Press Releases

Maryland Art Place Announces Upcoming Solo Exhibition Featuring Scott Pennington

Scott Pennington | Two-Minute Joys

Opening Reception: Thursday, January 18th, 6PM – 9PM

On View: January 18th – March 10th, 2018

December 20th, 2017 – This January, MAP will showcase the works of Scott Pennington in an immersive installation called Two-Minute Joys. A public opening reception will be held January 18th from 6-9pm at Maryland Art Place, located at 218 W Saratoga Street in downtown Baltimore.

Scott Pennington is a Maryland born artist specializing in large-scale participatory installation and sculptural assemblage works. Drawing upon his background as a furniture and cabinet-maker, Pennington uses woodworking and construction techniques to create colorful, detailed works of art that engage varied audiences and invigorate public spaces. Pennington’s work suggests a tangible, yet illusory reality that examines labor, consumer culture, the pursuit of simple pleasures, and the construction of nostalgic human connections, both genuine and fictitious.

"Growing up in a small Maryland town, the traveling carnival that came for a single week every summer was a welcome distraction for many families including my own. We would anticipate the sounds, sights, and smells of this miraculous event all year, attending the annual spectacle with an almost spiritual devotion. The social space that the gathering of rides, games, and attractions creates is a comforting yet surreal landscape that seems to strike at our innermost desires to be transported from normality." – Pennington

Pennington’s work has been featured in public arts festivals across the country. Notable exhibitions include Artscape in Baltimore, Maryland (2008, 2010 and 2014), The Scottsdale Arts Festival in Arizona (2013), Parking Day in Arlington, Virginia, as well as the inaugural Light City Baltimore (2016). Pennington has also worked in partnership with numerous arts organizations for public or alternative space projects including Art on the Artbus in Arlington, VA, and with Napoleon Gallery in Philadelphia, PA.

Maryland Art Place (MAP) inspires, supports, and encourages artistic expression through innovative programming, exhibitions, and educational opportunities while recognizing the powerful impact art can have on our community. MAP creates a dynamic environment for artists of our time to engage the public by nurturing and promoting new ideas. MAP has served as a critical resource for contemporary art in the Mid-Atlantic since 1981.

www.mdartplace.org | map@mdartplace.org | 410.962.8565

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Maryland Art Place Announces Opening Reception for Frédéric Nauczyciel and Pete Cullen

Tuesday, December 19th, 5PM – 7PM

Hotel Indigo | Free & Open to the Public

December 12th, 2017 – Maryland Art Place is pleased to present a December IMPACT Project at Hotel Indigo. This December, MAP will showcase the works of Frédéric Nauczyciel (Paris/Baltimore) and Pete Cullen (Baltimore). A public opening reception will be held December 19th from 5-7pm at Hotel Indigo, located at 24 West Franklin Street.

Frédéric Nauczyciel is exhibiting three of nine large-format portraits from his 2009/2010 series Le Temps Devant (Our Time Ahead). Nauczyciel explains, "This series refers to a specific relationship with time in the French countryside, the expression of an anachronism and the survival of a utopia. The photographs do not show what is the French rural history, per say; rather, they reveal what would remain from the rural utopia nowadays. The paradoxical tensions between tradition and modernity create a movement of time ahead." Subjects reflected in Frédéric's works include a Milk Breeder, a Huntress, and a Stud Farmer's Spouse.

Our Time Ahead made its US debut in 2010 at Honfleur Gallery in Washington DC, where a portion of the series remains. The nine portraits were originally commissioned by Centre Photo Lectoure, an Art Centre located in Lectoure, France, in the middle of the countryside - within an area called Gers. The light of the countryside recalls painting styles of the Italian or Spanish renaissance. The artworks are 48"x59" Ilfochrome manual prints.

'Our Time Ahead' takes you to a place of history while simultaneously drawing a familiar connection with modern life. The photographs prompt the viewer to consider their lives, the role of the countryside today, farming and other rural lifestyles through a subconscious co-mingling of contemporary living. These ideas are reflected in recent movements towards buying local, supporting independent farmers, crop sharing and other ways of integrating modern life with our food source. This was the first correlation that came to mind, although the work has much more significance than merely the theme of food and farming.

