Tag: Exhibitions

Deb Read Named Goetemann Artist in Residence at Rocky Neck

Posted on by James Eves

Does Art Have to Be an Object?

Deborah Read Named Goetemann Artist-in-Residence at Rocky Neck, October 2025

Gloucester, MA — This October, Gloucester-based artist Deborah Read joins the Goetemann Artist Residency at Rocky Neck Art Colony with a deceptively simple but urgent inquiry: Does art have to be an object?

For Read, the answer has long been “not necessarily.” Her interdisciplinary practice—spanning installation, performance, writing, and collaborative projects—frames art as an act of generosity. As co-founder of Gallery RAG in Gloucester and the international foundation Art+Everywhere, she has created platforms that dissolve boundaries between artist and audience, centering collaboration, care, and mutual support.

Read’s projects invite participation and dialogue: immersive performances with Coco Haze that turn galleries into collective canvases, hybrid works with poet Joel Iwaskiewicz where language becomes performance, and community-based installations like Tejido Vivo, which weave craft traditions into living art. In each case, connection outweighs the object itself.

Her foundation Art+Everywhere embodies this vision, described by Read as “a global, artist-led ecosystem built on mutual generosity.” Its mission: expand access to funding, programming, and creative opportunities while removing barriers of gatekeeping institutions. “The challenge is not scarcity, but activation,” Read explains. “Compassion already exists—in hundreds of hands and eyes—ready to help.”

At Rocky Neck, her residency continues this ethos—not as a retreat into isolation, but as a public process of listening, generating, and sharing. “The question is never just ‘what did I make,’ but ‘what did we generate together?’ Generosity is generative—it can enrich lives, spaces, and even economies.”

Public Programs:

  • Artist Talk — October 5 from 4-5PM at Rocky Neck Cultural Center
  • Open Studios — October 27 and 29, from 12-2PM at Gallery RAG
  • Culminating Talk — October 30 at 6PM at Gallery RAG

For Rocky Neck—a community shaped by both maritime labor and artistic innovation—Read’s residency is both a philosophical question and a practical experiment: What if art is not possession, but presence? Not scarcity, but abundance?

Cove Gallery presents: Six Ways of Seeing the World July 10- August 3

Posted on by James Eves

Six Ways of Seeing the World July 10-  August 3, 2025

Cove Gallery:  July 10-August 3, 2025

Opening Reception: Thursday, July 10, 5–7 PM
Closing Event & Artist Talks: Thursday, July 31, 5–7 PM

Curated by Gabrielle Rossmer
Featuring: Kathy Archer, Paul Cary Goldberg, Donald Gropman, Sonya Gropman, Gabrielle Rossmer, and Constance Vallis

In a time marked by uncertainty and transformation, six artists come together to explore how art can serve as both personal expression and cultural reflection. Six Ways of Seeing the World, curated by Gabrielle Rossmer, offers a compelling look at how visual art helps us process, respond to, and shape our understanding of the contemporary world.

Through diverse media—painting, photography, sculpture, drawing, and collage—these six artists examine the intersections of inner life and external forces. While their approaches and mediums vary, they share a commitment to introspection, craft, and a meaningful engagement with today’s fractured landscape.

·       Kathleen Gerdon Archer conveys emotional depth and existential searching through paintings of ambiguous, floating figures. Her palette swings from bleak to bright, mirroring the emotional tension between despair and fleeting hope.

·       Paul Cary Goldberg presents black, white, and gray-toned photographs in an installation format for the first time. His long-running exploration of personal and social narrative gains new form, offering a contemplative, immersive experience.

·       Constance Vallis draws from spiritual practice, working in intuitive response to the present moment. Her process-driven artwork reflects a meditative connection to feeling and form.

·       Donald Gropman offers meticulously rendered black-and-white drawings that sharply critique societal absurdities. With wit and precision, his work blends fantasy and commentary.

·       Sonya Gropman transforms urban detritus—found while walking through New York City—into layered, stitched collages. Her work gives new life to discarded materials, turning the overlooked into poignant, abstract reflections of a shifting world.

