Don’t be distracted by a simplistic thematic construct especially when it coaxes a mind game of “What about…?” as in: What about this artist or that one? Why aren’t they included? (Visual artists like May Stevens, Vija Celmins, Blanche Lazzell, Juane Quick to see Smith, April Gornik, Joan Nelson, Duncanson, Eric Aho, Morris graves, Rauschenberg, Fischl, Frankenthaler, Fitz Henry Lane, Winslow Hopper, and Edward Hopper sprang readily to mind. And more Lawrence.) What about the de rigueur annual summer exhibitions at major galleries and institutions, since late 1880s? Aren’t the planet’s oceans a global motif not limited by media or place?
Ignore the categories or “chapters”.
Forget the sea change promise.
Just go.
Do make the must see trip to be awed and enjoy the momentous loans and great gift of seeing these selections displayed, together and their many moods of expression. Sensuous, tranquil, volatile, mysterious, distant, abstract–this major group show delivers art that conveys emotion, expressed and experienced.
installation view photos
photos: c. ryan, May 29, 2021
Stunning installation design
*mostly (scroll through till end for some misses)
individual works
in no particular order
Animated some to help bring you there:
Museum wall labels – 3d letters, Frederick Douglass quote
Major American lending institutions and private collections including:
Crystal Bridges
Crystal Bridges partnered with PEM, so naturally most loans were procured from Arkansas.
William Trost Richards; Richard Diebenkorn; Frank Benson; Amy Sherald; Marsden Hartley
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Charles Sheeler; Jan Matulka
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
William Trost Richards
New York, Metropolitan Museum
John Frederick Kensett
Collection of New York City
John Wesley Jarvis
Navy Art Collection
Hughie Lee Smith; Paul Cadmus
American Civil War Museum
Conrad Wise Chapman
Phillips Collection
John Sloan
Smithsonian
Stuart Davis; Hughie Lee Smith
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Cuneo
Brooklyn Museum
Rockwell Kent
MoMa Museum of Modern Art
Fletcher Martin
Wadsworth Athenaeum
Kensett
Cahoon Museum American Art
North Carolina Museum of Art
Luks
This show was also billed as one exhibition comprising PEM’s **new** Climate and Environmental Initiative. **Includes iconic American homoerotic art – Cadmus Fleet’s In and Fletcher Martin**
Installation views and museum labels more of a miss
Waters elsewhere on view from the Peabody Essex Museum
Josh Simpson megaplanet glass earth, 1989
Michael C. McMillen detail of The Pequod II
Sea Coco
installation view Rockman exhibit, May 29, 2021, see more here
Don’t be distracted by a simplistic thematic construct especially when it coaxes a mind game of “What about…?” as in: What about this artist or that one? Why aren’t they included? (Visual artists like May Stevens, Vija Celmins, Blanche Lazzell, Juane Quick to see Smith, April Gornik, Joan Nelson, Duncanson, Eric Aho, Morris graves, Rauschenberg, Fischl, Frankenthaler, Fitz Henry Lane, Winslow Hopper, and Edward Hopper sprang readily to mind. And more Lawrence.) What about the de rigueur annual summer exhibitions at major galleries and institutions, since late 1880s? Aren’t the planet’s oceans a global motif not limited by media or place? Ignore these categories or “chapters”.
Forget the sea change promise.
Just go!
Do make the must see trip to be awed and enjoy the momentous loans and great gift of seeing these selections displayed, together and their many moods of expression. Sensuous, tranquil, volatile, mysterious, distant, abstract–this major group show delivers art that conveys emotion, expressed and experienced.
installation views
C. Ryan May 29, 2021 – stunning installation design, mostly
individual works, no particular order
Animated some to help bring you there:
Museum wall labels – 3d letters, Frederick Douglass quote
Major American lending institutions and private collections including:
Crystal Bridges
Crystal Bridges partnered with PEM, so naturally most loans were procured from Arkansas.
