Sculpture plus diving plus eco-mindedness...

...equals the amazing work of artist Jason deCaires Taylor.  

Maestro Sensational Presents: MS3 Ressurection! This Weekend!

Ready for something different this weekend? Not easily offended by dirty mouthed puppets with a gross sense of humor? Then head down to SoWeBo friday or saturday night (leave the kids at home please!) for the third installment of the Maestro Sensational trilogy!!! Heartstrings will be tugged, demons will be purged, and inner lights will be lit -- all in one action-packed hour and a half of puppets and music!

Maestro Sensational (a giant sock puppet, if you can't tell from the photo!) MCs this nigt of puppet bits and music from some of Baltimore's finest!

Guest performers include Owen Brightman, Kevin Sherry (of Squidfire fame), April Wood, Justin Lucas, and Black Cherry Puppet Theater's own Michael Lamason. 

By popular demand, we have added a Friday evening show (three shows total) and are offering advanced ticket purchase through Brownpapertickets.com. 

The Dates and Times and Prices:
Friday, May 1st - doors at 8, show at 8:30
Saturday, May 2nd - doors at 8, show at 8:30
Saturday, May 2nd - doors at 10, show at 10:30

Tickets are $5, with an additional $1.12 charge online.
Shows will start promptly!!! Please arrive as close to doors opening as you can!

To Purchase advanced tickets, click here:

The shows all happen at:
Black Cherry Puppet Theater
1115 Hollins St.
Baltimore, MD 21223 
410-752-7272
Website: http://www.blackcherry.org/

SPRING CRAFT FAIR SEASON IS HERE!

Twist 2.0 from Digit all HD on Vimeo.

Has your brain become too hot in the last few days, and melted off? Do you forget what day it is, and what season?
Well... get yourself in the mood for SPRING (because somehow, I'm feeling more late-summer, than mid-spring at the moment... I don't know about you) and all of the great spring fairs coming up! The folks behind Twist Craft Fair in Northampton, MA - happening this weekend (Friday & Saturday May 1-2) put together this video of some of their vendors, and it really makes me excited to see all of the familiar faces & new work of my fellow crafters! If you're up North and can make it, you should definitely swing by.

Also this weekend (for those closer to Baltimore/DC) is the Summit of Awesome in DC, and the Maestro Sensational puppet extravaganza at Black Cherry Puppet Theatre in Baltimore. More on these Awesome events later in the week--- Stay Tuned!!

To Do This Weekend!

Jot all these goodies down and get yerself the heck outside! So much going on this weekend!

Tonight!


MICA presents MFA Thesis III, featuring work by:
Amita Bhatt
Nina Glaser
Kat Rohrbacher
Katherine Mann
Scott Shanley
Karla Cott
Clarissa Gregory
Judy Stone
Pete Cullen
Alan Callander
Robby Rackleff
Emily Wathen
Sandy Triolo

Janna Rice and Charlie Hahn will also be presenting their MFA Exhibitions at the Center for the Arts, Holtzman MFA Gallery at Towson University, with receptions from 7:30 to 9 PM.


As a part of Baltimore Green Week, the Towson Arts Collective presents a juried exhibition of art made from found and recycled materials.

Andrew Geddes exhibit, Conventionalized Calculations for Primary Structures closes tonight at the Hexagon (1825 N. Charles St, from 6:30 to 8), as does Wise Guise, the inaugural exhibition at the new Nudashank Gallery, on the 3rd floor of the H&H Building.

If wine and mingling aren't your thing, you can still entertain your eyes at


Star Trek, Wrath of Khan The Play at the Annex Theater.

and The Charles Theatre will be showing John Carpenter's film, They Live as a part of their midnight movie series.

