Arts

The 2020 Virtual Chesapeake Film Festival

August 12, 2020 by Chesapeake Film Festival Leave a Comment

From films made around the Chesapeake Bay, to films produced on the West Coast, to films from across the ocean, our 2020 Festival promises to be the most diverse and exciting in the 13-year-history of the Chesapeake Film Festival. It’s virtual. It’s international. And it’s FREE!

CFF 2020, Oct. 1-4, includes seven outstanding films that came to us from filmmakers in countries as diverse as the Netherlands and Iran.

Imaginarius –Documentary Feature, 1:007:00, Directed by Juan Ignacio Bello, Chile –A total solar eclipse draws thousands of astronomers and tourists to the Elqui Valley of Chile. Amid the unusual frenzy that surrounds their town, four friends take a journey filled with humor, fantasy and creativity.

Our Gorongosa

Our Gorongosa — Documentary Feature, 60:00, Written and produced by Carla Rebai, Netherlands — Gorongosa National Park has become one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife restoration stories. After a decade of renewed protection, Gorongosa’s large mammal population has increased 10-fold to over 100,000 animals. But the Park must also find a way to co-exist with the 200,000 people living in surrounding communities.

The Abjurants

The Abjurants, Narrative Short, 15:00, Directed by Antonio De Palo, Italy – 2087. Vera and Roberta are abjurants, meaning women who refuse to adhere to the Eugenics Program imposed by the Government. They are confined and used as test subjects. Their only purpose in life is recalling their lovers’ faces.

Ashmina

Ashmina, Documentary Short, 14:59, Directed by Dekel Berenson, United Kingdom–Ashmina, 13, lives at the outskirts of Pokhara Nepal, paragliding capital of the world. She skips school to work at the landing field, packing the parachutes of foreign pilots in return for small change to help her family meet expenses. An unusually large tip leads her to question fundamental aspects of her life.

Musician

Musician – Narrative Short, 19:41, Directed by Mohsen Mehri Darouei, Iran – Mahmoud is a very, very short man about one meter tall who wishes to play a two-meter high instrument — a Contrabass.

No Dominion

No Dominion – Narrative Short, 13:48, Directed by Georgios Dimitropoulos, United Kingdom– On a random winter weekend in beautiful Wales, three travelers, an American and a French couple, come to a Swansea getaway for very different reasons.

Whether you are a local film enthusiast on the Eastern Shore of Maryland or a film lover in Chile, you can experience the best in independent filmmaking from around the world in the 2020 Virtual Chesapeake Film Festival. Watch any or all of the 45 films FOR FREE as the Chesapeake Film Festival’s gift to communities coping with CoVid 19.

Donations and sponsorships are appreciated. The Chesapeake Film Festival is a 501 c3 charitable organization. Registration for the festival opens September 1 on chesapeakefilmfestival.com. Trailers of many of the films will also be available on September 1.

Check chesapeakefilmfestival.com for more information or call Nancy Tabor, Executive Director, at 443-955-9144. Schedule of films is subject to change.

The Chesapeake Film Festival is generously supported by the Shared Earth Foundation, Maryland Film Office, Maryland State Arts Council, Talbot County Arts Council, Talbot County Department of Tourism, Artistic Insights Fund, Richard and Beverly Tilghman, Karen and Langley Shook, U.S. Small Business Administration, Talbot CARES Small Business Grant and The Ravenal Foundation. Funding has also been provided to the Chesapeake Film Festival from Maryland Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020.

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The Mainstay Livestream: A Tribute to Duke Pearson with The Todd Simon Trio

August 12, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

The Mainstay streaming concerts live from Rock Hall continue on Friday August 21 at 7 pm with the Todd Simon Trio presenting a tribute to legendary Blue Note artist Duke Pearson. All concerts are streamed live from Kent County’s favorite live music venue via a private uplink available through The Mainstay’s website. Tickets are $5 online/advance. Information and ticket sales are available on the Mainstay’s website at www.mainstayrockhall.org.

Featuring pianist Todd Simon, bassist Amy Shook, and drummer Jesse Moody, this show pays tribute to one of the unsung heroes of Blue Note Record’s Golden Age.

