Connecting with the Arts – August 2022

Welcome back to the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County’s monthly blog series, Connecting with the Arts,  where we feature news and updates from the arts community in Anne Arundel County. Tune in the last Friday of each month to connect and learn more about the arts organizations that are making an impact locally.

Here’s a look into this month’s post:

  • Employment Opportunity at Historic Annapolis.
  • Ballet Theatre of Maryland Unveils New Logo Design at Gala Event.
  • South County Concert Association Kicks Off Their 2022-2023 Concert Season.
  • World Artists Experiences (WAE), in partnership with the Embassy of Mozambique, presents live performance of The Albino Mbie Trio.
  • Encore Creativity Adds New Choral Programs for Older Adults in Anne Arundel County.
  • Catch up on all the latest happenings at Maryland Hall.
  • Classic Theatre of Maryland: two upcoming productions, an open house, and registration for fall classes.
  • ArtFarm Studios fall classes are here.
  • Harbor City Music Company – the Road to Louisville Goes Through the Cabaret.
  • Check out MFA’s current exhibitions.

You can connect and learn more about these organizations by clicking their logos below. We hope you enjoy!

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Employment Opportunity at Historic Annapolis

Historic Annapolis (HA) is seeking a highly organized, detail-oriented, and energetic individual for the position of Senior Executive Associate. The Senior Executive Associate is responsible for supporting the operations of the President’s Office for HA, the leading non-profit preservation and history organization in Annapolis, Maryland. This individual will report to the President and CEO and will interact with the organization’s various departments, as well as a variety of others including Board of Trustee members, the public, vendors, and prospective donors. Essential duties and responsibilities will focus on proactively supporting high-level administrative needs of the President and Executive Team and serve as a liaison to the Board of Trustees.

Click here for the full job description.

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to Ms. Lucy Mikhailova at [email protected] by August 31, 2022.


Ballet Theatre of Maryland Unveils New Logo Design at Gala Event

Their 44th anniversary gala gave Annapolis’s resident ballet company an opportunity to perform live and share what the logo means for the future

On Thursday night, Artistic Director Nicole Kelsch shared Ballet Theatre of Maryland’s new logo at a gala celebrating their 44th anniversary season. The event, held at Prism Annapolis, also featured a silent auction, a raffle, and live performances from company artists.
The new logo was created by Lauren Martinez, BTM’s Digital Content and Marketing Coordinator who is also a principal dancer in the company. Presenting a cohesive brand to the public with the logo helps make the general community more aware of the company while also supporting Kelsch’s vision for BTM.

Says Kelsch, “The most impactful ballet companies are ones that are deeply knitted into the fabric of their community. When residents of the area hear ‘BTM,’ our goal is for them to think of us. The new logo represents this association with our public, as well marking the exciting time the company is entering. Over the next few years, I envision BTM’s growth to include presenting a diverse repertoire of classical and contemporary works as well as many more works by outside choreographers.”

This commitment to expanding the repertory is evidenced not only by the upcoming world premiere from celebrated choreographer Keith Lee in Les Sylphides and Other Works (October 7-9), but also by the choice of programming for the gala performance: the joyful work Mudita, choreographed by principal dancer Lindsey Bell in 2021; an untitled contemporary solo by soloist dancer Michael West Jr.; Rhapsody, choreographed by Kelsch this year; and the classic White Swan Pas de Deux from Petipa’s Swan Lake. These works demonstrate the growing diversity and excellence that audience members can expect from the company’s programming.

The 44th anniversary season will open with the VIP event Ballet in the Garden at Hammond Harwood House (September 18), followed by mainstage productions Les Sylphides and Other Works (October 7-9), The Nutcracker (December 10-18), Momentum (February 24-25), and Don Quixote (April 28-29) at Maryland Hall. To learn more, visit balletmaryland.org.

Press Release Here


South County Concert Association Kicks Off Their 2022-2023 Concert Season!

Sultans of String
Tuesday September 20, 2022 at 7:30 pm
Southern High School, 4400 Solomons Island Rd, Harwood MD 20776
Subscription $70 (6 concerts)
$25 at the door (on the day of the concert)

“Energy & exciting music from a band with talent to burn!” – Maverick Music Magazine

2018 Canadian Folk Music Awards
2017 Juno Award Nominees

The Sultans of String are a genre-hopping passport of Celtic, flamenco, gypsy, and Arabic rhythms that celebrates musical fusion with warmth and virtuosity. This amazing trio excites audiences utilizing fiery violin dances with rumba-flamenco guitar and unstoppable grooves. Acoustic Strings Meet Electronic Wizardry.


World Artists Experiences (WAE), in partnership with the Embassy of Mozambique, presents live performance of The Albino Mbie Trio
September 7, 2022, 7:00 pm: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church; 461 College Parkway, Arnold, MD

Albino Mbie is a multi-award-winning musician, guitarist, singer, composer, and producer from Maputo, Mozambique, currently based in Boston, Massachusetts. Mozambique is a southern African country known for its rich musical and cultural heritage. Mbie built his first guitar from a 5 liter can of oil, scrap wood, and electric cords at the tender age of 14. Drawn to the street music of his native Maputo, Mbie soon started playing with bands in the local scene.

Mbie’s music succeeds in combining many disparate parts into an organic whole. It incorporates his musical experiences from Mozambique, the U.S., and many other places around the world, combining rhythmic patterns and musical concepts to create a unique Marrabenta, Nikatche, Afro-Pop and Moz-Jazz sound.

Mr. Mbie studied music at the Universidade Eduardo Mondlane in Mozambique and the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. He is an active touring musician who has shared the stage with Godfathers of American jazz such as Wayne shorter, Joe Lovano, John Patitucci and others as well as African giants such as Richard Bona, Jimmy Dludlu, Mulato Astatke and others.

Additional information about Albino Mbie is available at albinombie.com. World Artists Experiences is a non-profit organization that fosters transnational and cross-cultural understanding by bridging people and cultures across continents and through shared artistic experiences. More information is available on the WAE website, worldartists.org or by email at [email protected].

The performance is FREE, but donations are appreciated.
WAE recommends wearing a mask and social distancing, regardless of vaccination status.


Encore Creativity Adds New Choral Programs for Older Adults in Anne Arundel County

Annapolis-based Encore Creativity for Older Adults, America’s largest choral organization for adults over 55, has partnered with local entities to expand opportunities for singing for older adults in Anne Arundel County. In September, a new Encore Chorale will debut at the Chesapeake Arts Center, and Encore’s Sentimental Journey Singers, a choir for those with early-stage Alzheimer’s or memory impairments and their care partners, will launch at the Pascal Senior Activity Center in Glen Burnie in a partnership with the Anne Arundel Department of Aging and Disabilities.

The Encore Chorale of Chesapeake Arts Center will sing a fun and eclectic mix of music in many styles and from many different eras. No auditions are necessary. Encore’s mission is to provide an accessible arts education and performance opportunities for older adults regardless of ability or experience. The program will meet for 15 weeks on Tuesdays, beginning September 6th, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the Chesapeake Arts Center, 194 Hammonds Lane in Brooklyn Park. Encore welcomes new conductor Jacquelynne Fontaine, voice teacher, conductor, stage actress, and a soprano who has performed nationally and abroad in both opera and musical theater. Tuition is $190.00 per person for the 15-week session that will culminate in a holiday concert that is free and open to the public. For more information and registration visit www.encorecreativity.org or call 301-261-5747.

Sentimental Journey Singers, which is offered free of charge, will meet for 15 weeks on Tuesdays, beginning September 6th, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Pascal Senior Activity Center, 125 Dorsey Road in Glen Burnie. Participants will engage in therapeutic music activities and sing familiar songs and new pieces in a social group setting under the leadership of Dr. Mary Ann East, performer, teacher and founder of the popular women’s chorus, Capital Harmonia. Dr. East is the program director of Encore’s highly successful Sentimental Journey Singers choirs in Fairfax and Loudoun, Virginia.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Chesapeake Arts Center and the Anne Arundel Department of Aging and Disabilities to expand our programming in the region,” said Joshua Vickery, CEO of Encore Creativity for Older Adults, a non-profit organization celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. “Encore has become a community where our singers can discover a new passion, challenge themselves, foster new friendships and experience joy.”

Encore’s existing programs in the county are also gearing up for fall. Encore Chorale of Annapolis will meet at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, 611 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. in Severna Park, on Wednesdays, beginning September 7th, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. The conductor is Stephen Harouff, music director and organist at Towson Presbyterian Church, and conductor of Encore’s chorales in Baltimore and Columbia. Annapolis ROCKS, a rock and roll chorus, will meet Tuesdays, beginning September 6th, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis, 333 Dubois Road with new conductor Ethan Lolley. Lolley will come to Encore from Orlando, Fla. where he is the music director of the CFCArts Young Artists Orchestra as well as resident conductor and music director for all Florida premieres of composer Nathan Felix at Timucua Arts Foundation. He’s also a conducting protégé́ to nationally renowned Music Director Eric Jacobsen of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra.

Tuition is $190.00 per person for each 15-week program. Encore will follow all City, State and Federal Covid-19 guidelines. For more information and registration, visit encorecreativity.org or call 301-261-5747.

For those who prefer to sing virtually, Encore is also offering its popular Encore University, a comprehensive online program of singing plus enrichment courses in music history, music theory, dance, art, movement classes and more. Tuition for the fall semester of Encore University is $185.00 per person. Registration starts August 10th . Singers can combine both the in-person program with online classes for a full musical experience.

Photos (Top to Bottom):
The Encore Chorale of Annapolis performing in a holiday concert this past December at Maryland Hall ( photo credit Larry Kelly)
(L) Jacquelynne Fontaine will conduct the new Encore Chorale of Chesapeake Arts Center, a choral program for older adults

(R) Ethan Lolley is the new conductor of Annapolis ROCKS, an Encore Creativity for Older Adults rock and roll chorus


As we close out a very active summer at Maryland Hall, we continue our Front Stairs Series and welcome back the United States Navy Band. This popular outdoor free concert is always well attended and enjoyed by all. Resident Company the Annapolis Opera, celebrating their 50th year, presents the magnificent La boheme in the Main Theatre. During the summer audiences enjoyed concerts by Maryland Hall partner Rams Head Presents and performance from youth with our outreach program Hood2Good. The Annapolis Film Society and Maryland Hall with support from the Goldstein-Cunitz Center for Film & New Media presented: Student Shorts Showcase. These films, which have played at some festivals were made at a unique program for local teenagers called, FILMSTERS Academy.

Anticipation is growing for our largest fundraiser of the year, Alive Global sponsored by Rams Head Presents taking place Friday, September 9th outdoors under a huge tent at Maryland Hall. The Yacht Lobsters and all four MD Hall Resident Companies – Annapolis Opera, Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Theatre of Maryland, and Live Arts Maryland – will provide live entertainment for the evening. Arts Alive Global guests will “board a yacht” and sail the world enjoying entertainment, décor, art, food, and Pusser’s Painkillers®. This memorable night is the not-to-be-missed party of the year launching the area’s social and arts season.

Our education department is growing! New Fall classes and teaching artists including; Mini-Makers for tiny tots, jewelry making, new pottery classes for teens, a language-based literacy immersion class, and Wild Hearts Academy are a sampling of new programs being offered this fall. Registration is open!


