KATE SOMERS DEMOS

Yesterday (Saturday, August 27) RNG's artist Kate Somers conducted a watercolor demonstration at the gallery from 2 pm on.   Well attended by all ages, Kate showed several techniques she uses to create her award winning paintings of Gloucester. 

The demo consisted of 3-4 paintings in varied stages.  Kate brought a finished painting and one of her photographs which inspired the work.  She showed various techniques in washes and maskit of applying and removing.

Kate grew up on Cape Ann and her love of the area shows in her work.  She captures the ever changing  light on land and water.  Not only does she paint plein air but travels everywhere with her camera.  These images "become the bones of my watercolors, where often the white of a light house or the sails of a schooner are the pink and orange light of sunset".

Kate says: I have become a watercolor artist and it is my mission to show you what I see.

See more of Kate Somers' work at Rocky Neck Gallery and also in a multimedia show called Surreal to Abstract at 4 Centennial Drive in Peabody, MA now until September 3rd.  For more information visit Kate's website: http://www.randomartsmagnolia.com/

Special thanks to Terry Del Percio for taking these photographs and allowing their use.

Proprietary Chaos

“Proprietary Chaos,”  introduces an exciting new show at Rocky Neck Gallery.  This show features  photographs of street life and informal communities of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, taken over the last four years by Laurence Kent Jones.  Images include street scenes and over-sized stitched panoramas of informally built hillside neighborhoods and comparison photos of neighborhoods before and after the January 2010 earthquake.



Canope Pans Vert Series
photograph by Laurence Kent Jones



Laurence Kent Jones has been assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti for the last four years as part of a stabilization project focused on an economically deprived section of the city. As a result he spent a lot more time at the street level than the average diplomat. “Of course, I always had my camera with me!” With his photographs, Jones presents a moment in time that may be washed away or possibly reveals the seeds of a modern style of infrastructure unique to the needs and conditions of a large and tropical island.

"Haiti has a vibrant street life.  Most people have very limited resources and housing is frequently no more than shelter to sleep and eat, while the rest of the day's activities take place on the street in the open.  The small merchants settle semi-permanently into a spot on the sidewalk, a passageway, or in any open space that might be available, overrunning the public space.  Poorer people have colonized the corners of the older neighborhoods and created huge informal squatter settlements.  The line between planned portions of the city and the squatter settlements is obvious on the ground and shockingly clear from above.  We're seeing an urban infrastructure develop that is very different from anything in North America.  This collection of photographs taken before and after the 2010 earthquake, include journalistic street scenes and oversized panoramas of informally built hillside neighborhoods in Haiti.

The show opened this past Wednesday, Aug. 17 and continues until Tuesday, Aug. 30.  It is part of Rocky Neck Gallery Summer Artist series introducing excceptional new works from local to international artists every two weeks.  A reception for the artist will be held this Saturday, Aug. 20, from 6-8 pm.  The artist, Laurence Kent Jones, will give a presentation at 7 pm.  Please join us for a poignant exhibition and a very informative artist talk. 

           

SLIPPING THE KNOT

Slip # 2
acrylic/canvas 18 x 18

 

August 3-16: Slipping the Knot

watermedia paintings by Martha Wakefield

RECEPTION: This Saturday,  August 6: 5-8 pm

Artist Talk at 7 pm

Martha Wakefield, a former fashion executive, is a visual artist working in watercolors, acrylics and oils. She is a juried member of the Cambridge Art Association and the Rhode Island Watercolor Society. Martha has studied with Wolf Kahn, Stuart Shils and William Lawrence. Her work has been accepted into numerous juried shows and is in many private collections in United States and Canada. Her paintings have been featured in the Fall/Winter 2010 issue of Wild Apples: a Journal of Nature, Art, and Inquiry, and The Palette Magazine where she is a staff writer. A juried member of the Rocky Neck Gallery of Gloucester, she is also is represented by the Hope Gallery of Bristol, Rhode Island.

This intimate show features seven paintings (18 x 18 acrylics/canvas), four small works (acrylics on handmade paper mounted on canvas), and a large watercolor (36 x 28).  Martha started this series in January.  This was the results of those art accidents where her intention was to explore mixed media utilizing fabric from garments that represented a relationship with her mother.  Instead the slip emerged and series was created.

This body of work is an exploration of loss—of love that once was vibrant has slipped away. To denote this spirited soul I am utilizing a slip—an article of clothing that conveys intimacy with the wearer. A slip can be utilitarian or sensual, revealing the beauty of the female form without portraying nakedness. It has an intimate relationship with the wearer acting as a second skin but also acts as a protective or proper barrier to the other influences. I am using color, shape, line and layering to convey a sense of someone wearing, moving, and living in such a sheer skin of fabric—yet one who remains hidden from our view. The garment holds the memory of a loved one; we sense a presence though in truth she has slipped away from the knot of life and family. All that remains is the clothes.


Red Slip # 3
watercolor 36 x 28



Please join us either this Thursday 8/4 for Nights on the Neck featuring live music with Fax Holiday from 6-8 pm, plus refreshments, art & fun and/or this Saturday evening 8/6 for an artist reception from 5 - 8 pm with more food, spirits, artists, friends, art & more fun! 

FAX HOLIDAY THURSDAY



FAX HOLIDAY





NEW ALBUM: ROPE & WINE



Come down to Rocky Neck Gallery this Thursday evening, August 4th, and hear the rocking sounds of  indie/folk band Fax Holiday as they will be playing from 6 - 8 pm adding sweet harmony to another festive Nights on the Neck  The talented artists of this group are: Eric Schermerhorn, Ian Macleod, Elizabeth Bollenberg & Dana Diplacido. 