Pianist, composer, arranger and producer Columbus Calvin ‘Duke’ Pearson was born on August 17th, 1932. Duke started on piano when he was five but switched to trumpet at 12. He attended Clark College, then served in the Army from 1953-1954 with pianist Phineas Newborn, Jr. and trumpeter Louis Smith, and wrote arrangements for the Army Band. After returning to Atlanta, he reverted to the piano, joining the house band at the Waluhaje Ballroom and performing with Louis Smith in 1957-1958. At the urging of fellow musicians, Duke moved to New York City in January 1959. Trumpeter Donald Byrd heard Pearson, who soon found himself working with some of the finest jazz players of the day and recording for Blue Note Records, which would play a major role in his life.

Duke worked with the Art Farmer/Benny Golson Jazztet in 1960 before joining the quintet co-led by Byrd and baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams. He toured with Nancy Wilson in 1961 and traveled with her to Brazil, which inspired the creation of one of his best-known pieces, ‘Cristo Redentor’. The tune appeared on Byrd’s Blue Note album A New Perspective (1/12/63), an ambitious recording which featured an 8-piece choir in addition to Byrd’s septet. After the death of saxophonist Ike Quebec on January 16th, 1963, Duke took his place as A & R man for Blue Note and continued in that capacity when Liberty records purchased the label from founder Alfred Lion in 1966 (Lion retired in 1967). Duke’s arranging skills were used by many Blue Note artists and he later served as producer for a number of sessions. He also recorded for Atlantic records during this time, although one session was lost in a warehouse fire.

Pearson and Byrd formed a big band which made its debut at Carnegie Hall in 1966 and subbed for the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis band at the Village Vanguard in February 1967. The two bands shared personnel, notably Pepper Adams, Jerry Dodgion (alto sax) and Garnett Brown (trombone). The big band (with Pearson as sole leader) made two recordings for Blue Note, Introducing Duke Pearson’s Big Band (12/15/67) and Now Hear This (12/3/68). They performed four times for Baltimore’s Left Bank Jazz Society, and selections from their concert on 4/27/69 were released by Uptown records. In the late 1960s, Duke began incorporating Brazilian music into his repertoire, and introduced several Brazilian artists to U.S. audiences, notably vocalist Flora Purim, percussionist Airto Moreira and multi-instrumentalist Hermeto Pascoal.

Although Duke’s last session for the Blue Note was in 1970, he continued his production work for them until the mid-1970s. He reformed his big band in 1972 and started a new residency at the Half Note in 1973. Duke Pearson died on August 4th, 1980 at Atlanta Veterans’ Hospital from multiple sclerosis.

The Todd Simon Trio will take us on a tour of Duke’s music, and may even offer a few never before recorded masterworks! Don’t miss this amazing concert.

The Mainstay (Home of Musical Magic) is the friendly informal storefront performing arts center on Rock Hall’s old time Main Street. It is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit dedicated to the arts, serving Rock Hall, MD and the surrounding region and is committed to presenting local, regional and national level talent, at a reasonable price, in an almost perfect acoustic setting. Information and advance ticket sales are available on the Mainstay’s website www.mainstayrockhall.org and information for supporting The Mainstay through the COVID-19 crisis can be found at www.mainstayrockhall.org/sponsors.

Upcoming Mainstay performances include:

September 11 Jeff Antoniuk and Helluva Band
September 14 Monday Night LIVE with Joe Holt
September 18 Ken and Brad Kolodner

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New Exhibition to Feature Works from Photographer David Harp

August 8, 2020 by Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Leave a Comment

Forty years of images by documentary photographer David W. Harp will be on display this fall at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in a new exhibition titled Where Land and Water Meet: The Chesapeake Bay Photography of David W. Harp. Scheduled for Sept. 25, 2020 through Sept. 20, 2021, Where Land and Water Meet will be on view in CBMM’s Steamboat Building gallery, as well as in a virtual format.

Harp’s inspiration comes from exploring literal and figurative edges: shorelines, communities, habitats, and traditional worklife where culture and nature connect, creating the essence of what defines the Chesapeake. From dozens of black and white Tri-X film shots of legendary skipjacks including Rebecca T. Ruark and intimate portraits of captains and crew, to Kodachrome and Fujichrome images capturing marsh guts, waterfowl, and watermen at work, to more contemporary digital images documenting changing landscapes and lifestyles, Harp’s body of work represents a career spent immersed in the natural world, perfecting the art of observation.

A great blue heron shoots the gap between two stands of phragmites along the shore of the upper Choptank River.  Digital image, 2013. Photograph by David Harp.