The Servant of Two Masters (Every Tuesday May 17- Aug. 30th, at 7:30pm performed at Reynolds Tavern):
This hilarious play tells the story of a hungry servant who, realizing that working for two masters could ensure him more food, tries to do the job of two men while working desperately to conceal that fact from both employers. Presented weekly on Tuesdays in the outdoor courtyard at Reynolds Tavern. ***We encourage patrons to arrive between 6:00pm-6:30pm in order to order a pre-show dinner.  All patrons should arrive no later than 7:00pm for the performance.***

 TICKETS: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36626/production/1121242

2022 Open House (September 8, 2022 from 6:30 – 9:30pm):
Join us for CTM’s 2022-23 OPEN HOUSE! You are ALL invited to the Classic Theatre of Maryland on September 8th, 2022 from 6:30pm – 9:30pm to get to know CTM, tour the theatre, meet staff and enjoy live entertainment as well as catering provided by Smashing Grapes. This is a completely FREE event, however we ask that you RSVP no later than September 5th.

RSVP: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36626/production/1136174

September 1920’s Cabaret (September 12, 2022 at 7:30pm):
Enjoy an evening of live music! These popular costumed and choreographed productions feature our resident vocalists and special Broadway guest performers, accompanied by the popular Unified Jazz Ensemble. This is perfect for date night or a fun evening out with friends. Our updated Cabaret Venue features cafe tables and a full bar in a relaxed comfortable setting.

TICKETS: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36626/production/1127249

FALL CLASSES:
Our 2022 Fall Semester of classes through our Classic Studio begins the week of September 5th and runs for Nine Weeks culminating in a Student Showcase on November 7th at 7:30pm. We are offering four classes this semester which are Techniques of Fencing, Intro to Acting for the Camera, Intro to Acting for the Stage, and Musical Theatre: Owning Your Song. The last day to sign up for classes is September 5th so sign up NOW!

SIGN UP: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36626/store/products


ArtFarm Studios Fall Classes Are Here! Sign up, HERE


Harbor City Music Company- the Road to Louisville Goes Through the Cabaret!

Harbor City Music Company is back! After a long 2-year Covid pause in Sweet Adelines Competitions, we competed at the Regional level in April.  What a thrill to win this competition! The win enables Harbor City Music Company to compete with the best choruses in the world. This Sweet Adelines International event will be held October 2023 in Louisville, KY.

Curious about A Cappella music in the barbershop style? Then please join Harbor City Music Company for “An Evening at the Cabaret” on October 1st at the Goucher College Kraushaar Auditorium. It will be an evening of amazing harmonies, colorful costumes, dance, and a very special guest! Don’t miss it!

Saturday, Oct. 1 at 7:00pm
Goucher College, Kraushaar Auditorium
Tickets


American Landscapes: Scenes from the Americas
MFA Circle Gallery
Aug 31 – Sept 24

From the oceans surrounding it to the mountains dividing it, this land is home to some of the world’s most powerful landscapes. Whether urban, rural, or suburban, the landscapes of our lives are always changing. See the artistic renditions of landscapes from all over the Americas that have made an impact on these 56 artists’ lives at MFA Circle Gallery from Aug 31 – Sept 24. Join us the evening of Sept 24 from 4 – 6 PM at Circle Gallery for a closing reception. To see the 61 works selected by Juror Al Gury, Professor of Art at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/259/.

Elemental: Earth, Fire, Water, Air
MFA Curve Gallery
Aug 15 – Sept 30

What worldly elements do you resonate with? The foundations of our Earth? The intensity and light of flames? The calmness or raging tides of our seas? The freedom of taking flight into the sky? Elemental: Earth, Fire, Water, Air is an online show of work that explores the four elements, either through inspiration or medium. Sixty-four works by fifty-three artists, selected by Juror Tom Walton, will be on display in MFA’s online gallery, Curve Gallery, from Aug 15 – Sept 30. Visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/260/ to see the work.

Angela and Emil Petruncio
MFA at 49 West
Aug 4 – Sept 28

Accomplished multimedia MFA artists Emil and Angela Petruncio will be showing their work at 49 West from Aug 4 – Sept 28. Angela earned a Fine Arts degree from the University of New Mexico and primarily works in mixed media assemblage and collage. She allows the found objects and images in her little poems to tell their own story, inviting viewers to make their own interpretations of the resulting narrative. Angela established and chairs the biennial found object exhibition at Circle Gallery, “Eye of the Beholder.” Emil is a self-taught digital artist and an oceanographer whose work is influenced by his childhood exposure to Ukrainian folk art and Byzantine icons, as well as the symmetry, colors, shapes, and lighting apparent in nature. His work ranges from nature photography to abstract cubist works and colorful mandalas created by manipulating digital photos. Emil is the chair of MFA’s annual all digital media show, “Digital Directions.” Join us at 49 West on Aug 7 from 5 – 7 PM for an opening reception. Learn more about the Petruncios and MFA’s other restaurant shows at mdfedart.com/portfolio/restaurants.

Mike McSorley and Marisa Evangelista
MFA at Paul’s Homewood Café
Aug 17 – the end of October

Highly accomplished painters and MFA Members Mike McSorley and Marisa Evangelista have both been fascinated by the details from a young age. McSorley, by the “mundane;” Evangelista, by the nuances of human emotion. McSorley brings an object’s spirit to life through an active painting process. Paint is applied, scraped, and wiped off, again and again. Paint that is or isn’t left on the surface is “an analogy for life, scarred but surviving.” Various elements in and of Evangelista’s portraits contribute to the narratives created by hidden nuances and are used intentionally to evoke specific emotions. She starts with a concept derived from her own experiences, and deliberately composes a photograph (often of herself) to use as a guide, but views her image “as a character in a painted reality.” Works by McSorley and Evangelista will be on display at Paul’s Homewood Café through the end of October. Works by McSorley and Evangelista will be on display at Paul’s Homewood Café through the end of October. Learn more about the artists and MFA’s other restaurant shows at mdfedart.com/portfolio/restaurants/.

Fall Member Show
MFA Circle Gallery
Sept 28 – Oct 15

Fall into the season of the changing leaves and chilly air at Circle Gallery with our annual Fall Member Show. Come see what our talented Members have been working on recently in this all-media exhibition. Works selected by juror Susan Badder will be on display in Circle Gallery Sept 28 – Oct 15. Visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/264 to see the work.

2022 DEIA IN THE ARTS Conference – Meet Our Speakers and Panelists!

Phyllis Tee Adams
Phyllis “Tee” Adams, affectionately known as Ms. Tee, has a passion for working with youth and young adults. She has worked tirelessly to expose young people to new opportunities, and inspires, motivates, encourages, guides, and pushes youth to take risk, believe in themselves, and fulfill their dreams.

Ms. Tee is also an organizer, focused on creating positive, fun-filled family-oriented community events. Her legacy as an event planner includes youth ski trips, gospel skates, summer pool parties, dances, holiday parties, community fundraisers, talent shows, and Gospel Go Go Nights. She assisted in organizing the first Martin Luther King parade in Annapolis, and most recently, was the visionary and founder of the wildly successful Annapolis Juneteenth Gala, Parade, and Festival.

When it comes to bringing the community together around a cause, Ms. Tee is the go-to person who can make magic happen. When her son took a wrong turn in life, she shared a vision to start a lighting business (Light It Up with Triple A) to assist him in charting a different course in his life. Though now deceased, her son’s work still lives on and funds from the business are used to bless and give back to others.  While she has passed along the Juneteenth event to a new leadership team, watch out – her best is yet to come!


Kibibi Ajanku
Kibibi Ajanku curates and guides the elements of the Urban Arts Leadership Fellowship for the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance where she serves as Equity and Inclusion Director. Under her leadership, the Fellowship has increased racial inclusion within arts sector leadership and has positively altered workplace best practices through actively training, placing, and referring an annual cohort of emerging professionals. Ajanku also serves as the Urban Arts Professor for a small cohort of students at Coppin State University, and as a Community Researcher for Maryland Institute College of Art. Through her work as an arts leader, artist, and educator, Ajanku works consistently and deeply as a voice for social justice. She also leads monthly equity conversations for the Alliance, and is excited to administer the evolution of a new Urban Arts Field School project with Urban Arts Leadership fellows and community folklorists, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts.


Dr. Beth Bienvenue
Dr. Beth Bienvenu is the Director of the Office of Accessibility at the National Endowment for the Arts, where she manages the NEA’s technical assistance and advocacy work devoted to making the arts accessible for people with disabilities, older adults, veterans, and people in institutional settings. She provides guidance and support to state arts agency staff and professionals working in the fields of arts access, creativity and aging, arts and health, universal design, and arts in corrections.

Prior to her work at the NEA, Dr. Bienvenu worked as a Policy Advisor for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), where she analyzed public and private sector policies and practices related to the employment for people with disabilities. She has a background in arts management, and has served as an adjunct professor for George Mason University’s Master of Arts in Arts Management program, where she taught courses in arts policy and comparative international arts policy. Dr. Bienvenu has master’s degrees in sociology and arts administration from Indiana University and a doctorate in organizational leadership from The University of Oklahoma.


Nikki Brooks
Born in Brooklyn and raised in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Nikki Brooks is a professional artist and art teacher. She was educated at Virginia Commonwealth University, Lorenzo De Medici Italian International Institute in Florence, Italy, and Maryland Institute College of Art and Design. She has been an art educator since 2000, and has taught in Virginia, Washington D.C., and currently in Prince George’s County, Maryland. She uses mixed media, collage, installation, sound, and video to produce artworks based on hope, tribulation, and social justice.


Comacell Brown, Jr. aka Cell Spitfire
Born in the mid-1980s, Comacell struggled early in life as a result of absent parents. His mother battled with drug addiction, and relinquished legal guardianship of her only son to his grandparents. By the age of eight, Cell had begun to channel his emotions into art, and his talent for drawing and painting was cultivated at an after-school program offered by the Salvation Army.

During high school, Cell began to manifest his love for art on clothing, turning t-shirts and jeans into his new canvas, creating customized apparel. At the age of 18, he embarked on a custom clothing line, later to be called Creative Fashions. Over time, his one-offs evolved into wholesale production, resulting in a national reputation for his art and graphic design. His clients include Lamar Jackson, 50 Cent, Jadakiss, Angela Davis, Louis Farrakhan, Young Jeezy, Cam Newton, Amara La Negra, Young Dylan, FUBU Frames, YBS Skola, PNB Rock, Kane Beatz, Ransom, FreeWay and the Ice City Click, Memphis Bleek, and others.

For Comacell Brown, nurturing young artists and artists of color is a passion, and a focus of this stage of his career. He is the recipient of many awards including a 2019 Governor’s Citation for Outstanding Service, Artist of the Month (Capital Gazette – April 2019), a 2019 Community Collaboration Award, a 2019 Entrepreneurial Excellence Award, the 2015 DMV Painter/Drawer of the Year Award, and the 2021 Annie Award in the Visual Arts from the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County.


Nicholas Cohen
Over the past 12 years, Nicholas Cohen has been a strong advocate for the arts in Maryland as a musician, educator, and administrator. Currently, Mr. Cohen is the Executive Director of Maryland Citizens for the Arts (MCA). In this role, he oversees the statewide strategy, implementation and engagement for advancing public policy and investment in the Maryland Arts Sector. Before coming to MCA, he served as Director of Community Engagement & Education Program for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, overseeing programming that provided access to music and arts for the Mid-Atlantic region. Nicholas has also served on Baltimore City Mayor Catherine Pugh’s Youth Development Committee which was charged with developing a comprehensive plan for Baltimore City youth.

