Award-winning author Jean Woodbury and illustrator Bonnie L. Sylvester join The Paper Mermaid and the libraries on Cape Ann for holiday fun featuring the children’s picture book, The Tree in Dock Square.
The free family events will include story time, book and holiday crafts, autographed copies with Jean, and in Gloucester custom art with Bonnie, too.
Cape Ann READingS: The Tree on Dock Square on the go.
Cape Ann participated in the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) statewide cultural district convening which was hosted by the Natick Center for the Arts. Statewide district gatherings occur once or twice a year: the last two were held in Cambridge, and Beverly. Representatives from Gloucester, Rockport and Essex cultural districts were in attendance. (Manchester and Ipswich do not not have a designation at this time. Gloucester could have seven.)
Massachusetts Cultural Council Director, Anita Walker, welcomed the crowd, and introduced officials from Natick and new additions to the MCC staff. Jill Cahill, Gloucester’s Director of Community Development, brought a gift from the Mayor and the City to add to a send-off of thanks and well wishes for Meri Jenkins, longtime MCC leader who managed cities and towns through cultural facilities funding and district designations. Luis Edgardo Cotto and Justina Crawford will be taking over the MCC Community Initiative programs managed by Meri.
The MCC approved five year district renewals for both Rocky Neck and Rockport last year. District renewal for Gloucester’s downtown is underway. Essex received official citations for their renewal at this convening. Here’s a photo of Christopher Stepler, artist and Manager of Essex Shipbuilding Museum, and Lee Spence, former Director. One update they shared was that the successful historic exhibitionThe Women of Essex – Stories to Share displayed at Essex Town Hall in a renovated bright space on the top floor above the TOHP Burnham Public Library (thanks in part to Cultural Facilities funding) was selected to travel to the NPS regional Visitor Center in Salem.
After a year of monthly programming by the libraries and community partners, the Cape Ann Readsoriginal picture book contest is in full swing and has moved into the jury processing stage. The contest is hosted by the 4 public libraries of Cape Ann. They will publish the first edition printing for one book from entries that were submitted by December 15, 2016. The jury selection panel includes representatives from each of the public libraries: Justine Vitale Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Public Library; Carol Bender, Children’s and Teen Librarian, Rockport Public Library; Kate Strong Stadt, Head of Youth Services, Manchester-By-The-Sea Public Library; Anne 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 participants are three artists and award winning children’s picture book authors and illustrators:Pat Lowery Collins; Giles Laroche; andAnna Vojtech. Bob Ritchie proprietor of Dogtown Book Shop will provide 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. A second jury of children will select their favorites and is chaired by Liza Browning from the Cape Ann Museum, a Cape Ann Reads partner.
About the Cape Ann creates for Cape Ann Reads Children’s Picture Book Contest: The 4 public libraries hosted a one of a kind call for entry seeking new and original children’s picture books showcasing local artists and writers.
Cape Ann residents of all ages, students attending school on Cape Ann, and people who work on Cape Ann were invited to create part or all of a picture book for consideration to be published, and to submit their entries by December 15th, 2016. A first edition printing of one of these submissions will be published in 2017 by the 4 public libraries and with the support of various sponsors. The copyright is timed to coincide with the 75th anniversary of a Caldecott award for the children’s book, “Little House”, by Virginia Lee Burton, eminent Gloucester artist, author and illustrator.
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Applicants have until December 15th to upload a book submission,
but they need to register by November 15th or they won’t be eligible for the contest.
Shout out to local artists John Bassett, Bonnie Sylvester and Alexia Parker. Last week we reached out to local media including the Gloucester Daily Times, Cape Ann Beacon, Cape Ann Chamber newsletter, This Week on Rocky Neck and Good Morning Gloucester to help us broadcast the contest and/or seeking volunteer artists. Artists (and writers!) generously stepped forward with intriguing and generous offers! Scroll down to read more about three of the artist volunteers that responded to this recent public appeal. At this time we have more volunteers than requests. Amazing and inspiring!
Glass sculptor, artist John Bassett www.basglas.com, was the first to reach out with a generous and flexible offer. His website links to pages of glorious works.
His offer was quickly followed by Bonnie Sylvester’s thoughtful reasoning: “As an artist and early childhood educator, I would love to add my name to the mix of local volunteer artists that writers may consider. I think it will be a lot of fun to work this way.” Sylvester works in a wide range of material including mixed media, acrylic, and watercolor. “I believe exceptional picture books are a marriage of story and picture. It’s so important to see the creativity in the author’s vision.” She has a master’s degree in early education and is a docent at Cape Ann Museum.
Alexia Parker wanted to volunteer after she was urged by a couple of her friends and fans: “I had couple of friends and coworkers who saw it in the Gloucester Daily Times and contacted me. I grew up in Essex…I also work…in Essex. As far as my art goes, I have just recently been exploring avenues to get my name out there a little. Illustrating childrens’ books has been a dream of mine since I was a child, so I thought this could be a fun way to try it out.” She included this stunning collage as an example.
Stay tuned for more exciting news:
The Jury panel will be announced this week!
There will be a second jury panel made up of children. If you know a Cape Ann K-5th grader who likes to read or be read to, and would be excited to be part of the kids jury panel, let your library know! Names will be pulled out of a hat. For more information contact Capeannreads2016@gmail.com.
