Since the Cape Ann Museum's temporary closure in March, the Museum has been sharing its mission of fostering an appreciation of the quality and diversity of life on Cape Ann in new way, including virtually, through CAM Connects.

September 16, 2020

CAM Virtual Presents

CAM is Virtual

Since the Cape Ann Museum's temporary closure in March, the Museum has been sharing its mission of fostering an appreciation of the quality and diversity of life on Cape Ann in new ways, including virtually, through CAM Connects. Each issue has focused on a specific subject to further readers' knowledge and enjoyment of Cape Ann history and art, and has introduced informative new content from CAM's dedicated and knowledgeable staff, including highlights from the recently digitized CAM Video Vault and Oral Histories collections, CAM Kids art lessons, insights into the Library & Archives' expansive holdings, and of course, an in-depth look at some favorite pieces from the collection. Outside of the regularly themed content, Museum staff members have been hard at work on a wide variety of other “virtual” projects, and in this issue, on the eve of our reopening, we’d like to share a few of them with you. ■

Google Arts & Culture

The Cape Ann Museum recently joined the exciting Google Arts & Culture online platform that features content from over 2,000 leading museums and archives around the world. Through this platform, institutions are able to share collection images such as paintings, sculpture, archival materials and photographs, as well as compile online exhibitions.

The Museum’s first online exhibit is Jim Hooper’s Portraits of a Working Waterfront, exhibited at the Cape Ann Museum in 2014. The exhibit features photographic portraits of over one hundred people from Cape Ann whose lives and work tie them intimately to Gloucester's fishing industry. View the online exhibit here, and stay tuned for more online exhibits in the near future. ■

Virtual Shorts — CAM Docent Blog

Volunteers play a vital role at the Cape Ann Museum, and for years now, CAM's ever-expanding group of dedicated Docents have enriched the visitor experience throughout the Museum with twice-daily highlights tours and specialty tours such as their Winter Shorts. During CAM's temporary closure, the Docents have stayed actively involved with the Museum by writing short, educational pieces for Virtual Shorts, the brand-new CAM Docent blog! Virtual Shorts is the place to go to find regularly updated content and will continue to feature new write-ups and research from this incredibly knowledgeable and passionate docent group. Get started here! ■

Screenshot from Virtual Shorts: the CAM Docent Blog. Article written by CAM Docent, Doug Stewart.

Tom & T.M. Nicholas Exhibit   

Video still from Tom & T.M. Nicholas - A Father & Son's Journey In Paint exhibit tour with T.M. Nicholas

Explore the Tom and T.M. Nicholas, A Father and Son’s Journey in Paint exhibition with artist, T.M. Nicholas. Take a behind-the-scenes look at the exhibit and learn about T.M. and his father Tom's artistic journey around Cape Ann and the world beyond. The exhibition has been extended and will remain on view at the Museum through November 1, 2020. ■

A digital way to enhance the visiting experience!   

While preparing to reopen the Museum, staff members have looked for new ways to expand and enhance the visitor experience. To this end, QR codes have been installed on signs and wall labels throughout the galleries. These codes are similar to traditional bar codes and contain a link to a digital URL (website address) that can be safely scanned and opened on a smartphone. As you tour the galleries, you can scan a code and immediately have access to a webpage containing related content such as video, audio, text-based articles, and in-depth research. For most phones, using a QR Code is as easy as opening up your camera and pointing it right at the code! If you’re reading this on your computer, go ahead and test it out below:   

This QR code will take you directly to the Cape Ann Museum’s website homepage.

Alternatively, you can install a dedicated QR code reader on your phone. Simply open your preferred app store on your phone or tablet and download a QR code reader app. With the app open, begin a scan by holding your device over the QR code. Some QR code readers will automatically scan the code and others will require you to tap the screen to manually scan the code. In seconds you will be linked to related Cape Ann Museum digital content! We look forward to sharing this digital initiative with you soon! ■

Meet our Virtual Interns  

The Museum is grateful to our two interns, Chandra Levey (Gloucester High School) and Mikayla King (Montserrat College of Art), who have helped with CAM's virtual initiatives. CAM interns learn about day-to-day museum operations while focusing on their specific area of interest and expertise. Chandra's internship— generously supported by LEAP for Education— was focused on education, and Mikayla's on videography.

We are delighted to work with this next generation who is passionate about CAM. Mikayla's projects included the recording and production of the Docksiders at CAM Green and Docents' performances seen in our Music issue of CAM Connects. Please head over to the CAM Kids Instagram account, @camkids1873 to see all the great work Chandra has done to engage children and families!

But first, meet our interns: 

Hello! My name is Chandra and I am CAM’s Education Department Intern. I am 15 years old and am going into grade 10. I have been running the CAM Kids Instagram account for the summer and am excited to produce content for everyone! 

Having found my way to CAM through volunteering last year, I have become well-acquainted and love the Museum. In my free time I read lots of fantasy, dabble in art forms from film to watercolor, and hike!

Favorite work: Charles Hopkinson (1869-1962), “Three Dancing Girls (Ladies Chain),” 1917-1923. 

Charles Hopkinson is one of my favorite artists featured at the Museum. This work paints with light colors a whimsical setting of childhood.    

Hi everyone, my name is Mikayla King and I'm originally from Spencer, MA. I'm currently a student at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, MA, in my senior year, and pursuing a BFA with a concentration in Photography/Video/ Film. 

At CAM, my work captured and documented a variety of exhibits and events. These vary from artist conversations about the Tom and T.M. Nicholas exhibit held at the Museum to musical performances by Gloucester High School’s Docksiders at Cape Ann Museum Green and two of CAM's docents performing.

Favorite work: T.M. Nicholas’s Sea Turtles. This piece of work really stands out and is very different from the rest of the exhibit, which may be the reason I'm drawn to it. I also enjoy the sense of movement you get from the brush strokes in the water, making it seem real.   

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CAPE ANN MUSEUM
27 Pleasant Street, Gloucester, MA 01930

CAPE ANN MUSEUM GREEN
13 Poplar Street, Gloucester, MA 01930

(978) 283-0455

www.capeannmuseum.org

Cape Ann is one of the most important places in the history of American art and industry.

The Cape Ann Museum, thanks to supporters like you, celebrates the history and remarkable contributions of this place to the cultural enhancement of our community and the world at large - yesterday, today and tomorrow.