William Trost Richards; Richard Diebenkorn; Frank Benson; Amy Sherald; Marsden Hartley
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Charles Sheeler; Jan Matulka
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
William Trost Richards
New York, Metropolitan Museum
John Frederick Kensett
Collection of New York City
John Wesley Jarvis
Navy Art Collection
Hughie Lee Smith; Paul Cadmus
American Civil War Museum
Conrad Wise Chapman
Phillips Collection
John Sloan
Smithsonian
Stuart Davis; Hughie Lee Smith
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Cuneo
Brooklyn Museum
Rockwell Kent
MoMa Museum of Modern Art
Fletcher Martin
Wadsworth Athenaeum
Kensett
Cahoon Museum American Art
North Carolina Museum of Art
Luks
This show was also billed as one exhibition comprising PEM’s **new** Climate and Environmental Initiative. **Includes iconic American homoerotic art – Cadmus Fleet’s In and Fletcher Martin**
Installation views and museum labels more of a miss
Waters elsewhere on view from the Peabody Essex Museum
Josh Simpson megaplanet glass earth, 1989
Michael C. McMillen detail of The Pequod II
Sea Coco
installation view Rockman exhibit, May 29, 2021, see more here
Last Chance! These must see 2019 shows are closing soon: Don’t miss ICA Watershed Purple (installation view above) closing September 2; DeCordova New England Biennial and the Provincetown Art Association & Museum’s 1945 Chaim Gross exhibition close September 15; and catch Renoir at the Clark before it’s gone September 22nd.
A few of the listed upcoming exhibitions to note: the NEW building and exhibits at PEM are opening September 2019; Homer at the Beach is on display at Cape Ann Museum thru December 1 (and catch a Richard Ormond lecture on John Singer Sargent’s Charcoals Sept.28 at Cape Ann Museum (ahead of the Morgan exhibition opening October); three new shows opening at MFA; Gordon Parks at Addison; and Alma Thomas at Smith. A Seuss-focused experience was pronounced destined for Boston, ahead of its TBD venue, by the LA entertainment company co-founders. Some shows I’ve already visited and may write about, mostly from a dealer’s perspective as that is my background. Exhibition trends continue to evolve and reveal new directions. A few patterns I see in the exhibition titles: what’s annointed for display and how it’s contextualized (corrective labels); immersive exhibits; revisiting colonial methodologies and themes; major solo surveys; women artists (and this upcoming season boost underscoring womens’ suffrage and 100th anniversary of the ratification of women’s right to vote); illustration; environment; and issues of humanity and migration. The list is illustrated with images of the sites. All photographs mine unless otherwise noted. Right click or hover to see info; click to enlarge. – Catherine Ryan
The guide – Massachusetts Museum Guide, Fall 2019
Note from author: The list below is alphabetized by town, and details upcoming exhibitions at each venue as well as some that are closing soon. Click the word “website” (color gray on most monitors) for hyperlinks that redirect to venues. For a list alphabetically sorted by venue, see my Google Map (with a Candy Trail overlay) “Art Museums in Massachusetts” hereand embedded at the end of this post. I pulled the map together several years ago. No apps to download or website jumping. Easy scroll down so you don’t miss an exhibit that’s closer than you think to one that you may already be exploring.A few are open seasonally (summer) or weekends only–call first to check before visiting. Major new architectural building projects are underway at BU (closed) and MIT. The 54th Regiment Memorial on Boston Common will undergo restoration. Get ready for close observation of conservation in process. – Catherine
AMESBURY
1. John Greenleaf Whittier historic Home and Museumwebsite
18. Boston Harbor Islands National and State Parkwebsite
(photos show info gateway on the Greenway near the ferry access to Boston Harbor Islands)
Summer 2019 public art: Boston Harbor [Re]creation The Project: Artists Marsha Parrilla; Robin MacDonald-Foley; Brian Sonia-Wallace more(Jury: Luis Cotto MCC; Lucas Cowan, The Greenway; Celena illuzzi, National Parks; Caroly Lewenberg; Denise Sarno-Bucca DCR; Courtney Shape, City of Boston; Rebecca Smerling Boston Harbor Now; Kera Washingon; Cynthia Woo, Pao Arts Center)
Unveiled 2019 – Super A (Stefan Thelen) Resonance, 2019, latex and spray paint
Note to Greenway (see photo notes below): food trucks by the stop should be relocated to other food truck areas (and maybe one tree) to optimize and welcome sight line to the Greenway and public spaces from streets, sidewalk, and South Station. There are pauses elsewhere along the lattice park links, and a generous approach past the wine bar. The temporary commissioned mural could extend verso (or invite a second artist) so that the approach from Zakim Bridge/RT1/93North is as exciting as the approach from Cape Cod.
Skip the app AI download– swamped my phone battery despite free WiFi on the Greenway.
See complete list of 2019 public art currently on view at The Greenway here
The Greenway packs a lot of punch in a compressed area; its lattice of dynamic public spaces and quiet passages are an easy stroll into the North End or along the HarborWalk to the ICA, roughly similar in size and feel as walking Battery Park and Hudson River Park in New York City.
