The Cape Ann Community Band will begin rehearsals on Monday at 7 p.m. at the American Legion Hall on Washington Street in Gloucester. The theme of the annual concert is "A Classic Concert In The Park." The program will feature many band classical overtures and transcriptions, famous marches and Disney music. Director David Benjamin invites instrumentalists of all ages to come play in a fun and stress-free environment.
"We rehearse a challenging program for five weeks, then play a concert at the bandstand in Stage Fort Park on Sunday, Aug. 10. It's a terrific time for everyone, young and old. It's also one of the most well received concerts of the summer on Cape Ann," he said. "We have lots of fun playing in rehearsals. Grandparents, parents, siblings, cousins and friends come together weekly for a night of good music. It's a great opportunity for players of all abilities. There is some music in our program for each player's level."
There is no fee for this program and the concert is free to the public as well. Players need only bring their instrument, everything else is provided. Drummers need only bring sticks; percussion equipment is provided. Players are encouraged to sign up by calling Benjamin at 978-281-0543 or e-mail casadvbe@comcast.net.
Returning diva
North Shore native Diana Jacklin, who currently performs in Europe, is returning to the area with violinist Hartmut Ometzberger to present a concert on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at The First Church Wenham on Route 1A, across from the Wenham Town Hall.
Jacklin, a soprano, along with Ometzberger and pianist Thomas Enmam will perform a concert of American music for violin and voice, including songs from "The American Songbook," American spirituals and American arias. Jacklin and Ometzberger have performed under the name of The Diva and the Fiddler for the past year. They have performed before audiences in Amsterdam, The Hague, Antwerp, and Vienna. Entrance at the door is $20 for adults; $15 for students. For more information, call 978-768-3252.
Jacklin, who previously lived in Essex said: "I hope people will join Hartmut, Tom, and me in celebrating July 4 with an American music blast."
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Saluting female artists
The Cape Ann Museum will present a lecture by Janet Comey, a curatorial research associate in the Art of the Americas department at the Museum of Fine Arts, next Thursday — July 10 — at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
The program is being held in conjunction with the museum's current exhibition "The Paintings of Emma Fordyce MacRae (1887 — 1974)."
The museum is located at 27 Pleasant St. in Gloucester. For information call: (978) 283-0455 or visit online at www.capeannmuseum.org.
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North Shore Arts Association Auction I
Tickets are on sale now for North Shore Arts Association's Annual Auction I on Saturday, July 12. NSAA's auctions are open to the public. The evening will be hosted by Frank Kaminski of Kaminksi Auctions in Beverly.
The auction will include paintings from North Shore Arts Association's most accomplished artists. Among the donations of original signed paintings are Jeff Weaver, Donald Mosher, Oliver Balf, Frank Federico, Carole Loiacono and many more. NSAA's auctions were designed to accommodate both the novice and experienced auction bidder. No previous auction experience necessary.
All paintings will be on display for previewing between 5:30 p.m. and the 7 p.m. start of the auction. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at the North Shore Arts Association at 11 Pirates Lane in Gloucester or over the phone with a credit card by calling 978-283-1857.
Rocky Neck Artist in Residence
Mark Lavatelli, an encaustic painter with academic credentials, is the third artist-in-residence for the Rocky Neck Art Colony. He will give a presentation about his work next Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Bryan Gallery on Rocky Neck Avenue. In two previous residencies, one at the Saltonstall Foundation in 2001 and one at the Wurlitzer Foundation in 2004, Lavatelli made new work that led to exhibitions and acknowledgment of a high level of accomplishment.
"What I look forward to," said Lavatelli, "is the process of assimilating aspects of nature and expressing them in the wide variety of techniques that the hot-wax encaustic medium offers. I am also poised to create a series of encaustic monotypes possibly based on rocks and water." For more information, please contact Gordon Goetemann at 978-281-6128.
Summer art classes for children
Local art associations offer a host of art classes of all kinds at the Rockport Art Association in Rockport and the North Shore Arts Association in Gloucester.
The two-hour classes from 10 a.m. to noon that will be offered in Rockport are: "Polymer Clay" from July 7-11; "Garden Sculpture" from July 14-18; "Make it Green!" from July 21-25; "Drawing & Painting" from July 28-Aug. 1; "Papier Mache Animals" from Aug. 4-8; "Art From Around The World" from Aug. 11-15; "Hands On Clay" from Aug. 18-22 and "Creative Collage" from Aug. 25-30.
All Classes are $80 per student and are multi-age. To register or for more information, call 978-546-6604.
The workshops for children and teens at North Shore Arts Association in Gloucester are geared to provide young artists with an opportunity to learn from some of NSAA's most accomplished artist members in one of the country's richest artistic landscapes. Workshops will be held on Tuesdays in July and August. One program involves 8-12 year olds who will be painting harborscapes on July 8 and 15, still lifes on July 22 and 29, and self-portraits on August 5 and 12. Workshops will be run from 10 a.m. to noon and will be taught by Rockport Public Schools' art teacher Simon Paddock. Children's workshops are $10 per class.