An avid musician, Nicholas is currently the contrabassoonist with the National Philharmonic Orchestra in Bethesda, Maryland, and has performed with the Annapolis Symphony, Maryland Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Symphony Orchestra, and other ensembles throughout North America. Nicholas and his partner, Stephanie, a professional flutist and musical entrepreneur, reside in Baltimore City where both are deeply invested in utilizing the arts as a vehicle to help build and sustain local communities. Nicholas received his Bachelor of Music with a minor in Developmental Psychology from the University of Florida and a Master of Music Performance in Bassoon from Carnegie Mellon University.


Chanel Compton
Chanel Compton was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and has had a deep love for museums and art since childhood.  Today, she lives by the strong belief that the process of creating art is both healing and can create deep connections with others. Compton completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University and a Master of Arts Management at American University. As a cultural administrator, Ms. Compton has served as the Director of Education at the Creative Alliance in Baltimore and as the Executive Director of the Prince George’s African American Museum. She lives and has a home art studio in Baltimore, Maryland and serves as the Executive Director of the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture and the Banneker-Douglass Museum.


Jeff Huntington
Jeff Huntington aka Jahru is a Filipino American painter currently residing in Annapolis, Maryland, U.S.A. He earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Art Institute of Chicago (1997) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Corcoran School of Art (1995). He was a member of the adjunct faculty at the Corcoran School of Arts + Design and George Washington University from 2013 to 2016, when he and fellow artist, Julia Gibb, founded the arts outreach program Future History Now. His work appears in Panama, Brazil, Colombia, France, Philippines, India, Hawai’i, and throughout the continental United States. He is represented by Porter Advisory in New York City and Reyes+Davis in Washington, DC.


Darin Gilliam
As a designer and facilitator of the arts, Darin Gilliam has dedicated over 10 years to furthering the arts, creating opportunities for artists, and offering design and consulting services to small businesses across the country. Darin serves as the Owner and Creative Director for 19FIFTYTHREE, a creative studio that focuses on creative direction, design, and consulting. She is also the co-owner of ArtFarm Studios; a 3,200 square foot art and studio space that offers community arts education programming. Darin also serves as the Director of Annapolis Arts Week, a week-long celebration of the arts in and around Annapolis, Maryland, that will be broadened into Anne Arundel County Arts Month in 2023.


Dr. Amena Johnson
Throughout her career Dr. Amena Johnson has had a deep commitment to youth, social justice, advocacy and educational equity. She specializes in training, facilitation and curriculum development. She has an extensive range of experience as a non-profit, and social services leader and higher education student affairs professional. Dr. Johnson has engaged communities in dialogue and learning around: urban bias, intersectionality, the intergenerational workplace, LGBTQ topics, and diversity and inclusion in educational and nonprofit organizations.

Before coming to Georgetown Dr. Johnson was the AFFIRM Supervisor at the Prince George’s County Department of Social Services, where she managed a program that supports LGBTQ youth in foster care. She is the former Assistant Director at George Mason University’s LGBTQ Resource Center, and also served there as the Interim Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education from 2015 to 2016. Prior to George Mason, Dr. Johnson was Director of Programs at Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders (SMYAL), a youth center for LGBTQ youth ages 13-21. She was also a Community Initiatives Associate at the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN).

Dr. Johnson received a BFA in Drama Therapy from Longwood University. She also received an MS in Organizational Leadership and Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Wilmington University.


Tatiana J. Klein
Tatiana Klein has taught High School Spanish at the Key School in Annapolis since 2008. Mrs. Klein graduated from the Johns Hopkins University School of Education in 2017 with a Master’s of Science in Education (Mind, Brain, and Teaching and Educational Leadership). She has an Artist Diploma from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins, studying flute under Robert Willoughby, and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Art in music from Duquesne University, graduating Cum Laude. While studying there, Mrs. Klein was principal flutist for the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony. As a volunteer, she is the Chair of the Education and Programming Committee of Anne Arundel Women Giving Together, and Program Director of Marshall Learning Center of Marshall Hope Corporation. Mrs. Klein was president and vice president of the board of the Centro de Ayuda. Mrs. Klein received the Live! Casino & Hotel Excellence in Leadership Award from Leadership Anne Arundel. In August of 2006 was awarded the Volunteer of the Week by the Capital Gazette and in 2001 she was awarded the Patrick M. Lee, Jr. Award for outstanding volunteer service to the Leadership Anne Arundel organization. She is also a graduate of the Neighborhood Academy and the Flagship program of Leadership Anne Arundel and volunteered as a coordinator with the Neighborhood Academy for many years. She graduated with Class 10 from the Watershed Stewards Academy.

Costa-Rican-born and an American citizen, Mrs. Klein began studying music at age 10 with piano and flute at age 14. She won the “Jóvenes Solistas” (Youth Soloist) competition in Costa Rica, sponsored by the Costa Rican National Symphony Orchestra, playing as a soloist at age 15. At age 21, she was soloist again with the Symphony on their Costa Rican summer tour. Mrs. Klein participated in the Music Festival at Tanglewood Fellowship program in 1988. At Tanglewood, she had the opportunity to play under Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Mrs. Klein has played under Shinik Hahm in West Virginia as a second and assistant principal flutist, the New Horizons Ensemble under Jason Love, and as a freelance musician in the Maryland and Washington areas. She has played in Europe, Costa Rica, and many US venues. In 1997, Ms. Klein recorded a CD with music partner Marianna Nystrom and her daughter Kris Snyder entitled “Innisfree Celtic Dreams” writing all the flute arrangements, available on Amazon.com. She performed with the Guava Jelly Band in Annapolis in recent years, recording a CD with them in 2016.


April Nyman
April Nyman began her career as a corporate marketing and events specialist within the hotel and mall industries. Because of a strong belief in giving back to the community, she has served as a volunteer in every community where she has lived. This passion prompted a career change, and she entered the non-profit management field in a professional capacity. April has previously served as the Executive Director of a number of historical organizations, and the Navy League in Florida.

Ms. Nyman has served as the Executive Director of the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County since 2007. She was recognized by the Annapolis Capital Gazette as a 2010 Woman of the Year, and has served on the boards/commissions of the Community Arts Agencies of Maryland, Maryland Citizens for the Arts, Maryland’s Women Commission, Four Rivers Heritage Area, the Yumi Cares Foundation, and the Annapolis and Anne Arundel Visitors Center Board. She is a member of the current class of Leadership Maryland, a graduate of the Executive Leadership Series for Leadership Anne Arundel, served as Treasurer for the Annapolis Rotary, and is active in both the United Way and Combine Federal Campaigns.


Roberta Pardo
A native of Brazil with dual citizenship, accomplished artist Roberta Pardo has lived in Maryland since 2000. She spent most of her youth traveling the world and is fluent in six languages. Prior to focusing on art, she was an international horse rider and trainer, competing for her native country and in numerous international competitions. Ms. Pardo’s background is in Industrial Design and Fine Arts, and was educated at FAAP (Fundaçāo Armando Alvez Penteado) in Sao Paulo, Brazil and Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. Her great passion is Street Art for its connection between art and environment. Ms. Pardo resides in Severna Park, Maryland with her husband and three children, and is highly involved with the art scene in the area. She is a strong and effective advocate for diversity, human rights, education and women’s empowerment, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County.


Joyce R. Phillip, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Joyce Phillip brings more than 25 years of Human Resources experience to her role as president of her own training/consulting/coaching firm, Dynamic Dimensions Unlimited, LLC. She is a strategic, results-oriented human resources professional, coach, trainer, and consultant. Recognized as a catalyst for innovative initiatives Joyce has guided organizations to achieve their priorities through implementation of performance-driven and customer-focused processes that emphasize employee engagement, diversity and inclusion, and superior training and communication.

Formerly Chief HR Officer for University of Maryland School of Medicine Faculty Physicians, Inc. (FPI) and Vice President of HR for Anne Arundel Medical Center, Joyce has presented at national and state-level workshops on topics that include women in leadership, strategic planning, diversity, inclusion, and implicit bias. She is certified by the Academy of Communication in Healthcare and the Physician Coaching Institute, and holds a Master of Liberal Arts degree from St. Johns College of Annapolis. Joyce is a member of the Chesapeake Human Resources Association, the International Coaching Federation Maryland Chapter and the Society for Human Resources Managers.

Her present community commitments include service as a member of the Board of Directors of Hospice of the Chesapeake, Luminis Health System Board of Trustees, and the Luminis Health Clinical Enterprise Board of Trustees. Joyce is also active with the YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County where she has served as President of the Board, co-chair of the Safehouse Building Campaign, and is currently a non-board member of the YWCA Finance Committee.

She and her husband, Dr. Errol Phillip, M.D. reside in Crofton, Maryland, and have four adult children and seven grandchildren.


Jesse Raudales
Jesse Raudales loved creating art as a young boy and carried his passion into adulthood. With characteristic subtle colors, blended lines, broad strokes, and smooth textures, his work explores culturally relevant subjects and moments, often revealing pride, struggle, and emotions.

Jesse’s artistic mediums includes both acrylic paintings and digital graphics and prints.  His broad artistic range includes minimalism, abstract expressionism, pop art, and a variety of other styles.  His eye-catching pieces are culturally, socially, and politically relevant, and paints a picture of the struggles of minorities, including Native Americans, African Americans, and Latins.  Raudales’ work includes emotional and striking depictions of contemporary figures like Michelle Obama, Nipsey Hussel, Kobe Bryant, and Colin Kaepernick, as well as those from decades past, including Frida Khalo, Muhammad Ali, Jimi Hendrix, and Prince.  His graphic design portfolio includes creating custom work for Dwayne Wade, MC Hammer, and the Martin Luther King estate. Jesse’s art is found in the homes of celebrities, including Terrence Howard, Snoop Dog, and Dr. Dre, and he has received recognition for his work from the NAACP, the FBI, Warner Brothers, and others.

A career highlight for Jesse came when he was selected to be one of the first Latin artists commissioned to create a piece for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy. Selected out of thousands of applicants, his work, “Peace for the Children of the World,” is a Picasso-inspired piece that uses a series of lines to sketch out the face of his son, Jesse Jr, and the outline of a dove. Simple, yet beautiful, the work was showcased on posters during the Olympic games, bringing him international recognition and respect.


Carl Snowden
Civil rights activist and politician Carl Snowden was born on June 17, 1953, to Ora and William Snowden in Baltimore, Maryland. Growing up in Annapolis, Snowden was greatly influenced by The Autobiography of Malcolm X. In 1970, he and fourteen other students, were expelled from Annapolis High School after they boycotted classes to protest the school’s lack of African American teachers and African American studies courses. Local benefactors raised funds for him to attend the private Key School.

While still a young adult, Snowden began a career of civic activism by organizing an African American group called VOTE. 1976, he successfully sued the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for illegally spying on him through the COINTELPRO program, which had been established by the FBI to track activists. Snowden had been kept under surveillance by the FBI from the age of 16 until 24. Snowden was awarded $10,000 and the FBI was required to expunge his files.  In 1982, he founded Carl Snowden & Associates, a private civil rights firm that specialized in civil rights issues.

After building his reputation as a leading civil rights activist, Snowden was elected to serve as representative for the majority black Fifth Ward on the Annapolis City Council in 1985. As alderman, he introduced landmark legislation that prohibited private clubs from discriminating against people based on their race, color, gender, and national origin, and passed legislation prohibiting stalking and sexual harassment. Snowden then spearheaded the removal of Arthur G. Strissel, Jr. from the position of executive director of the Annapolis Housing Authority after he was charged and convicted of bribery and fraud. In 1988, Snowden founded the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee, Inc., which hosts an annual Awards Dinner honoring people who, through their deeds, words, and actions, help to keep Dr. King’s legacy alive. Following Snowden’s unsuccessful run for mayor of the City of Annapolis, Snowden worked for Governor Parris N. Glendening as an administrator in the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services and as the president for the Anne Arundel County Economic Opportunity Committee. In 2007, the State of Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler appointed Snowden as the first Director of the Civil Rights Program. While there, Snowden campaigned for civil rights for all people and led an investigation into the Annapolis Housing Authority’s banning practices.