---


I'm going to stray from my usual itemized music listings this week to get you pumped for Saturday's Station North Spring Festival. This awesome, FREE block party comes to you courtesy of the many fabulous venues in the Station North Arts District. What timing, too, in light of recent developments with the Baltimore City Council's Arts & Entertainment legislation. Come celebrate Baltimore's diverse music scene on Saturday from 5 until midnight! There will be beer, tunes from many of your favorite local acts, and free pizza provided by the block party mastermind, Joe Squared.

Hope to see you there!

Win a trip to the Summit of Awesome!

Hello Craft is giving away two free Saturday only Passes to their upcoming Summit of Awesome. But what they need from you is for you to tell them why YOU are awesome. The two most awesome entries will each win a Saturday Pass to the Summit of Awesome ($85 value). The prize does NOT include travel expenses, just all Summit activities for Saturday, May 2nd. This includes seminars, workshops, a craftnote speech by Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching and a Saturday night party. See the Saturday schedule for complete details.

To enter, just email them a short description of your awesomeness by Saturday, April 25. Winners will be announced on Sunday, April 26th.

And the Winners Are........

THANK YOU to all who entered their names to win tickets for the Sugarloaf Crafts festival in Timonium April 24-26!!
We ended up with a few bonus tickets, so we've picked FIVE winners, who will receive 2 tickets each!
Using www.randomizer.org, we picked the following commenters!!

3) GlowGirl
6) HVM Designs
11) Joy Beadworks
15) Sarah Schultz
18) Kara

If you haven't already --- please email rachel@redprairiepress with your mailing address so we can get these out to you ASAP!
HAVE FUN !!!!!!!!!!

To Do This Weekend!

FRIDAY - April 17th -7pm
(Also on 4/18 at midnight and 4/19 at 2 p.m. )
HAIR at Maryland Institute College of Art
1300 W. Mt. Royal Ave, Baltimore
Ticket Info: $15, students $10, opening night $5

Being put on by the student run Rivals of the West theatre group, and directed by Peter Shipley.
If you don't want to go purely out of excitement and fond memories of watching the movie and owning the soundtrack,
you could at least go because somebody made a really cool poster.



SATURDAY April 17th 7-11pm
Off the Wall
opening reception at The Whole Gallery
H&H Building 405 W. Franklin St. 3rd Floor - Baltimore

Off the Wall is a sculptural (3D) show curated by Emily C-D, and features what looks like some really amazing installation pieces by the likes of Kaitlin Murphy, Phu Pham, Alzaruba, Jill Greenberg and more. Check out some installation shots on the Whole Gallery blog, or check out the show in person on Saturday night!


EcoFest in Druid Hill Park!
11am - 5pm
Outdoor music (including headliners Caleb Stine & Saleem), the Baltimore Free Store, Bike tours, children's play areas, and some promised vitamin d. It's supposed to be sunny and in the 70's on Saturday. You ought to go outside!!


SUNDAY April 19, 11-4pm
Spring Bada-bing
at PLANT ZERO.
0 E. 4th Street Richmond, VA 23224
Spring Bada-Bing: The BOSS of all craft shows" is an independent artist craft show in Richmond, Virginia and many of your local B-more crafters will be carting their loot down to set up shop! A great event, lots of fun, with a bonus wholesale preview hour at the beginning of the show for interested shops & retailers.

Tweenbots

This is the kind of story we all need to read. Faith in humankind, coming right up!

From Kacie's website:
In New York, we are very occupied with getting from one place to another. I wondered: could a human-like object traverse sidewalks and streets along with us, and in so doing, create a narrative about our relationship to space and our willingness to interact with what we find in it? More importantly, how could our actions be seen within a larger context of human connection that emerges from the complexity of the city itself? To answer these questions, I built robots.
Tweenbots are human-dependent robots that navigate the city with the help of pedestrians they encounter. Rolling at a constant speed, in a straight line, Tweenbots have a destination displayed on a flag, and rely on people they meet to read this flag and to aim them in the right direction to reach their goal. Given their extreme vulnerability, the vastness of city space, the dangers posed by traffic, suspicion of terrorism, and the possibility that no one would be interested in helping a lost little robot, I initially conceived the Tweenbots as disposable creatures which were more likely to struggle and die in the city than to reach their destination. Because I built them with minimal technology, I had no way of tracking the Tweenbot’s progress, and so I set out on the first test with a video camera hidden in my purse. I placed the Tweenbot down on the sidewalk, and walked far enough away that I would not be observed as the Tweenbot––a smiling 10-inch tall cardboard missionary––bumped along towards his inevitable fate.

