Views of and from Rogers Street Theater (former Empire space/Floating Lotus entrance on Main) before the show
An Evening of Dorothy Parker: Staged Reading Celebrating Her Life & Work A collabortive presentation by Carole Frohlich, David McCaleb & Nick Neyeloff with Sally Nutt & Lauren Suchecki
Four expressive actors linger, pause and saunter through Parker bon mots and excerpts from her poems, prose, plays, reviews and ruminations. Snippets of her biography accompany segues, sparingly and effectively. The evening works for ardent fans or uninitiated because of the writing, staging and nuanced interpretation. This reading and fine acting honored Parker’s immense and undeniable writing and observational talent, and evoked her mastery of internal dialogue. Felt poignant, fresh and relevant.
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The Parsons Street wall murals were created by a lot of people including fine artists, teachers, and kids: Jason Burroughs, Laura Donworth, Kyra Moyer, Aiden Symes, Avery Mcniff, Teen Artist Guild, and Cape Ann Art Haven summer kids. One request from the building owner was that they include a reference to Gloucester’s Man at the Wheel as part of the overall composition. The long mural features iconic Gloucester architecture, history and themes (see the great whale!) . The Man at the Wheel depiction was pulled out and featured on its own; locals aware of the former owner’s affiliation with Sam Adams enjoyed the extra nod. Photos above are from 2015.
North Shore Magazinephotographs of Gloucester including wall mural (from the whale end) April 2018
The O’Maley Innovation Middle School campus setting is rather bucolic. There’s a line of apple trees that still bear fruit and suggest the original farm, playing fields are stepped down surrounded by marsh and pond, Dogtown stretches along one edge, and Pole Hill rises up across the way. Community volunteers and students have created lovely decorative gardens. Yes, the track needs work and the playing field could be upgraded to turf like Gloucester High School’s New Balance field at Newell Stadium. But it’s a beautiful spot to walk or catch a game. Ed Tedesco designed O’Maley in 1971. Although I believe the architect was quite sensitive to the setting, I understand how people criticize the exterior as harsh, or worse. “It feels like a prison!” exclaim some (and others joke. It is a middle school afterall.) You know what I see on the exterior when I come to O’Maley? Beautiful walls. Interesting shapes. Expansive public space ready for art and ideas.
O’Maley walls, photos from 2015
You can’t judge a book by its cover. OR can you? O’Maley has the potential for its shell to match the creative arts and legacy at its core. There are stunning historic murals from the 1930s and 40s in the Commons. The arts curriculum is valued and celebrated. The arts teachers are amazing. If there is any school in Massachusetts that sings out arts and legacy, let it be here. Monumental public art and street art abound in Gloucester.
Parsons Street before, after, and after
public art in Gloucester, MA and context collages
Py$eMoNeY117 21st Century Orphans, Gloucester, MA, Skribble Fish – graffiti art – not street art
And not just for flat surfaces. Artists have suggested creative responses to Americord’s striated surface like a piano keys mural along the wall (a motif you may have seen elsewhere); others proposed a changing light installation when the cultural district designation was underway.
Stephanie Benenson’s temporary installation Harbor Voices at City Hall
Street art has become big business. Cities and towns around the world vie for renowned muralists in a competitive commercialized market with varying degrees of success.
I vote Former Alumni
O’Maley Innovation Middle School has the perfect walls for showcasing creative voices of former alumni who are art school grads (or currently enrolled)– professionally trained and inspired to leave a mark. Ever since the dynamite 18UP and Under 30 exhibition, supporters hoped to catalyze possibilities for these emerging artists. Murals taken to this scale warrant investments of $15,000 per artist per wall.
Before I saw walls of possibility. I still see that, but now I imagine specific artists and I hope you do, too. There are plenty of walls to go around at O’Maley.
a few more international street art mural examples
Look up downtown if you haven’t yet seen the wonderful Pleasant & Main ARTISPHERE sign designed and project-boosted by artist and dealer, Ken Riaf. Then head on into his Jeffrey Marshall exhibit Law & Water Gallery.
I bet you’ve seen that Ed Touchette painting catching your eye through Trident’s window—last days to see the group exhibit at Trident Gallery. Just one week away from Ed Touchette’s solo exhibit at Trident. East Gloucester and Veterans School parents please get ready to bring your kids to see his exhibit. East Gloucester kids can find an Mr. Touchette throwback tucked away on East Main. Here’s a snapshot – try and find it.
