Beautiful evocative fog shrouded sunset tonight.
Bell House, Eastern Point
Beautiful Fish: Shad -By Al Bezanson
A typical member of the herring tribe. Largest of the herrings that visit our gulf, growing to a length of 2 ½ feet. One tagged in Chesapeake Bay was recaught 39 days later at Race Point. The shad, like the alewife, spends most of its life at sea, and makes most of its growth there, but runs up into fresh rivers to spawn, the spent fish soon returning to salt water, and its fry running down also.
From Fishes of the Gulf of Maine by Bigelow and Schroeder, 1953
In the spring of 1778, the shad run in the Schuylkill River saved George Washington’s army from starvation at Valley Forge. Thus one could claim that this country owes its victory over the British to shad and, hence, the title of John McPhee’s book, The Founding Fish.
https://us.macmillan.com/thefoundingfish/johnmcphee/9780374528836/
Al Bezanson
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Today’s Assignment: Compare and Contrast
Today’s Boston Globe
Today’s New York Times
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Sunny Sunday
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Artists’ Call for Entries
Artists’ Call for Entries
from combat veterans for the exhibition:
IN WAR AND AFTER: The Art of Combat Veterans
May 17 – June 24, 2018
The Rocky Neck Art Colony invites combat veterans to submit works of art to be considered for inclusion in the exhibition, “In War and After: The Art of Combat Veterans” a six-week exhibit at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street, Gloucester, MA 01930.
Curator/Juror: Ken Hruby – Combat Veteran, West Point graduate, Sculptor, Author, Faculty at School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University, Boston Massachusetts.
Submissions: Online, via Smarter Entry
Deadline for Submissions: Midnight, Friday, March 23, 2018
Exhibition Dates: May 17 – June 24, 2018
Gallery Hours: Thursday – Sunday, 12:00 – 6:00 PM
Opening Reception: Sunday, May 20, 4-6 p.m.
The Intent of this Exhibition
The exhibition seeks to show the work of artists who are combat veterans working in the visual arts. Artists are urged to submit their best work, showing or interpreting the realities of war or its aftermath —the lives, emotions, tragedies, and actions of those who have lived through theaters of war, civilian and armed forces, and it effects upon them, their loved ones, friends and comrades—perhaps exploring the relationships between military citizens and their civilian counterparts.
Eligibility
Open to all veterans who served in the Combat Artist Program as well as Combat Veterans engaged in the visual arts from all branches of the military.
Details for Submission
All media are welcome: painting, photography, signed and numbered prints, drawings, pastels, assemblage, small sculpture, videos, mixed media and more.
- Entry fee: In appreciation of the artists who are submitting, all entry fees will be paid by the exhibition sponsors.
- Include an Artist Statement and a Bio (PDF, Doc, or txt files). Include in the Bio the artist’s Branch, Dates and Theater of service.
- Artists may submit images for up to three works of art, one image per two-dimensional work and up to three images for each three-dimensional work.
- Entries must be submitted via the “Smarter Entry” online entry system, see
https://client.smarterentry.com/rnac - You will need good quality photos of your work in JPEG format, sized no greater than 2MB, maximum 1200 pixels for the longest dimension. Each image must be labeled with the following information: last name, first name initial, title, medium.jpg. Example: Smith_J_SunsetSymphony_acrylic.jpg
- Smarter Entry will not accept special characters, (e.g. !@#$%^&*+()][{}|/) on jpeg labels.
- Two-dimensional art should not exceed 48” maximum width.
- Three-dimensional art should fit on a 16×16” pedestal, be hangable or free-standing.
- For exceptions to be considered: Please contact the Exhibitions Committee at entry@rockyneckartcolony.org as soon as possible. Every effort will be made to accommodate your work.
- Submissions deadline: 11:59 PM, Friday, March 23, 2018.
- Notification: Works and artists selected for the exhibition will be announced on the RNAC website (http://rockyneckartcolony.org) on Friday, March 30, 2018 by 5:00 PM.
Commissions on Sales
- 40% commission on the sale of non-member work
- 25% commission on the sale of RNAC member work.
NOTE: Artists must be members at the time of the beginning of the exhibition to take advantage of the reduced commission rate. Membership is $100. For membership information please see: http://rockyneckartcolony.org.
