Swimmers at the YMCA in Cape Ann, Mass., are drying off with some special "talking towels" these days. Community-based artist Lara Lepionka has been embroidering Cape Ann YMCA towels with messages from Y members and staff about Gloucester and the work they do there. The Talking Towel Project (made possible by the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts and Monograms by Diane) investigates how in our work lives we are constantly touching other people’s lives. The towels debuted during the Gloucester New Arts Festival in August 2005, and will continue on in permanent use at the Y. Some sample quotes: "I feel good when they get the courage to go to the deep end" and "The answers to problems in your life come in the middle of when you’re sweating." [LINK] Posted by Linda Frye Burnham