Motif Number 1 (Interior) by ANDREW HOULE

Motif Number 1, located on Bradley Wharf in the harbor town of Rockport, Massachusetts, is a replica of a former fishing shack well known to students of art and art history as "the most often-painted building in America." The original structure was built in 1840 and destroyed in the Blizzard of 1978, but an exact replica was constructed that same year.

Built in the 1840s as Rockport was becoming home to a colony of artists and settlement of fishermen, the shack became a favorite subject of painters due to the composition and lighting of its location as well as being a symbol of New England maritime life. Painter Lester Hornby (1882–1956) is believed to be the first to call the shack "Motif Number 1," a reference to its being the favorite subject of the town's painters, and the name achieved general acceptance.

Andrew Houle has lived in Beverly, MA since graduating from Montserrat College of Art in the year 2000.  While studying primarily illustration, a love for oil painting co-existed throughout his formative years, leading to a split body of professional work with a career in comic books and also exhibiting in galleries. 

Houle shifted focus in early 2005 to what has been described as American Realism; capturing the surroundings north of Boston in an eclectic body of work highlighting blue-collar landmarks and iconic Cape Ann light. Recognizing influences from Hopper and Rockwell, Houle has worked towards creating a personal narrative through his paintings connecting the viewer to his or her community. His work can be found throughout the country in private collections and represented by galleries throughout New England.