CLOSED FOR THE SEASON

Rocky Neck Gallery is now closed until the Spring of 2014.  The gallery's famous door of  Russian stamped steel covered with copper boat bottom paint officially closed on Monday evening, October 14th.

 Though the building is now empty of original, distinctive artwork, the gallery's many artists will be working, exhibiting, teaching and talking about their art through the next several months. Be sure to check back here for updates or follow us on Twitter and/or like us on Facebook for news and events featuring our artists.

And be sure to check out the happenings at the Rocky Neck Art Colony Cultural Center open year round with on going art exhibits, classes, lectures, dances and more!

Rocky Neck Gallery thanks you for your wonderful support this year!

HOLIDAY POTTERY CLASSES

Cynthia Curtis Pottery is now accepting registrations for Holiday Pottery Classes!  Sign up early as these classes fill quickly.

     

October 28 – December 13

Monday Adult class w/ Cynthia: 9:00 - 12:00 pm

Tuesday Adult class w/ Susan Hershey: 6:00 - 9:00 pm

Wednesday Adult class w/ Cynthia: 9:00 - 12:00 pm

Wednesday Kid’s class w/ Lauren Miller: 3:30 - 5:00 pm

Thursday Adult class w/ Cynthia: 6:00 - 9:00 pm

Friday Adult class w/ Anni Melancon:  9:00 - 12:00 pm

All levels of experience - Beginners always welcome!

Wheel-throwing ~ Hand Building ~ Glazing

Private lessons ~ Independent Study Program ~ Retail Gallery

 Cynthia Curtis Pottery

80 Pigeon Hill Street, Rockport, www.cynthiacurtispottery.com

To register, call 978 546 6186 or email: info@cynthiacurtispottery.com

WINE & CHOCOLATE THIS SUNDAY

For our last weekend of the 2013 season, Rocky Neck Gallery invites you to come enjoy some wine and chocolate this Sunday, October 13th, from 4 to 6 PM. 

Stop by and check out the many unique and original artworks in paintings, ceramics, jewelry, photography, sculpture, mosaics, printmaking and mixed media by our artists’ members. And see our final Summer Artists Series show “Family Trees,” featuring the mixed media assemblages by Stephen Martin. 

Mixed Media Assemblage
by Stephen Martin

Rocky Neck Gallery's last day is Monday, 10/14, Columbus Day and will close @ 5 PM.  We want to thank everyone for their wonderful support this year and look forward to seeing you next year.  

CELEBRATING OUR FRIENDS!

Here are more photos from Rocky Neck Gallery's 2nd Annual Customer Appreciation Party held last  Saturday, September 21st!  On a summer-like evening over a hundred guests and artists mingled, drank refreshing elixars, nimbled on tasty treats and celebrated a fine season of art, friendship and the magic of Rocky Neck.

In full swing!

Food catered by Gourmet Delights of Hamilton, MA. Wrapped presents are artwork donated by RNG's artists for the party's drawing.

Party committee members: Mary Healy & Martha Wakefield

Peter Giuffre & Rosemary Quatro winners of a photograph by Tom Robinson-Cox.

Guest Bettee Pijut is the lucky recipient of artwork by Kathy Gerdon Archer

Anna Vojtech winner of a bracelet by artist Mary Healy

Gallery manager & artist Judy Robinson-Cox shows off the fine jewelry by artists Katherine Bagley & Deborah Way

More delicacies by Gourmet Delights with artwork by artists L-R Tom Robinson-Cox (window), Phyllis Feld and Dina Gomery above the table.





Special thanks to Tom Robinson-Cox for these photographs, to all the talented gallery artists who donated artwork, to the fabulous members of the planning committee and to Gourmet Delights Catering of Hamilton, MA!.

And with extra gratitude to all our guests who entered Rocky Neck Gallery this season!

ROCKY NECK GALLERY CELEBRATES

Rocky Neck Gallery hosted its second annual customer appreciation party on Saturday, September 21st in the summer-like evening on the Neck.  Over a 100 guests joined the artists to celebrate another season of art and friendship while sipping sparkling wines and sampling the tasty treats catered by Gourmet Delights of Hamilton, MA.  