Snowden has campaigned for numerous local candidates, including Janet S. Owens, the first woman elected as county executive in Anne Arundel County, Maryland; and Annapolis Mayor Josh Cohen. Snowden also spearheaded a successful two-year $800,000 capital fund campaign to create the first Coretta Scott King Memorial Garden and the first Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in the State of Maryland. Snowden was honored with an award at the 23rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Dinner in Glen Burnie, Maryland in 2011.


Angela Wilson
Angela Wilson is the founder and CEO of the AngelWing Project, a non-profit based in Glen Burnie, Maryland.  Their mission is to “positively impact the community by providing uplifting, entertaining shows and events to inspire appreciation for and participation in the arts.” Angela is a creative artist with vision, and her career in the arts includes more than 20 years as a producer, director, and award-winning playwright. She is also an arts educator, teaching a course called Acting is Fun as well as a playwriting course called Write Your Play Right.  She is also a vocalist and praise and worship leader.

Angela has had various acting roles over the years but most loves the creative process of producing a show.  Since AngelWing Project’s inception, she has directed and produced more than a dozen plays and dramatic events.  Her popular play, Tears of the Soul, will be published this year by Heuer Publishing. bringing her work to more than 60,000 theater people both nationally and internationally.

Angela holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and a Master of Science Degree in Human Resources and Organizational Development. She is a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Black Theater Network, and the American Association of Community Theater. She is married with two children and two grandsons.


For event details and schedule, CLICK HERE!

Connecting with the Arts – July 2022

Welcome back to the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County’s monthly blog series, Connecting with the Arts,  where we feature news and updates from the arts community in Anne Arundel County. Tune in the last Friday of each month to connect and learn more about the arts organizations that are making an impact locally.

Here’s a look into this month’s post:

  • Don’t miss the current productions happening at the Classic Theatre of Maryland.
  • Annapolis Opera 50th Season Opens with La bohème!
  • Take a look at some upcoming events at the Hammond-Harwood House.
  • Check out MFA’s current exhibitions.
  • Ballet Theatre of Maryland and the Hammond Harwood House present Ballet in the Garden.

You can connect and learn more about these organizations by clicking their logos below. We hope you enjoy!

*****

The Servant of Two Masters (Every Tuesday May 17- Aug. 30th, at 7:30pm performed at Reynolds Tavern):

This hilarious play tells the story of a hungry servant who, realizing that working for two masters could ensure him more food, tries to do the job of two men while working desperately to conceal that fact from both employers. Presented weekly on Tuesdays in the outdoor courtyard at Reynolds Tavern. ***We encourage patrons to arrive between 6:00pm-6:30pm in order to order a pre-show dinner. All patrons should arrive no later than 7:00pm for the performance.***

TICKETS HERE

August Cabaret: An Evening of Jazz Standards (August 7, 2022 at 7:30pm):

Enjoy an evening of live music! These popular costumed and choreographed productions feature our resident singers and special Broadway guest performers, accompanied by the popular Unified Jazz Ensemble. This is perfect for date night or a fun evening out with friends. Our updated Cabaret Venue features cafe tables and a full bar in a relaxed comfortable setting.

TICKETS HERE


Annapolis Opera 50th Season Opens with La bohème!

They say love is all you need, but what if love is all you have? Witness the spark of love that brings light to darkness in Puccini’s beloved opera, La bohème.

On a freezing night in Paris, four struggling artists share unexpected good fortune and rush to the café to celebrate, but Rodolfo lags behind. His life is changed forever when Mimi, a seamstress seeking candlelight, knocks on his door. Puccini’s glorious music captures both the overwhelming rush of love at first sight and the utter devastation of loss in the eyes of poverty and desperation.

Friday, August 26 at 7:30 PM, and Sunday, August 28 at 3 PM. TICKETS HERE

Be immersed in the world of La bohème! 

Experience Café Momus! Enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres while National Gallery of Art Curator of French Painting, Kimberly Jones, takes you into the world of 19th century France, and Maestro Kier and a La bohème cast member bring the production’s music to life. Tickets are limited – register now!

Saturday, August 13 at 6 PM. TICKETS HERE

Be a part of the many exciting events throughout the 50th anniversary year at annapolisopera.org


Peale Portrait Tour
Wednesday, August 10 from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Admission: $15 | HHH Members: $10

This 90-minute tour delves into the fascinating world of the Peale family and their artwork. Highlights include selected works from the special exhibit ”Ambition: Charles Willson Peale in Annapolis” as well as an 1835 Rembrandt Peale painting of George Washington and a rare landscape scene by James Peale.

 

Two Great Houses Architectural Tour
Saturday, August 20 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Admission: $20 | HHH Members: $10

The Hammond-Harwood House Museum and Chase Home invite guests to a two-hour tour that explores the two architectural treasures in downtown Annapolis. Guests will learn about the architectural details and the longstanding social history that connects these two great houses on Maryland Avenue. Tour begins in front of the Hammond-Harwood House, 19 Maryland Avenue.

Jane Austen Tour
Wednesday, August 24 from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Admission: $12 | HHH Members: Free

Tour of the Hammond-Harwood House that compares the customs and social graces of the Loockerman family, who lived in the Hammond-Harwood House in the early 19th century, with those of characters in Jane Austen novels.


From Mountain to Marina
MFA Circle Gallery
Aug 6 – 27

Maryland Federation of Art and the Allegany Arts Council are exchanging their upcoming Member Exhibitions this summer. Come see the work of the Allegany Arts Council’s Members at MFA Circle Gallery from Aug 6 – 27. The works were selected by Eric Key, Director of the Arts Program at the University of Maryland Global Campus. Awards will be chosen by Ann Shafer, former Associate Curator of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Awards will be announced at the in-person closing reception on Aug 27 from 4 – 6 PM at Circle Gallery. To learn more and to see the work, visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/265/.

From Marina to Mountain
MFA at the Allegany Arts Council
Aug 6 – 27

This show celebrates the artistry of Maryland Federation of Art’s Members in a new forum. MFA’s annual Summer Member show is taking a trip to the mountains of Cumberland, Maryland, where MFA Members’ work will be shown at the Saville and Schwab Galleries of the Allegany Arts Council. This show was selected by Ann Shafer, former Associate Curator of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs at the Baltimore Museum of Art, and the awards will be chosen by Eric Key, Director of the Arts Program at the University of Maryland Global Campus. Join us at the Allegany Arts Council on Aug 6 from 6 – 8 PM for an in-person opening reception and awards ceremony. Visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/258 for more information.

American Landscapes: Scenes from the Americas
MFA Circle Gallery
Aug 31 – Sept 24

From the oceans surrounding it to the mountains dividing it, this land is home to some of the world’s most powerful landscapes. Whether urban, rural, or suburban, the landscapes of our lives are always changing. See the artistic renditions of landscapes from all over the Americas that have made an impact on these artists’ lives at MFA Circle Gallery from Aug 31 – Sept 24. To see the works selected by Juror Al Gury, Professor of Art at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/259/.

Elemental: Earth, Fire, Water, Air
MFA Curve Gallery
Aug 15 – Sept 30

What worldly elements do you resonate with? The foundations of our Earth? The intensity and light of flames? The calmness or raging tides of our seas? The freedom of taking flight into the sky? Elemental: Earth, Fire, Water, Air is an online show of work that explores the four elements, either through inspiration or medium. Works selected by Juror Tom Walton, will be on display in MFA’s online gallery, Curve Gallery, from Aug 15 – Sept 30. Visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/260/ to see the work.

Angela and Emil Petruncio
MFA at 49 West
Aug 4 – Sept 28

Accomplished multimedia MFA artists Emil and Angela Petruncio will be showing their work at 49 West from Aug 4 – Sept 28. Angela earned a Fine Arts degree from the University of New Mexico and primarily works in mixed media assemblage and collage. She allows the found objects and images in her little poems to tell their own story, inviting viewers to make their own interpretations of the resulting narrative. Angela established and chairs the biennial found object exhibition at Circle Gallery, “Eye of the Beholder.” Emil is a self-taught digital artist and an oceanographer whose work is influenced by his childhood exposure to Ukrainian folk art and Byzantine icons, as well as the symmetry, colors, shapes, and lighting apparent in nature. His work ranges from nature photography to abstract cubist works and colorful mandalas created by manipulating digital photos. Emil is the chair of MFA’s annual all digital media show, “Digital Directions.” Join us at 49 West on Aug 7 from 5 – 7 PM for an opening reception. Learn more about the Petruncios and MFA’s other restaurant shows at mdfedart.com/portfolio/restaurants.


Ballet Theatre of Maryland and the Hammond Harwood House will present Ballet in the Garden on September 18th at 4:30pm. Ballet in the Garden will feature our dancers in an intimate environment in the gardens of the Hammond Harwood House. From the dancers to the beautiful surrounding landscape and historic building in the heart of Annapolis, this will be one performance you do not want to miss! This is a VIP event with special pricing for BTM and Hammond Harwood House subscribers/members. For tickets, visit Ballet in the Garden

Season Subscriptions for Ballet Theatre of Maryland are on sale now. Subscriptions include tickets to all our performances at Maryland Hall, including Les Sylphides and Other Works in October, The Nutcracker in December, Momentum: A Mixed Bill in February, and Don Quixote in April. Reserve your seats today before single tickets go on sale on August 15thSeason Subscription


 

2022 Anne Arundel County Conference DEIA IN THE ARTS

On August 18th, the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County will host the first conference on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the arts in our area. We look forward to a day of learning, discussion, and networking. Topical presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions will begin to provide stakeholders with the tools they need to reach underserved populations, build partnerships, engage broader audiences, and build diversity in their staff, boards, and volunteer base.

All members of the Anne Arundel County arts community are welcome. Board members, staff, and volunteers of ACAAC grantee organizations are highly encouraged to attend.

There is no cost to attend, and lunch will be provided.

Registration closes Monday, August 15th, 12 PM.

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED!

Event Details:

On-site check-in opens: 8 AM
Program: 9 AM – 4:30 PM
which will include:
• Keynote speakers
• Topical presentations
• Work sessions
• Artist panels

A detailed schedule can be found here

 

Keynote Speaker:
Kibibi Ajanku, Equity and Inclusion Director, Greater Baltimore Culture Alliance

Speakers:

Building a Diverse Board of Directors
Nicholas Cohen, Executive Director, Maryland Citizens for the Arts

The Road to Creating a DEIA Workforce
Joyce Phillip, President, Dynamic Dimensions Unlimited, LLC

Accessibility and the Arts: Ensuring Access To the Arts for People with Disabilities
Beth Bienvenu, PhD, Director of the Office of Accessibility, National Endowment for the Arts

The African-American Experience and The Arts in Anne Arundel County
Carl Snowden, Former Director for Civil Rights, Maryland Office of the Attorney General
Chanel Compton, Executive Director, Banneker-Douglass Museum

The Complex Latino
Roberta Pardo, Owner, Urban Walls Brazil

Engaging the LGBTQ Community
Nikki Brooks, Independent Artist
Amena Johnson, EdD, Associate Director, LGBTQ Resource Center Georgetown University

Panelists:

Building Community through Partnerships Panel Discussion
Phyllis Tee Adams, Founder, Annapolis Juneteenth Celebration
Darren Gilliam, Director, Annapolis Arts Week
Tatiana Klein, Founder and Program Director, Marshall Learning Center

The Diversity of Artists’ Voices Shaping the Landscape Panel Discussion
Nikki Brooks
Comacell Brown Jr., aka Cell Spitfire
Jeff Huntington
Jesse Raudales

Learn more about our speakers and panelists by clicking the image below!