“Dave Harp has a long and varied career, and his naturalist’s eye provides an unparalleled perspective on the interdependence of communities, land and water along the Chesapeake,” said Jenifer Dolde, Associate Curator of Collections. “His passion for the environment continually draws him to explore the Bay’s rivers, marshes and guts by kayak, on foot and by air, always revealing them in new ways.”

Where Land and Water Meet is presented thanks to the generous contributions of Diamond Sponsor Caroline Gabel; Platinum Sponsors Sandy & Omer Brown and H. Turney McKnight; Gold Sponsors Emma & Cullen Bailine and Finn & Jackson Falk, Meta & Billy Boyd, David M. Brown, Dorie & Jeff McGuiness, and The Bay Journal; and Silver Sponsors Posey & Bill Boicourt. Entry to the exhibition is free for CBMM members or with general admission.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum officially reopened to the public at the end of June, with everyone on campus required to follow the Town of St. Michaels ordinance and wear facial coverings inside buildings at all times and outdoors when within six feet of other guests. For membership contactless entry, please renew or purchase CBMM memberships online at cbmm.org/membership. Additional information on CBMM’s enhanced health and comfort measures and operational changes for reopening can be found at welcome.cbmm.org.

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Special Exhibition at The Trippe-“Les Petits Peintures en Plein Air”

August 7, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Twelve artists, twenty-five paintings. Twelve painters, well known locally and some recently in town for Plein Air Easton, have painted one or more small paintings for a special exhibition at The Trippe Gallery. “En plein air”, French for outdoors, is a method of painting that contrasts with studio painting or academic rules that might create a predetermined look.

“Under the Tent” by Nancy Tankersley

These 25 paintings feature a variety of subject matter and style from impressionistic realism to abstract, as well as medium, from oil to watercolor to egg tempera. The painting sizes are 4”x4” to 8”x10″. The artists participating are Olena Babak, Jill Basham, Zufar Bikbov, Stephen Griffin, Len Mizerek, Elise Phillips, Crista Pisano, Cynthia Rosen, John Brandonn Sills, Nancy Tankersley, Mary Veiga and Stewart White. As one artist said “ Small paintings are like potato chips-you can’t have just one!”

The featured artist for the month of August is John Brandon Sills. His landscapes depict a subtle elegance of a master’s touch of his art. Much to see in the gallery!

The exhibit will be open Saturday August 8 at 10am. The gallery hours are Monday/Thursday 12-4, Friday 11-5, Saturday 10-5:30. For more information, please call 410-310-8727 or visit the gallery website thetrippegallery.com for the images of both exhibitions.

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The Artists’ Gallery’s August Show Features Evie Baskin in “Wells of LIfe“

August 1, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

The Artists’ Gallery will feature Evie Baskin’s newest series of work throughout the month of August. “Wells of Life” was inspired by time spent exploring parts of Ireland, Eleuthera, West Virginia, and the Eastern Shore. This body of work focuses on places that cause us stop, take a second look, and in some cases, calm the spirit. They help us realize that there still are unique and wondrous places of beauty all around us, waiting to be discovered. In these paintings, Evie used oil and pastel to capture the light, mood and color reflected in the various “wells of life” she visited.

“Inlet Reflections,” along the Chester River, oil on panel (16×20) by Evie Baskin

Evie Baskin was born in Jacksonville, Florida, and has a BA in Visual Art from Florida State University in Tallahassee. After raising her family in Key West, she relocated to Alexandria in 1999, where she managed a law firm in Washington, DC while continuing to study figurative art at the Torpedo Factory. In 2007, she and her husband moved to Chestertown. Since arriving, she has been the recipient of numerous awards for her landscapes and portraits. Evie became a partner with The Artists’ Gallery in 2015 and is a juried member of The Working Artists’ Forum in Easton, a member of Chestertown Riverarts and an accredited member of the Maryland Society of Portrait Painters.

“Wells of Life” will hang in The Artists’ Gallery throughout the month of August. The Artists’ Gallery is located at 239 High Street in Chestertown, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 12:30-4:30 p.m. For more information about The Artists’ Gallery, please visit www.theartistsgallery.ctown.com or call the gallery at 410-778-2425.

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Jazz is Alive with Bria Skonberg

August 1, 2020 by Chesapeake Music Leave a Comment

Trumpeter/vocalist Bria Skonberg is a remarkable force in the jazz scene—notorious for her “tradfusion” sound and steadily earning the reputation as Louis Armstrong’s modern-day counterpart.

