Since 2021, the Cape Ann Museum’s annual Cape Ann Student Exhibitions have displayed artwork from over 2,250 local students including the 600 plus students currently on display in this year’s installation at the CAM Green. Educators from the Cape Ann Museum make two visits to each classroom to teach about an artist from the Collection and make art for the Installation at CAM. The Museum provides these visits free to Cape Ann Schools as part of its mission to support education.
These unique exhibitions celebrate student artwork alongside works from the Museum’s collection in a professional setting, creating a visual, tangible connection between young artists and professional artists.
A highlight of the Education Programs at CAM, Student Exhibitions are designed to engage the community in celebrating a sense of place through artmaking. This year CAM Educators worked with approximately 600 Cape Ann second and eighth graders. The Cape Ann Museum is proud to partner with Cape Ann Public schools to explore the art, culture and history of this unique place!
Read about this year’s exhibitions below and watch the video to see this year’s Exhibitions installed at the CAM Green.
Grade 2
This school year, CAM Educators introduced second graders from Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester and Essex to the Museum’s collection and the story of the Folly Cove Designers. Students carved and printed their own Styrofoam block print in the shape of a seagull, Cape Ann’s notoriously wonderful and whimsical, unofficial, official bird – the seagull, while thinking about patterns and story. Their prints adorn the waves surrounding Cassie, Cape Ann Museum’s friendly gallery guide.
Grade 8
Eighth graders from across Cape Ann learned about the collection of historic maps in the CAM Library & Archives, including the map of today’s Gloucester harbor area titled, Les Voyages, by Samuel de Champlain (c. 1567-1635), originally printed in Paris, 1613. Students explored the many purposes of maps and how map makers used symbols to communicate data, as well as the influence of the map makers point of view. Working with CAM Educators, eighth graders traced the profile of their face on acrylic using paint markers; and, with this one line as their starting point, created their own maps to represent real and imagined places.
This year’s eight grade project was installed in partnership with Cornerstone Creative, a local after-school youth mentorship woodworking and craftsmanship program.
Watch this short video to see the second and eighth grade Cape Ann Student Exhibitions installed at the CAM Green. These installations will be on exhibit from May 7th to June 1st this year. You are invited to come enjoy the creativity and vision of these young artist, walk the property and explore the current exhibit here at the James Center.
The Cape Ann Student Exhibitions are funded with the support of the Essex Cultural Council, Rockport Cultural Council, Manchester Cultural Council, and Gloucester Cultural Council. These local agencies are funded by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
To learn more about Student Exhibitions at CAM, or to speak with the Education Manager at CAM about educational programming at the Museum, email us at [email protected].
To schedule a visit please call 978-283-0455 ext. 026, or email [email protected], to speak with the Education Manager. You will receive a response back within 48 business hours. (Please note: The Museum’s hours are Tuesday-Sunday.)
27 Pleasant Street
Gloucester, MA 01930
978-283-0455
Buy Tickets to visit the newly renovated Museum and the special exhibition Avery, Gottlieb & Rothko: By the Sea.
13 Poplar Street
Gloucester, MA 01930
Our CAM Green Campus is open seasonally beginning July 10th, Friday – Sunday.