Good Morning Gloucester

Simply spring…

Spring Open Studios Tour Just One Month Away!

It’s right around the corner.  Literally, you can walk or drive down the street or up the highway and enjoy some of the most engaging artists in the region.  It’s the 39^th year of the Cape Ann Artisans Open Studio Tour and 16 artists spread across 15 studios are looking forward to welcoming art lovers from near and far.

This year’s tour welcomes three new Artisans all based in Gloucester.  John Abisamra, Photographer, on Carrigan Court; Rebecca Anne Nagle, Painter and Mixed Media artist who is located in the Cripple Cove Studios; and Melody Phaneuf, Painter located on Centennial Avenue.  The new artists have brought exciting energy to the tour and also complement the genres of art that can be experienced.  Enjoy the updated CAA video to get a window into what to expect as you traverse Cape Ann.

Many of the artists have expressed their inspiration and current direction in the “From the Studio” blog on the Cape Ann Artisans website.  Here are a few highlights from the blogs:

• Deb Schradieck was recently interviewed for Cape Ann ARTWaves and her story is fun and engaging.  She is a prolific painter who has done sketches and paintings her entire life and recently added street scenes to her portfolio.  Deb and Jon Abisamra are part of a trio that launched the new Gallery One in Rockport.

• Jon Abisamra shares “My real passion is to capture the beauty of Cape Ann and its magical light through my camera. I try to capture the uniqueness each season brings. Photography for me is all about capturing a moment in time which may never be repeated. My real studio is the great outdoors.”

• Melody Phaneuf shares: “I appreciate looking at things, particularly old, tarnished, abandoned things. Objects are combined, arranged, rearranged, discarded. All the parts are judged for their role in the design and expression of idea. “
• Pam Stratton continues to expand her repertoire with encaustic wax and glass. She recently completed a work reminiscent her of her time in Ravenna Italy. She carved into a field of blue wax to inlay multicolored stars in her piece called Ravenna Dreams. Pam has also started a new line of jewelry incorporating glass threads that she pulls using the shards from her mosaic works.

• Sinikka Nogelo recently made a piece called “Hidden Treasures,” for The Experimental Group of Rockport Art Association & Museum’s.  The piece honoring the late Jacki Harrington.   combines two disciplines, sculpture and painting.  Nogelo has rolled two paintings that evoke the beauty of the outdoors into a richly textured cylinder, inside of which is a surprise fashioned from recycled paintings – a flower in full bloom.  Look out for more surprises from Sinikka.

Artisans are always expanding their collections and finding new ways to get work into the hands of patrons.  Jacqueline Ganim-DeFalco’s blog, co-authored with Beth Williams, focuses on the importance of relationships with galleries.   Sallie Strand is expanding her reach by leading a collaboration with the Emerson Inn. 

The tour is “self-guided” with 15 individual stops to visit with 16 artisans.  The CAA encourages visitors to do some advance planning to maximize their visit by using the Brochure with the map which is now available at all the tourism outlets and online.    You will find brochures at the Cape Ann Chamber, North of Boston CVB on 95 South, Stage Ft. Park Visitors Center, local banks, and CAA partner locations.  The full group of studios is listed below by last name:

1. John Abisamra, Fine Art Photography 
2. David Archibald – Ceramic Arts – Porcelain & Stoneware
3. Cynthia Curtis – Ceramic Arts – Stoneware
4. Rob Diebboll – Painting – Oil & Watercolors 
5. Jacqueline Ganim DeFalco – Sea Glass Jeweler
6. Deborah Gonet – Painting – Mixed Media
7. Rebecca Anne Nagle – Painting and Mixed Media
8. Sinikka Nogelo – Painting & Sculpture– Experimental Arts
9. Melody Phaneuf – Painter
10. Scott Place and Erin O’Sullivan – Ceramic Arts
11. Marcie  Rae – Fine Jeweler
12. Deb Schradieck – Painting–Oil & Watercolor
13. Sallie Strand – Painting- Abstract
14. Pam Stratton – Mosaics
15. Sara Wright – Fiber Arts- Handwoven & Knit Accessories

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What:  The 39^th Annual Cape Ann Artisans Open Studios
Where: Gloucester and Rockport, MA.
When:   Spring Tour: Sat & Sun, June 4-5 
Contact: info@capeannartisans.com or leave a message with Cynthia Curtis 978-546-6186

Good morning Joey, I wanted to see if you would be interested in posting something about a fundraiser my family and I are hosting this coming weekend.  The following is a little something about how the tournament came to be and what it supports.  The flyer is attached.  Thanks!

Team Smitty is a group of people comprised of Mike Smith’s family, friends, and people that Mike had touched over the years. Our goal is to make sure that Mike’s memory and spirit lives on in our hearts, minds, and memories! We are also dedicated to helping others in the same way that our community helped Mike, and all of us, during his times of struggle.

As part of our effort to help others, we hold an annual Texas Hold’Em Tournament and include a 50/50 drawing and raffle prizes. The tournament is a fun night that brings friends together, new and old, for a few laughs and a chance to share in Mike’s memory, while raising money to assist those in need. This is an event that Mike created years ago in support of the Relay for Life. Since Mike’s passing in 2012, we have carried on the tradition of this event each year. The last year we held it prior to COVID (2019), we were able to help 5 local families who had been impacted by cancer and/or other life hardships.

The event will be held on Saturday night, May 7th at 6:00 at the St. Peter’s Club (registration starts at 5:00). 

There was a beautifully peaceful sunset glowing over Plum Cove recently. Maybe this will be a special gift for those from away missing the salt water and the sea air.

Watch your step…

We got some really nice big wave action recently that is hard to resist when you are experimenting with a new camera. What am I saying? I can’t resist wave pictures regardless…..

The tulips at the Tip Top Tulips Farm in Ipswich (take the road right next the Dairy Queen and follow your nose to the tulip field) are in full bloom and they are spectacular. We went yesterday and the field was full of families, senior citizens and young couples. It’s a great photo opportunity in an open friendly atmosphere. Open daily, but on the weekends there are some additional activities such as goat yoga (?!?!) and farm animals. There were a lot of visitors but we did not feel crowded. Tickets are reasonably priced.

We had purchased some presale tickets which allowed us to pick-our-own tulips (15 with each of these tickets) or they are $1 each. It’s an efficient operation with parking assistance as well as help packing up your blooms. I am a big fan. It would be a GREAT Mother’s Day activity. Looking forward to returning for the sunflower field,