And, thanks to the Easton-based non-profit Chesapeake Music, you can catch her in action, virtually, as part of their continuing series, “Jazz Is Alive.”

The free performance is available via Chesapeakemusic.org.

“We’re so delighted to have Bria join us on our virtual stage,” says Joe Fischer, Chairman of the Jazz Committee Chesapeake Music. “She’s got such an engaging personality and the musical talent to match!”

Skonberg’s specialty is old jazz—proven by her solid repertoire of 1900s to 1940s tunes—but her songs draw influence from a variety of genres, from blues to Dixieland to pop.

“I like to be influenced by what’s around me,” she said in a 2017 interview with Chesapeake Music. “That’s jazz. You listen and react.”

Described by Vanity Fair as “a millennial shaking up the jazz world,” Skonberg’s rising-star status was confirmed when she won the 2017 Juno Award for Jazz Vocal Album of the Year for her 2016 crowd-funded album, Bria.

“Basically, it’s a Canadian Grammy,” she explained. “It’s been a wild ride.”

Bria Skonberg

The trailblazing trumpeter has performed at more than a hundred festivals around the world, including New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, and Montreal Jazz Festival—to name a few!

She graced the Avalon Theatre stage a few years ago, when she kicked off the 2017 Monty Alexander Jazz Festival with an expressive and lively performance. She fondly recalls her experience during her introduction to her virtual show.

“Driving into such a cute little city and having probably the best crab cakes I’ve ever had in my life,” she says, with a laugh. “And then taking that energy to the stage and meeting your fantastic, wonderful audience.”

Skonberg was slated to headline this year’s Monty Alexander Jazz Festival. Held annually over Labor Day weekend, the 2020 festival has been canceled. Still, she looks forward to her inevitable return—not only to meet with musicians and attendees alike, but, admittedly, for the crab cakes, too!

“We will undoubtedly be bringing Bria back to Easton for a live performance as soon as possible, but for now, let’s enjoy her wonderful music as best, and as safely, as we can,” Fischer says.

Skonberg takes the virtual stage with an introduction and engaging selection of songs that includes her newest music video “So Is The Day.“

To start listening, visit Chesapeakemusic.org.

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“Zap! the Art of Brad Hudson!” at Main Street Gallery

July 31, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Artwork by Brad Hudson

This Fall look for something eye-popping and new at Main Street Gallery. The colorful, action-packed comic art of Eastern Shore artist Brad Hudson will be front and center in a show called “Zap! the Art of Brad Hudson!”. As MSG’s guest artist for September and October, his work will be shown alongside the paintings, prints, sculptures, photographs, textiles, jewelry and ceramics of the 11 gallery members. For this show, Hudson, a prolific artist who publishes his comic art under the moniker of Coldstream Studios will be partnering with RAR Brewing, a well-known craft beer establishment in Cambridge, to have one of his comic drawings appear on a beer release. Check MSG’s website or FB page for upcoming details.

During his career Hudson has developed numerous characters including Draxx (with Chris Harrington), Rocket Girl and Dark Crusader. In 2015 his work was seen by the Star Wars brand manager of Topps Trading cards and the result was over 4000 sketch cards to be distributed internationally. Hudson also does illustrations for other Topps Licenses including AMC’s “The Walking Dead”, “Stranger Things” and “Mars Attack”. He is under contract with Upperdeck and Fleer too, to create a trading card series based on Agent Carter of SHIELD, X-Man, Spider-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor Ragnarok and Avengers Infinity War under the Marvel Comics license. Adding to his impressive portfolio, Hudson will also be creating sketch cards for Fox’s TV series, the X-Files. He’s also been invited to do a Star Wars illustration to be reproduced as a base card for the iconic Galaxy series.

In addition to his work as a comic artist, Hudson has been an art instructor at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore for the past 18 years and has participated in numerous national comic book conventions with his students. He currently exhibits his work locally, nationally and internationally.

“In the past five years I’ve completed well over 4000 illustrations,” says the artist. “It’s taught me to be timely and flexible. I’ve explored a variety of materials and processes to adapt to the changing card stock and keep my work fresh. Time management and scheduling have become major priorities!”

“ZAP, the Art of Brad Hudson” will open at the Main Street Gallery, 518 Poplar St., on September 4 and run through October 24. Current hours of operation are Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 8 pm or by appointment at 410-330-4659. Online shopping is also available at the gallery’s new website: mainstgallery.net. Please check the website or Facebook page (facebook.com/MainStGallery) or call (410-330-4659) for updates on changes to open hours as the Covid-19 situation evolves. The gallery is taking all sanitary precautions to ensure the safety of its visitors and is complying with the governor’s order to wear masks and require all visitors to do the same.

