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!

SIMPLY LOOKING, LOOKING SIMPLE

Opening this Wednesday is Rocky Neck Gallery Summer Artist Series featuring contemporary realist artist Claudia Kaufman and her paintings in oil.  This exhibit is titled "Simply Looking, Looking Simple."

Ellen's Kitchen
oil/canvas

Claudia Kaufman says, “As a contemporary realist painter, my works are studies in observation... still life set-ups of familiar objects that are deceptively simple, yet complex. Stopping short of photo-realism, I work to keep the signs of my hand and brushstroke in my work and am particularly intrigued by the drama of light, transparency, reflection and strong shadows.”

Kaufman’s “Simply Looking: Looking Simple,” opens Wednesday, July 6 and runs until Tuesday, July 19. A reception for the artist will be held Saturday, July 9, from 5-8 p.m. The public is invited.  Please join us, meet the artist and hear Claudia talk about her paintings. 



Bag O' Oranges
oil/canvas



Kaufman lives in Marblehead, MA and is a member of the North Shore, Rockport, and Marblehead Art Associations of Massachusetts and the Copley Society of Art in Boston.  Her work has been shown in many Boston area exhibitions. She worked as a commercial artist in New York City followed by a career as marketing executive/creative director of a national healthcare technology company.

She studied painting at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Mass College of Art and most recently completed a post baccalaureate residency program in painting at Brandeis University.

          



Lillies in Limelight
oil/canvas


This is the third exhibit sponsored by Rocky Neck Gallery Summer Artist Series.  For more information on upcoming exhibits please click on the link above. 

Special thanks to RNG Marketing Director Susan Hershey for contributing to this post. 



FISHTOWN HORRIBLES PARADE

Wild, wacky and fun for Rocky Neck Gallery in the 2011 Fishtown Horribles Parade in Gloucester, MA.  Check out  the video of this wonky event on YouTube created by Judy Robinson-Cox.

Marching in Sunday's Horribles Parade artists Judy Robinson-Cox and Mary Rhinelander

This year Rocky Neck Gallery's sign was be pulled by a lawn tractor powered eastern rig dragger created by Gloucester resident Glenn Somers.  This rig was last year's award winner.  Thank you Glenn Somers! 

RNG t-shirts designed by jewelry designer
Rachel Somers
for the gallery's artists marching in the Horribles Parade


For more Horribles Parade fun be sure to check out GoodMorningGloucester blog on this grand event featuring additional videos and photos.

Special thanks to blog contributors and parade participants Judy Robinson-Cox, Rachel Somers, Tom Robinson-Cox, Kate Somers & Mary Rhinelander! 

LUMINOUS LANDSCAPE

The artist Linda Cordner

There is still time to see this stunning show of encaustic paintings by Boston artist Linda Cordner.  Her show Luminous Landscape, the second one in the Rocky Neck Gallery Summer Artist Series, is still on display until Tuesday, July 5th.  The gallery is open this Monday from 11 am - 6 pm.   

What is encaustic? 
From her website http://www.lindacordner.com/, Linda  provides this explanation:

The word Encaustic, from ancient Greek, means “to heat” and that is the basis for encaustic painting.  Wax, primarily bees wax, with or without added pigment and mixed with a small amount of damar resin, is heated to a liquid state and applied to a ground with brushes.

Painting is done quickly, as the wax starts to harden as soon as it is separated from its heat source.   Each painted layer must be fused to the next to create a solid piece that becomes the encaustic painting.   It is one of the most durable painting mediums since wax is impervious to moisture and over time will retain its original colors.

"I am very drawn to wax and its tactile qualities, the smell and viscosity of the medium are very different from other painting techniques.  Creating organic forms is a natural extension of wax’s origin.  Coming from a background in graphic design, I am drawn to certain color schemes and shapes, the repetition and placement being important to the composition.  My paintings are made by layering multiple coats of wax which can completely obscure the under layers at times.  I then scrape away areas of the wax to expose the compositions below."



Linda is represented by two New England galleries.  You can see more of her work at the Jules Place Gallery in Boston, MA and the Three Graces Gallery in Portsmouth, NH.  She is also a partner in the new, very hip store/gallery Pop Gallery on 67 Main Street in Gloucester, MA. 

Firefly
24 x 24

These photos were taken of the still current exhibit during the artist reception held on Saturday evening June 25th by photographer/artist Judy Robinson-Cox. 

The next show scheduled in the Summer Artist Series is titled Simple Looking, Looking Simple oil paintings by artist Claudia Kaufman. This new show opens July 6th and runs two weeks until July 19th.

SEASIDE CELEBRATIONS

Doubleline of Laundry
watercolor
18 x 24

Mary Rhinelander McCarl has a new show called Seaside Celebrations featuring her paintings in watercolors at the Beverly Farms Public Library in Beverly, MA.  The show opened this past Friday, July 1st and will be on exhibit for the entire month.  Come meet Mary at the artist's reception on Tuesday, July 19th, from 5 - 8 pm.