The production process of this series of work is also significant. Frédéric has selected an almost outdated route of manual printing, Ilfochrome - from a slide film, which gives the finest definition possible. The prints are polyester in the base rather than paper-based, sealing the work in such a way that it prevents long-term fading and deterioration. Because 'Our Time Ahead' emanates a sort of historical nostalgia; a realism of the past, this soon to be outdated printing process remains of importance to the work and subject matter. ~Amy Cavanaugh Royce, 2010

Frédéric Nauczyciel spends his time between Paris and Baltimore. Frédéric has collaborated with legendary voguing dancer, Marquis Revlon Clayton, and is more recently known for his work within Baltimore's underground 'voguing scene', which has been making headlines worldwide.

Frédéric's work is paired with the paintings of Baltimore painter, Pete Cullen. "Quincunx, the newest series of still-life paintings by Pete Cullen, examines the intersections of history, power, conflict, and communication through the visual contemplation of artifacts of contemporary life in Baltimore City. Time and place are integral facets of this body of work, acting as both mirror and lens". ~Cullen

There is a natural aesthetic tie-in between Frédéric's portraits and Pete's paintings. Pete explains in his statement about Quincunx, "Silence—a complete lack of communication– is perhaps intrinsic to the still-life genre. The originator of the genre, early 17th century Spanish painter Sánchez Cotán (1560-1627), is described as utilizing still-life painting as a 'private act of self-negation,' a type of discipline, or ritual. In fact, in the latter part of his life, Sánchez Cotán became a lay brother of the silent Carthusian monastic order". ~Cullen

Pete Cullen is a Baltimore-based American artist born in 1981. He received his MFA from the Maryland Institute, College of Art in 2009. He is currently an adjunct instructor at the Community College of Baltimore County.

Maryland Art Place (MAP) inspires, supports, and encourages artistic expression through innovative programming, exhibitions, and educational opportunities while recognizing the powerful impact art can have on our community. MAP creates a dynamic environment for artists of our time to engage the public by nurturing and promoting new ideas. MAP has served as a critical resource for contemporary art in the Mid-Atlantic since 1981.

www.mdartplace.org | map@mdartplace.org | 410.962.8565

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MARYLAND ART PLACE ANNOUNCES 5th ANNUAL AFFORDABLE ART SALE

Friday, December 8th, 7PM – 11PM

$25 Pre-sale tickets, $30 at the door (includes access to Spin & Sell: Print Bazaar)

Saturday, December 9th, 11AM - 4PM: Free & Open to the Public

November 15th, 2017 – Maryland Art Place (MAP) is excited to announce its fifth annual affordable art sale UNDER $500, opening Friday, December 8th at 7 o’clock in the evening at 218 West Saratoga Street, located in downtown Baltimore. UNDER $500 is intended to promote and encourage the purchase of original artwork in lieu of traditional, commercial holiday shopping. The event will feature the work of regional artists. All artwork will be sold at a retail price point of $500 or less, with proceeds split equally between MAP and the participating artists. Tickets can be purchased through MissionTix for $25 pre-sale, or for $30 at the door. Guests can expect to mingle with the artists, collectors, patrons and general art enthusiasts. The ticket price also includes an open bar and light fare with a holiday twist.

MAP is honored to feature the following artists: Maryamm Abdullah, Rachel Bone, Elizabeth Burin, Amy Boone-McCreesh, Vincent Carney, Courtney Cooper, Bonnie Crawford, Nancy Daly, Sutton Demlong, Grace Dobrow, Teresa Duggan, Alexis Gomez, Jeffrey Heft, Sireen Jawdat, Giulia Livi, Carmen Martini, Sinem Oren, Jennifer Pizzillo, Kyle Tata, Sarah Tilton, Emily Uchytil, Anna Watson, Alli Woodhouse, Tanya Ziniewicz, Alex Ebstein, Steve Silberg, and Zarina Zuparkhodjaeva. Each artwork will be accompanied by an artist profile overview to better connect the patron with the life and work of the exhibiting artist. Patrons and guests should expect a wide range of works.