Through September 15, 2019 BIG PLANS: Picturing Social Reformmore
Through October 20, 2019 Contemporary Art Joan Jonas: i know why they left more
Through January 14, 2020 Anne H. Fitzpatrick Facade Laura Owens: Untitled
October 17, 2019 – January 20, 2020 In the Company of Artists featuring Sophie Calle, Bharti Kher, Luisa Lambri, Laura Owens, Rachel Perry, Dayanita Singh, and Su-Mei Tse
Through September 28, 2019 Annual Regional Juried Exhibition 2019 Winners announced September 21, 2019. The 2018 gold winner, Leon Doucette of Gloucester, exhibiting again, and Melissa Cooper. more
Through September 2, 2019 at The Water Shed, ICA Boston John Akomfrah: Purplemore
What’s coming in 2020 to The Water Shed? Still TBA
Through September 22, 2019 ICA Less Is a Bore: Maximilist Art & Designmore
Nice installation with a few surprises and thoughtful connection to other exhibtions on view. (The LeWit and Johns selections triggered what about that work or artist? I wish May Stevens and Harmony Hammond were included and my list grew from there. That’s part of the fun of the exhibit.)
September 24 – February 7, 2021 ICA Yayoi Kusama: Love is Callingmore
September 24 – February 7, 2021 ICA Beyond Infinity: Contemporary Art after Kusamamore
October 23, 2019 – January 26, 2020 ICA When Home Won’t Let You Stay: Migration through Contemporary Artmore
Through December 31, 2019 ICA 2019 James and Audrey Foster Prize Boston area artists: Rashin Fahandej; Josephine Halvorson; Lavaughan Jenkins; Helga Roht Poznanskimore
41. Museum of American Bird Art at Mass Audubon website
Through September 15, 2019 Under Pressure– Birds in the Printed Landscape: Linocuts by Sherrie Yorkmore
Through September 29, 2019 The Shorebird Decoys of Gardner & Dextermore
CAMBRIDGE
Harvard –
42. Harvard Art Museums (Fogg; Busch-Reisinger; and Arthur M. Sackler) website
Why do any of the Harvard museums charge an entrance fee?
Through January 5, 2020 Winslow Homer: Eyewitness (in conjunction with Cape Ann Museum Homer exhibition) University Research Gallery
Through January 5, 2020 Early Christian Africa: Arts of Transformation
Through January 5, 2020 Critical Printing
Through January 5, 2020 Crossing Lines, Constructing Home: Displacement and Belonging in Contemporary Art
Through November 14, 2021 On Site Clay — Modeling African Design
43. Harvard – Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts website
Through September 29, 2019 Anna Oppermann: Drawings
The Carpenter Center was closed for an event on the day I scheduled to see the Oppermann exhibition – good reminder to call first for the must see shows on your list.
Jonathan Berger: An Introduction to Nameless Love
Harvard Film Archive weekly film series
44. Harvard – ‘The Cooper Gallery’ / The Ethelbert Cooper Gallery of African and African American Art website
September 16 – December 13, 2019 The Sound of My Soul: Frank Stewart’s Life in Jazz photography, curated by Ruth Fine
the Gordon Park exhibition that recently closed was on my list of top shows for 2019
Through October 20, 2019 Wrestling With Angels Icons from the Prosopon School of Iconology and Iconographymore
November 15, 2019 – March 8, 2020 Emil Hoppe: Photographs from the Ballet Russesmore
CONCORD
64. Louisa May Alcott Orchard House 399 Lexington Road, Concord, Massachusetts 01742, United States (978) 369-4118 guided tours year round plus special events
Through October 20, 2019 Ship of State…Paintings by Robert Henry
Through December 21, 2019 Interpreting Their World: Varujan Boghosian, Carmen Cicero, Elspeth Halvorsen and Pual Resika
DUXBURY
71. The Art Complex Museum (Weyerhaeuser collection) website
August 18 – November 10, 2019 Steve Novick: Approximation
September 15 -January 12, 2020 Draw the Line
September 15 – January 12, 2020 Rotations: Highlights From the Permanent Collection Nocturne including Lowell Birge Harrison (American, 1854–1929), Suzanne Hodes (American, b. 1939), Kawase Hasui (Japanese, 1883–1957), George Inness (American, 1825–1894), Johan Barthold Jongkind (Dutch, 1819–1891) Martin Lewis (American, 1881–1962), and Henri Eugene Le Sidaner (French, 1862-1939)
November 17 – February 16, 2020 George Herman Found Paintings
EAST SANDWICH
72. Thornton W. Burgess Society Green Briar Nature Center & Jam Kitchen website *may join Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster to combine and become the Cape Cod Museums of Natural History
Through September 1, 2019 84th Regional Exhibition of Art and Craft
Through September 1, 2019 Broad Strokes: American Painting of the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries from the FAM collection
September 7, 2019 – January 5, 2020 Sage Sohier/David Hilliard: Our Parents, Ourselvesmore
September 21, 2019 – November 10, 2019 Adria Arch: Reframing Eleanormore
September 21, 2019 Daniela Rivera: Labored Landscapes (Where Hand Meets Ground)more
September 21, 2019 – January 12, 2020 David Katz: Earth Waresmore
Ongoing Evoking Eleanor; Discover Ancient Egypt; Thurston sculpture by Douglas Kornfeld
FRAMINGHAM
76. Danforth Museum of Art, Framingham State Univ. website
September 7 – October 13, 2019 Populux Steven Duede | Sean Sullivan on display in the works on paper gallery
September 7 – December 30, 2019 Dressed! Exhibiting artists include Catherine Bertulli, Jodi Colella, Merill Comeau, Mia Cross, Nancy Grace Horton, and Marky Kauffmann
September 7 – May 2020 Highlights from the Permanent Collection
Front entrance John Adams Courthouse, Boston, MA. The Berkshire Museum case is under review by Supreme Court Justice Lowy
How did the Berkshire Museum brouhaha wind up in the highest court under SJO (Single Justice) review by Justice David A Lowy?
The Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, deemed it necessary to alter an original historic building and sell off its priceless core art collection in order to build a dream and survive. This controvertial move garnered attention and divided opinion. The Trustees of the Museum explained that they hired a consultancy firm which confirmed this new direction (“New Vision”), via extensive public outreach* no less, so what gives? (*22 focus groups involving over 200 people is hardly extensive.) Opponents cried, “Foul!”, and pointed out questionable and perhaps shady fodder, i.e. would museum members and the Berkshire community have voted YES had they been told that the best works from the permanent collection must be sold off to make it happen? Also, the art was consigned to Sotheby’s June 13, 2017, but the Trustees altered the museum’s Charter after the consignment date and only then informed the “public”. Timing is everything. There was even an infamous email with a ‘loose lips sink ships’ subject line. We know these details because of dogged reporting by the The Berkshire Eagle, notably Larry Parnass, and a wide network. The story is urgent and compelling, the art world equivalent of a Spotlight-All the President’s Men-Pentagon Papers type investigation.
The first auctions were slated for November 2017. Shuffleton’s Barbershop by Norman Rockwell was to have been the Berkshire Museum star lot. Its presale estimate alone was 20 to 30 million. By the Fall of 2017, the museum was hit with multiple lawsuits, sued by the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, Norman Rockwell descendants, and various plaintiffs. Eventually, all were folded into #TeamAGO vs. the Berkshire Museum. On November 8th, the Lower Court ruled in favor of the Museum, clearing the legal right of way to auction. The Attorney General Office appealed to the State’s supreme judicial court to block the sale for more time to evaluate and investigate the case. Attorneys for the Museum fought that request vigorously, but were denied. On November 10, 2017, the AGO procured an injunction from Judge Trainor of the Massachusetts Appeals Court, scuttling any scheduled auction prior to December 11, 2017. Allowances for extensions to build the case were granted. On February 5th, the AGO switched teams and filed jointly with its former adversary, the Berkshire Museum, petitioning the court to apply cy pres and maintaining its opinion that indeed all the art is restricted:
“As detailed elsewhere (e.g., in its filings in the litigation referenced above) the AGO believes that all of the works of art deaccessioned and proposed for sale are subject to one or more restrictions that limit the Museum’s ability to proceed with its planned sale and use of proceeds to fund an endowment, pay for operating expenses and fund renovations. The Museum continues to believe no restrictions (beyond the Museum’s charitable purposes) apply.”
This alliance left many scratching their heads and interested parties formerly #TeamAGO adrift. Although the Rockwell plaintiffs backed off and dropped their case, law firms Sullivan & Worcester and Foley Hoag with Barker, Epstein & Loscocco solicited amicus status on behalf of their clients.
Sullivan & Worcester blog post about their position
Immediately, the AGO and the Berkshire Museum filed opposition papers. They weren’t persuasive. The Justice granted the participation of the law firms which means that the SJ-2018-065 docket was vastly enlarged and enlightened on February 27, 2018, and I had to see. And share. (Although everything I was looking for and questioned was not there.) The attorneys disagree with the AGO and Berkshire Museum proposal, and request oral argument. The AGO and Museum responses were filed after I visited. Justice David A Lowy will make that decision. He can act on filed papers related to Docket SJ-2018-065, order a hearing, or pass the case back to the full court. What will he do? I’m crossing fingers that arguments will be heard, and with the full court (which meets the first week each month and is open to the public), especially after I considered the material in person. The Berkshire Museum could inspire a Frank Capra-esque courtroom movie treatment one day.