About the Curator
Ken Hruby is a sculptor, an author, and a faculty member of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University in Boston. As a combat veteran who served in Korea and Vietnam, his work has been shown in numerous group and solo shows across the nation and is included in several private and public collections, including the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum in Chicago and the Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester, MA. See more about Ken here: http://www.kenhruby.org/
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The Mission of The Rocky Neck Art Colony, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, is to nurture excellence in the arts through exhibitions, workshops, residencies and vibrant cultural events for its members and the public. Long renowned for its luminous light, Gloucester’s harbor and coastal location has been a magnet for some of the most revered realist painters in American art and a catalyst for the progressive ideas of artists as Stuart Davis, Marsden Hartley, Theresa Bernstein, Milton Avery, and Nell Blaine, among many others. Today, Rocky Neck continues to attract artists and art lovers to a thriving creative community. For up-to-date information visit rockyneckartcolony.org.
We at the Rocky Neck Art Colony look forward to seeing your work!
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Sound Harbor’s FIRST Open Mic on March 4th
NEW! Middle and High School students are invited to participate in Sound Harbor’s first Open Mic hosted by Renee Dupuis March 4th, 2018, 2PM-5PM. All instruments welcome.
Check out their updated website , like ’em on Facebook, and sign up for their newsletter to find out about all their great musical offerings.
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Island Marsh
Can’t wait for summer.. loved everything about this setting, the sky, the marsh , the dingy
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Gloucester Smiles-837
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Bass Pro Shops
We’ve hit a few different Bass Pro Shops in our travels. It never gets old. My boys could spend hours walking the aisles. A couple of weeks ago when we spent the night at Gillette Stadium to send the Patriots off to the Super Bowl, we spent some time in the Foxboro BPS. It was hard to get the boys out.
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FREE CFCA Class for Teens!
FEBRUARY 19, 2018 BY SARGENTSTREETSOCIALCLUB
FREE CFCA Class for Teens!
Did you know that we are launching a teen program? Come check it out for FREE on Wednesday!
Interested in our kids programs? Check us out online: https://crossfitcapeann.com/cfca-kids/
RSVP to coach Jaime @ 978-325-1829 or jemtjmac@gmail.com
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The beauty of Sunday’s freshly fallen snow from John Abisamra
Hi Joey
Hope all is well with you. Sunday’s snow storm was quick moving but for a few hours the beauty of the freshly fallen snow clinging to the trees and other objects was incredible. I am attaching 3 photos of the Gloucester area after the storm. The first is of the rising sun at the footbridge of Good Harbor Beach. The second is of the blue sky and red barn with snow clinging to the branches and the third is of buoys against a building with light coming through a window. Enjoy and please let me know when you decide to publish in Good Morning Gloucester.Have a great day..Wednesday is supposed to be close to 70 ..go figure!!!
John Abisamra
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COLLEEN’S ARTS AND CRAFTS FOR LITTLE ONES ON DISPLAY AT THE CAPE ANN MUSEUM!
My friend Colleen teaches the sweetest and most fun art class for local youngsters, ages three to seven. Inspired by nature, the projects Colleen leads the children in creating are always wonderfully whimsical. Currently, at the children’s activities room at the Cape Ann Museum, you can see a display of work by her young artists.
Stop in and see-I think you will be utterly charmed, as was I! 
* * *
The Cape Ann Museum has several excellent children’s programs scheduled for February vacation.
Wednesday, February 21Play creative movement games with Sarah Slifer Swift of MAGMA studio and create art that moves!
Thursday, February 22
What’s art got to do with basketball? Shoot hoops at the YMCA, then come to the Museum and sculpt basketball players inspired by those of sculptor Walker Hancock.
Ages 6-12. CAM Members $30/day; non-members $45. Additional children receive discounted rate. To register, please contact Education Coordinator Kirsten Vega at kirstenvega@capeannmuseum.org or (978) 283-0455 x16
Image: Walker Hancock (1901–1998), Basketball Players (c. 1961–1977). Bronze. Museum purchase with funds generously provided by Evelyn Bartlett, 1982 [Acc. #2576].
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Beautiful Fish: Common Mummichog
Killifish; Salt-water minnow; Chub; Mummy… So closely do they hug the shore that a line drawn 100 yards from land would probably enclose all the mummichogs in the Gulf of Maine… Seldom more than 4 inches long. Abound in the tidal creeks that cut our salt marshes, in muddy pools, in ditches. Shoals of “mummies” may often be seen moving in with the flood tide. Often trapped in little pools until the next tide arrives.
