene and developed an affiliation with the members of Project SF, a local art/graffiti collective.  As co-director of Project SF he directed and exhibited at events worldwide, and worked with clients including Nike, Converse, Vitamin Water and Bodega. His solo and collaborative work has appeared in publications such as Juxtapoz, Booooooom, Inked, Acclaim and Sole Collector.  Woulfe currently runs Studio Fresh, a hand paint mural and graphics company and works out of his Beverly based studio, where he continues to develop his visual language and build towards whatever comes next.

Dates: April 5 – May 19
Opening Reception:  Sunday, April 7, 4-6 PM
Gallery Hours: Friday-Sunday, Noon -5 PM

UP and Coming: Young Artists with Promise, is a juried show of works by artists aged 17-30, expressing passion and commitment to their craft. The art works reflect a collective panoply of youthful perspectives, variously addressing contemporary issues and presenting aesthetic and material innovations. The variety of media includes printmaking, digital art, collage, photography, drawing, painting, and sculpture, with abstraction, landscape and figurative work. 

The Artists

Corey Brown, Caddy Cicogna, Charlotte Collins, Bridget Curry, Angelina DeDominicis, Fiona Dolan, Molly Forget, Spencer Kall, Rebecca Killion, Benjamin Laird, Dylan Maher, Abigail Monson, Allie Nicastro, Ella O’Neil, Thomas Rutigliano, Isabel Santos, Krystyn Sherman, Ashlyn Smith, Andrew Steinberg, Erin Survilas, Claudia Valenti, Haley Wolfe.

Special Events

The public is invited to an opening reception on Sunday, April 7 from 4 to 6 PM. View the art, meet the artists, and enjoy light refreshments, drinks, and ever-lively conversation.

For additional information, including public programs accompanying this exhibition, consult www.rockyneckartcolony.org or rnacexhibitions.com for details and updates. 

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

Get ready for the highly anticipated annual fundraiser, BIGtiny, hosted by the Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC). This year’s online auction event kicks off on Saturday, April 17 and runs until Tuesday, April 21.

If you’re eager to join in on the excitement, be sure to pick up your BIGtiny packet! Packets containing pre-cut paper are now available at The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, located at 6 Wonson Street. You can grab yours during exhibition open hours, which are Friday through Sunday from noon to 5 PM. and Mondays from 1 to 4 PM.

Each packet includes three 6×6-inch squares of art paper for crafting your masterpieces. Remember to leave a ½ inch margin around the edge for matting (live area: 5” x 5””) and SIGN THE BACK OF YOUR ARTWORK – the point is to have buyers fall in love with the work not  necessarily the artist. Submissions are open to all artists. The drop-off deadline back at The Cultural Center is April 1 (no fooling!).

Annually,  hundreds of original works — all on a scale of 6 inches square – created by more than 100 artists are offered for sale through RNAC’s BIGtiny online fundraiser. Artists’ names are not revealed – each work is signed on the back, so participants buy what resonates with them. Featured artists may include Ruth Mordecai, Jon Sarkin, Barbe Ennis, Amy Sudarsky, Joyce Roessler, Barbara Moody, Lynne Sausele, Hans Pundt, Stephen LaPierre, Rokhaya Waring, Vanessa Michalak, Ken King and many more!  

RNAC extends its gratitude to participating artists and an extra big thank-you to members Sallie Strand, Ellen Garvey, Mary Ann McCormick, Laurinda Butcher, Judy Robinson-Cox, Brian Murphy and Mary Rhinelander for donating their time and talents in preparing for this event. Proceeds from BIGtiny go to support the many exhibitions and programs put on by the Rocky Neck Art Colony throughout the year. See the website, www.rockyneckartcolony.org, for up-to-date information on events and activities

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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

Who: The New England Experimental Art Group www.experimentalartgroup.com                                             

What: A Timely Talk: An evening with Robin Colidzin

Where:  ZOOM

When:  March 20,2024 7:00pm

The New England Experimental Art Group presents Robin Colodzin

Please join us as we listen to artist Robin Colodzin. This exciting talk is free and open to the public!  All are welcome!

