Every month is exciting in Annapolis when it comes to art, food and shopping, but December takes the prize for the most-inspired and joyful. I love this for the obvious reason of enjoying the vibrancy of holiday festivities and the beauty of lights and decorations.
The best reason to love December in Annapolis is because it is proof that shopping local and supporting your community has countless benefits, beyond keeping local businesses thriving.
Let’s see: shopping online vs. gallery-hopping during Midnight Madness while enjoying holiday cheer and dining out with friends. Not to mention the holiday markets, a Chocolate Binge Festival, walking tours and tree lightings, stunning museum exhibits and so much more. Not much of a contest!
Online shopping is efficient, but nothing compares to the experience of being invited to see it all in person and talk with shop owners and artists. Gift buying is so much more satisfying when you have a warm exchange and a story to go with it.
When I first moved here, I was smitten with the one Thursday in December that was Midnight Madness.
The snowy downtown felt like a nostalgic picture book of holiday cheer. Having only lived here six weeks, I became an instant insider, being warmly welcomed into shops and galleries that were friendly and festive. I came away with a now-treasured handmade ornament, as well as new friends and acquaintances who I revisited and have enjoyed for years.
As we know, Midnight Madness was so successful that it expanded to three Thursdays before Christmas. This year’s dates are Dec. 7 and 14 from 4 p.m. to midnight, and Dec. 21 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Be sure to hit the galleries; they are offering wonderful, gift-sized, one-of-a-kind artwork, just waiting for you to wrap. Wishing all of you a wonderful holiday season and I’ll see you in 2024!
The Galleries of Quiet Waters Park is proud to present its 12th annual art sale. “Holiday Artisan Market, Artistic Gifts of the Season,” which runs daily during normal Visitor Center hours, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends, now through Jan. 7.
Nine artists have their artwork on display and for sale: Barbara Svoboda, mosaics; Debbie Fritz, glass; Deb Nees, rug-hooked accessories; Donna Schramek, sort sculpture; Garry Fritz, pottery; Liz Sork, painted glass; Mariann Seyfferth, wood burn artwork; Sharon Schaeffer, baskets and Wendy Johnson, painted accessories.
The Elizabeth Myers Mitchell Art Museum presents a 10th anniversary weekend celebration for “Librería Donceles,” an art-installation-cum-bookstore, this Friday from 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will be art-making workshops, a musical performance by El Club de Protesta, Mexican food and holiday punch, a cake, the breaking of a piñata and a conversation with the project’s three founding collaborators.
“Librería Donceles” remains on view until April 2024. The museum will be closed for an extended holiday break from Dec. 11 through Jan.uary 19, so visit the museum by Dec. 10, the final day for “The Speed of Time: Film/Video Art in the U.S., 1965–1980,” featuring pioneering works by Vito Acconci, Jonas Jonas, Nam June Paik and others.
The Banneker-Douglass Museum invites families, art lovers and readers to explore the exhibited art and literature of “A Story to Tell.” This exhibit, curated by Chanel C. Johnson, celebrates the beauty and importance of Black history, ar and literature. Come see large vibrant and captivating portraits of African American youth and literary figures by Maryland artist Ernest Shaw, and then explore socially-conscious children and young adult books presented by Baltimore Read Aloud.
Join the opening reception and Kwanzaa celebration for live performances, local artisan vendors, refreshments and fellowship from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Banneker-Douglass Museum. RSVP at bdmuseum.maryland.gov/events.
Gallery 57 West will feature art talks by two Annapolis Arts Alliance Members, Karen deGraffenreid and Anne Delano Weathersby, at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 13. DeGraffenreid will talk about how her painting was inspired by photos taken while visiting the Greek Islands. Her painting captures a crystal clear, sunny sky with the still waters of the Aegean Sea.
Weathersby will discuss her journey from shooting sports and corporate events to focusing on nature and wildlife photography. Gallery 57 West is also open all three Midnight Madness nights until 10.
MFA Circle Gallery’s 21st annual “Small Wonders” exhibition is on display through Dec. 23. Little things can make a big impact, as proven by this exhibition of small but wonderful works. This show is for artists who dream big but work small, and for art gifters who want a unique and artful present.
Juror Lillian Bayley Hoover selected 124 works that were limited to under 11 inches in all directions, but there’s no limit on creativity or media. Circle Gallery will be open for Midnight Madness Dec. 7, 14, and 21 until 9 p.m., with the in-person reception for this exhibit from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 14.
