My View of Life on the Dock
Continuing my series of posts of murals from the stairwells of St. Ann’s Church, here’s one of two fishing boats. The names (updated thanks to a reader’s comment) are “Carole & Gary” and “Sunlight”. Anybody know to whom these vessels belonged?
This is one of a series of murals that remain in the stairwells to the parish hall under St. Ann’s Church (Holy Family Parish). I am told that there used to be more murals, but some have been removed (and maybe some painted over, I don’t know). The ones that remain are in lamentably poor condition, but they are still fascinating, as they portray historical events, people, and boats of Gloucester. I’ll post a few more photos of these murals over the next few days. If anyone can identify themselves or family members (or their boats) in these paintings, please speak out!
On St. Patrick’s day, the Holy Family Parish Women’s Guild organized a traditional Irish dinner in the hall at St. Ann’s, with corned beef, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, Irish soda bread, and (mostly green-frosted) desserts. After everyone was served, the Gloucester High School “Docksiders” provided entertainment, playing a fantastic set including jazz, bossa nova, etc. If you haven’t heard them before, look for an opportunity – they are really great!
We had a good turnout for the event, and everyone seemed to have a great time! Here are some photos.
More photos are on my Flickr photostream in my Holy Family Parish set.
I snapped this shot last summer. Soon we’ll be back to this kind of warm, sunny weather!
Someone thought they had the right to editorialize on the boulder…
You can’t find a much more iconic New England building than a white Protestant church in the center of town. This First Congregational Church in Rockport certainly fits the bill.
…which is represented by an anchor in Christian iconography. Nice nautical imagery for a stained glass window in Gloucester. I expect we’ll be hearing a lot about hope as this election year goes forward.
Wherever you find your hope, share it with someone who needs it. Hope grows when we share it, and the more people are inspired by it, the better chance it has of coming true.
But the snow went almost as fast as it came…
Another detail from a stained glass window in St. Ann’s Church in Gloucester (part of Holy Family Parish).
We usually focus on the people and events in the window and can easily overlook the wonderful attention to detail in the backgrounds…
Eventually I hope to photograph the stained glass windows in other churches in Gloucester. Any suggestions of churches with really great windows besides St. Ann’s?
The crocuses are telling us so…
St. Ann’s windows are real works of art. There are lots of details that can easily go unnoticed.
The snow we got last Wednesday was just enough to make things look pretty on Main Street:
Alchemy’s already cool sign is made even cooler by the snowflakes and snowy branches around it, which make it look warm and inviting. I’ve only eaten there once so far, but it was on a cold winter evening, and it really was cozy inside – and the food was great too.
Being in March, these fish don’t seem to think the snow will last long.
It looks like they’re lifting up their heads to drink in all the snow they can, while it lasts.
From the lovely fountain in front of the Sawyer Library on Dale Ave.
As seen last Wednesday.
Yesterday, Chorus North Shore performed a concert at St. Ann’s Church of Holy Family Parish. The concert celebrates “80 years of choral performances”, including a selection of works performed throughout their history. Here are some photos:
The infamous Gloucester Sea Serpent attacking some schooners. In my dollar-bill-origami rendition, I further enhance the already fanciful descriptions of the sea monster, giving it four horns instead of just one…
No dollar bills were cut, glued, or otherwise damaged (beyond folding) in this production. All models designed and folded by me.
Do you think I might have an overactive imagination?
…if you haven’t already.
Mr. Pumpkin allowed me to interrupt his nap time for this photo. He is very friendly and relaxed (or at least he was when I visited). He lives at Gloucester Music (210 Main St.), a store that sells CDs, LPs, instruments, sheet music, and other musical supplies and accessories.
In the time I’ve lived in Gloucester, I’ve been walking around and exploring the local stores, galleries, etc. little by little. For some reason, I have neglected the eastern part of Main Street; I always end up walk west, on the strip from around Alchemy to the Annie. So the other day, I decided to head in the opposite direction.
One of the treasures I found is Peter Reis art space at 222 Main Street. He was about to close up, but he saw me looking in the window and invited me in.
Besides being a very friendly and welcoming person, creates beautiful works of art, ranging from paintings on canvas for hanging on the wall….
to painted wooden toy chests…
and even a beautiful bronze crucifix!
His work on display incorporates saturated colors and strong geometry, which makes it very striking (and to my taste). Although some of the paintings are straightforwardly representational, most are somewhere along the spectrum of surrealism or self-reference: paintings of fantasy space-scapes, paintings of paintings that merge into the scene, paintings that are paintings of themselves, a pool table with fruit instead of pool balls… It’s really fun to look at!
So, stop by the gallery if you have a chance. It’s well worth it. He also has a good website: http://artbypeterreis.com/artwork/
Good Morning Gloucester 