August 2018
Perspectives

Artscape 2018 could have been called Rainscape. From my 19th floor condominium in Mount Vernon, I watched sheets of rain blow across the festival on Saturday, and on Sunday, as soon as I saw blue in the sky, I walked the three blocks to arrive just in time for another torrential downpour. And… it could not have been more wonderful. African drumming and antique Edison lamps and carved Maryland flags and modern dancers in jewel-toned unitards and gold lamee stilt-walkers and country singers and pit beef on hard rolls and crabcakes and… joy. The only kind of joy that can be had by people of all backgrounds, rain-drenched and art-drunk, walking and talking and dancing and singing as a testament to the universality of art.

As I left the festival on Sunday evening I watched the most beautiful sampling of people swing dancing on a rain-drenched street, their blackened bare feet gliding on the cool, wet asphalt. Their joy, moving in rhythmic unison, was the joy that lives within the people of our city, our state, and our country. Congratulations to the entire staff of the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts for holding the space for us to come together and be reminded of what is important. If you’ve never been, mark your calendar for Artscape 2019. Don’t forget your raincoat!

Ken Skrzesz, Executive Director, Maryland State Arts Council
National Folklife Festival
Sponsorships Available

The National Folk Festival, which will take place on September 7-9 in Salisbury, is projected to attract between 60 - 80,000 people in its first year and by the 3rd year will reach 150,000. The event will have over 350 artists and craftspeople - 23 will represent Maryland/Delmarva - 7 stages of continuous music, and 30 food vendors serving a mix of traditional Maryland fare and ethnic cuisine.

Sponsorship packages include Stage Sponsor, Maryland Folklife Area, Park 'N Ride, Marketplace, Artist Lodging, After-Hours Party on Saturday night, Artist Transport, Golf Cart Sponsor, Pop-Up Stage, and Green Sponsor. Contact Caroline O'Hara at 410 677 1917 or cohare@salisbury.md.

Artist Resource Bulletin
Call for Artist Opportunities


The  MSAC Online Resource Bulletin , maintained by Maryland Art Place (MAP), is where you can find regional, national, and international exhibition opportunities, grants, fellowships, and residencies as well as information on available studio spaces in the area. Some current opportunities:

Maryland Art Place (MAP) is working with The CyberWire to offer a unique opportunity to female visual artists of the greater Baltimore metropolitan area to acquire and possibly commission, plus license the image of a work of art. The image of that artwork will be reproduced in a limited edition and presented to the guests of The CyberWire's 5th Annual Women in Cyber Security reception on October 18, 2018.​ ​Cash award $1,500. Deadline August 13, 2018. Apply here .  Questions? Naomi@mdartplace.org .

The Chesapeake Gallery at Harford Community College in Bel Air, MD, invites artists, artist groups and curators working in any medium or format to apply for their 2020-2021 exhibition seasons. Artists and/or curators are responsible for the transportation or shipping of all artwork to and from the Chesapeake Gallery. There is no application fee or commission on sold work. Deadline August 19, 2018. Apply here.

The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts (BOPA) invites all artists and artist collaborators to submit a proposal for a temporary, visual light art installation to be a part of the fourth annual Light City The work will be part of the festival’s 1.5-mile BGE Light Art Walk. BOPA is seeking large-scale, medium or small existing works and new commissions in variety of mediums. Each chosen installation will receive funding between $10,000 and $75,000. Apply by August 27, 2018. More information, click here.

The Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District announces another installment of “ Paint the Town,” an initiative to promote and create more public art murals in downtown Bethesda. This project will focus on the large Norfolk Avenue facade of the Triangle Towers apartment building. The District is seeking proposals from mural artists who are 18 years of age or older and residents of Washington, D.C., Maryland or Virginia. Deadline to apply is September 1, 2018. More information, click here.