Robin Colodzin’s work is inspired by the ocean, poetry, philosophy, and feminism. She is an artist, a software engineer, a swimmer, and an avid reader.

Her latest solo show (fall 20223) entitled ‘Embodied’ was a month-long exhibit at The Copley Society for Art in Boston. She has recently published a monograph of the same title, including artwork and writing. 

DESCRIPTION OF TALK:

My studio of safe uncertainty: An exploration of the gap between pure expression and communication in art-making.  I find the practices that get me most fully embodied and expressive sometimes conflict with those that would allow me to shape a painting into something that would say something to others. This talk will explore those tensions. 

 www.colodzin.com

The New England Experimental Art 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. 

If you would like a zoom invite to the event, please contact: Nella Lush, The New England Experimental Art Group Chair, via email at experimentalartgroupraa@gmail.com.

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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 Saturday, March 9th and the Auction will be held on Saturday, May 4th, 2024 – 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, Anthony Thieme, Emile Gruppé, Harry A. Vincent, Antonio Cirino, Frederick Mulhaupt, Jane Peterson, Max Kuehne, W. Lester Stevens, Marguerite S. Pearson, Charles Vickery, Paul Strisik, Charles Paul Gruppé, Harrison Cady, Mabel May Woodward, Carl Peters, Bernard Corey, Charles Movalli, Theresa Bernstein, Don Stone, Al Czerepak, 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 39th 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.

Sunday, March 3rd @ 3:00pm with reception to follow
Annisquam Village Church, 820 Washington Street, Gloucester MA 01930

COST: $35, suggested

The nascent Lobster Cove String Quartet widens its wake with guest artists in a concert Sunday, March 3rd, at 3:00 PM at the Annisquam Village Church.  With windows looking out on the Cove itself, the concert is designed by Artist-in-Residence, violinist and composer Scott Moore—joined here by a glittering lineup of special guests in an eclectic program of new music as inviting as it is fresh. Pianist and songwriter Elizabeth Ziman anchors the lineup with what NPR Music calls “beautiful, thoughtful, smart music largely built around her very approachable and warm voice.”

The March 3rd Wood, Wire, & Song program comprises music written in the last 30 years: the plaintive strains of John Tavener’s mysterious Akhmatova Songs; the elemental crispness of recent Pulitzer-winner Caroline Shaw’s Valencia (composed in Manchester-by-the-Sea); frequent Kronos Quartet collaborator Osvaldo Golijov’s visceral setting of Emily Dickinson, How Slow the Wind; and Moore’s own setting of Shakespeare’s sunny Sonnet 18, a world premiere. Classical soprano Theodora Nestorova joins Ziman, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Dietrich Strause, and quartet members Moore, Erica Pisaturo (violin), Brandon White (viola), and Alex Fowler (cello). Notoriously multi-talented Club Passim stalwart Zachariah Hickman (Josh Ritter, Ray LaMontagne) contributes string arrangements.

$35, suggested

Please join us at the reception following the concert. 

Annisquam Village Church, 820 Washington Street, Gloucester MA 01930 

For questions, please contact the Annisquam Village Church at 978-281-0376 

or avchurch820@gmail.com

The 2024 Rockport Farmers Market will be held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Harvey Park at the intersection of Broadway and Mt. Pleasant Street. The market season will run from June 15 through October 12, 2024.

We look forward to welcoming back our returning farm and food vendors and are hoping to see some new vendors as well! Also for every market day we are accepting one craft vendor with a food related product!

We’re also looking for musicians!

All the applications can be found here:
https://rockportexchange.org/farmers-market/rockport-farmers-market-2023-application

Please contact us if you have any questions:
rockportexchange01966@gmail.com

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

Dates: February 16 – March 31

Opening Reception: Sunday, February 18, 4-6pm

Gallery Hours: Friday-Sunday, Noon – 5 PM

Gloucester MA— 

ROCKY NECK NOW 2024, the highly anticipated annual members show, once again opens the exhibition season at the Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC). This year, works by 79 artist members will be on display, giving a broad overview of RNAC members’ talents and passion. Rocky Neck Now is open to all members and offers each the opportunity to show one recent work. The exhibition showcases a wide range of artistic vision, with representational, abstract and expressive styles in all media.

