My View of Life on the Dock
Reposting as the flyer did not show as a picture.
Colleen HoganLopez shares news from Friends of the Sawyer Free Library:
Membership drive printable form here and below
The installation for the Friends 2019 Annual Art Auction will be happening this week. Art fans can preview and leave silent bids throughout September. Save the date for the evening auction, October 3, 2019. from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Contact Gailsarofeen@gmail.com with questions.
Colleen Hogan Lopez shares news from Friends of the Sawyer Free Library:
Membership drive printable form here and below
The installation for the Friends 2019 Annual Art Auction will be happening this week. Art fans can preview and leave silent bids throughout September. Save the date for the evening auction, October 3, 2019. from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Contact Gailsarofeen@gmail.com with questions.
Lovely tribute to long term teacher and volunteer – Carol Ackerman (December 17, 1941 – October 31, 2017) Boston Globe obituary by Marvin Pave published Dec 3rd (following special memorial service held in the Shalin Liu Performance Center). Ackerman served on many boards in the community — Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free, the Gloucester UU, Rockport Music, and Wellspring.
Obit in the Gloucester Daily Times
The Bookstore of Gloucester
hosts
Alice Gardner | St Peter’s Fiesta Gloucester, Massachusetts
A solo exhibition featuring the original illustrations (gouache, pen&ink, some acrylic) for her NEW children’s picture book published ©2017 the 90th Anniversary of Gloucester’s St. Peter’s Fiesta!
Address: 61 Main Street. Gloucester, MA 01930
Exhibition dates: June 3, 2017 – Fiesta and beyond!
Bookstore phone: (978) 281-1548
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday June 17
The first St. Peter’s Fiesta book launch and debut reading will be held at Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Public Library as a special part of a celebration program for the 90th Anniversary Party of St. Peter’s Fiesta thrown by the library, The Bookstore and Caffe Sicilia on Saturday June 17, 10-11:15AM
She did. Alice Gardner maintains a studio in downtown Gloucester, next to the Cape Ann Museum. She has lived on the North Shore for more than 40 years. St. Peter’s Fiesta is a subject Gardner has photographed, chronicled and painted for over a decade.
Gardner says that multiple programs and contacts stemming from the Cape Ann Reads initiative and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators were critical in getting this new book into production. “Just do it!” was a motivating topic from a Steven Pressfield talk sponsored by the latter. She did. She created an entire new body of some of the Fiesta moments that have touched her most, alive with color and completed in time to coincide with the 2017 90th year Anniversary. Gardner was also inspired by Anita Silvey’s Cape Ann Reads presentations. She said Silvey mentioned “calling all these celebrities for “Everything I need to Know I learned From A Children’s Book.” It made me think that. Why don’t I just call? I wanted to talk to the Mayor. I wanted to talk to many people…This is a Gloucester story. They all grew up with Fiesta. I did not. They became part of creating the book…” Gardner’s generous acknowledgement narrative is given great attention in the design.
The new paintings on exhibit are not for sale, but you can see a small selection of Gardner’s joyous responses to the spirit of Fiesta in larger, earlier works at The Book Store; or call ahead and visit her studio. “I am inspired by public events that make people happy, they’re doing things where there’s a unique sense of place and culture.” Gardner painted a series inspired by Boston icons– like the Boston Common swan boats– for Massachusetts General Hospital’s Illuminations. She’s also captured the seasonal charm of Manchester by the Sea at Fourth of July.
Studio next to Cape Ann Museum http://www.alicegardnerstudio.com/
The Bookstore has a substantial children’s book section The Bookstore of Gloucester Facebook link
Alice print exhibit at the books store for Sebastian Junger reading and Fiesta 2016
Alice photos OF Fiesta featured on GMG
John Ronan presents Taking the Train of Singularity South From Midtown on Saturday, April 8, 2:00-3:00pm in the Friend Room. It’s Sponsored by the Gloucester Lyceum and Friends of the Sawyer Free Library.
John Ronan a poet, playwright, journalist and a National Endowment for the
Arts Fellow in Literature has done so much in Gloucester! Here’s a throwback article from 1978 about the Gloucester Broadside, a monthly 10 cent one sheet of quality poetry.
Ronan developed the website resource dedicated to Gloucester poets, Gloucester Poet Laureate, also for Salt and Light: An Anthology of Gloucester Poetry, published spring 2010. He is the host of the Cape Ann TV program, The Writer’s Block. He was pivotal in establishing the library’s annual Poetry without Paper Contest and poetry columns in the Gloucester Daily Times.
Students are encouraged to submit poems to the Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Public Library’s annual Poetry without Paper contest by April 30th!
April 27 2017 | POEM IN POCKET DAY: It’s free and simple to participate. Carry a Poem. Share a Poem. For more information, search for Poem in Your Pocket Day (PIYP Day) Academy of American Poets (www.poets.org) or New York City’s excellent web site, http://www.NYC.gov/poem. PIYP Day started in NYC in 2002 inspired by the Favorite Poem Project established in 1997 (first events April 1998) by Robert Pinsky, former 3x Poet Laureate of the United States. East Gloucester Elementary School initiated Poem in Pocket Day in 2011 (PTO enrichment).
The Ride of My Life
The signs say sixty
miles an hour, sixty
degree angles, eight
bucks for two minutes,
and Don’t Stand Up!
We pay the eight,
climb in the car.