Cape Ann Reads children’s picture book contest is open to Cape Ann residents of ALL ages, students attending school on Cape Ann and people who work on Cape Ann. One winning book will be published by Cape Ann Reads in 2017, a first-edition printing prize valued up to $10,000. Additional honors will be announced.
Sponsor opportunities:
The 4 Cape Ann libraries and many regional partners have coordinated a calendar of wonderful events throughout 2016. Additional sponsors and support are sought and welcome! After the registration deadline, the contest organizers will announce additional specific prize categories.
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Cape Ann Reads offers the chance for the 4 libraries to collaborate and work together on community, literacy, and art. They’ve partnered with beloved organizations to celebrate the art and writing of children’s picture books.
The four Directors and Kate La Chance from Cape Ann Museum confer, early gorgeous morning on the grounds of the Manchester Public Library. Seated left to right in the nice new outdoor furniture: Kate LaChance, Cape Ann Museum; Debbie French, Essex TOHP Burnham; Deborah Kelsey, Sawyer Free; Cindy Grove, Rockport; Sara Collins, Manchester by the Sea Public Library.
Every month features Cape Ann Reads events! Here arethe next 5 CAPE ANN READS EVENTS FOR AUGUST
ENDING SOON- August 4th, Where’s Gulliver at Manchester Public Library
Manchester Public Library visitors have until August 4th to play Where’s Gulliver for a scratch card.
Manchester gets creative with their t-shirt sales at pop up library events. I am told Benedict has made it to the beach! t-shirts are $15 for adults / $10 for kids, designed through Cape Ann Art Haven art center. They are for sale at the libraries, Cape Ann Art Haven and Cape Ann Museum. Proceeds will go towards the original picture book contest.
Rockport: August 11th (THU), 6pm. Children’s Book Publishing.
Damaris Curran Herlihy, a local resident and owner of a publishing firm will speak at theRockport Public Library. She will discuss how to prepare for publication and what to expect from the process. No registration required. FREE.
Essex: August 18th (THURS) 1:00PM. Does your boat float?
Assorted materials will be available to create your own distinctive vessel. Test it out in our pool. Ages four and up. Please sign up to calculate for materials @ mes.mvlc.org or 978-768-7410. TOHP Burnham Library, 245 Western Ave, Essex. FREE.
Director Debbie French
Essex: Teen Activity August 22nd (MON) 6:00PM
Experiment with modge podge using nautical charts. Cover books, boxes, frames or whatever to create your nautical decoration! Please sign up to calculate for materials @ mes.mvlc.org or 978-768-7410.TOHP Burnham Library, 245 Western Ave, Essex. FREE.
Gloucester: August 27 (SAT) Ed Emberley will be at Cape Ann Community Cinema & Stage!
Come to Cape Ann Community & Stage for an afternoon with acclaimed author illustrator Ed Emberley and his wife Barbara. Emberley has published close to 100 books. He collaborated with his wife on earlier works including the 1968 Caldecott winning Drummer Hoff, and more recent books with his daughter, Rebecca, such as Chicken Little and Red Hen. Please RSVP Cape Ann Community Cinema & Stage, 21 Main Street Gloucester, MA. ticket event $15 adults; $10 kids under
Back in April, guests lucky enough to attend the Cape Ann Reads program at the Rockport Public Library enjoyed a lecture given by Anita Silvey. She spoke about the development of the American picture book from her years of experience in children’s picture book publishing, editing and most recently as an author. If you went to the afternoon lecture, you would have heard about the staggering success of the Newbury honor awarded Millions of Cats, written and illustrated by Wanda Gag in 1928. (The first Caldecott wasn’t awarded until 1938.) I sold lithographs and wood engravings by Wanda Gag and worked with a few of her artist friends; she died young, aged 53. Gag’s artistic career was going well prior to this book. She was one of the most praised printmakers of the 1920s and 30s and had a solo exhibition at Weyhe Gallery in 1926. (A lot of her prints have cats in them, too.)
Gag’s brother created the wrap around hand-lettering for Millions of Cats, including the memorably repeated refrain: “Cats here, cats there, Cats and kittens everywhere, Hundreds of cats, Thousands of cats, Millions and billions and trillions of cats.” The art and double page spreads revolutionized picture books. It had immediate and record sales. Silvey related that this book has the distinction of being the longest American picture book continuously in print, and that it was helped along by an editor. (Gag had abandoned a prior version in 1923.)
Anita Silvey with Cindy Grove, Director, Rockport Public Library, Cape Ann Reads lecture series. (Rockport Goes To War, WPA era mural by Sam Hershey)
What’s coming next for Cape Ann Reads?
Don’t miss this Saturday’s June 4 2016 round-trip double Story Walk for the whole family from 10am-2pm at the Manchester public Library and Manchester Historical Museum. Picture book lovers of all ages are invited to walk and read, and act the route together! The featured books are: Stella, the Star of the Sea by Mary Louise Gay and Storm Whale by Benji Davies.
Cape Ann Reads events are listed on the awesome Good Morning Gloucester arts calendar. For all the latest information and details, check the Cape Ann Reads website. Additional programs will be added to the calendar. Cape Ann Reads is a collaboration among the Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Public Library, Manchester Public Library, Rockport Public Library and TOHP Burnham Library in Essex and regional partners. Check them out!
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Good Morning Gloucester 