The results were unexpected. Over the course of the following months, throughout numerous missions, the Tweenbots were successful in rolling from their start point to their far-away destination assisted only by strangers. Every time the robot got caught under a park bench, ground futilely against a curb, or became trapped in a pothole, some passerby would always rescue it and send it toward its goal. Never once was a Tweenbot lost or damaged. Often, people would ignore the instructions to aim the Tweenbot in the “right” direction, if that direction meant sending the robot into a perilous situation. One man turned the robot back in the direction from which it had just come, saying out loud to the Tweenbot, "You can’t go that way, it’s toward the road.”

Win Free Stuff !!!!

The Sugarloaf Crafts Festival at the MD State Fairgrounds in Timonium is April 24-26th, and we're giving away THREE FREE TICKETS!

To be entered in our drawing, simply leave a comment below telling us your favorite thing about spring.
(In other words, name anything - an activity, a plant, a smell, a sound... and you have a chance to win free tickets! yay!)

The spring fair is in its 31st year in Timonium, and will host over 300 of the countries finest Artisans & Crafters, working in all sorts of materials, from jewelry & metals to clay and fibers. Painters, sculptors, metalsmiths, fiber artists, weavers, knitters, builders and inventors. Find them here!
Adult admission to the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival is $8 normally (and free for children under 12).
Free parking is available on site.
For more information about the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival, directions, or to purchase discount admission tickets visit www.SugarloafCrafts.com or call (800) 210-9900.

Leave a comment Now!
We'll draw a random number from the randomizer on April 20th!!
GO!!!!!

Start 'em Early

It's funny, on every trip to the pediatrician's office, we're reminded to read to our toddler. Posters, nurses and doctors all echo the same advice... read, read, read. And we do. And our daughter does.



But see, we're artists. And yeah, we know how important the stories, the rhythm of the words and the images they create are. It's just that, we happen to find the illustrations just as enchanting.


Through May 9th, when you visit the central branch of The Enoch Pratt Free Library, be sure to visit the Golden Book Exhibition with your little ones.

Golden Legacy Original Art from 65 Years of Golden Books

An exhibition of original illustration art from American publishing's best loved picture book series, the Little Golden Books.

On exhibit in the Second Floor Gallery of the Central branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library daily from Monday, Mar 02, 2009 to Saturday, May 09, 2009

New info from Summit of Awesome!

I think the title of the Summit of Awesome pretty much says it all...

NEW! SPEAKER LINE-UP ANNOUNCED!

Summit of Awesome comes to Washington, DC!

(MidCity, Washington, D.C.) On Friday, May 1st, Hello Craft will host its first ever Summit of Awesome in the heart of the Nation’s Capital.

Geared specifically for independent artists and crafters, the Summit of Awesome is 3 full days of seminars and hands-on workshops, which will provide business and technical education for those in the handmade arts community. The Summit also includes the D.C. premiere showing of the Indie Craft Documentary film, Handmade Nation - A highly anticipated film that captures the superstars of the indie crafting world, and documents how the handmade community began and took it's current shape.


The entire Summit of Awesome will take place in the independent shops, restaurants and bars in the MidCity area of D.C., along 14th and U Streets NW, including Miss Pixie's Solly's, DC9, Bar Pilar and Gate 54 at Cafe St. Ex. The Friday night film screening of Handmade Nation will be hosted at the DCJCC's Theatre J.

Special keynote speakers include Mary Thomas, CEO of Etsy.com, and Jenny Hart, Founder of Sublime Stitching!

