Fun at Khan Studio and the GMG Gallery

fun at khan studio and GMG Gallery

No one can say we don’t have lots of fun at Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery at Madfish Wharf on Rocky Neck.  In case anyone is wondering what the bunch of us are doing – we’re downing these amazing jello shots made by Alicia Penderosa. 

The gallery is now open and the first major event will be our Grand Opening Mug Up on Sunday, May 26th from 9:00am-11:30 or so.   Most galleries have their openings in the evening so they can feed you lovely little tidbits and ply you with alcohol to entice you to buy something.  Since this is Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery, we’re going for a Good Morning grand opening with deviled eggs, cheesecake and mimosas (in memory of Evelyn), so some plying will take place along with good morning fun and food.  There will of course be coffee and tea for those who don’t imbide that early in the day – but as Wendie Demuth always said, it’s 5 o’clock somewhere.

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com

Guest Artists Judith Monteferrante and Roger Salisbury

announcement_inside and outside_Judith Monteferrante 2013 copy

The first guest artists of the 2013 season at Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery will be Judith Monteferrante and Roger Salisbury.  Their work is already hanging, so stop by any time to check it out.  Judith has some amazingly beautiful metal print still lifes, as well as a spectacular canvas giclee closeup photo of a peony, and a lovely bathing nude that you will have a hard time believing is not a pastel painting.  Roger’s powerful and moody pastel paintings will captivate and move you.  Their opening reception will be on Friday, June 7th from 5:00-8:00pm, so mark your calendars now. 

Also, don’t forget the Khan Studio and Good Morning Gloucester Gallery grand opening Mug Up will take place on Memorial Day weekend Sunday, May 26th at 9:00am.

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com

Let the Fun Begin!

joey with ardelle tree nail passes

Here we have Joey with treenails sticking out of his ears.  Treenails were used in ancient shipbuilding to secure the planks of the boat, and are still used today by builders like Harold Burnham at Burnham Shipyard in Essex on boats like the pinky schooner Ardelle.  These treenails are Ardelle passes, which Joey received yesterday at the gallery from Harold, delivered by Len Burgess, giving him passage on the Ardelle.

madfish opening night 2013

Last night was the opening of Madfish Grille and a bunch of us artists on Madfish Wharf went down after we closed our galleries to have dinner, courtesy of the generosity of our friend and fellow artist, Alma McLaughlin, who treated us.  I’ve been craving some of Jordan’s sushi, and last night ordered the Thunder, which did not disappoint, and even tasted more amazing than I remembered from last year.  The others who had sushi were equally pleased.  It was the first night the Madfish was open for the season and there were a few hitches.  The bar hadn’t yet been fully stocked so a couple of people in our group couldn’t get what they wanted to drink, and there were no lights on coming down Madfish Wharf, giving the appearance that the place was closed once it got dark.  Hopefully that will all be rectified before the weekend.  The service was great and the place looks beautiful.   If you’ve been hankering for some of Jordan’s (or Sang’s – who is back at Madfish this season and is getting hitched in June – sorry all you gals who has crushes), come on down to Madfish and get your fill.

E.J. Lefavour

Murder on Rocky Neck, The Opera – in its second and last weekend!

Last night I went to this show over at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck.  It was a lot of fun!

 

There are several more performances this weekend: 7:30PM today and Saturday, and 2PM Saturday and Sunday. More information and tickets available here.

