Inquiries: jackie@capeanndesigns.com
978-283-8333 or info@capeannartisans.com
Cape Ann Artisans Celebrate 35 Years of Open Studios & Gloucester’s Designation as a Top Ten Crafts Destination!
The Cape Ann Artisans Spring Tour will be held Saturday and Sunday, June 2-3. There’s much to celebrate in 2018. Just announced, Gloucester is ranked in the Top Ten destinations for Craft Lovers by American Craft Week. The tour is primarily self-guided by car, but for the first time ever, the Cape Ann Artisans have partnered with a local arts and cultural tour operator to offer a new touring option. Cape Ann Plug-In Tours will provide a 14 passenger bus alternative to meet tour-goers and navigate the neighborhoods of Gloucester and Rockport. In total, there are three bus tours – Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, and Sunday morning in order to cover all the studios in two days. For Boston visitors there will be a convenient train station pick up. The bus will also have a guide to introduce the artisans and local history and on-board goodies including a Shopping credit from the Artisans!
The long New England winters provide needed incubation time for each artist on the tour. Inspiration comes in many forms, from far and away. Artisans from across the spectrum of media share their inspiration for their current work in the “From the Studio” blog. Here are highlights from the recent posts:
- Judith Wright returns from sabbatical and reflects, “Granite is everywhere here: in the quarries, in the ubiquitous stone walls, and in our yards. I love the look and texture of these local stones and enjoy using them in my artwork. I have placed mosaic birds and animals on granite rocks, some small enough to put on a book shelf, and some large enough to adorn your garden.
- Rob Diebboll has evolved his beach scenes, “Figures tell stories, and a group of figures in the context of the ocean, time of day, season, and the cape’s light offers infinite possibilities.”
- Terry Del Percio, “Just a few weeks ago my painting “Sacred Words” won an award. It’s the first of a new series I’m working on that was inspired by an exhibit of Mark Tobey [American artist known for his densely calligraphic paintings] Along with my painting and as a result of the tumultuous and stressful state of the world, I began a new project called The Mixed Up People Series of note cards”
- Jacqueline Ganim-DeFalco, “I was inspired in my winter travels to Italy and Greece by the important connections between cultural icons and the ability of artists to preserve and evolve them through time. My collection of Bottle Neck Beauties preserve hundreds of years of history-in-a-bottle as does every piece of sea glass and pottery”
- Cynthia Curtis, “Spring always inspires me to make flower vases. This year I have a large selection of vases in many sizes, shapes and colors, some with beach glass melted into the rim. I have been fortunate enough to have over 1,200 students in the last 24 years. I am a big believer in the therapeutic value of working with clay and I see it transform people every day. Sometimes I wonder if we are making the pots or the pots are making us.
- Pam Stratton has immersed herself in teaching over the winter – at the Boston Society of Arts & Crafts, the Somerville Museum, and closer to home, at the Sawyer Free Library. She has also found a silver lining from the brutal storm that blew through Rockport last summer, “Last June I lost my magnificent 100 year old maple tree. It was struck by lightning in the last gasp of a powerful storm. We decided to leave a large trunk and have it carved into art after which I plan to incorporate mosaic into the design.”
- Camilla MacFadyen, “Inspired by 19th century German biologist Ernst Haeckel’s technical drawings of single cell sea organisms and other creatures, I am working on expressing, in thread, the luminescence and intricacy that these creatures exhibit in their natural surroundings.I have developed a pattern for a silk organza tunic based on the shape of a traditional Japanese wrap apron.”
- Beth Williams shares “After a class in January, I started exploring mixing metalwork with my glass again and am happy with the results so far. There will be much more to come as time allows me to lose myself in the work…..”
There’s nothing like seeing the artists and their spaces in the intimate studio settings. Enjoy 20 studios and 23 Artisans in the upcoming 35th Anniversary Spring Tour. The 2018 Artisans are:
1. David Archibald
2. Cynthia Curtis
3. Rob Diebboll
4. Jacqueline Ganim-DeFalco
5. Deborah Gonet
6. Elizabeth Harty
7. Camilla MacFadyen
8. Andy Matlow
9. Anni Melançon
10. Sinikka Nogelo
11. Bond Street Studio: Terry DelPercio-Piemonte & David Piemonte
12. Marcie Rae
13. Margaret Rack
14. Mi Robertson
15. Pam Stratton
16. Bart Stuyf
17. Twin Lights Studio: Erin O’Sullivan and Scott Place
18. Beth Williams
19. Ruth Worrall*
20. Judith Wright
21. Sara Wright
Here’s a re-cap:
What: The Cape Ann Artisans open studio, self-guided tour of 20 studios
Bus Alternative: See Bus Tour
For more information or to reserve with a group of 6 or more, email friends@plugintours.com.
Check Eventbrite for Early Bird Rates expiring mid-May.
Where: Gloucester and Rockport, MA.
When: June 2-3 and October 6-8. All Days: 10-5
