Location: Norman Rockwell Museum, 9 Glendale Rd, Stockbridge, MA
Dates Of Exhibit: Unfortunately, the exhibit is no longer at the museum. It was such a big attraction, I wouldn’t be surprised if it did come back at another time, though.
Handicapped Accessible: Yes, the Norman Rockwell Museum is one of the more handicapped accessible places I have been to
Highlights: animations, drawings and collectibles from the Hanna-Barbera cartoon collection
Yogi, Fred, Richie and even Jabber. They were all there at the Norman Rockwell Museum last month. as the Norman Rockwell Museum showed off some of the works of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon franchise. Just as a warning, some of the photos may not look top notch because we weren’t allowed to use a flash in the museum.
As I walked along the various drawings of my childhood, it was like walking down memory lane. I could envision the shows I loved so dearly. All I needed was a bowl of Cap ‘N Crunch and a glass of O.J. and my footie pajamas and it would have been just like my childhood. OK, I still might have a pair of footie pj’s.
The popular shows were represented of course.
But, what was great about the exhibit is how they showed some of the more obscure shows in the exhibit. At least they were obscure to me. In fact, I didn’t even remember some of the shows they featured until I saw them at the museum.
There was also a television playing a short documentary about Hanna-Barbera playing on a loop for visitors to watch as they checked out the comics and there was a scavenger-like game kids could play with their parents to find certain characters in the drawings at the exhibit. Also, an employee gave an informative tour of the drawings and collectibles.
Another cool thing about the exhibit was that some people offered to lend their collectibles to the exhibit for display. Some people have quite a few collectibles!
Here’s a fun fact. Well, it;s a fact. Not sure if it is “fun” our tour guide told us how Jackie Gleason almost stopped the Flintstones from happening. Apparently, Gleason watched an episode and he noticed how the story lines, the shows basic setup and characters were essentially the same as his show, The Honeymooners. But, even though he would have had a case in court, he stopped short of stopping the show because he didn’t want to be known as the guy who stopped the Flintstones show. Nowadays, every show seems to mirror The Honeymooners.
The exhibit was organized so neatly. It encompassed three spacious rooms and each inch of the walls seemed to be covered with a drawing or card with information on it. Yet, the art work didn’t seem cramped.
I would have to say seeing some of the drawings from the more obscure shows like “Jabber Jaws” and “The Ed Grimley Show” brought back some of broadest smiles if “I must say” (I actually liked the Joe Flaherty segment of the show when he played the “Count Floyd” character best).
I hope I was able to make you smile on this Tuesday!
What were some of your favorite shows from the drawings above?
Locations: Main St & Pleasant St, Northampton, MA (about 30 minutes north of Springfield, MA and an hour and a half west of Boston, MA)
Parking: Metered street parking and 15 minute parking is available throughout the area but it is limited, particularly during the weekend. Parking rules are strictly enforced in this area. There is also a parking garage on Main St.
Handicapped Accessible: Yes, everywhere I visited during this trip was handicapped accessible
Highlights: bridge art, murals, architecture
One of the more culturally and artistically rich areas in Western Massachusetts (and there are a lot of them out there), Northampton is a great place to walk around and take in the street art.
This art is on Main St on a bridge along the Norwottuck Bike Trail in the heart of Northampton.
You can find art around just about any corner in Northampton. This mural was located in an alley off Pleasant St.
This mural is on the side of Millennium Liquors, also on Pleasant St. I noticed it on the drive into Northampton and I also noticed it is fading. So, I wanted to photograph it while I still had the chance.
It was a beautiful day outside and Smith College was holding their commencement the day I was visiting so the city was bustling. It always makes me smile when I see a new crop of students graduating. To me, it seems liek it’s not officially summer until the graduations and weddings start. People were also enjoying the warm weather bt dining outside or sitting on a bench.
Dogs like to look at the street art, also. Katama is a two and a half year old Samoyed. This beautiful can be found on Instagram at katamadog,
Highlights: Verses from people’s favorites poems written in chalk on the grounds of Old Salem Town Hall
Chalk it up to Salem. Or, more accurately, chalk it up to poetry.
