For some time now I have had this bright idea that I would like to see my beloved hometown-of- choice, Gloucester, begin hosting an annual festival which I want to call the "Down to the Sea" Festival. Lots of tourist towns seek to extend their season by sponsoring a festival either early in the season or late. Newburyport's Literary Arts Festival is already a great success and it is only in its fourth year
So, since the sea has such a rich, rich collection of arts and lore, I think it would be a natural for Gloucester. I even designed logo for it, see:
The festival would combine arts, crafts, skills, competitions, challenges, etc. It could encompass everything from sea-chantie sing-offs to story telling (ghost stories especially --- wouldn't that be great? a competition to see who could tell the best sea-ghost story???) There could be forums for writers who write about the sea (maybe Mark Kurlanski can host!) and exhibitions of maritime art by our many, many diverse artists (Paul Frontiero, where arrrrre you?) And, of course, there will be exhibits and sales of the crafts associated with the sea. I'm going to talk about those in up-coming blogs and today I'll start with Sailor's Valentines.
The story goes that when men were aboard ship for months at a time they would collect shells and other sea treasures along their travels. Then, with the help of ship's carpenter, they would fashion a box (the tradition is in the shape of an octagon) and they would spend the long hours aboard-ship fashioning designs inside the box to present to their sweethearts or wives. The piece would be finished with a piece of glass fitted on the top and it would be presented to their beloved upon their return.
The New Bedford Whaling Museum has a lovely collection of Sailor's Valentines. My favorite is this one constructed of all white shells.
Sometimes the natural color of shells were used to create the pattern.
In Nantucket Whaling Museum has this treasure, a double Valentine:
Distinguishing Marks: One side of octagon is very loose.
Height: 1.5"
Length: 18" open
Depth: 8.75"
Description: Two hexagonal wood boxes joined with a single hinge. Each box contains an arrangement of shells and is glazed with glass. The left box has an anchor and flowers made out of shells. The right box has a basket and flowers made out of shells. This sailor's valentine was a gift from Capt. Jared Wentworth Tracy (1797-1864) to his wife, Mary Hussey Tracy (1809-1891). The anchor symbolized Capt. Tracy's intention to return home and "anchor" at his wife's side.
I think our festival could have an exhibit of contemporary Sailor's Valentines as well as workshops for making them, vendors selling supplies and a competition to see who could create the most beautiful one.
So the Sailor's Valentine is my first choice for my mythical Down-To-The-Sea Festival. Next time I'll talk bout pastry crimpers.
Thanks for reading.
This is syndicated from Parlez Moi Blog, and written by noreply@blogger.com (Kathleen Valentine).
The Cape Ann Museum is pleased to present an exhibition - in painting and in words - created by Gordon Goetemann and inspired by the conductor and composer Gustav Mahler (1860-1911). A Narrative of Life and Glory is Goetemann's exploration, indeed his celebration, of Mahler's 2nd Symphony, one of the most monumental musical scores of the 20th century, and the man who created it. In Gustav Mahler, Goetemann has found both a kindred spirit and a muse, whose musical masterpiece is the basis for these paintings.The exhibition is on view through January 31, 2010.
Image caption: Gordon Goetemann, Silence, 2008-2009.
