Sotterley Plantation to Reopens Thursday, September 15th

By this point, most of Southern Maryland knows of Hurricane Irene’s impact on Sotterley Plantation, and the devastating effects of losing over 100 trees and sustaining damage to a number of the site’s historic structures.  Despite the necessity of closing for almost three weeks, however, Sotterley will reopen for business on Thursday, September 15, 2011. Plans to host our upcoming Speaker Series finale, the Riverside WineFest at Sotterley 2011, the Ghosts of Sotterley Tours, Family Plantation Christmas, and the Holiday Candlelight Tours are moving forward. 

 Upon reopening, the ravages of the storm will still be visible to our visitors. Scars will remain on the landscape and buildings which have yet to be restored.  Each and every day, however, there is new headway in the ongoing restoration efforts, and Sotterley promises to not only host its many fall and winter events, it is committed to doing so in the usual Sotterley style. 

 The Southern Maryland community has shown Sotterley a great deal of support in the last few weeks, including invaluable assistance from volunteers. Critical donations are helping with the necessary restoration efforts of this beloved National Historic Landmark. Please contact the office if you are able to volunteer in the ongoing clean-up efforts or if you are willing to volunteer at one of our upcoming events. And, as always, donations are appreciated and are still being accepted via our website or by mail.

 The staff, Board of Trustees, and all who love Sotterley, would like to thank our Southern Maryland community for its support. We look forward to seeing everyone at our upcoming events. 

 To track Sotterley’s progress:

Website: www.sotterley.org

Blog: www.sotterleyplantation.blogspot.com

Over 150 artist booths, 25 bands, food, wine, and a special appearance by Grammy Award-Winning Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer

Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center announced today that they will be hosting the 18th annual Artsfest on September 17th and 18th.  Scheduled to commemorate Annmarie Koenig's birthday - one of the Annmarie Sculpture Garden's founders - Artsfest is set amidst the fine art and trees of the sculpture garden and Arts Center, providing an unforgettable festival experience for all ages. 

Only an hour from Washington, D.C. or Baltimore, Maryland, Artsfest offers more than 150 artist booths to browse and shop and enjoy a variety of activities including the self art-making area of the Discovery Tent; paint, clay and sketching demonstrations at the Studio School; and skillful, silly play for kids at the Zany Zone. 

Bands and entertainment acts will perform continuously throughout the garden including a special Sunday performance by two-time Grammy Award-winners, Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer - a formidable powerhouse duo full of sound, with a repertoire of traditional and contemporary folk, old-time country, and swing.

“Artsfest is one of the most popular and best fundraising events at Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center," said Stacey Hann-Ruff, Executive Director of Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center.  "We not only celebrate, fine art and music, but it also has a special and personal place in our heart - it commemorates the birthday of our dear founder, Annmarie Koenig.”

Hann-Ruff continued by stating, “Each year, Artsfest gets better and better. This year is no exception – we are so proud to not only bring artisans from around the U.S. to showcase their wares and have performances from a myriad of acts, but we are extremely delighted to have a very special performance by Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer – a dynamic duo whose performance was made possible by the generous donation of the Maryland State Arts Council and national Endowment for the Arts."

Entrusted to Calvert County and the Koenig Foundation in the early 1990s, Annmarie Sculpture Garden - a non-profit - provides an unique setting for visitors to explore art and nature at the same time.  Artsfest, which was established in 1993, attracts several hundred artists and performers, and thousands of visitors from around the country for a weekend full of fun, shopping, art, food, and music.  Admission is $6 for adults; kids 11-years and under are free.  Hours of operation are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days. 

Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center is located at 13480 Dowell Road, Solomons, Maryland.  Parking is free.  For more information about Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center or Artsfest, go to www.annmariegarden.org.

About Artsfest

The Artsfest ‘11 featured design

The Artsfest ’11 logo was painted by Ann Crain, a lifelong resident of the Chesapeake Bay region.  Born in the small fishing village of Wachapreague on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Crain draws her inspiration from the personal connection she feels to the peaceful waters of the Bay, its rugged cliffs, and gentle breezes.  For the Artsfest ’11 design, Crain was inspired by the excitement, colors, architecture, and atmosphere of Artsfest and Annmarie.  The bright red bow of the Arts Building, an artist’s tent, and the surrounding trees are just a few of the elements she incorporated in the work.  Annmarie is proud to feature Crain’s painting as the featured design for Artsfest ’11.

