Category: Art

World Origami Days: Origami is not just for kids!

Posted on by Matthew Green

For my second-to-last origami post during World Origami Days, I am going to address a popular misconception (and at the end put in another plug for a Christmas origami class here in Gloucester).

Often when I mention that I do and teach origami, people say something like, “Oh, that must be great for working with kids!”Ā  While it is certainly true that children often like origami, and that many origami books and kits are aimed at children, it is a mistake to reduce origami to a children’s activity.Ā  That would be sort of like saying that drawing or painting is for kids because there are a lot of crayons, magic markers, and watercolor kits are marketed to children.

One’s enjoyment and ability at origami have little to do with age.Ā  For example, at the annual origami convention in New York City, participants range in age from small children to senior citizens.Ā  There are active origami clubs at prestigious universities – some of the most impressive origami I’ve ever seen has come out of the MIT’s origami club, OrigaMIT.Ā  Check out OrigaMIT member Brian Chan’s “Attack of the Kraken” (the photo is from his website):

Yes, folks, that’s ONE SQUARE SHEET OF PAPER with NO CUTTING!

Over the past couple of decades, origami designers have brought complex math skills to bear upon the difficulties of creating complex models, with stunning results.Ā  Some of the greatest origami masters are trained mathematicians and scientists. One of the most well-known is Robert Lang (PhD in applied physics from Caltech). Here is one of his models:

Again, that’s one square sheet of uncut paper. Lang has written an in-depth work on designing origami models using mathematical methods.

It’s not just the case that origami benefits from math and science; the same goes the other way around.Ā  Origami ideas and principles have been used in fields as diverse as biology (“protein origami”) and space technology (foldable satellite solar panels, etc.).

Origami really can be a refined art.Ā  Take the works of the recently deceased French sculptor Eric Joisel:

Or this Asian water buffalo, folded by Eric Madrigal and designed by Nguyen Hung Quong:

Or this alligator by Michael Lafosse, who, with his partner Richard Alexander, has his Origamido studio in Haverhill, MA:

Michael Lafosse has come to Cape Ann a few times to give classes.

These are examples of some truly outstanding origami artists who are using special materials. They are not alone: there are many more than I have mentioned here.Ā  However, most people are happy with much simpler work.Ā  My point is that, the next time you see an origami class offered, don’t just think, “that would be fun for my (grand)children.”Ā  Anyone who enjoys artistic activity, and maybe math, logic, etc., can find joy in the creativity and the challenges of origami.

That said, please leave a comment or contact me in some other way if you would be interested in the Christmas origami class that I mentioned in an earlier post. I’d like to get a feeling for what whether or not there would be enough participants to make it worthwhile. I would probably offer the class on the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 2, or thereabouts.

Tomorrow, my last “World Origami Days” post: Origami on Cape Ann.

– Fr. Matthew Green

Community Stuff 11/10/12

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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For more: www.LawAndWater.com.

Hi Joey and crew!

Just Love GMG!

Please post the following announcement. Many folks here on Cape Ann have lost someone to suicide. It is a most devastating loss.  There is a place and time to come together to be in the company of others who know this kind of pain. Please see info below.

Thanks for all the good you do to promote communication and strong community!

Best, Anita Pandolfe Ruchman

Rockport

If you have lost someone to suicide, you are not alone. There are millions of survivors who, like you, are trying to cope with this heartbreaking loss. More than 38,000 people take their lives every year in the Unites States, each leaving behind friends and loved ones who struggle with loss, grief and all of those questions that begin "Why…?"

On Saturday, November 17th, hundreds of simultaneous conferences for survivors of suicide loss will take place throughout the country and around the world. This unique network of healing conferences helps survivors connect with others who have survived the tragedy of suicide loss, and express and understand the powerful emotions they experience.

Please invite others who are on this journey to join us on November 17th.