As part of the Massachusetts Poetry Festival, Salem gave its visitors the opportunity to write down some lines from their favorites poems. Or, to add some of their own. It’s just another example of the artistic flair of the people who flock to the artistic hub just north of Boston.
Perhaps you’re an Emily Dickinson fan, or maybe Adrienne Rich is more your speed. Or, maybe you prefer poems or words of your own. Whatever you’re tastes, last weekend (May 5-7), you had the opportunity to write your favorite lines of poetry on the paved path leading to the Old Salem Town Hall.
What was so nice about the poems written in chalk was some of the poems were not written by popular poets. So, some of the visitors may have been introduced to poets they were not aware of.
No part of the area was safe from the words of the poets, not even the walls of the old town hall.
While it is not clear if this is going to be an annual event, I am sure there will be more artistic events in Salem in the hear future.
Is there a line of poetry or work from a certain poet you would have written in chalk at Old Salem Town Hall?
Highlights: DrainSmart Mural Project, sights and sounds of Salem
Think twice before you drop that seemingly harmless piece of paper on the sidewalk. That is what the DrainSmart murals located throughout the city of Salem, MA, seem to be saying.
The DrainSmart Program was created to help create awareness of how littering causes so much pollution in our waters. As the murals state, everything that enters the sewers drains to the ocean.
There were 12 murals planned for the city. I photographed 5 of the best looking works. Unfortunately, I could not locate some of the others or the others I did find had been worn away by pedestrian foot traffic and the elements.
Click here to see what they were supposed to look like.
The DrainSmart murals weren’t the only works of art or signs in the area.
Halloween isn’t the only time people dress up in Salem. The Commonwealth Vintage Dancers held a Regency Dance Weekend in Salem, MA, while I was visiting. The participants all wore attire that represented the time they were recreating.
Whenever I am in Salem, I am always taken by the historical significance and the architecture of the area. This building, the Witch House, is the last standing structure with direct ties to the Salem Witch Trials. In this house suspected witches and other people who were considered witnesses were tortured and threatened to confess to participating in witchcraft or witnessing witches.
It’s also fun just walking around and checking out the sights and sounds of Salem, particularly on such a pleasant spring day. They are building a hotel on Essex St and I noticed on the side of this building an old sign for Pickman Place.
It’s always refreshing for me to see buildings that have stood the test of time and still stand today, even if they may have different tenants. I may have an unhealthy attachment to historical buildings and landmarks. They bind us together. In a world that is ever changing and making way for new and better, it’s important to keep our history close at hand as well. Imagine all of the different people who have walked those same streets, enjoyed the very same entertainers we have. These streets could tell stories.
This side street where the Salem Witch Trials Memorial stands will be packed shoulder to shoulder in a mere 200 days. On this day it was desolate.
As was the mall. There is something about the Museum Mall in Salem that seems creepy and kind of scary when there’s not a crowd there.
There were also musicians out in the warm weather. You might not recognize the second musician. He usually plays his instrument with a mask at the very same location during the Halloween season.
There were also some very cute dogs out in Salem during my visit.
Mojo is a 4 year old Airedale and Pointer rescue from Tennessee.
Duke is a 9 month old Hungarian Vizsla. I wonder if he’s related to Dennis?
Highlights: Aspiring and casual artists painting and drawing works of art
Once known exclusively for the tragic Salem Witch Trials and tales of haunted attractions, Salem, MA, has become a hub of artistic and creative expression. The “Art In The Park” event held last weekend (April 9) at Lappin Park (also known as the park with the Bewitched statue) is proof of this.
This was the first “Art In The Park” event and it was such a success another event has been planned for May (details of the upcoming event can be found near the end of this post). The idea came to a school teacher who resides in Salem, MA. And, the Salem Collective of Arts And Musicians (SCAM) ran with the idea.
Gary, one of the organizers of the event, told me, it was great seeing people from all walks of life, ages and backgrounds getting together to bond over art.
From novices to skilled artists, all were welcome to participate. This family’s work of art was aptly called, “Family.”
This work of art was a collaborative effort with at least 3 or 4 people taking turns working on it.
This work of art was created by the creator of the event, John.
Another Art In The Park event is scheduled for Sunday, May 7 at Lappin Park in Salem, MA , at 11 a.m. Minimal materials will be provided. For more details, check out their Facebook page:Art In The Park.
