My View of Life on the Dock
Scenes from Manchester last week © Beth Welin, Director of Manchester Historical Museum
Librarian, Carol Bender, Head of Youth Services, Manchester Public Library, reading Where in the World is Catherine Abigail by Michael LaPenna and illustrated by Leslie Galacar. The children from Magic Years were visiting Once Upon a Contest at Manchester Historical Museum.
They met special guest artist Leslie Galacar.
Tomorrow is the last day to catch the travel exhibition Once Upon a contest in Manchester. Explore fantastic new children’s books by local authors and artists at the lovely Manchester Historical Museum. Friday will also be the last chance to catch Leslie Galacar’s temporary work consisting of a series of intricate illustrations that progress from the entry to the main gallery. Can you find this one on site?
The exhibition changes with each installation as each locale and architecture is unique and special- as are the programs and public art component. The reading and art exhibit is coming to Essex next, opening on May 4th at TOHP Burnham Library.
Once Upon a Contest is on view through April 26 at the Manchester Historical Museum for the Manchester Public Library leg of this travel exhibit. Leslie Galacar created a site specific 4 part piece that will be displayed for the length of the Manchester run.
Read Gloucester Daily Times “Manchester illustrator featured at Historical Museum” here
These photos are mostly installation views BEFORE the lovely reception for Once Upon a Contest at the Manchester Historical Museum. The show continues through April 26th. There was quite a turn out on that gorgeous sunny Saturday so I fell off duty taking photographs during the party. The Editor of the Manchester Cricket was on site; I will add a link to any story/photos. Please visit the beautiful exhibition, read the books explore the museum and library, and discover Leslie Galacar’s temporary public art installation created just for this site.
photo: Beth Welin Director of the Manchester Historical Museum and Sara Collins Director of the Manchester Public Library
Installation views of the 3rd annual Cape Ann Through Artists’ Eyes spring show and sale at Manchester Historical Museum. The 2019 exhibiting Cape Ann artists are: John Abisamra; Barby Almy; Donna Ardizzoni; Bob Allia; Mary Barker; Jessica Biker; Martha Parrish Chapman; Kathleen Chrzanowski; Kathleen Connelly; Melissa Cox, ; Bonnie Faulkner; Leslie Galacar; Ann Guyer; Olga Hayes; Fred Kepler; Ken King; Gary Linder; and Mike Storella.
from Beth Welin:
The Manchester Historical Museum invites visitors to explore scenes of Cape Ann at the 3rd annual spring exhibit and art sale – Cape Ann through Artists’ Eyes. See the creative work on display featuring paintings and photography by eighteen local artists. This free exhibit runs through March during the Museum’s regular hours: Tuesdays – Fridays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. with a closing reception on Saturday, March 30 (10:00 am -1:00 pm).
Once Upon A Contest Selections from Cape Ann Reads opens April 6, 2019.
Director Beth Welin explains that two community exhibitions are scheduled each year along with permanent and special exhibits. Manchester’s 375th Anniversary is 2020. For more info contact the Manchester Historical Museum by phone at 978-526-723, e-mail at info@manchesterhistoricalmuseum.org, or visit their website at http://www.manchesterhistoricalmuseum.org
Walk ins welcome! Have fun, glean advice, and be inspired creating your own children’s picture books, stories and art.
“February Vacation Week at Cape Ann Museum” by Gail McCarthy, Gloucester Daily Times
Today Leslie Galacar leads a workshop all about the line. Cape Ann fans and beyond have enjoyed her iconic visual language on textiles, cards and wares. Have a go at Fun with Figures and Find Franklin the Cat. Did you know she hides drawings in her art?
Sneak peek of the imaginative & delightful 3D world awaiting visitors Wednesday with Betty and Kirsten Allenbrook Wiberg
Courtney Richardson shares Cape Ann Museum Once Upon a Contest February 2019 Vacation Fun!
print out and share the flyer!- Cape Ann Museum February Vacation 2019 Flyer
Once Upon a Contest: February Vacation Fun! Special family workshops with local children’s book illustrators and authors
GLOUCESTER, Mass. (February 8, 2019) – The Cape Ann Museum is pleased to present special February Vacation week programming from Tuesday, February 19 to Friday, February 22, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Cape Ann Museum. Each unique session will feature one of the illustrators from the Once Upon a Contest: Selections from Cape Ann Reads special exhibition. Daily registration is required, $15/member family; $25 nonmember family. To register call Courtney Richardson at 978-283-0455 or email courtneyrichardson@capeannmuseum.org.