 

Artist Highlights

This year’s Artsfest features the work of over 150 artists from all over the country.  From painters to potters; sculptors to jewelers; wood turners to photographers; to inventive non-traditional art—Artsfest offers something new and traditional for shoppers to see and purchase.  Located both in- and outside, a few featured artists include: Theresita Eltz – a Artsfest fan favorite – who will showcase her functional and artistic pottery; and Artsfest newcomers, Devienann Anggraini’s modern, enamel jewelry; Jo Chamness’ cooper and stained glass sculptures; Myra Copus’ watercolor paintings; and William Alburger’s one-of-a-kind wood creations.

Performing Arts Highlights

Always an Artsfest attraction, this year Artsfest will host Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer on the main stage, Sunday, September 18th at 1:00p.m.  These two-time Grammy award-winners, Fink & Marxer are a formidable powerhouse of sound, with a repertoire of traditional and contemporary folk, old-time country and swing music.  For more than 20 years, the duo has released several albums for both children and adults, produced records for artists ranging from Tom Paxton to Patsy Montana, wrote over 200 songs, and have toured extensively. Individually and together, they’ve produced more than a dozen albums for other artists, served as studio musicians, and created a series of instruction materials and videos ranging from guitar and ukulele for kids to how to sing harmony.  They have performed at the White House’s Easter Egg Roll, appeared on NPR, won several songwriting awards, and have been acknowledged for their work with children in the Congressional Record. Fink & Marxer’s performance has been made possible by the Maryland State Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

Other performances include the following:

Saturday        Main Stage                                                               Council Ring

11:00               Fractual Folk - Folk                                                    Cosmic Flute Choir - Classical

12:00               Magic Ray Jazz - Jazz                                                Captain John – Scottish/Irish Folk

1:00                 The Logan Kraft Band – Rock/Country              Renee Fabian – Solo Saxophone

2:00                 Ashley Forrest - Country                                         Doris Justis with Scott Morgan – Folk/Country/Pop

3:00                 The Russell Sledge Continuum-Jazz                     Patuxent Voices – Traditional/Jazz/Pop

4:00                 Crystal Brandt – Folk/Country/Rock                 Joyce Kinser - Jazz

 

Sunday           Main Stage                                                                Council Ring

11:00               Port Tobacco Players - Bluegrass                         Abigail Francisco – Student Dance Ensemble

12:00               Scarlet Chord – Progressive Christian Rock    Doug Alan Wilcox – Solo Acoustic              

1:00                 Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer – Family                 Steve Gellman - Folk

2:00                 Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer - Family                 Sax Appeal – Jazz/Blues/Dixieland               

3:00                 Carrico – Rock/Pop                                                   Newtowne Players - Performance

4:00                 Calvert Brass Consortium- Classical                   COSMIC Flute Choir- Classical


Free Art Activities in the Discovery Tent, Along the Path & The Studio School

Artsfest guests of all ages will enjoy a variety of creative and free activities located at around the garden including:

In the Discovery Tent:  Creative art activities including decorating colorful, playful hats with materials provided. 


Zany Zone:  Fun skill testers such as hula hoops and beach ball play.

Along the Path:  Create take-home treasures with a visit at the Arts Council of Calvert County, the Calvert Artists’ Guild, and the Calvert County Quilt Guild.  

In the Studio School:  Visitor to the Studio School - located near the main gate – will get a sneak peak of the classrooms, class listings, and open studio experimentation.  Painting and clay demonstrations will be available and registration for Fall classes will take place.

 

On the Menu at Artsfest

Artsfest offers more than just art and music; visitors always delight in the creative menu of delectable lunches and treats at the festival, as well as the opportunity to taste local wines and interesting micro brews.  This year’s menu includes food, drinks, smoothies, ice cream, popcorn, and lemonade from such vendors as A Couple of Nuts, Calvert Kettle Corn, Grizzly Mountain Grill, Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream, Pap John’s Pizza, Sherri’s Crab Cakes, Solomons Island Winery, Sunshine Girls Lemonade, and T.K. Grill.

Sponsors of Artsfest ‘11:

Maryland State Arts Council, National Endowment For The Arts, Southern Maryland Newspapers, Dominion, Asbury Solomons Island, Cherry Cove Hospitality, Hilton Garden Inn-Solomons, SABRE Systems, Inc., COMCAST,  Top Hat Party Rentals, Old Line Bank, Arts Council of Calvert County,  Holiday Inn Select Solomons,  Calvert Memorial Hospital, Macaroni Kids St. Mary’s, Chesapeake Highlands Memorial Gardens, Papa John’s Pizza,  Calvert County Department of Public Works, Jan Kleponis – O’Brien Realty,  dom & sue Raino, Patuxent High School NJROTC, Boy Scout Troop #427, and Calvert County Sheriff’s Office.

