My View of Life on the Dock
I can’t tell you how psyched I am when I finish writing a post like the upcoming Poop vs Lysol post or the MFers Dropping Like Flies post or the St Lucia vs Turks vs Playa post. I get this great accomplished feeling.
I get to write while the Mrs is sleeping or reading her books all day long and don’t have the duty of work which allows me the time to write what I want to write.
Creators gotta create. I know my oldest, The Bean has this blessing/curse. You just have to be creating and if you don’t you get depressed. The Bean needs to be creating at all times while Snoop Maddie Mad could just chill all day long. Two very different children I have.
Like right now, it’s 7:29AM on Tuesday as I write this and I’ve already edited two prior posts that have been scheduled for future time slots. Been up since 5AM banging away and couldn’t be happier. While on vacation.
I don’t know what it is but just like the Bean, I’d go stir crazy just laying in bed when I could be creating.
I might make a line of T-Shirts-
I’ve spoken with EJ about this at length and I think it’s true for any creative person be it artist, musician, writer, photographer, even business people. I know there is not much more aggravating than being stifled when you have ideas and are kept from acting on them by time constraints, or for whatever reason. When a truly creative person is stifled it’s tough for them to feel fulfilled.
Catherine Ryan writes-
Hi Joey
SAVING ART CULTURE HISTORY
Besides the Public Art Challenge that is happening as we speak, the Gloucester Committee for the Arts (CFTA) has other exciting news in January 2013!
Part of the work of the Committee for the Arts (CftA) includes mapping the way for appropriate and comprehensive ongoing preservation plans for the City’s art holdings. The CftA is committed to the preservation of Gloucester ’s irreplaceable cultural legacy for future generations.
Art conservation involves the cleaning, preserving, and occasionally the repairing of works of art. Art conservator, Peter Williams, will be setting up scaffolding in City Hall to commence cleaning on some of our stellar WPA murals by Charles Allan Winter (1869-1942). Williams, who has worked with museums and galleries for over 40 years and began his career as conservator with the MFA, was chosen to perform the restoration and preservation work and to complete the work in Phases as funding allows. The restoration work will be a great chance for everybody to see a very cool crossover of science and arts up close, all the while eyeing some of the very best New Deal art in the country. If you’re visiting City Hall, look up, look around! We know art can be a touchstone for so many learning disciplines. Take this chance to get a behind the scenes look at the preservation of our beloved murals. It’s a real joy to be able to look at art like these special murals, learn more about them and now, too, this opportunity to share awareness about the science of conservation.
Before any restoration work could begin, the CftA for several years spearheaded a fundraising effort and applied for grants for the painstaking process of cleaning and restoring these giant murals. Among the contributors were individuals and foundations/grants, including seARTS/Massachusetts Cultural Council, the City of Gloucester CPA funding, and the Bruce J. Anderson Foundation. Perhaps some readers may have purchased postcards at City Hall on Middle Street walk or coasters at another event all of which have contributed to this fund. With over $28,000 raised, the CftA now has the support necessary to begin Phase I for the first few murals, and will continue to raise more funds to finish the projects. We are so fortunate for these contributions. Thank you!
Here are details from two murals. This series by Charles Allan Winter wraps around the doors and architecture surrounding the lobby just outside the Mayor’s office. City Council in Session fills the space above the collector’s windows (approximately 7 feet high by eleven feet wide). City Government covers the opposite wall. Tucked in and around the arch-topped lunettes, the two-part mural, Civic Virtues, spreads across the two other opposing walls. This Winter series focuses on government themes as befitting their location, and the test of time. They offer special glimpses of our community in the 1930s as they include many portraits from life, great detail, artistry and ideas. Note the boys (youth) in the “planning” section of Civic Virtues clasping pieces from a model of the Gloucester High School .
ABOUT THE GLOUCESTER COMMITTEE FOR THE ARTS
Made up of citizen volunteers appointed by the Mayor and City Council, The Committee for the Arts was established by City ordinance in 2000 to promote and celebrate Gloucester ’s cultural heritage. The Committee recently has worked to preserve and increase awareness of Gloucester ’s WPA murals and other City-owned art. Additionally, the Committee develops and promotes educational programs and establishes awards and honors to recognize local artists. It implements a city-wide public art policy.
Plain boxes, fancy boxes, boxes with lids from one sheet of paper, boxes made from multiple units…. I will be teaching these and/or similar models, according to the skill and interests of the students, on Thursday, January 24 at 7PM, at The Hive (on Pleasant Street). Materials will be provided. I will post more information soon about how to RSVP and about the fee for participation (to pay for materials and to support The Hive) as soon as I have it.