In the meantime, the art remains in Sotheby’s possession and the auction house stands down as the case is sorted. The docket includes Sotheby’s contract.
For armchair lawyers and detail detectives: I offer a blizzard of documents, on the eve of the next Nor’Easter blizzard and hope I’ve peaked your interest. (Leaving my analysis aside for now.) Scroll past this post’s “read more” indicator to see interior architectural photos I took of the stunning John Adams Courthouse, and to read some of the complete and unfiltered new filings and documents related to the Berkshire Museum case, specifically-
AMICI CURIAE Sullivan & Worcester LLP law firm on behalf of ‘Berkshire Museum Member Plaintiffs’: James Hatt, Kristin Hatt, and Elizabeth Weinberg, filed Feb 26 2018, case SJ-2018-065 (52 pages)
AMICUS CURIAE Foley Hoag and Barker, Epstein & Loscocco – attorney Michael B Keating of Foley Hoag with attorney Daniel Epstein of Barker, Epstein & Loscocco on behalf of clients: Tom Patti, who completed two commissioned installations for the Berkshire Museum entrance and reception areas–spaces that will be gutted if the historic building is disfigured for the New Vision; Marilyn Holtz Patti – resides and works in Berkshire County as does Tom Patti; Jean Rosseau and Jonas Dovydenas- residents of Stockbridge and Lenox; James Lamme, resident of Egremont; and Donald MacGillis, resident of Pittsfield, MA. (21 pages)
Sotheby’s Contract with the Berkshire Museum (9 pages)
Affidavit from Dan Monroe, Director of the Peabody Essex Museum opposed the Berkshire Museum sale (4 pages)
Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) provided major facility funding since 2000. Some related construction was completed by a board member and warrants scrutiny
links to prior GMG Berkshire Museum posts
Interior views John Adams Courthouse
The John Adams Courthouse Great Hall is stunning. On the right side in this photos is a Daniel Chester French gilded sculpture of Rufus Choate
American Impressionist: Childe Hassam and the Isle of Shoals at the Peabody Essex Museum is one of the best exhibitions I saw this year. Go. You will come nearly as close as any observer can to feeling the rapturous meeting of an artist’s take with the shimmering world.
Hassam’s paintings don’t reproduce well in books, or photography. They need to be addressed– sized up, walked towards. Inhaled.
This approach is beneficial even if you study just one. But my, what luxury seeing so many in one place at one time. Again and again, the show brought forth connections and insight.”Funny, I hadn’t seen that before,” I found myself thinking, “Artists Howard Hodgkin and Lucian Freud are coming to mind.”
The exhibition features more than 40 Hassam oil paintings and watercolors of the eastern seaboard dating from the late 1880s to 1912–an Isle of Shoals painting reunion, with secrets revealed.
The Peabody Essex Museum and the North Carolina Museum of Art co-organized and partnered with marine scientists at Shoals Marine Laboratory, Cornell University, and the University of New Hampshire. Their new research examined all the sites on the island, and Hassam’s painting process. I liked the research, the pacing of the installation, and the thoughtful viewshed. Besides the two museums, loans came from near and mostly far such as: private collections from coast to coast (which I’d never see); the Portland Museum of Art; Kemper Art Museum at Washington University in St. Louis; Yale (Sinclair Lewis gifted that one to Yale!); Wichita Art Museum; Toledo Museum of Art; Smith; Smithsonian; and the National Gallery of Art.
Basically all painting is abstraction: I relished the chance to study so many in one spot.
I was not a fan of the piped in sound, nor all the wall paint choices as my senses were already acutely challenged by observation. My disdain for the canned ambient sound was so distracting, I had to take a break. On my second visit, the scent of coconut wafted out the entrance. My goodness, have they piped in fake scent like a boutique hotel or experiential attraction, too? They hadn’t. It was my overreaction in the wake of another visitor’s adornment, a lingering fragrance, perhaps sunscreen on a summer day.
Tucked away within the Hassam exhibit was a good photo installation of Alexandra de Steiguer’s work as the Isles winter keeper– for 19 years! For anyone who wondered more about life as a keeper after reading The Light Between Oceans, de Steiguer wrote about her real experiences here, http://connected.pem.org/alone-on-an-island/. It’s beautiful!
