My View of Life on the Dock
“Meet & Greet” Johanne Cassia, Award-winning, Folk Artist
Reception: FRIDAY September 15, 2023
4 PM – 5:30 PM
Johanne Cassia’s work will be displayed during the month of September 2023. Cassia resides and works in Ipswich, Mass.
On the cover of A Primitive Place Christmas Issue 2020 magazine to be released November 15th is the historic home of Johanne Cassia and Frank Wiedenmann, Ipswich, Massachusetts, the Rogers and Brown (Nathaniel Rust) House (1665-1723). To preorder this magazine or any of the back issues, please visit their website at www.aprimitiveplace.org.
American folk artist and proprietor, Johanne Cassia runs her teaching studio, shop, and gallery, Olde Ipswich Shop & Gallery: Gifts and American Folk Art, from the barn, 83 County Road (Routes 1A and 133), Ipswich, Massachusetts. Cassia’s fine art, home, and painting classes have been featured on WCVB-TV and in publications such as Country Sampler Magazine; North Shore Life; and North Shore Living and Folk Magazine. She garnered recognition from Essex National Heritage for her participation in Women Owned Businesses on the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway.
Trifold brochure see the front here and the back here. Donna Ardizonni, Johnanne Cassia, Bachman and Essex Heritage contributed photography for the new edition.
Woman Owned Businesses on the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway post on Facebook and Instagram. Contact Pauline Bresnahan paulinesgifts@gmail.com or Johanne Cassia jwcassia@gmail.com with any questions. Tours welcome.
Essex National Heritage – Essex Coastal Scenic Byway
People are so generous! The donation drive for women in Active Duty has filled boxes many times over. Collections continue through Columbus Day and will be delivered to Operation Troop Support.
Courtesy photos below include GMG readers 🙂
Pauline Bresnahan, Johanne Cassia (Olde Ipswich Shop & Gallery) and Adam Curcuru, Director of Cape Ann Veterans Services, shared a quick video with veteran Vionette, “Vee”, Chipperini describing essentials that are great to receive when deployed. (Convinced me to go for bras!) Pauline said people have been creativite getting the word out and selecting special items to donate.
Organized by Woman Owned Businesses along the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway, donation boxes can be found at particpating locations:
Local vendors showcased a variety of wares –including patriotic items, fine art, original designs, artisan crafts, and services– and for a good cause: raising awareness for Cape Ann Veterans Services Welcome Home Initiative. This award winning model program helps local veterans adjust to life back home. The event was hosted by the Elks, The Bridge and Pauline’s Gifts. Partipating vendors included
These local businesses are bringing a lot of positive coverage and energy about our region. “Woman owned Businesses on the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway“ re-aired March 9, 2018, International Women’s Day, on Chronicle with a new introduction from the hosts because of the trail’s continued success and expanded special offers and plans! Johanne Cassia and Pauline Bresnahan share the news for 2018: Our “Woman owned Businesses on the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway”, a full day shopping destination, is moving forward in several ways.
There are 49 National Heritage Areas throughout the United States. Massachusetts shares three of its four with neighboring states: CT, NH and RI. The fourth, Essex National Heritage Area, is the only one located entirely within the Commonwealth. The enviable Essex National Heritage Area was established in 1996 for all of Essex County, Massachusetts, its 34 cities and towns, nearly 10,000 historic places on the national historic register, 26 national historic landmarks and 2 National Park headquarters (Salem and Saugus Iron Works). Trails and Sails is just one of Essex National Heritage’s memorable rallying efforts. Make sure to participate! Another initiative is the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway which calls attention to our county via its lovely, historic roads. You may have noticed the brown byway signs which were installed in 2012 after years of establishing the best routes to re-connect and highlight Essex County. This is one of the signs installed in Gloucester, MA. David Rhinelander helped with the Gloucester and Cape Ann part.
The Essex National Heritage Commission (Essex Heritage) held its Annual Fall Meeting on Thursday, October 4 at the Flint Public Library in Middleton. Business and community leaders throughout the county were in attendance. John Farmer, Essex National Heritage President, mentioned that he joined Bass Rocks Golf Club and that he enjoyed visiting the Gloucester HarborWalk for this year’s Trails & Sails in his opening report. Farmer is the Senior Vice President & Senior Credit Officer, of Eastern Bank, Lynn, one of the major Lightkeeper Sponsors* for Essex National Heritage.
Can you guess how many guests the busy Salem vistitor center welcomed since 2013? Paul DePrey, the National Park Service Superintendent for the Salem Martime & Saugus Iron Works National Historic Sites, shared this update…
One for All and All for One !
Local women retailers and colleagues from Gloucester, Essex, Ipswich and Rowley met early last spring about working together to market their businesses. These street level shops represent 4 cities and towns, and share a regional ‘Main Street’ – Route 133/1A, part of the gorgeous 90 mile Essex Coastal Scenic Byway. The new Woman Owned Businesses Along The Essex Coastal Scenic Byway brochure will be in stores before Labor Day. I’ll re-post with higher resolution images and final copy when it’s unveiled. While you’re exploring this contemporary woman owned businesses trail, don’t miss the fantastic historic exhibition The Women of Essex – Stories to Share show sponsored by the Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum, on display on the 3rd Floor of the Essex Town Hall and Library, 30 Martin Street (Route 22), Essex.
Fun route is easy to follow
#1 Pauline’s Gifts, Gloucester
#2 Essex Bird Shop & Pet Supply, Essex
#3 Sea Meadow Gifts and Gardens, Essex
#4 The Essex Exchange, Essex
#5 Olde Ipswich Shop & Gallery, Ipswich*
#6 AnnTiques, Ipswich
#7 Be Modern, Ipsiwch
#8 Lost Treasures, Rowley
#9 Serendipity at Todd’s Farm, Rowley
*Johanne Cassia, who owns Olde Ipswich Shop & Gallery –#5 on the new map–painted the illustration of their businesses featured on the brochure.
I’ve included a few scenes from The Women of Essex – Stories to Share exhibition at Essex Town Hall and the renovated bright space on the top floor, accessible for all.
photo- Women of Essex: Restauranteurs (detail from installation Essex Town Hall)
Good Morning Gloucester 