BmoreArt

This Week: Baltimore Clayworks’ Wesley Brown virtual artist talk, closing reception for Mike McConnell at Hotel Indigo, Station North SIPS, Kyrae Dawaun, Nekisha Durrett, + Abigail Lucien Sondheim Finalists artist talks at The Walters, Cindy Cheng, Jay Sanborn, John Bohl, + Torrance Hall opening reception at Current Space, Liz Lawson at Gallery 220, and “Voices of a Black Butterfly” screening + town hall at Creative Alliance — PLUS Artist/Scholar in Residence at the Library of Congress and more featured opportunities!

 

BmoreArt’s Picks presents the best weekly art openings, events, and performances happening in Baltimore and surrounding areas. For a more comprehensive perspective, check the BmoreArt Calendar page, which includes ongoing exhibits and performances, and is updated on a daily basis.

To submit your calendar event, email us at [email protected]!

 

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< Events >

 

Baltimore Clayworks Artist Talk with Wesley Brown
Tuesday, July 25 :: 12:30-1pm
presented by Baltimore Clayworks

Ceramic artists are at the heart of Baltimore Clayworks. Artists are at the center of the mission of Baltimore Clayworks, and provide the organization with talent and innovation to inspire our community and to enliven the artistic impact of ceramics in our region. Their professional and personal networks provide a kaleidoscope of interactions with peers, galleries, and academic institutions, which keep the organization at the forefront of contemporary ceramic art.

Wesley came to Baltimore Clayworks as a Resident Artist in the summer of 2018. He has worked and studied as an artist in such places as Indiana, North Carolina, and Jingdezhen, China. He holds an Associates of Art from Sinclair Community College, a Bachelors of Fine Art from Bowling Green State University, and a Masters of Fine Arts from Indiana University. He now teaches in Baltimore at our Mt. Washington studio, our off-site Community Arts locations, and at Bard High School Early College.

 

 

Mike McConnell | Closing Reception
Thursday, July 27 :: 5-7pm
@ Hotel Indigo

Maryland Art Place in partnership with Hotel Indigo Baltimore is pleased to present a solo exhibition by Maryland-based artist, Mike McConnell. The exhibition is on view at Hotel Indigo Baltimore, located at 24 West Franklin St. from April 13 to August 17. A public reception will take place Thursday, May 18 from 6 to 9 pm in the Hotels Poets Modern Cocktails and Eats.

About the Artist:

A 1975 graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art, Mike McConnell worked for more than 30 years as an illustrator before focusing on his fine art. He often turns to nature for inspiration for the vivid visual stories he tells. He uses paint in a collage-like way, cutting out shapes with vibrant colors on handmade wood panels, paper, and found material. McConnell won the President’s Best of Show award for the 2016 Biennial Maryland Regional Juried Art Exhibition for his painting Bear Carver. He is also a 2016 and 2019 Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Award winner and a 2017 finalist for the 13th Annual Bethesda Painting Awards.

 

 

Station North SIPS
Thursday, July 27 :: 5-8pm

Station North SIPS 2023 is coming back as a ONE-MONTH DISTRICT HAPPY HOUR! Every Wednesday in July from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, enjoy specially curated menus with discounted prices at 10 participating restaurants and bars! EVEN BETTER, play some games with us to win a $50 gift card or free drink giveaway!!

 

 

Sondheim 2023 Art Prize Finalists: Artist Talks
Thursday, July 27 :: 6-7:30pm
@ The Walters Art Museum

Join us for a presentation by the 2023 Janet & Walter Sondheim Art Prize finalists: Kyrae Dawaun, Nekisha Durrett, and Abigail Lucien. Earl Martin, Deborah & Philip English Curator of Decorative Art, Design, and Material Culture, will introduce the program, and the artists will discuss their practice and their work currently on view at the Walters. Following the talks, there will be time for a moderated Q&A.

This program is co-hosted with the Baltimore Office for Promotion and The Arts and presented in conjunction with the 18th-annual Janet and Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize Finalists Exhibitionon view at the Walters from July 19 through September 3, 2023.

