Good Morning Gloucester

Can you spot all three?

Fading….

In the spirit of the holidays, every year the Rockport Art Association and Museum presents the Annual Live Christmas Pageant to the Rockport–and Cape Ann–communities at large.  This year, the pageant was to be held Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 5PM  

Yet with Covid-19, the wellbeing of our community coming first, and strict safety protocol in place town wide, this year the Pageant takes on a new and exciting presentation.  Together with Willoughby’s on Main street, the Rockport Art Association and Museum has created for you a still life of the stable scene and the birth of Jesus along with a display of the magnificent costumes of the Three Kings.  (Pease see photos attached to this email.) This Willoughby’s window scene will be available for you, your family, friends, and the entire Cape Ann community to enjoy through the month of December.  We sincerely hope you enjoy, and look forward to joining you in a return to a live Christmas Pageant in 2021! 

For more information regarding the Rockport Art Association and Museum’s Annual Live Christmas Pageant, we invite you consult the Overview of the Pageant included below, and to check out our website at: www.rockportartassn.org 

A brief Overview of the RAA&M Christmas Pageant: 

The Beginning 

It all began back in 1945 with artist Jackie Hibbard, wife to famed artist Aldro Hibbard.  It was she who first suggested that the Rockport Art Association & Museum produce a Christmas pageant.  Unlike anything ever seen on Cape Ann before, this pageant would not take place on a theatre stage with actors but rather, would be a living, breathing procession composed of local neighbors and friends moving through the streets of downtown Rockport as they reenacted the story of Mary, Joseph and the birth of the Baby Jesus. 

The Procession  

Each year hundreds of spectators gather to watch this live re-enactment of the Nativity.  The pageant begins in the Rockport Art Association & Museum’s Hibbard and Maddocks galleries, where a cast of 100 people of all ages playing various roles of Roman soldiers, townspeople of Bethlehem, shepherds, and more gather to don costumes and makeup.  Then, with torches in hand, they file out of the Art Association and head down Stone Barn Lane to Dock Square, where the pageant begins in earnest.   

From Dock Square Torch Bearers and three Roman Soldiers escort Mary and Joseph along Main Street, followed by dozens of townspeople dressed as Ladies of Bethlehem, Children of Bethlehem and Shepherds.  (Customarily, a donkey follows to assist Mary on her journey.)  Desperate for shelter, Mary and Joseph stop at the Inn (played—fittingly enough—by the Rockport Art Association & Museum) only to be informed by the Innkeeper and his daughter that there is no room at the Inn and turned away.  

Yet good fortune smiles down upon the Holy Family when the Innkeeper’s daughter takes pity on the couple in the cold winter night and suggests they stay in the stable where the sheep and goats rest.  Before the couple leaves, the Innkeeper offers Mary and Joseph a drink of water from their well.  Then the Innkeeper’s daughter escorts Mary and Joseph up to the stable (situated on the lawn of the First Congregational Church) where Mary proceeds to give birth to her son, Jesus of Nazareth.  

After the birth, the Three Kings proceed to offer homage with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh while children, too, offer gifts, including two white doves.  The celebration concludes with a moving rendition of “Silent Night” sung by all in attendance. 

Featured Role: Mary 

Determining who shall play the coveted role of Mary requires a selection process that is a tradition in itself.  Choosing Mary is always a difficult task for the pageant director.  The decision must meet a number of criteria:  Historically candidates are between the ages of 17-20.  The chosen Mary must have participated in the pageant for a number of years. (Many girls have been in the pageant for six or seven years.)  The person who plays the role of Mary changes every year.  

The identity of the person portraying Mary is kept secret until she appears the night of the pageant.   

Baby Jesus 

Given the seasonably-cold temperatures that come with holding a live outdoor pageant in December, the role of the Baby Jesus understandably calls for a stand-in.  The Baby Jesus is a newborn doll larger-than-average, specifically so the crowd can see him.  Especially the children.  

Costumes 

From Mary, Joseph, the Three Kings, and Roman Soldiers, to Torch Bearers, Shepherds, Ladies’ of Bethlehem, Children of Bethlehem, Innkeeper, Innkeeper’s Daughter, Children at the Well, and Dove Children, the Rockport Art Association & Museum literally has hundreds of costumes for every role and in every size for everyone who wishes to participate.  Generations of families who participated as children now bring their own children and continue to participate themselves. 

www.instagram.com/captjoe06/

via @OnlyInBos

Did you know our Jimmy and Pat Dalpiaz taught the two nerdy twins in high school that played roles throughout the series?

So basically the whole series was such a success because Jim and Pat played such instrumental roles in the formative years of these two twin actors. 🙂

We watched the Patriot return to the harbor from a couple of different angles several days ago. Always thankful to see them come home!

Please help local artists and Maritime Gloucester by doing some shopping with us every Sat and Sunday in December!  Maritime Gloucester and a group of local artists have combined to help each other and to supply you with a beautiful selection of affordable gifts. From cards to mugs to coasters to puzzles to soap to pottery to stained glass to small paintings.  We have every you could need for that special gift.

“Virtual” Opening Reception on Facebook: Saturday, December 5, 2020 2P.M. 

Exhibit closes: Thursday, December 31, 2020 

Following the exceptional success of last year’s inaugural exhibition, this December the Rockport Art Association & Museum will again be holding an exhibition of national scope and proportions!  The RAA&M National 2020 is an open invitational for artists across the United States to exhibit artwork crafted in a diverse number of media (drawing, mixed media, collage, photography, painting, digital art and sculpture) here at the Rockport Art Association & Museum.  It is an opportunity to show artwork that reveals the diversity of the Creative Community around us here on Cape Ann, and an occasion to introduce new artistic influences from beyond this region to artists and the public alike. 

With the extremely generous and selfless support of public institutions and private individuals over $5,000 in prize money is to be awarded for superlative works in the categories of drawing, mixed media, collage, photography, painting, digital art and sculpture.  The Institution for Savings is sponsoring the show itself, while several private individuals and public institutions likeBankGloucester have elected to sponsor prizes.

Our two judges are the nationally-recognized and Cindy House (www.cindyhouse.com) for the category of traditional art, and the holder of Gordon College’s Lothlórien Distinguished Chair in the art department, Professor Bruce Herman in the category of contemporary art (www.bruceherman.com.)  Through a juried selection process the artwork is judged, with winning pieces being awarded monetary prizes ranging from $250. to $1,000. apiece.   

For more information regarding the RAA&M National, we invite you to check out our website at:. https://www.rockportartassn.org/raam-national-2020.