From Fishes of the Gulf of Maine by Bigelow and Schroeder, 1953
-Al Bezanson
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Free As The Breeze
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Beautiful Sunday morning after the snow
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Happy President’s Day: FDR in Gloucester, Carrancho family and FSA photos
You can find a historic panel about Roosevelt’s visit included as part of the HarborWalk Fisherman’s Wharf display. I’m posting this in tribute to Manny Carrancho. The photographs and history shared by Manny Carrancho (1923-2017), Ken Joyce and their family for the Fisherman’s Wharf exhibit make the FDR plaque incredible. The 2015 photograph above shows the beautiful Carrancho family at Fisherman Wharf by the historic plaque vastly improved by his photos, knowledge and stories.
you can click thumbnails to enlarge
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FBI sting operations: MA art and MA fishing
FBI posed as art buyers for Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist scam
Thirteen works of art were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum March 18, 1990, one of the highest profile art thefts of the century and listed as #2 on the FBI top 10 art crimes list. There has been an ongoing investigation for recovery ever since including incentive for tips that was raised to ten million dollars. Todd Andrew Desper of West Virginia had the dead stupid and criminal intent to advertise the Gardner Museum’s masterpieces, The Storm of the Sea of Galilee by Rembrandt (for 5 million), and The Concert by Vermeer (for 50 million) …wait for it…on Craigslist overseas. FBI posed as potential buyers and arrested Desper May 20, 2017. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston on July 20, 2017. Here’s a link to the FBI press release. Last week, Desper plead guilty to wire fraud and attempted wire fraud. Sentencing is scheduled for May 15th.
Meanwhile, the Berkshire Museum case is pending Single Justice decision.
“Famed Fishing Port Shudders as Its Codfather Goes to Jail
excerpt from New York Times Feb 11, 2018 article by Jess Bidgood:
“Carlos Rafael, who ruled New Bedford’s fishing of cod and haddock, was caught lying about his catches. Now the piers have grown quiet.”
“Carlos Rafael, whose initials are emblazoned on boats all over this port city, boasted that his fishing empire was worth even more than official records showed. His trick? When he caught fish that are subject to strict catch limits, like gray sole or cod, he would report that his nets were filled with something far more plentiful, like haddock.
“We call them something else, it’s simple,” Mr. Rafael told visitors who seemed interested in buying his business. “We’ve been doing it for over 30 years.” He showed off a special ledger labeled “cash.” And he described an under-the-table deal he had going with a New York fish buyer, saying at one point, “You’ll never find a better laundromat.”
But Mr. Rafael’s visitors turned out to be Internal Revenue Service agents, and the conversations, caught on tape and described in court documents, began the unraveling of Mr. Rafael, whose reign over a segment of this region’s fishing industry gave him his larger-than-life nickname, “the Codfather…” read the complete article
I didn’t know John Bullard, NOAA Northeast Administrator who worked there from 2012-and retired Jan 5, 2018–was a former Mayor of New Bedford, despite good coverage on his tenure in the Gloucester Daily Times. I missed that detail but it jumped out to me with the sting stories. Maybe more reason to be recused from Gloucester decisions…
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Hodgkins Cove
The lighting for this shot worked out pretty well. Not sure why i had never photographed this before.
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Photo shenanigans
I’m always on the hunt to find new ways to shoot the same old scenes and this weekend while up in North Conway I played around with a 60 mm Lensball I bought last summer but never even took it out of my camera bag until yesterday. It’s definitely a challenge to figure out how to shoot a scene with, but it certainly gets me thinking of some old home town scenes that could be shot differently! (I should add that this is a single exposure flipped in post processing so that the train image in the ball was the focus)
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Tartine Kitchen & Eatery
Thanks to a colleague I tried a new place for lunch last week…Tartine Kitchen & Eatery at 192 Cabot Street in Beverly.
The menu consists of unique light breakfast choices, salads, quiches, soups, sides, desserts…and even wine and Belgian beers.
My problem was that I wanted to try about seven different things, but I went with the avocado toast….and it was delicious. I think next time I’ll go with the Nut Butter toast and then maybe brie, pear, and honey or the fig and goat cheese tartines.
Good Morning Gloucester 