Coming at You
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Thursday, May 3
Day for Night: Opening night of the Maryland Film Festival, with 40 new features, 70 shorts and the annual pick by John Waters, filmaker, tastemaker and eminence grise. The four-day event showcases a range of contemporary North American films, a sampling of cutting-edge international features a vintage silent film with live musical accompaniment, a classic 3-D film, and a feature selected and hosted by Waters. Opening night at the Maryland Institute College of Art center include the shorts, I Am John Wayne (Christina Choe), The Kook (Nat Livingston Johnson and Gregory Mitnick), Modern Man (Kerri Lendo and John Merriman), Cork’s Cattlebaron (Eric Steele), Fishing Without Nets (Cutter Hodierne) 8 p.m. Order tickets here.
Agitprop and Polipop: Mina Cheon’s solo exhibition, Polipop and Paintings, includes 14 digital paintings coming from her celebrated mid-career solo exhibit Polipop (Political Pop Art) at the Sundkok Art Museum in Seoul, Korea. The exhibit will also include her enormous hand-painted work, “15 Billion Years,” a celebration of popular science and the cosmos. Cheon calls it her masterpiece. Artist’s Talk at 6 p.m. and Reception from 7 – 9 p.m. 410-962-8565. Maryland Art Place, 8 Market Place, Suite 100, through June 30.
Linotype: The Movie
Swept Away: Robert Mintz, curator of Asian Art at the Walters Art Museum, discusses the impact of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami on Japanese arts institutions, including the status of reconstruction efforts. Free, 12:15–1:15 p.m.
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Friday, May 4
Peabody Harp Concert: Students from the Peabody Conservatory’s Harp department play in the courtyard of The Walters Art Museum for their Friday lunchtime concert series. Noon -1.
An Die Musik
MusikNOW: Baltimore’s Anne Watts and Boister – now a 10-piece band known for masterful original silent film scores and soulful covers of Kurt Weill, Edith Piaf, and Led Zeppelin – play the first fundraising concert for MusikNOW, An Die Musik‘s non-profit effort to take music into Baltimore’s schools. 8 and 9:30 p.m. $20 entrance fee, includes champagne reception and bonbons from Baltimore’s famed Patisserie Poupon. 410-385-2638. Donations accepted here.
Maryland Film Festival, Day 2: The Festival begins in earnest with a full schedule of films. Among them: Volcano w/ Revolution Rejkjavik, about a man who confronts his family and himself after retirement; a documentary about the psychedelic-era spiritual family, The Source; Wanda, a vintage feature film chosen and presented by director John Waters; and a new “Wuthering Heights” by director Andrea Arnold, who brought her gritty realism to bear on Emily Bronte’s tale.
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Saturday, May 5
Photo by Tom Jones
Art that Moves You: The American Visionary Art Museum stages its 14th Annual Kinetic Sculpture Race, featuring wacky, imaginative, totally human-powered works of art designed by lunatic geniuses and fanatic tinkerers to travel on land, through mud, and over deep Inner Harbor waters.
MICA Masters: Inexpensive art from students in the Maryland Institute College of Art‘s fine arts programs. Some proceeds from the event will support a graduate scholarship. Saturday, May 5, Noon–4 p.m., Studio Center, 131 W. North Ave.
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Sunday, May 6
Elijah’s Coming: WYPR’s Tom Hall leads chorus, orchestra, and vocal soloists, in Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” at Goucher College‘s Kraushaar Auditorium. Hall will lead a discussion at 2 p.m., followed by the performance at 3 p.m. Tickets are available from the Baltimore Choral Arts Society.
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Thursday, May 10
Art for a Stroll: Mingle with emerging artists and art lovers at Artwalk MICA, the preview party for the Maryland Institute College of Art‘s 2012 Commencement Exhibition. Guests can purchase work by graduating seniors before the exhibition formally opens to the public at this 3-kilometer walking tour of an exhibit that flows through seven buildings along the Mount Royal Cultural Corridor. 5–9 p.m. Starts at Cohen Plaza, 1303 W. Mount Royal Ave. Limited space available.
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Friday, May 11
Hope and Glory: Opening of the four-day 2012 MICA Commencement Exhibition highlights works by nearly 400 emerging artists in the undergraduate class of 2012. Special gallery hours: Friday, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Saturday–Monday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Campus-wide. Reception: Sunday, May 13, 1:30–5 p.m.