Other speaker and workshop hosts include an impressive group from the indie crafting community from both the West and East Coasts. View the massive list of speakers at http://www.hellocraft.com/2009/04/03/what-you-get-at-the-summit-of-awesome/

Here is a small sampling of the speakers and demonstrators who will provide hands-on workshops and business seminars during the Summit of Awesome:


Seminars

Crafting a Green Craft with Jamie Chan and Blas Herrera - Urban Fauna Studio
Tax Implications of Starting a Business with Volunteer Lawyer for the Arts
Developing a Product Line. Deciding what to make and sell with Ali Dryer
Crafting a Green Craft with Urban Fauna Studio, Cosa Verde and Glue and Glitter
Selling Successfully Online with Etsy Success & Virtual Labs and Cosa Verde
Branding and Identity with El Jefe Design

Workshops

Fun with Duct Tape with Kristina Bilonick
Simple Mold Making with Adam Maron - Pearson Maron
Fiber Demo with Jamie Chan and Blas Herrera - Urban Fauna Studio
How to Photograph your Work with Sherry - Dandelion Blu
Sewing Demo with DC Threads
Screen Printing Demo with Christy Petterson



Hello Craft is a D.C. based non-profit, launched in the Fall of 2008. Through the foundation of its interactive and increasingly popular website hellocraft.com, Hello Craft brings together crafters and makers to learn, grow and be prosperous in this ever-changing economy. With a desire to help sustain the handmade movement and support independent crafters within the community, Hello Craft welcomes all its first annual Summit of Awesome.


EVENT: Summit of Awesome
WHEN: Friday, May 1 - Sunday, May 3
WHERE: MidCity, Washington, D.C.
WEBSITE/SUMMIT REGISTRATION: hellocraft.com

Happy Spring!!!

Bonus Weekend Tips! Crafty To-Do List

THURSDAY APRIL 2 -SATURDAY APRIL 4
11am-5pm
Chelle Paperie - 851 W. 36th Street, Baltimore
The Paperie has officially closed it's retail shop, and will now focus on wedding invitations, business cards, and design. However, they are selling the fixtures, furniture, and remaining sale items from the shop, IN the shop, from Thursday to Saturday. Stop by and pick up discount envelopes & paper, fixtures for your own shop or display, etc. Good Luck!

FRIDAY APRIL 3 - SUNDAY APRIL 5
The Sugarloaf Crafts Festival at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg, MD will be open on Friday, April 3 – Sunday April 5th. Adult admission to the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival is $7 with an online ticket purchase, $8 at the door, free for children under 12. Admission is good for all three days. Free parking is available on site. 300 artists Exhibiting!!!
For more information about the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival, directions, or to purchase discount admission tickets visit www.SugarloafCrafts.com or call (800) 210-9900.

SATURDAY, APRIL 4
Student Center at UMBC
Art from Art
Opening Reception: Saturday, April 4, 3 - 5pm
March 30 - May 2

Around Town with the Mafia!

Lots of great goodies in Charm City this weekend for your eyes, ears, and feet!



The 6th Annual Transmodern Festival!
Four Days of Avant Performance, Installation,
Sound, Film, Mayhem, Ecstasy, and Radical Culture!
April 2nd thru April 5th, 2009
H&H Building
405 W. Franklin Street
Baltimore MD

Tickets are $10 for each night, or $25 for a weekend-long pass, and are available online and at the door.

At the Metro Gallery, join artist Brian Baker on Friday for his opening reception, and come back on Saturday to hear Pianowire, Like Trains & Taxis, Person Parcel, The Shivers.

Down the block at The Hexagon Andrew Geddes opens his exhibition, Conventionalized Calculations for Primary Structures on Friday at 6:30 PM.

At The Windup Space, get those toes wiggling on Friday night with a little dance party, courtesy of the SERVED! DJ's. Il Culo and Guests will perform on Saturday.

