Connecting with the Arts – January 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 months post:

• A Call for Visual Artists! MC3 has partnered with the Warrior Music Foundation (WMF) to launch a new project, “A Veteran’s Narrative: Through Music & Art”.
• Live Arts Maryland is excited to start the Spring 2022 season with the Daddy Long Legs at Maryland Hall.
• Check out MFA’s current exhibitions!
• This year (2022) the Annapolis Arts Alliance will award two scholarships to graduating high school seniors.
• Find out what’s UP NEXT at Classic Theatre of Maryland!
• Creating Communities and the REACH program completed a winter mural project now on display.
• The Museum of Historic Annapolis is now open!
• Check out Maryland Hall’s new Winter/Spring classes.
• This month you’ll be in love with Chesapeake Arts Center’s seasonal one-day themed workshops just in time for Valentine’s Day.
• Encore Creativity for Older Adults Brings Online Arts Education to New Heights.
• Ballet Theatre of Maryland will present their mixed repertoire performance Momentum at Maryland Hall.
• The Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park’s (AMM) popular Virtual Winter Lecture Series is back.
• The Londontowne Symphony Orchestra is moving forward with their two remaining scheduled concerts while trying to keep everyone safe from COVID-19.

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

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A Call for Visual Artists

MC3 has partnered with the Warrior Music Foundation (WMF) to launch a new project, “A Veteran’s Narrative: Through Music & Art”. WMF is a local non-profit organization that provides free music therapy to wounded veterans, active military, and their families.

The project will pair six visual artists with six local veterans. Each visual artist will paint two guitars (provided by WMF) that interpret the veteran’s story and exemplifies the healing power of music and arts. The project will begin in late February and an art exhibition featuring the guitars will open in September 2022. Artists will be compensated $250 per guitar.

If interested in participating please contact: Riley Hoaglin at [email protected]

Live Arts Maryland is excited to start the Spring 2022 season on February 4th and 5th with the Daddy Long Legs at Maryland Hall. Tickets are $51 and there is General Admission seating to ensure that everyone has space to distance from others comfortably. Tickets can be bought on the Maryland Hall website. If you are unable to attend either performance, you will be able to stream the show for $25. You can buy tickets at the Live Arts Maryland website.

In other Live Arts news, the Live Arts Studio has moved! It is now next to Loft and across from the old studio’s location. It is still in the Annapolis Westfield Mall! We will keep everyone updated with the progress of the new Studio, but until then be on the lookout for pop-up performances and our Maryland Hall concerts!

Digital Directions
MFA Circle Gallery
Jan 26 – Feb 26
The world has gone digital – and so has MFA this month! Computer software and technology have forever expanded the ways artists capture and produce their work. From exploding animation that surrounds you to projection video to 3-D printing and imagery, this show is a celebration of the futuristic road we are driving down (hands-free, of course). The 2D and 3D image-based works on display were created and/or produced through computer software and were selected for exhibition by juror Jonathan Monaghan of The Catholic University of America. Catch Digital Directions on display through Feb 26 at Circle Gallery for a glimpse of the future of art.

Lowe House Office Building
Jan 12 – Apr 11
Maryland Federation of Art has been invited to exhibit artwork at the Lowe House of Delegates Building in Annapolis, Maryland. The work was created by MFA members and/or residents of Anne Arundel County. Works selected by juror Wilfredo Valladares, academic chair of the Department of Visual Arts and Humanities at Anne Arundel Community College, are on exhibition in Lowe House of Delegates Building, near the Anne Arundel County Delegation room and the hallways room 152 to 166, which is open to the public during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.

Melange
Mar 1 – Mar 13
Melange is a celebration of MFA members who have shown particular dedication to the organization. Twelve artists who work in different media were chosen by lottery to participate in this exciting all-hang exhibition. Works will be on display from March 1 through March 13 at Circle Gallery.

