Cape Ann Artisans will hold their 23rd Annual Spring Tour on Saturday and Sunday, June 17-18, 2006, from 10:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. each day. This self-guided tour presents a unique opportunity to meet seventeen professional artists and see their work in the setting where it was created. The work represented includes jewelry, pottery, painting, pastels, sculpture, photography, mosaics, fabric art and glass beads.
This year we have extended the tour to include Essex, as well as Gloucester and Rockport, MA. Chris Williams’ new hillside studio in Essex is a perfect setting for his life-size welded sculpture. Our newest member is nationally recognized sculptor Brad Story, whose studio is located on the Essex River; red-tailed hawks, great blue heron, egrets, and glossy ibis provide the inspiration for his unusual sculpture.
In Gloucester, Marty Morgan’s pottery studio on the Mill River will feature architectural wall sculptures in richly colored and textured porcelain. The tour has several scenic stops in Lanesville. Photographer Les Bartlett will show segments from The Cape Ann Trail – his new photographic DVD, a photographic journey through the WPA art on Cape Ann; Judith Wright will show new small oil paintings as well as her mosaics and pastels; and Mi Robertson will exhibit paintings and sculpture. Also in Lanesville, Anni Melancon’s pottery is crafted in porcelain, raku and majolica ware; David Archibald uses rich multi-colored glazes on porcelain and stoneware dinnerware, lamps, and a new line of jardini’res. Just over the line in Rockport, Leslie Wind has just completed a line of sterling and bronze sweater pins and shawl closures. Also in Rockport, Cynthia Curtis features pottery with sea-glass and Caribbean coral glazes and Karen Ristuben will be exhibiting a new series of mixed media paintings as well as her ever-evolving glass and metal sculpture. Following Rte 127 back to East Gloucester, Marilyn Swift will be showing watercolors from her travels to Italy as well as scenes from Cape Ann. On Rocky Neck, Judy Goetemann will feature batiks and silk paintings. In downtown Gloucester, Beth Williams has been exploring the disk shape in her recent glass bead work, capturing maximum light as it passes through her necklaces, pendants, and earrings. Following Western Avenue along the water will lead you to Jayn Gardner’s new studio. Jayn creates unique jewelry in silver and gold, often using stones to add color. Bart Stuyf’s beautiful new studio overlooks the ocean in Magnolia. Bart works in copper and other media, creating unusual sculptures, mirrors and fountains.
The Tour is self-guided and free of charge; handicap accessibility varies by location. Brochures with route maps will be available at the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, the Rockport Information Booth on Rte 127 and at each of the artisans. A bright magenta Studio Tour banner will mark each location.
For further information: tel: 978-281-3347 www.capeannartisans.com.