Connecting with the Arts – December 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 events happening at ArtFarm.
- Historic Annapolis is celebrating the holidays throughout the month of December.
- Join Captain Avery Museum for a performance of The Nutcracker and a Holiday Party & Wine Pull.
- Don’t miss Classic Theatre of Maryland’s upcoming productions.
- Check out MFA’s current exhibitions
- Catch up on all the latest happenings at Maryland Hall.
- Live Arts Maryland hosts two spectacular holiday concerts.
- Ballet Theatre of Maryland presents The Nutcracker at Maryland Hall.
- Encore Creativity for Older Adults Begins its Free Holiday Concert Series.
- Annapolis Symphony Orchestra has events you do not want to miss.
- The Londontowne Symphony Orchestra is thanking those who keep us free.
- Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park Announced New Pavilion, Deepwater Dock and Boardwalk at Park Campus.
- Take a look at some upcoming events at the Hammond-Harwood House.
You can connect and learn more about these organizations by clicking their logos below. We hope you enjoy!
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Upcoming ArtFarm events:
Dec 3: Felted Creature Workshop
Dec 9th: Block Printed Wrapping Paper
Dec 10th: Wood Burning
Dec 15: Sketch Night with model
3 day Trompe L’Oeil Workshop
Taught by local artist Joel Pasquarelli, this 3 day workshop will delve into the technical skills and techniques used in Trompe L’oeil (French for “Fool the Eye”) painting. We will cover the understanding of form and light found in a still life, creating a singular painting over the course of the workshop using traditional techniques such as the Imprematura or underpainting, successive color passes, and glazing to create complex shadows and a sense of space. Note: Supply list is below, you will have to purchase your own supplies before the first class.
This class will run on the following schedule:
Thursday, Jan 5 (5-8:30pm)
Friday, Jan 6 (5-8:30pm)
Saturday, Jan 7 (10am-2pm)
Historic Annapolis is celebrating the holidays throughout the month of December! It is the perfect time for you, your family and friends to step into our story.
The William Paca House and Hogshead will come to life on Saturday, December 3 from 2 pm – 6 pm at our Colonial Yuletide Celebration. Explore the decked halls as the Annapolis Living Historians, Bedlam Colonial Music, and HA’s Hogshead volunteers provide a joyous celebration with music, fun, crafts, sweet treats, and merriment. This special living history program will take place at both the William Paca House and Garden and Hogshead, and program admission includes both sites.
A special new Holiday Spirit Tour of the William Paca House and Garden offers a glimpse into 18th century Maryland holiday traditions and stories of Christmases past. This guided, one-hour tour highlights how the Paca household prepared for their holiday guests. The historic home is ready to greet you with music, garlands, a sweet treat, and a take-home recipe! This tour will be offered at 4 pm or 11 am on select Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays throughout the month of December.
Don’t miss Hands-On History Day at the Museum of Historic Annapolis on Sunday, December 11. This month, the theme is “Recollections of World War II.” You’ll be able to interact with living historians and people from our community who lived through WWII. Special crafts and museum activities will be available from 10 am to 2 pm at the Museum, located just steps from Annapolis City Dock at 99 Main Street. Museum admission on second Sundays is half-price, and Hands-On History activities are included.
All of these special events support the mission of HA by connecting the Annapolis community with each other, to our shared American story, and the unique and diverse history of the City of Annapolis. Visit annapolis.org/historic/events to learn more about all of the holiday happenings at Historic Annapolis, and come celebrate with us!
Tea with the Sugar Plum Fairy
Join us at the Captain Avery Museum for a performance of The Nutcracker by the National Ballet Company on Saturday, December 3rd or Sunday, December 4th at 1:00 PM. Tea, hot cocoa, and treats will be served after a 30-minute performance. Stick around after for a visit from Santa!
Members $25 per person
Non-members $30 per person
Admission available here.
Enjoy a glimpse at the performance from a previous year here.
Holiday Party and Wine Pull
Join us for a holiday party and wine pull! Guests will enjoy light food, libations, live music, and dancing, and can participate in a wine pull to raise money for our Learning Pier.