Artwork Photos (top to bottom)

David Allen Harris, “The thoughts that came before”, pigment print using canson infinity aquarelle rag, from Digital Directions 2022 at MFA Circle Gallery

Rosemary Fallon, “Infrastructure I”, monoprint with acrylic print on paper, from Lowe House Office Building Exhibition 2022

Chris Fowler, “Early One Morning”, film photography, from Melange 2022 at MFA Circle Gallery

This year (2022) the Annapolis Arts Alliance will award two scholarships of $1,500 each to graduating high school seniors (including home-schooled and students with a GED) who reside in Anne Arundel County. Scholarship funds are remitted directly to educational institutions on behalf of recipients and must be used to help defray college expenses.

Important Dates
-The scholarships will be awarded during the third week in April 2022.
-Applications will be accepted between February 7, 2022, and March 31, 2022. If submitting the application by mail, it must be postmarked by March 31, 2022.

Learn more about this scholarship opportunity HERE.

UP NEXT at Classic Theatre of Maryland!

Cabaret, the Musical
February 11-March 6, 2022

Welcome to the infamous Kit Kat Club where you can leave your troubles behind. Updated from our popular performance three seasons ago, a raucous ensemble takes the club stage nightly to tantalize the crowd while society ominously unravels beyond. Winner of 4 Tony Awards including best revival (1998). (Suggested age: 16+)

Tickets available HERE.

Creating Communities and the REACH program, part of the City of Annapolis Recreation and Parks Department, completed a winter mural project now on display at the Pip Moyer Recreation Center.

The project was led by REACH director Ron-Shaye Clark and Creating Communities Teaching Artist Scott Clarke. The murals feature scenes from Downtown Annapolis and Rockefeller Center. A banquet was held to celebrate the completion of the murals and students were presented with holiday gifts and a catered meal from Adam’s Grill in Eastport. Creating Communities will continue to partner with the REACH program in 2022 on additional mural projects, Wellness Wednesdays, a musical, and many arts and creative activities.

The Museum of Historic Annapolis is now open! The Museum, located at 99 Main Street in downtown Annapolis, now features a groundbreaking new exhibition from Historic Annapolis: Annapolis: An American Story. This new exhibition is the perfect first stop for visitors to begin their discovery of Annapolis, or for residents to immerse themselves in the rich history of our unique city.

Annapolis: An American Story features an inspiring theater film experience and three floors of dynamic exhibits spotlighting the chronological, diverse history of Maryland’s capital city across more than 400 years. It shares dramatic stories of Annapolis and its diverse people – revolutionaries, visionaries, and champions in our nation’s continuing quest for liberty and justice – who helped to shape our American story. Throughout the exhibition, you’ll also find the opportunity to delve deeper into the narratives and stories of our history at 12 partner sites: the William Paca House and Garden, Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park, Banneker-Douglass Museum, Hammond-Harwood House, Maryland State House, The Mitchell Gallery at St. John’s College, U.S. Naval Academy Museum, James Brice House, Hogshead, and the historic Waterfront Warehouse.

The Museum of Historic Annapolis is currently open Fridays through Mondays, 10 am – 4 pm. Be sure to visit us at 99 Main Street and experience Annapolis: An American Story. Book your entry in advance at museum.annapolis.org.

New Year – New You! Check out Maryland Hall’s new Winter/Spring classes on our website open for registration. You’ll find many popular classes along with new wellness classes to jump-start your new year. Don’t wait, register now!

December was a superb month of creative arts in our main theatre, galleries, and classrooms.  Patrons enjoyed holiday performances by our Resident Companies; Live Arts Maryland – Celebration of Christmas, The Ballet Theatre of Maryland – The Nutcracker, and the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra – Holiday Pops concert. Visitors are welcome inside our historic building to enjoy self-guided tours of the Chaney, Martino and Openshaw Balcony Galleries. We’re happy to announce a new exhibit coming to the Openshaw Balcony Gallery February 3 – Phases + Faces with paintings by Luis Bello. Luis is the first artist to create and show work through the new Openshaw Artist-in-Residence program.  For current and upcoming Gallery exhibits visit our Exhibitions Calendar.

Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram. And join our email list to receive our E-News to stay in the know with happenings at your region’s cultural core.

Artwork Photo:

Luis Bello, HINT, oil pastel, Openshaw Balcony Gallery

This month you’ll be in love with Chesapeake Arts Center’s seasonal one-day themed workshops just in time for Valentine’s Day.