L-R: RNAC Marketing Director Stevie Black & RNG Jewelry designer Katherine Bagley

RNG artist Dina Gomery with her guests

Friends enjoying the artwork of RNG artist and manager Judy Robinson-Cox

Far right: Rachel Gauthier, honorary gallery friend and party greeter

RNG printmaker Deborah Geurtze & RNG photographer Tom Robinson-Cox with guests

RNG jewelry designer Deborah Way treating guests to sweet desserts.

RNG artist Mary Rhinelander assisting in the drawing of artwork donated by the gallery's artists.

This was a festive evening enjoyed by many welcoming  new and familiar guests who made the season such a delightful success.  Special thanks to the Rocky Neck Gallery's artists who donated their fine artwork to the very popular drawing, to the artists who donated their time to planning & hosting the event, to the fabulous bartenders who keep the spirits flowing and to Gourmet Delights for their delicious food!  And an extra thank you to all our wonderful patrons who entered our door throughout the 2013 season!

And with gratitude to Judy Robinson-Cox for taking and providing all these photographs.

FAMILY TREES

Rocky Neck Gallery’s Summer Artists Series: Family Trees

Mixed media assemblages by Stephen Thomas Martin

Wednesday, September 25 – Sunday, October 13, 2013

Artist’s reception on Friday, September 27, 6-8 PM

Rocky Neck Gallery is pleased to announce the next Summer Artists Series show: Family Trees, featuring the mixed media assemblages of Stephen Thomas Martin.  This is the last exhibit in this series for the gallery’s 2013 season.  And the first time Rocky Neck Gallery is exhibiting the fascinating and mysterious assemblages by Martin of Amesbury, MA.  This new show opens Wednesday, September 25 and runs until Sunday, October 13, 2013.

Martin’s art is both literally and figuratively about reclamation.  While the literal incorporates found objects to form the “ground” of the pieces, of more importance, is the figurative element.  The search for unique “found objects” he uses in his pieces is a big part of his creative process.  In many of his works he incorporates old photos of individuals he discovers at antique shops and flea markets. 

As Martin states, “Using these photographs I am giving new life to people long forgotten by family, friends and society.  They have not only been reclaimed but are indeed reclaiming a place in the existing world, not to be forgotten again.”

Martin is a self-taught artist now working full time to meet the demand for his assemblages.  Prior to this new career, he owned and operated an antique and retail furniture business for twenty years in Newburyport, MA.  Martin is the founder and owner of Gallery 206, a pop-up experimental gallery in Amesbury, MA.  He is also represented by Galatea Gallery in Boston, MA and is a juried member of the Cambridge Art Association, of Cambridge, MA and Newburyport Art Association in Newburyport, MA.  His award winning work is juried into many prestigious shows along with residing in several private art collections throughout the USA.  The corporate collections that currently own his assemblages are Growth Coach Management Consultants, Kodiac Venture Partners, and the Italian movie production company, Blue Suede Shoots.

Please join us on Friday, September 27, from 6-8 PM for an artist’s reception.  Meet Stephen Thomas Martin and learn about his process reclaiming and reinventing new lives for discarded objects.

PATTERN - SCAPES

Cape Ann artists Julia Garrison and Mary Rhinelander explore the virtuosity of the linoleum block print with a focus on Cape Ann in a show they call Pattern-scapes. Building on the art form and tradition of Cape Ann's Folly Cove Designers, both women are creating work on fabric and framed work to be hung on the wall made specfically for this show. Their single and multiple color block prints feature patterns and landscapes in various shapes and sizes. They will also display tools and some of the blocks themselves, so visitors get a sense of what is involved in the often meticulous craft of carving.

