Author: Matthew Green

I am a translator, origami artist/teacher, and photographer, a blogger, former philosophy professor, and I love to sing. You can see my photos on Flickr and buy prints of some of them on Fine Art America. You can find me on Instagram, Twitter (@mehjg), and in various and sundry other social media sites on the web.

The Eco Boutique

Posted on by Matthew Green

_Eco Boutique 0The Eco Boutique is located at 186 Main Street, in Brown’s Mall (to the right as you enter the mall, although they also have an entrance straight on to Main Street).  Like many of the stores I’ve reviewed, they carry a variety of items, including clothes for all ages (men and women) and hand-made jewelry, but they also have a very specific focus: used children’s clothing!  That is good news for anyone with kids, because we all know how fast they grow, and parents often have used children’s clothes to get rid of and need new ones too! Of course, in some families they use the hand-me-down solution; growing up, I often used clothes that had belonged first to my cousins and then to my older brother… But that isn’t possible for everyone. So, here’s a good place to get into the circle of recycling gently used children’s clothing!

Being just a bit east of the intersection of Main St. and Pleasant St., it’s very easy to find, and you can park at the lot a block away on Pleasant St.  (a good central location to part for you to visit practically any of the Main St. stores I’ve mentioned). Their hours are: Sun. 12-5PM, Mon-Wed. 10-5PM, Thurs. 10-7PM, Fri-Sat. 10-6PM.

Next up: The Past Present Shoppe!

– Matthew Green

 

The Dress Code – the 2nd-hand store series continues!

Posted on by Matthew Green

Continuing my series on second-hand stores in the Gloucester-Rockport area, today we make a virtual visit to The Dress Code! (159 Main St.)

_The Dress Code façadeThe Dress Code is a consignment store that specializes in women’s clothing and accessories, although they also have some men’s clothing and other items.  Very often they welcome visitors with a rack of clothes outside the front door:

_The Dress Code 3 dollar rackI have been in here a few times looking for men’s clothes (including the first tie I’ve worn in 20 years), and the staff has always been welcoming and helpful. Here are some photos of the inside of the store:


They are open Mon-Sat 10AM-5PM, and Sunday 12PM-5PM.

Next up in the series: The Eco Boutique!

– Matthew Green

Origami class for kids at Art Haven tomorrow, 3:30PM

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Tomorrow there is an an origami class for kids scheduled at Art Haven, 3:30-5PM! But no one has registered yet, so the content and level of difficulty of the class is entirely flexible according to the needs and interests of those who sign up.

So, for example, if your child (or a child you know) has an origami book and has stopped using it because he/she is stuck on a difficult model or discouraged, register them for the class and bring them with the book in question! I will help them through whatever difficulty they may be facing, and we can fold some model(s) from the book with the other students.

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A glimpse at part of my own origami library…

Or, we can do basic water-themed origami, learning things like how to make a paper cup that holds water, origami boats that float, and the (in)famous “water bomb” that you can full up and throw like a water balloon! And maybe jumping frogs, made out of business cards. They are fairly easy to make, and the best jumpers I know (better than the traditional jumping frog made from an ordinary square). And a fish or two…

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The possibilities are endless! Contact Art Haven for details on pricing and registration, and if you do register and have a specific interest or need, let me know ahead of time so I can prepare if necessary (you can comment on this post).

– Matthew Green

Yesterday’s clouds

Posted on by Matthew Green

Yesterday afternoon I drove from Rhode Island back up to Gloucester, and stopped several times to take photos of the clouds. In my photography workshop this afternoon at The Hive, I will be explaining (among other things) the techniques I used to bring out the contrast and detail in these photos.

 

– Matthew Green

Greasy Pole, The Musical – Now, the Slide Show!

Posted on by Matthew Green

I caught one of the last showings of Greasy Pole, The Musical this year. This year’s cast (mostly new) did a great job keeping up the tradition of past years! Here is a slideshow of photos I took (warning: spoilers implied!)

