My View of Life on the Dock
Beautiful colorful banners on Dale Avenue announce GPS 10th anniversary annual ARTS festival, Saturday May 12th 11-4pm, at City Hall, Cape Ann Museum, and Sawyer Free Library! Sponsored by Gloucester Education Foundation; what a milestone!
Another great event in Gloucester, Mass. tomorrow: Dr. Jung Lin Lee to present and discuss “Women in STEM” April 26 O’Maley Innovation Middle School
You can join in Stephanie Benenson’s fascinating big vision, Harbor Voices, a public art and cultural piece that’s made from light, sound and community participation. Part of the project is a large-scale and temporary LIVE light & sound installation which will happen on ten minute loops from 4-8pm on Friday December 8th, and Saturday December 9th, one of many featured events for the 2017 Middle Street Walk. Harbor Voices will be held inside the Kyrouz Auditorium in City Hall , 9 Dale Avenue, Gloucester, MA.
Come experience a sweeping ocean of sound, stories and light, drawn by the voices and acts of generosity of neighbors and friends.
Benenson, a Rockport native and North Shore based fine artist, received a prestigious and competitive RISD grant to create Harbor Voices. Benenson collected over 100 stories in eight languages of recent and ancestral immigration to Cape Ann. For the past year she led (and continues to lead) practical and creative storytelling sessions and workshops at area schools like Veteran’s Memorial and Gloucester High School, as well as community organizations and centers such as Sandy Bay Historical Society. Students talked with Benenson about “their ancestors* and families bringing cultural heritage to Cape Ann.” She said that kids mentioned “family members that started businesses here (like Jalapenos, Sclafanis, and other cultural destinations on Cape Ann)…and how meangingful that was to them…and people that they had deep respect and admiration for…” They discussed “family recipes, music, food and how immigration historically has made American art and culture come alive.” Mayor Romeo Theken was the first story collected. Other Cape Ann storytellers outside of the schools and non profit partners include: Jean Testaverde (Portuguese fishing ancestry), Ingrid Swan (Swedith quarrying ancestry), Heather Lovett (descendent of Roger Babson), Sal Zerilli (Awesome Gloucester and Rockport), Jan Bell, Buddy Woods, Susannah Natti (Finnish and descendent of Folly Cove designer), Rich Francis (GHS teacher), and Celestino Basille (GHS teacher).
Depending upon age and preference, stories were written, recorded, or drawn. All were mixed into materials and audio that will choreograph connections directly into the light installation, and an enlarging community. At first, Benenson thought the light might guide any audio. Instead voices continue to guide the light.
Blurring the lines between public art and social sculpture, LIVE happening and virtual action, Harbor Voices emblematically presents stories, shared connections and actions. Participants of all ages are encouraged to interact with the project www.harborvoices.com and its installation– to bathe so to speak in a community of vibrancy and waves of interconnectedness and support. Benenson adds that from 4-6PM during the two days of this installation iteration, “children will be offered a small flashlight to engage with this artwork, allowing them a tangible moment to consider their part in this interconnected network of community and local history by creating their own beam of light.” Also, before the installation opens to the public, one hundred Gloucester High School students –including some who have already added into the piece– will come to City Hall to experience Harbor Voices.
Benenson’s promotion for Harbor Voices launched in September. Leveraging attention for this remarkably ambitious project is an essential component as more involvement means more impact. Straight away it fostered community and brought opportunities. For example, Benenson spoke about the project and shared audio of the stories with Rose Baker seniors, Gloucester Rotary and the Cape Ann Museum’s Red Cottage Society. Someone from Beverly has already underwrittten support for a class at Veteran’s Memorial Elementary School. She spoke about the project with Joey as part of GMG podcast #253
As a third generation Cape Ann artist, Benenson is especially excited to “create art and conversations around our cultural heritage and our contributions to the vibrant mix of people that live on Cape Ann.”
See more pictures and read more about the artist
Thanks to Mayor Romeo Theken, teacher Brett Dunton, Principal Lucey, and the extreme generosity of Manship Artists Residency & Studios (MARS) under the direction of Rebecca Reynolds, the O’Maley Innovation Middle School ramped up in a powerful fashion with an amazing and enviable addition to the art department:
Acorn printing presses were used by Gloucester’s legendary Folly Cove guild of artisans, most notably Virginia Lee Burton, an internationally renowned artist, children’s picture book author-illustrator, dancer, teacher and Folly Cove co-founder. O’Maley students study Gloucester, printmaking, and the history of Folly Cove artists through a myriad of units in each grade and subject, often in partnership with Cape Ann Museum, local artists and other community partners. And now, to have this pedigree press, … Wow! Enjoy some photographs from Brett Dunton from the exciting installation day.
teachers Brett Dunton and Ashley Doke with 8th grade students admiring the newly installed famous Acorn press O’Maley Innovation Middle School, Gloucester MA
The O’Maley press is one of the last actual Folly Cove presses remaining on Cape Ann. It was owned and used by Elizabeth (Libby) Holoran and Isabel Natti, eventually taking up Holloran’s floor space in the Sarah Elizabeth Store which she opened in 1974. Superstar sculptor, Paul Manship, was Isabel Natti’s grandfather. Aino Natti, Natti’s uncle, was one of the Folly Cove co-founders and the original owner of this particular press. Acorn printing presses were fabricated and distributed by companies like the Adams Brothers in Boston circa 1830-1870. The name “Acorn” comes from the cut away which resembles the shape of an acorn; the presses are RARE and beautiful. One is on view at the Cape Ann Museum.