The Artists

Adam Adkison, Suzanne Agostino, Meredith Anderson, Christine Barensfeld,

John Bassett, Anne Beinecke, Elizabeth Bish, Paula Borsetti,  

Sheila Boss-Concannon, Jennifer K Brown, Mike Cangemi, Jeanne Carey, Betsy Carter, Donna Caselden, Matt Cegelis, Michele Champion, Yhanna Coffin, Anne Marie Crotty, Dianna Daly, Alev Danis, Marci Davis, Lesley Davison, Terry Del Percio, Beth Delforge, Maria Denjongpa, Robert Diebboll, Cheryl Dyment, Cindy Efinger, Barbe Ennis, Paige Farrell, Sue Funk, Jacqueline Ganim-DeFalco, Elizabeth Gauthier, Christine Gauthier-Kelley, Seth Goldfine, Nancy Gorman, John Grant, Karen Gross, Janet Grover, Olga Hayes, Leslie Heffron, Linda Henneman, Kata Hull, Nancy Jarvis, Linda Kauss, Ken King, Tobi Klein, Ira Levine, Juliet Lockwood, Lynn MacLaughlin, Laureen Maher, Jeffrey Marshall, Carmela Martin, Dawn McDonald, Vanessa Michalak, William Mitchell, Ed Mowrey, Brian Murphy, R. D. Murphy, Monica Pepicelli, Margaret Rack, Mary Rhinelander, Kathy Roberts, Judy Robinson-Cox, Tom Robinson-Cox, Patty Rosenblatt, Caleb Rulli, Thomas Rutigliano, Patricia Scialo, James Seavey, Mary Spitzer, Rosemary Sullivan, Marilyn Swift, Helen Tory, Juni Van Dyke, Grace Vasta, Anna Vojtech, Karen Watson, Christine Whalen-Waller

Special Events

The public is invited to celebrate the creativity of RNAC artists at the opening reception on Sunday, February 18 from 4 to 6 PM. View the art, meet the artists and enjoy light refreshments, drink and ever-lively conversation. 

For additional information, including public programs accompanying this exhibition, consult www.rockyneckartcolony.org or rnacexhibitions.com for details and updates. 

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

Celebrating 20 years of making wearable art!

Friday, December 15^th   10AM-4PM
44 Thurston Pt. Rd. Back Barn
Contact:  jackie@capeanndesigns.com or 978-283-8333

This Friday, from 10AM-4PM, join  Jacqueline Ganim-DeFalco at her studio for holiday shopping.  The Sea Glass barn is located at 44 Thurston Pt. Rd. in Riverdale – the back barn off the main road.   There will be a 20% Promotion on most of the jewelry and hair accessories.  For appointments outside of this time, please call 978-283-8333 (Landline) or email: jackie@capeanndesigns.com, you can make appointments for Friday or any other day.   For those that are out of town, the website, CapeAnnDesigns.com now offers nearly 200 pieces on its eCommerce site.

The items available for sale range from the smallest hair accessories to statement pieces designed with the rarest forms of sea glass – bottlenecks and perfume stoppers.  The latest addition to the collection are Sea Glass Stepping stones for the garden.  A few are available for sale, but most will be done by ordering for the Spring. Gift Certificates are available and custom work can be done if you have a favorite piece of sea glass you would like incorporated into the work.   The designs have evolved based on unique finds over the years.   Stop in for some holiday cheer!

joined by the ROCKPORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHORUS

to preform a:

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2:00 PM

at the

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
12 SCHOOL ST., ROCKPORT

ADMISSION IS FREE

https://rockportlegionband.org/
and on Facebook

Dear Friends, Family, Colleagues, & Collectors,

We are excited to announce that we are moving our gallery location to 4 Dock Square in Rockport starting in February!

To celebrate this move, and as a thank you to all our supporters, we have decided to run a one-time-only sale on ALL my prints, cards and ORIGINALS this holiday season!

