We’re entering the final month of summer, making it the perfect time to enjoy these warm evenings. The Annapolis Gallery Association’s August Art Walk, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 20, offers an extra incentive — a gallery passport.
Pick up a passport at any participating gallery, visit each of the nine galleries listed, answer the passport question at each stop and collect a signature. Complete the passport to be entered in a drawing for a $50 gift certificate.
Getting there is easy. Park in a downtown garage and ride the free Magenta Shuttle that runs about every 15 minutes between the garages, downtown and the Naval Academy. Enjoy an evening of gallery hopping, dinner at a sidewalk bistro, and maybe an ice cream. And don’t miss the other exhibitions and events throughout the month — one visit might not be enough.
Sheep Jones, “Garden 94″, mixed media at West Annapolis Artworks.
Alexandra Treadaway-Hoare, “Summer Crab Feast”, watercolor on paper for MId-summer Madness at MFA 76 MD Avenue Gallery
Nancy Keene Fishel, “Childhood Dreams”, reduction block print for MFA Imprint at MD Hall Earl Gallery
heep Jones, “Botanical 173”, mixed media at West Annapolis Artworks.
LaPrea Rich, “Embrace the Journey”, Acrylic on canvas at Maryland Hall’s Openshaw Gallery
LaPrea Rich, “Colorful Cranes”, Acrylic on canvas at Maryland Hall’s Openshaw Gallery
Betty Gerich, “Ancestors”, Ceramic Sculpture for MFA’s Off the Wall at MD Hall Earl Gallery
Alexandra Treadaway-Hoare, “Inner courtyard behind”, watercolor on paper, for Spatial at MFA Virtual Gallery
Susan Gillig-Grube, “Autumn Fox”, mixed media, at Annapolis Pearl Gallery
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Sheep Jones, “Garden 94″, mixed media at West Annapolis Artworks.
Annapolis Marine Art Gallery is closing out the summer with local artworks by Annapolis artist William R. Sutton. Sutton recently completed his newest oil painting of the local yacht charter “Darling” on the Spa Creek before heading to Boston with the American Society of Marine Artists as they live painted the Sail 250 ships celebrating America’s 250th Birthday. Annapolis Marine Art will be closing its Dock Street location and transitioning to solely online sales at the end of this year. Keep an eye out for in-person events around town in the future. Open for Art Walk on Aug. 20, closing at 6:30 p.m.
McBride Gallery will present Paula Waterman as its demonstrating artist for the Annapolis Art Walk. Be sure to stop by, meet Waterman and see her work. She will be sculpting live from 5 to 9 p.m. on Aug. 20.
Meet award-winning watercolorist Greg Harlin at the Annapolis Collection Gallery during the August Art Walk. Known for his depictions of historical events, his extraordinary paintings have been exhibited and celebrated nationally, as well as featured on Revolutionary War US Postage Stamps, and most recently on the Ken Burns PBS television series, “The American Revolution.” Open through 8 p.m., join him for an Artist Talk from 7 to 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 20.
MFA Circle Gallery presents the national juried exhibition, “The Power of Color,” where color is the point. As a fundamental element of artistic expression, color transcends language and culture. Artists use color to create atmosphere, direct the viewer’s eye and make a lasting impact, while also conveying emotion, energy and meaning. Juror Paul Sattler, artist and professor of color theory at Skidmore College, created a powerful exhibition. Open for Art Walk, 5 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 20. Meet the artists at the closing reception at MFA Circle Gallery from 4 to 6 p.m. on Aug. 22.
During the “First Sunday Arts Festival” from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today, Gallery 57 West will feature the work of JoAnn Cook (oil), Kathy Strouss (watercolor) and Chris Holmes (watercolor) outside the gallery. Inside, visitors can browse artwork by more than 20 additional local artists working in jewelry, ceramics, glass, fiber, photography, wood, mixed media and painting. The gallery also continues “America 250: This Is Now,” an interactive community art project where visitors of all ages can create an original 3-by-3-inch canvas to become part of a collaborative mosaic inspired by quilt traditions, cultural patterns and contemporary technology. Participation is free and supplies are provided. Completed installation remains on display throughout August. Open for Art Walk, 5 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 20.
The Annapolis Pearl Gallery’s Featured Artist of the Month is Susan Gillig-Grube, who will appear on the Pearl Gallery’s Facebook page at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Gillig-Grube will talk about how her imagination guides her paintings, and how she uses gelli prints to enhance her artwork. Visitors welcome during Art Walk with refreshments and art demonstrations by several artists from 5 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 20.
Maryland Hall presents three MFA national juried exhibitions in the Earl Gallery this month, with the first two being:
“Art in Abstraction” demonstrates that art does not need to explicitly represent the visible world to make a powerful statement. Abstractions and non-representational art use color, form, gesture, scale and composition to translate feeling, memory, movement and energy into visual language that speaks vividly and meaningfully. Juried by abstract artist and professor at Washington & Jefferson College, Patrick Schmidt.