FUNDING FOR THIS EVENT WAS PROVIDED BY:

 

THE ARTS COUNCIL OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS FOR THEIR LOGISTICAL AND PLANNING SUPPORT FOR THIS EVENT:

 

If you missed any of our ongoing community conversations on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, watch the recordings here.

Connecting with the Arts – June 2022

Welcome back to the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County’s monthly blog series, Connecting with the Arts,  where we feature news and updates from the arts community in Anne Arundel County. Tune in the last Friday of each month to connect and learn more about the arts organizations that are making an impact locally.

Here’s a look into this month’s post:

  • Join Footworks at Common Ground On The Hill.
  • Maryland Concert Series is back and has some exciting new updates to share.
  • Don’t miss three productions happening at the Classic Theatre of Maryland.
  • Summer is off to a great start at Maryland Hall – catch up on all their latest happenings.
  • Chesapeake Arts Center is pleased to announce the return of their FREE Thursday Night Outdoor Concert Series starting in July.
  • Building Better People is back in action this summer with drama opportunities for kids from 7-18.
  • Summer Camps begin in early July at ArtFarm and there are several camp options for all ages this summer.
  • At the Banneker-Douglass Museum, youth and community members came together for the culminating event, “From 1619 to Today Part III” to create a mural of Harriet Tubman.
  • MEGA (Music Educators of Greater Annapolis) is looking for a temporary home for their grand piano.
  • You’re invited to Ballet Theatre of Maryland’s 44th season anniversary gala.
  • The Londontowne Symphony Orchestra had a strong 2021-2022 season and looks forward to their next season’s opener.
  • Check out MFA’s current exhibitions.

You can connect and learn more about these organizations by clicking their logos below. We hope you enjoy!

*****

Join Footworks at Common Ground On The Hill!
Footworks is honored to be teaching again at Common Ground On The Hill Traditions Week 1 again this year, which will be held virtually. Come and Support Footworks and Common Ground On The Hill!

 

Common Ground on the Hill
Traditions Week 1
Online 2022
Footworks’ Director Marsha Searle will be teaching June 28 – July 2
*Appalachian Flatfooting and Clogging
*Celtic Dance: A Ceili

For details and to register for classes, click here

Footworks has been honored to be a part of Common Ground on the Hill since it inception. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to learn from some of the very best instructors from the comfort of your own home! Common Ground Traditions Weeks run from June 27-July 15th with 3 weeks of classes, concerts, dances, and other activities in the traditional roots-based arts. It is an incredible 3 weeks!


MARYLAND CONCERT SERIES IS BACK! After a two-year pause due to COVID, we are pleased to finally announce our 2022-23 season. We have a new venue and a new co-sponsor – Chesapeake Arts Center, 194 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn, MD 21225

We also have a new Website www.mdconcertseries.org (please check us out!) and a new email: [email protected]

Our concert line-up for this season is FABULOUS: We open with “The American Rogues” on October 2, 2022, a show not to be missed!

You can purchase a subscription or tickets on our website through Instant seat. For further information, please concert Kathi Hiett on 410-768-1854 (Landline) or through our email. We look forward to seeing you soon!


The Servant of Two Masters (Every Tuesday, May 17- Aug. 30th, at 7:30 pm performed at Reynolds Tavern): 

This hilarious play tells the story of a hungry servant who, realizing that working for two masters could ensure him more food, tries to do the job of two men while working desperately to conceal that fact from both employers. Presented weekly on Tuesdays in the outdoor courtyard at Reynolds Tavern. ***We encourage patrons to arrive between 6:00 pm-6:30 pm in order to order a pre-show dinner.  All patrons should arrive no later than 7:00 pm for the performance.***

Purchase tickets here

As You Like It (July 7-24, 2022 at 7:30 pm on the lawn of the Gresham Estate, Edgewater): 

One of the Bard’s most beloved comedies about flirtation, friendship and mistaken identities, takes a lighthearted look at the fickle and passionate nature of love. This production is set in the 1930s in the Cumberland Gap region of the Appalachian mountains, with nostalgic bluegrass music performed by the cast, an ensemble of twelve seasoned professional actors. Performed on the lawn of the Gresham Estate, featuring convenient parking, a pavilion bar, and a comfortable sloped lawn for picnicking and great viewing. Patrons can bring their own lawn chairs, picnic blankets, etc. Patrons can also bring a picnic to enjoy before the show (NO GLASS CONTAINERS OR OUTSIDE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES PERMITTED).

Purchase tickets here

July Cabaret: The Great American Songbook (July 3, 2022 at 7:30 pm):

Enjoy an evening of live music! These popular costumed and choreographed productions feature our resident singers and special Broadway guest performers, accompanied by the popular Unified Jazz Ensemble. This is perfect for date night or a fun evening out with friends. Our updated Cabaret Venue features cafe tables and a full bar in a relaxed comfortable setting.

Purchase tickets here


Summer is off to a great start at Maryland Hall! The United States Navy Band kicked off the Front Stairs Series on June 17 with hundreds of patrons enjoying the Band’s free “Concerts on the Avenue” series on MD Hall’s front lawn. Coming up outside this Summer are H2G Youth Artist Showcases, a Live Arts Maryland Season Preview concert, WTMD’s Saturday Morning Tunes’ Beatles for Kids featuring Yellow Dubmarine, Jazz on the Steps with Todd Marcus and another show by the US Navy Band. Find details on the series including tickets and registration here. All Front Stairs Series shows are either free or low cost.

In exciting event news, tickets are now on sale for Arts Alive Global! Sponsored by Rams Head taking place on Friday, September 9, 2022. The Yacht Lobsters and all four MD Hall Resident Companies – Annapolis Opera, Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Theatre of Maryland and Live Arts Maryland – are the live entertainment for the evening. Arts Alive Global guests are boarding a yacht and sailing the world at MD Hall’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

On the community front, the MD Hall Outreach team continues to make an impact. During the month of June, they opened an end of year exhibition at MD Hall featuring works by students in the outreach program, built a float for the Juneteenth parade and helped create a mural at Chesapeake Children’s Museum. This is on top of preparing for their Youth Artist Showcases, including a July 10 show at City Dock, and the regular arts programming they lead at local schools including Eastport and Tyler Heights Elementary schools.


Chesapeake Arts Center is pleased to announce the return of our FREE Thursday Night Outdoor Concert Series starting in July.

Grab your lawn chair, pack a snack, and groove out to some awesome local music in Northern Anne Arundel County. These shows are all ages, there is plenty of FREE parking, and since CAC has 2 awesome theatres, this event is rain or shine, because we can always move the show indoors & keep the party going.

Thursday Night Show Lineup:
7/14 | Rock & Roll | featuring: Groove Belly | 6:30-8p
8/11 | Alternative Rock | featuring: Grilled Lincolns | 6:30-8p
8/25 | Reggae & Pop Rock | featuring: Guava Jelly | 6:30-8p
9/8 | Indie Rock | featuring: Prism Waves | 6:30-8p
9/22 | Psychedelic Rock | featuring: When Thunder Comes | *early show* 6-7:30p

Register and learn more here!


Building Better People is back in action this summer with drama opportunities for kids from 7-18! Check us out!

Summer Play Production- Teens
June 27 – July 1, 2022 | 12PM-3PM | Ages 12-18
ArtFarm Annapolis
111 Chinquapin Round Road, Annapolis, MD 21401
$250
Register Now

Start off the summer by bringing your creativity to the stage! In this one week class, students will rehearse and perform a short play, building acting and teamwork skills all at the same time. The show is the afternoon of the last day of class. Class will be held at ArtFarm Annapolis. NOTE: As of now, masks are optional and welcomed, and we practice distancing as much as we can.

Play Production and Prop Building Camp
July 11-July 15, 2022 | 9AM-4PM | Ages 7-11
ArtFarm Annapolis
111 Chinquapin Round Road, Annapolis, MD 21401
$425
Register Now

Our Play Production/Prop Building Camp with ArtFarm Annapolis is back for a second year! Campers will learn the art of theater, music and movement, while rehearsing the play during the morning session and then building props with an ArtFarm artist each afternoon. This Summer’s production presented by BBPP is “Gorilla Ballerina”, a show about being the you that you were meant to be! Performance for families will be at the end of the last day of camp on the stage at ArtFarm. Please Note: This is a full-day camp. Please remember to send your child to camp with a lunch and water bottle everyday.

Find out about all we do at bbpproductions.com


Summer Camps begin in early July at ArtFarm and there are several camp options for all ages this summer!

Here are the ones that still have some space!

7/5 – Painting and Process Camp (ages 8-11)
7/11 – Nature & Textile Art Camp (ages 9-12) 9-4p
7/11 – Play Production & Prop Building Camp (ages 7-11) 9-4p
7/11 – Fearless Girls Photo Camp (ages 10-13)
7/18 – Beat Making & Music Inspired Art Camp (ages 12-17) 9-4p
7/18 – Creative Writing and Zine Camp (ages 12-17) 9-4p
7/25 – Jr. Kids Art School (ages 6-8)
8/1 – Mixed Media and Printmaking Camp (ages 9-12)
8/8 – Fearless Boys Photo Camp (ages 12-17)
8/22 – Kids Art School (ages 9-11)

We also have some great adult and teen offerings coming up:

Every Sunday – yoga from 10-11am
6/24: Henna Workshop
6/26: Mandala Workshop
9/8: Beginner Photo Class (4 weeks)
9/24: Creativity Workshop
10/8: Woodburning Workshop

Sign up today at artfarmannapolis.com


On June 11, 2022, youth and community members came together for the culminating event, “From 1619 to Today Part III” to create a mural of Harriet Tubman in celebration of Tubman’s year-long 200th Birthday Celebration while incorporating themes from The 1619 Project by Nicole Hannah-Jones.

The mural concept was developed by Chanel Compton, artist and Executive Director of the Banneker-Douglass Museum. Chanel then presented the concept to Gina Marie Lewis, Professor of Art at Bowie State University, who designed the basic composition that included Harriet Tubman and significant years.

Adinkra symbols were painted by youth and community members throughout the mural to symbolize “Freedom in Emancipation”, “Trust in God”, “Abundance”, and more. Attendees also received free copies of The New York Times bestseller, The 1619 Project.

The “From 1619 to Today” series was a partnership between Banneker-Douglass Museum, Baltimore Read Aloud, Lambda Delta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., and the Bowie State University Department of Fine and Performing Arts. In this three-part series, we explored the influence of race on the Annapolis community from 1619 to today through public readings, youth presentations, group discussions, and this community mural/book giveaway event. Special thanks goes to the Rotary Club of Annapolis, who was the Part III event sponsor.

Come check out the mural at the Banneker-Douglass Museum in the Frederick Douglass Reading Room, Tuesday-Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm.

Watch this wonderful time-lapse video, by Christian Smooth, on our YouTube here


Looking to babysit a grand piano?

