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The best thing about December is that it gives us the opportunity to end the year in an interesting and meaningful way. No matter what 2021 is for you, it may be another unusual year worth celebrating the end of good things and bad things.
From today's noon to 5 pm Chocolate Carnival, Annapolis embraces this celebration with vigor. There is no better holiday tradition than the midnight madness from 4pm to midnight on Thursday and 5pm to 11pm on December 16. We invite everyone in the city and county to experience the miracles of Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's Day, Winter Solstice or any other holiday that is important to you. The whole town and area is a visual feast, full of excitement and something for everyone.
In terms of gift giving, you don't have to wait until Midnight Madness to find affordable, unique and original art gifts. Although the number of exquisite gift artworks may be the most I have seen, I suggest you go to the gallery as soon as possible because it is flying away from the wall.
Thank you for your continued readers and appreciation for the amazing art and artistic endeavors that have helped to make our community complete and enriched. My hope for each of you is that 2022 will be a prosperous year, full of art, joy and love.
MFA Circle Gallery will host the 19th annual national review exhibition "Little Miracles" from now until December 23. The only requirement for entry is that all dimensions of the work must be under 11 inches, including the frame. Check out these small 2D and 3D art pieces selected by jurors from Towson University professor and 2D Foundations regional coordinator Amanda Burnham. Participate in the virtual award ceremonies at 4pm today and 5-7pm on Thursday through Zoom, and attend face-to-face receptions. View online gallery: https://mdfedart.com/portfolio/234/
West 57 Gallery will host an art lecture by Annapolis Art League members Barbara Burns, Julie Heath and Claudin Intner at 5:30 pm on Tuesday. Burns will show her skills in drawing a snowman without using any white paint and discuss what prompted her to start painting at the age of 60. Heath will discuss how she uses paper, fabric, paint and ink to create mixed media collages to capture scenes from the Chesapeake Bay and life in the tropics. Intner will share her sketchbook project on birds and pollinators, which inspired her new acrylic painting. Watch the video of the talk on www.gallery57west.com.
Jo Fleming Contemporary Art will hold an annual gift-giving art exhibition before December 24th. The gallery has a series of local original artworks that cost less than US$250. More than a dozen local artists include: Cindy Winnick, Patrice Drago, Shirley Southwick, Susanna and Tom Donner, Vicki and Martin Ali, Cheryl Milligan, Sigrid Trump, Andre Tahrir, Sally Rudy, Alan Cardi, Gildia and Eric Roberge. Refreshments are offered during the Midnight Crazy, Thursday and December 16th from 5pm to midnight.
McBride Gallery is pleased to host its annual "Little Gem" exhibition in December, with 14 participating artists participating. Celebrating the "Little Gem", 14 x 14 inches or smaller paintings created by some of the gallery’s top artists, including Deborah Kommalan, Carol Lee Thompson, Paula Waterman, Michael Godfrey, Christopher Best, Sherrill Cooper, etc. In addition, you can also discover the imagination and joy of the new oil paintings in the annual "Fables and Fantasy" exhibition of Maryland artist Victor Nizovtsev. Pick a "jewel" from your favorite artist before December 30th. Join their open day midnight crazy reception on Thursday and December 16th.
West Annapolis Artworks is honored to showcase the work of Gayle Mangan Kassal as an award-winning Maryland artist throughout the month. When she transforms ordinary space into a whimsical new world, the vitality and prosperity of life experience shines in her works. Kassal is known for her custom commissioned works, she embraces her theme and enhances the concept of time freezing movement. Meet and chat with her at the Xi'an Napolis Holiday Market on December 18th.
The Mitchell Gallery of St. John's College continues its online exhibition, "From the Coast: Winslow Homer's Impressions of the Coast". The exhibition was borrowed from Syracuse University Art Museum and featured Winslow Homer (1836-1910) as "Harper's Weekly", "Frank Leslie's Pictorial", "Appleton Magazine" and 23 prints created by other publications. Homer's interest in the sea, especially the sea in Gloucester and Cape Ann, Massachusetts, focuses on the natural beauty, fashionable resorts, maritime industry and common leisure activities in the area. Many of these woodblock prints translated into paintings show his transformation from an illustrator to an outstanding American painter in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Two recorded lectures of the exhibition, one by art educator Lucinda Edinberg and the other by exhibition curator Andrew Saluti, are available online for free, please visit sjc.edu/mitchell-gallery. The exhibition will be online until December 15th.
