Now Screening: ‘Clay,’ Short Film on Potter Steve Kemp

Michael Cestaro was born and raised in Eastham, graduated from Nauset Regional High School in 2004, and left for college in Boston and a life in California until just recently. “I’ve been working in film and cinematography for 12 years,” Cestaro says. “I do mostly online video marketing. I’m trying to do weddings and such.”

When his parents downsized, Cestaro bought the house he grew up in, and moved back in with his own family. But his corporate work didn’t fully satisfy him. “I hit this time in my life when I needed to create something and stop judging myself,” he says. “I wanted to do something without consideration of its commercial value.”

He was intrigued by the idea of shooting pottery being made and thought of the Kemp Pottery store on Route 6A near the rotary in Orleans, which he would pass when picking up his daughter from child care.

“My first conversation with Steve Kemp was two and a half hours long,” Cestaro says. “In the way that Steve speaks, it’s almost like commandments, but in such a friendly, nice way. I really fell in love with Steve. He’s such an enlightened artist.”

Cestaro ended up shooting the film “Clay,” with Kemp working at a wheel, casting his signature sand ripples out on the flats, and talking about the practice of art that sustains him.

It’s a gorgeous, engaging 13-minute film that is well worth the time it takes to screen it online at upabovecreative.com/clay. There’s no charge, but Cestaro, who financed the film himself, is hoping to raise money to turn this into a series on local artists. —Howard Karren

Mary Giammarino Featured at Four Eleven Gallery 

“Poetry & Science,” an exhibit of new paintings by Mary Giammarino, will open Friday, July 31, at Four Eleven Gallery at 411 Commercial St. in Provincetown, and run through Aug. 6.

Giammarino’s plein air paintings are driven by light and color in the classic tradition of Provincetown impressionism. Four Eleven Gallery is open for two people at a time, Thursday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by appointment (617-905-7432).

Wellfleetians Page and Witkowski at Hutson Gallery

The Hutson Gallery, at 432 Commercial St. in Provincetown, is putting on two exhibits: “Catalan Sun,” featuring new work by Michael Page, and “Same Not Same,” with new pieces by Luanne Witkowski. The shows will open on Friday, July 31, and remain on view through Aug. 13. The gallery is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Tuesdays.

Page’s work is inspired by his recent travels to Morocco, Jordan, Italy, and Spain. He does his painting on the ground, not on an easel, using palette knives and nontraditional materials such as rags or sandpaper. Witkowski’s show consists of collagraph and intaglio monoprints inspired by nature.

Virtual Marx Brothers, Presented by WHAT

Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater and Marc Strauss are streaming five classic naughty pre-Code Marx Brothers film comedies on five Mondays in August at 7 p.m. The series begins on Aug. 3 with The Cocoanuts (1929), continues with the anarchic Broadway adaptation Animal Crackers (1930) on Aug. 10, Monkey Business (1931) on Aug. 17, the hilarious football romp Horse Feathers (1932) on Aug. 24, and, as a finale, the brilliant Duck Soup (1933) on Aug. 31.

All five films star all four Marxes — Groucho, Chico, Harpo, and handsome young Zeppo (forever shtick-less) — and each will be introduced by Strauss, who will lead an online discussion post-screening. Tickets for the films, at what.org, are $10 each or $30 for the series.

Provincetown Exhibits for Chris Roddick and Jan Donley

Stewart Clifford Gallery, open daily at 338 Commercial St. in Provincetown, is presenting new work by two artists, Chris Roddick and Jan Donley, from Friday, July 31, through Aug. 12.

Roddick’s show, “At the End of the Cape,” features scenes of Provincetown using different media and techniques. It will have an opening reception on Friday, July 31.

For the works in her show “Rooted in Place and Time,” Donley creates layered digital images using an iPad. Her opening reception will be held on Saturday, Aug. 1.

New Works by Sandra Jones Campbell and Deborah Martin

William Scott Gallery, at 438 Commercial St. in Provincetown, is showing works by painters Sandra Jones Campbell and Deborah Martin through Aug. 5. Call 508-487-4040 for hours or to make an appointment.

In her show, “Summer,” Campbell draws on her collection of vintage black-and-white photographs to depict nostalgic summer scenes in a style drawing on German impressionism. Martin’s show, “Narrow Lands,” focuses on homes of the Outer Cape in states of disrepair or decomposition.

This season, a portion of proceeds from sales at the gallery will benefit Cape Cod Arts Relief, in support of artists affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Seth Rudetsky Hosts Cheyenne Jackson 

The virtual Seth Concert Series, in which Seth Rudetsky chats and accompanies stars of Broadway, continues on Sunday, Aug. 2, at 8 p.m. (encore presentation on Monday, Aug. 3, at 3 p.m.) with Cheyenne Jackson. Tickets are $25 at thesethconcertseries.com.

Jackson, a Provincetown habitué and out and proud singer-songwriter, is best known for the long-running Xanadu on Broadway, as well as playing a Liberace boy toy in HBO’s Behind the Candelabra, and recurring roles on American Horror Story, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and 30 Rock.

Jim Broussard Shows at Alden Gallery 

The Provincetown streetscapes and dunescapes of local painter Jim Broussard, formerly at Shirl Roccapriore’s Oils by the Sea, have found a new home at Alden Gallery, 423 Commercial St. in Provincetown, open daily noon to 5 p.m.

Broussard will have a solo show of new oils from Friday, July 31, through Aug. 13, with scenes from winter, spring, and summer, on Commercial Street and out by the dune shacks, and some with rooftop bird’s-eye views.

Bakker Gallery Presents Arthur Cohen Retrospective

An exhibit of iconic works by the late painter Arthur Cohen will be on view at Bakker Gallery, at 359 Commercial St. in Provincetown, from Friday, July 31, through Aug. 22. The art featured represents the whole of Cohen’s career, with images of both Provincetown and New York City. The gallery is open Thursday through Monday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., or by appointment (508-413-9758). There will be no opening reception.