Tuesday February 19: Fun with Figures and Find Franklin the Cat: illustration in marker and ink with Leslie Galacar, illustrator of the award winning “Where in the World is Catherine Abigail,” written by Michael LaPenna
Wednesday February 20: Make story headbands with “Small Elephant” Cape Ann Reads award winning book illustrator Betty Allenbrook Wiberg, written by Kirsten Allenbrook Wiberg
Thursday February 21: Create nocturnal paintings on colored paper like “Henrietta’s Moon Egg,” a Cape Ann Reads Gulliver award winning book written and illustrated by Claire Wyzenbeek
Friday February 22: Cape Ann houses of illustration – paper collage with Alexia (“Lexi”) Parker – Bring a picture of your house! Lexi’s illustrated projects include Cape Ann Reads Gulliver Books “Bike’s Big Adventure” and “Pumpkin Carving”; also Crabs the Lobster, a volume of Poetry, and a historic coloring book for the town of Essex.
Continue reading “Special February school vacation week family workshops at Cape Ann Museum!”
The opening celebration for the beautiful new exhibit at the Cape Ann Museum, “Once Upon a Contest: Selections from Cape Ann Reads,” was fabulously well-received and well-attended. Artists, writers, Mayor Sefatia, Cape Ann Museum director Rhonda Falloon and staff, Cape Ann librarians, friends, families, and well-wishers were all there to join the celebration.
The exhibit highlights local writers and artists of children’s picture books from the Cape Ann Reads initiative. Cape Ann Reads, hosted by the area’s four public libraries (Sawyer Free, Rockport, Manchester, and Essex), was created to encourage literacy in young people through community and creative collaborations.
“ONCE UPON A CONTEST” RUNS FROM DECEMBER 20TH THROUGH FEBRUARY 24TH
Author/illustrators included in the exhibition:
Leslie Galacar, Martha Shaw Geraghty, Marion Hall, Steven Kennedy, Charles King, George King, Michael LaPenna, James McKenna, Barbara McLaughlin, Alexia Parker, Victoria Petway, Jim Plunkett, Diane Polley, Mary Rhinelander, James Seavey, Gail Seavey, Kim Smith, Christina Ean Spangler, Bonnie L. Sylvester, Juni VanDyke, Maura Wadlinger, Betty Allenbrook Wiberg, Kirsten Allenbrook Wiberg, Jean Woodbury and Claire Wyzenbeek
Exhibit Curated and directed by Catherine Ryan, with support from the Bruce J. Anderson Foundation.
Deborah Kelsey, director of Gloucester’s Sawyer Free Library
Cindy Grove, director of the Rockport Public Library
Sara Collins, director of Manchester’s Public Library
Deborah French, director of Essex’s TOHP Burnham Public Library
THE CAPE ANN MUSEUM IS FREE TO CAPE ANN RESIDENTS DURING THE ENTIRE MONTH OF JANUARY!
Our Catherine Ryan has curated and designed a wonderfully fun and beautiful exhibit, “Once Upon a Contest: Selections from Cape Ann Reads,” currently on view at the Cape Ann Museum. The exhibit highlights local writers and artists of children’s picture books from the Cape Ann Reads initiative. Cape Ann Reads, hosted by the area’s four public libraries (Sawyer Free, Rockport, Manchester, and Essex), was created to encourage literacy in young people through community and creative collaborations.
The exhibit is thoughtfully designed for little folks. The paintings are hung at just the right height for pint-sized readers and soon-to-be readers. Mock-ups of the books are placed on shelves within easy reach and petite chairs for little ones make for a cozy storytime feeling.
I took Charlotte to the Museum on Friday and she had a fantastic experience. We’re planning to return again this Friday!
Thank you to Charlotte and her Mom and Dad for the photos! The watercolor illustration Charlotte is sitting in front of is from my book, “Beauty on the Wing: Life Story of the Monarch Butterfly,” which was the original inspiration for the documentary film of the same name. The illustration shows a pair of Monarchs ascending into a maple tree, as they are mating.
Author/illustrators included in the exhibition:
Leslie Galacar, Martha Shaw Geraghty, Marion Hall, Steven Kennedy, Charles King, George King, Michael LaPenna, James McKenna, Barbara McLaughlin, Alexia Parker, Victoria Petway, Jim Plunkett, Diane Polley, Mary Rhinelander, James Seavey, Gail Seavey, Kim Smith, Christina Ean Spangler, Bonnie L. Sylvester, Juni VanDyke, Maura Wadlinger, Betty Allenbrook Wiberg, Kirsten Allenbrook Wiberg, Jean Woodbury and Claire Wyzenbeek
Exhibit Curated and Directed by Catherine Ryan, with support from the Bruce J. Anderson Foundation.