 

General Festival Information

Proceeds from Artsfest helps pay for many programs at Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center, including touring fine art exhibits, arts classes, free family programs, and assist in the maintenance of the grounds.  Everything Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center does has a positive impact on our region’s quality of life.

 

About Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center

An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, Annmarie is located in scenic Solomons, Maryland, on the Chesapeake Bay.  The sculpture garden features a walking path that meanders through the forest, past permanent and loaned sculpture, including more than thirty works on loan from the Smithsonian Institution and the National Gallery of Art.  The garden also presents a variety of award-winning special events, gallery shows, and engaging public art programs.  Annmarie’s Studio School offers creative classes for all ages and abilities taught by a talented faculty.  The garden is conveniently located just off Route 2-4, on Dowell Road in Solomons.  Annmarie is open 9am-5pm daily; the Arts Building and Gift Shop is open 10am-5pm daily.  To learn more, visit www.annmariegarden.org.  

The Ballet Arts Academy at the Old Waldorf School will host a benefit performance, reception, and raffle with all proceeds given to the Children’s Aid Society of Charles County.  This event, “A Time to Gather”, will take place at the historic Old Waldorf School, home to the BAA, on Saturday, October 1, 2011 from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.   An admission donation of $20 is requested and qualifies as a tax deductible contribution.

BAA Artistic Director, Oscar C. Hawkins and BAA Founder, Jayne Stefani-Keating, the students and families of the BAA, encourage all members of the community to join them in helping the less fortunate youth and families of Charles County by attending what promises to be an enjoyable and festive afternoon for all.

The BAA is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization funded in part by the Charles County Arts Alliance, Maryland State Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts and the Margaret Abell Powell Fund.  The Academy is dedicated to bringing the purity and style of classical ballet to the Southern Maryland community and recognizes community outreach and the procurement of funded scholarships for in-need students as part of its mission.  BAA students are encouraged to participate in performances which benefit the community and to embrace the tenets of The Classical Ideal:  Know Thyself, Nothing in Excess, The Good and The Beautiful so that, as individuals, they may become outstanding, responsible and accomplished citizens and performing artists.

For more information about this event contact the BAA at 301.932.4002 or log on to www.balletartsacademy.org

Applications for FY 2012 grants are now available! Over the last 23 years the CCAA has distributed more than $500,000 in funding to schools and organizations in Charles County for projects in the performing, visual, and literary arts. This has helped to enhance Charles County's culture and inspire its residents to explore the diverse arts community present in its own backyard. There are two types of grants: one for schools (Artists In Education), and one for community nonprofit organizations (Community Arts Development).      

Applications and instructions are available on the CCAA website, www.charlescountyarts.org. The deadline to apply is October 5, 2011. For more information, visit the website or call  301-392-5900. 

Organizational Meeting Set for Sept. 13

The College of Southern Maryland is creating the Southern Maryland Non-Profit Institute, to support the region’s non-profit organizations. The Institute will provide a variety of activities, such as low-cost training, networking opportunities and consultation services to non-profit organizations in Southern Maryland.

 “Non-profit organizations enrich the lives of all Southern Marylanders by providing social services such as hospice, counseling, food banks and mentoring--and they provide enrichment through museums, parks and the arts,” said CSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried. “Because of the economy, many non-profits are struggling financially and we want to do what we can to help.”

An organizational meeting will be held on Monday, Sept. 13 at 8:30 a.m. in the Business and Industry Building (BI), Room BI-113, on the La Plata Campus. Chief executive officers and/or board members of Southern
Maryland non-profit organizations are invited to attend to help craft the institute’s initial directions. A complementary continental breakfast will be served.

To attend, please contact Sharon Buckler, 301-934-7602 or sbuckler1@csmd.edu

 A regionally accredited community college that provides programs and services with a special focus on local workforce development to maintain and grow a healthy economy and community, the College of Southern
Maryland is a two-time silver level recipient of the Maryland Performance Excellence Award. CSM, founded in 1958, is the fifth largest community college in Maryland with campuses in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties. For information about CSM, call 301-934-7765 or 301-870-2309, 240-725-5499 or 443-550-6199, Ext. 7765 or visit www.csmd.edu.