·       Gabrielle Rossmer, both curator and participant, presents sculpture that ranges from figurative to abstract. Her work examines form, color, and narrative gesture, always grounded in a personal response to the world around her.

Together, these artists demonstrate six unique but interconnected ways of seeing. Their works push the boundaries of their chosen media, reflecting on today’s world with vulnerability, insight, and artistic rigor.

About the Venue
Located in the heart of Gloucester’s historic Rocky Neck Art Colony, the Cove Gallery is a dynamic exhibition space dedicated to showcasing the work of contemporary artists. Surrounded by working studios and a vibrant waterfront community, the gallery provides an inspiring setting for artists and visitors alike, continuing the area’s rich legacy as one of the oldest continuously operating art colonies in the United States.

Admission is free and open to the public.

Rocky Neck Winter Fest 2025: A Vibrant Celebration of Art and Community

Posted on by James Eves

The Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC) is delighted to announce the Rocky Neck Winter Fest 2025, a dynamic weekend event celebrating art and community, taking place Saturday, February 8, and Sunday, February 9, from 11 AM to 5 PM.

Event Highlights

Saturday, February 8

RNAC Member Pop-Up Show and Fundraiser: “Art to Warm the Heart and Soul” at Cove Gallery (11 AM–5 PM)

RNAC Member Artists invite you to a heartwarming pop-up show and fundraiser celebrating kindness and community on Rocky Neck and beyond. A portion of the sales from this exhibition will be donated to CERF+ (Craft Emergency Relief Fund), a mutual aid organization that assists with relief efforts for artists affected by the fires in LA. Enjoy light refreshments while exploring the art on display — paintings, drawings, photography, ceramics, and more.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a special pop-up exhibition featuring artwork from Rocky Neck Art Colony artists. Explore paintings, drawings, `            sculpture, ceramics, and jewelry, all priced at $500 or less.     

Participating Artists: Kristie Bernard, Paula Borsetti, Jason Burroughts, Jillian Demeri, Paige Farrell, Jackie Ganim-DeFalco, Kathleen George, Karen Gross, Leslie Heffron, Nancy Henry, Joanne Hurd, L. Marie Lamarche, Bob Murphy, Crissie Murphy, Judy Robinson-Cox, Amy Sudarsky, Juni Van Dyke

Live Portrait Drawing at The Cultural Center (11 AM–5 PM)            

Watch local artists create live portraits or sit for your very own!
Pre-register for a 30-minute session, [https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E48A8AC28A4FDC07-54496831-winter#/] or simply walk in.
Cost: $50 per portrait. Proceeds benefit RNAC and the participating artists. 

Participating Artists: RNAC Member Artists:  Amy Sudarsky, Janet Grover, Mary Lee, Helen Tory, Vanessa Michalak, and Invitational Artist Jill Hoy.

Valentines Makers Event at The Salted Cod Arthouse (4 PM–5:30 PM)

Join us upstairs to express your love with a fun, creative Valentine’s card(s). 
Tickets: $20.00, includes supplies.  Light refreshments will be served.
While you’re at The Salted Cod:  Browse and purchase RNAC members’ artwork on-site.
Enjoy food and beverages at The Salted Cod Arthouse bar.

Additional Open Studios and Galleries:  
Michalak Fine Art 
Old Salt Studio
Hughes Bosca/Side Street Gallery

Sunday, February 9

RNAC Member Pop-Up Show: “Art to Warm the Heart and Soul” Continues at Cove Gallery (11 AM–5 PM)

Don’t miss the second day of this special Valentine’s Day-themed exhibition.

Participating Artists: Kristie Bernard, Paula Borsetti, Jason Burroughts, Jillian Demeri, Paige Farrell, Jackie Ganim-DeFalco, Kathleen George, Karen Gross, Leslie Heffron, Nancy Henry, Joanne Hurd, L. Marie Lamarche, Bob Murphy, Crissie Murphy, Judy Robinson-Cox, Amy Sudarsky, Juni Van Dyke

The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street
The Salted Cod Arthouse, 53 Rocky Neck Avenue
Cove Gallery, 37 Rocky Neck Avenue 

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About RNAC

The Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to fostering artistic excellence. Through exhibitions, workshops, residencies, historical tours, and cultural events, RNAC brings vibrant arts programming to its members and the public. Explore RNAC’s three exhibition spaces on picturesque Rocky Neck.   For more information, visit www.rockyneckartcolony.org or call 978-515-7004.