 

From the "must read" site Shh, Listen by Jon Martin posted on June 21st, 2011 - here is what he has to say about Fax Holiday and their new album Rope & Wine.

"Fax Holiday is the recording/performing name of Eric Schermerhorn (formerly of Mutt and Margin Walker), and it is also the name of a Boston-based indie/folk band containing Schermerhorn (vocals, guitars, autoharp), Ian Macleod (bass, vocals), Elizabeth Bollenberg (violin, harp), and Dana Diplacido (percussion)." 

"Their new album – Rope & Wine – is a solid musical effort – combining indie-rock numbers like “Dropping Out” with more introspective, folk-inspired tunes like “Salt.”  Regardless of presentation, each song feels as if it is rooted in something that is deeply personal – coming to the listener as if from a diary entry.  It’s a combination that comes up a lot in these parts (you might be familiar with a similar formula as seen in the work of Galaxie 500), and produces an amazingly vibrant emotional tapestry. Also, it rocks.  Did I mention that it rocks?"

Check out the band's website and for contacting the group: faxholidayshows@gmail.com. 

Nights on the Neck this Thursday, August 4th, has many other events happening to appeal to all ages, interests and dancing feet.  Check out the lineup at NOTN and find demos, music, food, art and friends on the Neck.  See you there!

And special Thanks to Jon Martin!

ZYG's EXPRESSIONS

The Rocky Neck Gallery's Summer Artist Series continues with "Zyg's Expression," watercolors and oils by the late Zygmond Jankowski.  The show opened Wednesday, July 20 and is on view until Tuesday, August 3rd.  This is a colorful display of his work featuring seven exquisite oils and seven expressive watercolors along with several unframed works also available for purchase. 

Jankowski opened a summer gallery on Rocky Neck in 1964 and moved to Gloucester permanently in the 1970s. He taught at various universities, art associations and at home in his studio. Ranging from abstract to more realist impressionistic and expressive oil paintings, water colors, and mixed media on paper, his works burst with color.

Today his paintings are included in major corporate, museum, and private collections throughout the country and in Europe, including the Cape Ann Museum and the Charles Demuth Museum in Pennsylvania. He has won numerous prizes in juried shows and in 2007 had a one-man show at the Cape Ann Museum. The Rockport Art Association honored his memory with a solo show in 2010.

Born in South Bend, Indiana in 1925, "Zyg" as he was known, had an uncle who fostered his artistic talent.  Zyg continued this interest while serving in the Navy and upon his release from duty he enrolled at the California College of Arts and Crafts.  There he was taught by Victor DeWilde, George Post and Otis Oldfield.

Throughout his career Jankowski painted various interpretations of certain themes, each time emphasizing a different element, such as rhythm, space, shape, and color. "You stand as referee between the scene, your emotion and analysis. Your goal is to experience a feeling of excitement for the first stroke to the last." He also said of his work, "These are paintings, NOT pictures. Cameras take pictures."

Zyg was a prolific painter and could be found with a paintbrush in his hand at any time of day. Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and of course Gloucester inspired his work in painting seascapes, harbor scenes to landscapes. Other themes he continously revisited throughtout his career include: Erotica works, Portraits, Florals, Jazz images and Still Life. For more information about Zyg and his work please contact Myra Hall at myraehall@gmail.com.

Special thanks to Myra Hall for providing the text for this posting. 

SIMPLY LOOKING LOOKING SIMPLE

Claudia Kaufman's show Simply Looking, Looking Simple was the third installation of the Rocky Neck Gallery Summer Artist Series.  These shows are juried and introduce every two weeks an exciting new artist and contemporary fresh work  in the gallery.  Kaufman's show ran recently from July 6th to July 19th and was well attended.  Her delicious realistic depictions in oil paint on canvas of food, florals and sweets drew rave comments from everyone viewing the show.  If you missed this fabulous treat you can visit Claudia's website and see more paintings by this extremely talented artist at  claudiakaufman.com.

DEMOS & DIGERIDOO & DRUMS

START out this Thursday nurturing your creative spirit then on to your dance spirit to the evening sounds found on Rocky Neck.  Join us this July 7th, for Nights on the Neck, a festive event of art demos, live entertainment and open studios.  The activities start at Rocky Neck Gallery at 12 noon. And other galleries and artist studios are also open into the evening along with restaurants, cafe and shops.

At noon (12 pm) local artist Kate Somers will give a two hour demonstration on watercolor techniques.  Stop in and see this talented painter at work, sharing her knowledge of a colorful versatile medium.

Sails I
watercolor by Kate Somers

From 3 - 5 pm Judy Robinson-Cox, a Cape Ann, Massachusetts photographer and mixed-media artist, will hold a mini-workshop on building and photographing fantasy environments.   This workshop is targeted for kids and please bring a digital camera.  Judy will give a brief talk and slide show.  Then she will build a set or two depending on the number of attendees and show how you can create environments with things around your house.  Everyone will be able to take photographs of the set.   



Cabbage Sea
Judy Robinson-Cox



And the festivities continue... from 6-8pm we will be enjoying the sounds of the local band The Quarry Men featuring Matt Natti on digeridoo, Eli Natti on upright bass and James Corcoran on the hand drum.

 

 

And there is plenty more to inspire you.  Original works of art from local and regional artists grace this gallery (and lots of other fine galleries & studios) in paintings, photography, jewelry, ceramics, sculpture, fine furniture and mixed media.  Fine food, drinks and merry making are available.  Plus you are near the refreshing breezes of the sea and in sight of blue ocean waters. Come down to the Neck for a fun day into night!