Also, if there is interest in classes on additional themes, please let me know! I would like to do one class a month at The Hive, but that depends somewhat on how busy I am at the parish and on the level of interest and participation. I can probably find material to cover just about any theme (dinosaurs, flowers, dragons, horses, frogs, insects…) although how much we can do depends somewhat on the experience of the students.
Dear Joey,
Here at Wells Maritime Art, we really appreciate the support of GMG over the past year. So we’re offering a special discount to all GMGers.
Go to www.wellsmaritime.com
Enter the discount code gmgrocks and receive 30% off of your order (with free shipping). If the purchaser lives on Cape Ann, I’ll deliver the art personally in time for Christmas. This offer is good only from Thursday, December 20 through Monday, December 24.
Merry Christmas!
Jon Cahill
"East Gloucester from Rocky Neck" by Ken Knowles
Ever wonder why Pope Julius II Commissioned Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel?
Well, the Catholic Church had been losing influence — and parishioners — partly due to tensions created by events leading up to the Protestant Reformation, which was sparked a few years after Julius II died. So, thought Julius, what better way to bring people back to the fold than to make his churches the most beautiful buildings you’re ever likely to see.
And then, of course, there’s the music, which matured over the next 200 years to produce such great works that we still play them today. Think our popular music will be played 300 years from now? Here’s a piece you proabably know, written about 300 years ago:
Imagine life in the early 1700s (when Bach was a church organist — 200 years after Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel). The only sounds you heard were those of nature–birds chirping, rustling leaves, whistling wind, the roar of the sea, the gentle wash of a babbling brook or running stream. Think of this as the background music of the day upon which you hear the human voice: the sigh of a maiden in love; the jealous rage of a prince betrayed; the joyful song of family gathered around a crackling fire; a newborn’s cradle gently rocking on wide pine boards to his mother’s soft candlelight serenade.
People of the day spent their lives listening to the sounds of nature augmented only by music they made themselves, the notable exception being on Sunday. Church music was an utterly exotic and extraordinary sound — and most likely the loudest sound anyone ever heard.
So, you fill the most impressive building in the city with the best art and music available anywhere on Earth and you’ve got a draw. That’s what got people to church. And it still does. Just ask Greg Bover who buys most of the organs he builds at CB Fisk.
Regardless of their religious affiliations, more people go to church during big celebrations than at any other time — and a big reason is that’s when the music and pageantry (entertainment wrapped in ceremony) are at their best. Check out this video of an Easter 2012 church service to see what I’m talking about:
I bought this at The Cave on Main Street on Men’s Night (last Thursday). It’s all candy, even the (very convincing) “beach stones”!
Coming soon: more photos from “men’s night”, and of the great Hanukkah party at Temple Ahavat Achim!
Step One: Go to www.ghwalk.org and click on “A Public Call for Art” to see PDF link for the complete and full Call.
Step Two: Artists who want to apply, keep the complete CALL on hand.Head over to www.callforentry.org to fill in the application
Joey, artists, big news! Gloucester Committee for the Arts is pleased to be announcing the opening CALL for the 2013 Gloucester MA HarborWalk Public Art Challenge
City of Gloucester, Massachusetts , USA,
2013 Gloucester MA HarborWalk – Public Art Challenge
$47,000
Open to artist/s and/or artist team(s) nationally.
Deadline: February 8, 2013
Open to all media; artists working in all creative art forms
Budget: $47,000
The Gloucester Committee for the Arts, on behalf of the City of Gloucester, MA, is seeking professional artist/s and/or artist team(s) for 3 new public art commissions. Artists are asked to submit proposals to design, create and complete new public art work in downtown Gloucester for our 2012 designed HarborWalk. The total project budget is $47,000 which will be distributed as follows: $20,000 for one (1) permanent project; two (2) additional prizes will be awarded totaling $27,000, at least one of which must be temporary. The minimum project budget is $7500. Note: this is a two-stage process requesting concepts and full proposal to select a short list of semi-finalists. We are delighted to announce that the panel for selection of the 3 finalists will include, among others, these distinguished jurors:
Andrée Bober, Landmarks Director, The University of Texas , Austin , TX
Trevor Smith, Curator of Contemporary Art, Peabody Essex Museum , Salem , MA http://www.pem.org/
Peter Sollogub/Chris Muskopf, Architects, Cambridge Seven Associates, MA. http://www.c7a.com/
Visit http://ghwalk.org to view/download the complete Call.