From Circuit Board Cards, to a FREE Family Workshop where kids get to make Ceramic Hearts, to Silk Screened Heart Pillow Cases, all the way to the always popular Holiday Bunting where you’ll make an adorable banner (featured in photo). Workshops vary in age from all ages to 8+, so check us out on the web to see what creativity you & your kids can get into this February.

More information about this workshop can be found HERE.

Older Adult Choral Organization Brings Online Arts Education to New Heights

As America’s largest choral organization for adults over 55, Encore Creativity for Older Adults, begins its winter/spring session of in-person singing on the East Coast in February, 2022, the Annapolis, Md.-based nonprofit is also expanding and transforming its popular online Encore University into a multidisciplinary enrichment program with a holistic approach embracing all the arts. Facilitated by top performers and educators, the 10-week virtual program will launch February 14, 2022.

From ear training, sight singing and vocal technique to music history, art, and dance, Encore University offers up to 15 live courses and up to 150 individual classes and is open to arts enthusiasts over 55 from across the country. Prior experience is not needed.

More information can be found HERE.

Ballet Theatre of Maryland will present our mixed repertoire performance Momentum on February 25th and 26th at Maryland Hall.

This performance showcases the versatility of our dynamic dancers with newly commissioned and existing classical and contemporary works. We are thrilled to bring back works by founding Artistic Director, Edward Stewart as well as the classic Pas de Deux from Paquita. There will be three new work premieres with choreography by company dancers, Lindsey Bell and Isaac Martinez, and former company dancer, Roman Mykyta. This show will push the boundaries of dance as an art form to explore emotions and themes relevant to all of us presented through a medium that reaches beyond words and into the soul. In person and virtual tickets are available at balletmaryland.org/momentum.

Photo Credit Joanne Marie Photography

The Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park’s (AMM) popular Virtual Winter Lecture Series is back.

Every Thursday at 7:00 PM from January 13th-March 3rd, an intellectual group of lecturers will present on eight stimulating and educational topics. Each wintertime lecture showcases a diverse and relevant range of topics, including the Maritime Mosby Rangers, courageous expeditions, oyster ecosystems and fisheries, and more. The public is encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to learn about Annapolis’ rich maritime heritage and the Bay ecology.

Lectures will take place virtually on zoom. Pre-registration will be required–amaritime.org/events/wls.

The Londontowne Symphony Orchestra is moving forward with their two remaining scheduled concerts while trying to keep everyone safe from COVID-19. It isn’t easy to blow a horn through a mask!

The first of these is “All Together Now” on March 26. This will be an important and extraordinary concert for two reasons. First, this will be a cooperative effort with The Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts (CAAPA). CAAPA’s mission is to help “Bring Color to the Classics!” and they do this by promoting opportunities for Black classical musicians and others in the performing arts through arts performances, education, and outreach. This concert will feature Black musicians and music written by Black composers and will include Copland’s Lincoln Portrait.
The second reason this concert should not be missed are the three high school winners of the LSO’s state-wide concerto concert who will perform with the orchestra. These “Rising Stars” are always a pleasant surprise with their musical maturity.

So, the “All Together Now” concert will bring cultures together and ages together. Our audience will also span many cultures and many ages and will be thrilled to be a part of “All Together Now.”

The last concert of our season will be “Celebrating Annapolis Green” on June 11. We have all been influenced by the commonsense solutions to environmental concerns promoted by the Annapolis Green organization and their followers, and the LSO is proud to promote their efforts. All music will have some connection to our environment.

The Eastport Oyster Boys will be joining the orchestra at this concert to bring their music and message to our audience. The Boys are a collaboration of four of the Chesapeake region’s finest and most experienced performers and bring with them a wide variety of instrumentation including acoustic/electric guitars, keyboards, banjo, fiddle, melodica, trombone and even hammered dulcimer. The Eastport Oyster Boys have been known for their engaging and interactive presence with audiences for over two decades.

Both concerts will be at Maryland Hall, and students are always free at LSO concerts. For more information visit lso-music.org.