Tag: Rocky Neck Art Colony

Calling All Runners

Posted on by God's Morning

road race poster

 

Rocky Neck 5K Road Race: The firstannual 5K walk/run

Organized by the Rocky Neck Art Colony and the Studio Restaurant

to benefit the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck.

Open to all ages.

Race date: Sunday, June 8, 2014 at 10:00 AM.

Entry fee: $25 now  $35 after May 31, 2014

More info at www.rockyneck5k.com

Gloucester MA—Rocky Neck’s newly designated Cultural District and its ocean bound environs provides the scenic backdrop for the first ever Rocky Neck 5K on Sunday, June 8 at 10:00 AM. The Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC) and The Studio Restaurant are hosting the 3.1 mile run//walk and celebratory lunch for race participants to raise money to support RNAC’s new Cultural Center at Rocky Neck. Racers will proceed from the Causeway on Rocky Neck, along Eastern Point Road to Grapevine Road and Lands End Lane. They will return from Gloucester’s Atlantic Road Back Shore via Farrington Avenue to the finish line in front of The Studio Restaurant at 53 Rocky Neck Avenue. Along with the free buffet lunch, post-race festivities for participants includes an awards ceremony to recognize top male and female finishers in each age category. The names of the overall top male and female 2014 finishers will be inscribed on a wall plaque in The Studio Restaurant that will remain on display to honor Rocky Neck 5K winners each year.

TO REGISTER FOR THE RACE

Online registration and information about the race, the race course and race parking are available at www.rockyneck5k.com.  Register now for$25.00 or $35.00 after May 31.  Registration forms and information can also be picked up in advance of race day at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street, Gloucester, MA  01930, Thursday–Sunday, 12:00 noon to 4:00 PM and, during operating hours, at The Studio and The Rudder Restaurants on Rocky Neck Avenue in Gloucester. Walk-on registration will be available at the Cultural Center on June 8, the day of the race, between 8:00 and 9:30 AM.  For more information about registering, call the Cultural Center at 978-515-7004.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Early registrants (before May 31)  receive free Rocky Neck 5K t-shirts. Chip timing from North Shore Timing is available for $2.00 per entry. Top male and female finishers in each of the following age categories will be awarded medals: 12 and under, 13–19, 20–35, 36–59, 60 and older.  Parking is free to race participants at the public lot on Rocky Neck Causeway, at the former Bickford’s Boat Yard lot at 31 Rocky Neck Avenue, at the Gloucester Marine Railways lot, 81 Rocky Neck Avenue and in the private lot at 20 Wonson Street—all on Rocky Neck in Gloucester.  In addition, there will is auxiliary free parking in downtown Gloucester with water taxi service to Rocky Neck provided by Gloucester Harbor Water Shuttle for $5.00 per passenger.

Artist Spotlight Series – Linda Sojda

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linda sojda artist spotlight

I have recently had the great pleasure of getting to know Linda Sojda while photographing her work and designing her website.  She is an amazing artist and just a joy to be around. If you have a chance, visit her studio at Cripple Cove Studios, 97 East Main Street (at the left of the driveway leading down to Capt. Joe & Sons), or visit her website at http://www.lindasojda.com to see more of her work.

Linda’s art practice examines color, pattern, shape and texture and what happens when these elements are juxtaposed. The unexpected combinations give her painting direction. Her work is non-representational and yet it is very much inspired by the landscape. Nature’s organic patterns and shapes, contrasting hues of color and unintended markings offer vast possibilities.

She works in mediums that foster exploration and unforeseen outcomes. Oil and wax can be blended, layered, scraped, and sanded allowing transparencies and depth of field.  She also paints with sumi ink and gouache on Japanese Okawara paper. With this medium she deconstructs Chinese characters and uses the gestural brushstrokes and negative space to shape an image. This approach results in paintings that are direct, immediate and bold, as you can see from the examples above.

In kindergarten, Linda painted a bowl of fresh fruit sitting on her teacher’s desk. Miss Gray liked her painting so much that she showed it to the principal. He must have liked it too because he had it framed and hung it in his office. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Linda has had many great days in her life, but that day is still one of the best. Since that time, making art has never really left her. Painting in her studio, visiting a gallery or new exhibit, gathering with her artist’s group or sketching ideas at home, art has been a constant in her life, for which she is beyond grateful.

