Connecting with the Arts – May 2023

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 what’s happening at The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County

New exhibit at the Banneker-Douglass Museum

Fun things happening at Encore Creativity For Older Adults 

Celebrate Community with Gampopa Buddhist Meditation of Art 

Catch up on what’s happening at Maryland Federation of Art 

Stay up to date with what’s going on at Maryland Hall

Check out what’s happening at SoCo Arts Lab

We have a lot going on at the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County this month.

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Arts Council of Anne Arundel County is very excited to announce that our Arts Angels Scholarship Program is now open!

Check out Sunhee Kim Jung’s solo exhibit “Born Heroes” at the Arundel Center through June 30th. For this exhibit Sunhee was inspired by her desire for our world to be a world of peace, and the beauty in everything. The unborn babies are images of superhero babies. The babies represent hope for humanity.

“We are all born heroes, capable of changing and saving the world” – Sunhee Kim Jung

Youth Art Exhibit and After-School Program Finale SATURDAY, JUNE 17 10:00AM – 11:30AM BANNEKER-DOUGLASS MUSEUM 84 Franklin Street, Annapolis, MD 21401 Join us for a celebration of creativity and expression at our Youth Art Exhibit and After-School Program Finale! Over the past several months, our dedicated young artists have honed their skills and explored their passions through a variety of mediums, from painting and drawing to photography and mixed media, led by teaching artist Nikki Brooks. At the exhibit, you’ll have the chance to view stunning works of art created by our talented students, meet the artists, and learn about their inspirations and creative processes. This event is free and open to the public, so bring your friends and family to enjoy a day of art, inspiration, and celebration! Breakfast fare will be provided.

Register Here 

Older adults who love to sing can experience a new adventure this summer when the nonprofit Encore Creativity for Older Adults, the nation’s largest choral arts organization for adults 55 and older, launches its first summer session this July. The six-week rehearsal program will bring together Encore singers across the region for a community-building experience of friendship and singing in Annapolis, MD at Maryland Hall. Rehearsals will begin on July 17th and run every Monday through August 21. The final rehearsal will be an open informance for all to sing along and join in. Experience the fun of singing with an Encore Chorale or ROCKS program, meet new friends, and share in the joy that the arts bring! Interested participants can register on Encore Creativity’s website at https://encorecreativity.org/register, by emailing [email protected], or by calling (301) 261-5747. No auditions are required. Each program is $75 per person for the entire season and includes all materials. Encore Creativity for Older Adults is the nation’s largest choral arts program for adults 55 and older. Based in Washington, D.C., Encore Creativity now hosts over 30 chorales throughout the nation, plus a vibrant online educational arts platform and yearly summer camps that bring Encore singers across the country together for singing fun.

Studio PAUSE @ Gampopa Center – A Residency

A monthly pop-up artshow & workshop

Next PAUSE: June 11th, 12:30-4:00pm

Location: SoCo Arts Lab, 312 Deale Rd, Tracys Landing, MD 20779

Studio PAUSE is where artist Sushmita Mazumdar works and invites others in to make time to explore creativity and celebrate community. Anybody can have a show at the Studio, as long as it is about art, stories, or community. Sushmita believes Everybody is Creative. “We just don’t have the time to explore it and we don’t think anyone cares. That’s why we need to PAUSE.” When we PAUSE the special thing is that we don’t know what we will experience and how it will change us.

Through this residency at the Gampopa Center, Arlington-based Studio PAUSE is coming to the Annapolis area. We invite you to see if you can make the time to PAUSE. No experience with art or meditation necessary! Our pop-up creates a space where everyone can feel safe to share their art and be themselves. Join us for an Art PAUSE and a Writing PAUSE, as well as a short meditation with members of the Gampopa Center. Make artwork with the featured artist and reflect on the art through writing. Stay for one part or stay for the whole thing, just promise yourself a PAUSE.

Get Tickets Here

Events

Paint Annapolis 2023

Dueling Brushes

We’re about to paint the town! For 22 years, Paint Annapolis has been the premier plein air painting event for this historic town. Paint Annapolis will kick off with Dueling Brushes, our quick draw, on June 4 at Susan B. Campbell Park at City Dock. Painting will take place from 9 – 11 AM, with an exhibition to follow from 11:30 AM – 2 PM at City Dock. Awards will be announced at 1 PM. Participating artists must be registered for Paint Annapolis. The exhibition is free and open to the public. Visit paintannapolis.org for more information.

Paint the Bay at Annapolis Maritime Musuem

Join our artists at the Annapolis Maritime Museum (723 Second Street, Annapolis) for the Paint the Bay reception sponsored by the Junior League of Annapolis on Tuesday, June 6 from 6 – 8 PM. See some of the Juried Artists’ first works from the week featuring the Chesapeake Bay on display. Wine and food will be provided, and artwork by the Juried Artists will be for sale. This reception is free and open to the public.

Art on the Avenue

Art on the Avenue will see Maryland Avenue closed to traffic from 4 – 7:30 PM for live music, art exhibitions, and more. Join us to see the Juried and Public Artists’ work and for the awards announcements for work painted that day in Annapolis’s Historic District. This event is free and open to the public.

Paint Annapolis Closing Reception

Join us on Wednesday, June 21 from 5 – 7 PM for a Closing Reception at the Pop Up Gallery. Don’t miss your last chance to see the wonderful work painted earlier this month by the Public and Student Artists.

Paint Annapolis Muffins and Mimosas Pt II

Take a last look at the Paint Annapolis exhibition and enjoy Muffins and Mimosas from 11 AM – 2 PM at Circle Gallery on Saturday, June 24. This is your last chance to view the Juried Artist’s work. This event is free and open to the public.