Let the Mock Wagnerian Hijinks Begin
Like Bats out of Valhalla: The Baltimore Rock Opera Society premiers Valhella: The Ragnarokkoperetta, at the Autograph Playhouse at 9 West 25th Street. This is the third in the BROS’ cycle of mock-u-operas that start with the premise: What if the characters in the film Animal House decided to stage a Wagnerian rock opera? The Society’s web site brags that Valhella is the “most bowel-releasingest rock theater production to date,” a claim impossible to refute. The Society’s 60-odd volunteers bring enormous energy and a devoted fan base to what are becoming annual productions, and have their sights set on bigger things. A raucous evening looms. Friday through Sunday, May 11-13; Friday-Sunday May 18-20.
Saturday, May 12
Buying into Baltimore: The semi-annual LiveBaltimore home event returns with narrated bus tours of city neighborhoods, home buying workshops, meetings with realtors, discussions with neighborhood associations and lenders. Registration opens April 11. info@livebaltimore.com. 410-0637-3750.
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Wednesday, May 16
Stage Classic: The Everyman Theater presents George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart’s madcap comedy classic, You Can’t Take it With You, the story of the eccentric Sycamores of New York, as the extended clan struggles to keep from scandalizing a daughter’s conservative beau on a fateful visit. 1727 North Charles Street. 410-752-2208. Performances through June 17.
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Thursday, May 17
Hometown Heroine: The Caroline Center, which provides job training for low income women, presents an evening with former Baltimore Sun journalist, author and B’more native Laura Lippman. Reception begins 6 p.m, with lecture and book signing starting at 7:30 p.m. 900 Somerset Street, Baltimore. For information: 410-563-1303, ext: 24.
Pre-Columbian Treasures: The Walters Art Museum stages The Art of the Ancient Americas Community Night, offering free admission to the special exhibition, Exploring Art of the Ancient Americas: The John Bourne Collection Gift. 6-8 p.m. 410-547-9000.
El Arenal style, Jalisco, Mexico, 100 BCE–200 CE, Earthenware, white slip with black and red paint, 37.2 × 30.9 × 23.2 cm, Gift of John Bourne
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Saturday, May 19
Roadies: The Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia hosts the Route 29 Review, featuring Lucinda Williams & Drive-By Truckers. Gates open 6:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 20.
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Sunday, May 20
BikeJammin’: Bike Maryland sponsors BikeJam 2012 at Patterson Park, featuring beer, live music, pro racing and kids activities. Two riding tours are also planned, the first a 12-mile loop that starts at Patterson Park and meanders up the Jones Falls to Clipper Mill and Druid Hill Park and back, while the second is a more challenging 30-mile round-trip tour of Baltimore’s sylvan parkland. Registration for the tours is limited to 500 cyclists, with free t-shirts to the first 200 to sign up.
BRAVO! Youth Dance Showcase: Coppin State University presents an afternoon of ballet, jazz, tap, modern dance and pointe work peformed by students in Coppin’s Youth Dance Ensemble. For more information, contact dance@coppin.edu or call 410-951-3355.
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Tuesday, May 22
At the Lyric, Works by a Master of Modern Dance: The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater troupe comes to town with their fluid, inspiring repertoire of works by the master choreographer, who died in 1989 after helping give African Americans a major role in modern dance. At the Patricia and Arthur Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric, 7:30 p.m. Through May 23.
Alvin Ailey Dance Company Facebook Page
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Wednesday, May 23
Radio Tales: WYPR celebrates its 10th anniversary with The Wire actress Maria Boom, columnist Dan Rodricks, YPR’s Sheilah Kast and other Stoop storytellers for an evening of fun, entertainment and a birthday cake at Centerstage, 700 N. Calvert St. Reception at 6:30 p.m., event at 8 p.m.
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Saturday, May 26
ZooBrewski Point: Opening day of the two-day “Brew at the Zoo” event, the annual outdoor beer and wine tasting festival at The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore at the Waterfowl Lake Pavilion. Six bands will be on hand to entertain grown-ups, as well as a Kids’ Zone for, who else? 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets include Zoo admission.
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Saturday, June 2
Village Vanguards: The two-day Charles Village Festival opens with arts, crafts, various and sundry amusements and brews (including The Brew! Coming at you!). Sat. June 2, 11-9, Sun. June 3, 11-6. Wyman Park Dell, Charles and 29th Streets. Rain or shine. More info here.
Celebrate Charles Village's boho roots at an annual festival featuring food, drink, kids, crafts and what all.
Happy Trails: Baltimore celebrates National Trails Day with more than 20 free family events at parks, trails and other scenic sylvan public spaces. Event sponsors include the city Recreation and Parks department, the Baltimore Trail Collaborative, REI and the American Hiking Society. All day. Free.
