What is Motif Number One?

In the quaint harbor town of Rockport, Massachusetts, is a little fishing shack with a huge history. So much so, it has been deemed the “most often-painted building in America”. Initially home to a colony of artists and avid fishermen, the shack was built, at the end of a granite wharf, in the 1840s as a symbol of maritime life. Artists favored it for the simple composition and ideal lighting, making it appealing on canvas. Locals readily offer tidbits of Hollywood films shot at this location: “Finding Nemo” and especially Sandra Bullock’s 2009 blockbuster entitled, “The Proposal”. Now that you see the charming little shack with its weathered red paint, perhaps you’ll flock to Rockport for a closeup of Motif Number One.*
*”Motif” is a French term for a distinctive and recurring subject in a work of art. 

New York by Water

Did you know the Staten Island Ferry is a free boat ride that gives one of the most memorable views, by water, of the New York City skyline? Because the ferry commutes back and forth between Manhattan and Staten Island, round the clock, it’s one of the most popular Harbor Cruises by tourists and residents alike. Check out the majestic Statue of Liberty, skyscrapers of Lower Manhattan, and Ellis Island. Be prepared to stand for the view. After all, remember, it’s free. It’s also unforgettable.