Sorellanza Fall Concert
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Sat. 11/7: 7:30-8:30pm
Sun. 11/8: 4:00-5:00 &
Sun. 11/15: 4:00-5:00pm
Sat. 11/7: St. Paul Lutheran Church
1123 Washington St.,
Gloucester MA (Lanesville)
Sun. 11/8: 1st Parish Unitarian Church
225 Cabot St., Beverly MA
Sun. 11/15: St. John's Episcopal Church
48 Middle St., Gloucester MA
$10 at the door
Sorellanza, Cape Ann's women's a cappella chorus directed by Patti Pike, invites you to join us for an evening of songs that speak to our search for love, peace and belonging, from 16th century Madrigals to 40's hits to the Beatles, Billy Joel and Coldplay. Directions: http://www.sorellanza.com
Beth Williams to demonstrate at Glass Event at Peabody Essex Museum
Atrium Alive! The Art of Fire - Weekend Festival
Saturday & Sunday, November 14 & 15, 2009
11AM - 4PM
Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA
Admission is included with museum admission www.pem.org or at the door
Spend a weekend with several New England glass artists as they demonstrate their skill with small "lamps" of fire and talk about the beads they create in response to objects in PEM's collection. Participating artists are Beth Williams, Jennifer Geldard, Cynthia Liebler Saari, Kate Fowle Meleney, Carol Bugarin, Barbara Newman and Lee Woodburn. They will be demonstrating flameworking (also known as lampworking) at the torch and have new work for sale in the PEM Gift Shop. The PEM will also be offering the next in its Masterpiece Lecture Series with Josh Simpson: Glass, A Fascinating (and Frustrating) Material. There will also be several other artists gallery talks and related workshops taking place during the weekend. For more info: www.pem.org or www.bethwilliams.com
TRUE NORTH GALLERY Navigating by the Stars: Art Inspired by the Night Sky
Reception: November 14, 2009, 3 to 6PM
Exhibition: November 14, 2009 through January 30, 2010
Reception: November 14, 2009, 3 to 6PM
Regular Hours: Wed through Sun, 12 to 5PM
25 Woodbury Street
South Hamilton, MA 01982
From November 14, 2009 through January 30, 2010, True North Gallery
presents "Navigating by the Stars: Art Inspired by the Night Sky," a
group exhibition featuring the work of Germaine Arnaktauyok, Elizabeth
Delgatty, Tallmadge Doyle, Gudrun Benedikta Eliasdottir, Julie
Fraenkel, Lynda Goldberg, Allie High, Marc Lisle, Jackie Morris, Peter
Olson, Olivia Parker, and Randall Stoltzfus.
The show offers an intriguing and diverse response to the night sky
theme. Star patterns, astral myths, night migration, light emerging
from the darkness-all of these ideas find both archetypal and personal
expression in the work included in this show.
Rockport Art Association Leonard G Joiner Solo Show
November 8th - November 20th, Opening Reception November 8th
2-4pm
12 Main Street, Rockport, MA 01930
Free and Open to the Public
www.rockportartassn.org
Please join the Rockport Art Association for the solo show of award-winning fine artist Leonard G Joiner. A native of Andover, Massachusetts, Joiner is known for his intricate and accurate drawings of the natural settings of New England. Joiner has been drawing in graphite since age 8, "My medium of choice is graphite and my subjects are New England farm and country scenes as well as seascape towns. I especially love the textures of barns, boats, tress, rocks and water." After spending 34 years as an illustrating artist, Joiner retired in 2000 and became a full time fine artist. Leonard lives with his wife and daughter on a farm in Methuen, where they farm and raise most of their own food.
~~~
Walking Tour: Church Architecture of the City of Gloucester
Saturday, November 7, 2009, 10:30 a.m.
Cape Ann Museum, 27 Pleasant Street, Gloucester, MA 01930
This program is included with Museum admission. Reservations are required; call 978-283-0455, x11. The walking tour will be held rain or shine.
The Cape Ann Museum presents a walking tour of the church architecture of downtown Gloucester with Museum Curator Martha Oaks. The tour will include the central downtown churches along Prospect Street, Pleasant Street and Middle Street, including Our Lady of Good Voyage, St. Anne's, Trinity Congregational, St. John's Episcopal, and the Independent Christian Church, the first Universalist church in America. The tour will explore the impact of these historic structures on the surrounding neighborhoods.
~~~
C.B. Fisk, Inc. Opus 136 Workshop
Saturday, November 14
2:00 - 6:00 PM
21 Kondelin Road, Gloucester, MA
C.B. Fisk cordially invites you to our workshop to see and hear Opus 136, a three-manual, 39-stop organ for St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Charlotte, NC.
~~~
David Piemonte
Opening Reception for Double Visions
Friday, November 20, 2009
6:00pm to 8:30pm
The show runs from November 11, 2009 through January 1, 2010
Centennial Gallery at The Musculoskeletal Center, 4 Centennial Drive, Peabody, MA
Gallery hours Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 7:00pm.
