image from Karen Garalde - Fashion Competition Finalist at ArtscapeDespite the trademark heat, It's one of my favorite times of year! Mt Vernon is full of giddy people, eating overpriced (but totally delicious) fried food, dancing to live music, buying art & crafts, watching performances, visiting gallery shows, participating in demos and taking in everything Baltimore has to offer by way of the arts. How do you begin to choose what to do, exactly, when so much is happening? Here are a few suggestions:
MAESTRO SENSATIONAL PRESENTS: ARTSCAPEFriday at 5:30pm at Theatre Project
FREE
Maestro Sensational, that giant European sock you all love is back, and now he''s hit the big time! You guessed it, ARTSCAPE! Maestro and his team of sockophants will razzle-dazzle you with songs, absurdity, and hilarity! Guest acts include local legends Ric Royer, Anna Fitzgerald, & Dave Adams! Walker & Jay are the house band!
CCCM'S OWN Jennifer Strunge is one of the organizers, performers & puppeteers!
SUPER ART FIGHT7:00pm at Metro Gallery (Charles St.)
FREE
Pairing cutting-edge artists in the art of creative combat before a blank wall of canvas, the audience is drawn in as a new masterpiece is created before their eyes. But no sooner than the audience and artists relax than the WHEEL OF DEATH comes into play. The WHEEL OF DEATH gives the battling artists new topics at timed intervals that must be incorporated into their piece, less they face the audience’s wrath. The victors are chosen by the audience.
A punk rock sensibility and some of the most entertaining live commentary to hit the stage.
For more information, visit www.themetrogallery.net and www.superartfight.com.
THE MIDWAYAll Weekend
Charles Street Bridge (Penn Station)
FREE
Now in its third year, the Midway returns with installations, performances, sculpture, live radio broadcasting and other forms of art and performance to create an alternate carnival midway.
Kinetic Balloon Arch and Balloon Topiaries, A skateboard ramp made of wooden waves, performances, interactive art & more!
DIY AT ARTSCAPE!All Weekend - Charles Street Between Mt. Royal & Penn Station
FREE (a shopping section)
While most of Artscape is an artist market, full of talented and awesome vendors from all over the country, the DIY section showcases craft of the new wave, indie scene. Screenprinted tshirts, ceramics, felted hair accessories, handmade soaps, original jewelry and beautiful prints and paper products. You may recognize some CCCM and Baltimore Etsy Street Team members, as well as vendors from past Pile of Craft shows & Holiday Heaps. Bring cash, come early for the best goodies!
MD FILM FEST SHORTS All Weekend - The Charles Theatre
FREE
MD Film Fest will be screening a series of free shorts programs to begin each hour, on the hour Saturday & Sunday, and run between 30 and 40 minutes apiece. At least one filmmaker from each program will be present to answer questions about their film. All programs are free to all. Some exciting things on the list: A Mike Kuchar Showcase on Friday night, Animated shorts 3 times during the weekend... and did we mention, there is AIR CONDITIONING inside The Charles Theater?
SONDHEIM SEMI-FINALIST SHOW Ongoing - OPENING THURSDAY, JULY 15
MICA's Decker and Meyerhoff galleries (Mt. Royal Ave.)
FREE
An exhibition of the 30 or so artists selected as SemiFinalists for the prestigious annual Baltimore prize (won this year by Ryan Hackett) will be opening Thursday night (July 16th) and will be on display through the weekend. Truly a show not to be missed, among the hundreds of other wonderful exhibitions opening through the weekend. A showcase of some of Baltimore's finest.
FASHION COMPETITIONRound 1 - FRIDAY 7:30pm
Round 2 - SUNDAY 7:30pm
For the first round of the competition, designers are challenged to design and produce one original garment that showcases a creative use of “non-traditional” material/s (i.e. material/s other than fabric); at least 75% of the garment should consist of material/s that are recycled, reused and/or repurposed. Every designer who enters Round 1 will be invited to rock the ramp, and display their garment in a fashion show. Round 2 – The 5 finalists will receive a $200 honorarium to complete their “Being Green Rocks” collection. They will be asked to produce 3-4 additional garments that are comprised of at least 75% of materials that are recycled, reused and/or repurposed.
Each finalist will showcase their collection on the Fashion at Artscape runway on Sunday, July 18 at 7pm. A panel of judges will determine the winners. The 5 finalists are already listed on the
Artscape Website!So much more going on. A truckload of gallery shows that I hope are going on longer than the weekend (as I for one, will be in my booth selling tshirts & seeing most of the above mentioned from afar), Live music, Video Projects, Some of my favorite ceramic art, bottomless lemonade and of course... my beloved Funnel Cake....
See you there. BYO personal cooling system.