Linda grew up on the shores of Lake Erie, about fifty miles west of Buffalo, New York. In college she studied art earning a degree in art education. She taught art K-12 in New York, Michigan and California. At the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem she is an educator to both adults and children. Today she lives in Gloucester and has maintained a studio at Cripple Cove Studios in East Gloucester for several years where she leads small workshops and welcome visitors. Linda is an active member of the Rocky Neck Art Colony and currently serves on its board of directors and on the Goetemann residency committee.

Linda’s work has been exhibited in solo and group shows throughout the United States and Canada.

E.J. Lefavour

Cape Ann Cultural Districts Mobile App Launch

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cape ann cultural districts mobile app launch

It’s free and very cool – check it out.  Cape Ann captures it on the cultural front.

E.J. Lefavour

http://www.hobbithousestudio.com

Here and Now

Posted on by God's Morning

The RNAC Spring Show opened today.  Opening reception is Saturday, April 26 from 4-6 PM.  A great show – don’t miss it, and our opening receptions are always great!

Here & Now

Gollum says Hobbit House Studio is Preciousssss

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open flier_hobbit house

I wanted to come up with something new for Hobbit House Studio.  I thought Gollum and his “precious” was appropriate.  You have to know J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” to appreciate.  Is it too over the top?

“A single dream is more powerful than a thousand realities.” J.R.R. Tolkein

Elynn Kroger and John Nesta are also usually open on the weekends (and during the week too).  The Rudder has reopened, and The Studio should be opening soon.  In a minute, all of Rocky Neck will be happening again.

E.J. Lefavour

Summer Artist Series at the Rocky Neck Gallery

Posted on by God's Morning

Apply for a one person or small group show
in Rocky Neck this summer

 

Summer Artist Series

One-person or small group shows on Rocky Neck
Six 3-week shows beginning June 10 to October 14
Submission fee only $20 for five images

Open to all Rocky Neck Art Colony artist members (if you’re not a member you can join online here).

All media including painting, printmaking, drawing, photography, collage, clay, jewelry, glass,
wood, fiber and sculpture. (No video or installations.)

Online entires only, submission dates : April 1 to April 22, 2014.

 

Juried by selected members of the Cultural Center
and Rocky Neck Gallery exhibitions committees.

See www.rockyneckartcolony.org/summer.php for more info and to apply

Spontaneous Mug Up at Hobbit House Studio

Posted on by God's Morning

2014 open studio mug up

Since I am going to be open anyway, and have eggs and coffee, and everyone knows that hobbits are spontaneous, fun loving creatures, I thought to myself, why not just open earlier and have a Mug Up.  I know it is last minute, but what the heck, spontaneous is fun.  Anyone who is out and about and wants to come over, I’ll be deviling some eggs and have jelly beans, cookies, cupcakes, crackers and cheese (all bought today Joey!), so come by and save me from eating them.   Will be great to see whoever can make it.

When:  9:30AM, Sunday 4/6

Where: Hobbit House Studio (aka Khan Studio), up the stairs at 1 Wonson Street (behind Sailor Stan’s Restaurant – which by the way is opening on Saturday, 4/12 weekends)

Why: Because it’s spring dagnabbit and time to come over to Rocky Neck.

E.J. Lefavour

Open Studio this Weekend

Posted on by God's Morning

open studio

I’ve been working hard to get the place spruced up, new work completed and framed, and I’d love to see whoever would like to come by.  Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 4, 5 & 6 from noon to 5:00.  Hoping it won’t be freezing cold with 50 mph winds.  When is winter going to end?

Also, be on the lookout for the opening of Sailor Stan’s Restaurant on April 12.

E.J. Lefavour

Hobbit House Studio

Posted on by God's Morning

hobbit house studio

Joey will appreciate this.  I have operated as Khan Studio for eleven years.  Since deciding to open my studio here at 1 Wonson Street, I thought it might be time for a new name.  I’ve been thinking about it while getting the place set up and today remembered what Joey said when he came here shortly after I moved it.  He said: “I feel like I’m in a hobbit house.”  So I’m thinking Hobbit House Studio.  Do you think the name fits?

E.J. Lefavour (chief hobbit)

 

Call to Artists – Be a Part of the Excitement of Rocky Neck this Summer

Posted on by God's Morning

madfish wharf

There are a number of seasonal gallery spaces available for the 2014 season on Madfish Wharf, 77 Rocky Neck Ave. near the Madfish Grille, Rudder and newly renovated Studio Restaurants.  For an artist, the Rocky Neck Art Colony is the place to be in the summer.  If you or a group of artists have thought about opening your own gallery space, this could be the perfect time and opportunity for you.  To learn more, email Niki Ahearn at nicoleahearn@comcast.net or text her at 617-543-2977.

