INTER / PLAY A Group Exhibition Exploring the Space Between Solitude, Nature, and the Creative Process

Opening Reception: Sunday, September 21, 2025, 4–6 PM
Exhibition Dates: September 18 – October 5, 2025
Location: Cove Gallery, 37 Rocky Neck Avenue, Gloucester, MA

Gloucester, MA — Rocky Neck Art Colony is pleased to present INTER / PLAY, a group exhibition bringing together five Cape Ann-based artists—Morgan Dyer, Amanda Bittner, Vanessa Michalak, Elissa Lincoln, and Maia Mattson—to explore the dynamic relationships between solitude, nature, and the creative process.

The exhibition unfolds across two interconnected gallery spaces, each offering a distinct entry point into the artists’ practices. The first space features a curated selection of framed works, introducing viewers to each artist’s dialogue with the natural world. Here, themes of structure, rhythm, and personal connection emerge.

From there, boundaries begin to dissolve. In the second room, paintings and sculptural forms break open, overlap, and collide. Texture and scale shift dramatically, creating a visceral experience that echoes the unpredictability of nature, time, and material.

Each artist contributes a distinct voice to this evolving conversation:

• Morgan Dyer’s layered paintings and sculptural pieces—shaped by outdoor surfaces—evoke the interplay of control and surrender found in Cape Ann’s coastal terrain.
• Amanda Bittner and Vanessa Michalak translate plein air experiences into works that capture the immediacy of shifting light and atmosphere.
• Elissa Lincoln crafts memory-laced paper collages that reassemble fragments of landscapes into new forms.
• Maia Mattson, working with foraged botanicals, builds immersive environments that explore cycles of impermanence and renewal.

At the heart of INTER / PLAY is a collaborative, site-responsive installation co-created by all five artists. This shared piece acts as a living culmination of the themes explored throughout the show—where materials, gesture, and intuition converge.

About Rocky Neck Art Colony
Founded in 1855, Rocky Neck Art Colony is one of the oldest continuously operating art colonies in the United States. Located in Gloucester, Massachusetts, it is home to a vibrant community of artists and cultural organizations. Through exhibitions, residencies, and educational programs, RNAC fosters creativity, collaboration, and connection with the wider community.