J.O.J. Frost Gallery & Carolyn Lynch Education Center - Marblehead Museum
Museum Headquarters

J.O.J. Frost Gallery & Carolyn Lynch Education Center

A permanent gallery dedicated to J.O.J. Frost's artwork and sculpture, as well as an education and lecture space at the heart of Marblehead Museum.

Location
170 Washington Street
Marblehead, MA 01945
Admission
By donation
March - April Hours
Tuesday through Friday
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
May - December 23rd Hours
Tuesday through Saturday
10:00 am - 4:00 pm

(Closed Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving weekend)
Please note: The Museum is not currently wheelchair accessible.
Research and Archives: By appointment only
J.O.J. Frost Artwork

J.O.J. Frost (1852-1928)

John Orne Johnson Frost's post-Civil War boyhood memories of Marblehead and experiences aboard fishing schooners on the Grand Banks are the focus of his work. J.O.J. Frost began painting at age 70, untrained but driven by a sense of history that he expressed visually. He considered himself a historian rather than an artist.

Frost used materials he had on hand—house paint, wall board, and odds and ends of wood scraps—to create his works. He had no understanding of perspective, no knowledge of anatomy, and no particular skill at drawing. What might be considered artistic failings, though, make his paintings unique.

His art is more than charming and quaint as it details the daily life of Marbleheaders at home and at sea. Frost's work is recognized as a significant part of American folk art, and is represented in major folk art collections throughout the country.

Land Acknowledgement

We recognize that this land was home to the Naumkeag band of the Massachusett/Pawtucket Tribes. The Marblehead Museum is committed to incorporating the study and dissemination of this land's Native History into its mission.

What is a Land Acknowledgement? Read Our Complete Acknowledgement

Land Acknowledgement We recognize that this land was home to the Naumkeag band of the Massachusett/Pawtucket Tribes. The Marblehead Museum is committed to incorporating the study and dissemination of this land’s Native History into its mission.

What is a Land Acknowledgement and Why is it Important? Click HERE. Read our complete Land Acknowledgment HERE.

Get a sneak peak at our three sites!

Photo credits: Rick Ashley, Jeff Dykes, Marcia Hunkins, Lisa Indelicato

MARBLEHEAD MUSEUM
170 Washington St.
Marblehead, MA 01945
phone : 781-631-1768
info@marbleheadmuseum.org

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