Big Beautiful World 4 -- Motif #1, Rockport, MA

I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating, and tell all your friends to pass it along: It’s a big, beautiful world out there. Let’s stop trying to screw it up. What do you say? Perched at the very edge of Bradley Wharf in Rockport, MA, stands a picturesque, red, weathered fishing shack known as Motif #1. Originally built in 1840 as an actual fishing shack, Motif #1 was so named by Lester Hornby, an art teacher in the early part of the 20th century. His students chose to paint the building--with its interesting lines and gorgeous location--more often than anything else, so he jokingly referred to it as such, and the name stuck. Now it's a landmark owned by the town, and I'm not sure how much fish-related action goes on inside its walls.Motif #1 is often cited as the most painted building in America, the top selection among art history students and painters alike. It's certainly appeared in its share of photographs, too. Fun fact: You may recognize Motif #1 from the Sandra Bullock movie The Proposal; Rockport doubled for Sitka in that movie.