Event admission: $25
Buy a cork for $20 and find your bottle to take home!
You can donate a bottle of wine, too! We are accepting donations of wine valued at $20 or more. Bottles can be dropped off at the museum Monday – Friday, 10 AM to 2 PM. Please place your bottle in the basket on our museum porch. Add your name and email to the included sign-up sheet.
Local retailers who would like to donate a bottle to the event will be showcased at the party. Please be sure to add your business name along with a contact name and email. Thank you for supporting Captain Avery Museum! More information here.
December 1940’s Cabaret ft. Broadway’s Ian Knauer (Monday, December 5, 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
White Christmas (November 25 – December 24, 2022):
Based on the beloved 1954 film, this musical adaptation features the music of Irving Berlin and centers around a successful song-and-dance act and a duo of singing sisters. A perfect start to the holiday season, join us for a heartwarming classic full of love and laughter.
TICKETS HERE
A Christmas Carol (December 2 – 24, 2022):
Charles Dickens’ story was created to inspire a spirit of charity toward those less fortunate. Our Helen Hayes Awards–recommended original production of this classic holiday story has become an annual holiday tradition, delighting patrons of all ages. Season Subscribers can substitute any Cabaret performance.
TICKETS HERE
Small Wonders
MFA Circle Gallery
Nov 30 – Dec 23
Life is full of little things that make a big impact. The little detaials come together to form a bigger picture, or in this case, an exhibition of small but wonderful works under 11 inches in all directions. Come see the show through Dec 23 and join MFA for a reception celebrating the show Dec 8 from 6 – 8 PM at Circle Gallery. Visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/270/ for more information.
Light and Shadow
MFA Curve Gallery
Dec 15 – Jan 31
Where there’s light, there must be shadow. Whether an artist knows it or not, light and shadow are essential to all forms of art, either as the subject of the piece, or the material being used to create it, and have fascinated artists throughout time. This show, selected by Juror Deborah Buck, features XX pieces by XX artists and will be online in MFA’s Curve Gallery from Dec 15 – Jan 31, 2023. Visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/271/ to see the show.
Lyn Laviana and Natalie Ogilvie (Watkins)
MFA at Paul’s Homewood Café
Nov 10 – end of Jan
Lyn Laviana was born in Kansas City and grew up in the Northeast, painting since grade school. She went to college for computer science degrees. After she retired, she continued her art education. Although she has painted in oils for many years, and enjoys the saturation of color with pastels, she is currently most interested in printmaking and acrylics. These media allow transparency that pastels do not. Natalie Ogilvie (Watkins) works with many different mediums, such as painting, woodworking, and printmaking. Her artistic journey began in 1996 when her work was displayed at the 1996 Olympic Games. This collection is called FRAC. These “fractal-like” paintings represent the idea of physics in the world as we see it. Natalie loves time with her family and pets, as well as learning, exploring, and being inspired by the world. See the work at Paul’s Homewood Café from November 10 through the end of January 2023. Visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/restaurants for more information.
Art for a Living Wage
MFA at 49 West
Dec 1 – Jan 31
Behind every plate, every pour, every cup, and every cleared table is a whole person with interests and passions that go beyond the four walls you may know them from. In its 4th iteration, Art for a Living Wage comes back with new and returning artistic voices from ten different local joints, who will bring ten distinct artistic styles and mediums to the walls of 49 West. The goal of this show is to give artists working in the food service industry an opportunity to share their creative side with the community they aim to serve, as well as to give them the opportunity to see their art transform into a means of supporting oneself. Come out to see what these artists have been working on this past year. Visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/restaurants for more information.
Annapolis Opera’s 50-Year Retrospective Gallery
The Annapolis Opera is hosting a new exhibition in the Chaney Gallery at Maryland Hall; Annapolis Opera: The First 50 Years. Walk through 50 years of Annapolis Opera history in this exhibition, showing the evolution of the Company. Hear the music, see the art of set and costume design, and learn about the artists on the stage and those behind the scenes. The exhibit tells the story of the opera company’s first 50 years, from its first performance of Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Medium in a hotel in 1972 through the current three-opera season of fully staged works on the Maryland Hall stage. The exhibition is open now through December 23. Gallery hours at Maryland Hall are Monday through Friday, 9 am – 9 pm and Saturdays, 9 am – 5 pm. Extended hours during show nights. More information here.
