|
Nation's largest estuary continues to inspire artists, visitors
BALTIMORE (Oct. 25) – Every November since 1971, the Eastern Shore town of Easton hosts the Waterfowl Festival, a weekend celebration of wildlife art and Chesapeake Bay culture that benefits conservation efforts across the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. This year's festival, Nov. 9-11, features the work of more than 300 wildlife artists and artisans, specializing in painting, sculpture, carving, photography, decoys and folk art.
The festival, says the Maryland Office of Tourism, is a signature event for the exhibition of Maryland's "art of the Chesapeake" – one of the state's unique treasures.
"Chesapeake Bay art depicts the places and things that evoke the feeling of the bay region, an area known for its natural splendor, maritime culture and recreational choices," says Margot Amelia, executive director of the state tourism office.
Amelia says such artwork is widely available in Maryland towns near the bay or one of its many tributaries. "These towns, in many instances, have arts and entertainment districts. They tend to be scenic locations with an array of cultural attractions, and enticing dining and lodging choices – perfect for weekend getaways."
Annapolis, for instance, is a prime destination for galleries. Nearly two dozen galleries are located minutes from City Dock, center of the historical district. Cambridge (Dorchester County), Denton (Caroline County), Elkton (Cecil County) and Havre de Grace (Harford County) also have arts and entertainment (A&E) districts, and are either on or near water.
The Southern Maryland town of Solomons (Calvert County) also has an active gallery scene. Two other locations with clusters of galleries are Fell's Point, a historic waterfront community in Baltimore, and Bethesda(Montgomery County) – recently named top A&E district for the year by the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.
On the Eastern Shore, the three sister towns of Easton, St. Michaels and Oxford (Talbot County) are gallery hot spots. Mindful of the cultural and culinary attractions of these towns, county officials promote their area as "the Hamptons of the Chesapeake."
And, on the Upper Shore (Kent County), the colonial seaport of Chestertown also has a wide selection of galleries. Chestertown artists are among the 50 artists in Kent and Queen Anne's counties who open their studios to visitors during the River Arts Studio Tour, Nov. 3-4.
Eastern Shore artist Cindy Fulton, a co-chair of the tour, says: "Artists flock to the Chesapeake Bay region in search of subject matter for paintings, sculptures, textiles and other forms of art. Each season brings new sources of inspiration – the ever-changing colors of the bay, its beaches, grasses, skies and forests, for instance. Interesting shapes also emerge amid forms in nature and the region's abundant wildlife."
Sea glass, another maritime-art medium, will be featured at two upcoming expositions: the Eastern Shore Sea Glass Festival, Nov. 3 in St. Michaels, and the Fall Sea Glass Festival in Queen Anne's County, Nov. 16-17.
The state tourism office suggests checking individual destinations or county tourism offices for information about local galleries and arts centers. Below, is a selection of museums where visitors are apt to find art of the Chesapeake Bay:
Central Maryland
- Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park, Fell's Point (Baltimore) – This national heritage site has 5,000 square feet of gallery space, used for exhibitions and interactive learning centers, such as a boat-building workshop. Exhibits tell the story of the local African-American community and its ties to Chesapeake Bay traditions. The first African-American owned and operated shipyard was located yards away. Chesapeake Bay cuisine can be found on the menu of Waterfront Kitchen, a recently opened restaurant located here.
- Havre de Grace Decoy Museum, Havre de Grace (Harford County) – The museum houses 1,200 decoys and decorative carvings. On weekends, local carvers offer carving demonstrations. Special events include an annual decoy and wildlife art festival in the spring. Havre de Grace, located on the banks of the Susquehanna River at the top of the Chesapeake Bay is home to the Concord Point Lighthouse – Maryland's second oldest lighthouse (built 1827).
Southern Maryland
- Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons (Calvert County) – Three permanent galleries house these exhibitions: Paleontology of the Miocene Epoch, Marine Life of the Chesapeake Bay and Maritime Heritage of Southern Maryland. Drum Point Lighthouse, built in 1883, is on the museum's waterfront. A woodworking shop here is headquarters for the Southern Maryland Shipcarvers' Guild and the Solomons Island Model Boat Club. First Free Fridays, 5 to 8 p.m., offers free admission once a month.
Eastern Shore
|
