The Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester not only houses beautiful artworks by artists living in or inspired by maritime Cape Ann, but also hosts programs and events, and June is full of them. Here are the culturally rich, fun-for-the-whole-family events of this upcoming month.
PUBLIC OPENING RECEPTION
Rock Bound: Painting the American Scene ?on Cape Ann and Beyond
Saturday, June 3 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Rock Bound, which features paintings from private collections and the Museum’s own holdings, explores the ways in which an array of artists sought to capture the natural beauty of Cape Ann, the power of the ocean and a hardscrabble way of life that was quickly disappearing during the?initial decades of the 20th century. The opening reception is free for CAM members or with Museum admission.
Reading the Past: A Calligraphic Installation
by Susan Kapuscinsky Gaylord
A one-day contemporary art installation at the White-Ellery House
Saturday, June 3 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Using excerpts from the 1848 journal of a 13-year-old Gloucester girl, Gaylord’s installation will bring the rhythms of everyday life alive through her subject’s observations of school and home. This program is free and open to the public.
Gaylord studied English literature at Boston University and since the late 1970s has been working with words, letterforms, design and expressive mark making. In 1992 she began an ongoing series of sculptural works called “Spirit Books.” As Gaylord says of this work, “These books connect my experience of the inherent spirituality and mystery of nature with the long-standing tradition of books as testaments of faith and belief.”
The White-Ellery House (1710), owned and operated by the Cape Ann Museum, has served as the backdrop for a series of one-day contemporary art installations since 2010. The House is located at 245 Washington Street in Gloucester and is free and open to the public on select Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each month from May through October as part of Escapes North 17th Century Saturdays.
Judy Cook presents Songs of the Sea
Saturday, June 3 at 11:00 a.m.
Fascinating stories of women and the sea have been passed down in ballad form through the centuries. Add to these a few of the great songs about ships, men and ghosts and the result is a wonderfully entertaining program. The songs and poems in this program range from funny to serious, from chorus to narrative, and from well-known favorites to more obscure gems.
Judy Cook performs each year throughout the United States and Britain.
Free for CAM members or with Museum admission. Space is limited; registration required. Reserve online at Eventbrite or call (978) 283-0455 x10.
SUMMER WALKING TOURS
Offered on Friday and Saturday mornings at 10:00 a.m. all summer long
Guided walking tours are held rain or shine and last about 1½ hours; participants should be comfortable being on their feet for that amount of time. Cost is $10 CAM members / $20 nonmembers (includes Museum admission). Space is limited; reservations required. Tickets can be purchased online at Eventbrite or by calling (978) 283-0455 x10.
Hopper’s Houses
Friday, June 2 at 10:00 a.m.
Explore the area surrounding the Museum on this walk past select Gloucester houses made famous by American realist painter Edward Hopper (1882-1967). Hopper is known to have painted in Gloucester on five separate occasions in the first decades of the 20th century. His paintings from this period capture the local landscape and architecture in a loosely rendered, light filled style and are considered by many to be some of his finest works.
Art for All: Sculpture in the Public Realm
Saturday, June 3 at 10:00 a.m.
The City of Gloucester is awash in outdoor sculpture and public art commemorating those who went to sea, those who fought in wars, and those who changed the artistic landscape of Cape Ann forever. Learn the stories behind these works, including how they came to be and the unique processes of the artists who created them, on this wide-ranging tour through the City.
IN THE GALLERIES
Ship Models in Dry Dock
Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
This summer, CAM Adjunct Maritime Curator Erik Ronnberg, Jr. will be doing restoration work on ship models from the Museum’s collection. Erik will be set up in the Atrium on the lower level and will be available to answer questions and to give visitors a firsthand look at conservation and restoration practices. The models he will be working on are of local fishing vessel types, from dories and schooners to seine boats and draggers, and most were made by local craftsmen and fishermen.
THE CAPTAIN’S PARTY
Saturday, June 17 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Celebrate the 200th Anniversary of Gloucester’s sea serpent sighting at the CAPTAIN’S PARTY! Put on your festive attire and join us for our annual fundraising event featuring sumptuous fare and creative cocktails in the Museum courtyard and throughout the galleries. View the beautiful works from Cape Ann collectors in the special summer exhibition, Rock Bound, and listen to the sounds of Doug Leaffer and his jazz trio. Tickets are available online at Eventbrite. For more information or to purchase tickets online please call (978) 283-0455 x35 or email amyfanning@capeannmuseum.org.
For a full listing of upcoming events at Cape Ann Museum, visit capeannmuseum.org. Or, stop by any time to experience the fine art, textiles, and artifacts from historic maritime Cape Ann.