Chelsey Green and The Green Project: “A Green Christmas at Maryland Hall” on the Maryland Hall Main Stage! Friday, December 23, 2023, at 7 PM!
Dr. Chelsey Green and her ensemble, The Green Project, tear down stereotypes of the violin and viola by fusing traditional classical technique with popular favorites and enticing original songs in various genres– including R&B, Pop, Soul, Funk, Jazz, Alternative, Hip Hop, Gospel and more! Chelsey Green and The Green Project have released 5 studio projects independently and performed live shows, jazz festivals, masterclasses, and educational workshops across America and in several countries throughout the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Japan, and the Caribbean. More information here.
Green Drinks at Maryland Hall! Thursday, December 8, 2023 5:30 pm- 7:30 pm
Maryland Hall and Chesapeake Crossroads partner with Annapolis Green to celebrate the fun side of eco-awareness while making serious connections with the Annapolis environmental community. Green Drinks will host a flow of conversation, collaboration, and cocktails as the Maryland Hall Community Room takes center stage in its debut as a new zero-waste location for small community events! More information here.
This year, the holidays in Annapolis will be extra joyous and full of wonderful music. Live Arts Maryland hosts two spectacular holiday concerts, including the much cherished and always eagerly awaited Celebration of Christmas, that features the Annapolis Chorale and Chamber Orchestra along with very special guests, conducted by Artistic Director J. Ernest Green. The festivities begin on Thursday, December 8, at 8 p.m., at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts with a concert featuring internationally acclaimed guitarist Francis Goya accompanied by the Chamber Orchestra, along with performers Marissa McGowan, Mark Berman and the Annapolis Chorale. Friday, December 9, at 8 p.m., brings the return of the beloved “Celebration of Christmas” concert, also at Maryland Hall. Mr. Green and Co. hit all the right holiday notes starting with a joyous blend of everyone’s favorite songs, like “White Christmas” and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” On Saturday, December 10, at 7:30 p.m., Mark Berman will do a special concert at The Studio to round out a weekend filled with your favorite holiday music.
If you would like something different, then don’t miss the Annapolis Chorale’s annual performance of Handel’s Messiah at St. Anne’s Church in Downtown Annapolis. The Annapolis Chorale will be joined by soloists Kimberly Christie, Catrin Davies, Joseph Regan, and David Murray. You can get tickets for all of these events at liveartsmd.org!
Ballet Theatre of Maryland presents The Nutcracker at Maryland Hall on December 10th, 11th, 17th and 18th. Discover the wonder of this timeless holiday tradition and allow yourself to be magically swept away by the tale of the young heroine Clara and her adventures to rescue her beloved Nutcracker from the Rat Queen’s evil spell. Travel with Clara through the whirling Kingdoms of Snow and Sweets to the place where the possibility of dreams, the magic of Christmas, and the wonder of the child merge to reveal her destiny. Experience the power and beauty anew as the mysterious Drosselmeier transports you and Clara back in time to capture the spirit of the holiday season through the language of dance and theatre. Purchase tickets on our website.
You are also invited to attend the Sugar Plum Party! One hour before each Sunday performance, you can enjoy light refreshments, meet your favorite characters from the show, and explore our Nutcracker Boutique! Tickets for the Sugar Plum Party can be selected as an Add-On when purchasing your ticket for a Sunday performance of The Nutcracker. If you have already purchased your ticket for the Nutcracker, you can still purchase your ticket for the Party! Either visit our website or call (410) 224-5644
Encore Creativity for Older Adults Begins its Free Holiday Concert Series
Encore Creativity for Older Adults is setting the holidays in motion this month with its annual free December concert series. The Maryland non-profit organization is the nation’s largest choral arts program for adults over 55, and its guiding mission is to provide a welcoming and accessible artistic environment for all adults 55 and older who seek it, regardless of prior experience.