Pass through Parsons down to Rogers or up to Main to see the progress of the artists of Art Haven/Hive. Their wall mural along a private building of Parsons Street is coming along and their depiction of Man at the Wheel is filling in…check it out! We have cleaned and scrubbed out graffiti on many walls, more than once, and are happy to see new public art added alongside the temporary FISH NET street mural and Dress Code’s.
I’m not sure what artist, Bob Stephenson, would have thought of the latest mural, but I wish he could have seen it. I do know he liked the Calderwood Fish Net mural and was grateful to have the graffiti painted out, the lights installed and anytime we swept and weeded.
Special thanks this week to the folks with Dan Leaman Landscaping and Maintenance Corp for extra clean up and weeding along Parsons Street.
Lisa Smith from Cape Ann TV submits this short film she made about James Calderwood, the artist of the Fishnet mural on Parson’s Street. Thank you Lisa for sharing!
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George and Charles Ryan, Catherine and Cliff’s twin nine-year old sons, are avid GMG readers. They particularly enjoyed the Steak Bomb Challenge posts!
Friday’s reception for the Semi-finalist Group Exhibit, hosted by the Sawyer Free Library and Carol Gray, was well attended and beautifully organized by Catherine Ryan. The wonderfully appetizing and tasty hors d’ourves, dips, crostini, and fruits and cheeses were provided by Matthew Beach of Beach Gourmet
Carol Gray, Sawyer Free Library Director
Thank you Mayor Kirk, Carol, Catherine, and the Gloucester Committee for the Arts for the exhibit, which is interesting and very informative to see all the semi-finalists responses to the public call to art. The exhibit is up and running through July 30th at the Matz Gallery of the Sawyer Free Library. Click HERE for the Library’s summer hours.
Finalist Bartek Konieczny and Family
Catherine Ryan
Semi-finalist Juni Van Dyke and Her Son Sean
Finalist Justin DeSilva
Finalist James Calderwood
Bartek Konieczny Daughter’s
George, Catherine, and Charles Ryan
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On behalf of the City of Gloucester , the Committee for the Arts (CFTA) announces that 15 semifinalists have been selected for the first ever 2013 Gloucester MA HarborWalk Public Art Challenge. Congratulations all!
James Calderwood
Tiffany Carbonneau
Anna Chirico & Dave Blakney
Justin Desilva
Andrew Thurlow & Andrew Doyle
Gary Duehr
Bartek Konieczny
Angelina Marino-Heidel & Joel Heidel
Michael McNabney & Troy Zaushny
Frank Morbillo
Laura Piraino & Lise Breen
James Sardonis
Kim Smith
Robert Trumbour, Anthony Sanchez, Jared Steinmark, & Alex Cabral
Juni Van Dyke
This national call to artists received an overwhelming response, with over 150 project ideas submitted from artists here and across the country. Judging for round 1 was done anonymously. With only 3 awards available and so many thoughtful submissions, it was necessary that round 1 require further essential review time. Competition was very strong. The CFTA was impressed by the quality and effort of so many proposals. It’s exciting and a privilege to see so many ideas, and all with a focus on Gloucester. Sincere thanks are due to all of the artists who took the time to send in applications, and we appreciate their interest and support of this call.
What stage are we in the overall process?
The semi-finalists entries are in final review by the round 2 selection panel which is tasked with selecting the 3 finalists from the group of 15 semi-finalists. The distinguished 7 member jury panel covers a cross section of expertise and excellence and includes: John Bell, Business, Civic and Political Leader, Gloucester, MA; Andrée Bober, Landmarks Museum Director and Founder, The University of Texas at Austin, TX, http://landmarks.utexas.edu/ ; Phil Cusumano, Artist and Licensed Captain, Gloucester, MAhttp://www.philcusumanoart.com/; Morgan Faulds Pike, Artist, Gloucester, MA, http://morganfauldspike.com/; Trevor Smith, Curator of Contemporary Art, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA, http://www.pem.org/; Peter Sollogub/Chris Muskopf, Architects, Cambridge Seven Associates, Cambridge, MA http://www.c7a.com/; and Jeff Weaver, Artist, Gloucester, MA, http://www.jeffweaverfineart.com/. We are grateful for the judges’ participation. We anticipate that the three winners will be announced May 2013. Soon thereafter, the Committee for the Arts will announce a special exhibition featuring all 15 semi-finalist entries and the panel’s selections (date, venue, & details are in the works). Stay tuned!
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Good Morning Gloucester 