Good Morning Gloucester

“Sometimes people let the same problem make them miserable for years when they could just say, ‘So what.’ That’s one of my favorite things to say, ‘So what.’”

Andy Warhol (1928 – 1987)

A Pittsburg native, born to parents who had immigrated from what is now Slovakia, Warhol was the dominant figure in the Pop Art movement of the sixties through the eighties. Trained at the Carnegie Institute in commercial art, he brought a finely honed artistic sense and keen observational skills to advertising art, underappreciated in post-war America. In the early sixties, Warhol began to exhibit art based on iconic American images such as Campbell Soup cans and Coke bottles, as well as celebrity images of Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and others. As his own fame grew he used it as a comment on the society around him, it was he who coined the phrase “fifteen minutes of fame.” In 1968 he was shot by a disgruntled member of the Factory, his New York studio and hang-out, which added to the serious health problems he had suffered since boyhood, but survived another twenty years branching out into films and music, most famously managing and producing The Velvet Underground. Warhol’s diptych “Silver Car Crash” sold at a 2013 Sotheby’s auction for $105 million, a record for his work.

Greg Bover

The original post in this series, about Gorton’s abandoning consumers, was shared on the GMG Facebook page.  That led to a post by a British reader calling attention to this gem.

https://dawesindoors.wordpress.com/2015/05/05/batter-tatter-fish-whats-up-for-the-sheffield-fishcake/

This is out of order for Easter, but Paul Morrison, wanted to see Adam and Eve with no bellybuttons, and since the story of mankind in the Bible starts with them, here they are.

Whether you are an evolutionist or a creationist, the message of this story is the same.  I personally don’t think one belief necessarily excludes the other. They both start with creation, whether a single cell organism that evolves into man (which you have to admit is amazing) or a full blown man created from dust (which is equally amazing).  It is the message conveyed by the story that is important.

For general information, there are five styles of writing (narrative, poetry, parable, epistle or letter style, and prophesy) used throughout the 66 books of the Bible, written by 40 different authors over the course of 1,600 years. While I personally believe everything in the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, a fair amount of it is allegorical, metaphorical, figurative, and NOT meant to be taken literally. If it were, for example, there would be a whole bunch of self-blinded and maimed people in the world (Mark 9:43-47: If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off …. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off … And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out;”). It takes much study, common sense and discernment to comprehend this amazing book, which reveals more with each reading. It is not War and Peace, Alice in Wonderland, or Harry Potter; it is a living, multilayered book that never stops opening up new levels of awareness in those who take the time to plunge its depths.

Long before Moses was given the law by God on Mount Sinai, God had set down rules for the ultimate safety, wellbeing and happiness of man, just as any loving parent does. In the Garden of Eden, it was simple: “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.” Simple. Everything Adam and Eve could need or want was provided them. By going against the word of God and eating of the forbidden fruit, they sinned (which in Hebrew means “to miss”, unconsciousness, or forgetfulness), separated themselves from their state of unity and oneness with God, and death became a part of the human experience.  Pandora’s box was opened by Eve, and the rest of the book up through Revelation, is God’s attempt to encourage us back into the state of right relationship with Him that we were created to be in; back to the remembrance and desire for that glorious, perfect state of being.

Scriptural Reference: Genesis 3:1-13

“Now the serpent was more cunning than any other wild creature that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, and he ate.” “Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons.

And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of thee in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom thou gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent beguiled me, and I ate.

So begins “the devil made me do it”, selfishness, pride, deception, blaming others, not taking responsibility for our own actions, not doing what is in our own best interest, and thinking we know best.

E.J. Lefavour

http://www.hobbithousestudio.com

I am pleased to announce the recent action of the Rockport Art Association Board of Governors to accept the vote of the membership in approving the new name of the Association. The action, in an overwhelming vote of 129 to 11, amends the By-Laws to add the two words, “& museum” to the official name of the organization.

The addition of the phrase ‘& museum’ seems simple, but I see it as a major, strategic step to open our doors to more visitors, more members, more community involvement, and a stronger platform from which to support artists in Rockport and Cape Ann. This name change is a pivotal step in fulfilling our ongoing mission.

The word ‘association’ does not inherently sound like a place that is open to the public but now, with the addition of ‘museum’, we can easily encourage visitors, tour groups, families, educators, news media, and anyone in the public to visit us and explore the exhibitions. We are using a word they understand: ‘museum.’

Museums are a source of economic activity in the community. They generate visitors daily, solely by recognition alone and those visitors will spend money. This change is also as much a commitment to the community by increasing visitors to the area who will in turn not only spend money in the RAA&M, but also in shops, restaurants, inns and hotels. This new designation befits the organization’s community-minded spirit, broad educational focus and standards of excellence. Most importantly to the community, we will continue to participate in the regional art scene, teach art, foster creativity, and serve as a gathering place for the exchange of ideas. The museum designation underscores, above all, our wish to be committed to community and place all while embracing and sharing our history and eagerly exploring our future.

Thank you for your support.

Best wishes,
Abby Battis
Executive Director

Of all the many miracles Jesus performed during his time here, I find this one most profound, not so much because of what he did, although it is certainly impressive, but because of when he did it. Jesus just learned that John had been beheaded.  He withdrew to a lonely place apart and prayed.  Then he went back among the crowd of people, healed their sick and fed them.  Whether there were 5,000 or 500 in the crowd is immaterial.  It is his action that is the important lesson.  How many of us would respond that way upon learning of the gruesome death of someone we loved?  If we had the power he had, most of us would be blasting the living daylights out of everyone and everything in sight; but he is showing us how we are meant to respond; always with love and compassion.

Scriptural Reference: Matthew 14:13-21

Now when Jesus heard this [about the beheading of John the Baptist], he withdrew from there in a boat to a lonely place apart. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. As he went ashore he saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick.

When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”

Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”

They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.”

And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

E.J. Lefavour

http://www.hobbithousestudio.com