Mixed Media Cods

Item Description

Title & Artist:  "Other Fish in the Sea" – by Ruth K. Rooks

Medium & Size:  Gouache and acrylics with added material on wood.  21 7/8" L x 8 5/8" H x 3/4" D.  For indoor display only.

Artist Statement:  An artist friend and enthusiastic cook made the remark when I told her I was doing a cod for the festival, "Cod—what a boring fish (in the culinary sense)—there are so many more fish in the sea." I took the many fish as my theme.

Artist Biography:  I have always painted and done crafts, and I can never remember a time when I didn't indulge in either one. I came to Marblehead in 7th grade and therefore had the privilege of learning art with the famed Marion Brown. As a senior in high school, I was able to get a summer job at Camp Columbus/Columbia—then at St. John's Prep in Danvers, MA. I was in charge of girls' arts and crafts, and that began my love of teaching. I taught at the camp for 9 years.

After graduating from Boston University as an Art History major, I got married and we moved to New York City, where my husband was getting a master's degree at Columbia University. I worked at the college and took the opportunity to attend Teachers College (free!) to fulfill all the teaching requirements for Massachusetts certification. Back at camp for the summer, I was able to network among the teachers there and got a teaching position in Revere, MA, at the junior high school. This was to be my preferred age group for the next 30 years, although I taught all age groups from kindergarten to elderly, depending upon the ages of my children and the limitations facing a stay-at-home mom.

Though I was always painting, 20 years ago I stopped teaching, and painting became my life. I paint because it is what I do. I sometimes do other things—silverwork, ceramics, and printmaking, to name a few. But the easel is always set up in my studio, it is what I turn to, it is what gives me the greatest pleasure and the deepest angst!

Hosting Business:  "Other Fish in the Sea" is on display at The Fish Market, 34B Atlantic Ave., Marblehead, MA.

Item Special Note

Pick-up of purchased cods will be on Wednesday evening, July 5. Winning bidder will receive a notification email with information on pick-up time and location.

If winning bidder requires shipping, winner's credit card will be charged a separate $24.95 fee to cover USPS ground and handling. Shipping is available within the U.S. only and must be requested within 7 days after receipt of the notification email.

Any cod purchased via "Buy Now" will remain on display at the hosting business through the end of the auction, and will be available for pick-up as detailed in the winning bidder notification email.

If winning bidder has not picked up cod (or provided shipping address) within 30 days after the close of the auction, cod will become the property of Marblehead Festival of Arts, Inc.

Click here to see the other decorated cods up for bid in our Cods of a Different Color online auction!

To learn more about the Marblehead Festival of Arts, visit www.marbleheadfestival.org.
To make a tax-deductible donation, visit www.marbleheadfestival.org/donations.