North Shore Arts gearing up for auction

The North Shore Arts Association is gearing up for a major fund-raiser next week — on Saturday, Aug. 16 — when it will host a "Nearly Wet Paint Auction & Gala" in the association's historic gallery on Smith's Cove in Gloucester.

This fund-raising project marks a significant opportunity to help enhance the functionality and safety of their distinctive harbor-front building, a Gloucester landmark since the early years of the 20th century.

Since 1922 the North Shore Arts Association has grown in importance both as a distinguished art association and a vital part of Cape Ann's creative economy. By offering nationally recognized art exhibitions and presenting workshops, demonstrations and lectures by some of America's finest artists, NSAA has enriched the life of Cape Ann. By reaching out to the community for support, NSAA hopes to secure a productive future for both the association and the building housing it.

Recently awarded Northshore Magazine's 2008 Best of the North Shore Editor's Choice Award, NSAA has a long history of accomplishment. Artists including Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper, Fitz Henry Lane, Childe Hassam, and John Twachtman were drawn to Gloucester both for its natural beauty and its vital art community. The NSAA gallery, originally a livery which received cargo from ships docking in Gloucester Harbor, has served both as a home for art events and as a frequent subject of paintings. With panoramic views of the Gloucester skyline, Gloucester Marine Railways where ships including the Mayflower II come to be refurbished, and historic Rocky Neck Art Colony, the building has benefited from many upgrades in recent years but more needs to be done.

A measure of the value of NSAA to this community is the local businesses that have banded together to help support this exciting, elegant and fun fund-raising Live Art Auction & Gala.

Sponsored by Cape Ann Savings Bank Trust & Financial Services Department, there will be a preview party catered by Duckworth's Bistro from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Flowers will be provided by Audrey's Flowers and music by What Time Is It, Mr. Fox? There will be a wine bar throughout the evening.

As an added bonus, neighboring business Again & Again, manufacturers of upcycled sailbags is offering special gifts for premium buyers. There will be no sales tax charged on paintings and there is never a buyer's premium added. Recognized North Shore auctioneer Frank Kaminski of Kaminski Auctioneers will act as host.

Tickets for NSAA's Nearly Wet Paint Auction & Gala are on sale now. Tickets are $25 each and may be purchased at NSAA located at 11 Pirates Lane in Gloucester or over the phone with a credit card by calling 978-283-1857. More information can be found at www.nsarts.org.

The Rocky Neck Art Colony in Gloucester welcomes visitors to "Nights on the Neck," an evening of gallery receptions and entertainment tonight from 5 to 9 p.m.

Leslie Bartlett will present A Stonecutter's Tale, a live shadow puppet play about the history of quarrying on Cape Ann.

Sarah Dunlap and Stephanie Buck will read from their book, "Fitz Henry Lane: Family and Friends," which reveals newly discovered information about the 19th-century painter.

Kathleen Mari performs belly dance as a ritual dance of transformation, weaving elements of tribal fusion, yoga, and Eastern Mysticism into a dance-tapestry.

Rick Drost sings timeless romantic ballads and country with a twist, at Imagine. Three Sheets to the Wind, local musicians and Schooner Adventure crew members, will sing maritime work songs. See sign in parking lot on Rocky Neck Avenue causeway for exact times and locations.

The Rocky Neck Art Colony will also host its annual Beaux Arts Costume Ball on Wednesday, Aug. 13, from 7 to 11p.m. at The Studio Restaurant at 51 Rocky Neck Ave. in East Gloucester.

"Flower power" is the theme for this year's ball, and prizes will be awarded for outstanding costumes. Costumes are optional. A DJ will spin songs for all ages, hors d'oeuvres are included, cash bar available.

A silent auction will be held and the doors open at 6:30 p.m., the night of the ball to preview auction items which includes original artwork, jewelry, services and other wonderful items.

Tickets are available at the shop, IMAGINE, 43 Rocky Neck Ave, Gloucester, or call 978-282-1346 to reserve; $30 for adults/ $20 for children if purchased before Aug. 10, $35/$25 thereafter. Tickets will be sold at the door the night of the ball. Call 978-282-1346 for further info.

As the year's annual fund-raiser for The Rocky Neck Art Colony, The Beaux Arts Ball is anticipated to be the biggest Ball in recent years.

The Silent Auction, which is held in conjunction with The Beaux Arts Ball, will feature original artwork by local artist, gift certificates for goods and services as well as other interesting donations from the community.

Actress Lindsay Crouse, an Academy Award nominee and a longtime Gloucester summer resident, will perform "The Belle of Amherst" from Aug. 8 to 10 at Windhover Center for the Performing Arts, located in Pigeon Cove in Rockport.

"The Belle of Amherst" is a one-person show based on the writings of poet Emily Dickinson (1830-1886). Crouse performed this show last year to critical acclaim at the Gloucester Stage Company. The show takes the audience on a journey through Emily Dickinson's life as a poet and as a human being. This performance is a benefit for Windhover, now in its 40th year.

The Blackburn Performing Arts at One Washington Street, Gloucester, will host a special presentation — "Pour Down Silver" Friday at 8 p.m.

The evening is a tribute to British folk/rock guitar and songwriting legend Richard Thompson, founder of Fairport Convention and a musician with an astonishingly prolific and brilliant solo career.