IN GLOUCESTER:

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2012 12:30 ā€“ 3:30

BankGloucester 160 Main St.  Gloucester, Ma. 01966

$10 suggested donation

contact: Anita Pandolfe Ruchman NP

Survivor/ Holistic Nurse-Psychotherapist —- apr822@verizon.net

978 546 6599

5th Annual Lights of Love
Thursday, November 29, 2012, 5:30-6:30 p.m
.Addison Gilbert Hospital, 298 Washington Street, Gloucester

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Enter for your chance to win this original, framed oil painting, New England Springtime, by acclaimed Cape Ann artist     Ken Knowles.  100% of your raffle ticket purchase directly benefits cancer care services for Cape Ann patients, supporting world-class cancer care close to home for those who need it most.

Lights of Love is an annual celebration of life and hope.  The highlight of our season-long benefit is the festive Tree Lighting Ceremony which commemorates all who have been touched by cancer.  Launched in 2008 by Cape Ann residents Sue Kyle and Shawn Wilson in gratitude for the care Sue continues to receive at AGH, Lights of Love has raised more than $50,000 to ensure access to top-notch cancer care for Cape Ann families and the 2,000 patients served each year at the Gorton’s Specialty and Cancer Care Center.

Save the Date and bring your family for the 5th Annual Lights of Love Benefit and Tree Lighting on November 29 Featuring Lights of Love Annual Tree Lighting * Art Raffle Drawing * Cape Ann Raffle Prizes * Caroling with the Gloucester High School Chorus * Tribute and Holiday Treats.  We look forward to seeing you there.

Tickets available in Administration and Community Relations at Addison Gilbert Hospital (inside Washington Street entrance).

Please contact Rebecca via email or by phone 978.236.1624 for further information.

Rockport Art Association Announces Fourth Annual

ā€œMasterpieces in Miniatureā€ Holiday Exhibition and Sale

The Rockport Art Association (RAA) announces its fourth annual ā€œMasterpieces in Miniatureā€ exhibition and sale, set to open on Friday evening, November 16, 2012. More than 75 of the RAAā€™s award-winning member artists will display a quartet of small works, which are all framed and sold individually. Based on the past success of this event, the RAA knows that these smaller pieces, which range in price from $250 to $1,000, allow more people to be able to purchase original works by our member artists for their own collections — or as gifts — and support the RAA in this important end-of-year fundraising event.

The exhibition will open with a reception on Friday, November 16th from 6pm to 8pm and will feature music, drinks and hors dā€™oeuvres. The opening reception will be the first opportunity to view and purchase these paintings ā€“ there will be absolutely no ā€˜early birdā€™ sales. Last year, buyers were lined up at the door, and flooded the galleries, intent on purchasing their favorite works.

As in past years, the exhibition will feature 6ā€ by 8ā€ works in many mediums, including oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, drawings and sculpture. All are beautifully framed and ready to hang. Photographs of each piece will also be displayed on the RAAā€™s website, www.rockportartassn.org, soon after the opening so that art collectors outside the area will be able to view and purchase these small gems. New paintings will be hung to replenish the walls during the duration of the show, so the RAA encourages art collectors to revisit the exhibition more than once.

Another highlight of opening night is that the ā€œHave You Seen the Mosher at the RAAā€ raffle winner will be drawn. The winner will receive a beautiful 26ā€ x 32ā€ original oil generously donated by one of the RAAā€™s most well-known and award-winning artists, Donald Allen Mosher. Raffle tickets are still available.

The RAA is the nationā€™s oldest continually operating art association and serves a region steeped in a rich and meaningful arts tradition. As a non-profit organization, it raises operating funds for its exhibitions and educational programs, which are all open to the public, from donations and fundraising events. Artists will be donating from 40% to 100% of the proceeds from sales of these ā€œMasterpieces in Miniatureā€ to the RAA. This is the RAAā€™s final exhibition of 2012, and the organization is relying on sales to help it meet its end-of-year operating expenses.

