CAPE ANN, MA
DESTINATION CAPE ANN, MA
Exterior view of the Beauport Hotel on Pavilion Beach, Gloucester, MA.
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ape Ann may only be 40 miles from Boston, yet it is a world apart. Driving northeast of the city, you can feel the change in atmosphere along Route 128 as you approach the coast. The temperature drops, the air begins to take on a briny tang and you can sense the coming immersion into the natural world. The landscape of Cape Ann is as fascinating as it is variable: rocky shorelines punctuated by long stretches of sandy beaches, small coves and tide pools, and wooded acres that stretch from the shoreline across the interior of Cape Ann. Since the age of sail, Cape Ann has been creating man-made riches as well: harbors crowded with boats, fishermen landing their catch and compelling architecture. For over 100 years, renowned artists such as
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Fitz Henry Lane, Winslow Homer, William Morris Hunt, Edward Hopper, John Sloan and Mark Rothko have all come to Cape Ann to paint. Following in the footsteps of these artists is a remarkable experience, and Cape Ann provides access to anyone willing to take the trip. Comprised of only 58 square miles and four communities—Essex, Manchester-by-theSea, Gloucester and Rockport—Cape Ann is a manageable size for exploration. Every visit needs a starting point, and the perfect place to begin is the small village of Rockport at the furthest tip of Cape Ann, easily accessible on Route 127. Your first stop in Rockport is the Rockport Art Association & Museum (RAA&M) a complex of 19th-century buildings housing galleries, exhibition spaces and a
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new gift shop. The RAA&M is the ideal place to orient yourself to the art—both past and present—in Rockport. Since 1921, the RAA&M has been the home for shows of its artist-members’ work. In keeping with its mission of education, it also offers classes and workshops throughout the summer for everyone from professional artists to children. Upcoming exhibits include the Second Summer Show: Painting, Graphics, Sculpture, & Photography (through July 16), followed by the Third Summer Show: Painting, Graphics, Sculpture, & Photography (July 21–August 20). “Visitors will also experience a few surprises, with pop-up shows planned throughout the summer months, as well as a curated selection of paintings on exhibit from the museum’s extensive permanent collection,” says Margaret
July/August 2018
Art New England 69