Below are some photos of the exterior of the SCAM building on Essex St
Although they weren’t interested in painting, I saw a lot of dogs in Salem enjoying the beautiful Salem weather.
Bella is a 2 year old rescue from Alabama. Although her exact breed is not known, her mom thinks she probably has some Lab in her. Either way, she cute’s as a button!
Nora is a 5 year old Chihuahua. Don’t you just love those ears!
As an fyi, the Salem garage (at least the one on New Liberty St where the Museum Plaza is) no longer has attendees in their parking garage. They have automated their pay system. Gone are the friendly faces that greeted you as you entered and left the garage.
Although it seems like a minor change and for the better for some, I’ll actually miss having a person taking my money and wishing me a good day instead of paying a lifeless machine. It’s funny how such a small and seemingly innocuous change can bother me so. I suppose it’s also a sign that things are changing (and I suspect there will be many more changes coming to Salem). Or, it could just be another sign the machines are taking over!
Dates Of Event: March 4 – March 19, 2017 (photos taken March 4)
Location: The Botanic Garden of Smith College, 16 College Lane, Northampton, MA
Hours: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday extended hours 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (members get in earlier at 9 .a.m)
Cost: Free ( a $5 donation is suggested)
Parking: unmetered parking is available on College Lane and additional parking is available throughout Northampton
Handicapped Accessible: Yes, from their website: There is one designated handicapped parking space in front of the Lyman Plant House. Two of the three front entrances to the Lyman Plant House and Conservatory are wheelchair accessible and the restrooms are accessible. There is a lift in the front of the building that goes between the lower level Church Exhibition Gallery and the Reception area. All but one of the greenhouses (the Fern House) are accessible.
Highlights: Avariety of flowers such as crocuses, hyacinths, narcissi, irises, lilies and tulips in full bloom or nearly in bloom at the Botanic garden of Smith College
Believe it or not, spring, for most if us, is right around the corner. Soon enough, drab, colorless soil and grass and dead flowers and plant life will be replaced with the vibrant colors of spring and summer.
As an early celebration of the spring season, the Botanic Garden of Smith College is showcasing a colorful array of flowers as part of their Spring Bulb Show (which ironically ends the day before the Vernal Spring buds, get it?) .
There were a wide variety of flowers of display and I won’t even try to name or describe all of them, except to sayy they were very pretty.
The gaarden used works of art such as paintings and statues to highlight the beauty of the flowers. It was very well done and it brought out the colors of the flowers.
The people at the Botanic garden were kind enough to open the rest of the garden to us which showcased an impressive field of flowers and trees.
I also spotted a frog, fish and some other mysterious faces at the garden.
We also saw Kaezli, a beautiful 4 year old Burnese Mountain Dog, outside the Botanic garden.
Below is a video of a plant that closes when it feels pressure or weight and a video of a waterfall at the garden.
Dates Of Event: February 10-12, 2017 – usually the second weekend in February of each year (photos taken February 11)
Locations: Throughout the city of Salem
Hours:Visible 24 hours a day, until they melt
Cost: Free
Parking:Metered street parking is available and there are two big parking garages on New Liberty St and Congress St
The Downtown Garage (New Liberty St) costs $0.75 per hour.
The Waterfront Garage (Congress St) costs $0.25 per hour.
Both garages operate from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM Sunday through Wednesday and from 7:00 AM to 2:00 AM Thursday through Saturday.
Public Transportation: The MBTA’s Commuter Rail has a stop which deposits its passengers right at Washington St. $15 for a round trip ticket from North Station (fares vary depending upon where you leave from and where you are going)
Handicapped Accessible: Yes, but some roads and sidewalks are not shoveled well
Dog Friendly: Yes
Highlights: 26 Ice Sculptures scattered throughout the city of Salem, many sculptures are lit up at night, some shops and businesses offer discounts as part of the event
Proving once again they are not exclusively a Fall destination, Salem Massachusetts has outdone itself with a sweet display of ice sculptures.
Widely known for their Halloween festivities, Salem has been trying to make their city a year round attraction for some time. In fact, this weekend’s festivities were the 15th annual “Salem’s So Sweet” event.