Email naomi@mdartplace.org with information you would like included in the Resource Bulletin.
Save the Date! CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS
2018 Maryland Regional Arts Institutes
 
A series of evenings for artists, arts organizations, arts leaders and arts supporters to gather for collaborative discussion and professional development. Partners: Maryland State Arts Council, Maryland Citizens for the Arts, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, Maryland Nonprofits, and Maryland State Department of Education. Click here for locations and dates.
Save the Date! We Are Listening Fall Sessions
Public Art * Maryland Traditions * Presenting and Touring

We want your feedback! The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) is conducting three new "We Are Listening" sessions to gather information about our programs. All sessions will be from 6:00 - 8:00 pm and held at the Maryland State Arts Council office. You will also have the option to call-in via video conference. More details to follow.
October 2- Public Art * Maryland Traditions October 9 * Presenting and Touring October 16.
Crisfield - Maryland's Newest A&E District
Bid on Hand-Painted Chairs In Online Auction!

The City of Crisfield in Somerset County was designated as Maryland’s 26th Arts & Entertainment (A&E) District, on July 1 and the community hit the ground running with a well-attended meeting in late July. "Have a Seat in Crisfield," a bay-inspired fundraiser has been launched. You can bid on one of many hand-painted Adirondack chairs online before the Hard Crab Derby live auction on August 30. Proceeds will help promote the district's events and benefits. Deadline to bid online is August 26. Get your seat now!
Maryland Poet Laureate
Call for Nominations is Open

The Maryland State Arts Council is seeking nominations for the honorary position of State Poet Laureate, who serves at the discretion of the Governor for up to a four-year term renewable by the Governor’s consent. Poet Laureate nominations may come from any organization or individual in the State of Maryland. Self-nominations are acceptable. Nominations must be made via this form here. Deadline is Friday, August 10, 2018. Selection is expected in October/November 2018. For further information, please contact Okeena Stephenson, Poet Laureate Selection Coordinator, at 410-767-8832 or e-mail okeena.stephenson@maryland.gov. If you need assistance in using this form, please contact the MSAC office at 410-767-6555 or TDD/TTY: 410-333-4519.
Former Maryland Poet Laureate Stanley Plumly visiting Potomac High School in Prince George's County. 
Michael Singer Studio Selected for Public Art Project

Michael Singer Studios was selected through a national Call-to-Artists conducted by MSAC, with over 200 applications received. The Studio was selected for their innovative and sustainable approach to projects integrated in the landscape creatively incorporating water. The project is part of the state’s percent-for-art program - the Maryland Public Art Initiative that integrates public art in state capital construction projects. Public art projects are underway at other University System of Maryland campuses including: University of Baltimore, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and an upcoming call-to-artists is planned for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. More information can be found here.
Artist Insight - Maryland Traditions Grant Recipient 
Richard Smoker - Master Decoy & Waterfowl Carver

In the late 60's, Rich Smoker started carving decoys with his Father for their own use on the Susquehanna River. This lead to competing in decoy competitions and teaching the art form. To date Rich has taught over 200 seminars with well over 2000 people learning this unique American art form. Rich will be demonstrating his art at the upcoming National Folk Festival in September. He will be joined by current apprentices Kenny Glasgow and grandson Daniel Baltzinger. Glasgow's other two grandsons will also be in attendance working in the art.

"Decoy carving and use is a truly North American art form dating back to over 1400 years ago when Native Americans bound tulles and native grasses to form avian shapes, and applied feathers and various minerals for color. We are excited to be able to bring our art and stories to such a large, diverse audience at the upcoming Folk Festival," stated Smoker. Read more  here.  Photo by Remsberg Photographs
The Healing Power of Art
Focus on Local Artist Robin Gilliam

Nobody is perfect! That's the healing motto Maryland artist Robin Gilliam uses to help guide others in their journey of recovery. Robin, Founder of Recovery Art Studio, uses her art to inspire, give hope, and help others let go of the elusive goal of perfection. This month, the Studio is featuring Robin's art, book, and mission as part of its initiative to bring focus to the various types of paths one can incorporate into their healing and recovery. Learn more here. Robin's work is on display at the Maryland State Arts Council offices as part of the current Art on the Fly exhibition.
Artist Byung Kang
Listen to IAA 2018 Awardee Drummer and Educator

2018 Individual Artist Awardee, Byung Kang, is a versatile drummer from Howard County who performs in many styles, including jazz, funk, soul, and gospel. A Peabody Conservatory graduate, Kang has performed on two live albums with saxophone legend Gary Thomas and toured with a non-profit Christian group for four years, performing in 34 states, Canada, and South Korea. See and hear more here. 
Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation
2018-2019 Tour Dates and Venues Announced
Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation has awarded $134,366 in grants supporting 52 performing arts engagements through its 2018-2019 Mid Atlantic Tours program. The grants, awarded directly to presenting organizations, will support engagements by the following artists at venues throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Details here. 