During UNDER $500, guests are welcome to attend MAP’s 2nd annual Spin & Sell: Print Bazaar to be held in the MAP Underground from 7 - 10 pm and again the following day, Saturday, December 9 between 12-4 pm in MAP's gallery. Spin & Sell: Print Bazaar is a two-day market featuring unique prints, posters, clothing, gifts and more. Spin & Sell: Print Bazaar is a great way to discover and support emerging and established artists and printmakers in Baltimore city.

Tickets for Spin & Sell: Print Bazaar are $5 at the door on Friday, December 8th from 7-10 pm. On Saturday, December 9th from 12-4 pm admission will be FREE. Spin & Sell: Print Bazaar will feature the following artists: Armen Baboom, bowlingART, Cameron Hanley, Caitlin Harris, Chaos Card Company, Kirsten Lapointe, Leyla Rzyeva, LaToya Peoples, Lyla Shlon, Nakia Heard, Sally Hopkins, Shannon Nicole Noah and Wear Your Voice. The event will feature music provided by DJ AK, and karaoke starting at 10 pm after the sale!

On the evening of UNDER $500, MAP will collect funds, toys, and books on behalf of SKY Foundation (Springland Kids & Youth Foundation), a non-governmental charitable organization in Abuja, Nigeria, and Children's Hospital D.C., Dr. Bears Closet in an effort to impact children, help boost their spirits, and ensure that every patient has a gift for the holidays.

Tickets are available to Under $500 through MissionTix.com.

Sponsorships are also available, starting from $250 – up. For more information about the UNDER $500, connect with Program Manager Naomi Davidoff at 410.962.8565 | Naomi@mdartplace.org or visit www.mdarplace.org.

Maryland Art Place (MAP) inspires, supports, and encourages artistic expression through innovative programming, exhibitions, and educational opportunities while recognizing the powerful impact art can have on our community. MAP creates a dynamic environment for artists of our time to engage the public by nurturing and promoting new ideas. MAP has served as a critical resource for contemporary art in the Mid-Atlantic since 1981.

www.mdartplace.org | map@mdartplace.org | 410.962.8565

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PHILANTHROPIK TO SUPPORT MARYLAND ART PLACE’S (MAP’s) FALL BENEFIT, ‘GUISE’

Wednesday, October 11 – Baltimore, MD: Philanthropik & Maryland Art Place (MAP) are pleased to announce MAP’s Annual Fall Benefit, GUISE, a baroque themed costume party spanning three floors of MAP’s building and highlighting surrealist works in contemporary art. GUISE will be held on Saturday, October 28, 2017 at 7 o’clock in the evening at Maryland Art Place, located at 218 W Saratoga Street in the Bromo Arts and Entertainment District, between Park &Howard Streets.

GUISE includes an evening of art, music, mischief and masquerade. GUISE will feature the work of 17 artists as part of the Altered Realties exhibition on display. These artists will provide guests with an innovative and immersive artistic experience throughout the evening of the event. Additional featured artists will include celebrity fashion designer, Bishme R. Cromartie, and projection artist Kevin Blackistone. MAP will also highlight over forty original, handmade masks in GUISE’s silent auction. All masks were created by local artists throughout the state of Maryland.

GUISE will feature live performances by DJ P Chris, DJ 5Star, and DJ AK of Ridiculous Entertainment. Live string music will be provided by Peabody graduate string players, Trio Esplanade. Decadent burlesque performances will take place in the MAP Underground throughout the night.

VIP tickets include access to MAP’s fifth floor, a premium open bar sponsored by Bacardi with music provided by the Lineup Room. VIP guests can expect immersive, projection installations, and more. Guests will take home an augmented realty holo tat, provided by local virtual reality experts Balti Virtual.

Founder of Philanthopik, Zac McDaniels states, “I am a proud supporter of MAP’s work and the vital mission it plays in our community. There is simply no other place like this in Baltimore that embraces the diversity of the arts community and its people. GUISE is our way of bringing our supporters and resources to bare and further MAP’s mission. We are excited about this partnership.”

It is MAP’s and Philanthropiks’ goal to create a one-of-a-kind experience for the guests of GUISE. Proceeds from the benefit will go directly back into MAP’s general operations making it possible for MAP to continue to provide exhibitions that are open and free to the pubic and to continue to provide affordable opportunities to living artists in the Maryland State Region.