From there, artists wanting to apply will submit their entry in digital format through CaFE™ at www.callforentry.org Artists will create a profile page on the CaFE site and upload artwork images and input artwork details. There is no fee to apply, nor to create a profile on CaFE. Following successful set up, all interested applicants will be granted full access to our detailed application; simply click on “Apply to Calls” and click on “Gloucester HarborWalk Public Art Challenge”. Your account information and images will be saved for your convenience and easy access when applying to future calls using CaFE.
I have been so excited the past few days. The reason is when as an artist you feel proud of the work you are producing it’s just a great feeling. I knew the images I selected for our show at Alchemy Thursday night were some of my favorites but when James printed them and I saw the colors he was able to reproduce with his 11 color machine it took my excitement t a whole new level.
I’m thrilled, just thrilled to be working with James and Anna Eves at Cape Ann Giclee.
hope to see all our friends at the opening Thursday night from 5:30-7:30 at Alchemy for EJ and My “Two Buddies” Show.
Check them out on Facebook Here or Twitter Here
With my first show of my canvas work show this Thursday At Alchemy who would I trust but someone who takes their canvas printing work as serious as I take my photography.
Bottom Line. there is no where else to go. Listen to this interview and you’ll understand how deep his knowledge of the craft goes and how far he goes to please his customers.
Check them out on Facebook Here or Twitter Here
I have never been so proud of the work that I’ll be presenting at Alchemy Thursday for my show with EJ- The Two Buddies Show.
I Can’t Wait For The Show!!!!
We will be doing a ton of collaborating with James and Anna Eves in their awesome artists space at Cape Ann Giclee- A TON! If you are a photographer you owe it to yourself to swing on down to their shop at 20 Maplewood Ave, bring your memory stick with any digital images you’d like to have made into a canvas wrap and James would love to sit down with you to enhance or show you all the different possibilities to bring that image to life on your wall. There’s no better gift. Take some snapshots of your children bring the camera in to James and he can take the memory stick out and work his magic right from there. Bottom Line- No Brainer Easy Peasy Gift. Done! (or buy one of EJ or my pieces at the Alchemy show where 10% of the sales go to the Gloucester Education Fund)
Kim Smith was right in her post from November 5th and Alicia Pensarosa was right in her post from
Posted on November 5, 2012 by Kim Smith
Posted on July 13, 2012 by Alicia
At Brown’s Mall. Former offices of the Encyclopedia Britannica? (or is there another explanation for the thistle emblem over the door?)
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.
Hi Joey,
Thanks so much. I love your blog!
After taking a course at the Maine Media Workshops in Rockport, we came to Gloucester to spend a few days. My husband and I went walking around 5:30am one morning this summer and shot some pictures. One was the Cape Pond Ice house, the basis for the attached painting.
Cheers,
Pat Meier-Johnson
Pat contacted me a couple of days ago asking me what I could tell her about the Ice Company-
Hi Joey,
We visited Gloucester this summer and I am working on an oil painting that features the huge ice building on docks. What can you tell me about it? Would you like me to send you an image of my painting when it’s done?
Pat
Rather than write out a long explanation I just did a search in the GMG search box in the right hand column of the blog and forwarded her the link (there’s probably 60-70 Cape Pond Ice Features We’ve done on Cape Pond Ice, some very interesting videos as well-
While Vickie was complaining yesterday about people who wait until the last minute to announce their live music lineup, and then forget to tell us at gimmesound.com, which, BTW, is the ONLY complete live music listing for Gloucester & Cape Ann in ANY MEDIUM — meaning that if you’re not listed, you’re not getting the word out, which it’s your own fault ’cause it’s free … anyhow I digress.
While she was getting gimmesound up to date, I was at a meeting with Peter Jenner, who happens to be Chair of the School of Hospitality Management at Endicott College, and he invited me to a reception at their new digs at 33 Commercial St. later in the day where Endicott’s arts profs & deans were going to hobnob with people from Gloucester’s arts scene, the whole shebang being dubbed Arts Endicott meets Arts Gloucester — in a word: OUTREACH.
While I was there, I posted a live photo from the event (see here). I met some interesting people, saw people I knew, drank wine, ate hors d’oeuvres, listened to a short, concise and interesting presentation and saw a dance performance — all very well put together. But here’s what really struck me. These people are truly interested in immersing themselves into Gloucester’s culture. They see the entire city — and everyone in it — as their partners. This is far more significant than the fact Endicott is offering degree programs in Gloucester (see this post), which is pretty big in and of itself.
So if you didn’t go last night (I almost didn’t) I recommend that you contact somebody at Endicott that is teaching in the field you work in every day and tell them what you do. This isn’t only for people in the arts — it’s everything — literally. Check out their website here.