Everyone Was A Winner

Posted on by God's Morning

cookie competition copy

at yesterday’s Season’s Best Cookie Competition and Solstice Party coordinated so exquisitely by Gigi Mederos and Stevie Black during the Rocky Neck Holiday Art & Fine Crafts Festival at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck.  Attendees got to taste the incredible and diverse array of cookies entered into the competition, and enjoy the antics of the serious but fun loving panel of judges made up of Mayor Carolyn Kirk, Ed Collard and Sister Felicia.  Many attendees shopped and got to enjoy the wonderful selection of art and craft items available while checking some people off their lists.  The artists got to enjoy selling their creations and knowing that they have made some money this holiday season.  We got to enjoy the beautiful sound of Eva DiLascio’s singing group that unexpectedly appeared for an impromptu round of Christmas carols.  Mayor Kirk had fun on her birthday and went home with a beautiful birthday cake baked by Karen Tibbetts.  There were many new faces at the event, so the Cultural Center wins some new appreciators of the beauty of the space and the great things we have going on there.

The winners of the Season’s Best Cookie Competition (drum roll please) were:

1st place Salted Caramel Cookies by Alison Darnell and Heather Ahearn – winner of the coveted “Got Milk?” hand painted silk cookie scarf by Gigi Mederos
2nd place Savory Cookie by Sydney and Kaleigh Cirafice
3rd place Cranberry Turtle Bars by Diane Stringer
Classic Chocolate Candy Cane Bars by Jessica McGovern
Best presentation  Cranberry Cardamom Shortbread Icycles by Two Time Winner, Jessica McGovern

but all entrants were winners because they get to have a group cookie baking class with Sister Felicia!

The Holiday Festival is open today from noon to 4:00pm with the final weekend of the festival being held Saturday and Sunday, December 28 & 29 from noon to 4:00PM with a Pre New Years Party on the 29th from 2:00-4:00PM.

E.J. Lefavour

Artist Spotlight Series – Marty Swanson

Posted on by God's Morning

spotlight_marty swanson

Spotlight on Marty Swanson

Martha Swanson is an award winning artist who works in watercolor, color pencil, acrylics, oils and mixed media. Before moving to Santa Fe in the late 80’s she enjoyed working in her studio at the Fenway Studios and was Board president of the Cambridge Art Association. She has exhibited in the Boston area and Santa Fe, NM with several one person and small group shows and was chosen for a “New Mexico ‘ 93” a juried exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts in Santa Fe. Her work is in many private collections nationwide.

Marty has extensive experience in non-profit management, exhibition installations and has designed many books and publications including Art New England, and the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine. Now living in Rockport and soaking up inspiration while wandering the woods and beaches of Cape Ann with her canine friend, she works out of her Rockport studio and with the folks at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck where she was recently elected Artistic Director of the Art Colony.

You can see her work at the Rocky Neck Holiday Art & Fine Crafts Festival, which we co-coordinated. I have really enjoyed working with and getting to know Marty.

Stop by this weekend for our Solstice Party and Season’s Best Cookie Competition, and check out Marty’s work.  It is exceptional, and very reasonably priced.

E.J. Lefavour

The Honorable Judges

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cookie judges

We have some great cookie bakers, judges and prizes lined up for this Saturday’s Season’s Best Cookie Competition at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck during our Winter Solstice Party from 2-4:00.  This also happens to be Mayor Carolyn Kirk’s birthday, so come by, have some cookies, home made mead and other goodies, and wish her a Happy Birthday.

Our next to the last weekend of the Rocky Neck Holiday Art & Fine Crafts Festival promises to be a great last minute shopping experience and a fun time for all who come to the party and cookie competition, which will start promptly at 2:00PM.  The festival runs this weekend Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4:00PM and December 28 and 28 from noon to 4:00PM with a Pre New Years Party on Sunday the 29th from 2-4:00pm.

E.J. Lefavour

Everyone Loves Happy Hour, Especially when it is Two and Free

Posted on by God's Morning

happy hour

This weekend the Rocky Neck Holiday Art & Fine Crafts festival continues Sat. & Sun. from noon to 4:00, with a Happy Hour Party on Sunday, 12/15 from 3-5:00pm.  Typical Happy Hour fare, beer, wine and a special festive holiday concoction that will warm the cockles of your heart, fingers, toes and other parts that might need warming.

