Arts

World Premiere at Church Hill Theatre on February 12, 13 & 14

January 13, 2021 by Church Hill Theatre Leave a Comment

Logo Art by Sara Ann Dadds-Smith

Church Hill Theatre will be live streaming The Worst Choice, a searing—and timely—new play by John Carl Haas this February. Haas, a history professor at Chesapeake College, poses a disturbing moral question: what if General William Tecumseh Sherman had been challenged, even faced court martial, for his hard tactics during the final year of the American Civil War. By the end of the play, Haas has also challenged us to consider what we might have done in similar circumstances.

The Worst Choice is a testy conversation between General Sherman and retired General Ethan Allen Hitchcock, an officer widely respected for his ethical values. Preparing for a hostile Congressional inquiry, Sherman hopes Hitchcock will help defend decisions that hastened the end of the war. Far from supporting Sherman, Hitchcock believes there was no ethical justification for the resulting loss of civilian lives and property. While the drama unfolds in a drab Washington City hotel room in 1865, the audience is invited to imagine the destruction of Atlanta, Sherman’s army “foraging” its way to the sea, the burning of South Carolina’s capitol, and the behavior of both war-weary troops and Southern civilians. Although the discussion between Sherman and Hitchcock is fictional, the characters and historical events are real.

Professor Haas, known to many from his acting roles on the CHT stage, has written this play which works well for a Zoom presentation. Robert Thompson, Theater Department professor at Chesapeake College, plays General Sherman and CHT veteran actor Will Robinson portrays General Hitchcock. Shelagh Grasso is the Producer/Director and Michelle Christopher is the Stage Manager.

CHT is proud to live stream this world premiere production via Zoom at 8 pm on Friday, February 12 and Saturday, February 13, and at 2 pm on Sunday, February 14. Tickets for the Zoom connection are $20 (with discounts for students and members) and may be purchased through the CHT website: www.churchhilltheatre.org

Cabin Fever Film Festival Presents This Beautiful Fantastic

January 9, 2021 by Chesapeake Film Festival Leave a Comment

The Chesapeake Film Festival and the Talbot County Free Library are cosponsoring the Cabin Fever Film Festival again this Wednesday, January 13 with This Beautiful Fantastic. When you’re stuck at home due to the pandemic and you have the winter doldrums, take a break and enjoy a rare cinematic gem and Zoom after the show.

Zoom discussion on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at 7 pm: This Beautiful Fantastic

Set against the backdrop of a beautiful London garden, this contemporary fairy tale centers on the unlikely friendship between a reclusive young woman who dreams of writing children’s books and a cranky widower. Facing eviction over her neglected garden, Bella (Jessica Brown Findlay) meets her grumpy, loveless, next-door neighbor (Tom Wilkinson), who happens to be an amazing horticulturalist.

THE FILM CAN BE ACCESSED FOR FREE ON YOUTUBE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8yhL0lcQ5g&t=479s

THE FILM CAN ALSO BE ACCESSED FOR FREE ON HOOPLA FOR ANYONE WHO HAS A LIBRARY CARD FROM ANY OF THE EASTERN SHORE LIBRARIES.

THIS IS THE WEBSITE GUIDE TO USING HOOPLA: http://www.tcfl.org/eresources/Hoopla_QuickStart.pdf

CARDHOLDERS ARE LIMITED TO 8 CHECKOUTS A MONTH. THE FILMS NEED TO BE WATCHED WITHIN 3 DAYS (72 HOURS) OF CHECKOUT.

NOTE: Use this Zoom Link to join the discussion on Wednesday, January 13 at 7 pm:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83913806633

The Zoom discussions will be led by the Chesapeake Film Festival Director, Cid Collins Walker and Executive Director, Nancy Tabor. Come prepared to have a fun and insightful time!

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.

Adkins Arboretum and the Fiber Arts Center of the Eastern Shore Present Yarnstorming!

January 8, 2021 by Adkins Arboretum Leave a Comment

Adkins Arboretum and the Fiber Arts Center of the Eastern Shore are partnering to offer a Yarnstorming exhibit from March 6th through April 3rd, 2021. Knitters and crocheters are invited to decorate an Arboretum tree with their creations.