The RAA is located on Main Street in historic Rockport, Massachusetts, and is open to the public. Fall hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to 4pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm, and Sundays from noon until 5pm. ā€œMasterpieces in Miniatureā€ will be on display from November 16 to December 31, 2012.

eastgloucesterrooftopsWEB

Come by BankGloucester on Saturday, November 17, 2012 from 11am to 1pm for a public reception for artist Rod Peterson. The reception is a great opportunity to meet Rod and speak with him regarding his work. Light refreshments will be served.  A collection of his paintings are on display at the bank through January 11, 2013.

Rod Peterson, a native and resident of Malden, MA, started painting in the early 1970ā€™s and studied painting with North Shore artist Eva Cincotta, South Shore artist Ros Farbush and the late artist/author David Millard. He has been involved with the Malden Sketch Group since its start back in 1996. Rod is an Artist Member of the North Shore Arts Association and he is currently represented by The Back Bay Framery at 227 Newbury St. in Boston.

The bank is located at 160 Main Street in Gloucester.

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Rose Baker Happenings

Note: Rose Baker Senior Center is closed November 12th, Veteranā€™s Day.
Stockings for the homeless
The Social Day Care program at Rose Baker Senior Center has started their annual collection of personal care items for men and women living in shelters. The items are placed in stockings and delivered to ACTION Shelter and Grace Center at Christmas time. This is a wonderful use for those soaps and body products we all collect on our travels as well as the extra items we have around the house, such as small toothpastes, toothbrushes and dental floss. Please bring any items you would like to contribute to Rose Baker Center by December 14th.
Medicare Program
At 10am on Wednesday, November 14th, MassPro is presenting a program entitled ā€œHow the Medicare Program Protects You.ā€ Among the topics that will be covered are:
Ā·    Your rights under Medicare
Ā·    Medicare and quality care
On Going
The memoir writing group meets the first and third Thursdays of every month. The next meeting is November 16th. The groups is putting their memories into words, creating wonderful personal and family histories. The group meets from 10 to noon and is always looking for new members.

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World Origami Days: Modular origami

Posted on by Matthew Green

 

Modular origami consists of models (often, but not always, geometrical shapes) made out of many origami units, usually joined through folding tabs and slots, not glue or tape. Ā In these examples (from Tomoko Fuse’s book “Unit Origami”, which I picked up at the Dogtown Book Shop) the units for each model are all identical. Ā These are the kinds of folds that make good, colorful Christmas tree ornaments. Ā If I do a class for Christmas tree origami, some simple modular origami will definitely be in the plan.

There are more complex designs that require two or more different kinds of modules for their construction. Ā The units themselves are usually fairly simple to fold, but they often can be combined in many different ways to make everything from simple tetrahedra and cubes to fantastically complicated interwoven geometrical wonders. Ā Try using your favorite internet search engine to look for images of “modular origami”, and prepare to be blown away.

– Fr. Matthew Green

World Origami Days: Tessellations

Posted on by Matthew Green

Not all origami is representational. Ā Paperfolding can also be used to produce geometric solids, patterns, etc. Ā Included in that category are “tessellations” – repeating geometric patterns folded into a single sheet of paper. The technique is often used for abstract geometric designs, but can also be used to give texture to surfaces on representational models. Ā The most spectacular example I know of this texturing effect is a dragon designed by the Japanese origami master Satoshi Kamiya. Ā Here’s a more simple example – photos of the two sides of a “waterbomb base” tesselation folded from a 10″ square of blue origami paper:

Next up: modular origami!

– Fr. Matthew Green

World Origami Days: Star Wars Origami

Posted on by Matthew Green

I promised to post on origami each day of the remaining World Origami Days (until Nov. 11). I’ll try to include a variety of themes and styles, to keep it interesting and informative. Ā There is a lot more to origami than just birds and paper airplanes! Here’s a small sample of what happens when you mix origami with Star Wars fandom. It’s an origami landspeeder!

I folded this from diagrams in the book by Chris Alexander, which I got as a birthday present from the people who work in our parish offices – my thanks to them all!

There’s actually quite a lot of Star Wars origami out there, ranging from the fairly simple (like many models in this book) to the highly complex, as you can see on the Starwarigami website.

Next up: abstract origami tessellations!

