Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1125082
NORTHSHOREMAG.COM 30 JULY 2019 Even if you've never been to Rockport, you've seen Motif #1. The buoy-decked red fishing shack sits on a granite pier jutting into Rockport Harbor, practically begging visitors to take photos of the picturesque scene. But Rockport, situated at the very end of Cape Ann, is far more than its most famous photo op. It is traditional landscape paintings alongside bold modern art. It is fried clams and hot dogs up the street from farm-fresh baby kale salad and Japanese-inspired swordfish. It is a walk along the rugged coastline and a seat at a world-class chamber music performance. "It mixes old and new in a really fantastic way," says Sarah Kelly, a local writer and the founder of Rockport Exchange, a nonprofit that promotes cultural events and activities in the city. "There are so many options for ways to enjoy Rockport." Rockport began as a part of the Gloucester settlement, with the first residents coming to live there in the 17th century. In the late 1700s, the town began to develop a granite trade, driven by the needs of construction projects in Salem and Boston. Until the early 20th century, the industry was one of the town's main economic drivers. In the 1900s, artists discovered the town, drawn by its unique light and sweeping views. As the Great Depression set in and sped the decline of the granite industry, Rockport was transformed into an artist colony, full of notable names and acclaimed works. Each summer, artists poured into the town in droves, many there to paint—of course—Motif #1. Today, both granite and art are still very much present in the town. Abandoned quarries, now filled with water, dot the area, and galleries and studios are abundant. Visiting artists are still drawn to the scenic coastline and the picturesque buildings of Bearskin Neck. And it's hard to pass that iconic red fishing D A T E O F S E T T L E M E N T 1623 D A T E O F I N C O R P O R A T I O N 1840 A R E A 7 square miles P O P U L A T I O N 7,184 Z I P C O D E 01966 M E D I A N H O U S E H O L D I N C O M E $ 72,015 Rockport Elementary School, Rockport Middle School, Rockport High School Singer-songwriter Paula Cole, Pixar writer-producer Andrew Stanton, singer-songwriter Bobby Hebb, perpetual presidential candidate Vermin Supreme, author Kevin Baker S C H O O L S N O T A B L E R E S I D E N T S THE DETAILS PHOTOGRAPHS, TOP TO BOTTOM BY MATT KALINOWSKI, BY ANTHONY TIEULI FAC E S + P L AC E S Streets reflect a New England coastal atmosphere. Feather and Wedge serves locally caught seafood.