Description

Ploughshares, which consists of assemblages created from old tools and implements, combined with fibers, paint, and pastel sewn onto canvas, is from a larger series by Park about war. The work was inspired by these lines from the Book of Isaiah: ''They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.'' Park says of the work: ''It is tempting to include actual weapons (swords, axes) but I feel that the power of Isaiah's message is that we should discard these things and turn away from conflict.'' Christy Park resides in Gloucester and is professor emerita at Massachusetts College of Art. The White-Ellery House (1710), owned and operated by the Cape Ann Museum, has served as the backdrop for a series of one-day contemporary art installations since 2010. The House is located at 245 Washington Street in Gloucester and is free and open to the public on select Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each month from May through October as part of Escapes North 17th Century Saturdays. This contemporary art installation is part of Insights On Site, an ongoing series of one-day contemporary art installations at the historic White-Ellery House. Support for this program was provided by The Umberto Romano and Clorinda Romano Foundation which celebrates Umberto Romano's (1906–1982) legacy on Cape Ann through arts education and appreciation and by fostering the work of emerging and/or working artists.