SPONSORS OF GUISE include Bacardi, Murphy Falcon Murphy, Kimpton Hotel Monaco, Matthew S. & Susan Brown, The Cyberwire, Balti Virtual, Liz & Ted Courtemanche, Hotel Indigo, Christopher & Niki Janian, Union Craft Brewing, The Lineup Room, Bishme R. Cromartie, Kevin Blackistone, and La Quinta Inn & Suites, Baltimore Downtown.

MAP’s Fall Benefit provides crucial revenue for year-round programming and operations. Connecting artists with communities for 36 years, MAP is a Baltimore-based nonprofit contemporary art organization that energizes the region’s cultural environment.

Tickets are available to GUISE through MissionTix.com.  Parking available at the Arrow Lot on Saratoga Street.

Sponsorships are also available, starting from $250 – up. For more information about the GUISE, connect with Program Manager Naomi Davidoff at 410.962.8565 | Naomi@mdartplace.org or visit www.mdarplace.org.

PHILANTHROPIK is a series of charitable functions produced by activist, strategist and entrepreneur Zachary McDaniels.  It was designed to give his network, associates and business partners the opportunity to donate to, gain relationship with and connection to, organizations of both historic significance and human value.  These organizations often get saturated in traditional fundraising patterns that don’t induct the newest influx of wealth into their databases.  PHILANTHROPIK is an effort to help join those who want to give with those that need it, a simple concept with continual gains.  Let's promote the idea of giving.  Let's promote the opportunity to give. Let’s promote the future…

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PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

p) 410.962.8565 email) map@mdartplace.org

Press Inquiries contact:

Naomi Davidoff, Program Manager, naomi@mdartplace.org

Maryland Art Place Announces Annual Fall Benefit Exhibition, ‘Altered Realities’ & Selected Artists

BALTIMORE -- Maryland Art Place (MAP) is pleased to announce this year’s Annual Fall Benefit Exhibition, Altered Realities. The exhibition aims to subvert the viewer’s perspectives by focusing on uncanny interpretations of the everyday experience.

Altered Realities will be on display from September 14 - November 4, 2017 at Maryland Art Place (MAP), located on 218 W Saratoga Street in downtown Baltimore. The Altered Realities closing reception will take place at MAP on Saturday, November 4, 2017.

Featured artists will include: Johnathan Baker, Sasha Baskin, Brad Blair, Scott Cawood, Jonah Calinawan, Se Jong Cho, Thomas Dahlberg, Rachel Hayden, Phaan Howng, Luke Ikard, Mehves Lelic, Nancy O'D Wilson, Bryan O'Neill, Chris Peters, Hadar Silverman, and Balti Virtual.

Altered Realities will highlight exceptional works ranging from painting, sculpture, video, fiber arts, virtual reality, and photography. Johnathan Baker works with lens-based media to explore mass media and its effects on one's own alignment within the world. Scott Cawood uses scrap steel as a medium to represent the nature of continual metamorphosis. Phaan Howng creates vivid installations that transform spaces into works of disorientation and camouflage. Chris Peters constructs large scale, site-specific camera obscuras in rooms of abandoned buildings, and then photographs these installations. Using leading technology, Hadar Silverman draws on his background in architecture and interactive media to design multi-platform software and video games. In addition, Balti Virtual is a team of experts working in the budding fields of 3D, virtual, and augmented reality to create state-of-the-art experiences.

Each year, MAP’s Fall Benefit Exhibition provides crucial revenue for year-round programming and operations. On October 28th, MAP will host a ticketed, masquerade ball in partnership with Philathropik (philanthropik.org) where the exhibition will be highlighted. (More information will be released in September).

Philanthropik is an organization dedicated to encouraging people to give back and contribute to their communities by providing much needed funding to programs and institutions that provides valuable services to the historically disadvantaged communities.

Maryland Art Place (MAP) inspires, supports, and encourages artistic expression through innovative programming, exhibitions, and educational opportunities while recognizing the powerful impact art can have on our community. MAP creates a dynamic environment for artists of our time to engage the public by nurturing and promoting new ideas. MAP has served as a critical resource for contemporary art in the Mid-Atlantic since 1981.