Main Street Gallery is the only artist owned and operated Artist Cooperative in Cambridge and is currently looking at the work of prospective members. For membership information call them or visit their website. You can also like them on Facebook.

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Jazz is Alive!

July 22, 2020 by Chesapeake Music Leave a Comment

Jazz on the Chesapeake is bringing the sweet sounds of music to your home with its virtual stage at Chesapeakemusic.org.

First up, it’s the amazing Monty Alexander. Considered one of the top five jazz pianists ever, Alexander’s musical expression combines elements of the blues, gospel, calypso, and reggae.

Monty Alexander. Photo credit: Joe Martinez

In a week or so, trumpeter/vocalist Bria Skonberg will grace the virtual stage. The Canadian-songwriter is steadily earning the reputation as Louis Armstrong’s modern-day counterpart.

Skonberg was slated to join Alexander as a headliner at this year’s Monty Alexander Jazz Festival. Held annually over Labor Day weekend, the 2020 festival has been canceled.

“Though we may not be together physically, we can still enjoy the music together,” says Joe Fischer, Chairman of the Jazz Committee Chesapeake Music.

Through August and beyond,enjoy a curated selection of past festival favorites, including Dominick Farinacci, the Anderson Twins (Will and Peter), Chuck Redd, and many more. Patrons can sign up via Chesapeake Music to receive email notifications whenever a new artist performance is available to watch.

Bria Skonberg. Photo by Christine Vaindirlis

So, settle in on the couch and tune in today to Alexander’s lively show in Beloise, Switzerland.

“Believe me, you will be impressed with this 59-minute production,” Fischer says, referring to the musician’s performance. “We’re thankful for your patience and support during this challenging time for the performing arts.”

To start listening, visit Chesapeakemusic.org.

Jazz on the Chesapeake is a program of Chesapeake Music.

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Delmarva Review Announces New Cover

July 21, 2020 by Delmarva Review Leave a Comment

Delmarva Review, Volume 13 Image: “Cedar Island Watch House” by Jay P. Fleming

Delmarva Review literary journal unveiled the cover for its thirteenth annual edition, to be published in the fall. The publication’s editorial board unanimously selected “Cedar Island Watch House” by photographer Jay P. Fleming for the new edition. The selection is from an open competition of photographers and artists from the Chesapeake region.

“Jay Fleming’s striking image conjures up stories visually that complement the review’s compelling prose and poetry, writing that will live beyond our lifetimes,” said Wilson Wyatt, executive editor. “We’re pleased to be able to select our cover art from the substantial work of regional artists.”

The image reveals a seaman’s watch house on wooden pilings raised above the Atlantic’s surf on Cedar Island, near Wachapreague, Virginia. The scene reflects the sunset and a rising sea. The house has since fallen to nature’s strength, swallowed by the sea.

This is Fleming’s third cover for the Delmarva Review. Other outstanding covers in the last five years have been created by regional photographers Cal Jackson and George Merrill.

Fleming is a professional fine art photographer who credits learning his craft from three key sources, his dogged self-persistence, a strong interest in environmental conservatism, and the tutelage of his photographer father, Kevin Fleming, another highly skilled professional artist and former National Geographic photographer.

With a studio in Annapolis, Jay Fleming’s images have been featured in magazines, books, and exhibited in fine art galleries throughout the Chesapeake Bay region. His first book of photography Working the Water (2016) is in its third printing. A second book, Island Life, is scheduled for 2021. He graduated from St. Mary’s College majoring in economics.

The thirteenth edition of Delmarva Review, about 300 pages, will feature original new fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction by more sixty authors from across the United States and several other countries. Many are from the tri-state region of Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia.

Delmarva Review is published in print and digital editions by the Delmarva Review Literary Fund, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization encouraging writers of outstanding new literary work at a time when many commercial publications are closing their doors. The journal is supported by individual contributions, sales, and a grant from the Talbot County Arts Council with funds from the Maryland State Arts Council.

The review welcomes compelling new literary submissions from all writers. The submission period is open from November 1 to March 31. Cover art entries can be sent at that time, as well. Please see the website for guidelines and subscriptions: www.DelmarvaReview.org.

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