Here’s a slideshow:

Fr. Matthew Green

 

The News from Madfish Wharf

Well the time is here, in spite of recent frosty days and nights.  A new season is upon us and lots of great things are planned this year on Madfish Wharf, starting this Thursday.  Have you been salivating for some of Jordan’s amazing sushi or other tasty fare from Madfish Grille?  Well you’re in for a big surprise.  The Madfish has been majorly spruced up and redecorated with some amazing work by Ben McAdam, in addition to an expanded sushi bar.  They are opening this Thursday, May 16th, so come on by and satisfy your tastebuds.

madfish opening

Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester will be opening for the season on Thursday as well, so come by and check out all the great new work by Joey C. and GMG contributors Donna Ardizonni, Fr. Green, Craig Kimberly, Kim Smith and Paul Morrison, as well as Deb Schradieck, Judith Monteferrante, Roger Salisbury and your’s truly.  We will be having a Grand Opening Mug Up on Sunday, May 26th.  Mark your calendars now so you don’t miss it.

khan studio 2013

Aquatro Gallery sneak preview.  Gigi Mederos and Stevie Black are back and they are taking no prisoners.  This year, look for Aquatro at Gallery 4 (next door, where Wendie Demuth Photography was the past two years).  In addition to Gigi’s and Stevie’s work, they will also be carrying Ben McAdam, Mary Bowles, Bella & Me, to name just a few.  Do not miss.

aquatro

Carol McKenna has taken the plunge and opened her own gallery in the red barn which was previously Sigrid Olsen’s Isla.  Carol is having her opening on Saturday, May 25th from 5:00-8:00pm, so mark your calendar now for her champagne and chocolate opening.

carol mckenna opening

Since Carol has decided to open her own space, she is looking for someone to take her guest artist space at Khan Studio July 27-August 9 (super prime time).  If you are interested in taking this exhibit time, email me at khanstudio@comcast.net.

guest artist space 2013

Caroline Kwas is back with her Intimate Landscapes Gallery at G4 and is now open.

Looking forward to seeing you all on Rocky Neck this year.  And on your way to Madfish Wharf, don’t miss all the other galleries that are now open on Rocky Neck, and get yourself some yummy ice cream at Kiss on the Neck.

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com

Does your Mom Love Scallops?

scallops

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day, and if your Mom loves scallops, take her to Sailor Stan’s on Rocky Neck for their special scallop breakfast specials.  A fisherman friend just brought them a scad of succulent scallops that will go into scallop eggs benedict and other delights for your Mom’s scallop loving palate.  She’ll love you for it.  If Mom’s not a fan of scallops, there will be plenty of other non scallop focused breakfast choices available.

Mom not around?  Bring yourself and a friend.  7:30 – 1:30

Murder on Rocky Neck, the Opera – opening tonight!

Opening tonight at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck: “Murder on Rocky Neck, the Musical” (tickets available here)!

“Travel back in time to 1870′s Gloucester, and lose yourself in this witty opera, a courtroom drama with a surprise ending – an original story entirely conceived and written by Henry Allen’s Young Playwrights, ages 9-13. The show features a beautiful original score by Derek Dupuis, age 16, who also composed the music for ‘Song of The Sea’. Murder On Rocky Neck, The Opera is appropriate for all ages!”

Here are some photos from a recent rehearsal:

It looks like it is going to be a really fun show!

“On a frosty Thursday morning on old Rocky Neck,
The artist Richard Bluewall was found drowned, by heck!
Whilst the children of the town pondered how he had died,
Court was in session with those being tried:
Was it Old Scurvy Crabwater killed poor Richard Bluewall?
Or was it Miss Sylvia DeSylvia who’s love conquered all?
Or perhaps Jesse Pomeroy, a boy of sixteen,
With suspicious demeanor and caught at the scene!
Star witness and actress, Alicia Linguiça,
Insists to the end,
That the murder was committed
By her former best friend!
With Judge Thaddeus Pudge
Presiding the case,
And the audience as jury putting justice in place,
Attorneys Paperwell, Rockwell, Scissorwell and Schute
Do their level best to condemn the brute.”

Fr. Matthew Green

Da Ruddah

Yep Every Bit As Good As It Looks. Check  It!

http://www.rudderrestaurant.com/

Evelyn Howe- FOB Will Be Missed

FOB Evelyn was at every GMG event, Mug Ups, Our Show at Cape Ann Giclee, All the Gallery openings.  Always with a huge infectious smile.  The kind of smile that people from out of town get when they move to Gloucester and throw themselves into the community and “Get What Gloucester Is All About”

So sad to see such a positive spirit leave the GMG family.  She will be missed.