More photos of the Hassam installation at the Peabody Essex Museum:
Peabody Essex Museum Hassam bannersPeabody Essex Museum Hassam 2016Childe Hassam Sunset at Sea 1911 anonymous loan Poppies, Isles of Shoals,1891 National Gallery of Art acquisition in 1997Childe Hassam, illustration for the Island Garden, w/c, 1892 from the Smithsonian (gifted in 1929)An Island Garden by Celia Thaxter, 1893, with illustrations by HassamChilde Hassam, White Island Light, Isles of Shoals at Sundown, 1899, Smith (a 1973 gift of Mr. and Mrs. Hodgkinson (Laura White Cabot, class of 1922) ) Smith has a beauty. detail of Hassam at SmithChilde Hassam, The West Wind, Isle of Shoals, 1904, Yale, bequest of Sinclair Lewis to the Beinecke (1952) impossible to photograph well and will knock your socks off. Startling.Childe Hassam, The West Wind, Isle of Shoals, 1904, Yale, bequest of Sinclair Lewis to the Beinecke (1952)Childe Hassam, The West Wind, Isle of Shoals, 1904, Yale, bequest of Sinclair Lewis to the Beinecke (1952)Summer Sea, Isles of Shoals, 1902, o/c, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH, gift of Florence Scott Libbey in 1912Jelly Fish, 1912, Wichita Art Museum, KS, John W and Mildred L Graves Collection (acquired 1986)Childe Hassam, Moonrise Isle of Shoals, 1899, collection Donald Head, Old Grandview Ranch, CA Childe Hassam, The Laurel in the Ledges, Appledore, 1895, North Carolina Museum of Art,Childe Hassam, Lyman’s Ledge, Appledore, 1903, private collection “northern bayberry, popularly confused with laurel, wedged into the deep clefts”(detail)
“During his first summers on Appledore, Hassam stayed near to the places favored by his close friend, Celia Thaxter (1834-1894).”
As I frequent museums and collections for work, and Gloucester art abounds, I suffer bouts of ‘Gloucester acquisition affliction’ . Relative newcomers at PEM include a St. Peter Fiesta scene by Gifford Beal and one of Portuguese Hill by Olga Itasca Sears. As much as I am fond of PEM– and I mean no disrespect to this august institution– I sorely wish the Cape Ann Museum had received the art or funds for acquisition. There are few major historic paintings of Gloucester (and the greater region) which remain in private hands. They include works by Winslow Homer and Edward Hopper. I’m trying.
While at PEM for special exhibits, I often check the permanent installation. Are the Frank Benson works and Norman Rockwell on view? Check. I make a point to spend time in front of the Philip Reisman 1951 Tuna Shed, another Gloucester painting and one that Wicked Tuna fans may like to scrutinize. Reisman was a masterful, versatile painter, and a smart gentle man. I was lucky to know and work with him. The Cape Ann Museum has examples of his Gloucester paintings in their collection and a binder of slides, photographs he took, many Fiesta. I remember labeling some.
I paused more than I ever have at the John Trumbull portrait of Alexander Hamilton. (Hmm. Have museums tagged works representing Alexander Hamilton? It would be a mastery of quick edits matched up to the Lin Manuel Miranda song.)
GIFFORD BEAL (1879-1956), Fiesta of Saint Peter, Gloucester, c.1930 Oil on masonite, Gift of the family of Gifford Beal, 2006. Peabody Essex Museum.
OLGA ITASCA SEARS (1906-1990). Portuguese Hill, Gloucester. ca.1950s. Oil on canvas. The Sheila W. And Samuel M. Robbins Collection. Peabody Essex Museum. (2015 acquisition)
PHILIP REISMAN, Tuna Shed, 1951, oil on masonite. Gift of Louise K. Reisman. Peabody Essex Museum.
#Hamilton, @ Lin_Manuel, #PEM John Turnbull, Portrait of Alexander Hamilton, 1792, oil on canvas, gift of George A Ward, 1918, collection Peabody Essex Museum
I am looking forward to the upcoming Childe Hassam show opening July 16th at PEM. I went to see the Rodin exhibit.
A rare Edward Hopper drawing of East Main Street, Gloucester, is part of a comprehensive exhibit, “Marks of Genius”, masterpieces from the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA) on view at the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) through June 19th. These wonders of process traveled to the Grand Rapids Art Museum in Michigan before Raleigh. The next stop will be the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska. The Hopper is featured at every venue, and so is Gloucester.
The NCMA installed the drawings in their largest special exhibition space by subject rather than chronologically, the design choice of other venues.
How do I know? Exhibitions Assistant, Margaret Gaines, was kind enough to share details and photographs of the museum and its beautiful Meymandi Exhibition Gallery in the East Building so that we could all armchair art gawk. (I smiled when I read that East Main Street is in the East building of this East coast museum.) “Gloucester” is written on the museum label along with my research and color photograph.
Here’s another photograph pulled back to compare the house with the Hopper sketch and choices.