This Holiday Sale will include: 

All Original Work 30% off

All Prints and Cards 40% off

All Custom Order Print 30% off

If you have had your eye on anything at the gallery, now is the perfect time to jump on it!

Along with this sale, we will be having a holiday party weekend Dec. 9th &10th with light refreshments for all our supporters. 

Come see all of my works both new and old and help us say goodbye to this space as we anticipate the next chapter of Seven Suns Gallery!

When you visit Seven Suns Gallery, you will find originals, prints and cards by Loren Doucette, Forget-Me-Not Pots by Mari Bergeron & Loren Doucette, paintings and cards by Matthew Billey and Earings by Kirsty Yetter at Why Not Jewelry by Kirsty.

Sale is active both online lorendoucetteshop.com and in the store November 15 through December 24 with gallery hours 11-5 daily with extended hours nearing Christmas.

Warmly,

Loren & Andrew

Celebrate the holiday spirit with the 4th Annual Winter Lights on Cape Ann! Discover Gloucester, in partnership with the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, invites everyone to experience the festive charm of our coastal communities from Small Business Saturday on November 25th through New Year’s Day.

This year, more than 100 small businesses across Gloucester, Essex, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Rockport are illuminating their storefronts to celebrate the holiday season. In quintessential New England fashion, these beautiful communities transform into winter wonderlands each year, with sparkling lights and creative window displays, offering a perfect backdrop for holiday shopping and memorable outings.

“The Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce is pleased to partner with Discover Gloucester, presenting the 4th Annual Winter Lights on Cape Ann. This is a magical time of year in our one-of-a-kind region, and Winter Lights is a joyous and festive opportunity to explore our communities throughout the holiday season. We are so excited to have participation from over 100 businesses, who take pride in their creative holiday displays and spreading holiday cheer throughout our Cape Ann and Ipswich communities. Please take a drive, or stroll, and check out the beautiful lights and displays, created for your enjoyment, and be sure to cast your vote for your favorite display. As always, remember to support local businesses by shopping at local businesses, throughout the holiday season,” remarks Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Steve Buckley. 

Back by popular demand is the much-anticipated decorating contest. Spectators and shoppers are encouraged to explore each town, enjoy the festive ambiance, and vote for their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place choices for the Best Winter Lights on Cape Ann. Voting starts on Small Business Saturday, November 25th, and winners will be announced in the New Year, with exciting prizes up for grabs.

“We’re thrilled to see Winter Lights on Cape Ann get a little more festive and expansive each year, with a great group of businesses across all five communities in the Greater Cape Ann region! The holiday season is a truly magical time to explore picturesque Gloucester and our neighbors, with festive lights, holiday events, walkable downtowns lined with shops, surrounded by the serenity of the sea,” says Discover Gloucester Executive Director Tess McColgan.

Pack your car and head to Cape Ann for an unforgettable holiday experience. Be part of the magic and cast your vote in the decorating contest! See the full list of businesses, vote on your favorites, and access the digital map with event details, sales, and more at discovergloucester.com/winter-lights-cape-ann. You can also pick up a brochure in any of the participating businesses, or download the PDF on the website.

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Discover Gloucester is a nonprofit organization focused on increasing awareness of Gloucester as a prime visitor destination. With a vision to inspire diverse and authentic visitor experiences, Discover Gloucester works collaboratively with the city, local businesses, and cultural venues to foster a positive economic impact in the region.

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The Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce – Serving Essex, Gloucester, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea & Rockport for over 100 Years. The Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote its members, provide leadership and advocacy to grow the regional economy, celebrate our culture, and enhance the quality of life for the greater Cape Ann region.

ExhibitionCelebrates Local Photojournalism on Cape Ann – On View: December 2, 2023 to March 17, 2024

The people of Cape Ann have looked to the Gloucester Daily Times for over 135 years to get their news. Opening on Dec. 2, the Cape Ann Museum is pleased to present its special exhibition, Above the Fold: The Photographers of the “Gloucester Daily Times,” 1973-2005, featuring a selection of works by photographers shooting for the Times for over three decades.