In another program, 12-18 year olds will meet from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and will participate in a series of oil and watercolor classes taught by Artist Members Ivan Kamalic, Bob Jorgensen, and Liné Tutwiler. Classes begin on July 8. Students may enroll in any number of classes. Teen workshops are $15 per class.
To register for these workshops, or for information on these or adult workshops, visit www.nsarts.org or call 978-283-1857.
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'Enigma Variations'
The production "Enigma Variations" continues through July 13 in the air-conditioned comfort of Gloucester Stage at 267 East Main Street, Gloucester.
The story follows journalist Erik Larsen who is given an unprecedented interview with Abel Znorko, a larger-than-life-author and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature. Larsen arrives at the reclusive Znorko's home on a remote island in the Norwegian seas to interview him about his latest book. The psychological thriller is sometimes a duel and sometimes a duet, but never what it appears to be.
A special theatre and fireworks performance will be held tonight (July 3) at 8 p.m.. The performance will be followed by nearby viewing of the Gloucester Fireworks display and a party with free refreshments. Performances include evenings and Saturday matinees and 4 p.m. Sunday performances. Ticket prices are $35, with half price tickets for residents on certain nights. Senior citizen and student tickets are $30. For reservations or information, call 978-281-4433 or visit www.gloucesterstage.org.
Tin Can Sally at Montserrat
Cape Ann artist Sally Seamans will hold an exhibition titled "Birds Do It: An Installation by Tin Can Sally" at Montserrat College of Art in its Carol Schlosberg Alumni Gallery. The show opens July 8, with an artist reception next Thursday (July 10) from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
This is the gallery's first staff exhibition of 2008. Seamans is the slide librarian at Montserrat.. Seamans sculpts exclusively with printed tin, transforming containers of all shapes and sizes into mobiles, jewelry, clocks and, for this exhibit, birds.. Seamans uses cans from olive oil, cookie, spice, tuna, coffee, tea, espresso, candy, sardine, anchovy, tobacco, biscuit, soy sauce, mustard, curry, ethnic food, popcorn, and sewing tins.. She cuts the tins into many shapes and then assembles them with wire and adhesive..For information, visit www.montserrat.edu/galleries.
Naval visits to Rockport 1899-1950
Sandy Bay Historical Society will present a program titled "US Naval Visits to Rockport 1899-1950" next Thursday (july 10) by Paul St. Germain, president of Thacher's Island Association. The event is at the Community House on Broadway at 7:30 p.m.
The Sewall-Scripture Museum is open mid- June until mid September from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
The Old Castle in Pigeon Cove is open on Saturdays during July and August from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
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Garden tour
The Rockport Garden Club will host a tour of some of Rockport's finest home gardens from 10 am to 2 pm on Friday, July 10 and Saturday July 11. Shop for perennial and annual plants at one of the 11 gardens. To preview some of the gardens, visit www.rockportgardenclub.org. For information, a tour map, and tickets call: 978-546-3143 or 978-546-2979. Tickets are $25. All proceeds are used to support the planting and maintenance of 15 town gardens, fund local scholarships, and other civic projects.
Lisa Marie in Gloucester
Lisa Marie, one of New England's best known blues and soul artists will perform July 5 at the Rhumb Line on Railroad Avenue in Gloucester with a 10-piece-band called "WOW." She will play upstairs; tickets at $10 each. There will also be an opening act: Liese Dettmer, a well known New Orleans artist. For information, call 978-283-9732.
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Concert at Halibut Point state park
Alek Razdan and A-train will be performing at Halibut Point State Park's free "Sunday Sounds" music series from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. This is re-scheduled from June 22. The band featuring 15-year-old sax and clarinet sensation Alek Razdan who recently released his second CD "Something Different." The quartet offers an eclectic repertoire of jazz, blues and swing music for all ages.
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Crane Collection Cape Ann relocates
Crane Collection/Cape Ann has relocated to 48 Central Street in Manchester-by-the-Sea.The new location is an easy walk from the old gallery at 11 Central Street. Parking is available at the rear of the building.
Crane Collection gallery, which has been in business for 25 years, has an inventory of works by 19th and 20th century artists as well as outstanding regional painters and sculptors. The gallery is open by appointment or by chance. Bonnie Crane, who also appraises art, can be reached for an appointment at 978-525-3009, or visit www.CraneCollection.com.
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Around Cape Ann is a column devoted to events happening on Cape Ann and artists from Cape Ann performing elsewhere. If you would like to submit an item, contact reporter Gail McCarthy at 978-283-7000, ext. 3445 or gmccarthy@ecnnews.com, or fax to 978-281-5748.