This talk will stream live on our YouTube channel, and a recording will be available there following the livestream.

 

 

Parallel Projections | Opening Reception
Friday, July 28 :: 7-10pm
@ Current Space

Current Space is thrilled to present “Parallel Projections,” an exhibition of works by Cindy Cheng, Jay Sanborn, John Bohl, and Torrance Hall. Curated by Julianne Hamilton, Michael Benevento, and You Wu.

Please join us for the opening reception!

Opening Reception: Friday, July 28 from 7-10pm
Exhibit Runs: July 28 – August 27, 2023
Closing Reception & Artist Talk: Sunday, August 27
Gallery Hours: Sat 1-5pm, during public garden bar hours (Wed-Sat, 5-11pm), or by appointment

 

 

Open to Truth & Change | Show Opening & Reception
Friday, July 28 :: 6-9pm | Ongoing through September 17
@ Gallery 220

Gallery 220 is pleased to present Open to Truth & Change, an exhibition of interactive, installation pieces curated by Liz Lawson, which will be on view July 28 through September 17, 2023.

This grand opening of this show is free and open to the public, and will include a cash bar and live music by Nick Gennuso.

While the reception is free and open to the public, we kindly ask that you register in advance for headcount purposes. We look forward to to seeing you there!

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Open to Truth & Change is an installation exhibit that investigates the very essence and consequence of human perception by challenging viewers to evaluate their approach to their own perceptions.

Are we open to fully experiencing all that surrounds us by being open to a state of unknown? Or do we approach our physical surroundings and new ideas with a predetermined state of assumption, fear, and consequent aggression? Can we see the truth around us if we carry such assumptions? Are we further creating a world based on reality, or based on assumptions from a fear of not knowing the truth?

This exhibition asks: Are you prepared to break down your walls and ask yourself these questions? Are you open to come to perceive your perceptions, and above all, are you genuinely open to truth and change?

Get ready to have your perception challenged though a number of beautiful, immersive and interactive installation pieces by the following artists: Sara Clough, Kayla Smith, Virginia Sperry, Bonnie Carrow, Brian Wessel, Nic Galloro, Khamari Smith, Derek Pentz, George Lori, Pamela Wilde.

 

 

Voices of a Black Butterfly – Screening & Townhall
Saturday, July 29 :: 2pm
@ Creative Alliance

Together with our partners, The Baltimore National Heritage Area and The American Visionary Arts Museum, Creative Alliance is excited to welcome you to a screening of “Voices of a Black Butterfly” and the accompanying cultural town hall.

This collaborative effort is an opportunity to bring our communities together to share ideas and communicate what you care about and what you look forward to in the city we call home. Art, cultural heritage, and civic pride are at the heart of our discussion.

Throughout the film, we see community leaders and members who love their work and take seriously their efforts as stakeholders bring the vibrancy of the culture of Baltimore to new heights! These community members work tirelessly to create events that bring people together while demonstrating the richness of the city’s assets and the vitality of its people. The depiction of these community leaders and members offers inspiration to audiences.

Immediately following the film presentation, we engage in a town hall dialog inspired by the movie, generated by you!

 

 

< Calls for Entry >

 

Programming Manager | Job Opportunity
posted by Mount Vernon Place Conservancy

Do you love what we do at the Conservancy? Have you always wanted to help produce events like Flower Mart, Summer in the Squares, Monument Lighting and more? The Programming Manager is responsible for booking best-of-Baltimore performers, food vendors, artists, craft-makers, growers, and community organizations for Conservancy events big and small. The ideal candidate is a self-starting team player with excellent communication and data management skills. We’re a small but mighty shop and we’re proud to bring joy and celebration to our city.

 

 

Prince George’s Film Festival
deadline July 27

Are you a filmmaker looking to showcase your work to a wider audience? Look no further than the Prince George’s Film Festival! Our call for films is now open and we invite submissions from filmmakers around the world.

The Prince George’s County Arts and Humanities Council and the Prince George’s Film Office come together again for the second annual Prince George’s Film Festival (PGFF: Take Two). This annual celebration of cinematic arts will take place September 28– October 1, 2023, in the heart of Prince George’s County, Maryland.