Trees to be decorated are located behind the Visitor’s Center and marked with yarn. If you are unable to visit the Arboretum, you may email Jenny Houghton at jhoughton@adkinsarboretum for photos of available trees.

Photo courtesy of Adkins Arboretum

Yarn art will be installed by appointment only during the first week of March. You can schedule your appointment when you contact Jenny. Your email should include the following information:
Submitter’s Name
Phone #
Email
Address
Brief description of your yarn creation.

FACES hours: Thursday, 12-4:00pm, Friday, 12-4:00pm, Saturday, 12-4:00pm
Contact: Kathleen McCulloch Phone: 443-448-4611 Email: info@fiberartscenter.com

Partners Sale at The Artists’ Gallery – January 2021

January 1, 2021 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

“View From Dooey Beach, Donegal, Ireland,” 16×20, pastel by E. Baskin

The Artists’ Gallery will feature the work of their five partners throughout the month of January. To help everyone continue the celebrations of the New Year and in preparation of Valentine’s Day, the partners of The Artists’ Gallery are offering a discount of 15% off their works of art this month. Their creations include all original framed pieces of the five partners, along with prints of their work and original unframed pieces on display in the gallery.

The partners in The Artists’ Gallery are: Bonnie Foster Howell, Nancy R. Thomas, Barbara Zuehlke, Evie Baskin and Mary Ellen Mabe. Working in oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel or silverpoint, each artist employs their own unique style and technique. In addition, their subjects vary from land and waterscapes to portraits and still life. Included are scenes along the Eastern Shore, New Zealand, the Bahamas and Ireland.

The public is invited to visit The Artists’ Gallery throughout the month of January. Located at 239 High Street in Chestertown, The Artists’ Gallery is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10-5 and Sundays from 12:30-4:30 p.m. Please note that due to Covid, masks are required to be worn upon entry to the gallery. For more information about the partners and the art they create, please see www.theartistsgalleryctown.com, or on www.facebook.com/6goodpainters or call 410-778-2425.

Library Guy Interviews Donald Hall Prize for Poetry Winner Joy Priest

December 24, 2020 by Talbot County Free Library Leave a Comment

The Library Guy, Bill Peak, has just recorded an interview for The Talbot Spy with Joy Priest, a young poet with a complicated past. Priest won the prestigious Donald Hall Prize for Poetry in 2019 with her very first book of poems, Horsepower. This year she won the equally prestigious Stanley Kunitz Poetry Prize for her poem A Personal History of Breathing.

Joy Priest

Priest’s poetry has appeared in The Atlantic, Poetry Northwest, Poets & Writers, ESPN, The Louisville Anthology, Best New Poets 2014, 2016, & 2019, and A Measure of Belonging: Writers of Color on the New American South, among other publications. She has received support from the Fine Arts Work Center, The Frost Place, the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, and the Hurston/Wright Foundation. Priest is currently a doctoral student in Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Houston.

Peak’s interview with the poet can be watched at: https://talbotspy.org/the-library-guy-donald-hall-award-winning-poet-joy-priest/

GCA’s “(Stay) Home for the Holidays” Extends Its Online Run to January 3rd

December 15, 2020 by Garfield Center Leave a Comment

Sponsored by Chesapeake Bank and Trust, The Garfield Center’s “(Stay) Home for the Holidays!” is a family-friendly, holiday-themed online video program. Produced by GCA Executive Director Steven Arnold, the program was scheduled to finish its online availability on December 20th. Due to popular demand, however, the online run has been extended until January 3rd.

The program features five new video-captured short plays by area playwrights, a reading of “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by area kids, and the hilarious return of memorable Garfield Center characters from past productions as they audition for the role of Santa.

Participating Playwrights include Worton’s Mark Sullivan, Elkton’s Michael Collins, Chestertown’s Steven Arnold and Rich Pauli of Annapolis. Segment Directors and Producers include Jennifer Kafka Smith, Nic Carter, Mark Sullivan, Paul Cambardella, Francoise Sullivan, and Steven Arnold, who also serves as the overall video Editor for the project.