Deborah Kelsey, director of Gloucester’s Sawyer Free Library
Cindy Grove, director of the Rockport Public Library
Sara Collins, director of Manchester’s Public Library
Deborah French, director of Essex’s TOHP Burnham Public Library
SAVE THE DATE! RECEPTION IS ONE WEEK AWAY
Cape Ann Museum reception for the four libraries of Cape Ann Once Upon a Contest: Selections from Cape Ann Reads travel show, Saturday, January 5th, 2019, 3-5PM
photo credit: Installation partial view of “Once Upon a Contest: Selections from Cape Ann Reads” travel show debuted at Cape Ann Museum, December 2018. © c ryan
Photo shows from left to right: in the foreground illustration by Leslie Galacar for Where in the World is Catherine Abigail written by Michael LaPenna; illustration for “Why does my dog…” written and illustrated by Mary Rhinelander; back wall left hint of temporary public art mural by Bonnie L. Sylvester, a Cape Ann tableau as walk-in installation, by the manuscripts (Sylvester illustrated The Tree in Dock Square by Jean Woodbury); back wall right drawing for Beauty on the Wing written and illustrated by Kim Smith; illustrations by Juni VanDyke for two books from the If I were … series by James McKenna; and a lower left corner from an illustration for The Best Way Home, written and illustrated by Barbara McLaughlin.
Discover a world of new, original picture books through art! Courtney Richardson shares Cape Ann Museum’s news for the Once Upon a Contest group exhibition opening next week:
Once Upon a Contest: Selections from Cape Ann Reads
A special exhibition celebrating local children’s book authors and illustrators
GLOUCESTER, Mass. (December 14, 2018) – The Cape Ann Museum is pleased to present Once Upon a Contest: Selections from Cape Ann Reads, a ground breaking show on view until February 24, 2019, stemming from the country’s first children’s picture book contest hosted by four public libraries. The exhibition brings special attention to award-winning local artists and writers and the art of children’s picture books. There will be an opening celebration on Saturday, January 5 from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. This program is free for Museum members, Cape Ann Residents or with Museum admission. For more information visit capeannmuseum.org or call 978-283-0455 x10.
Once Upon a Contest was drawn from manuscripts recognized for distinction during the Cape Ann Reads 2017 original picture book competition. The special group show was organized and circulated by curator, Catherine Ryan, with support from the Bruce J Anderson Foundation | The Boston Fund. Visitors will find picture books created by traditional author-illustrators (individuals who create both text and illustrations), friends and family pairings, repeat partnerships, volunteer match ups, self-taught and master artists, storytellers, published authors, and educators.
The exhibit features work by: Leslie Galacar, Martha Shaw Geraghty, Marion Hall, Steven Kennedy, Charles King, George King, Michael LaPenna, James McKenna, Barbara McLaughlin, Alexia Parker, Victoria Petway, Jim Plunkett, Diane Polley, Mary Rhinelander, James Seavey, Gail Seavey, Kim Smith, Christina Ean Spangler, Bonnie L. Sylvester, Juni VanDyke, Maura Wadlinger, Betty Allenbrook Wiberg, Kirsten Allenbrook Wiberg, Jean Woodbury, and Claire Wyzenbeek.
For a few, inclusion in this show will mark their debut display at a museum. The works on view range from preliminary mock ups and unfinished pages to final published illustrations for original books. They cover diverse themes and points of view and provide glimpses into stories and methodologies. The exhibition will include a reading nook for visitors of all ages.
Cape Ann Reads came about in 2015 when the four public libraries on Cape Ann –Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Public Library; Manchester by the Sea Public Library; TOHP Burnham Public Library, Essex; and Rockport Public Library– began to work together to encourage and highlight community creativity, regional collaboration, and family literacy through a focus on children’s picture books. “A passion for writing literature and the arts is one thing that ties all four communities together making Cape Ann Reads a meaningful collaboration between our four libraries and the Cape Ann Museum,” explained Cindy Grove, Director, Rockport Public Library.
During the first year of implementation, the collaborating public libraries and Cape Ann Museum offered innovative monthly programming and free picture book themed workshops for families and adults as a vehicle for family literacy, a work of art and literature, and a form of engagement and recreation. The vibrant endeavor culminated in a public art call, Cape Ann Creates for Cape Ann Reads. “What an opportunity for a talented individual or individuals to produce a lasting piece of literature with such special meaning,” exclaimed Deborah French, Director, T.O.H.P. Burnham Library, Essex.
Scores of Cape Ann creatives responded to this open call for a chance to win a first edition printing. In fact, so much interest occurred that a writer’s group led by Gloucester Writers Center was established, and volunteer artists and writers stepped up to help people without a partner. Two jury panels selected Gulliver, Honor and Medal books in the spring of 2017.