EJ writes September 4th, 2012-

EJ and Friends Getting Their Cape Ann SUP On!

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Joey C

It is a total blast, but also a really great low impact workout and a beautiful, peaceful way to explore the harbor and environs. I got to do my first exploration of Ten Pound Island and Evelyn and I accompanied The Bounty out of the inner harbor yesterday morning.

My friends are Evelyn Howe and Becky Bernie of Magnolia and East Gloucester. Today was Becky’s first time and yesterday was Evelyn’s, and we paddled from Oak’s Cove over to Joey’s dock and back to Madfish Wharf in under an hour.

evelynhoweSUP

EJ Writes –

Final Mug Up of 2012

Posted on October 2, 2012 by E.J.

It was a great final Mug Up on Rocky Neck Sunday.  Although we didn’t do food competitions this year like last, only the blueberry bake one, I have to say that Evelyn Howe won the best contribution to a Mug Up this season with her pumpkin cheesecake with praline topping – which topped Ann Kennedy’s candied bacon with chocolate sauce, which came in really close to Gigi Mederos’ pickled zucchini which doesn’t sound like much, but was tastebud tantalizing.  Many people brought wonderful additions to the Mug Up fare this season, but these three homemade contributions were spectacular.  Thanks Evelyn, Ann and Gigi.

In Memory of Evelyn Howe

first mug up 2013

This was my scheduled post for today, sharing the wonderful time we all had at Mug Up yesterday.  Early this morning, we learned of the death of Evelyn Howe, a dear personal friend and paddleboard buddy, devoted single mom, avid volunteer and supporter of the Center and Rocky Neck Art Colony (where she had moved this past fall), volunteer on the painting/cleanup crew at the paint factory, a dedicated friend of Good Morning Gloucester, and an avid lover of everything Gloucester, a place she so dearly loved.  Evelyn is pictured above with her amazing lemon/lime cheesecake and champagne and pomegranate juice that she so generously slaved over and brought to share for Mug Up.  Evelyn was an incredibly generous, funloving, sharing young woman, quick to smile and make a room light up.  She apparently drowned while trying to save her good friend who had come up to visit from Rhode Island with his wife and had gotten into trouble after being swept into the water at Brace Cove beyond the Retreat House.  They both were lost.

To those of you who knew Evelyn and her beautiful spirit and bubbly energy, we will all be getting together this evening at The Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street at 6:00pm, to be with each other, share our feelings and thoughts, and grieve the loss of this beautiful woman.  Please come, and feel free to bring along something to share, if you like.

evelyn at plunge

2013 rocky neck plunge 132

Here’s Evelyn, the trooper, during and after her plunge this New Year’s Day with Amanda Nash at the Rocky Neck Plunge.  Evelyn was always up for an adventure and into trying anything.  She lived her life and enjoyed it immensely, and made everyone around her enjoy it too.

evelyn on nightsup

On the Night SUP on Smiths Cove – the night little fish swarmed our boards and jumped all over our feet – creepy but very cool.  SUP on a morning paddle with Becky Bernie over to Capt. Joe & Sons to visit Joey.

evelynhoweSUP_thumb.jpg

And Evelyn at Mug Up at the gallery.

evelyn at mugup

This was sent in by a co-worker of David Machado, Evelyn’s friend who she died trying to save.

