This Friday, February 3, at 5:00 PM, the Kent County Public Library will again provide a venue to the self-guided stroll down High Street and beyond for a night of cultural mingling in downtown Chestertown. In keeping with the library’s mission to provide relevant community programs and service, a showing of the art forms of Allen Johnson, Rachel Calloway, and Kent County youth will be presented.
Chestertown native, Allen Johnson, II, a master of many trades, has devoted his life to working with his hands and carrying a song in his heart. Formative years on the bay spent oystering, fishing, and crabbing with his father, progressed into a creative passion that involved painting, sculpting, and welding during his spare time. Fortunately, with retirement, Johnson has devoted more time to his craft, working out of his Artworks studio in Still Pond. While many know him for his County Parks and Recreation arts and crafts instruction, he is also known for his ability to carry a tune. He performed with the local gospel group, “Pilgrim Travelers” for 46 years.
Rachel Calloway’s artistic expression on canvas originates in an inner voice conveying mood through line work, shape, patterns, and
color. She describes her ever evolving art form as “intriguing conversations in the paint (where) thick, substantial globs of paint with thin washes affect depth and texture.”
In addition to the artwork by Johnson and Calloway, two youth art displays will be featured during the month of February. Shoubu Otaku, the library’s Manga Club for teens, will be displaying their artwork in the children’s area display case. Student artwork from H.H. Garnett Elementary, Worton Elementary, and Galena Elementary will feature a variety of mediums. Art teacher Aimée Boumiea has created a display in the children’s area that amplifies the creativity of her K-5 students and the importance of fine arts programs in elementary schools.
The public is invited to park behind the building and begin this week’s First Friday festivities with this month’s featured artists to include, as always, family-friendly fare at the public library.
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