The festival features over 2,500 items by Rocky Neck Art Colony members, many ranging in price from $4 to $50, for a relaxing, unique and fun local shopping and party experience.

E.J. Lefavour

High Tea Party

Posted on by God's Morning

high tea party shots

We had a great turnout of food, excellent herbal tea, partygoers and shoppers at yesterday’s High Tea Party at the Rocky Neck Holiday Art & Fine Crafts Show.  Karen Tibbetts, Suzanne Audette and Rosemary Quataro did an amazing job of putting it all together so beautifully.  People enjoyed the wonderful selection of finger sandwiches, scones, cookies, cakes and more that flooded the table.  Although primarily attended by women, there were a few men there, including Charlie Carroll sporting his tape measure suspenders.

Watch for details on next weekend’s Happy Hour Party, 12/15 from 3-5:00.  The festival is open Sat. & Sun. from noon to 4:00 (5:00 next Sunday).  A fun, relaxing way to shop in a beautiful venue, with a great selection of over 2,000 unique affordable items crafted by Rocky Neck artists.

E.J. Lefavour

Artist Spotlight Series – Anna Vojtech

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spotlight_anna vojtech

Spotlight on Anna Vojtech

Anna grew up in Prague, Czechoslovakia, what is now the Czech Republic. She studied art and animation film in Prague, Antwerp (Belgium) and Hamburg (Germany), where she met her German-American husband, Roland Cornelis Baumgaertel.

In 1971 Anna and Roland moved to Montreal where she worked as a freelance artist for the National Filmboard of Canada and for various film companies. During that time Anna started to illustrate children books and work with Canadian publishers. Her first book published in the US was “The Star Husband”, a Native American legend, published by Doubleday in 1979. Since then Anna has been working and publishing with major publishers like North South, Putnam, Dial, Penquin, Abrams, and many others.  Her botanical paintings, another of Anna’s passions, have been published as”Wild Flowers for All Seasons”, a beautiful coffee table book.

In 1983 Anna, Roland and their two sons, Mathis and Lukas, moved to the North Shore. They lived in Marblehead for a time, but for the last 14 years they have been happy residents of Gloucester along with their grandchildren, Cyrus and Natasha. In 2001 Anna and Roland purchased a building in East Gloucester and turned it into an artist haven with 7 studios, called “Cripple Cove Studios”. This is where Anna continues doing what she has done all her adult life – illustrating, painting and experimenting with various media. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally.

In March 2013 Anna exhibited her paintings along with her husband’s sculptures at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck.  Anna will be participating in the Rocky Neck Arts and Crafts Show where she will be selling some of the books she has illustrated. Her most recent book are “Look What I can Do!” written by Nancy Viau and The Friendly Beasts”, an old English Christmas Carol, which includes a CD. All of the books will be autographed and at special times Anna will be signing them especially for your special little ones.

Look for Anna and her wonderful books at The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street, East Gloucester during the Rocky Neck Holiday Art & Fine Crafts Festival Saturdays and Sundays, Noon-4 PM November 30 – December 29 http://www.rockyneckartcolony.org/winter.php

E.J. Lefavour

Artist Spotlight Series – Eileen Patten Oliver

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spotlight_eileen patten oliver

Spotlight on Eileen Patten Oliver

Eileen, a relative newcomer to Cape Ann, was born and lived her first 40 years in Waltham, MA. After a few years in the Plymouth area, caring for her mother, she and her family moved in 1998 to Lubec, Maine (the quintessential coastal Maine fishing village and home of West Quoddy Head Light). Eileen loved Maine and planned to live there for the rest of her life, even after her marriage ended. Fate however intervened! The first time the man who would become her new husband brought her to his home on Cape Ann, she instantly fell in love. Although she wasn’t too sure about him yet, she was totally smitten with this place. She remembers saying to him as they drove past Folly Cove that she wished she could just wrap the whole place up in a box and take it home with her. Their relationship blossomed over the following months with places like Rocky Neck, Lanes Cove, Flat Rocks, Halibut Point, and Bearskin Neck as the backdrop. Finally they decided that the long distance aspect of their romance was too hard and she left Maine behind, starting her new life in a place that prior to meeting him she barely knew.