I worked with David Machado who passed away with Evelyn Howe this weekend. He worked at Materion Technical Materials in Lincoln, RI. I have attached a picture below for your blog. He was a great guy. He was really looking forward to spending time with his wife Kristen this weekend. That was the last thing he said to me when he left work on Friday. Everyone here at Materion is extremely upset and in disbelief. We will pray for Evelyn Howe and her family and also David Machado and his family.

evelyns friend dave

We had a great pre-season Mug Up on Cinco de Mayo, reconnecting with old and new friends after a long winter, and enjoying some amazing treats that were brought for everyone to enjoy.  A bunch of people arrived at the same time, so I lost track of who brought what, but I do know Evelyn Howe made the most incredible lemon/lime cheesecake with homemade whipped cream and brought pomegranate juice and champagne for yummy and healthy mimosas.  Peter Quarato made the most wonderful Mexican wedding cookies.  Ann and Bob Kennedy are back in Gloucester again from Missouri for the month of May and she brought her notorious thick cut bacon dipped in chocolate sauce – decadent.  Greg Bover made his delicious ginger molasses cake.  Gigi Mederos and Stevie Black brought Gigi’s famous drunken bread pudding drenched in rum.  Mona Faherty brought Margaritas (I had suggested it, and was hopeful, but didn’t really think someone would bring them – yea Mona).  Fred and Janet came late, but came heavy with shrimp roasted with mango sauce and were dressed for the occasion and bearing maracas.  Donna and Rick had them too.  Of course, Paul Morrison was in the hizzy with a new, bigger, better Rubber Duck – the original one having been misplaced.  Also Amy Bell and Richard Mils came by, as did Richard Rosenfeld, Len Burgess and Mary Bowles bearing bunches of tulips.

The new digs got filled up with a bunch of great energy and everyone had a good time.

E.J. Lefavour

Murder on Rocky Neck, the Opera

Coming soon the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck: “Murder on Rocky Neck, the Musical” (tickets available here)!

“Travel back in time to 1870′s Gloucester, and lose yourself in this witty opera, a courtroom drama with a surprise ending – an original story entirely conceived and written by Henry Allen’s Young Playwrights, ages 9-13. The show features a beautiful original score by Derek Dupuis, age 16, who also composed the music for ‘Song of The Sea’. Murder On Rocky Neck, The Opera is appropriate for all ages!”

Here are some photos from a recent rehearsal:

It looks like it is going to be a really fun show!

“On a frosty Thursday morning on old Rocky Neck,
The artist Richard Bluewall was found drowned, by heck!
Whilst the children of the town pondered how he had died,
Court was in session with those being tried:
Was it Old Scurvy Crabwater killed poor Richard Bluewall?
Or was it Miss Sylvia DeSylvia who’s love conquered all?
Or perhaps Jesse Pomeroy, a boy of sixteen,
With suspicious demeanor and caught at the scene!
Star witness and actress, Alicia Linguiça,
Insists to the end,
That the murder was committed
By her former best friend!
With Judge Thaddeus Pudge
Presiding the case,
And the audience as jury putting justice in place,
Attorneys Paperwell, Rockwell, Scissorwell and Schute
Do their level best to condemn the brute.”

Fr. Matthew Green

Cinco de Mayo Mug Up – Sunday 9:00 am – Everyone Welcome

cinco de mayo

On Sunday, May 5th at 9:00am there will be a pre-season Cindo de Mayo New Digs Blessing Mug Up at my new Rocky Neck digs overlooking Smiths Cove, up the stairs at 1 Wonson Street (behind Sailor Stan’s – the peach house across from Side Street Gallery and sculpture garden).  There will be coffee, tea and huevos rellenos (if I don’t mess them up) and whatever anyone cares to bring along to share (a batch of margaritas would be ok).  Come by and bless my new place with your presence and energy.

Also, from 7:30-12:00 that morning, Sailor Stan’s will be offering muchos especiales for Cinco de Mayo including: Shrimp Vera Cruz Omelette, Mexican Omelette (with Chorizo cheese and chilis), Chili Cheese Omelette, Breakfast Burrito (scrambled, diced ham and salsa), Huevos Rancheros, Gold Rush (spicy Benedict on cornbread), and Avocado Bacon Omelette (plus their full Breakfast Menu).  So if you like, come early and hungry, have breakfast at Sailor Stan’s and then come round back for Mug Up, or vice versa. 