MEGA (Music Educators of Greater Annapolis) is looking for a temporary home for their grand piano. It’s a new Brodmann 187 grand piano, and it’s currently in storage. MEGA is hoping to collaborate with a local organization that has space for small recitals/concerts and would be able to safely store the piano.

For detailed information about the piano, click here

Interested? Email Tobias Russell at [email protected]


Ballet Theatre of Maryland is celebrating the start of our 44th season with an anniversary gala on August 25th at Prism Annapolis. Join us in celebrating our upcoming season with a new direction, new vision, and a new look.  Get excited for a big announcement and enjoy light refreshments and dessert while mingling with fellow art patrons. We will be hosting a silent auction and raffle alongside a short performance by our company dancers.

For tickets, visit btmgala.eventbrite.com

To make a donation to our silent auction and raffle, please contact us at [email protected]


The Londontowne Symphony Orchestra had a strong 2021-2022 season with one hiccup. COVID-19 caused us to cancel our January concert, “A Salute to our Veterans”, featuring the chorus from Archibald Spalding High School, but we are looking to reschedule that for next season. We were pleased to perform in Maryland Hall, and we will do so again next season. We especially want to thank all of those who came out to hear the LSO – some of you for the first time – and we were pleased to hear your surprise at what you saw and heard.

Looking ahead, our next season’s opener will be on September 24. Music Director/Conductor Anna Binneweg has titled it “Opening Night Celebration” and has invited pianist Thomas Pandolfi to play Rachmaninoff’s passionate Piano Concerto No. 2 with the orchestra. His concerts have taken him to China and Europe, and this appearance will add Maryland to Mr. Pandolfi’s 20-state touring schedule throughout the United States.

The night will begin with Mexican composer José Pablo Moncayo’s Huapango for orchestra as we honor Hispanic Heritage month and close with Elgar’s timeless Enigma Variations. Now is a good time to put it on your calendar.

The LSO hopes everyone has a pleasant summer. and we look forward to seeing you again starting in the fall. Thank you again for your support.


Fiber Options: Material Explorations
MFA Circle Gallery
Jun 29 – Jul 30

MFA’s 6th biennial Fiber Options: Material Explorations exhibition explores the possibilities of what artists can do with fiber. Fiber art incorporates both natural and synthetic fibers and textiles showcasing the beauty of form over function that can be created through an artists’ touch. Whether sewn, sculpted, woven, or decorated, see what these 37 artists have done with fiber through Jul 30 at Circle Gallery. Join us on Jul 10 via Zoom for the Virtual Awards Ceremony with Juror Hillary Waters Fayle, Director of the Fiber Program at Virginia Commonwealth University, from 4 – 5 PM and on Jul 30 from 4 – 6 PM at Circle Gallery for an in-person closing reception. Visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/255/ to learn more.

Portals
MFA Curve Gallery
Jun 15 – Jul 31

Portals are openings to new places, new experiences, and new sensations. They can transport you somewhere magical or just provide a glimpse into another way of life. This exhibition features 42 artists’ interpretations of the concept of a portal – both literal and metaphorical. See Juror Andrew Brandmeyer’s selections online in MFA’s Curve Gallery from Jul 15 – Aug 31. Visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/254 to see the work.

Tracy Barwick and Sandy Cohen at Paul’s 
MFA at Paul’s Homewood Café
Apr 28 – end of July

Both self-taught artists, Tracy Barwick and Sandy Cohen have been very successful in their chosen media. Barwick is a multimedia artist, specializing in intricate beadwork and abstracts, with a simple artistic narrative: personifying emotions, beliefs, and social concepts through ethnic patterns, shadings, and mediums across the full spectrum of color. Cohen briefly learned to paint at an early age, and then decided to start drawing and painting portraits as a way to capture her grandchildren as they were growing up. She is now an accomplished portrait artist. Visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/restaurants to learn more about the artists and be sure to stop by Paul’s Homewood Café to check out their work from Apr 28 through the end of July.

Fern Loos Beu and Glenn Strachan at 49 West
MFA at 49 West
Jun 2 – Aug 3

Fern Loos Beu is a psychologist and artist who loves to paint people: portraits, figures in motion, large scale works with movement. Recently, as she has begun to travel after Covid, she has enjoyed painting scenes from her travels. Glenn Strachan got his first camera and one pack of film per week from his father at age nine, and has continued to learn about photography ever since. He hopes to continue taking and sharing more work. Check out their work at 49 West through Aug 3. Learn more about the artists at mdfedart.com/portfolio/restaurants.


 

Who will you Nominate?!

Do you know an ArtistAuthorPerformer, or Arts Advocate who deserves recognition?

This year will mark the 22nd annual presentation of these prestigious arts awards honoring one member of the Anne Arundel County community in each of nine categories:

Arts Education, Arts Leadership, Arts Maverick, Arts Patron, Historic Arts, Literary Arts, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, and Lifetime Achievement in the Arts.

Nominations will be accepted from any member of the Anne Arundel County community NOW through August 10th following the guidelines HERE.

NOMINATIONS NOW CLOSED

 

 

Artists Selected for Arundel Center Mural Project

Office of the County Executive
Steuart Pittman

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jeff Amoros, [email protected], 410-303-7676

Anne Arundel County, Annapolis Arts District, Arts Council of Anne Arundel County Announce Artists Selected for Arundel Center Mural Project

International search ends with selection of pair of local artists

Annapolis, Maryland (June 8, 2022) – Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman, the Annapolis Arts District, and the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County announced the selection of Comacell “Cell Spitfire” Brown Jr. and Cindy Fletcher-Holden, both of Annapolis, to create a mural on an exterior wall of the Arundel Center, located at 44 Calvert Street.

“Celebrating local art and artists benefits all of our residents, and helps make our county a beautiful place to live,” County Executive Steuart Pittman said. “I’m excited to see what these artists create for the Arundel Center, and for all of our employees and residents who will get the chance to experience this mural once it’s finished.”

The two muralists will collaborate on the project, with work set to begin in the coming weeks before wrapping up later this summer. Brown is a multi-disciplinary artist specializing in mural paintings, graphic design, brand consulting, entrepreneurial skills, and local outreach through art. Fletcher-Holden is a MICA-trained muralist who has created murals in Dover, DE; McLean VA; Baltimore; and Linthicum.

“I believe that public art/mural projects like this are important not only for the county but for the country as a whole. When you see a diverse project being created in the heart of a city that displays diversity, unity to celebrate the community members and its residents, it can only improve and enhance the overall landscape of the city,” Comacell “Cell Spitfire” Brown, Jr. said. “This project is the perfect recipe being crafted together by Cindy and myself to give viewers a collage of memories and bodies that make living in Anne Arundel County so special.”

“This mural project presents an exciting challenge to not only illustrate why Anne Arundel County is a great place to live, and how the many different people who live here make it a thriving community, but also to create a painting that has aesthetic integrity, a dynamic composition and is a work of art,” Cindy Fletcher-Holden said. “I believe the collaboration of Comacell and myself will result in an amazing painting that grabs the interest of people passing by and hopefully brings joy to those who stop and look at it.”

For more information about the project, go to www.aacounty.org/arundel-center-mural.

###

Connecting with the Arts – May 2022

Welcome back to the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County’s monthly blog series, Connecting with the Arts,  where we feature news and updates from the arts community in Anne Arundel County. Tune in the last Friday of each month to connect and learn more about the arts organizations that are making an impact locally.

Here’s a look into this month’s post:

  • Captain Avery Museum Watermen & Farmers Market and don’t miss Fridays at the Captain.
  • Check out what the Ballet Theatre of Maryland is up to this summer.
  • MC3 has some exciting new events coming up this June.
  • Check out MFA’s current exhibitions.
  • Encore Creativity for Older Adults offers Virtual Summer Arts Enrichment.
  • Here’s to the Night all-ages concert at Chesapeake Arts Center.
  • Save the date and join Maryland Hall on September 9 for Arts Alive Global!
  • Take a look at some upcoming events at the Hammond-Harwood House.
  • Claymates, an invitational show of Maryland clay artists, and Clay on the Bay at the SoCo Arts Lab.

You can connect and learn more about these organizations by clicking their logos below. We hope you enjoy!

*****

Friday’s at the Captain

Each Friday 7-9 pm in June, July, and August, we will have a different presenter from 7-9 pm. Enjoy music, make art, and learn about local history. Refreshments will be available. Get together with old and new friends for a night out! Visit captainaverymuseum.org for more info and tickets.
(Please note: we will not be open Friday, July 1st.)

June 3rd Kenney Holmes, musician
Kenney Holmes is a highly accomplished and versatile vocalist – multi synthesist and guitarist. His four-octave tenor voice is truly impressive, as is his command of all popular styles from a slow grind of blues ballad to a high impact dance number, or melodic rhythms of a country hit. Kenney’s vocals are strikingly soulful, clean, and powerful.

Captain Avery Museum Watermen & Farmers Market
Every Sunday 1-4 pm

Starting June 5th, 2022, we will be hosting the Captain’s Watermen and Farmers Market! Visit captainaverymuseum.org for more info. We’re looking for vendors of all types.

We plan to provide the local community with a fresh array of seafood, produce, meats, cheeses, eggs, dairy, wine, artisanal goods, fun local crafts, and more. Interested vendors may contact Elaina Lill Uhl at [email protected].


Check out what we are up to this summer! We have some super fun activities for you and your friends and family!

🏳️‍🌈 Are you around for the Annapolis Pride Festival on June 4? We will be! Stop by our table and learn more about BTM while enjoying lots of other activities in Downtown Annapolis!

🩰Do you want to dance? Come enjoy a free Community Ballet Class on the City Dock from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm on June 7! This class is open for all ages!

🎨Do you enjoy watching artists collaborate? Art on the Avenue is definitely something you won’t want to miss! Catch 30 juried artists paint along Maryland Avenue on June 9 and catch BTM dancers model for these painters from 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm!

🥂Enjoy a relaxing night with food, drinks, and free dancing while you and your friends and families come together to enjoy an Evening Under The Stars on June 11! The Ballet Theatre of Maryland will be performing on the first block of West St. right off of Church Circle from 5:30 pm – 6:00 pm.

⭐️Can’t attend the first Dining Under the Stars or want to participate in another one? Catch BTM dancers make their appearance one more time from 5:30 pm – 6:00 pm on July 2 for Motown Night on West St!


MC3 has some exciting new events coming up this June!

  • On June 4th at 5:30 PM the Annapolis Arts Week kick-off party will be held at StageOne. The party will feature a DJ, interactive activities, and more! It will also be the last chance to check out Patrice Drago’s exhibit Between the Spaces.
  • Beginning June 7th we will have a solo photography exhibit,“A Meaningful Movement” by local street photographer Wolf. A reception will be held on Thursday, June 16th at 6 PM.
  • On Saturday, June 25th at 7 PM The Company at MC3 will present a full-length modern dance production titled “Woman” that explores the rise of the female voice in the political sector. More information is coming soon!