Julia Garrison has a background in textile design with a degree from Massachusetts College of Art. Julia has kept the art and sensibility of the Folly Cove Designers alive by continuing to operate the Sarah Elizabeth Shop in Rockport, MA. Started in 1974 by Sarah Elizabeth, who joined the Folly Cove Designers in 1942, the shop acquired its 150-year old Acorn press from Eino Natti, another Folly Cove Designer, who used it to print his linoleum blocks and for printing demonstrations at the Folly Cove Designers barn until they disbanded in 1969. When Sarah Elizabeth retired in 2002 she left her shop in the hands of Isabel Natti, Eino's neice. Julia Garrison now prints her own work on the historic Acorn Press along with the designs of Isabel Natti and Sarah Elizabeth Holloran (1917-2009).

Mary Rhinelander comes to lino-cut via traditional printmaking training and an MFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and a BA in Visual and Environmental Studies from Harvard College in Cambridge. She has exhibited in several solo shows in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia and Cambridge MA. Her most recent exhibition in July 2013 was a contemporary art installation called Collection/Reflection at the Cape Ann Museum's White Elery House in Gloucester.

TONIGHT MUSIC BY NATHAN COHEN!

Rocky Neck Gallery is pleased to announce a music installation by renowned Cape Ann musician Nathan Cohen tonight Thursday, September 5, for the last Nights on the Neck of 2013. 

Many may know Nathan as the orchestra and chamber music director in Rockport Public Schools or as an active performer in a variety of groups and genres in greater Boston and throughout the Northeast or through his band "What Time Is It, Mr Fox?" or through his music installation "Into the Woods," to accompany the work of Cape Ann artist Gabrielle Barzhagi at an open house at the Cape Ann Museum last winter.  His list of accomplishments, performances and many talents goes on and one can find more about Nathan on his website. 

Tonight at Rocky Neck Gallery, Nathan's sound installation "Into the Woods" will once again be on display. He describes the work:

"There is a sense of repetition, of sameness, in the woods. And yet there exists at the same time a teeming and diverse world. The piece is a union of three separate tracks. The three audio tracks share the same chord structure and rhythmic architecture. Individually, each is simplistic and innocent. While all the tracks share a harmonic structure, each starts on a different chord and at a different tempo. The resulting phase shift is intended to seem like peering through trees in the woods. The harmonic interactions capture in one instant a sense of playfulness and in the next a sense of foreboding."

Please join us for this unique audio treat and memorable event!    

Rocky Neck Gallery is located at 53 Rocky Neck Avenue, Gloucester and the gallery will be open until 9 PM on Thursday, September 5 for Nights on the Neck.  Parking is free.

PATTERN-SCAPES New Work by Julia Garrison & Mary Rhinelander

Summer Artists Series: Pattern-scapes

New  Prints by Julia Garrison & Mary Rhinelander

Wednesday, September 4 – Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Artists’ reception on Saturday, September 7, from 6-8 PM

Sea Treasures
by Mary Rhinelander
linoleum cut print /paper

“Pattern-scapes,” is the next Summer Artists Series exhibit at Rocky Neck Gallery, featuring  a dynamic collaboration of printmakers and Cape Ann artists Julia Garrison and Mary Rhinelander opening Wednesday, September, 4th.  In this exhibit Julia and Mary explore the virtuosity of the linoleum block print.  Both artists focus thematically on where they live: coastal New England, and even more specifically, Cape Ann.  Julia has a background in textile design with a degree from Massachusetts College of Art.  Mary comes to lino-cut via traditional printmaking training and an MFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, in Boston.

Julia and Mary are both proud to be continuing an art form that once flourished in this area with the wonderful work of the Folly Cove Designers.  Julia has kept their art and sensibility alive by continuing to operate the Sarah Elizabeth Shop in Rockport.  She uses an Acorn Press, upon which she prints her own work (as well as the designs of Isabel Natti and Sarah Elizabeth). 

Fish
by Julia Garrison
Linoleum cut print on fabric

Julia and Mary will be making work specifically for Pattern-scapes, work on fabric, and work to be hung, framed, on the wall. They will print single and multiple color blocks, featuring patterns and landscapes, in various shapes and sizes.  They will display tools and some of the blocks themselves, so visitors get a sense of what is involved in the often meticulous craft of carving. 