At that point she wasn’t painting much, but found herself so inspired by the atmosphere, the galleries, and other wonderful Cape Ann artists that she picked it up again. In the three years since moving here, she hasn’t stopped for more than a few days at a time. The fact that her husband, James Oliver, is also an artist, gives her a kindred spirit to share the process with, and he encourages and inspires her every single day.

You can see more of Eileen’s work at The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street, East Gloucester during the Rocky Neck Holiday Art & Fine Crafts Festival

Saturdays and Sundays, Noon-4 PM

November 30 – December 29

and look for her during one of the fun parties:

Friday, November 29, 5-7 PM Gala First Choice Preview Party

Saturday, December 7, 2-4 PM High Tea

Sunday, December 15, 3-5 PM Happy Hour

Saturday, December 21, 2-4 PM Winter Solstice Party

Sunday, December 29, 2-4 PM Pre New Year’s Party

http://www.rockyneckartcolony.org/winter.php

E.J. Lefavour

Artist Spotlight Series – Jen Moltoni

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spotlight_Jen Moltoni

Spotlight on Jen Moltoni

Originally from Maine and now settled in Melrose, Jen Moltoni is a collage artist whose images are created using hand-painted paper and photographs. Jen loves color and the ocean, and is inspired by both. She makes a point of traveling to the North Shore at least once a week to take a walk on one of the many lovely beaches and to find inspiration for her work. Jen is a relatively new member of the Rocky Neck Art Colony, and this will be her first Holiday Art and Fine Craft Festival.

Although never formally trained, Jen has always enjoyed painting, and would create collages for fun when she was in High School. “I remember being obsessed with perfume bottles. I didn’t actually own any fancy perfume, and I didn’t wish that I had some. It was more about the different shapes and colors of the bottles themselves. I would look through magazines, and every time there was a new perfume ad, I would cut out the picture and attach it to one of the walls in my bedroom. By the time I went off to college, I had a space on my wall that was about 3’x3’, and it was covered with tiny pictures of perfume bottles. I loved figuring out how they would fit together best. My rule was that I could not use the same perfume bottle picture twice.”

“I do the same thing with the collages that I do now. The difference is that I don’t start off with a specific shape or color or texture. I figure that out as I go. I also make rules with the photographs that I cut up sometimes, just to make it interesting. For example, if I want to have the ocean in one of my collages, I can’t use cut up pieces of a photograph of the ocean to re-create that. I can use anything –pieces of a sky or tree photo, painted paper, but NOT a picture of the ocean. Silly (sometimes broken) rules. It’s fun.” As a busy mom who works full time at a local university, it can be difficult to carve out time for being creative, but Jen has worked hard to make her artwork a priority. “As a parent I’ve found that it can be difficult to find time for myself. However, once I committed to having certain times during the week that were dedicated to giving myself permission to be creative, I found that overall the quality of my life improved noticeably. Painting and doing collages is something that makes me happy, and being happy is making me a better parent.”

You can follow Jen’s work on her blog: http://jenmoltoni.blogspot.com/, and look for more of her work at The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street, East Gloucester during the Rocky Neck Holiday Art & Fine Crafts Festival

Saturdays and Sundays, Noon-4 PM

November 30 – December 29

http://www.rockyneckartcolony.org/winter.php

E.J. Lefavour

Artist Spotlight Series – Kathy Gerdon Archer

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spotlight_Kathy Archer

Spotlight on Kathy Gerdon Archer

Kathy owned and operated White Bird Gallery on Rocky Neck for many years where she sold her fine art photographs. Separate from her gallery, she also sells her work commercially to hospitals and hotels.

Above are some of the work she will have at the Rocky Neck Holiday Art & Fine Crafts Show.  Her images of flowers are typically produced on a very large scale but for this event she plans to produce them smaller, making them a more affordable gift possibility.

Kathy is on the Board of The Rocky Neck Art Colony and The Goetemann Residency Program here in Gloucester.  She is also a member of The Copley Society of Boston, The Cambridge Art Association and The Kingston Gallery in Boston’s South End, where she will have a show in February of 2014. http://www.Kathleengerdonarcher.com

You can see more of Kathy’s work at The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street, East Gloucester during the Rocky Neck Holiday Art & Fine Crafts Festival

Saturdays and Sundays, Noon-4 PM

November 30 – December 29

http://www.rockyneckartcolony.org/winter.php

E.J. Lefavour