The concert will feature such Thompson gems as "1952 Vincent Black Lightning," "Beeswing," "Wall Of Death," "Shoot Out the Lights," "God Loves a Drunk," "Gypsy Love Songs," "Dimming of the Day" and many others — performed by area singers and musicians, some with international reputations and discographies of their own.

Musicians include singer Barrence Whitfield, guitarist Ken Bonfield, drummer Rory Walsh, guitarist Eric Reardon, singer Sarah Seminski, singer-guitarist and co-producer Jim Buhrendorf, bassist David Walker, singer-co-producer Janice Fullman, singer /guitarist/woodwinds Will Hunt, singer Sarah Slifer, singer Alexander Thompson, singer Kitty Hunt, and singer/guitarist Adrian Hunt, as well as bourran player Kevin Quinn, and mandolinist Matt Glover.

The show includes both electric and acoustic treatments of Thompson songs. Admission is $15, and reservations can be made by calling 978 281 0680.

The 29th annual Rockport Acoustic Music Festival is set for this Sunday in Millbrook Meadow — across from Front Beach in Rockport.

The event, set to run from noon to 6:30 p.m., includes blues, folk, jazz, world music, and bluegrass artists.

The lineup is as follows: noon — Generation Gap; 12:20 p.m. — Josiah Altschuler; 1 p.m. — Will Diehl; 1:30 p.m. — The Fury; 2 p.m. — Brian O'Connor; 2:30 p.m. — Redheaded Stepchild; 3 p.m. — Brad Byrd & Marley; 3:30 p.m. — Bingo Friday; 4 p.m. — Bob Kramer Band; 4:30 p.m. — Greta Bro and Friends; 5 p.m. — The Starlings; 5:30p.m. — Livin on Luk.

The annual Rockport Rotary Club Lobsterfest Fundraiser will be held on Saturday from noon to 7 p.m. at the American Legion Hall and bandstand, located opposite Back Beach on Beach Street in Rockport.

Admission is $27 per person in advance, or $29 per person at the door. Dinner includes a hot boiled lobster, home-made clam chowder, corn on the cob, roll, and watermelon. There will be a cash station for hot dogs, hamburgers and other deserts. Beer, wine and soda will also be offered at an additional cost. For your entertainment, music will be provided by the Cape Ann Jazz Band and Alek Razdan and A-Train.

Proceeds will benefit local community service projects and the club's scholarship fund. Tickets can be purchased from any Rockport Rotarian, or at the Legion Hall on the day of the event. For advance reservations or more information, please call the Lobsterfest Hotline at 978-546-9694. Credit cards will be accepted by phone. This event will be held rain or shine and is handicapped accessible.

A show featuring a number of "woodcut" artists — called "Gift of the Grain" — is continuing now through Sept, 8 at the Wenniger Gallery, 19 Mount Pleasant St., ockport. The gallery is open "by appointment or chance," and can be reached at 978-546-8116 or at www.wennigergallery.com.

The show feature line woodcut artists Kim and Phillipe Villard, and several woodcut traditions converge in this special exhibition, including Josh Rome, Japanese tradition; April Vollmer, Bokashi tradition; Carol Summer, woodcut stain printing; Whitney Hansen, hand-colored, oil painted monoprints; and the white-line woodcuts by the Villards, the only truly American woodcut technique which emerged out of the intention of printing a multicolor image out of a single wood block.

There will be white-line woodcut printing and cutting demonstration and conversations with Kim and Philippe Villard, Thursday, Aug. 14, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the gallery.

Vermont artist and best-selling author Stephen Huneck will be visiting the Good Dog! Gallery at 36 Bearskin Neck, Rockport, Saturday for a booksigning and champagne reception. The event is set to run from 1-4 p.m.

The event will celebrate Huneck's newest book, "Sally Gets a Job," the sixth in a series of humorous and heartwarming children's books about the adventures of his inquisitive black Lab, Sally, where Sally imagines herself doing all sorts of jobs. Huneck will be signing books and personalizing artwork for all his fans. Refreshments and treats for everybody — two and four-legged alike.

Good Dog! Gallery is located halfway down Bearskin Neck on the left, across from Roy Moore's Lobster. For more details, call 978-546-1364 and visit www.gooddoggallery.com. Good dogs are also welcome.

Coro Stella Maris, the North Shore's Renaissance music vocal ensemble, will hold August auditions for all voice parts for the 2008-09 season.

Specializing in music of the Renaissance with contemporary composers influenced by the style, Coro Stella Maris's past season included sacred and secular music by Gesualdo, Palestrina and Guerrero. Our November concerts will feature works from William Byrd's "Gradualia." Choral experience and good reading required. Call 857-919-4218 or 617-964-6609 for an audition appointment this Sunday from 2-5 p.m, or Monday, Aug. 18 from 6-9 p.m.; or send an email to aleclair@clausura.org. Alternate dates and times may be set by appointment.

Coro Stella Maris rehearses on Monday evenings at Grace Church in Salem, where the choir is the ensemble in residence. Anyone seeking more information should visit at http://www.corostellamaris.org.

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.

Photos

Courtesy photo ÒPour Down Silver,Ó a tribute to Richard Thompson, will feature his best-loved songs performed by top North Shore players and singers.