Encore’s December concerts include performances by the rock ‘n’ roll ensemble Annapolis ROCKS on December 12 at 7 PM and the Encore Chorale of Annapolis on December 14 at 7 PM. Both concerts will be held at the Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church in Severna Park. The ensembles will perform a crowd-pleasing mix of holiday classics and modern movements, such as 9 to 5 and Best of Neil Diamond sung by the ROCKS ensemble, and Sleigh Ride, Silent Night, and Hallelujah Chorus (from Messiah) by the Encore Chorale. The ensembles will sing in four-part harmonies for a beautifully melded medley of dynamic energy. The concert season will culminate in a performance at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall as a part of the Millennium Stage series on December 26 at 6 PM, with Encore singers throughout the country in attendance.
The concerts cap off a 15-week, 22.5-hour rehearsal season that began in September. All Encore performances are free for all to attend, yet there is also a pay-what-you-wish option for audience members to give back during the holiday season. For more information and to reserve a spot, go to encorecreativity.org.
Alongside its December concert series, Encore Creativity is gearing up for the spring semester starting early January. Registrations are open for both in-person and online singing options to provide singers with the flexibility to attend rehearsals regardless of their location. Annapolis ROCKS will meet on Tuesdays at 10:30 AM, beginning on January 10. The Encore Chorale of Annapolis will meet on Wednesdays at 2 PM beginning January 11. No auditions are required to join an Encore program and the ensembles are open to all interested adults 55 and older.
Encore Creativity for Older Adults began after a landmark Creativity in Aging study that investigated the benefits of choral singing in older adults. Encore has since expanded its programs to over 30 ensembles nationwide, including its Arts for Life initiatives and Sentimental Journey Singers, Encore’s music therapy choir that connects those with early- to mid-stage cognitive change and their care partners through song.
For more information, performance schedules, or to register for an Encore program, visit encorecreativity.org or call 301-261-5747.
December 15 registration deadline | Friends of Annapolis Symphony Orchestra Rocky Mountaineer luxury train trip through Canada.
The Friends of the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra (FASO) invite you to join a passage to the west from July 26 to August 2, 2023. Listed as one of the world’s top rail journeys, The Mountaineer takes you through one of Canada’s most iconic sites. It’s an unforgettable experience of the senses. Take in the beautiful vistas, faunas and floras of Alberta and British Columbia while enjoying the culinary delights offered on board. Learn more about FASO’s trip of a lifetime through the Canadian Rockies here.
December 16th – Holiday Pops Concert | 8 PM | Maryland Hall.
Enjoy performances from Annapolis Symphony Academy Aries Youth Orchestra, Naptown Sings and Plays, and Jimmy Mavrikes singing with the full orchestra. Get your tickets now, as this performance is almost sold out! Buy Tickets Here.
December 17th – Orion Youth Orchestra | 7:30 PM |Kerr Center for the Performing Arts.
The Orion Youth Orchestra is a high-level, tuition – free youth orchestra that will wow the audience with their caliber of play and musical talent. Buy Tickets Here.
A Salute to Our Veterans!
We can never thank those enough who keep us free. The Londontowne Symphony Orchestra is doing it on January 21, 2023, with a concert that recognizes and celebrates our veterans and current military personnel. At 7:30pm in Maryland Hall the LSO will feature the chorus from Archbishop Spalding High School and ex-Navy vocalist Dana Robertson in a concert of patriotic music that will inspire everyone attending. Following the National Anthem with the Color Guard from the US Naval Academy, we will hear The Battle Hymn of the Republic, Victory at Sea, Variants on the Naval Hymn, America the Beautiful, and much more.
Both the chorus from Archbishop Spalding High School and Ms. Robinson have appeared with the LSO before on separate occasions both receiving great acclaim, and the LSO is pleased to have them back to contribute to this exciting concert.
The LSO, conducted by Anna Binneweg, is Central Maryland’s community orchestra providing high quality classical and light classical music at an affordable price. Tickets are only $25, but students are free encouraging families to attend. Tickets are available HERE.
The orchestra is made up of a mixture of professionals, military musicians, music teachers, amateurs, and students who enjoy making music that pleases their audiences.
Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park Announced New Pavilion, Deepwater Dock and Boardwalk at Park Campus
ANNAPOLIS, MD [December 1, 2022] – Today, the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park (AMM) broke ground on its new 2,600 sq. foot, stunning pavilion at the Museum’s Park Campus (Ellen O. Moyer Nature Park) located at 7300 Edgewood Road in Annapolis. Mayor Gavin Buckley of Annapolis as well as other representatives from the City of Annapolis, AMM’s Board of Directors, dignitaries, and honored guests were in attendance for the ceremonial event.
The new Merrill Family Pavilion is designed to support compelling educational, recreational, and cultural programming for people of all ages and abilities (ADA Accessible). The Merrill Foundation provided the lead gift for the pavilion. “The Merrill Foundation enthusiastically supports this pavilion project as it creates a space for people to learn about and celebrate their local environment as well as serves as an outdoor classroom,” said Nancy Merrill, President of The Merrill Foundation. Construction is expected to be completed by spring 2023.
The pavilion, located adjacent to AMM’s existing Education Center building, will be used primarily as a covered outdoor classroom for overnights, family programs, and school field experiences, expanding AMM’s capacity for school and public programming. The Education Center at AMM provides rich, outdoor learning experiences and serves more than 12,000 students annually, with approximately 45% of those participants from low income or underserved communities.
In addition to serving as an outdoor classroom, the pavilion will enable AMM to extend its meeting/event season into the fall and early spring. Pavilion rentals and ticketed events will generate vital revenue to support AMM’s education programs, many of which are offered to the community and the county school system free of charge. The striking, custom stone fireplace and distinctive cupola will provide a natural, ambient, and entirely unique design that creates a sense of place and community connection at the water’s edge along Back Creek.
More amenities will soon be underway at the park. A raised boardwalk will extend a path from the shoreline to a new, public deep-water dock, allowing visitors to safely enjoy Back Creek while protecting the creek’s ecosystem. The ADA accessible walkway will expand public water access in the City of Annapolis via a 400-foot boardwalk. The 250-foot-long dock will be a hybrid structure with both fixed and floating components. It will be used as a transient dock with power and water and will serve as protective berth for the Museum’s historic skipjack, Wilma Lee. Funding for the boardwalk and dock is from Maryland DNR and National Park Service Chesapeake Office.
In 2016, AMM signed a long-term lease with the City of Annapolis to expand its facilities to the Ellen O. Moyer Nature Park, a 12-acre urban park with a historic waterworks building. “The City of Annapolis is so excited to partner with the Annapolis Maritime Museum and Park on our initiative to connect Back Creek all the way to the Chesapeake Bay,” said Mayor Gavin Buckley. “That will be a special day.” Major projects have already been completed at the park including trail and wetlands restoration, and renovations of the waterworks building.
“Together these extraordinary new spaces will increase AMM’s reach as a leader in maritime and environmental education as well as enhance public water access. We are so grateful to the City of Annapolis who has entrusted us to create a unique public space for the community to enjoy”, stated Alice Estrada, President and CEO of the Annapolis Maritime Museum.
Yuletide Open House
Thursday, December 8, 2022 from 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
The Hammond-Harwood House is inviting you to a Yuletide Open House to see the seasonal decorations presented by the Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland & Annapolis area garden clubs.
Musical performance by The Renaissance Singers of Annapolis.
Tick-Tock 60 Minutes with the Clocks
Sunday, December 11 from 2 p.m to 3 p.m
Explore the Hammond-Harwood House’s collection of nine elaborate clocks from the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries. The tour will examine each item, admiring the individual creation of the piece, its decorative design, and the social history connected to it. 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.
Festive Jane Austen Tour
Saturday, December 17 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.
A Dutch – American Christmas
Saturday, December 17 from 10:30 a.m to 11:30 a.m
Families are invited to the mansion for a festive morning of holiday stories and crafts. Children will enjoy story-time amidst the splendor of the ballroom decorated for the season. After the story, children will be invited to our activity classroom where they will create holiday decorations and learn about a Dutch Christmas tradition.
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