Gloucester Has a Winner—by connection!

Gloucester Has a Winner—by connection!

By Cathy (Frontiero) Spiro

At the urging of my Aunts Mary Scola and Vincie (Scola) Gounaris, and my sister Josie (Frontiero) Palazola, I wrote this piece to express my thanks and appreciation to all the Cape Ann friends and family of fans who viewed and rooted for Mike and Sam during the eight NBC ‘Love In The Wild’ episodes that aired on Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. from June 29 to August 17, 2011, where Mike and Samantha met, partnered up for seven of the eight challenges, and went on to win the grand prize trip around the world. Congratulations to them! Here is some personal information that your readers may enjoy.

Michael Spiro and his contestant partner Samantha Woods won the first ever ‘Love in the Wild’ prize, a trip around the world, after winning a water adventure in the show’s season finale on Wednesday, August 17, 2011. Although Mike is not a Gloucester native, his mom, Cathy Frontiero Spiro, is from the ‘Fort’, so the connection is through her. Not only did they win the grand prize trip, but they have also found love. Mike and Sam are still seeing each other, have met one another’s parents, and are planning for a well-deserved opportunity of a lifetime--their trip around the world together.

Mike Spiro was born and raised in the Santa Clarita Valley, 35 miles north of Los Angeles, California, and went to Cal Berkeley where he was a member of Chi Phi fraternity and was awarded a degree in Architecture. He is a Vice-President of a San Francisco commercial real estate development company with several other partners. Samantha Woods is a So California Orange County native who attended Chapman University and majored in Communications and Public Relations and is a wedding planner in the So California area.

The two formed a strong bond from the very first show when she selected him to be her partner for their first challenge because of what he said, “that brains and brawn would be needed to be a winner”. Together they won the first ‘air’ challenge and the prize--a night in the ‘Oasis’, the luxurious 5-star Nayara Hotel Resort Spa and Gardens, located in Costa Rica’s lush rain forest on the outskirts the active Arenal Volcano, a private retreat where they shared tropical foods and beverages, the best in accommodations, and time to get to know one another. Only the contestant pair who won the challenge on each episode could spend the night at the “Oasis”.

Lucky for Mike that he was a good swimmer, too, and not afraid of the water, as was his final opponent Miles Haefner from Minnesota, who with Heather Pond from California, came in a close second place runner-up. For two months prior to the show, Mike worked the gym weights room harder than usual to get in good condition to meet the show’s physical challenges: to swim in crocodile infested waters, find props in bat infested caves, run through muddy jungle and dirt paths, search for ‘Mambo’ and the ‘clue’, ride a horse, row a row boat and canoe, float on a paddle board, ride an oxcart, slide down water chutes, pitch a tent, build a fire, and use a repel line to traverse waterfalls and steep valleys—all in the Costa Rican rain forest surrounding Lake Arenal in an idyllic volcano jungle setting. Pushed to the limit both mentally and physically, these two winners won with luck and perseverance. Because they played harder, had more grit, drive and fortitude, and wanted the ‘W’ more than the other contestants—and most importantly, because they were lucky enough to have one another and to work well together as a team—that was the winning combination. Were they looking for love? Well, let’s just say that they kept an open mind for a romantic interlude, if it was meant to be.
They were selected to be contestants on ‘Love in the Wild’ in a most uncanny way. Mike says that on his way home from work late one night, he stopped at a burger and beer bar near his home in the Bay area and a girl approached him and asked him if he was single. “So I'm sitting by myself drinking a beer and eating a burger and a girl comes up to me and asked if I liked wild adventures, beautiful women and exotic locations. So it was a pretty easy sell in my book. I went back, met the casting director and that was it.” Samantha said she “was actually working part-time at a restaurant and got approached by two captain directors. They asked if I was single. And the conversation started from there. They told me a little bit about the show and they said it was NBC. I was intrigued. And so then I went on my interview and the whole thing started from there.”
Mike and Samantha celebrated their August birthdays together. He took her to Disneyland the day after the season finale aired on August 18; she went to his birthday party in San Francisco last weekend. They have established long-lasting friendships with the other contestants, especially those who lasted the longest on the show, and they still keep in contact with them.

