Rocky Neck Art Colony

by rubylu on October 11, 2006

Okay, I was just driving around, exploring the area with my teenage niece and nephew. And, well, I was lost. We saw the sign for the art colony and decided, why not?

Rocky Neck is the oldest art colony in the USA. It is right on the water, in a very calm inlet. It's a residential neighborhood with narrow roads. You can see many small galleries in houses and a few larger buildings. They show not only paintings, but sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, and various crafts. The atmosphere is homey and rustic yet sophisticated.

I have to admit that we only actually went into one gallery. The artist, who was sitting outside with her friends, welcomed us and let us browse at our leisure.

Next door was an ice cream shop, with the local (and first-rate) Richardson's ice cream. We took our cones to the deck over the water and leaned on the railing. The scenery was pure northern New England coastal small town. The water was glassy and clear, and five swans were sunning and swimming lazily. Ahh, perfect.

For more information, including events and a listing of the galleries, look here.

Rocky Neck Art Colony
53 Rocky Neck Ave.
Gloucester, Massachusetts, 01930
(978) 282-0917

http://www.igougo.com/review-r1319801-Rocky_Neck_Art_Colony.html