Tuesday, August 13, 2013

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.
 



Thursday, August 1, 2013

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