As I said in this post, “Becoming a college town is likely to be the best thing that has happened to Gloucester this century.” And I’m not exaggerating.
Check out Mary’s Website here-
http://maryrhinelander.com/
Gloucester Art news 1: Wednesday September 26th
Gloucester is gearing up to become the first town in MA to be awarded 2 Cultural Districts. Rocky Neck Art Colony Cultural District is flying! Amazing seARTS— a committed partner for ALL the regional cultural districts–has graciously invited the volunteers hustling for a DOWNTOWN Gloucester Cultural District to give a brief update at the seARTS meeting this coming Wednesday at Sawyer Free Library, 4PM. Please stop by. (While you’re there: have a peek at the Sawyer Free Library 2012 Art Auction and see the neighborhood quilt project!) Contact: Judith Hoglander, judith@nii.net.
Gloucester Art news 2: Tuesday, October 2nd, 7PM, City Hall
The exciting process for commissioning NEW public art for the Gloucester HarborWalk is off and running! At the direction of Mayor Carolyn Kirk and the Community Development Department, the Gloucester Committee for the Arts has been asked to plan and implement the process for selecting a work, or works, of public art to be installed that were inspired by Gloucester and the HarborWalk.
Gloucester’s Committee for the Arts is hosting a dynamic introduction session and encourages you to attend. Committee members suggest that people, “Please come a bit early to bring and pin up any image of public art that you are (or aren’t) keen for, so that we can assemble a lively backdrop for the evening’s discussions.” City Hall’s stellar murals will inspire and connect us, too.
The session is designed for artists who may be considering responding to the City’s eventual request for submissions. Come to learn about the selection process, review general guidelines, hear themes of the architect’s vision, view examples of other public art installations, and be part of the unfolding plans. This is to be public art created for our unique environment and the artist’s response to it.
You don’t have to be an artist to come. Hearing and participating in the discussions about ideas for art in the public realm are part of the pleasures of seeing commissioned projects brought to completion. This process will occur over a period of many, many months and involve visits, interactions and working in conjunction with many. The ideas and debates around art, public space, and culture add enormously to our enjoyment and our community –and are already very Gloucester . Be part of it!
For those unable to attend or who have questions, visit www.ghwalk.org or email gharborwalk@gmail.com (subject line public art)
Last Saturday was the official opening of the “Community and Identity” show at the Rocky Neck Cultural center. It’s quite a nice show, and well worth the visit!
The opening was very well attended, and the food – provided by curator Rocky Delforge’s mother – was absolutely amazing. She could take up catering professionally, in my opinion.
But, back to the show itself. A variety of artists are showing works related to the theme of the show, with a wide variety of approaches and media. Give yourself time to contemplate them! Community participation is also encouraged: there is a wooden lattice cube in the center of the room with cards inviting visitors to write or draw reactions to the exhibit or to questions and ideas on the front of the card.
Many of the artists were present, so I snapped photos of them with their work:
The most beautiful thing at the show, though, was this little baby. She was looking around at the art with the expression of a connoisseur as her mother carried her from place to place:
The Rocky Neck Cultural Center is easy to locate. It’s at 6 Wonson Street, and is quite distinctive:
It is in easy walking distance from the parking lot at the beginning of Rocky Neck – from which vantage point I took this panorama:
In the course of my ministry as a priest, it’s not uncommon that I go to the hospital to visit the sick and the dying. Along the wall of the lobby of Addison Gilbert hospital, on the way to the elevator, there is usually a display of art. I hardly ever stop to look, but I was really struck by Christopher Wood’s current display of abstract watercolor paintings.
To me, it seems somehow odd to go visit a hospital in order to see art, but at the very least, I recommend stopping to see the paintings if you are at the hospital for any reason at all. Or maybe you can stop in to see the paintings, and pretend you are on your way to visit a sick relative or get some x-rays done…
He describes his work thus, on an explanatory panel next to the paintings:
“My work is organic, bold, gritty, sensual, and completely inspired by my mad scientist tendencies. I paint ferociously; this creates real energy within the piece. My painting style and its looseness makes watercolor and optimal medium for me. I paint wet on wet, this allows the colors to mix themselves on the paper, and allows little experiments/accidents to be created within the piece.”
Besides being an artist who has worked in various media, he has a Masters in Conservation Biology. Check out his website…
The Rocky Neck Art Colony is pleased to present Community and Identity, a group show at the Cultural Center on Rocky Neck (9 Wonson St., Gloucester, MA) curated by Cape Ann artist and RNAC member Rocky Delforge. The opening reception is tonight from 5 to 8 PM. Click on the image below to see it full-sized.
Good Morning Gloucester 