Hot time at Anne Arundel galleries
This is the type of August that calls to mind the first line of The Lovin’ Spoonful song, “Summer in the City,” which describes my life of summers from a tot to well into my thirties. For urbanites (formerly, like me) the summer experience is defined by spotty air conditioning and walking the hot pavement to get to the corner store for ice cream, milk shakes and watermelon. Living in the northeast, I couldn’t wait for trips to the Maine beaches. From Washington, day trips to Annapolis provided relief.
You’ll find the coolest spots in air-conditioned galleries during the 32nd Annual Annapolis Art Walk, from 5 to 9 p.m. on August 18, where the public is invited to visit the art galleries, enjoy the new exhibits and watch artists demonstrate their skills in varying mediums. Accomplished artists are prepared to share the secrets of their work. Between gallery stops, there are numerous places to treat yourself to ice cream and other summer delights downtown and in West Annapolis. Check listings carefully as there are art talks and demonstrations on other days. Beat the heat and enjoy a mini-escape into the artists’ worlds.
MFA at 49 West presents a joint exhibit by accomplished multimedia MFA artists Angela and Emil Petruncio through 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 them today for an opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m.
Gallery 57 West will feature art talks by two Annapolis Arts Alliance members, Deborah Schwab and David Blecman at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday. Schwab, an acrylic painter, believes that artists sometimes feel they have landed in a slump or a rut. She will discuss some methods she has tried to find new energy and directions for her work over the years. Blecman, a photographer, will explain the process of capturing what is known as a raw image on the camera’s sensor, and then how to take the bland raw image and process it into a gallery-worthy final image.
Annapolis Marine Art Gallery invites you to their first Art Walk under new ownership. I am happy to report that the gallery continues on with its tradition of carrying the finest marine art on the East Coast. This month, they feature works by three artists, two of which are new to the gallery: Christopher Forrest, recently featured in Hyperrealism Magazine for his waves and waterfowl oil paintings, and Dale Muller’s metal and wood works. Additionally, they are featuring the latest oil paintings from local Annapolis artist, Sharon Littig. Join them from 5 to 9 p.m., Aug. 18 to view the work and check out the freshly renovated upstairs gallery, newly nicknamed The Crow’s Nest.
McBride Gallery presents “Perfectly Pastel” opening Aug. 18 and running through Sept. 4. McBride Gallery features Maryland artist Maria Marino, one of a few select painters who is permitted to paint inside Monet’s beautiful gardens in Giverny, France. Marino is an award-winning artist whose pastels and oils have been exhibited in shows and featured in magazines throughout the world. Come for the show opening and artist demonstration from 6 to 9 p.m., Aug. 18. Marino will share her insights, answer audience questions, and give tips to accomplish a successful pastel. Some of her tips are surprising and might free the artist to find new enjoyment of working with pastel as a painting medium.
West Annapolis Artworks continues the exhibit of works by their summer featured artist, Carol Cowie. Cowie’s long, distinguished career as top designer/art director at one of the leading advertising agencies in the world is evident in her award-winning art. She is known for her bold, colorful, richly textured paintings. Her lifelong motto “keep it simple “along with her belief that good design is the bones of a good painting puts her a step above. Head to the gallery during Art Walk for a sneak preview and demonstration by the
WAA’s upcoming fall featured artist, Patrice Drago. Join them for a fun art evening with refreshments from 5 to 8 p.m., Aug. 18.
MFA Circle Gallery presents a new twist with its Summer Member Show, entitled “From Marina to Mountain.” The title is not the theme of the work but rather the location of the exhibit. MFA and the Allegany Arts Council are exchanging their Summer Member Exhibitions this year. MFA annual Summer Member show will be on display at the Saville and Schwab Galleries of the Allegany Arts Council in Cumberland. The Circle Gallery presents the work of the Allegany Arts Council’s Members at though Aug. 27. Works were selected by Eric Key, director of the Arts Program at the University of Maryland Global Campus in Adelphi. Awards will be chosen by Ann Shafer, former associate curator of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs at the Baltimore Museum of Art, and will be announced at the in-person closing reception from 4 to 6 p.m. , Aug.
27. Circle Gallery will also be open with a reception during Art Walk, from 5 to 9 p.m., Aug. 18.
Jo Fleming Contemporary Art presents “Dwelling.” Regional artists focusing on domestic structures present four unique perspectives: Leslie Gile’s primitive, minimal landscapes depict coastal buildings and stylized architectural forms in bold colors. Marie Ringwald presents minimal geometric compositions and sculptural elements in a warm, colorful array. Richard Niewerth offers suburban, aerial, cubist worlds, while Marc Roman observes the sharp light and shadow defining domestic buildings of historic Annapolis and Chincoteague in elevated reality and hue. Join them from 5 to 9 p.m., Aug. 18.
MFA Curve Gallery opens “Elemental: Earth, Fire, Water, Air” on Aug. 15. This exhibit 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 through Sept. 30. Visit mdfedart. com/portfolio/260/ to see the work
At Maryland Hall through Aug. 30:
Chaney and Martino Galleries: Our hopes for peace are unique to each individual. It is this hope that continuously challenges the status quo and pushes our generation to build a peace that is inclusive and diverse. Han-Mee Artists Association of Greater Washington’s group exhibition at Maryland Hall, “Reimagining Peace to Come,” explores this concept of peace through art.
Openshaw Balcony Gallery: Kennedy Trusty’s “SELF DESTRUCTION” is on view for the remainder of the month. The show explores overly critical self-evaluations, obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety and constant what ifs. New Openshaw artist-in-residence Jonathan James will curate the space featuring a collection of works made during his residency at Maryland Hall.
The Galleries of Quiet Waters Park continues two art shows through Aug. 13: The Maryland Society of Portrait Painters All Members Exhibit hangs in the Willow Gallery. “Reflections on Nature” features ceramics by Nancy Jakubowski and photography by Anne Delano Weathersby in the Garden Gallery. Opening Aug. 17 is an exhibit by The West River Artists, a loosely organized group of independent artists from throughout Maryland who have been gathering weekly since 1984 to create and critique their art in Galesville. Their art ranges from realism to complete abstraction, and they work in a wide variety of mediums. The exhibit runs through Oct. 2. The opening reception is from 1:30 to 3:30, Aug. 21 in the Visitor Center.
The ACAAC and What’s Up? Media exhibit “Into the Garden” encourages artists to explore and bring a garden or elements of a garden to life through their art. This exhibit, located on the second floor of the What’s Up? Media office building at 201 Defense Highway closes Aug.
15. View the online gallery of artwork at https://www.acaac.org/whats-up-mediaexhibit-15-into-the-garden/
In the ACAAC and BWI exhibit, “Imagine…,” artists were encouraged to let their creativity take over and finish the sentence “Imagine…” with their artwork. This exhibit, on display now through Nov. 14, is located between Concourse C&D in departures (pre-security) near Departure Door 10 and the UPS Store. View the online gallery of artwork at https://www.acaac. org/bwi-exhibit-34-imagine/