USArtists International - Next Grant Deadline
Support for the presentation and touring of performing artists is central to the work of Mid Atlantic Arts
Foundation (“MAAF”). The USArtists International program (USAI) supports performances by U.S. artists
at significant international festivals and performing arts marketplaces outside the United States and its
territories. Deadline is September 7, 2018 for engagements between December 15, 2018 and December 14, 2019. Details here.
Dance Educators Training Institute
Professional Development Opportunity

ClancyWorks Dance Company & Baltimore County Public Schools will co-present the 2018 Dance Educators Training Institute (#DETI18): Applying 21st Century Skills & Technology to Dance. Occurring Monday, August 6th to Friday, August 10th, 2018, sessions run all day from 9:30 am - 4:30 pm at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) Department of Dance. More information here.
New Refugee Art Exhibit
Goes Beyond The Immigrant Experience

Khalid Alaani and six other refugees are showcasing their art at the Sandy Spring Museum in an exhibit called “Uprooted: The Art Of Refugees.”The 42-year-old draws upon his own experiences as a refugee to create many of his paintings.“I try to tell another story about refugees,” Alaani says. “A story of people who are planning to come to this country to do something good for themselves, and for this country." Read more here. Open through September 2.
Howard County Arts Council Accepting Applications
RE-CREATE Ellicott City Artist Relief Fund Grand Program

The Howard County Arts Council is accepting applications for the Re-Create: Ellicott City Artist Relief Fund established to assist artists and non-profit arts and cultural organizations affected by the May 2018 flash flood in Historic Ellicott City. The priority deadline for applications is August 22, 2018.
Application and guidelines are currently available at hocoarts.org. Please e-mail info@hocoarts.org or call 410-313-ARTS (2787) for more information.
"FREE SPACE" Interactive Installation
Opens at Kramer Gallery

Bethesda based artists Akemi Maegawa and Jackie Hoysted, have collaborated to create a series of new installations intended for public activation. “None of the mosaic drawings will be permanently preserved except, possibly, in people’s memory…I am hoping that people will find a joy of creating ephemeral drawings, slogans and thoughts not worrying about their preservation,” says Maegawa. Click here for more information. Open through September 7.
Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Capital Grant
The Kent County Arts Council (KCAC) has received a Maryland Heritage Areas Authority “Stories of the Chesapeake” capital grant for $100,000 toward the renovation of the Vincent and Leslie Prince Raimond Arts Building in Chestertown. Read more here.
Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts
New CEO Named

Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts (BOPA) welcomes a new CEO, Donna Drew Sawyer, who succeeds William “Bill” Gilmore who stepped down last December after 37 years of leadership. Hired as the Chief of External Affairs at (BOPA) in 2017, Sawyer comes from a career working in leadership at museums and local arts agencies, and she brings a commitment to diversity and collaboration. Read more here.
Executive Director Position
Maryland Music Educators Association

The Maryland Music Educators Association (MMEA) is the professional association for the school music teachers of Maryland. MMEA's mission is to provide professional development for music teachers, opportunities for excellence for music students and teachers, and to serve as an advocate for music education in schools. Click here for job description and how to apply.
UMBC Postdoctoral Fellows Program For Faculty Diversity
Seeking Applications With a Terminal Arts Degree

The University of Maryland Baltimore County invites applications for Cohort V of the UMBC Postdoctoral Fellows Program for Faculty Diversity. The purpose of the Program is to support promising scholars who are committed to diversity and inclusive excellence in the academy and to prepare those scholars for possible tenure track appointments at UMBC. Click here for complete details.
MSAC Council News The Maryland State Arts Council Board meets bi-monthly except in the summer. Listed meetings are open for public observation. Please contact MSAC prior to attending as meeting dates, times, and locations are subject to change.
Arts Out & About -  Events Calendar
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Maryland State Arts Council | 410 767 6555 | 175 W. Ostend Street, Baltimore 21230 msac.commerce@maryland.gov | msac.org