Thanks to recent series of marketing seminars provided by the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod, and the terrific work by Beth Dunn, my eyes have been open to a wonderful world, artists on the interent.  What a communty of incredible people!  There’s so much great stuff out there.  I’m tryng to keep up, and here’s how far I’ve gotten:

www.RobertJohnCook.wordpress.com

http://www.capecodculturalexplorer.org/page.php?8,122,1208,art165853,,,Inv

http://www.capecodarts.org/view_artist.cgi?artist_id=303

 iTunes has picked up my weekly radio show, here is the link:

www.iTunes Radio Show – Robert John Cook’s Art

Thanks!

This past week was exciting in many regards. I recorded episode one of my first Radio Show. The thrill of having an inportant topic to discuss was inspiring. Between my new studio in Hyannis (Mayflower Studio, 50 Pearl St.), this seasons opening fo the Artist’s Shanty’s on Ocean Ave at the Ferry Launch in Hyannis, and the soon-to-open DHC Gallery gave me plenty of turf to cover.  The boardcast is abut eighteen minutes long.  As soon as my server delivers it to iTunes for broadcasting I’ll post the announcement.  Thanks!

I became entrenched in sculpting with Clay at the Cape Cod Museum of Art.  Throughout this wonderful process I kept hearing the name of the museum’s founder, Harry Holl.  Recently the museum open a new studio for clay, and they dedicated it to Harry Holl.  I had never met him, but he sounded interesting.  A few weeks ago I visited Scargo Pottery, which Harry Holl founded in 1952.  Coming toward me as I walked toward the entrance was an older man being rolled in a wheelchair.  I just had to ask.

Harry was genuinely interested in what I had produced in the studio dedicated in his name.  He asked if he could see my best piece.  I obliged and I became interested in who this eighty plus year old man was.

I got hold of a documentary about Harry called: The Centered Universe – The Life and Art of Harry Holl.  It blew me away.  I was never so inspired by a single force.  A few days after watching the documentary I wrote a song, went into the recording studio and captured five versions, and then I put it on CD and gave it to Harry as a token of my appreciation.  A version is on my podcast website, here’s the link http://music.podshow.com/music/listeners/artistdetails.php?BandHash=e506e61dce804dd39cf622c0645ba2e3   And here are the lyrics.

Harry

© Robert John Cook/Mayflower Records

I can see your point,

like a Christmas light far away.

When things are simple,

and the noise fades out of way,

a light will shine

through your fingers,

while you work,

as thoughts fall into place.

I know it’s what you said,

about the centered universe,

so many times, over,

and over, again,

I heard just what you said.

And when things are simple,

and the noise is out of my way,

my light will shine I heard you say,

and I’ll remember what you said.

Pilgrim William Brewster

I’ve been asked recently how my family dates back to Cape Cod.  I thought I’d share with you one branch which reaches back the furthest.  Thank goodness impeccable records followed the Pilgrims!
My father was Samuel Edward Cook of East Providence, Rhode Island, and his mother was my grandmother Mildred Clara Phillips of Coles Island, Queens County, New Brunswick, Canada. Mildred Clara Phillips’ father was my great-grandfather Robert John Phillips, Jr. of Johnston Parish, Queens County, New Brunswick, Canada. Robert John Phillips’ mother was my great-great-grandmother Hannah Ann Phillips of Johnston Parish, Queens County, New Brunswick, Canada. Hannah Ann Phillips’ mother was my great-great-great-grandmother Elizabeth Jane Ryder of New Cannan, New Brunswick, Canada. Elizabeth Jane Ryder’s father was my great-great-great-great-grandfather Ebenezer Ryder, Jr. of Fort Ticonderoga, New York. Ebenezer Ryder, Jr.’s father was my great-great-great-great-great-grandfather Ebenezer Ryder, Sr. of Chatham, Cape Cod, Massachusetts (fought in American Revolution). Ebenezer Ryder, Sr.’s father was my great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather John Ryder III of Chatham, Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  John Ryder III’s father was my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather John Ryder II of Yarmouth, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. John Ryder II’s mother was my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandmother Ester Hall of Yarmouth, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Ester Hall’s mother was my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandmother Bearse of Barnstable, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Priscilla Bearce’s mother was my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandmother Mary Little Dove Hyanno of Mattachee Wampanoag Village, Yarmouth, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Mary Little Dove Hyanno’s father was my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather Chief Sachem John Hyanno of Mattachee Wampanoag Village, Yarmouth, Cape Cod, Massachusetts (Hyannis is named after him). Chief Sachem John Hyanno’s mother was my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandmother Princess Canonicus of Gay Head Wampanoag Village, Martha’s Vineyard Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Princess Canonicus’ father was my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather Grand Sachem Canonicus, Chief of all the Narragansett Indians. Grand Sachem Canonicus’ father was my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather Wessonsuoum of the Narragansett Indians. Wessonsuoum’s father was my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather Chief Tashtassuck of the Narragansett Indians. Chief Tashtassuck was born during the time Columbus voyaged to the New World in 1492.

Good Morning to all.  What an exciting day.  I am hard at work in my studio, juggling a handful of different projects. I have been bitten by the Spring Bug and I am excited to be producing new forms of art.  I have been busy with sculpture; clay, wood, and stone.  I am looking forward to getting these out into the gallery within the next several weeks. I have also been working on finishing old paintings of mine that have been accumulating dust in my studio closet.  I’ve been testing new, vibrant colors, and I like the added depth.  As for the music, I am experimenting with the capo lately, and have written a new CD worth of songs, most accompanied by harmonica.  I’m thinking of adding violin, cello, and piano.  This will probably be my summer project as my hands are full right now.  Next week I am on vacation with the wild horses of Asseteaque Island, it will be me, my ipod, the wild horses, and editing of my new novel, the title of which I will announce later.