Posted on by James Eves

Cove Gallery 2025 Season — Call for Proposals

The Rocky Neck Art Colony is pleased to announce that it is accepting exhibition proposals for the 2025 season at Cove Gallery on Rocky Neck in Gloucester. The spacious and well-lit gallery is located on the Smith Cove waterfront in America’s oldest working art colony, an area that attracts visitors all season long to shop for fine art and crafts, visit historic sites and dine in nearby restaurants.

Exhibition proposals will be reviewed by a group of independent jurors to fill 5 openings running from late-May through early October. The jury will be looking for proposals with thematic and aesthetic cohesion featuring work by dedicated artists in any/all media.

The deadline to submit a proposal is Monday, February 10, 2025. It is strongly recommended that anyone interested in this opportunity read the brief carefully and communicate with the Program Director early in the process to avoid unseen delays. Artists will be notified of acceptance in February, allowing sufficient time to prepare their shows.

The Call for Proposals can be found here:
https://rockyneckartcolony.org/call-for-proposals/

RNAC acknowledges the generosity of Mark Goetemann who has donated the use of the former home and gallery space of his late parents, Gordon and Judth Goetemann, to honor their legacy as artists, as inveterate supporters of artistic excellence, and to carry on their commitment to keeping Rocky Neck a haven for artists and art lovers. 

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The Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC), a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, nurtures excellence in the arts through exhibitions, workshops, residencies, historical tours, and vibrant cultural events for its members and the public. On picturesque Rocky Neck in Gloucester, Massachusetts, RNAC operates three exhibition spaces, open to the public for free, The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck (6 Wonson Street); The Salted Cod Arthouse (53 Rocky Neck Ave.), a partnership gallery and café; and Cove Gallery (37 Rocky Neck Ave.), open seasonally.. Check the website, www.rockyneckartcolony.org, for hours, openings and special events. For more information, see the website or call 978-515-7004.

Baraka’s Holiday Open Studio & Sale!

Sunday, November 17th – 10 AM till 3PM

3 Lighthouse Way Apt. #2 Gloucester, MA 01930 . 978-869-3636Prints, Gliclees, Original Paintings & Mixed Media Monotypes, Women of History and Myth, Sacred Landscapes, Beautiful Art Cards, Magnets, & Hand-Painted Spirit Stones

Come and view some of the original artwork for the Women of the Celts ~Oracle Deck, to be published in 2025/26

WELCOME!!
PLEASE PARK IN THE STREET.~ THANK YOU
& follow the signs for my art sale!!

Cape Ann Museum Community Conversation Series Kicks off Jan 18, 2020

Posted on by Catherine
Cape Ann Museum entrance_20190721_©c ryan.jpg
Courtney Richardson, Director of Public Education and Programs for Cape Ann Museum, shares outreach about a new community conversation series at CAM.  “We want to know what you think! Join us to share your feedback about our Library & Archives on January 18, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. There will be chowda!”

Let’s Talk About the Future! CAM Community Conversations Series Starts 

The Cape Ann Museum is pleased to present a new series of community conversations on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. As the Cape Ann Museum looks forward to 2023 and the 150thanniversary of the founding of the Museum, originally known as the Cape Ann Scientific and Literary Association, staff is rethinking exhibitions and the work that is being done within the community. To help the Museum plan for the future, please come and participate in a series of conversations about the Museum’s collections, exhibitions, programming and more. Each monthly session throughout the winter will have a specific focus: January 18 – Library & Archives; February 22 – Exhibitions; March 14 – Public Programs. These staff moderated exchanges will give participants a chance to share feedback and ideas for the future. Refreshments will be served. January’s community conversation will be moderated by CAM’s new Librarian/Archivist Trenton Carls and will feature clam chowder from the Gloucester House. Free and open to the public.  Reservations encouraged but walk-ins are also welcome. Reserve online at capeannmuseum.org or call (978)283-0455 x10.