De Hirsh Margules, Mother Ann Lighthouse, Eastern Point, Gloucester, 1946. Gouache on paper. Gift of Jean M. Horblit, 2002. [Acc. #2002.004.002]
Manchester Cricket: Cape Ann Museum Seeks Support to Acquire Original Model of Fishermen’s Wives Memorial
By Editorial Staff, April 9, 2025
The Cape Ann Museum is seeking final contributions to purchase the original plaster model of the Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Memorial, a significant work by Rockport sculptor Morgan Faulds Pike.
The effort comes as CAM marks its 150th year and prepares for the reopening of its downtown Gloucester campus in 2026 following extensive renovations.
The painted plaster model, created between 1999 and 2001, served as the basis for the well-known bronze memorial that has stood on Stacey Boulevard since 2001. The larger-than-life statue, commissioned by the Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Association in the early 1990s, honors the often-overlooked contributions of women in the fishing industry—those who maintained households, supported shore-side operations, and endured long periods of uncertainty while their loved ones worked at sea.
Cape Ann Museum officials say acquiring the model is a priority as they reimagine their fisheries galleries. The work is currently on public view at the museum’s satellite campus, CAM Green on Poplar Street, as part of the new exhibition Breath of Life – C.B. Fisk, Designers & Builders of Pipe Organs.
Museum Director Oliver Barker describes the piece as “an extraordinary tribute to the women who have long stood on these shores, looking out for their loved ones to return from sea,” and notes that it reflects a broader narrative of resilience within maritime communities.
Pike, who earned a BFA in sculpture from Boston University and began her career as a cabinetmaker and sculptor with C.B. Fisk in Gloucester, consulted the late Walker Hancock during the development of the memorial. Hancock’s influence is evident in the classical composition and emotional clarity of the finished piece. The artist is also represented in the museum’s collection by a plaster relief commemorating the 1623 English settlement on Cape Ann.
Funding for the acquisition comes from the Museum’s Collections Fund, which supports the purchase and preservation of regionally significant art and artifacts. Past projects supported by the fund include the acquisition of Paul Manship’s Tortoise, works by Adin Murray, and the restoration of Triton, a bronze fountain by Walker Hancock.
The museum is asking potential donors to help close the remaining gap in funding needed to complete the acquisition.
Exhibition Details
Breath of Life – C.B. Fisk, Designers & Builders of Pipe Organs.
On View: Starting April 12, at the Janet & William Ellery James Center at CAM Green, 13 Poplar St., Gloucester
To read the full Manchester Cricket article, click here.
