Photo & video caption: Scenes from the Dedication Ceremony and reveal for the new permanent public art commission on Stacy Boulevard, ‘Fish Baskets’, 4 bronze planters by sculptor Chris Williams. Landscape design by Ann Gilardi Johnson. Support for the project was spearheaded by Generous Gardeners, Gloucester DPW, the City & State, Gloucester 400+, and generous donors. Ann Gilardi Johnson and Chris Williams have the long color design goal in mind. After several years, the four bronze planters will naturally oxidize as a protective coating forms, covering the surface with a green patina. They are intended to age and complement the iconic and cherished copper-green of Gloucester’s Fisherman at the Wheel.
Video Clips
The Reveal (for one of the 4 bronzes)
with Mayor Verga and Antoinetta Calabrese
Photo before the ceremony – Green Aprons come on down!
Senator Tarr Welcomes crowd
Chris Williams
Susan passes mic to artist Chris Williams –modest remarks – dedication ceremony 12/9/2023
Susan Kelly | Ann Gilardi Johnson
Thank You
Mayor Theken Thank You Susan Kelly, Generous Gardeners, Mike Hale
12/9/2023 BEFORE AT Sunrise | After reveal
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Bases readied for Stacy Boulevard Chris Williams public art & commission, four bronze planters, a 400+ Legacy Project, led by Generous Gardeners for Stacy Boulevard landscape design by Ann Gilardi Johnson. Save the date: Saturday December 9, 2023, 3pm
Working with DPW, Ann Gilardi Johnson and Generous Gardeners design enhancements have been incorporated all along the Boulevard. See the plans and read more about that scope in a prior GMG post from 2017 here. The new flower beds and curved bench design astride the Fisherman at the Wheel replaced bench pairs and barrels long present.
Before | prior (no landscaping/flower beds 2019, 2021)
Mark your calendars for a Cape Ann Museum visit this week. I’ll follow up in a part 2 post after I visit inside. Happy sea serpent seeking!
Spring News from Cape Ann Museum
April Vacation Week Thursday, April 22 – Sunday, April 25
Free Museum entrance to all families with children under 18
Take a break from the screen and come visit the Cape Ann Museum with your kids during April Vacation Week! Reserve timed entrance for you and your family to follow the Museum’s new family-friendly guide, Cassie the Sea Serpent, by Michael Grimaldi, through the galleries. Inspired by the Cape Ann Sea Serpent, which was seen by hundreds in Gloucester Harbor between 1817-1819, Cassie poses questions and activities for students of all ages to engage with the collection. During April Vacation Week, all visitors will receive a free copy of Cassie’s Scavenger Hunt with activities and crayons included.
About the Artist: Gloucester-born artist Michael Grimaldi is a local muralist, graphic designer, and Monserrat College of Art graduate who now lives in Beverly.
For more information about the Museum, its programs, exhibits, and collections, visit www.capeannmuseum.org.
“In 2019, a nine-foot bronze sculpture of the Gloucester Sea Serpent was installed at the Museum’s front entrance. It was designed by Essex artist Chris Williams who has created a scaled-down version of his serpent for families to take home during the vacation week.”
– Cape Ann Museum
Chris Williams sculpture
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The Gloucester Sea Serpent is like a Massachusetts Loch Ness monster though an ocean rather than freshwater creature. Alleged sightings date back to 1638; see excellent research by Lise Breen for the HarborWalk marker #19 “The Sea Serpent”.
In 2017, the Cape Ann Museum (CAM) celebrated the 200th anniversary of the Sea Serpent’s peak folklore moment when hundreds of accounts were published in newspapers. (In comparison, the first written record of a monster in Loch Ness dates way back to 565, picks up popular speed by 1802, and on to global recognition by 1933). Swampscott and North Shore sightings surged as competition with Newport and other summer tourism hotspots increased. Sea serpent inspired art across media continued into the 20th and 21st centuries.
photo caption: Cape Ann Museum – street banners heralding Sea Serpent Exhibition 2017
Below: A Sea Serpent at Cressy Beach Stage Fort Park in Gloucester was originally painted by fine artist Robert Stephenson circa 1960 and is kept fresh by adoring community. Many moons ago, a free standing climber serpent was a favorite element at the Stage Fort Park playground. My photos in this post span years/seasons, roughly 2011-2019. Hover for descriptive details or double click & enlarge.
July 20, 2019
The new sculpture commission, Gloucester Sea Serpent, by Chris Williams at Cape Ann Museum was dedicated July 20, 2019, to honor Ronda Faloon, distinguished Cape Ann Museum Director (2006-2019) who retired in 2019.
Before
Look for the serpent’s nocturne visage: the Williams sculpture is the first one on museum grounds to incorporate light amidst its mixed media.
The Gloucester Sea Serpent at the entrance joins other sculptures on view in the Cape Ann Museum Courtyard and Sculpture Garden, a special public space dedicated to the memory of Harold Bell, President of Cape Ann Museum (1979-2003).