The Big Guy who draws
down the lap bar
tight as a tourniquet,
says: “Stash the glasses,
the pen in your pocket.
Stuff flies out.”
Cogs catch. The cars
quake, start awkwardly
forward as my wife waves,
safe on West 10th
and others stroll Surf,
Coney Island tourists
not thinking about The Cyclone,
or the comic fate that leads
in the first place to Astroland,
no way not to be
in a roller coaster seat
at the top of the first drop and…
Ohmygod! Ohmygod! Ohmygod!
Up plummet of guts
plunging down, fist
full of fear in the heart-
sick final mind:
I am not on a metaphor,
I am going to die.
Followed by a slow coast,
an arc of confident calm,
balm of Brooklyn below and…
Ohmygod! Ohmygod! Ohmygod!
Death drop and keister
clench! The easy scream!
…and the balm of Brooklyn below.
Ohmygod! horror, and hope…
Ohmygod! horror, and hope…
Slowly, slack in the lickety split.
Speed evens out
and the sine curve dies,
finally flat
in a fan turn to the ramp.
The Big Guy hovers
above the cars, smiling:
“Second ride’s five.”
-John J. Ronan
Cape Ann TV filmed John Ronan reading this poem, The Ride of My Life
I LOVED the Cyclone and I lost my prescription eyeglasses…and a shoe!
John Ronan’s New Book: Taking the Train of Singularity South from Midtown
The Poetry Society of America recently featured John Ronan’s wonderful civic poetry creed essay January 2017. Book tour events listed http://www.theronan.org/
POET LAUREATE: In Gloucester, MA, the Poet Laureate is dedicated to building community through poetry and encouraging a love of poetry among people of all ages. The honorary post for the City of Gloucester was created in 1998. There have been 4 Poet Laureates: Vincent Ferrini was the City’s first, then John Ronan served from 2008-10, Ruthanne Collinson served 2010-14, and Peter Todd served 2014-15. The Committee for the Arts helps to select a new Poet Laureate.
October is gorgeous! And it’s teeming with parallel exhibitions and cultural events. What an exciting environment to view and buy vital work from living artists and artisans– emerging, mid-career and established.
Founded in 2016- Cape Ann Plein Air October 10-16– beginning next week!
Founded in 2015- Brace Cove 2nd Annual Art Market (one day only!) 1pm till dark.
Founded in 2015 – Pumpkin Carving at Cape Ann Art Haven, October 29, 2016
Founded in 2012- Paint Essex annual Plein Air moved from summer to fall to coincide with Cape Ann Plein Air in 2016
Founded in 2009- the Annual DoctoberFest Documentary Film Festival curated by Cape Ann Cinema & Stage (estab.2008) runs Oct 14-20. Busy schedule includes 3D Flight of the Monarch Butterflies co-hosted with Kestrel Educational Adventures and Screenagers co-hosted with Sawyer Free and evenings with filmmakers.
Founded in 1984- Annisquam Arts & Crafts show Oct 8 & Oct 9, 10-5
Founded in 1984- Annual Art Auction, Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Public Library, held October 5, 2016. October book reading with Anna Solomon October 13, 2016
Founded in 1983- Cape Ann Artisans Studio Tour (the oldest in the country)- Oct 8 and 9th featured as part of Artweek Boston Sept 30-Oct 9
Founded in 1979- Gloucester Stage is world class professional American theater in our country’s oldest seaport. Premiering this month- Man in Snow, the newest play by Israel Horovitz through October 23rd. GMG Podcast
Founded in 1873- Cape Ann Museum is a top notch American art museum. The must see exhibit Design/Build closes October 9th. Voicing the Woods- Jeremy Adams, Instrument Maker opens October 20. Recent Acquisitions continues into December.
More scenes from October 2016 Annisquam Arts&Crafts fair, Annisquam Exchange, and Brace Cove Art Market and links to other fall happenings!
Founded in 2006- Cape Ann Farmers Market outdoor market Thursdays into October.
Founded in – Oktoberfest at Cape Ann Brewing Company
Founded in 1972- Annual Essex Clamfest October 22 (rain date Oct 23)
Founded in 2016- Look for Magnolia Sip and Stroll nights – “Enjoy complimentary food, beverages and live music while visiting the wonderful shops on historic Lexington Avenue in Magnolia, MA” October 7th was the last one.
Founded in 2012- Fall Fest at Mile Marker 1 by Bridge Cape Ann October 4th. Look for this fun event next year!
Annual American Craft Week held in October
The list above gathers special events and festivals that run annually each October. At the same time, look into the monthly art gallery exhibitions, live music, performances, and readings going on in the many art and culture venues as well as non-traditional spaces, businesses, organizations, accommodations, and restaurants.
Rockport Public Library Cape Ann Reads programming:
10AM Saturday October 1 Adult workshop
1:30PM Saturday October 1 Teen Workshop
Space is limited. Please call Rockport Library 978-546-6934 to register
Gloucester students: there’s still time to submit entires SFL Poetry Without Paper
Good luck 🙂
http://www.sawyerfreelibrary.org/
It is opening weekend for the swan boats! In my humble opinion, a ride on the swan boats and a walk through the Public Gardens never gets old.
Lexington has so many historic, fun, and educational activities going on all weekend, but especially on Patriots’ Day!
As always, for a more comprehensive list of family activities, please visit our friends at North Shore Kid
An oldie from the blog and the poem still holds up I think.
Good Morning Gloucester 