Creating “(STAY) Home for the Holidays!” involved a large number of talented area volunteers. The cast and crew includes Ben Anthony, Steven Arnold, M.G. Brosius, Paul Cambardella, Nic Carter, Michael Collins, Katie Cox, Nevin Dawson, Ryan Ewing, Finley Ewing, Liam Ewing, Jen Friedman, Sharon Herz, Tom Herz, Averie Hitzges, Jane Jewell, Jim Landskroener, Harrison Lavery, Melissa McGlynn, Peri Overton, Tilghman Overton, Rich Pauli, Sophie Pierce, Kirby Powell, Kaya Ricketts, Jennifer Kafka Smith, Izzie Squire Southworth, Mark Sullivan, Francoise Sullivan, Lydia Sullivan, Stella Sullivan, Ella von Voss, Toph Wallace, Abbey Wark, Mark Wiening, Kendall Willis, Phebe Wood, Robin Wood, Kelly Young, and Auggie!

Tickets are only $10.00 and can be purchased on the Garfield Center website at https://garfieldcenter.org/stayhomefortheholidays. Ticket buyers will receive an emailed receipt that will also contain viewing instructions.

New Items and a Video Tour of RiverArts Holiday Show & Sale

December 12, 2020 by Chestertown RiverArts Leave a Comment

The RiverArts Holiday Show and Sale, on through December 22, is a treat for the eyes. It is updated regularly as items are sold and new ones come in. We welcome you to enjoy this festive show with holiday lights above in the breezeway and displays in the windows of the RiverArts Galleries.

Visit the RiverArts website at https://community.chestertownriverarts.org/program/holiday-shop to take a video tour. Peruse the posted offerings, which are regularly updated with the removal of items as they are sold, and new items added as stock is replenished. All are welcome to come into the galleries by setting up a 20-minute appointment online.

One reason that the Holiday Show is such a favorite tradition is the fun of sharing it with family and friends. This year, we’ve been delighted to host festive cocktail hours on Thursday evenings. Join us for the final social hour on December 17 at 5pm to chat with RiverArts Board members, artists, and friends. Feel free to ask questions, show off your purchases, and get great gift ideas for your loved ones and yourself. Just RSVP for this virtual get-together on the Holiday Show page of the website.

Photo credit: Steve Kane

More goings-on in December!!!

RiverArts Salon (free) – Tuesday, December 15, 5:00-5:45. Poetry as/and Justice with O’Neill Literary House Director James Allen Hall, who will talk about Katie Daniel’s poem, “War Photograph,” inspired by Nick Ut’s famous Pulitzer-winning photograph of a napalm attack on a village during the Vietnam War, published in 1972 in the New York Times. Register to join the discussion at www.community.chestertownriverarts.org/program/james-allen-hall, no later than noon on December 15.

Vision Boards for 2021 with Deanna Pratt – December 17, 1:00-2:00

Create a fun vision board to help you focus on your hopes and dreams for 2021. Use visualization techniques to bring clarity to your new year’s goals and create an action plan to realize them. Register at www.community.chestertownriverarts.org/program/vision-board. Offered on a ‘pay what you can’ basis: Those with limited funds are welcome to enjoy full access to the class for whatever they can afford. Those who are able are invited to pay more, to support access to art experiences for all.

Stay informed about what’s happening at RiverArts by subscribing to the Daily Dose, a newsletter designed to keep you up-to-date on exhibits, discussions, classes, club meetings, activities and more for all ages.

Chestertown RiverArts is a community arts center serving Kent County, Maryland and beyond with exhibits, classes, children’s arts activities, and a Clay Studio. RiverArts’ mission is “growing community, creativity, and connection through the Arts.” Visit RiverArts online at www.ChestertownRiverArts.org, or connect by phone at 410.778.6300 or email at info@ChestertownRiverArts.org.

Upcoming Sale on Paintings by Marc Rubin at The Artists’ Gallery

December 11, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

“Pas de Deux” oil (15×15) by Marc Rubin $2,800

From December 15, 2020 through January 15, 2021, The Artists’ Gallery is offering a very special discount of 50% off selected paintings by exhibiting artist, Marc Rubin. Based in Elmira, New York, Rubin is a classic representational oil painter whose works articulate a timeless quality. He captures everyday objects at eye level, sized in the frame as they are in the world- but imbued with a spirit and presence so that emotionally they become larger than life. He is continually inspired by the play of light dancing on objects and is at home painting florals, still life and portraits.

