What is it like to live in Dennis?
“All the villages have something to offer and are unique in their own way,’’ one resident of the Cape Cod town said.
When Michael A. Giaquinto, the Cape Cod Museum of Art’s exhibitions curator, came to Dennis 15 years ago, little did he know he would continue to flourish not only as an artist, but as a professional in the arts.
Giaquinto, so skilled in the historic-but-little-known art of vinegar painting that he was honored by Early American Life magazine, was the chief art preparator in the museum at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. When an artist friend on Cape Cod found him a studio space and encouraged him to relocate, he knew it was time to make a change.
Turns out, he loves the small-town feel the Cape offers, compared with life in North Carolina’s capital city.
Wishing to ensconce himself in his new community, he began volunteering his skills at the Cape Cod Museum of Art. Soon, he took a job at the museum and, a few years later, closed his studio and gallery.
But he has continued his work as an abstract painter, and is one of the artists featured at Miller White Fine Arts in South Dennis, where he lives. He also teaches acrylic painting for adults. Giaquinto likes that while Dennis is small overall, everything he needs can be found in a particular village. He’s also loves the beaches, Mayflower in particular.
Dennis, like some of its neighboring towns on the Mid-Cape, consists of several villages. The art museum is located on Route 6A. This thoroughfare, also referred to as the Old King’s Highway, is dotted with galleries, restaurants, shops, and cafes. The campus on which the museum resides also hosts the Cape Cinema and the storied Cape Playhouse, where actress Bette Davis was once an usher.
The geography can get a little confusing. South Dennis is south of Dennis, but it does not border Nantucket Sound, as some might assume. That distinction belongs to Dennis Port and West Dennis.
“I rarely have to travel to the southernmost villages in the summer, as Dennis has plenty to offer year-round and the traffic can be busy, but only for two or three months,’’ Giaquinto said. “All the villages have something to offer and are unique in their own way.’’
BY THE NUMBERS
6,400
Square footage of the mural on the auditorium ceiling at Cape Cinema. Designed by American artist Rockwell Kent, it features images of comets, galaxies, and constellations alongside dancing figures.
75 years
How long Bass River Light was dark after it was decommissioned in 1914. It was relighted in 1989 in conjunction with the 200th anniversaryof the US Lighthouse Service, and now flashes every six seconds. Recognized by the US Coast Guard as West Dennis Light, it sits atop The Lighthouse Inn.
PROS & CONS
Pro
Galleries
The Cape Cod Museum of Art (above) represents artists old and new, and the number of independent galleries is a treat. Just a sampling: Harvest Gallery Wine Bar features live music, Village Tea Room at Borsari Gallery is a popular spot for nuptials, and try Scargo Pottery & Art Gallery for that special gift, like a wedding plate.
Con
Traffic
Tourists flock to Dennis in the summer. No surprise here.
Pro
Beaches
Dennis has 19 of them. Cape Cod Life magazine awarded gold medals to Mayflower Beach for best Mid-Cape beach and Corporate Beach for best picnic spot.
Scott Lajoie is a freelance writer on the Cape. He can be reached at [email protected].
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