Quiet Waters Park’s gallery will continue to hold the "Form and Fabric X-Artistic Gifts of the Season" invitational group exhibition featuring original handmade artworks. The exhibition will last until January 3. All items can be taken away after purchase. The 2021-22 participating artists are Annette Uroskie, digital photography and watercolor painting on Yupo synthetic paper; Ardythe Jolliff, note cards; Chesapeake weavers, weaving, dyeing scarves and clothing; Chesapeake woodworking, woodworking; Donna Schramek, soft sculpture; garage art, ceramics; Joan Machinchick, watercolors, calendars, calligraphy; and Liz Sork, painted glassware, pen and ink paintings.
Various exhibitions continue to be held inside and outside the Maryland Hall. The Chaney Gallery has a new artisan pop-up shop that sells original works by the teaching artists of the Maryland Concert Hall. At the Martino Gallery, the ArtReach exhibition tells the story of the new "One Annapolis" mural painted on the track of the Bates Athletic Complex. Appreciate the selected works of young and mentor artists who collaborated on this inspiring work. In the Openshaw Balcony Gallery, Maryland Hall and BLACK Excel displayed the "Art of Criticism" exhibition. This new exhibition curated by Dee Marqués showcases Deonte Ward's work and celebrates his contribution to the youth of the community. Ward is a community leader, artist, and lifelong resident of Annapolis, who grew up in Newtown. Be sure to experience Patrick Dougherty's natural installation "Hometown" on the front lawn.
The MFA Curve Gallery will open "Light and Shadow" on December 15th. Light and its contrast are essential for artists of all media. The works on display in this exhibition were selected by Christopher C. Oliver, Assistant Curator of American Art at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and will be displayed online until January 31. Please visit mdfedart.com/portfolio/237/ to view the exhibition.
Paul's Homewood Café’s MFA continues the exhibition of painter and collager Cheryl Milligan and Discovery Object artist Linda Popp. Milligan's work is full of movement, and Popp's work aims to tell a story; a unique combination that brings the walls to life. These artworks complete the dining in Paul's famous Mediterranean-American fusion menu. Enjoy the exhibition at the end of January.
Gallery 333 continues to hold a virtual exhibition titled "Spirit and Nature: The Collection of Jannina Ortiz and Lizzie Laumann". Ortiz's art works are inspired by her beliefs and travel around the world. Laumann stems from her love of plants, ladybugs and small but beautiful moments. Before December 31st, please visit https://www.uuannapolis.org/gallery-333/ to view the exhibition online.
Anne Arundel County Arts Council’s BWI exhibition "Winter Memories" brings you all the beauty and magic of winter. The exhibition will be on display until March 14, before the security check between gate 10 and departure halls C and D near the UPS store. Check out the online art gallery at https://www.acaac.org/bwi-exhibit-32-winter-memories/
Annie Arundel County Arts Council also proposed a new one. What's wrong? The media exhibition titled "Wonders of Water" will continue to be on display until April 11, located on the second floor of The What's Up? The media office building at 201 Annapolis National Defense Highway. Open on December 10th, you can view the online art gallery at https://www.acaac.org/whats-up-media-exhibit-14-wonders-of-water/
On behalf of all galleries, we would like to express our special thanks to the Annapolis YMCA for giving Annapolis gifts, decorating towns and shops with Christmas green and red bows. The Rotary Club of Annapolis was also commended for the Salvation Army ringing the bell to assist them in fulfilling their mission of serving others.
See you in the new year!
Patrice Drago is a painter and writer from Annapolis. Website: www.patricedrago.com. This column was written in collaboration with the Annapolis Gallery Association. Contact Patrice at art@patricedrago.com.