As Prince George’s County becomes an attractive shooting destination for blockbuster films, the Prince George’s Film Festival aims to provide independent filmmakers the opportunity to participate in the film magic taking place throughout the county. PGFF: Take Two is a curated space that will feature virtual and onsite film screenings, keynotes, panels, and interactive workshops, culminating at the MGM at National Harbor for the closing event and awards ceremony.

After a successful inaugural year, featuring high-quality programming, high-powered networking, special events, and networking receptions, we are excited to invite filmmakers from around the world to submit their films for consideration for the 2023 festival. Especially looking to highlight local and independent filmmakers, our goal is to showcase a wide range of films that represent the diversity of the Prince George’s County community and tell stories and unique perspectives that are often overlooked in mainstream cinema. New this year, we are introducing the international submission category. This new category will provide a platform for filmmakers from different countries to showcase their work and promote cultural exchange, allowing filmmakers and audiences to gain insights into other cultures and perspectives through the medium of film.

 

 

Xan Korman Scholarship
deadline August 1
posted by Infinite Legacy

From Xan’s Mother, Carolyn Korman:

“The words we heard to describe Xan Korman most often were “selfless,” “generous” and “passionate.” Just one example of his selflessness is that he chose to register to be an organ donor when he first got his driver’s license at the age of 16. In August 2021, Xan was shot and killed in a drive by shooting at the age of 20. Xan donated as many organs as possible upon his death so that others could live, including both his kidneys and his liver.

But this is about honoring Xan’s life. Xan found his passion in photography and that was the language he used to tell a story. Xan’s main focus was sports photography, especially basketball, but he also explored the worlds of street photography and social justice. Behind the lens, regardless of what he was photographing, he focused on the emotion of the moment and captured the beauty that exists in human excellence.

We are offering this grant to a rising photographer, who, like Xan, can capture the human spirit. We hope you share his passions of helping others (such as through organ, eye and tissue donation), of equity and inclusion and of hard work and determination to get what you want.

We would like the applicant to submit a short essay about how this grant can help them advance their photography, how they share Xan’s passions and discuss importance of organ, eye and tissue donation. We would also like to see a sample of three recent photos taken by the applicant.

We expect the recipient to pay this gift forward by volunteering to photograph an Infinite Legacy event.

 

 

Existence as Protest
deadline August 11
posted by Rhizome DC

Existence as Protest: Call for trans, queer, non-binary, and all gender expansive artists

In the rise of anti-trans legislation across the country, queer folx are looking for community, support, and acceptance. Trans individuals are losing their rights to healthcare, expression, and existence with the rise of American Fascism. Queer culture’s expressions of joy are under attack across the country through legislation and daily bigotries. Now, more than ever, queer and trans folx are in need of deeper community, bonds through shared experience, and platforms to assert our existence.

This group exhibition is open to trans, queer, gender non conforming and gender expansive artists of the DC area. The goal of this exhibition is to highlight the multifaceted nature of the trans, queer, and nonbinary experience: To vent our struggles, profess our joys and euphorias, and to be heard in our journeys.

Questions and concerns to be directed to Curator Lucas J Rougeux: [email protected]

 

 

Marlow Heights Community Center- Public Art Opportunities
deadline August 14
posted by The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission + Prince George’s Department of Parks and Recreation

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Prince George’s Department of Parks and Recreation invites Artists (meaning both individual artists and artist teams) with interest and professional experience in creating public art and site-specific commissions, to submit qualifications for exterior public art features at the Marlow Heights Community Center. The Project includes two separate components:

1) A free-standing sculptural element on the plaza which must fit within a 10’x10’ area and not to exceed 18’ in height. The selected artist for the sculptural element will design, fabricate and install the art feature, which may be glass, metal, stone, concrete, wood, mixed media or lighting suitable for a low-maintenance exterior application.

2) A functional bench enhanced by mosaic elements. Individual artists or artist teams will be selected to develop a proposal for the mosaic application to the bench. The foundation for the bench will be fabricated and installed by the project’s construction contractors and thus require close coordination with the Design/Construction Team members.