“The Gloucester Daily Times celebrates the vibrant community of Cape Ann,” says Oliver Barker, Director of the Cape Ann Museum. “With more than 30 years documented in this exhibition, it captures the emotions of the people in Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Essex. The Museum is excited to share these images that show the details and special moments of everyday life.”

The captivating photographs in the exhibition draw on an important archive of an estimated one million photographs, a recent acquisition donated to the Museum by the North of Boston Media Group, owners of the Gloucester Daily Times. Through the photographs and personal accounts of more than one dozen GDT photographers, the exhibition reflects the people and stories of Cape Ann through the photography that has and continues to bring people together. It shares the integral role that local photojournalism plays in documenting the community. 

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, news coverage relied exclusively on the written word. While photography was invented in the 1820s, almost a century would pass before newspapers embraced it as a way of augmenting their work. 

The Gloucester Daily Times began including photographs in its editions as early as the 1900s, sourcing them primarily from national photo syndicates. This practice was expensive, and the images lacked the authenticity of a homegrown eye. That changed in 1957 when the paper hired its first full-time staff photographer, Charles “Charlie” A. Lowe. In his 24 years at the paper, Lowe documented the range of life on Cape Ann and set the standard for the many photographers who succeeded him. Building on the success of the Museum’s 2009 exhibition featuring Lowe’s work, Above the Fold will focus on the newspaper’s next generation of staff photographers, technological advances that changed the field, and the myriad of ways that GDT photographers have captured life in Cape Ann. 

“When processing the GDT Photo Archive began in 2021, the individual styles and approaches between the different photojournalists quickly became apparent,” says Trenton Carls, Curator of the exhibit and Head Librarian & Archivist at the Cape Ann Museum. “Some drew from the style and approach of Charlie Lowe, but all brought something new and a fresh perspective to their role of documenting Cape Ann. This exhibit looks not only at the photographs of Cape Ann from this over 30-year period, but it also explores the newspaper, cameras, and people that brought them to the community’s doorstep every day.”

During the summer session, the Cape Ann Museum Teen Council worked on their own online exhibit called GDT Through a New Lens, which showcases selected photographs from the Gloucester Daily Times through the eyes of the Council. Members of the Council chose photos that they connected with, from ones that made them laugh to photos that evoked heavy emotion. They sifted through thousands of negatives and microfilm, connecting them with Cape Ann’s history and a time that predated them. Above the Fold is also the impetus for the next Cape Ann eighth-grader project, where the Museum will engage over 400 students this fall to create work that will be featured in the galleries next spring. 

The Above the Fold exhibition will be on display at the Museum from Dec. 2 until March 17, 2024. The Museum is hosting a CAMTalk panel discussion on the exhibit on Dec. 2 at 1:30 p.m. where the photographers themselves will discuss their experience at the Times and the stories, opportunities and challenges they encountered. There will also be a members’ opening reception of the exhibit on Dec. 2 starting at 3 p.m.

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The Cape Ann Museum, founded in 1875, exists to preserve and celebrate the history and culture of the area and to keep it relevant to today’s audiences. Spanning 44,000 square feet, the Museum is one of the major cultural institutions on Boston’s North Shore welcoming more than 25,000 local, national, and international visitors each year to its exhibitions and programs. In addition to fine art, the Museum’s collections include decorative art, textiles, artifacts from the maritime and granite industries, four historic structures, a Library & Archives and a sculpture park in the heart of downtown Gloucester. In Summer 2021, the Museum opened the 12,000 square foot Janet & William Ellery James Center at the Cape Ann Museum Green. The campus is located on the site at the intersection of Washington and Poplar Streets in Gloucester and is open in the summer months. 

The Cape Ann Museum is located at 27 Pleasant Street in Gloucester and is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. General admission is $15.00 adults, $12.00 Cape Ann residents, seniors, and students. Youth (under 18) and Museum members are free. Cape Ann residents can visit for free on the second Saturday of each month. More information can be found on http://www.capeannmuseum.org or please call (978)283-0455 x110.