We hope to see you all at our events. Please follow us on both Instagram and Facebook for up-to-date information regarding our events and exciting news about MC3. @MC3ANNAPOLIS


Paint Annapolis
MFA at Circle Gallery and the Pop Up Gallery
Painting Jun 5 – 10, Exhibition Jun 5 – 25

We’re about to paint the town. For over twenty years, Paint Annapolis has been the premier plein air painting event for this historic town. Artists will be painting on the streets and exhibiting at two galleries starting Jun 5. Whether an artist or art lover, Paint Annapolis has something for everyone. Artists of all skill levels – from students to the pros – are encouraged to register as a public painter. Artists will be painting on the streets of Annapolis from Jun 5 – 10, and work will be on display from Jun 5 – 25. To kick off Paint Annapolis, Dueling Brushes, our quick draw will start at 9 AM at City Dock. Awards will be announced at 1 PM. Nocturne painting will start Jun 8 during Dinner Under the Stars and will go through dawn Jun 9. Art on the Avenue will see artists painting, as well as a street party on Maryland Avenue from 4 – 6 PM. Tickets are available to the private Collector’s Reception at the Pop Up Gallery at 4 Church Circle on Jun 10 from 6 – 9 PM for $25. There will be a Public Reception at the Pop Up Gallery Jun 11 from 5 – 7 PM. Join us for Muffins & Mimosas Jun 12 from 11 AM – 2 PM at both galleries. There will be a closing reception on Jun 15 from 6 PM – 8 PM at the Pop Up Gallery. The Juried Artists’ work will be on display in Circle Gallery through Jun 25. Visit paintannapolis.org for more details.

Fiber Options: Material Explorations
MFA Circle Gallery
Jun 29 – Jul 30

MFA’s 6th biennial Fiber Options: Material Explorations exhibition explores the possibilities of what artists can do with fiber. Fiber art incorporates both natural and synthetic fibers and textiles showcasing the beauty of form over function that can be created through an artists’ touch. Whether sewn, sculpted, woven, or decorated, see what these artists have done with fiber through Jul 30 at Circle Gallery. Join us on Jul 10 via Zoom for the Virtual Awards Ceremony with Juror Hillary Waters Fayle, Director of the Fiber Program at Virginia Commonwealth University, from 4 – 5 PM and on Jul 30 from 4 – 6 PM at Circle Gallery for an in-person closing reception. Visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/255/ to learn more.

Portals
MFA Curve Gallery
Jun 15 – Jul 31

Portals are openings to new places, new experiences, and new sensations. They can transport you somewhere magical or just provide a glimpse into another way of life. This exhibition features artists’ interpretations of the concept of a portal – both literal and metaphorical. See Juror Andrew Brandmeyer’s selections online in MFA’s Curve Gallery from Jul 15 – Aug 31. Visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/254 to see the work.

Tracy Barwick and Sandy Cohen at Paul’s
MFA at Paul’s Homewood Café
Apr 28 – end of July

Both self-taught artists, Tracy Barwick and Sandy Cohen have been very successful in their chosen media. Barwick is a multimedia artist, specializing in intricate beadwork and abstracts, with a simple artistic narrative: personifying emotions, beliefs, and social concepts through ethnic patterns, shadings, and mediums across the full spectrum of color. Cohen briefly learned to paint at an early age, and then decided to start drawing and painting portraits as a way to capture her grandchildren as they were growing up. She is now an accomplished portrait artist. Visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/restaurants to learn more about the artists and be sure to stop by Paul’s Homewood Café to check out their work from Apr 28 through the end of July.

Fern Loos Beu and Glenn Strachan at 49 West
MFA at 49 West
Jun 2 – Aug 3

Fern Loos Beu is a psychologist and artist who loves to paint people: portraits, figures in motion, large scale works with movement. Recently, as she has begun to travel after Covid, she has enjoyed painting scenes from her travels. Glenn Strachan has been taking photographs since age seven, and he hopes to continue taking and sharing more work. Check out their work at 49 West through Aug 3, and join us at 49 West Jun 5 from 5 –7 PM for a reception. Learn more about the artists at mdfedart.com/portfolio/restaurants.

Artwork Photos (top to bottom)
Jackie Clark, “Encore and Rosebud”, oil, for Paint Annapolis 2021 at MFA Circle Gallery

Sandy Cohen, “Celia”, charcoal on toned paper, for Tracy Barwick and Sandy Cohen at MFA at Paul’s Homewood Café


Encore Creativity for Older Adults Offers Virtual Summer Arts Enrichment

Older adults seeking artistic pursuits this summer can learn from top performers and educators from the comfort of their homes with Encore Creativity for Older Adults, America’s largest choral organization for adults over 55. The Annapolis, Md.-based nonprofit will roll out its Encore University Summer 2022 semester, a virtual 10-week multidisciplinary enrichment program that embraces all the arts, on June 6th.

From sight-singing and vocal technique to visual arts, literature, and dance, Encore University offers up to100 individual classes and is open to arts enthusiasts over 55 from across the country. Prior experience is not necessary. Encore’s mission is to provide an excellent and accessible arts education program for older adults regardless of ability or experience.

Course offerings include Music and Mobility for Singers, Basic Musicianship, Music Theory, Vocal Technique, Music as Literature – Encore’s Book Club, Ballet, Barre and Stretch, Shakespeare’s Women in Opera, Ear Training and Sight-Singing, and Art History with Virtual Museum Tours. Participants will learn from artist Adrienne Wyman, whose lifelike portraits and market scenes have been exhibited throughout the U.S. and abroad, and award-winning conductor and composer Thomas Colohan, Artistic Director of the Washington Master Chorale, among others

Encore University classes run Monday through Friday live over Zoom at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Video versions of the classes are made available on Fridays. An all-inclusive tuition for the 10-week summer semester is $185.00 per person. For more information and registration, visit encorecreativity.org/ or call 301-261-5747.

Read the full press release here.


Here’s to the Night all ages Concert at Chesapeake Arts Center

Take a step back into the 90’s with us! Slip on some docs and torn jeans and come rock-out with Here’s to the Night. If a picture is truly worth a thousand words, then the memories and stories that a particular song can evoke are worth a million. Hailing from Baltimore, MD, Here’s to the Night fully immerses listeners in a full-spectrum 90s experience, with a song list comprised of some of the most fun and energetic songs from the era. From start to finish, audiences are transformed back to their high school heyday, as the party vibe transcends the stage and makes its way to the dance floor. You’ll hear all the alt rock classics, one-hit wonders, boy bands, and hip hop legends that can be crammed into a single evening. Here’s to the Night brings together 4 Mid-Atlantic music veterans with a wealth of experience, giving audiences an unforgettable live event.

Come join the Chesapeake Arts Center’s and Here’s to the Night to celebrate 20 years of CAC “Building Community Through Creativity” in Northern Anne Arundel County.

featuring bands from the Priddy Music Academy

Saturday, June 25, 2022
Doors 6:00pm | Show 7:00pm
All Ages!
Hammonds Lane Theatre | 194 Hammonds Ln, Brooklyn Park, MD

Tickets: $10 for members and $15 for non-members

Purchase your tickets today!


Save the date and join us on September 9 for Arts Alive Global!

Maryland Hall will once again present the premier social event in Annapolis with Arts Alive, our single largest fundraising event of the year. For this year’s event, we’re going worldwide. Maryland Hall will transform into a mini-globe and provide mini trips around the world through entertainment, décor, art, food, and cocktails outside on our awesome campus. This memorable night is the not-to-be-missed party of the year launching the area’s social and arts season. More details about the event including sponsorship opportunities can be found here.


Secret Garden Tour
The 2022 tour features private gardens in Spa View Heights, the area of Annapolis between Murray Hill and Spa Creek. Spa View Heights holds a beautiful collection of homes built in various periods and architectural styles. The community with its tree-lined streets and water views is the perfect setting for an afternoon of garden exploration. The gardens epitomize the goals of the home gardener: to have a beautiful space filled with flowers, trees, shrubs, grasses, and other garden elements, a space that is a pleasure to live in and inspirational to work in. All proceeds from this tour will benefit the 1774 Hammond-Harwood House.

Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5 from noon to 5 p.m
Price: $30 | $35 the day of the tour

Art After Hours
Join us for Art After Hours! Our special exhibition, ”Ambition: Charles Willson Peale in Annapolis” will be open for evening access. Bring a friend and come enjoy a summer evening in the galleries, gardens, and gift shop at Hammond-Harwood House. A cash bar will be available.

Thursday, June 16 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Tick-Tock 60 Minutes with the Clocks
Explore the Hammond-Harwood House collection of nine elaborate clocks from the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries. The tour begins with an in-depth history of timekeeping from sundials to Chinese water clocks. You will come away from this experience with a better appreciation for what time meant to our ancestors as well as how we tell time today. In partnership with local horologist Stephen Sieracki, Hammond-Harwood House is engaged in a project to bring all nine clocks in the collection to working order.

Sunday, June 19 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 p.m
Price: $12 | Members: Free

Jane Austen Tour
90-minute guided tour of the house that compares the customs and social graces of the Loockerman family, who lived in the Hammond-Harwood House in the early 19th century, with those of characters in Jane Austen novels.

Wednesday, June 22 from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Price: $12 | HHH Members: Free


Claymates, an invitational show of Maryland clay artists at the SoCo Arts Lab

Opening Reception, June 3rd 6-9pm. Gallery Hours, Saturdays, 10-2pm and by appointment through the month of June.

Come back on June 18th for the official Launch of Clay on the Bay, 10-4pm. Hands-on. Family-friendly, All day. Check out our newly expanded clay studio. Glaze a pot and watch it transform through the fast-fire Raku process. Make a pinch pot. Demonstrations. Connect with other art appreciators.

Learn more at socoartslab.org

 

Connecting with the Arts – April 2022

Welcome back to the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County’s monthly blog series, Connecting with the Arts,  where we feature news and updates from the arts community in Anne Arundel County. Tune in the last Friday of each month to connect and learn more about the arts organizations that are making an impact locally.

Here’s a look into this month’s post:

  • Check out MFA’s current exhibitions.
  • Encore Creativity’s Spring 2022 Concert Schedule.
  • Don’t miss two upcoming events presented by the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra.
  • Banneker-Douglass Museum Hosts HONOR Exhibit Honoring the Expression of Six Black Maryland-Based Women Artists & Opening Reception for Mother’s Day Weekend.
  • Take a look at some upcoming events coming up at the Hammond-Harwood House.
  • Chesapeake Arts Center seeks candidates for Board of Directors and celebrates their 20th Anniversary with their first FREE CAC Open House.
  • Classic Theatre of Maryland Presents Steve Dorff: The Hit Songs & the Stories Behind Them
  • Happenings at Maryland Hall; new exhibition, growing partnership with AACPS, and this year’s annual fundraiser theme.

You can connect and learn more about these organizations by clicking their logos below. We hope you enjoy!

*****

Studio Tours
MFA Circle Gallery and Anne Arundel County
Apr 30 – May 1
MFA’s inaugural In-Person Studio Tours are taking place the weekend of Apr 31 – May 1. From 10 AM – 4 PM both days, select artists in Anne Arundel County will have the doors of their studios open to the public. Recognizing the incredible talent of artists in Anne Arundel County, as well as residents’ and visitors’ desire to meet artists, this program brings together actively working artists and potential collectors in the artists’ studio environments. Each artist on the tour will have two pieces on exhibition at Circle Gallery from Apr 14 – May 1. Visit mdfedart.com/studiotours/ to learn more about the artists and to get directions to check out their studios.

Spring Member Show
MFA Circle Gallery
May 5 – 28
A wide variety of wonderful and creative work will be on display in MFA’s Spring Member Show from May 5 – 28. Come see what MFA Members have been working on lately. Join us via Zoom on May 15 from 4 – 5 PM to hear which pieces won awards, as well as about the award-winning work from both juror Mark Thomas Anderson and the artists. There will be an in-person closing reception on May 28 from 4 – 6 PM at Circle Gallery. Visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/251/ to learn more.