“American Impressionist: Childe Hassam and the Isle of Shoals”is up at the same time.Childe Hassam has Gloucester and Massachusetts ties, but I didn’t ask to see pictures of that exhibit. Though “Marks of Genius” won’t be coming any closer to Massachusetts than North Carolina, the Hassam show is coming to the Peabody Essex Museum on July 16th, 2016. The North Carolina Museum of Art partnered with PEM. I wouldn’t miss it.
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I was that parent who insisted that my boys were going to have all wooden, all natural, and “real life” toys. I stuck to that rule for quite some time and, I’m not going to lie, I’m still happy that my boys have, on their own, become interested in things like animals, boats, police/fire/coastguard/etc., vehicles, fishing tackle, and sports cards…rather than Power Rangers, Pokemon, and whatnot. I guess what I love the most about their interests is that they are “real” and they’re not going anywhere. You can never learn too much about wild animals, real life heros, sports, science, and such. But, it isn’t just that, I’m also cheap and I’m happy that they haven’t gotten into the it items that are going to be replaced by new it items in 6 months.
So, they’ve been playing with many of the exact same toys for probably YEARS. They, at 5.5 and 7.5, still can not get enough of their collection of Hess trucks, fishing boats, rescue vehicles, match box cars, and Schleich animals. They also have 100s of small whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, etc that they spread out and play with for hours. On the other hand, they also have iPod minis, for when they need some down time…or I need a break!
I say all of this (in my incredibly long-winded own way) because all of that means that I had NO idea what to get them for Christmas this year. They truly don’t need a thing. They still use and love so many of their toys…why replace them with stuff just for the sake of having more stuff? Likewise, we have a tiny little home. I truly can’t bear the thought of buying crap that they are not going to use. That having been said, clearly we want to get them things…and not super lame things….for Christmas.
They did ask for a few things…so that helped. They both wanted a couple of pairs of new sneakers. Shot, score! Cause, you know, I was going to have to buy those soon anyway. They wanted “rollie” hockey bags. Ummm….ok…awesome! The less I need to lug their gear around the better. It totally rocks that I was also able to get the Grit Pod hockey bags that actually have a compartment for each item of their gear! TOTALLY addresses my OCD issues. I couldn’t be happier. They wanted new backpacks. That one kind of hurt, because they both have ones that I love…and that don’t really need to be replaced….but, since they were cheap and easy…I got them. And, they always get the new Hess truck. So, not bad. We were making progress.
They’ve been dying to take guitar lessons, but with hockey, school, etc. that hasn’t really been in the budget. Thank goodness for grandparents, because thanks to Nammy they will have guitars and an amp and thanks to Grampy they’ll have their first three months of lessons. Tremendous.
So, now what?
From here it is all about the Experience Gifts! Here’s a little secret. Shhhh. If, like us, you find yourself to be on a budget, Experience Gifts can be great because you don’t really have to pay for them before Christmas. For example, last year I put together a little gift basket with some Providence Bruins stuff, a photo of a hotel in Providence, a brochure for the Providence Dave and Busters, and a brochure for the Roger Williams Zoo. A quick little one night getaway stuffed to the gills with activities that they were going to love to help kill the post holiday/winter doldrums….that didn’t have to be actually paid for until a few weeks after the holidays when we actually booked the hotel and got “baby Bruins” tix online…for super, super cheap I might add.
Another great quick getaway that is on my favorite list is The Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg…again, give them a getaway for Christmas by putting together a cute basket (think Wolf ears or nose from a party shop, swim goggles, one of their own bathing suits and/or flip flops, maybe a cheap new towel, a brochure) and then book it in January or February for a mid winter retreat. Does that sound cheap? What evs….it works.
Experience Gifts don’t have to be in the form of overnight trips though!!
Here are some other ideas:
A membership to Maritime Gloucester. Get a cheap sand pail (or find one of the 1,000 you already own), throw in a ocean dwelling stuffed animal (or go buy one from their awesome gift shop), maybe a small fishing net, grab a brochure, and you’re good to go.
A season pass for the Water Taxi. Buy a little toy boat (can you say Toodeloos) and tie on the pass with a cute little bow. Maybe even find a sailor or captains hat to go with it!