While there is no specific requirement regarding theme or subject matter, the artworks for the Marlow Heights Community Center should have the potential for becoming landmark identifiers for the surrounding community, and be suitable for display at a family friendly facility.

Artists may submit qualifications for either or both projects. However, artist candidates will be potentially selected as a finalist to execute only one of the projects. The selected artist candidates will be invited to develop and present their proposal to the Marlow Heights Design/Construction Team and community stakeholders. A stipend of $2,000 will be paid for the development of artist project proposals.

 

 

Artist Residencies
deadline August 15
posted by Centrum

Since 1980, the Centrum Artists-In-Residence program has welcomed hundreds of writers, artists and creative thinkers to immerse themselves in the historic charm and natural beauty of Fort Worden in Port Townsend, Washington. The campus has sweeping views of the Olympic and Cascade Mountain ranges, miles of wandering beach and forest trails, and a peppering of World War I–era batteries and bunkers.

Creative professionals from all disciplines and backgrounds can take advantage of charming cabins, studio spaces, and a rich array of resources. Residents can expect semi-rustic experiences in comfortable cabins or apartments. Visual artists have their choice of a few studios of different sizes, including use of the printmaking studio at Corvidae Press for experienced printmakers. Our campus includes several organizations with whom a resident can arrange to connect such as: Rainshadow recording studio, Madrona MindBody Institute, the Port Townsend School of Woodworking, Copper Canyon Press, and Northwind Art.

Above all, artists cite their residency as a unique opportunity to focus on their practice outside of many of the pressures of work, school, or expectation-based constraints.

 

 

CCDI Artist/Scholar in Residence Application
deadline August 15
posted by Library of Congress

The Artist/Scholar in Residence program supports artists or scholars in the creation of new scholarly and/or artists works that imaginatively study, experiment with, and/or critique the Library’s digital collections, materials, and/or services. Proposed projects should center on one or more of the following groups: Black, Indigenous, Hispanic or Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and/or other communities of color in the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, territories and commonwealths (Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands).

The program is open to a broad array of artists and scholars, including (but not limited to): visual artists, conceptual artists, dancers, journalists, cultural critics, independent scholars, academic scholars, and cultural heritage practitioners, including librarians.

For 2023, the Library intends to award two 12-month grants of up to $90,000 each.

Applications are open May 17, 2023 through 2:00 PM Eastern Time on August 7, 2023.

Questions about this grant program may be submitted until 2:00 PM Eastern Time on July 27, 2023 to [email protected]. After July 27, the Library will only respond to emails related to submission problems.

 

 

Call for Submissions: The Animacy of Objects
deadline August 15
posted by Smithsonian American Art Museum

American Art, the peer-reviewed journal co-published by the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the University of Chicago Press, seeks to publish papers demonstrating cultural perspectives that recognize objects as animate beings. Authors are invited to submit brief essays in reply to this question, posed by co-organizer heather ahtone (Choctaw/Chickasaw Nation): How does acknowledging and engaging with objects as animate beings — recognizing them as relatives and respecting that they carry a form of peoplehood — expose the knowledge they hold and carry, knowledge that is otherwise invisible and unrecognized?

The language of art history is one through which the art historian/curator mediates the cultural perspectives of the maker(s) and the viewer(s), on the premise that humans are engaging with an “inanimate” and “non-sentient” object. As the discipline is growing to value and recognize that there is a multiplicity of histories for the humans involved, the engagement of cultural perspectives that address the peoplehood for the objects is yet to emerge. And, yet, within the global diversity of languages, especially beyond those of European origin, objects are commonly recognized as animate beings. The absoluteness of the hierarchy of animate versus inanimate, with humans as the epitome of animate beings ranking above all others, has become assumed as a component of the Anthropocene, influencing the discipline.

We seek to expand the discourse on the sentient lives of objects, beyond simply the record of their human counterparts. We are open to papers that consider cultural perspectives on objects that elaborate ontological relationships to materials, material processes, or the exhibition of qualities of animacy. This discussion can be held without breaching the sacred or digressing into protected intellectual areas such as cultural ceremony.