Information: www.mdartplace.org | 410 962 8565 map@mdartplace.org www.mdartplace.org | map@mdartplace.org | 410.962.8565

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PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 16, 2017

Contact: Maryland Art Place - 410.962.8565

Media Inquiries: Naomi Davidoff – Naomi@mdartplace.org

MARYLAND ART PLACE ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD TRUSTEES

Friday, June 16, 2017 -- Maryland Art Place (MAP) is pleased to announce three new Board Trustees: Douglas R. Kington, Kathleen Hamill and Nelle Somerville.

Douglas R. Kington is a commercial real estate broker and co-owner of RE/MAX Commercial Logic in Maryland. Mr. Kington has over two decades of experience working in real estate, and previously, a decade of experience managing two Fortune 500 corporations. In addition to Maryland Art Place, Mr. Kington serves on the Board of Market Center Merchants Association. Kington has served on the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners, where he chaired the Facilities Committee.

Kathleen Hamill has joined the Maryland Art Place Board of Trustees and carries a background in art consulting, museum and gallery work. Hamill is the founder of k. hamill art, and formerly worked as the Director of Corporate Development for the Contemporary Museum in Baltimore. Hamill received a BA in Art History from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, and a BFA in Art and Interior Design at the former American College of Art and Design in Atlanta Georgia. She has curated exhibitions at City Hall, Monument Sotheby’s gallery, and restaurants Volt and Aggio.

Nelle Somerville currently works as the Assistant Director in the Office of Events at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Somerville has an extensive background in the field of hospitality, specifically catering and special events. She has previously worked at Hotel Monaco and Visit Baltimore. Somerville is excited to assist Maryland Art Place in defining the Bromo Arts and Entertainment District as a dynamic neighborhood for the arts.

“Since moving back to MAP’s original home on Baltimore’s west side, we have been working hard to develop our Board to sustain and grow MAP’s operations. MAP’s building is 18,000+ square feet and home to four art galleries, individual artists, and an underground performance venue slated to open full time in 2018 under a recently approved tavern style liquor license. It’s important to build a board that encompasses a variety of skill sets to handle MAP’s current operations as well as our expansion. We couldn’t be more pleased to have these talented new Trustees join us,” states MAP’s Director, Amy Cavanaugh Royce.

Maryland Art Place (MAP) inspires, supports, and encourages artistic expression through innovative programming, exhibitions, and educational opportunities while recognizing the powerful impact art can have on our community. MAP creates a dynamic environment for artists of our time to engage the public by nurturing and promoting new ideas. MAP has served as a critical resource for contemporary art in the Mid?Atlantic since 1981. Information: www.mdartplace.org | 410 962 8565 ?map@mdartplace.org

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PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 14, 2017

Contact: Maryland Art Place - 410.962.8565

Media Inquiries: Naomi Davidoff - naomi@mdartplace.org

Maryland Art Place Announces 10th Annual Young Blood Artists

Wednesday, June 14, 2017 – Maryland Art Place (MAP) presents Young Blood, an annual exhibition of artworks created by recent Baltimore-area Masters of Fine Art graduates. Curated each year by MAP’s Program Advisory Committee (PAC), Young Blood includes emerging artists from area colleges such as Maryland Institute College of Art, University of Maryland College Park, University of Maryland Baltimore County and Towson University. We are pleased to announce our 10th annual Young Blood artists; Melissa Penley Cormier (UMBC), Emily Dierkes (Towson), Bryan Funk (MICA), Noa Heyne (MICA), Hamida Khatri (MICA), and Giulia Piera Livi (MICA). Located at 218 W. Saratoga Street within the Bromo Arts & Entertainment District, Young Blood will be on display from July 12th–August 19th, 2017. An opening reception will be held on July 12th from 6pm–9pm and is free and open to the public.