Let’s get spicy and kick off the season, and fill up my new place with the great energy of Rocky Neck and GMG.

E.J. Lefavour

Exhibit Opportunities for Artists on Rocky Neck

There are two Galleries (plus the sliver space) still available for Rent on Rocky Neck Avenue for this coming season (May 15-October 15).  Madfish Wharf is a great place for artists – cooperative, supportive, fun and good traffic.  Contact Niki at 617-543-2977 for more details on individual gallery rentals.  She most readily responds to text messages.  #6 has been rented, so #’s 15 & 7, plus the sliver gallery on the walkway from the parking lot to Madfish Grille are available.   Join us for a great season on Madfish Wharf.

madfish galleries copy

Elynn Kröger Gallery

elynn kroger gallery

I really love living on Rocky Neck where I can see artist friends on a daily basis.  I went to tea at Elynn Kröger’s yesterday.  Elynn is always a joy to visit with, and her gallery and abstract landscape paintings and drawings are truly amazing.  Just the trip up to her space is a delightful adventure.  Her gallery is at the top of the stairs at 15 Rocky Neck Ave., and every step of the way you encounter an interesting and quirky assortment of objects and quotes.  Once inside, her work and space will blow you away.  And then there is her beautiful view of Smiths Cove.  Elynn’s gallery is open year round, but now that nicer weather is upon on, next time you visit Rocky Neck, make sure you take the magical trip up the stairs to Elynn Kröger Gallery.  In the meantime, you can visit her website at http://elynnkroger.com/.  Her phone number is 978-282-3467 if you want to call first to make sure she is open, although her general pre-season hours are 11:00-6:00.

E.J. Lefavour

And the Winner is…

soup competition

Eric Kaplan of Rocky Neck and Chelmsford was the winner of the Sailor Stan’s For the Love of Soup Competition and $25 Sailor Stan’s gift certificate, with his scrumptous mushroom soup made with cashew paste, soy milk, curry and tons of mushrooms.  Additional entries included Lisa van Sand’s gazpacho (my personal favorite which came in 2nd), Rick’s Gumbo Ya Ya which came in 3rd, Ian Crown’s famous mushroom soup, Karen’s Kovis (kale and linguisa), Wayne’s French onion, Sailor Stan’s fish chowder and my spicy shrimp and corn chowder.  Participants got to enjoy a diverse selection of delicious soups, salad, fresh bread and assorted choice of beverages, and had a great time while being challenged to pick a favorite – all for the benefit of the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck.

On a separate culinary note, keep an eye out for Lisa van Sand’s amazingly decadent treats which will soon be carried at the Last Stop, including her Oh My God Cake.  A number of us tried a piece of it yesterday, not knowing in advance what it was called, and all had the exact same response: “Oh My God!”  It is to die for, as is her white chocolate and chai cake.

E.J. Lefavour

Breakfast and Soup at Sailor Stan’s

breakfast at sailor stans

My mom, Jean Lefavour, came to visit for a couple of days and got to kick up her heels at the dance at the Rocky Neck Center last night, and have breakfast at Sailor Stan’s this morning.  We had the McStan’s breakfast sandwiches, which were delicious.

Don’t forget, tomorrow from 3:00-5:00 be at Sailor Stan’s for the Love of Soup Best of Cape Ann Soup Competition, with proceeds to benefit the Center at Rocky Neck.  There is still room for a few more soup entries, if you have a great soup you’d like to enter into the competition.  If so, email EJ at khanstudio@comcast.net with your name and type of soup you’re entering.  For soup lovers, this is going to be a special treat, and it is still chilly enough to really enjoy a great variety of soups made by the best local soup makers.   Winner gets a $25 gift certificate to Sailor Stan’s. 

E.J. Lefavour