Fine art photographer David Piemonte and his wife, mixed media artist Terry Del Percio-Piemonte, are exhibiting their work together for the firsttime. The title of theshow,Double Visions,refers to the joy of unlikely combinations. David works exclusively in traditional medium-format photography to create his silver gelatin prints while Terry focuses on abstract watercolor and collage. David draws much of his inspiration from nature and the solitude of night photography; Terry draws her inspiration from experimentation with abstract concepts and color. Although their art seems to be on opposite ends of the spectrum, there is a mysterious thread that ties them together.
~~~
Sawyer Free Library "Traveling to Teach Down Under" with Jim & Lea Watson
Thursday November 19, 2009, 7-9 PM
Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester, MA 01930
Free of charge and open to the public
The Sawyer Free Library and Gloucester Lyceum will host a travelog "Traveling to Teach Down Under" with Jim and Lea Watson on Thursday November 19th at 7 PM in the Friend Room.
Jim and Lea will present stories and pictures from their travels in Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, China, Japan, and their adventures while living in Australia. Watercolors depicting their journey will be on display.
A Paul Newman Foundation Grant brought Jim and Lea Watson to do the work they love on the other side of the world. Working in Gloucester for thirty years they have been teaching children who are deaf how to listen and communicate with spoken language. An Auditory-Verbal Center in South Australia needed specialists to train therapists and teach
families. A "Round the World Airline Ticket" allowed the Watsons to head east and circle the globe. Lyceum programs are free of charge and open to the public. For more information call 978-281-9763 or visit the library website at http://www.sawyerfreelibrary.org/.
~~~ Rockport Chamber Music Festival
2009-2010 Series: Concerts in November, December, and March feature a mix of classical and new works, music for the holidays, and jazz standards.
JUPITER STRING QUARTET
Sunday, November 1, 5 p.m.
Rockport Art Association,12 Main Street, Rockport, MA
(Pre-concert tour of the Shalin Liu Performance Center site begins at 3 p.m.)
TRITON BRASS QUINTET: A HOLIDAY CONCERT
Saturday, December 5, 8 p.m.
First Congregational Church, 12 School Street, Rockport, MA
(Pre-concert tour of the Shalin Liu Performance Center site begins at 5 p.m.)
JAZZ VOCALIST RACHAEL PRICE
Saturday, March 13, 8 p.m.
Rockport Art Association, 12 Main Street, Rockport, MA
(Pre-concert tour of the Shalin Liu Performance Center building site begins at 6 p.m.)
Three-concert subscriptions are now on sale. Prices range from $63 - $111 and include savings of up to 12% off the full individual ticket price. Tickets to individual concerts range from $23 to $40 for adults; seniors, $22 to $39. Tickets for students (ages 19-25) are available for $10. Youth age 18 and younger may attend free of charge (limited capacity). Individual tickets and subscriptions may be purchased online at www.rockportmusic.org, by phone at 978-546-7391 (M-F, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.), or in person at the Rockport Music office, 21 Broadway, Rockport, MA, (M-F, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.).
Rockport Music announces the programs for its 2009-2010 Series this fall, winter, and spring. The Jupiter String Quartet plays quartets by Haydn, Beethoven, and Golijov on November 1 at the Rockport Art Association. The Triton Brass Quintet offers a program of music by Bach, Harbison, and seasonal favorites on December 5 at the First Congregational Church of Rockport. Jazz vocalist Rachael Price sings hits from the American Songbook on March 13 at the Rockport Art Association.
This is syndicated from Parlez Moi Blog, and written by noreply@blogger.com (Kathleen Valentine).
Kathleen Valentine is the author of a collection of short stories "My Last Romance and other passions" and "The Old Mermaid's Tale", a novel. She has also written "The Mermaid Shawl & other Beauties: Shawls, Cocoons and Wraps", a collection of her own lace knitting designs. Some of her short stories are available in e-format from Heart Throb Books (www.HeartThrobBooks.com). She has published articles about art in such magazines as American Art Review, erotica published by Ravenous Romance and crime fiction published by Level Best Books . Her blog at…