Lest we forget, here’s kudos to the other fierce Gloucester TV reality show contestants: Jimmy T on ‘Survivor’; Joe, Nino, and Gus Sanfilippo, the Fishermen team on ‘Expedition Impossible’; and Christian Collins on ‘MasterChef’. They were awesome. It must be that competitive spirit that drives our Gloucester folk to finish so strong.

One thing is certain. The ‘Mike and Samantha’ couple will definitely want to visit Gloucester and the Cape Ann area to reconnect with his roots and to meet and thank everyone who was part of their fan base there, especially his great aunts, cousins, and others (Godmother Grace Miseraca- (Peter) Favazza, Cousins Frank Frontiero, and Donny and Cathy Nicastro). If you would like more information about the other contestants or missed an episode, you can catch up on-line at www.NBC/Love in the Wild.com, Zap2It, or go to ‘On Demand’ to view any of the eight episodes. The show is currently casting for next Spring’s reality adventure. Amor Salvaje!

NBC Show Summary:
Twenty single men and women travel to the remote jungles of Costa Rica for an adventure in love. Each episode sees couples paired up on physically and emotionally exhausting quests. Following each undertaking, the winning couple is rewarded with a stay at a luxurious bungalow that is primed for romance. During eliminations the couples share whether a connection has been formed or if they would like to give someone else a chance, and two singles are sent home. Darren McMullen hosts.

2011 Sawyer Free Art Auction

2011 Sawyer Free Library Art Auction



Director Carol Gray shows off a few Paintings in this years AuctionThe Silent Auction will take place throughout the month of September in the Matz Gallery. The Live Vocal Auction will be held on October 5, 2011 at 7 pm. A Preview Party at 6 pm will precede the auction.
HOW IT WORKS

Joey C did a great video describing how you place a Silent Bid

This video is from the 2009 Art Auction.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_UzjyM_9lw]

"Art, Rocks!" hint coming 03/19/2011 6pm

The Next "Art, Rocks!" photo Hint coming at 6pm 03/19/2011 via twitter and Http://www.FrontieroGallery.com
It will be an easy access area. It's where a lot of Glosta people walk in the good weather.
Ok! I'll give a little hint. "Anchors aweigh"
Also, Does anyone really care?

"Art, Rocks!" Hint 03/06/2011

This is the only Hint of where I Sketched and Left it at 11:00am 03/06/2011

Annual Art Auction at the Sawyer Free Library

It’s That Time of Year Again!

It’s Time for the Annual Art Auction at the Sawyer Free Library right here in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

This is your chance to win a beautiful piece of Artwork from Some Great Cape Ann Artists!

The Bidding Starts low and if your Lucky you’ll win your favorite Painting. There’s always great stuff to choose from.

From the Sawyer Free Library;

The Art Advisory Committee of the Sawyer Free Library is sponsoring the always popular “Annual Art Auction” in the Matz Gallery the entire month of November.

Patrons are invited to come in and view Original Paintings by Local Artists.

Silent bids will be accepted the entire month.

Great interest is generated throughout the month as the Bid Book fills up.

A Final Live Vocal Auction will take place on Dec. 1, 2010 at 7 p.m. A preview party will precede the auction.

The Final Vocal Auction is always an exciting event. There will be a lot of Beautiful Paintings on display.

Go Check it out! and Bid!

Below is my contribution to this years Auction.

“Glass Vase with Flowers” by Paul F. Frontiero Jr.

http://www.sawyerfreelibrary.org/

The Sketchbook Project

There’s a New Blog in Town!

Don’t worry Joey, GMG has nothing to worry about. Even though I will be posting some Great Stuff! This Blog will be following the progress of Six Artists participating in the “Sketchbook Project” all of us either live here in Gloucester or have Ties here. Deb Clarke can explain it better. Check it out below.