– Fr. Matthew Green

 

Video- Talking Kickstarter With Writer Joel Brown

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Joel Brown discusses his experience fundsourcing his book through Kickstarter.  Itā€™s an interesting lesson on how Kickstarter works and the experience Joel had going through the Kickstarter process.

Without Kickstarter and programs like it Joel Brownā€™s Essex Coastal Byway Guide maybe never gets published, Our EJ LeFavourā€™s Pussycat Book doesnā€™t get published and The C. B. Fisk Opus Documentary maybe doesnā€™t get made the way they would have liked.

Understand more about the process by watching the video with writer Joel Brown here-

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World origami days! And, Christmas tree origami?

Posted on by Matthew Green

Here’s an origami lemur reminding me that we are already half-way through this year’s World Origami Days!

World origami days are passing by

I saw a photo of this cute little lemur model on the internet, and the folder was kind enough to send me the diagrams. I aim to post an origami photo every day of the remaining “World Origami Days”. Let’s see if I can keep that resolution…

By the way, all the decorations on my own Christmas tree (with one or two exceptions) are made of origami.Ā  Would anyone be interested in an origami Christmas tree ornament workshop?Ā  I’m thinking about organizing one.Ā  I could teach a variety of designs, like an angel, a Santa, a non-representational geometric ornament, and maybe some ideas for origami garlands for the tree too.Ā  For dates, I’m thinking either late November or early December.

Or, here’s an idea for you. Every year, OrigamiUSA decorates a tree in the American Museum of Natural History in New York City with origami, following some theme.Ā  What would be really cool would be a (modestly sized) Christmas tree decorated with nautically-themed origami in some public (indoor) location in Gloucester.Ā  Whales, fish, lobsters, boats, lighthouses,… That would be a fun project, if enough people were interested in helping.Ā  Am I crazy?

– Fr. Matthew Green

Fisk Documentary almost done

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

 

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About the Project:

"The Opus 139 Project: To Hear the Music" is a documentary entering its final editing stage that celebrates great music, great craftsmanship, and the unique workplace ethic at C.B. Fisk, Inc. The completed film will tell the interwoven stories of founder Charles Brenton Fisk, his workshop in action, and the enterprise of creating, installing, and voicing a single new pipe organ, in this case Opus 139, commissioned by the late beloved Peter Gomes, for his magnificent Memorial Church at Harvard University.

It is a rare opportunity to be able to document and experience the intricate design process, attention to detail, and stunning craftsmanship involved in the construction of this "King of Instruments." In the last act, the soaring glory of the new organ at Harvard, Opus 139, will be heard at its inaugural concert. The Opus 139 Project is a film about the evolution of a single pipe organ, 3 years in the making, and needs to raise $15,000 in 31 days to complete production. Timeline for finishing is May 2013.

This is, has been, and will be a labor of love, rather than a for-profit project.

Sincerely,

Dennis Lanson, Director/Producer & the Opus 139 Project Team.

Kickstarter link here

Election Day Special!!! For residents of Cape Ann!

Posted on by Joanne

Julie Cleveland, Owner/Piano Instructor, Cape Ann Piano Studio.

Sign up now for the Winter Quarter (12-week quarter begins Monday, Dec. 10th) and get 25% off your Winter Quarter tuition payment! Must sign up by close of polls tomorrow to get the discount, and mention that you saw this ad on GoodMorningGloucester.com.Ā 

Julie Cleveland, Pianist/Instructor/Composer
M.Mus., New England Conservatory
Cape Ann Piano Studio, Gloucester, MA
http://www.capeannpiano.com/
Teaching children and adults to play the piano since 1988

Oddities, here and abroad

Posted on by Matthew Green

First, this photo I took in France:

Say what? Batman posed like Adam in the “creation” fresco in the Sistine Chapel, with Superman in place of God? In front of a Gothic church, behind the Louvre, in Paris??

OK, now the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen on a brick wall in Gloucester:

Yup, it’s a bagel stuck to the wall by the adhesive power of peanut butter. Ā Did someone trip while eating and accidentally stick the bagel to the wall? Or was it intentional? If so, is it vandalism, or art? Or were they just saving it for later?

