Curator Kristen Gresh, who brings an international wealth of knowledge about the profound power of photographs, will be the guest speaker at the next Cape Ann Museum special event linked to the current special exhibition, “Above the Fold.”
The CAMTalk’s program is titled “Life Magazine and the Power of Photography,” and takes place Thursday, Feb. 15, at 6 p.m. at the museum’s auditorium, 27 Pleasant St., Gloucester.
Gresh is the Estrellita and Yousuf Karsh Senior Curator of Photographs at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
“From the Great Depression to the Vietnam War, almost all of the photographs printed for consumption by the American public appeared in illustrated magazines. Among them, Life magazine ‚ published weekly from 1936 to 1972 — was both wildly popular and visually revolutionary, with photographs arranged in groundbreaking dramatic layouts known as photo-essays. Gresh will speak about the creation and impact of the carefully selected images found in the pages of Life, and the precisely crafted narratives told through these pictures, in order to reveal how the magazine shaped conversations about war, race, technology, national identity, and more in the 20th-century United States,” according to a program statement.
Gresh, who grew up in Greater Boston, moved to Paris on a Fulbright Scholarship after college. She stayed overseas for the next 15 years when she also earned a master’s degree and doctorate in the history of photography at the School of Advanced Studies in Social Sciences in Paris. She also served two years as curator of photographs at the Rare Books and Special Collections Library at The American University in Cairo, Egypt. When she returned to the United States, she joined the staff at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
The talk is free for members, $10 for others, and will be livestreamed on Vimeo and Facebook. Registration is required at capeannmuseum.org as seating is limited.
The special exhibition “Above the Fold: The Photographers of the Gloucester Daily Times, 1973-2005” runs through March 17. Tours of the exhibition are offered every Thursday at 2 p.m. until the show closes.
Distinguished Speakers Series
The Manchester-by-the-Sea Cultural Council, in partnership with Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library, continues its free Distinguished Speakers Series this Thursday, Feb. 15, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the library, 15 Union St.
Dr. David J. Roberts, senior vice president of community operations at Mass General Brigham, will give a talk on “Addressing Social Determinants of Health.” He was the former president of Salem Hospital.
These determinants include socioeconomic factors, physical environment, health behaviors and health care. The talk will detail how these determinants lead to risk factors for various health issues.
“Dr. Roberts will describe how hospitals and health systems are developing methods to address these disadvantages for many populations. His talk will include examples of successful programs across the country as well as local programs, such as those at the Phoenix Food Hub in Lynn, The Salem Pantry, Lynn Community Farm, Mass General Brigham Mobile Service Line and Workforce Development initiatives,” according to a program statement.
To reserve a seat, visit www.manchesterpl.org/events.
Local trio at City Winery
Gloucester’s Jon Butcher and Allen Estes, along with bandmate Sal Baglio, bring their trio to Boston’s City Winery in a performance on Friday, Feb. 16, at 7:30 p.m. at the winery’s Haymarket Lounge. For more details and tickets, visit https://citywinery.com/boston/events/butcher-baglio-estes-gq90oz.
Rocky Neck Now 2024
“Rocky Neck Now 2024,” the annual members show, opens the exhibition season at the Rocky Neck Art Colony at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson St., Gloucester. There is a free public opening reception on Sunday, Feb. 18, from 4 to 6 p.m. View the art, meet the artists and enjoy refreshments and conversation. The exhibition, which features work by 79 artists, is open to all members and offers each the opportunity to show one recent work. The exhibition showcases a range of artistic vision, from representational to abstract.
The artists are: Adam Adkison, Suzanne Agostino, Meredith Anderson, Christine Barensfeld, John Bassett, Anne Beinecke, Elizabeth Bish, Paula Borsetti, Sheila Boss-Concannon, Jennifer K Brown, Mike Cangemi, Jeanne Carey, Betsy Carter, Donna Caselden, Matt Cegelis, Michele Champion, Yhanna Coffin, Anne Marie Crotty, Dianna Daly, Alev Danis, Marci Davis, Lesley Davison, Terry Del Percio, Beth Delforge, Maria Denjongpa, Robert Diebboll, Cheryl Dyment, Cindy Efinger, Barbe Ennis, Paige Farrell, and Sue Funk.
Also, Jacqueline Ganim-DeFalco, Elizabeth Gauthier, Christine Gauthier-Kelley, Seth Goldfine, Nancy Gorman, John Grant, Karen Gross, Janet Grover, Olga Hayes, Leslie Heffron, Linda Henneman, Kata Hull, Nancy Jarvis, Linda Kauss, Ken King, Tobi Klein, Ira Levine, Juliet Lockwood, Lynn MacLaughlin, Laureen Maher, Jeffrey Marshall, Carmela Martin, Dawn McDonald, Vanessa Michalak, William Mitchell, Ed Mowrey, Brian Murphy, R. D. Murphy, Monica Pepicelli, Margaret Rack, Mary Rhinelander, Kathy Roberts, Judy Robinson-Cox, Tom Robinson-Cox, Patty Rosenblatt, Caleb Rulli, Thomas Rutigliano, Patricia Scialo, James Seavey, Mary Spitzer, Rosemary Sullivan, Marilyn Swift, Helen Tory, Juni Van Dyke, Grace Vasta, Anna Vojtech, Karen Watson and Christine Whalen-Waller.
The show runs through March 31. For more information, visit: www.rockyneckartcolony.org. Gallery hours are Friday through Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m.
Vacation week in the park
Halibut Point State Park, at 4 Gott Ave. in Rockport, offers several vacation week programs, all free to the public.
From Feb. 17-25, there is a February School Vacation “Staycation!!!” program with activities from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Visitor Center area. Heavy rain/snow cancels.
There is a “Quarrying History Self-Guide” for all ages and a “Quarry Quest—Treasure Hunt!” in which visitors follow clues with the goal to find a treasure box. Family fun adventure can be found walking on the trails while learning about the Babson Farm granite quarrying history. For ages 8 and up.
There is a StoryWalk, which features the book “The Nest Robin Built,” written by Denise Fleming. In this self-guided tour, visitors can read pages posted along a park trail near the visitor center in this program designed to promote “the magic” of reading together in the outdoors.
On Sunday, Feb. 18, the program “For the Love of Birding,” takes place from 8 to 10 a.m.; meet at the parking area. For all ages. Learn about winter birds that travel south to the seashore to escape the freezing ponds up north. Visitors may see Harlequin ducks and loons. Learn about their sounds, habits and flight patterns. Heavy rain/snow cancels. An adult must accompany children.
To learn more, visit halibut.point@mass.gov.
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 978-675-2706 or gmccarthy@gloucestertimes.com at least two weeks in advance.