ALBERT HENRY ATKINS (1880-1951) Spirt of the Sea 1915 bronze [fun fact courtesy Alex Monell: architect (Cape Ann Museum & CAM board) Don Monell held this sculpture on his property until the best re-siting]
ROBERT AMORY, Reflection, 1970 gift of the artist
KEN HRUBYUneasy Crown, Uneasy Chair, Uneasy Piece, 1986 (cast 2008) Gift of Judith McCulloch in memory of Harold Bell
And dappled today, GEORGE DEMETRIOS bronze fountain, Spring
Across the street, the Cape Ann Museum sculpture park and gardens designed by Clara Batchelor, CBA Landscape Architect Principal, opened in 2011. Its centerpiece features
JOHN RAIMONDI sculpture, Dance of the Cranes
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Essex news from Lee Spence and Lynne and Jay Havighurst:
ArtTalk: Conversations with Essex Artists
Date: Saturday, May 4, 2019 from 10AM – 12PM
Hosted by Essex River Cultural District
Event Location: Essex Town Hall, 3rd Floor, 30 Martin Street, Essex, MA 01929
(An accessible facility)
Get to know a diverse group of Essex artists as they share thoughts on the creative process, inspirations and influences behind their art, in a casual conversation moderated by Karen Ristuben (Program Director, Creative County Initiative at Essex County Community Foundation) with audience Q&A. Hear from poet Erica Funkhouser, whose latest book, Post and Rail, undertakes an exploration of family history, one mother’s compelling silences and our recent discovery of a way to “hear” gravitational waves that have been traveling to earth from billions of years ago. Mixed media artist Susan Guest-McPhail, passionate about the process of experimenting and starting new, explores the mystery of creating a non-objective painting. Glassblower James McLeod of The Bubble Factory uses steel or wood coupled with glass – creating tension between a very fragile material and a seemingly unbreakable, “heavy” material – to generate an emotional response and connection to these objects. Sculptor Chris Williams bends, shapes and welds metal into life-like works of art that appear caught in a moment of stillness. His process of bending and twisting the metal gives each piece a pulse. Essex Arts Collective comprises the second panel of artists. This dynamic group of women artists create collaboratively and collectively to inspire each other as they pursue their art. Featured members are Melissa Glorieux, Jen Groeber, Mallie Pratt, Jen Romans, Margaret Sweet and Alison Taylor.
Doors open at 9:30AM with complimentary coffee and cinnamon rolls by Ripple on the Water Restaurant. Following ArtTalk, clam chowder by Woodman’s Restaurant will be served. Free admission and parking.
This special event, presented by the Essex River Cultural District, is funded by a grant from the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. The event marks the recent 5-year renewal of the Essex River Cultural District designation. ArtTalk: Conversations with Essex Artists is part of ArtWeek (https://www.artweekma.org), a statewide creative festival.
Today all systems were go: 33°F, daylight, dry pavement, and a craving to walk some distance without my cane. Janet took the cane at the front door and we walked at a medium pace to my favorite animal sculpture park. After stopping to take a few photos, we walked back home. Total distance: One half mile using no cane or other walking aid.
As the journey started thirteen months ago, I couldn’t roll onto my side in a hospital bed. I graduated to a wheelchair, then a walker, followed by a cane, and now two legs. I’m currently scouting around for a longer full–milestone trail. (Photo by Janet).
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You are cordially invited to the opening of the new Lexicon Gallery on 15 Lexington Avenue, Magnolia, (Gloucester) MA during the Lexington Lights celebration on Sunday December 7, 2014 from 4-8pm.
The ceramic artists represented, including several from Cape Ann, include: Diane Chen KW, Cynthia Curtis, Larry Elardo, Jeremy Randall, Thomas Hoadley, Jenny Rangan, Jill Solomon, Irina Okula, Zachary Mickelson, Judith Rosenstein, Pam Gorgone, Joanna Mark, Chris Williams and Seyrel Williams.
Other artists include: Kerry Mullen (ceramics, watercolor, mixed media), Deb Hardy (mixed media), Cindy Beck Goldstein (collagraphs), Mahri (jewelry), Gary Gilbert (wood sculptures), Eleanor Fisher (glass shard-covered oil paintings), Randall Thurston (cut paper silhouettes) and Lenore Hill (India ink, walnut ink, graphite and gouache on paper), Jay Havighurst (sculptures).
We are thrilled to have live music by guitarist, Ken Bonfield and flutist, Christine Routhier.
Come eat, drink and be artsy with us!
Best Wishes,
Seyrel and Chris
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A giraffe must have wandered from the sculpted granite animal park, and into someone’s driveway. This striking bronze animal changes color with the sunlight. When admiring the African animal sculpture park on Phillips Avenue in Rockport, turn and look directly behind you into the woods. If I’m not mistaken, this is the work of Chris Williams, who also created the bear family: https://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2014/10/08/big-bear-hug/#comments
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This bear family is traveling to its new home at Simon Properties in their Premium Outlets in Quebec, Canada.
Fred Bodin gives the Kodiak Bear Family sculpture a “bear hug” during a special preview on the grounds of the Chris Williams sculpture studio in Essex, MA. I am 6’1″ tall, and males of this species of bear grow to over 10′ tall when standing on their hind legs. The tree the bear family is climbing is 17′ high. The Kodiak bear is to scale! Kodiak, or brown bears, are named after an island of the same name in Alaska.
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Good Morning Gloucester 