Classically trained by his mentor, Thomas Buechner, in upstate New York, Rubin emerged from his art studies with a unique point of view. Rubin’s masterfully painted representational oils are exhibited in galleries throughout the Northeast, including The Artists’ Gallery in Chestertown.

The Artists’ Gallery is located at 239 High Street in Chestertown and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10-5 and Sundays from 12:30-4:30 p.m Please remember that masks must be worn at all times when visiting the gallery. For more information about The Artists’ Gallery, please visit www.theartistsgalleryctown.com or call the gallery at 410-778-2425.

Celebrate the Holidays with CBMM

December 11, 2020 by Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum 1 Comment

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is inviting the public to celebrate the holidays on its St. Michaels, Md., campus by hosting a holiday lights show each evening through the new year.

Starting after the close of business at 4pm each day, CBMM will open up its outdoor campus so guests may come enjoy a display of lights with their friends and families for free. Campus will remain open on Saturday, Dec. 12, when Christmas in St. Michaels’ Lighted Boat Parade (featuring several members of CBMM’s floating fleet of historic vessels) takes place, with CBMM offering an ideal vantage to watch the parade route. For those who would prefer to watch a live stream of the parade from the comfort of their own home, CBMM plans to run one on its Facebook page around 6pm on Dec. 12.

Photo by George Sass

Included in CBMM’s lights display is the only Hopeful sign in the Bay Hundred area, generously provided by the Dock Street Foundation. The Hopeful 2020-21 campaign is an effort to encourage residents to express their feelings of hope for the future by contributing funds to the Mid-Shore Community Foundation’s Covid-19 Response Fund in support of nonprofit organizations that provide food, shelter and health services to Talbot County’s underserved residents. Learn more at dockstreetfoundation.org.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum requires everyone on campus 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. Additional information on CBMM’s enhanced health and comfort measures can be found at welcome.cbmm.org.

Mid-Atlantic Symphony to Welcome 2021 With Acclaimed Mezzo-Soprano Lisa Chavez

December 9, 2020 by Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra Leave a Comment

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra will welcome the New Year with a festive program featuring acclaimed mezzo-soprano Lisa Chavez and discounted livestream gift tickets to allow patrons to share the concert with family members and friends.

Lisa Chavez

The December 31 non-subscription concert begins at 7 PM at the Church of God in Easton, MD, with both virtual and live, socially-distanced audiences.

“It will be very exciting for our audience to hear Liza Chavez, one of the great American mezzos of today,” said Mid-Atlantic Symphony Music Director Julien Benichou.“Everyone who hears her sing agrees that there is no one else like her.”

Hailed by the Opera News for “her buttery, richly colored mezzo,” Ms. Chavez is widely known for the role of Carmen, which she has performed with companies including the New York City Opera. Other roles with the New York City Opera have included Paula in Florencia en el Amazonas, which Opera Today hailed as a“most compelling performance,” observing that “with a rich, healthy mezzo voice, she brings the most three-dimensionality to her character.”

Ms. Chavez earned her master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music after studying at California State University-Hayward. She has been a member of opera companies in San Jose, CA and Sarasota, FL, and made her Carnegie Hall debut in Dan Forrest’s Jubilate Deo. Ms. Chavez is a founding member of Opera Collective, an independent opera company making operatic repertoire accessible throughout New York City.

Tickets to attend the New Year’s Eve performance as a member of the live, socially-distanced audience of up to 150 individuals are $85, while supplies last. Individual tickets to view the concert livestream are $25. Gift tickets for the livestream are available at five for $100, a $25 savings from the individual ticket price.

All tickets include access to pre- and post-concert discussions led by Maestro Benichou.

Tickets may be purchased online at the Orchestra’s website,midatlanticsymphony.org. For additional information, call 888-846-8600 or email info@midatlanticsymphony.org.

In addition to the December 31 program, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony’s season includes concerts on March 4 and April 22, 2021.

The only professional symphony orchestra serving Maryland’s Eastern Shore and southern Delaware, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council; the Talbot County Arts Council; the Worcester County Arts Council; the Sussex County, DE Council; and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Inc.

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