And finally, Joe Squared get yer Indie On, with a little local Country flair, featuring Memphis 59 and Abby Mott on Friday; Whistlin Charlie and Lushfarm perform on Saturday.

Did we miss anything? Do you have a creative event happening this weekend that you'd like to share? Tell us in the comments!

Amy Singer from KNITTY coming to Baltimore! Vegan knitters?

Hey, all you vegan, allergic, scratch-prone fiber people! Amy Singer's coming to town! She's making a list, checking it twice... oh wait... sorry...

Come hear Amy talk about non-animal fiber yarns for a bargain price! Sign up at Lovelyarns in Hampden, or call Sue there for more info.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 7:00 PM

No Sheep for You Lecture

Tickets are on sale at the shop $10.00 in advance, or $12.00 at the door

Learn the ins and outs of fibers that aren't wool and never had four legs. We'll learn about cotton, linen, hemp, bamboo, lyocell, rayon, soy, the new synthetics and more, plus the most delicious non-wool of all: silk. Learn about the GeeKY thing [hint: it involves knitting]. It's the tool that will help you to how to substitute non-wool fibers when the pattern calls for wool and get a great result. Here's a secret -- it's WAY more than matching the gauge.

Lecture will be at:

Roland Park Presbyterian Church

4801 Roland Ave / Baltimore MD 21210

www.RolandParkChurch.org

I'll be there, come say hello!

Mysticism In America - Opens Tonight @ Charles Theater

Mysticism in America
April 2 - May 31 2009
Opening Reception: April 2, 7 - 9pm
Charles Theatre Workers Art Wall
Featuring members of the Charles Theatre Workers Union - Including our own Jennifer Strunge, whose spectacular Wolverine piece is pictured above!!!

Also opening tonight!


fresh from UMBC's own Imaging and Digital Arts MFA program: Brian Garner, Marian April Glebes, Susan Main, and Christian Valiente.

The Imaging and Digital Arts Graduate Thesis Exhibition
Opens TONIGHT Thursday, April 2, 5-7pm

Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
1000 Hilltop Circle
Fine Arts Building
Baltimore, Maryland 21250
www.umbc.edu/cadvc

Urbanite's Green Issue

Check us (and BEST) out in Urbanite:

Crafting

The members of the Charm City Craft Mafia (http://www.charmcitycraftmafia.blogspot.com/) and the Baltimore Etsy Street Team (http://www.baltimorecraft.com/) make all manner of locally sourced art and crafts, often with eco-friendly materials. Jennifer Strunge creates her stuffed Cotton Monsters out of recycled clothes. Shannon Delanoy of Sweet Pepita builds children’s apparel from old T-shirts. Phuong Pham of Phampersand Press relies mostly on recycled and found materials and organic pigments to create books and paper. Red Prairie Press’s Rachel Bone sources organic cotton for some of her children’s apparel. Val Lucas of Bowerbox Press looks to recycled maps and atlases for her line of books. Heather von Marko of HVM Designs crochets wearable art from bamboo and soy fibers. And Carly Goss of Carlybird hand-weaves scarves and other textiles with bamboo and Tencel threads.

Fever

It's allergy season in Baltimore. Most everyone I know has become a Zyrtec zombie, which is preferable to the brain-eating kind of zombie, but still...

Springtime is beautiful everywhere, but I think it's particularly special here. This morning, walking through Druid Hill Park, the birds were singing and chirping and whistling, reminding me just how quiet winter time is. We're lucky here, to have all the convenience and community and culture of an urban center and the beauty and serenity and calm of acres upon acres of green space.


As it gets warmer and warmer still and just plain hot, we'll take refuge in the shade of ancient trees. It's like 10 degrees cooler in the park. So we'll push through this hay fever allergy ick, because in the long run it's worth it. Go outside and see for yourself!

Attend the Spring Open House at The Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens in Druid Hill Park this Saturday from 2-4pm.