Mary Rhinelander's prints drying

Please join us for an artists' reception this Saturday, September 7^th from 6-8 PM and meet these two talented artists working in a traditional art form with a modern sensibility.  

Julia Garrison at the Sarah Elizabeth Shop

Rocky Neck Gallery is located on 53 Rocky Neck Avenue, Gloucester.  The hours are: Sunday – Wednesday: 11 AM – 6 PM, Thursday – Saturday: 11 AM – 8 PM.  Free parking is available.

ICE COLD: NATURAL EXTRACTS

Rocky Neck Gallery’s Summer Artists Series: Ice Cold: Natural Extracts

New photography by Skip Montello and Tom Robinson-Cox

Wednesday, August 14 – Tuesday, September 4, 2013

artists' reception this Friday 8/16 from 6-8 PM! 

TRAPPED
Skip Montello
archival digital photograph, 18 x 24, $220

“Ice Cold: Natural Extracts,” is the next Summer Artists Series exhibit at Rocky Neck Gallery featuring the fine art photography of Cape Ann artists Skip Montello and Tom Robinson-Cox.  This dynamic new show opens on Wednesday, August 14 and continues until September 4, 2013.  Please join us on Friday, August 16 for an artists’ reception from 6-8 PM.  This event, open to the public, provides a wonderful opportunity to meet Tom and Skip and understand their creative processes. 

The show offers a cool escape from the summer heat as it features photographs of winter landscapes and ice formations, with both close-up (macro) and distant views.  As Robinson-Cox states, “winter light has the unusual characteristic of deep blue shadows and specular highlights, unobtainable in other seasons.”

ICE BLUE
Tom Robinson-Cox
archival digital print, 18 x 22, $250

Drawing on the natural beauty of Cape Ann for inspiration and subject matter, Montello and Robinson-Cox traverse the landscape searching for unusual textures, features and compositions.  This collection of photographs is a result of many a cold days’ trek through ice and snow.

In this digital age of photography, a photographer can manipulate the optical realities, but in this exhibit they have chosen not to do so.  Both artists have found these extracts of nature to be worthy of their attention, and trust these images captured will also intrigue the viewer. 

The seed to Montello’s photography career was planted during his years at the Polaroid Corporation working as a photographic scientist, engineer and tech specialist.  He is juried member of the Rockport Art and Newburyport Art Association, the Rocky Neck Gallery and a member of seARTS (Society for the Encouragement of the Arts on Cape Ann) and the Rocky Neck Art Colony.

Robinson-Cox, of Gloucester, studied with Minor White while an undergraduate at MIT.  He is a juried member of the Rockport, Newburyport and Cambridge Art Association, the Rocky Neck Gallery and a member of the Rocky Neck Art Colony.  His work has been exhibited in many solo and group shows and juried shows including the Danforth Museum in Framingham, and Lynn Arts, in Lynn, MA.

This is the first time these two award-winning photographers have collaborated in a joint show creating a visual feast.  Please join us Friday, August 16 from 6-8 PM for a reception and talk by these two exceptional artists.  

Rocky Neck Gallery is located on 53 Rocky Neck Avenue, Gloucester.  The hours are: Sunday – Wednesday: 11 AM – 6 PM, Thursday – Saturday: 11 AM – 8 PM.  Free parking is available.

 

THE CAPE ANN CERAMICS FESTIVAL

The Cape Ann Ceramics Festival begins this weekend, starting with two sold-out workshops, Raku on Sunday, August 4 at Seyrel and Chris Williams’ Pottery by the Sea in Manchester and Randy Johnston on Saturday, August 10 at Cynthia Curtis Pottery in Rockport, MA.  

David Archibald Plate

This dynamic line up of events was curated by Susan Hershey, Seyrel Williams and Jenny Rangan.  Three of RNG's artists are participating in this festival: Susan Hershey, Cynthia Curtis and Ruth Worrall.