If you missed this one, catch it next year! But the same troupe – Henry Allen’s North Shore Folklore Theatre – has a lineup of shows and other activities that you can see – and participate in – throughout the year! Besides the website at the previous link, you can also find them on Facebook.

– Matthew Green

Today is your last day to see Art on the Rocks

Posted on by Matthew Green

On Friday night, I stopped by the opening of Art on the Rocks at the Cultural Center at Rock Neck (in the downstairs area).  I was already familiar with some of the work of the artists, so I was really looking forward to seeing this show.  It was well worth it! Stop by while you still can!

Here are some photos of the artists and their work, in a slideshow.

– Matthew Green

Gallery Talk at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck

Posted on by Matthew Green

This Sunday, July 7, is the last day of the “Griffin Museum’s Photography Atelier 17” show at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck.   I twill close with a special event: form 5-6PM, the director of the Griffin Museum will give a free gallery talk! The photos are remarkable, so I am sure the gallery talk will be well worth attending.

– Matthew Green

For me, the clouds were among the highlights at the Horribles Parade

Posted on by Matthew Green
Clouds before the parade

The Man at the Wheel seemed impressed with the clouds too.
Rainbows in (front of) the clouds

– Matthew Green

Schooner Thomas Lannon in the mist

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Taken yesterday afternoon during a photo walk, which was part of a photography workshop I am leading at The Hive.

– Matthew Green

 

Bub’s Tool Consignment

Posted on by Matthew Green

When I decided to do this series on second-hand stores, I was already familiar with most of them, but there were some that I discovered specifically for these posts.  That includes Bub’s Tool Consignment, (11 Pond Rd.).  It’s a relatively new store, and Joey interviewed the owner back in December.  Barry Williams, the owner, is a really friendly guy.

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I hadn’t seen the store before because it’s not on a road where I walk or drive often, but it’s right down the street from Second Glance and just a few minutes’ drive from downtown Gloucester, and hence very well located for anyone looking for deals.  I was impressed by the range of tools he has on sale; everything from basic garden and carpentry tools to large, professional items. Barry is selective about what he will put in his store, so you can be sure to find solid equipment.

It’s great to know about this place, not only because I might need to buy some tools at good prices, but also because my father is cleaning out his garage and will have used tools to sell!

Store hours:
Monday-Friday: 8am – 4:30pm
Saturday: 8am – 12pm
Sunday: CLOSED

Here’s a list of the places covered so far in this series:

Second Glance
St. John’s Thrift Shop
The Sequined Fan
Pearl’s
Junque & Disorderly
Cape Ann Thrift Shop
Main Street Arts and Antiques
Dogtown Book Shop
Gabriel’s Antiques
Bananas
Mystery Train Records

We still have more to go!

– Matthew Green

Mystery Train Records

Posted on by Matthew Green

Finally breaking through the half-way point on my list of second-hand stores in Gloucester, today we look at another specialized store: Mystery Train Records (21 Main St., open 10-7 daily), which sells “rare and collectible vinyl recordings from every genre of music”. They also sell used CDs and DVDs.

DSC07670As you can see from the photo, the store is located near the western end of Main Street (close to the main venues of Fiesta!) and shares the building with Cape Ann Cinema. I have been in the store a couple of times, but every time I walk in I am impressed by the size of the store and the shear volume of their inventory (pun intended)!

Apparently customers travel from miles around to come here, as stores of this sort aren’t all that common. They also sell on eBay.

Of course, to be able to use the vinyl records, you need to have a record player. If you don’t still have one in your house from before the dominance of CD’s and MP3s, but are longing for that classic sound, you are not without recourse.  Mystery Train  usually has a few in stock (new or used), and you can also buy them on-line.