“Off the Wall”, features sculptures that plant themselves in a room and command space. Be ready to get up close to, walk around or step back from works that do not hang politely on walls waiting for their turn, but are brave enough to stand alone. Wilfredo Valladares Lara, sculpture professor at AACC and curator, juried this exhibition.
Join MFA and artists at the closing reception for both exhibits in Earl Gallery from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 15.
MFA’s “Imprint” opens Aug. 20 in the Earl Gallery, running through Sept. 23. Printmaking is a dynamic and versatile form of artistic expression that bridges tradition and innovation. MFA invited artists working in traditional, contemporary or hybrid forms of printmaking to submit works that demonstrate the transformative potential of this enduring art form. This exhibit was curated by Jenn Bratovich, chief curator at the Print Center NYC. There will be live demos during Art Walk from 5 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 20.
Jo Fleming Contemporary Art presents “Creekside Variations,” a body of recent abstract paintings by local artist Carey Crane on display through Aug. 31. Crane is an abstract painter living in Shady Side, Maryland. His early experience growing up on Pinellas Point in St. Petersburg, Florida, spending hours in his father’s art studio, shaped the way he creates today — with play, movement and an openness to responding to what emerges on the canvas. Crane uses free brushstrokes and flowing lines to suggest movement, energy and change. Crane imbibes stories and personal meaning, bringing together visual experiences to synthesize otherwise unrelated memories, feelings and images. There is a reception from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 8, with an artist talk at 6 p.m. See demos of spontaneous painting by Beckie Laughin for Art Walk, 5 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 20.
MFA presents its new, second location: 76 Maryland Avenue Gallery, opening with its summer member “Mid-summer Madness” exhibition. The staff at MFA is excited to welcome everyone to the new gallery’s first day, the opening of the show and a special “Name Reveal Party.” This space is for everyone, and MFA has solicited ideas for names capturing the new space that will include more exhibition opportunities, art talks and beyond. Join them during Art Walk from 5 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 20, The “Name Reveal” announcement is at 6 p.m.
Paul’s Homewood Café presents MFA members Lyn Laviana and James Alan Edwards opening Tuesday and running through October. In Laviana’s paint, pastel and print compositions, one can find spaces of respite as well as sources of stimulating energy. Edwards strives to capture both the universe’s nature of being in constant flux as well as elements of authentic emotion in his oil paintings. Their bold use of color and shape resonate to create an atmosphere not to be missed. Meet-the-Artists reception is from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday.
Maryland Hall’s Openshaw Gallery presents a new solo exhibition by LaPrea Rich that explores the relationship between color, texture and form through abstract expressionism. The exhibition will be on display from Aug. 12 through Oct. 14. Join them for the opening reception on from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 12 with light refreshments provided.
West Annapolis Artworks is proud to feature work by Maine artist Sheep Jones through August. Jones has developed a distinctive style that transforms ordinary sheep into endearing characters full of personality and charm. Inspired by the landscapes and coastal spirit of Maine, the artist combines bold color, expressive brushwork and a playful sense of humor to create paintings that are whimsical and inviting. Visit West Annapolis Artworks throughout August to experience this charming collection. Alongside original artwork, distinctive vintage finds and exceptional custom framing the gallery enjoys introducing artists whose work brings personality, creativity and joy into people’s homes.
Come experience “She Speaks: Black Women Artists and the Power of Historical Memory” at the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum this summer. This exhibition examines the 250-year history of the United States through a Black feminist lens. This exhibition brings together contemporary Maryland-based and internationally recognized Black women artists whose deeply personal and politically charged works bear witness to the past, illuminate its effect on the present and conjure Afrofuturist visions. Featured artists include Elizabeth Catlett, Alanna Fields, Dr. Joan M.E. Gaither, Charlyn Griffith-Oro, Khaleelah I. L. Harris, Martha Jackson Jarvis, Fabiola Jean-Louis, Jeannine Kayembe-Oro, Zsudayka Nzinga, Ada Pinkston, Beverly Price, Faith Ringgold, Noreen Smith, Darlene R. Taylor, Jessica Valoris, Savannah G.M. Wood and Alisha B. Wormsley. On view through Jan. 16.
49 West continues the MFA exhibition of members Joanne Bond and Carey Crane through Sept. 29. Bond is a multimedia artist who creates explosive and energetic work spanning the realms of abstract painting, collage and graphic design. Crane uses experimentation and movement in his paintings to convey a visual language of shapes, marks and colors.
Maryland Hall’s Micro Gallery presents a new solo exhibition: “Built in Color: Painting Takes Form” by Greta Chapin McGill. Through bold color and strong design, this exhibition pushes paintings beyond the flat surface into layered, spatial compositions. On display now through Aug. 19.
Patrice Drago is a painter and writer in Annapolis. Her website is www.patricedrago.com. This column is written in cooperation with the Annapolis Gallery Association. Contact her at art@patricedrago.com.