Reflections
MFA Curve Gallery
Apr 15 – May 31
Reflections in shop windows, still ponds, or on faces in mirrors can surprise and delight. The physical nature of light reflecting changes appearances and reveals unexpected sensations. Reflections can also be internal – emotional, cerebral, or spiritual – and can evoke thoughts and memories that can change the world or just stay personal. In this 61 piece show, 58 artists show what Reflections means to them in this new show juried by Bruce Pollock, Professor of Painting at Drexel University. See the show online at mdfedart.com/portfolio/247/ from Apr 15 – May 31.

Tracy Barwick and Sandy Cohen at Paul’s
Apr 28 – end of July
MFA at Paul’s Homewood Café
Both self-taught artists, Tracy Barwick and Sandy Cohen have been very successful in their chosen media. Barwick is a multimedia artist, specializing in intricate beadwork and abstracts, with a simple artistic narrative: personifying emotions, beliefs, and social concepts through ethnic patterns, shadings, and mediums across the full spectrum of color. Cohen briefly learned to paint at an early age, and then decided to start drawing and painting portraits as a way to capture her grandchildren as they were growing up. She is now an accomplished portrait artist. Visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/restaurants to learn more about the artists and be sure to stop by Paul’s Homewood Café to check out their work from Apr 28 through the end of July.

Artwork Photos (top to bottom)
Elizabeth Kendall, “Within Reach”, ceramic sculpture, for Studio Tours at MFA Circle Gallery
David M. Wong, “untitled 3”, due sublimation on aluminum, for Reflections at MFA Curve Gallery


Encore Creativity Spring 2022 Concert Schedule

Encore Creativity is pleased to present a full schedule of Encore Chorale, Encore ROCKS, and Sentimental Journey Singers chorales for concerts for Spring 2022. The chorales and choruses listed to perform together are subject to change, based on stage and theater capacity. Please note that masks and vaccination cards are required for audience members for entry into all Encore Creativity concerts this season.

For more information visit the Homepage of Encore’s website: encorecreativity.org; or call 301-261-5747.


SEASON FINALE: TCHAIKOVSKY’S PIANO CONCERTO
May 6 & 7 at 8 pm at Maryland Hall
May 8 at 3 pm at Strathmore Music Center

The season ends with a bang; Our “Celebrate 60” season finale program begins with world premiere, anniversary commission by American Composer Jessica Hunt followed by Tchaikovsky’s sublime Piano Concerto No. 1 with soloist Olga Kern. As if that weren’t enough; Rachmaninoff rounds out the program with the unmatched sonic splendour of his Symphonic Dances.

Program:
Jessica Hunt: ASO 60th Anniversary Commission
~ World Premiere
Tchaikovsky: Concerto for Piano No. 1
~ with Olga Kern, piano
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances

About this concert:
ASO Chat is available on SYMPHONY+ Thursday, April 21, 2022 at 8:00 PM – FREE

ASO Masterworks @ Maryland Hall, Annapolis, MD
Friday, May 6, 2022 at 8:00 PM – Tickets through ASO
Saturday, May 7, 2022 at 8:00 PM – Tickets through ASO

Great Romantic Concertos @Strathmore Music Center, Bethesda, MD
Sunday, May 8, 2022 at 3:00 PM – Tickets from Strathmore

SYMPHONY+ Streaming ASO Encore Stream
Friday, May 20, 2022 at 8:00 PM – Stream Tickets through SYMPHONY+

*Please read our full COVID policy here.

FAMILY CONCERT: THE LISTENER
May 14 at 11am at Maryland Hall
Buy tickets HERE

“The Listener” introduces new audiences to the workings of a concert orchestra and explores the active relationship between the listening audience and the musician. The art of listening requires talent and training. “The Listener” establishes this important concept through fifty minutes of humor, drama, and dance; leaving the audience appreciating their own abilities as well as the orchestra’s. In the dramatic storyline, the conductor has prepared a program of music from the various artistic disciplines but finds his efforts complicated by the unexpected participation of two “audience” members. Musical challenges between bugle and trumpet and tap dancing to ballet music are just part of the action as these two characters and the audience learn about the orchestra, its music, and the art of listening.

The Magic Circle Mime Company’s “The Listener” introduces audiences to the workings of a concert orchestra and explores the relationships between the audience and musician. Families are encouraged to “Meet the Musicians” after the concert and learn about the different instruments.  Recommended for ages 4 and up.

*Vaccinations are highly encouraged for all audience members who can receive them and since some of our newest listeners won’t be vaccinated; masks will be required at this performance so everyone can safely listen for years to come.


Banneker-Douglass Museum Hosts HONOR Exhibit Honoring the Expression of Six Black Maryland-Based Women Artists & Opening Reception for Mother’s Day Weekend

Exhibit: April 19 – June 27, 2022
Opening Reception: Saturday, May 7, 2022, 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
This event is FREE to the public. Light refreshments will be provided.
Register for the opening reception by clicking here.

For centuries, art has been used as a way of expression. In this second installment, we honor the expression of six Black Maryland-based women artists with HONOR, an exhibition co-curated by Banneker-Douglass Museum and ArtFarm Studios. HONOR acknowledges and celebrates the joys and pains of Black women’s expression with storytelling and creativity.

Celebrate Mother’s Day weekend by joining us for the opening reception and enjoying a powerful women’s themed art exhibit at historic downtown Annapolis, MD.

Featured Artists:
● Abena Apatu
● Greta Chapin-McGill
● Bria Edwards
● Gina Marie Lewis
● Sasha-Loriene
● Kennedy Trusty

Special thanks to the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture, Banneker-Douglass Museum Foundation, Arts Council of Anne Arundel County, ArtFarm Studios, and Anthony Henry.

Read the full press release here. 


Back in Thyme
Saturday , MAY 7 at 10:00 am
Price: $30
Ticket Information Here

The Hammond-Harwood House is inviting you to a 60-minute special program in which you will investigate the colonial herb garden and learn the importance of herbs in medicine and cooking. Each participant will enjoy refreshments and create a beautiful basket and a lavender sachet to take home as a special gift.

Mansions and Merchants Tour
Saturday, May 14 at 10:30 am in front of the Hammond-Harwood House
Price: $15 | HHH Members: $10
Ticket Information Here

In 1811, Frances Loockerman moved into the Hammond-Harwood House with her husband and three children. Over the next 46 years, she saw the neighborhood transform. On this walking tour of Maryland Avenue, participants will visit places Frances would have known, note changes she would have been aware of, and fill in the streetscape she could not have imagined. Participants will also receive a half-price admission to the Hammond-Harwood House.

Jane Austen Tour
Saturday, May 28 from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Price: $12 | HHH Members: Free
Ticket Information Here

Secret Garden Tour
Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5 from noon to 5 p.m
Price: $30 | $35 the day of the tour
Ticket Information Here

The 2022 tour features private gardens in Spa View Heights, the area of Annapolis between Murray Hill and Spa Creek. Spa View Heights holds a beautiful collection of homes built in various periods and architectural styles. The community with its tree-lined streets and water views is the perfect setting for an afternoon of garden exploration. The gardens epitomize the goals of the home gardener: to have a beautiful space filled with flowers, trees, shrubs, grasses, and other garden elements, a space that is a pleasure to live in and inspirational to work in. All proceeds from this tour will benefit the 1774 Hammond-Harwood House.


Chesapeake Arts Center’s Spring Open House and 20th Anniversary Party!

Come celebrate our 20th Anniversary with our first FREE CAC Open House as we open our doors for a day of fun and creative activities for the whole family.

Explore the arts in every room at CAC – join in or watch dance demonstrations; see artists throw pots on the wheel; create hands-on projects in our arts classrooms; tour the exhibits in our galleries; meet some cute animals; see performances in our Black Box theater; check out our MakerSpace and so much more!

Saturday, May 14, 2022
10:00am-1:00pm
Location: 194 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park, MD
Free Admission

Chesapeake Arts Center seeks candidates for Board of Directors

Chesapeake Arts Center (CAC) is seeking nominations for qualified individuals to join its volunteer Board of Directors. The Board is responsible for the organization’s mission and strategic direction. Directors serve a three-year term and can serve one additional term.  Interested candidates should have previous experience on a nonprofit board and/or past involvement in the arts. CAC is seeking candidates who reflect the diverse community CAC serves. Interested candidates are encouraged to self-nominate or nominate others for consideration. Please send a brief email and resume outlining interest by May 10 to [email protected].  For more information, go to www.chesapeakearts.org

Keep up with the Chesapeake Arts Center: Website|Facebook|Instagram


Classic Theatre of Maryland Presents Steve Dorff: The Hit Songs & the Stories Behind Them
May 20 – 21, 2022
Tickets information here

Inducted into the prestigious Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in New York in 2018, Steve Dorff’s career as a songwriter spans five decades and includes more than forty BMI awards, more than twenty Top 10 hits, twelve No. 1 hits, and an American Music Award. The Grammy and Emmy-nominated songwriter and composer has had songs recorded by more than four hundred artists from all genres of music, as well as twenty-eight movie scores and countless theme songs and placements on TV series. He has had #1 Records across 4 decades.

Steve’s songs have been recorded by iconic artists such as Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Kenny Rogers, Anne Murray, George Strait, Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Dusty Springfield, Blake Shelton, Keb Mo and countless others. A few chart hits include Rogers’ “Through the Years,” Murray’s “I Just Fall in Love Again,” Strait’s “I Cross My Heart,” and Eddie Rabbitt’s “Every Which Way But Loose”—the title track from Clint Eastwood’s 1978 film.

Dorff has composed TV music for shows such as Murphy Brown, Growing Pains, Murder She Wrote, Columbo, Reba, Spenser: For Hire, Just the Ten of Us, and The Singing Bee. His film contributions include songs and scores for Pure Country, Bronco Billy, Rocky IV, Tin Cup and Honky Tonk Man. Branching into stage productions, he wrote the music for the theatre production, Josephine.

Steve published his critically acclaimed 2017 memoir, I Wrote That One Too…A Life in Songwriting from Willie to Whitney, and enjoys performing his best-loved songs at venues across the country.

2022 finds him continuing his streak of landing major cuts with not only established artists but also some the most talked about newcomers as well as scoring for major film and television projects.


A stunning new exhibition featuring the work of First Lady Yumi Hogan and Greek artist Mina Papatheodorou Valyrakis opened at Maryland Hall this month. Come visit “Women In the Arts – A Dialogue between Nature & Environment” in the Chaney and Martino Galleries now through June 24, 2022. The opening was celebrated on April 28. Governor Larry Hogan issued a special Governor’s Citation to Valyraki in honor of the exhibition making its way to the USA. The first installation of the show took place in Greece in 2019. Looking at the works of Yumi Hogan and Mina Papatheodorou-Valyraki, we can understand and delight in the different ways in which these two women have embodied and defined nature through art. The exhibition was produced in partnership with AND Creative.

On the outreach front, Maryland Hall continues to grow its partnership with Anne Arundel County Public Schools. The new Hood2Good (H2G) Step Club launched at Eastport Elementary in April. High school aged students in the H2G program, a part of MD Hall’s outreach, are teaching the elementary schoolers the power of stepping with the goal of taking the program to other schools in the future.

Looking ahead, Maryland Hall’s Board of Directors are excited to announce Arts Alive Global! as the theme for this year’s annual fundraiser. “Come Sail the World” on September 9, 2022. Maryland Hall will transform into a mini-globe and provide trips around the world through entertainment, décor, art, food, and cocktails. This memorable night is the not-to-be-missed party of the year launching the area’s social and arts season. Sponsorship opportunities are now available.


 

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