The Salem’s So Sweet festivities began Friday night, February 10, with a chocolate and wine tasting at Colonial Hall at Rockafellas ($30 tickets). Yum!
The sculptures look so much better when they are illuminated. This was only the second year they illuminated the sculptures (at 5 p.m.) and not all of them were illuminated during my visit. I was able to photograph all of the sculptures (except for the Han Solo sculpture which was not completed when I visited) and I photographed almost half off the illuminated sculptures.
The illuminated sculptures look better the later and darker it gets. So, I stayed as late as I could to capture the beauty of the lighting against the dark background. I also thought the holiday lights (still up in February) and of course the snow gave the photos a nice touch.
Since we had some inclement weather and the roads were snowy and icy, I elected to take the train into Salem. It took a little longer than driving (not taking into account any accidents that may occur) but the transfers can be a hassle, especially having to cross the street from Park Street to get the train at North Station.
In any event, the train ride is comfortable and there are some pretty views along the way.
The 26 ice sculptures (25 not including the missing sculpture) are scattered around Salem although many of them are located in about a mile or two mile radius (on Essex, Washington and Hawthorn streets/boulevard). The trickiest part is trying to get to the sculptures that are located on the outskirts (such as Bridge St and Derby St. A trolley was planned to transport visitors to each of the sculptures but due to the inclement weather that plan was scrapped this year.
It’s a great activity for families and I saw quite a few parents and children looking for each sculpture and excitedly checking the sculpture off their list. The children especially seemed to like hunting for each one. Each sculpture is clearly marked and pretty easy to find if you use the map. The Visitor Center also has bigger maps than the one on the web site and they are of course very helpful.
While they are generally located near each other by number, sometimes it’s easier to map out your own route and find them on your own regardless of the number of the sculpture which is what I did. I have included photos of the sculptures lit up as well if I was able to see them illuminated. They look so much better when they are lit up!
The first set of photographs were located at or near Lappin Park, near the Bewitched Statue. The first ice sculpture is Globe, sponsored by The Journeymasters
Han Solo is the second sculpture on their list. Unfortunately, Han’s Falcon got stuck in traffic so his sculpture was not available to be photographed.
As if you haven’t seen enough of them yet, the third sculpture is a snowflake sponsored by Laura Lanes Skin Care.
Some of the lighted sculptures changed colors like this one sponsored by Salem State University; Opening of Sophia Gordon Center.
Accross from Lappin Park, on Washington St, is the ice sculpture at Rockafella’s. The Rockafella’s Ice Bar is like a frozen patio. The cold weather and icy bar didn’t stop them from grilling and enjoying the fresh air. At least you didn’t have to worry about your beer getting warm.
Farther down Washington St is Champagne sponsored by Adriaatic Restaurant & Bar.
Sponsored by Creative Salem, Hawthorne Hotel and Retonica and located on Front St is the ice sculpture Reflections. This one was cool because you could stand behind the sculpture and act as though you are the reflection.
Next to the Reflections sculpture is Cinderella’s Carriage, also on Front St,sponsored by Maria’s Sweet Somethings. From a distance, if you look at a certain angle, you can almost see some driving the carriage with a top hat on. Go on, let me know if you see it too.
The next ice sculpture on the list is Fish sponsored by Koto and located on Washington St.
The next ice sculpture is Lobster Love located at Turner’s Seafood on Church St. This sculpture also changes colors when illuminated.
This sculpture is located by the Salem Cinema. It is called Salem Film Fest 2017.
On St Peter St at Bit Bar is Arcade.
The next group of sculptures are all located on the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall and one on Central St which is an alley off the pedestrian mall walkway.
Green Tara, sponsored by Coon’s Card and Gift Shop, Penelope’s Pet Boutique and Tibet’s Art & Healing.
On the other side of the walkway, very close to Tara is Bella The Goat sponsored by Bella Research Group. Bella’s sculpture also changed colors while it was lit.
Off Essex St on Central St is the Steampunk Heart ice sculpture.
The next two sculptures are both back on Essex St Pedestrian Mall. This ice sculpture is located in front of the Peabody Essex Museum. It is called Red Stiletto with Honda Engine and it was sculpted by David Crow.