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Wednesday, June 13
The Tall Ships Commeth: The Star-Spangled Sailabration, an international maritime festival featuring more than 40 tall ships to mark the bicentennial of the War of 182, opens at the Inner Harbor. Through Tuesday, June 19.
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Saturday, June 16
Folk Traditions: The Second Annual Maryland Folk Life Festival, presented by the Maryland State Arts Council’s Maryland Traditions program, at the Creative Alliance’s Patterson Theater. Arts, crafts and live music. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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Sunday, June 17
Philip Glass website
Glass Anthem: The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performs the world premier of composer Philip Glass’ Overture for 2012, at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, as part of its program commemorating the War of 1812 and the events that inspired the Star Spangled Banner. The celebrated composer of “Einstein on the Beach” and the score for Martin Scorsese’s Kundun, grew up in Baltimore.
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Friday, July 20
Artscapade: The 31st annual edition of Artscape, which bills itself as America’s largest free art festival, is expected to draw 350,000 visitors this year and generate almost $26 million in spending. The three-day rite of summer will showcase more than 150 fine artists, fashion designers and craftspeople; exhibitions, outdoor sculpture, art cars, photography and the Janet & Walter Sondheim Prize; offer live concerts on outdoor stages as well as a full schedule of performing arts including dance, opera, theater, film, experimental music and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Children’s entertainers and street theater? You bet. As well as an international menu of food and drink. Daily through Sunday, July 22.
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Saturday, July 7
BMA Jazz: The Baltimore Museum of Art’s Jazz in the Sculpture Garden concert season kicks off with the Houston Person’s Quartet, led by the groove-based tenor sax player. Tickets $25.
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Saturday, July 28
BMA Jazz: The museum’s Jazz in the Sculpture Garden summer season continues with percussionist Steven Kroon’s Latin Jazz Sextet.
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Saturday, Aug. 4
BMA Jazz: Jazz in the Sculpture Garden welcomes baritone and soloist Kevin Mahogany with the Dave Stryker Group.
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Saturday, Aug. 18
BMA Jazz: The Baltimore Museum of Art hosts Baltimore-area vocalist Tracy Curbeam, backed up by the Da’Fellas, as part of its Jazz in the Sculpture Garden series.
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Saturday, Aug. 25
BMA Jazz: Jazz legend and Baltimore native Ethel Ennis has toured with Benny Goodman, sung at the White House and served as the city’s cultural ambassador. She performs at the Baltimore Museum of Arts Jazz in the Sculpture Garden concert series.
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Saturday, Nov. 17
BMA Gallery Opening: The Baltimore Museum of Art opens its newly renovated contemporary wing, the first phase of a major renovation project ahead of its 100th anniversary in 2014. Among the recent acquisitions on display will be an installation created to link the museum’s modern and contemporary wings by artist Sarah Oppenheimer, A Man Screaming is Not a Dancing Bear by the artist collaborative Allora & Calzadilla, Untitled (bicycle shower) by Rirkrit Tiravanija and Live Ball by Nari Ward.
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ONGOING EXHIBITS
Town Without Pity: Through Sunday, May 15. The ancient and honorable city of Baltimore, explored and chronicled in a MICA student-curated exhibition, “Baltimore: Open City,” by scholars, activists, community-based groups, local artists and visiting artist Damon Rich. Participants have developed a series of installations and public programs coinciding with National Fair Housing Month. North Avenue Market, 16 W. North Avenue.
SCHOOL 33 Art Center, 1427 Light St., March 6 – May 16 “WALK THE LINE” – Art by Mary Anne Arntzen, Christina Barrera, Nancy Bruce, Michelle Carollo, Jeanne Heifetz, Artemis Herber, Erika Kim Milenkovic, Jordi Williams (in the Main Gallery). RECENT WORK by Christian Parks, recent work. (In the Members’ Gallery.) A CAPTIVE BEHAVIOR, by Becca Pad and Lauren Nikolaus (in the Project Space).
Superwomen rampant
Maryland Art Place, 8 Market Place, Suite 100, May 3 – June 30. POLIPOP AND PAINTINGS: MINA CHEON – Mina Cheon’s solo exhibition includes 14 digital paintings coming from her celebrated mid-career solo exhibit Polipop (Political Pop Art) at the Sundkok Art Museum in Seoul, Korea. The exhibit will also include her enormous hand-painted work, “15 Billion Years,” a celebration of popular science and the cosmos. Cheon calls it her masterpiece. The show is opening on May 3rd, with an Artist’s Talk at 6 p.m. and Reception from 7 – 9 p.m. 410-962-8565
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