– Fr. Matthew Green

 

 

Memories of Paris

Posted on by Matthew Green

More scrumptiousness from my recent vacation in Paris… the Eiffel Tower at night.

No tripod, zero retouching. Have I mentioned how much I love this camera?

– Fr. Matthew Green

Don’t miss Shakespeare in Gloucester!

Posted on by Matthew Green

The Cape Ann Shakespeare Troupe is presenting two adaptations of Shakespeare works at the Gorton Theater.Ā I went to opening night on Thursday, and it was great! Ā One might think that Shakespeare would be intimidating, but the actors do a great job of making it accessible. Ā You also get to hear some lively Shakespearean insults when the characters take each other on (“Get lost, youĀ dwarf, you tiny little weed, you scrap, youĀ acorn!”) Ā Here are a few photos. (For more photos, click here.) Ā First in the show is ad adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream:

 

 

Second is a version of King Lear:

 

More photos of the performances (and rehearsals) here.

– Fr. Matthew Green

 

seARTS Annual Fundraiser, Held at the Bass Rocks Golf Club

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Submitted by Terry Weber

The event featured the work of local artists, dancing and fun! Music was provided by the Cape Ann Big Band, the Beverly High School jazz band and a few surprise jazz singers.

Photos  submitted by Terry Weber and Clark Linehan

Click for slide show-

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Happy Halloween!

Posted on by Matthew Green

Another gargoyle shot from Notre Dame in Paris. Possibly my best photo from all this vacation. Ā Shot at max telephoto without a tripod, thanks to the great low-light capabilities of my new Sony a65 camera! Ā The only retouching I did was to crop the photo, slightly adjust the contrast on the moon’s face, and remove some color fringing. And add the discreet copyright notice on the top ledge.

– Fr. Matthew Green

 

An Update from: the steering committee for the proposed Downtown Gloucester Cultural District (DGCD)

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Catherine Ryan forwards-

We are in the final steps of readying our application for the Massachusetts Cultural Council!

SAVE THE DATE

Meeting:       City Council November 13, 2012

ON THE AGENDA: the Proposed Downtown Gloucester Cultural District (DGCD)

Date:           November 13, 2012

Time:           7PM

Location:     Gloucester City Hall, Kyrouz Auditorium

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Click image or link here http://culturaldistrict.zapd.net/

About the Downtown Gloucester Cultural District:

A volunteer- based steering committee, neighbors, stakeholders, property owners, business representatives, arts and culture representatives committed to the establishment of a downtown cultural district designation from the Massachusetts Cultural Council by 2013. The DGCD will foster links between economic development and the arts, and will support the downtown  Gloucester community.

Co-chairs: Judith Hoglander (Chair Committee for the Arts) and Robert Whitmarsh (Downtown Development and Historical Commissions)    Visit DGCD news: http://culturaldistrict.zapd.net/

Email: dgcdinfo@gmail.com (add to contact list)  or judith@nii.net subject line DGCD

“What are you lookin’ at?”

Posted on by Matthew Green

Another Parisian gargoyle photo for Halloween…

Looks like he’s shouting at the tourists: “Hey, what are you lookin’ at?”

My best gargoyle photo from this vacation will be up tomorrow on Halloween itself.

– Fr. Matthew Green

 

Gargoyles enjoying the view?

Posted on by Matthew Green

Another gargoyle photo from my vacation, in the spirit of Halloween.

It looks like they’re watching a football game or something. These are on Notre Dame cathedral in Paris.

– Fr. Matthew Green

 

Unhappy gargoyle

Posted on by Matthew Green

Is he nauseated, or just bored? Ā I shot this photo at the Abbey of Solesmes in France, during my recent vacation.

– Fr. Matthew Green

 

1st Annual Artist and Associate Members Pre-Holiday Small Works Show and Potluck Dinner Thursday October 25, 5-7 North Shore Arts Association Very Fun and Successful!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

From Alice Gardner-