McBride Gallery’s annual Holiday Group Show “Small Gems” is open now through Jan. 15. The gallery’s artists have brought small and some large treats as well for the holidays. It is a parade of new paintings, sculpture and ceramics.
Sherrill Cooper paints character sketches that inspire “knowing” laughter and nods of acknowledgment. Eric Forsberg’s beautifully rendered seascapes depict Nordic vessels, historic clipper ships, and dramatic skies. Julia Rogers, Maryland artist known for her wildlife, loves painting the Assateague ponies.
Other featured artists include Carol Lee Thompson, Sam Robinson, Bill Schmidt, Paula Waterman, Michael Godfrey, Christine Drewyer, Trish Wend, Barbara Nuss, Deborah Kommalan and more. Join them for Midnight Madness Dec. 7, 14 and 21.
MFA @ 49 West presents an exhibition of artwork by MFA artists Pauline Rakis and Sharon B. Fuller. Rakis’ presents abstract works in acrylic and mixed media, and Fuller presents abstractions from nature in a variety of media.
Annapolis Marine Art Gallery will be featuring new works by William Sutton. The local watercolorist has released new originals and prints available in the gallery. Join them for Midnight Madness festivities Dec. 7, 14, and 21 until 9 p.m.
Mylo Studios turns “1″ and they’re celebrating all month long with parties and giveaways. The lights are on Maryland Avenue, and they are busy stocking up and creating the perfect gifts for anyone on your list.
The larger pieces have been discounted to make room for new inventory, and they have a variety of art items from resin Navy coasters, crab and sailboat spoon rests, to gorgeous handmade pottery. Mylo Studios will be open for holiday cheer all three Midnight Madness events Dec. 7, 14 and 21, until 11 p.m.
Jo Fleming Contemporary Art kicks off “Art for Gifting,” their annual December event with most items priced below $300. Created locally, you will find brilliant and affordable work by Patrice Drago, Cindy Winnick, Lyn Laviana, Barbara Miller, Matt Nance, Sigrid Trumpy, Sally Rhudy, Maureen Farrell and others that will satisfy your holiday shopping.
JFCA continues the “Wabi Sabi” exhibition thru Dec. 29, which draws from the Japanese aesthetic concept that appreciates beauty found in nature, imperfection, transience and the natural cycles of growth and decay.
Artists Camilla Schwarz, Brian Kirk, John Latell, Sally Rhudy, Jo Fleming, Nada Abizaid and Matt Nance challenge conventional notions of aesthetics in this exhibition. Open house receptions are during Midnight Madness, Dec. 7, 14 and 21.
MFA @ Paul’s Homewood Café presents Elizabeth Nook and Matt Fenton through end of January. Nook is an architect and encaustic artist who takes inspiration from nature and her own sense of adventure. She finds beauty in difficult circumstances and celebrates the light that inevitably shines after the storm passes.
Fenton is a painter who prefers oil, watercolor, and pastel, favoring a realist style with impressionistic brush work. He is inspired by the beauty of the visual environment and draws on the technical approach he learned in his art education and engineering career.
West Annapolis Artworks is proud to have a collection of linoleum block Art by Anita Hagan. With more than 35 years of working in the medium of linoleum block, she has developed the unique technique of printing over paint.
Hagan’s work employs heavy carved textures, expressive patterning, and vigorous line work, inherent in the art of block printing. She is most inspired by the natural world and human portraiture. Her work will be on display and available through the end of the year at West Annapolis Artworks.
Maryland Hall presents two exhibits by former Openshaw Artist-in-Residence Wayman Scott:
• Earl Gallery: “I AM A MAN: Photographs of the Civil Rights Movement, 1960-1970″ displays a wide range of photographs taken by amateurs, local photojournalists and internationally known photographers. Together they provide a vivid visual story of the evolution of the civil rights movement and shed light on the movement’s integration in the daily living in the American South.
• Martino Gallery: “A Time for Equity.” In this exhibit Wayman uses contemporary, historical, and religious art to pay tribute to heroes and highlight the story of the marginalized, using Baltimore City as a tapestry. He hopes his art can hold a mirror to society with a lens of DEI and social justice.
Patrice Drago is a painter and writer in Annapolis, MD. Website: www.patricedrago.com. This column is written in cooperation with the Annapolis Gallery Association. Contact Patrice at art@patricedrago.com.