Mayor Romeo Theken was hopeful that MARS would consider the schools and Gloucester’s students when determing a most suitable location. Teacher Brett Dunton knows Natti and all about this famed press. He was thrilled to build a print room around it and get going. Natti had already given him some of her drying racks. This opportunity would not have happened without MARS working with donors to rescue the press and Mr. Dunton’s expertise and enthusiasm for taking it on. This has to be one of the nicest feel good full circle art stories coming home ever! I look forward to sharing some of the results from the inaugural student printmaking classes, original print editions from this stellar art room addition.
Local businesses step up for local schools and organizations! Save the dates
The BAKE SALE at Market Basket is a fundraiser for O’Maley 8th graders annual special trip to Washington, DC. “This important fundraiser is to provide financial assistance to
those who need it most for the trip.” Items can be dropped off at O’Maley on October 27th or at Market Basket at 8:30 on October 28th. Contact Allison Cousins for more details or if you’d like to help out on Saturday, October 28th email Allison acousins@gloucesterschools.com. Donations and sponsors for the popular calendar raffle are also underway. Here’s a link to last year’s calendar if you’re interested in participating. You’ll recognize those generous sponsors!
Soccer players are raising money for the soccer banquet, gifts for senior players, and the soccer program. Raffle tickets are $10 each and each packet has 10 tickets. The prizes are listed on the tickets and are for sale through October 29. Winners will be announced at the fall banquet (date/time TBD)
JV2 has a soccer game at O’Maley today at 4pm. Varsity has a big game — Here’s their record “going into tomorrow night’s match vs Salem. Big game!!!!”
Save the date for Jalapeno’s Night fundraiser for O’Maley Academy on November
6th. Dine in or take out at Jalapeno’s and a portion of their proceeds goes to O’Maley Academy!
Search for @AwesomeGloucester on Facebook and follow! You’ll see and keep up with great, active and inspiring ideas from the community.
“I am currently in the process of bringing a video journalism multimedia program to the students at O’Maley Innovation Middle School After School Program. The goal of this ongoing project is to teach students to use their voices for good on platforms that are relevant to their peers and community. One of the big idea projects the students brought to the table was to produce Public Service Announcements surrounding issues they face,…” – Jessica Linquata
From Awesome Gloucester Facebook:
Jessica Linquata, who runs an after school video journalism program at O’Maley, was missing one essential component for her students – HD cameras. So she applied for Awesome Gloucester’s $1000 micro-grant, and tonight Trustee Jacob Belcher handed her the cash she needs to get the equipment. Congratulations, Jessica!
To see more about Jessica’s project- “What Can I Do? Young Voices for Positive Change!
http://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/projects/84613-what-can-i-do-young-voices-for-positive-change
So cool! Thank you Gloucester Stage, Gloucester Public Schools and GEF
Congratulations, Nate, and Gabriel Magee, another Heidi Dallin Youth Acting Workshop (YAW) actor. Buy your tickets soon- Gloucester Stage productions sell out and are not to be missed. Read more about Nate and the entire cast
We encourage perfect attendance from our students. We are positive role models for participation at the polls.
Thank you city of Gloucester, schools, teachers, students, Backyard Growers and the dedicated precinct volunteers. Beyond voting, tangible benefits were the Veterans threshold gardens and lobby. Stop by your polling place before 8pm to vote!
Thanks to the City of Gloucester, Google and HP- 8th graders received their brand new chrome books tonight. Gloucester O’Maley Innovation Middle School was buzzing with excitement.
Assistant Principal (and beloved former social studies teacher), Mr. Jeff Destino, explained the rules and responsibilities.
From there, parents and the 8th grade students headed to the sky high, skylit, art adorned hub, the Commons, set up tonight with temporary tables stacked high with tech.
Gloucester Public School teachers shine through the North Shore Magazine September 2017 issue with exemplary projects helped in part by one of Essex Heritage grant programs: “A Park for Every Classroom”. Essex Heritage supports local initiatives in a big way.
Congratulations to Gloucester Public Schools dynamite O’Maley Innovation Middle School 6th Grade teachers: Pat Hand, Mary Beth Quinn, and Jessica Haskell!
“O’Maley 6th grade students collaborated with the Cape Ann Museum and a local cartographer to create maps of their diverse Gloucester neighborhoods. Part of an effort to get the entire 6th grade community to come together as they experience their first year of Middle School, the project aligned with the curricular focus on geography. A collection of the students’ maps, called “Gloucester Through My Eyes,” is on display at the Cape Ann Museum.”
Congratulations to Veterans Memorial Elementary School teachers Laura Smith and Mary Housman! Their “students worked with Backyard Growers and Black Earth Composting to understand the benefits of composting, created posters and presentations to share their knowledge, implemented and monitored lunch-time cafeteria composting, and used the compost they created to enrich the soil in their school garden.” We were lucky to hear about this project during a pitch night at Awesome Gloucester.
Good Morning Gloucester 