KEN MATSUZAKI
Narumi Oribe Vase
11.5 x 9.75 x 2.5"

On Sunday, Aug. 11, meet Randy Johnston and other artists at the gala opening of Beauty in Use: Ceramics from Cape Ann, Pucker Gallery & Beyond, an exciting show presented in partnership with Pucker Gallery of Boston, at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck.  The show features world renowned potters: Phil Rogers, Ken Matsuzaki and Randy Johnston with 17 local and regional ceramic artists. The opening is from 4 – 6 PM at the Cultural Center, 6 Wonson St., Gloucester.  This exhibit runs through August 25th. Gallery hours are Thursday – Sunday: 12 – 6 PM.

Karen Orsillo teapot

The Beauty in Use show features works of the following artists; David Archibald, Diane Chen KW, Cynthia Curtis, Larry Elardo, Chris Gustin, Susan Hershey, Randy Johnston, Ken Matsuzaki, Jan McKeachie Johnston, Anni Melançon, Marty Morgan, Irina Okula, Karen Orsillo, Phil Rogers, Erin O’Sullivan-Place, Scott Place, Jenny Rangan, Jill Solomon, Scott Tubby, Seyrel Williams. 

Phil Rogers 

Korean bottle form

tenmoku and nuka glazes with finger wipe decoration 16 x 8.5 x 8.5"

The weekend of August 17 – 18th, local ceramic artists open their studios to the public from 10 AM to 5 PM. A map of the Pottery Trail can be downloaded here. 

Randy Johnston 

large Platter with Rope Inlay

Natural ash glaze with trailing decoration 4 x 23 x 23"

On Friday, August 23th, the grand opening of another fabulous ceramics show, Art of the Possible: All Clay Inclusive takes place from 5 - 9 PM, on the mezzanine level of the Cultural Center and features local potters exclusively.  A limited number of free mini bowls made by these participating artists will be given away at the opening on a first-come, first-serve basis. The show runs through Sunday, August 25.  Gallery hours are Saturday & Sunday: 10 AM – 5 PM.

The All Clay Inclusive show features works by the following local artists: Judy Bidwell, Diane Chiofaro, Linda Comb, Paula Eldridge, Nina Goodick, Tracie Koeplin, Deb Levene, Christy Millhouse, Marty Morgan, Wendy Morgan, Kathy Morris, Sarah Mowitt, Jenny Rangan, Patricia Reed, Sally Smithwick, Jeanne Sudbay, Martha Thurk, Lisa Vincent, Chris Williams, Seyrel Williams, Ruth Worrall.

Scott Tubby

Cape Ann Ceramics Festival: Aug. 9 – 25, at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson St., Gloucester, MA For more information please visit: www.capeannceramicsfestival.com

SUSAN OLEKSIW @ RNG THURSDAY NIGHT!

This Thursday, August 1st, Rocky Neck Gallery is honored to have writer Susan Oleksiw at the gallery for the second Nights on the Neck.  Susan will discuss her two recent mystery novels, and read a short passage from each.

Please join us for this free event starting at 7:30 PM at the gallery on 53 Rocky Neck Avenue, Gloucester.

Last Call for Justice is set in a small New England town, and The Wrath of Shiva is set in South India.  Susan's novels are available on her website, at The Bookstore on 61 Main Street in Gloucester, and also at Amazon.

Susan Oleksiw writes the Anita Ray series featuring Indian American photographer Anita Ray, who has appeared in two books, Under the Eye of Kali (2010) and The Wrath of Shiva (2012). She also writes the Mellingham series featuring Chief of Police Joe Silva (A Murderous Innocence), now on Kindle.

Susan compiled A Reader’s Guide to the Classic British Mystery (1988), after spending years and years reading crime fiction and taking notes.  Talking about her favorite books with friends just wasn't enough, so she offered her list of books to a publisher. 

She was consulting editor for The Oxford Companion to Crime and Mystery Writing (1999), which is a wonderful reference on all sorts of topics related to crime fiction.  In addition to writing and reviewing crime fiction, Susan was a co-founder of Level Best Books, which continues to thrive under new ownership, and The Larcom Press, which published The Larcom Review and a number of mysteries before its founders decided to move on to other challenges.

Susan is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Authors Guild, National Writers Union, and Short Mystery Fiction Society.

Special thanks to Susan Oleksiw!