Exhibits

Jen Sterling and Richard Niewerth

MFA at Hospice of the Chesapeake

Apr 14 – End of Jun

Jen Sterling and Richard Niewerth will have their work exhibited at Gallery 90, MFA’s gallery at the Hospice of the Chesapeake Offices from April 14 – the end of June 2023. Both Sterling and Niewerth are inspired by and view color as an essential part of their work. Sterling’s use of color in her abstract paintings is meant to inspire energy and excitement from within, to empower the viewer to do something bold and take risks to achieve their dreams. Niewerth’s oil paintings are visual metaphors that capture a fragment frozen in time through color, as well as form, light, space, and surface. View the work online at mdfedart.com/portfolio/hospiceoffice.

Lissa Abrams and Mary Ellen Geissenhainer

MFA at Paul’s Homewood Café

May 2 – End of Jul

Representational plein air painter Lissa Abrams and realistic colored pencil and mixed media artist Mary Ellen Geissenhainer will show their work at Paul’s Homewood Café from May 2 through the end of July. Lissa focuses on the human figure and the landscape, capturing a moment in time. Mary Ellen focuses on contemporary still life drawings, assembling objects to create collections and tell stories. Visit mdfedart.com/pauls to learn more about the artists. Join us June 27 from 4 – 6 PM at Paul’s for a reception celebrating the artists and their work.

Studio Tours at 49 West

MFA at 49 West

Jun 1 – Aug 1

Join us on Jun 4 for an opening reception to celebrate the Studio Tours exhibition at 49 West from 5 – 7 PM. The artists participating in the Studio Tours will have their work on display at 49 West from Jun 1 – Aug 1. Visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/49west to learn more about the artists.

Portals

MFA Curve Gallery

Jun 15 – Jul 31

A portal can be a large entrance, a grand and imposing doorway, or a futuristic passageway to another world. Besides being an opening to new places, portals can also serve as openings to new experiences. Juror Melissa Oresky selected 65 pieces by 47 artists showcasing artists’ unique interpretations of the word portals. Visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/291 to see the show through Jul 31.

MFA’s Studio Tours

MFA’s in-person Studio Tours is here to bring the community behind the scenes of Anne Arundel County’s most talented actively working artists. Studio Tours is an opportunity for the public to see the artists’ workspaces in-person, learn about their artistic practices and processes, and support local artists. Artists will be opening their studios to the public on Sunday, June 25, and Saturday, July 1, from 10 AM – 4 PM. Participating artists will have their work on display in the Paint Annapolis Pop Up Gallery from Jun 4 – 21 and at 49 West from Jun 1 – Aug 1.

Learn More: https://mdfedart.com/studiotours

But that’s not all! On June 14th, be part of the grand launch of our Media Arts Hub—a space dedicated to blending technology and art. This cutting-edge facility is set to provide opportunities in diverse fields such as graphic design, photography, audio recording/engineering, and production. Join us for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 6 PM in room 307 and take a tour of the hub. Here, you’ll have a chance to explore our state-of-the-art Sound Recording Studio (Whisper Room) and appreciate the commissioned painting by former Resident Artist Luis Bello. Get ready for a summer of discovery, creativity, and inspiration at Maryland Hall!

This summer, Maryland Hall is brimming with an exciting array of events, installations, and exhibitions. Starting June 3rd, we welcome our new Artist in Residence, Craig Colorusso, presenting his Sound + Light Project—an alluring intersection of sound, light, and sculpture that will captivate your senses. We’re thrilled to announce that on Arts Day, June 10th, we’ll be inaugurating Colorusso’s 3 piece installation and project with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 12 PM on our front campus. Immerse yourself in CUBEMUSIC, SUN BOXES, and PATH OF THE BUMBLEBEE, each offering a unique sensorial experience. Simultaneously, from June 3rd to August 30th, we invite you to revel in the local talent at our group exhibition, Community 23. Showcasing an array of work from Annapolis’ finest artists, we promise a captivating exploration into our vibrant local arts scene, in the Martino Gallery.

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Words on the Thirds

Wednesday June 21st 6-8:30pm

A free, monthly poetry writing workshop.

The Arts Lab invites you to join us on the third Wednesday of the month to discover, develop and share your poetic voice. Words on the Thirds is a program of monthly poetry-writing workshops that will culminate in a collaborative poetry and visual art exhibition and publication in 2024. Come for just one or come for all of the workshops. We welcome anyone who is interested in words and how to use them. No experience necessary! To learn more or to register, visit: https://www.socoartslab.org/copy-of-classes

Common Ground

An Exhibition of Clay and Community

June 25th-August 30th

Opening Reception June 25th, 3-5pm

Join us for our 1-year anniversary celebration of Clay on the Bay at the Arts Lab. On display will be a meandering wall sculpture comprised of “squeezes” created by residents from all over Anne Arundel County who explored their creative spirit and “shook hands” with clay! If you would like to stop by the Lab and shake hands with clay let us know! We are also happy to bring some clay to your door. To learn more, visit: https://www.socoartslab.org/common-ground

Open Studios

On Sunday, June 25 and Saturday, July 1, 2023, 10am-4pm we are joining the Second Annual MFA Studio Tour.

Come walk through the Arts Lab and see our artists at work! Each artist on the tour will also display work at 49 West from June 1 – August 1, 2023. If you can’t join us on these dates, please email us: [email protected]

To learn more about this and other events, visit: https://www.socoartslab.org/events-exhibitions