On the other side of the walkway in front of the Museum Mall Place and very close to the red stiletto sculpture is the Winnie The Pooh ice sculpture. Winnie doesn’t look very happy!
The next sculptures are located on Hawthorne Blvd and Essex St. Sweet Jane’s Sweet Savings is located on Hawthorne Blvd.
Queen Of Hearts is located across the street on Essex St.
The following ice sculptures are located on or off Derby and New Derby St. Mug is located at the Notch Brewery and Tap Room.
These two sculptures are located at the Waterfront Hotel and Regata Ice Bar. t first glance, it looks like one sculpture but they are actually two separate sculptures.
Across the street from the Waterfron Hotel is the Rumson’s Rum ice sculpture.
Candy is located in front of the House Of The Seven Gables and, aptly, across the street from Ye Olde Pepper Company (America’s oldest candy company). Yes, those are real candies. No, I did not eat any of them.
From Derby St, you would have to backtrack towards N. Washington St, near the Salem Commons to find Ruby Slippers located at the Salem Witch Museum. And, yes, I agree.
The next ice sculpture is a little bit of a walk. Bakery is located in the parking lot of Coffee Time Bake Shop (96 Bridge St). In fact, you may want to drive to this sculpture.
And, yes, of course, there were lots of dogs in Salem checking out the sculptures.
Emmett is a 4 year old Cockapoo. Look at those cute shoes!
Mattie is 7 years old. She was bundled up for the cold weather! She is also very well trained.
All of the dogs in Salem were prepared for the cold weather. These dogs had some beautiful sweaters on keeping them both warm and fashionable.
I am not sure how long the sculptures are being displayed. Between our erratic weather and hooligans who seem to get their kicks smashing ice art, I would suggest going soon to check them out before they’re gone!
Below is a video of the Bella The Goat ice sculpture changes colors.
Location: Next to Dunkin’ Donuts, 330 Congress St, Boston, MA
Hours: Accessible everyday, 24 hours a day
Dog Friendly: Yes
Handicapped Accessible: Yes
Highlights: Art display of Lego tiles in a brick wall
You never know what you’ll see while you walk along our city streets. Statues, dog, lego walls. Yes, you read that correctly. A Lego Wall! But, this is not the first work of art to appear on a brick wall on Congress St.
Well, the display doesn’t look like a Lego display but more like a wooden cut out. The “Lego Wall” name is actually a holdover from an earlier display on Congress St.
After noticing a hole in a section of the wall on Congress St, a artist took notice and decided to do something about it. Nate Swain, a former landscape architect, stealthily filled in the gap in the wall at 342 Congress St one Sunday night with a rather unusual material, Legos.
Weeks, months passed by while people stared, pointed, giggled and maybe weven shook their heads a few times at the work of art by an anonymous artist. Until recently.
Nate Swain finally publicly came forward as the artist who created the first Lego Wall. Imagine the joy he got as he walked past the display as other passersby scratched their heads or had a chuckle. There’s nothing like being in on an inside joke.
Unfortunately, the parking lot which stood next to the Lego Wall has been closed to make way for “affordable luxury housing.” Oxymoron aside, it also meant the Lego Wall had to go.
For some time, the brick walls of Congress St laid bare without a Lego Wall or any other work of art to admire or photograph for that magtter. However, in December of 2016 a different artist decided to put her own work of art on display on Congress St.
Boston artist and writer Daisy Razor (not her real name), decided to put her own brand of art on the walls of Congress St (next to the Dunkin’ Donuts at 330 Congress St to be exact).
The art is still there as of post. But, with our weather elements and other “forces of nature” (the original Lego Wall had been vandalized at least on one occasion) it’s unclear how long it will stay there.
Fun fact: this trend of fixing up walls with Legos is not limited to the United States. German artist Jan Vormann has also used Legos to dress up some architecture he has come across in his travels.
Who would ever think there would be so much history and background to Lego art?
Parking: There is on street parking and several parking garages in the area
Handicapped Accessible: Yes
Dog Friendly: Yes
Highlight: concrete obelisk constructed with over 1,000 real guns embedded in the concrete of the structure
I found this group of photos from a visit to Providence, Rhode Island last summer. I was originally going to post it on my Facebook page. But, since not everyone has liked my Facebook page (you really should), I decided to post it here. But, I do periodically post additional photos, videos and other fun stuff on my Facebook page that I don’t post on WordPress. So, think about joining it. OK, enough shameless self-promoting.