DSC07678– Matthew Green

Going “Bananas” for vintage clothes

Posted on by Matthew Green

Among the many second-hand stores in Gloucester, some are “generalists” (the church and charity-affiliated thrift shops, Main Street Arts and Antiques, etc..) and others are specialized in things like books, music, or clothes. Today we look at one that specializes in vintage clothing and accessories: Bananas (78 Main St)!
_Bananas façadeI have heard from many people that this is the go-to place for vintage clothing, jewelry and accessories for theater productions, but Bananas also sells contemporary clothing. I picked up a nice pair of suspenders here not long ago.

The store hours are 10-5 Monday-Saturday., 11-4 Sunday.  Click here to see a GMG interview with the proprietor, Richard Leonard, from four years ago.  Most of the time when I go in, I see local artist Debbie Clarke behind the counter.  Her beautiful work has been seen on this blog on more than one occasion.

I can’t help but mention that frequent GMG contributor and all-around nice guy Fred Bodin’s gallery is practically next door.  But then again, there are so many cool places and GMG contributors and friends in close proximity downtown, that if I were to list them all, I’d end up making a map of downtown Gloucester… And I mean that!

– Matthew Green

Gabriel’s Antiques

Posted on by Matthew Green

Getting back to my series on second-hand (antiques, consignment, thrift, etc.) stores, today we pay a virtual visit to Gabriel’s Antiques (100 Main Street).

_Gabriel's façadeGabriel’s is a “generalist” antique store tending towards upscale items and prices (although according to one on-line review I read, you can negotiate the prices).  What has usually most impressed me of their inventory is the selection of beautiful paintings, often partially showcased in the front window.

The last time I was there they also had a beautiful set of china plates with images from Gloucester, and other unique marine-themed items.  Gabriel’s is definitely a place to visit if you are looking to add an elegant (and perhaps locally flavored) touch to your living space! It is open Mon-Tue/Thurs-Fri-Sat 11AM-5PM, and Sunday 1-5 (closed on Wednesday).
And practically all these Main Street shops (Main Street Arts and Antiques, Dogtown Books, Banana’s, Dress Code, etc.) are in easy walking distance of each other, so you can find a parking space somewhere in the middle and go shop hopping… And of course there are all sorts of good restaurants in between where you can stop if your shopping makes you hungry!

– Matthew Green

 

 

Origami and Photography Workshops

Posted on by Matthew Green

I will be directing an origami workshop for kids at Art Haven and a digital photography workshop at The Hive this month! Here are descriptions of both. For pricing and additional details, see official websites (at the links provided).

Origami for Kids at Art Haven
Thursdays, June 27, July 4, 11, 18, 25, 3:30-5:00PM
“Origami for Kids” will introduce young artists to the world of origami. Besides learning a variety of basic fun models across a variety of themes, we will go over the essentials of origami terminology and symbols involved in reading origami diagrams, so that the children can learn to fold on their own more easily.

Digital Photography Workshop at The Hive
Tuesdays, July 2, 9, 16, 23
July 2 and 16, 4-7PM: Before going out to shoot, we will meet at Art Haven, where the instructor will explain key camera features and shooting tips and techniques, including the differences between file formats (with their relative advantages and disadvantages), how to use manual settings, basics of composition, and shooting HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography. We will then go to shoot photographically interesting locations throughout Gloucester, with some suggested themes and perspectives.
July 9 and 23, 4-6PM: We will meet at The Hive to share our favorite photos from the past week and critique each other’s work. Besides providing creative feedback about the shots, the instructor will give instruction on techniques for post-processing using popular software.

– Matthew Green

Origami Jewelry

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My first foray into origami jewelry!
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The convention is over now, so I will be back in Gloucester tonight, soon to turn some if the origami enthusiasm of the convention into more works of art!
-Matthew Green

Origami Dragonflies

Posted on by Matthew Green

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I am making these origami dragonflies to make pins for a pin exchange at the origami convention tomorrow! I will continue with my posts on second-hand stores when I get back.

– Matthew Green