The jury panel included librarians, acclaimed children’s book author-illustrators and a rare books dealer: Carol Bender, Pat Lowery Collins, Ann Cowman, Kate Strong Stadt, Giles Laroche, Bob Ritchie, Justine Vitale, Anna Vojtech, and April Wanner. Five children served on the kids panel. A reception and book fair was held in Gloucester’s City Hall in January 2018 thanks to Mayor Sefatia Romeo-Theken. Original sculpture trophies of the bespectacled Cape Ann Reads mascot, “Gulliver”, by fine artist Jason Burroughs, were presented to the Honor and Medal book recipients. Cape Ann Reads continues to foster connections among the children’s picture book network, and generate business. Six books have been self-published, reviewed, and sold in local stores. Reflecting on this boon, Sara Collins, Director of the Manchester by the Sea Public Library said “Cape Ann Reads has been an innovative incubator for authors and illustrators, with the offspring as marvelous and varied as you can imagine in this creative community.”
“The Cape Ann Museum is pleased to launch this important Cape Ann Reads exhibition just as it was to kick off the first Cape Ann Reads program with the Eric Carle Museum back in January 2016, ” said Ronda Faloon, Director Cape Ann Museum. The Museum scheduled the exhibition to coincide with the major Virginia Lee Burton retrospective, The Little House: Her Story, and the month of January when the Museum is free to area residents. The legacy of Burton is an inspiration for many Cape Ann Reads participants.
Once Upon a Contest opens in December 2018 and continues until February 24, 2019. Following its launch at the Cape Ann Museum, the exhibition will tour the four communities of Cape Ann throughout 2019 as follows: Manchester in April, Essex in May-June, Gloucester in August-September, and Rockport in October-November.
The Cape Ann Museum will offer weekly story time with Museum staff and guest readers on Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m. through March 31, 2019. On Saturday, January 12 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. children and their families are invited to enjoy the special exhibition and participate in hands on art making and writing activities. This program is free and open to the public.
During February school vacation week, the Museum will host children’s book creation workshops for school age students from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 19 through Friday, February 22, featuring Leslie Galacar, Betty Allenbrook Wiberg, Claire Wyzenbeek, and Alexia Parker. These workshops are $15 for CAM Members or $25 nonmembers. To register contact Sarah Flanagan at 978-283-0455 x16 or email sarahflanagan@capeannmuseum.org.
Image credits: A Community Effort
And here is a link to a printable Once Upon a Contest press release
The Cape Ann Reads inaugural reception celebrating original children’s picture books by local artists and writers was held at City Hall in Gloucester, Massachusetts, January 27, 2018. Linda Bosselman of Sawyer Free Library was the official photographer for the packed event and she captured all its positive energy and people. An upcoming group exhibition featuring these participants will travel to the four Cape Ann communities. As you can see from the celebration pictures, the touring exhibition and its related receptions and readings will be worth a visit! Cape Ann Reads is an initiative by the four public libraries of Cape Ann.
The Cape Ann Reads reception and awards ceremony opened in style – thanks to the red-ribbon cutting courtesy of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and Ken Riehl.
City Hall is a gorgeous venue for an art fair. Linda photographed all the local artists and writers at their individual picture book display booths. Effort was high. Kind friends manned booths for participants who were unable to attend: Ashley was there for Steven Kennedy and Victoria Petway, and Sinikka Nogelo represented Gail and James Seavey.
Awards ceremony program began with a warm welcome of support for the arts from Mayor Romeo Theken and opening remarks by the Library Directors and special dignitaries
Deliberations were held at Cape Ann Museum and Beauport Hotel.
Cape Ann Reads convened a nine member selection panel that included representatives from each of the public libraries: Justine Vitale Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Public Library; Carol Bender, former Children’s and Teen Librarian, Rockport Public Library (now at Manchester); Kate Strong Stadt, former Head of Youth Services, Manchester-By-The-Sea Public Library; Ann Cowman, Young Adult Librarian, Manchester-By-The-Sea Public Library; and April Wanner, Assistant Librarian at the TOHP Burnham Library, Essex. Joining these talented library staff members were three artists and award winning children’s book author-illustrators: Pat Lowery Collins; Giles Laroche; and Anna Vojtech. Bob Ritchie proprietor of Dogtown Book Shop provided another crucial area of book world expertise. Cape Ann Reads is grateful for their time and considerable talents to help the participants and the process.
Each library and the Cape Ann Museum designated one child representative for the second jury — a thoughtful panel of children: Eli Porter, Alycia Hogan Lopez, John Recroft, Lucas Rodi, and Josie West. They put in tremendous effort to read every entry, prepare notes, and come together for discussion. They were tasked with close reading and instructions to let us know any books that were favorites or that they wanted to compliment. Several came to assist the event as junior staff.
Good Morning Gloucester 