Built from 1,000 reclaimed guns from the Guns For Goods gun buy back program, the Gun Totem is a 12 foot obelisk made of concrete and 1,000 guns. Perhaps not coincidentally, the totem is located across the courthouse in Providence, Rhode Island.
Award winning artist Boris Bally created the monument in 2001. The concrete was chipped away to reveal the guns giving the guns a fossilized look. Or, as Bailey is quoted and saying:
“All aboriginal cultures, including this country’s own native American culture, build totemic structures to serve as venerated symbols of a clan or family… It will act as a monolithic, metallic warning and ‘mojo’ to ward off evil and violence so prevalent in today’s society. A crew of volunteer ‘archaeologists’ aided me in carefully chipping away areas of the concrete skin to reveal the ‘fossilized’ handguns beneath.”
(Mon-Fri, in after 4 p.m., out by 10 a.m.; Weekends & Holidays, all day)
There is sometimes metered street parking available or other parking garges in the area.
Also, the Boston Convention Center is within walking distance ( 1 mile) from the South Station MBTA stop on the Red line and about half a milr from the World Trade Center Green Line stop)
It’s amazing how the ordinary things in life can bring us so much joy and make us content. But, such is the art exhibit now being displayed at the Boston Convention Center in South Boston, MA.
Ordinary Matter is an art exhibit that celebrates the history of still life. Still life art is said to have began in ancient Egypt and later became popularized by Dutch still life painters. Now, it is a big hit in Boston.
The exhibit featured 9 the works of nine Massachusetts artists whose works were hung in the lobby area of the Boston “Convention Center.
“Still Life” (2011) by Patricia Busso is an acrylic on wood painting. According to the placard next to the painting, Patricia says that painting reminds her to take time to absorb the natural world. She hopes her work is evocative of the unassuming beauty she seeks in the natural world.
Brett X Gamache’s “Fish On A Yellow Plate” (2010) is a photographic reproduction of oil on canvas. Brett, who lives and works in Salem (MA), has a MFA from the University of New Hampshire and a BFA from Mass Art.
“Britton Gyre” (2012) by Nicole Duennebier is a photographic reproduction of acrylic on wood panel. A Hartford, CT native, Nicole received her Bachelor in Fine Arts at Maine College of Art with a major in painting. She says she saw a natural connection between the darkness and the intricacy of undersea regions and the aesthetic of 16th century Dutch still life painting.
From a distance, this looked like a real shelf with mugs and other beverageware. But, “Still Life With Seven Objects” (2010) is a photographic reproduction of oil on canvas painted by David Harrison. He received his BFA in fine arts/painting from Maryland Institute College of Art.
“Hidden Window” (2015) by Michael Zachary is a photographic reproduction of hand-drawn marks. He holds a BA from Bowdoin College and an MFA from Massachusetts College of Art. His work has been featured in many exhibitions such as the Lux Eros Gallery in Los Angeles.
Why am I hungry all of a sudden? “Checkout” (2015) is an ink and digital work of art by Corey Corcoran. Corey earned a BA at Massachusetts College of Art and he completed a residency at Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, VT. His work has been displayed at a variety of venues nation wide.
“Wherever You Rest Your Head” (2015) is a photographic reproduction of crayon, ink, gouache, oil pastel and acrylic on paper by Elisa H. Hamilton. Elisa is a graduate of Massachusetts College of Art and Design where she earned a BFA in Painting. Her work has been shown in a varieety of exhibitions.
“Sunflowers In Mason Jar” (2005) by Maureen O’Connor is a photographic reproduction of oil on wood panel. She earned a BFA from Massachusetts College of Art And Design. Her work has been shown extensively throughout the country.
This reminds me, where did I leave my keys? I know they’re somewhere around here. Anyways, “Clink” (2008) by J.B. Jones is an oil on canvas painting. An architect by profession, J.B.’s works can be found in private and corpofrate collections throughout New England. He says his goal is to “create paintings from which the viewer might bring back one small pearl of real feeling.”
