Exhibit on display from July 11 to the end of the year

GLOUCESTER, MASS. (June 2021) – On Sunday, July 11, the Cape Ann Museum will open Homeport, a special exhibition of lithographs, dry point drawings, and watercolors by Stow Wengenroth (1906-1978) along with drawings by contemporary artist Adin Murray who also works in black and white and from nature. The exhibition will be on display through the end of the year.

“The works of Wengenroth and Murray in their detail and intricacy attest to the experience of place, a love of drawing and desire to observe nature with complete reverence,” said Oliver Barker, the Museum’s Director.

Wengenroth was born in New York and began experimenting with lithography during the 1930s. First introduced to this country in the 1830s, lithography reached the height of its popularity during the mid-19^th century.  When Wengenroth took it up, it was no longer the main medium for the print world, however, he was keenly aware of its artistic possibilities, and, with the early encouragement of fellow artist George Ennis, devoted his life to the art. Without color, viewers are invited to consider the detail of each print and reflect on how the artist created the illusion of color through his careful attention to detail and his masterful use of light and shade.  During his long and successful career, Wengenroth created hundreds of prints, capturing images of New England and Cape Ann during a period of rapid change.

Wengenroth first came to Cape Ann between 1923 and 1925 when he was studying at the Art Students League. He came back in the summer of 1934 when his Cape Ann lithographs were exhibited at the Macbeth Gallery in New York City. He visited regularly and became a permanent resident of Rockport, MA in 1974 after marrying Harriet Matson.

Adin Murray’s work shares much in common with that of Wengenroth, particularly his drawings done in graphite and from nature.  Murray was born in Manchester, MA, and holds an MFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design.  The precision reflected in his drawings, many of which are small in scale, is remarkable and invites viewers to look closer and deeper into each composition.  Like Wengenroth’s prints, Murray’s black and white drawings are alive and engaging, filling our imaginations with the colors and nuances of the landscape that surrounds us. 

The Homeport exhibition will include two lectures. These in-person events will be livestreamed for free on Facebook and Vimeo – offering visitors near and far the chance to engage deeply with the exhibition and the Museum’s extensive collection. In person, tickets are free for CAM members or $10 for the general public.

Granite & Graphite: Drawing the Cape Ann Landscape

with Adin Murray

Saturday, July 24 at 3:00 pm

Free for members, $10 for non-members

Demystifying the Lithograph

with Carolyn Muskat of Muskat Studios

Saturday, October 2 at 2:00 pm

Free for members, $10 for non-members

High-Res Images for Homeport