From Deb Clarke;

“Hello,

We are 6 intrepid sketchbookers with a common love of gloucester massachusetts that have decided to participate with 17,000+ other sketchbookers in “The Sketchbook Project”. This began with Elizabeth Bollenberg asking me (deb clarke, her mom) to get her a sketchbook so that she could participate in the project. I ordered a sketchbook for her and one for me. My goodmorninggloucester friend and student Paul Frontiero ordered one. Then my friend, co-worker, and goodmorninggloucester friend Sabine Ocker ordered one. Then my friend, now living in Palm Springs and goodmorninggloucester friend Helen Anne Lind ordered one.

my personal approach…i’m going to start posting regularly on it after i deliver eb’s sketchbook to her tomorrow. i have some fun ideas, and of course, since i am an artist and am used to stretching into unknown territory, i’m going to dive in, dive down deep, then re-surface. whatever i do, i trust it will be full of surprises, with unexpected consequences.

at least this is one art object that i won’t have to store and take care of after it leaves my hands.

We invite you to follow our progress towards the successful completion of our sketchbooks.

Anyone can participate, you don’t have to be an artist! If you would like to participate in the sketchbook project too, click the sketchbook project link. If you would like to share your sketchbook work for The Brooklyn Art Library’s traveling ‘Sketchbook Project”, we would be pleased to see your work and perhaps share your progress on our Blog; http://somethingsketchy.wordpress.com/

Click the Banner below for more Info on the “Sketchbook Project”

Deb

http://somethingsketchy.wordpress.com/

Bananas Rock!

 

from August 2010

Drats! I’ve Been Out smarted again.

The clues I gave must’ve been too easy.

I think it was the Banana Splits TV Show Theme Song that Gave it away.

Here’s The  photo of Kerry, and Her Mom, Karen McNally After Winning the “Bazaar Art Rock Contest”.

They are the Winners of a ROCK! An “ART, ROCKS!” Rock.

They Figured out all the clues and Found their way to the Vintage Clothing Store “Bananas” to claim their Prize.

Here’s the Emails I received from Kerry and Her Mom Karen;

Hi Mr. Frontiero,

I would like to let you know that I found your awesome rock at Bananas!
My mom and I are very excited!!!!

I love painting, and I have been collecting art work from different states. I would love to add your rock to my art collection.
We walked around main street, this afternoon, telling your story of the painted rocks.

My mom had fun solving the riddle, and I couldn’t believe that I actually found one of your amazing rocks!

Thank you!

-Kerry McNally

From Karen; (Kerry’s Mom)

Your artwork, and how it was discovered, has been Kerry’s main topic of discussion with friends and family since Saturday.
The excitement of it’s find has not diminished, and I don’t think that it ever will!

Kerry says “Thank you for the great adventure”.

Thanks!
-Karen

I’m Humbled. Well Honored is probably a better word.

For my Rock to Be included in Kerrys Art Collection.

Thanks so much Kerry for the Inspiration!

Big Thanks go to my Friends at BANANAS for hosting the contest.

Thank you Richard and Debbie!

Something’s Sketchy in Gloucester

 

“My Sketchbook Project”

When Debbie first contacted me about “The Sketchbook Project” and I checked it out, I was excited about it and thought it would be something cool to do. But then my anxiety kicked in. I asked myself; “Could I actually come up with an idea that would be interesting”? “Would I actually follow through with it”? Maybe Joey From GoodMorningGloucester.org was right, that I tend to “over ANALyse a little too much”.

Now that my skeptisism and anxiety about this project has eased for the moment, I’ve decided on a theme. “Coffee and Cigarettes” I drink coffee and I smoke while I sketch, so I figured it would be a easy theme to work with. The Sketchbook Project does not make you stick to the theme. They only consider it a starting point. Your allowed to stray from it completely if you like.

My Sketchbook will include Sharpie and pen Sketches, small Acrylic and Gouache Paintings of my favorite areas of Gloucester. I am also planning on making it a Journal, with thoughts on what I’m thinking about at the time. So if my anxiety kicks in it should get interesting. If anybody out there has any other ideas let me know. The Title will be the last thing I come up with. You can follow mine and the other Authors of this blog process through this Sketchbook Tour Project. I hope we can make it interesting.

Maybe we’ll have a Sketchbook Viewing Party before we ship them out for the Tour.

Paul F Frontiero Jr.

Views from the State Fish Pier Gloucester, Ma

My favorite hangout to have a cup of coffee, draw, THINK, view the local rats drinking beer and meditate. I try to go there everynight.