Two things: First of all, ALL of these kind-of-lame-to-open gift cards can be made super fun with simple extras. A little bowling pin (I’ve seen them but probably couldn’t find one when I actually need one so you’re on your own there) or a roll of quarters for the video games to go with the bowling gift card. Some microwave popcorn and some candy put into a cute box (Michael’s Crafts in Danvers sells really cute boxes…sometimes even ones that look like popcorn boxes…see below) to go along with the movie gift card. An actual container from Orange Leaf (which they give out with their gift cards) filled with some gummy bears, cookies, or other toppings. A paint brush, crayons, cheap set of markers to go along with the Art Haven gift card. A magnifying glass for the MOS, some small plastic animals/insects to go with the Museum of Natural History. An art book to accompany the art museum visit. A pair of gym shorts or a new water bottle for the trip to Sky Zone. A small Lego kit to go with the trip to Legoland in Somerville. Whale Watch tickets work well with a brochure or post card of a whale, a stuffed animal, or maybe even a t-shirt from one of the local whale watching companies. You get the point! Secondly, if a place doesn’t necessarily make/give real gift cards….just make your own and then pay cash when you go for real. I’ve done that plenty of times.
One of my favorite gifts is a “A Day Your Way” ticket. Each of my boys get one and then they get to redeem it for a day that is planned totally by them (with in reason and budget!). They only get one or two a year so if they choose candy for breakfast and breakfast for dinner I don’t really care! They also get to choose one activity: movie, mini golf, museum, hike, etc. and we follow their lead all day long.
Aside from day trips, are also simple staycation ideas. Super easy, no brainers. Hot cocoa, ice cream sundae toppings, popcorn, and a movie in a fun basket for a family movie night! Some snacks, a pizza coupon, and a new board game for family game night! A new book and some snacks for a guaranteed long session of read aloud time together. A basket of crafting supplies for a day or arts and crafts. Some binoculars, a compass, a map, a nature map or field guide, maybe a disposable camera…and you’re off for a fun hike together! You get the idea.
For those of you who are super eager beavers, plan a scavenger hunt! Some small gifts and clues that will lead your child all around town with some fun stops along the way! Again, my boys love to search for different boats, see which boats are in and which are out, hit a playground, go for a hike, grab a hot cocoa, search for more clues…. Super fun day!
And, finally…. here are some other Non Toy ideas that I love.
1. A magazine subscription. We love National Geographic Kids, National Geographic Little Kids, Boys’ Life, and Time for Kids. The novelty of getting their new magazine in the mail has never worn off and we make certain to make special time to read it together within 48 hours of its arrival.
2. To up the ante, a book club. I’ve used Gift Lit before. Think wine of the month club, but in a book form for young (or any aged) reader!
3. Equally, if not more, awesome is Kiwi Crate!! I really hope at least someone has hung on and read this far because this is one of my favorite ideas ever! Same idea as the monthly book club, but you sign up and then all that you need to complete a fun craft together is shipped right to your house! Total excitement the day it comes in the mail!
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I have been dying to go to the Hats: An Anthology exhibit at the PEM and am looking forward to a visit this afternoon. If you haven’t been, go–several friends have given it rave reviews and the exhibit closes this coming Sunday, February 4th.
As of yet, I don’t have any photos to share from the exhibit so I dug out my very own leopard-skin pill-box hat. This is actually the first hat I ever designed and its inspiration came from the Bob Dylan song “lepoard-skin pill-box hat.”
I kept a number of samples during my days designing clothes and hats for several reasons. My friends who were film and video stylists would often borrow the samples for music videos and films. Also too, because I was dreaming of someday having a daughter. I thought that if I was fortunate enough to be blessed with a daughter that she would surely want to play dress-up. My hope came true for a daughter (and son too!)–and she sure did, and still does, love to play dress-up! The above leopard-skin pill-box has been in one film, two music videos, one musical, and now on GMG!
Well, I see you got your brand new leopard-skin pill-box hat
Yes, I see you got your brand new leopard-skin pill-box hat
Well, you must tell me, baby
How your head feels under somethin’ like that
Under your brand new leopard-skin pill-box hat.
Pay at the door. Members and Salem residents, $8, nonmembers $10
Thursday, June 30, 2011 from 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Location: Asian Garden
Soundscapes
Join us in the Asian Garden for performances by local sound artists James Forrest, Noel Snow, Scott Buchanan and Shawn Morrissey. Make your own sound art, listen to the latest DIY tracks from the RPM Challenge, hear what’s new from Dorkbot Boston and enjoy cocktails and a chef demo. Also, modern dancer Sarah Slifer and her ensemble respond to FreePort [No. 003], a haunting sound installation at PEM by Turner Prize winner Susan Philipsz.
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I didn’t get a web business feature for this week, but recently got to Peabody Essex Museum in Salem and wanted to share some pics. If you have never made the trip down to Salem to check out PEM, you need to get one scheduled. It has something for everyone, including young kids. We go right to the Art & Nature center, where the kids are safe to experience much of the exhibit. The rest of the Museum is stunning and a truly visceral experience. After checking out this museum, grab a bite at one of the many restaurants within walking distance.
Thanks – Patrick
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Good Morning Gloucester 