This year’s exhibition will highlight exceptional works ranging from painting, sculpture, installation, photography, drawing, and animation. Melissa Penley Cormier constructs sculptures, projections, printed images, and drawings inspired by a scientific analysis of daily concerns and worries. Emily Dierkes explores iconography, Islamic patterns, bold color, Futurism, chaos, and control in multimedia paintings. Her paintings layer fabric, beeswax, tape, glitter, shellac, epoxy resin, and paint. Bryan Funk uses nostalgia as a tool, combining elements of video, performance, sculpture, and sound, to critically study memory formation on individual and collective scales. Noa Heyne works to explore the visitor’s sense of object orientation, the nature of stability, and the power derived from manipulation of space. She experiments with concrete, body weight, pulleys, and vibration in sculpture and animation. Hamida Khatri intertwines stop-motion animation, drawing, fibers, puppetry, photography, and Urdu text in her work. Khatri uses artistic media to narrate her long-distance relationship with her mother in Pakistan, as well as to voice the lived female experience. Lastly, Guilia Piera Livi addresses domesticity and design by converging modern and vintage aesthetics with interior objects in restructured paintings. Her paintings combine sculpture, installation, and abstraction techniques.

Young Blood has provided an important post-graduate platform for 79 transitioning Masters of Fine Arts students to date. Since 2008, this program has continually brought recent graduates together to make new connections and present special selections from their thesis exhibitions.

Maryland Art Place (MAP) inspires, supports, and encourages artistic expression through innovative programming, exhibitions, and educational opportunities while recognizing the powerful impact art can have on our community. MAP creates a dynamic environment for artists of our time to engage the public by nurturing and promoting new ideas. MAP has served as a critical resource for contemporary art in the Mid?Atlantic since 1981. Information: www.mdartplace.org | 410 962 8565?map@mdartplace.org

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May 10, 2017

Derek Parsons, PR Manager

410.225.2503 or dparsons@mica.edu

EXHIBITION CURATED BY MICA STUDENTS SHOWCASES ART BY CURRENT, FORMER PRISONERS

“American Made: Mass Production/Mass Incarceration” opens Saturday, April 29, and examines concepts of mass production and forced labor in art by prisoners.

BALTIMORE — Students in the Maryland Institute College of Art’s (MICA) Exhibition Development Seminar (EDS) present “American Made: Mass Production/Mass Incarceration,” an exhibition and reading room that showcases photography, zines, video and other visual art forms produced by current and former prisoners that examines concepts of mass production and forced labor in prisons.

The exhibition opens with a reception and artist talk on Saturday, April 29, at 6 p.m., and runs through Saturday, May 27, at Maryland Art Place, 218 W Saratoga Street.

Founded in 1997 by M.F.A. in Curatorial Practice founding director George Ciscle, EDS is a yearlong course that provides students professional experience in curatorial practice by working collaboratively with mentors to research, plan and produce a major exhibition. This year’s seminar was led by MICA faculty Jeffry Cudlin.

For “American Made,” EDS students examined how craft works as currency in the U.S. prison system, and organized the exhibition to showcase creativity as a reaction to incarceration while exposing production from forced labor.

Work in “American Made” includes an installation by Philadelphia-based artist Jesse Krimes; text and photos by San Francisco-based anthropologist Sandra Cate and photographer Robert Gumpert; videos from the Real News Network presented by Baltimore-based artist Bashi Rose ; painting by Philadelphia-based artist Russel Craig; new drawings by Angelo, in collaboration with Chicago-based collective Temporary Services; posters by New York-based designer and artist Josh MacPhee; and zines and other publications including The Beat Within by David Inocencio (San Francisco), Tenacious by Victoria Law (New York), and South Chicago ARA/ABC Zine Distro by Anthony Rayson (Chicago).

Scheduled events for “American Made” that explore the intersection of mass incarceration and mass production include:

Saturday, April 29, 6 - 9 p.m.:  “American Made” opening and talk by participating artist Jesse Krimes and performance by mentor and D.R.A.M.A. co-founder Soldier, followed by a reception catered by Eye Can Bmore, an organization staffed by formerly incarcerated individuals.

Thursday, May 4, 6 - 8 p.m.: Guest speaker Anthony Rayson discusses his collaborations with prisoner writers and artists. He will present original prisoner artworks and zines, which will be followed by a zine-making workshop.

“American Made” is organized and curated by EDS students Sera Boeno, Cynthia Fang, Maya Fell, Betty Gonzales, Sukhmani Kaur, Joe Leonard, Zoe Moldenhauer, Lucas Nelson and Jenna Rayman. The exhibition is made possible by Friends of EDS.

For more information about MICA’s Exhibition Development Seminar (EDS), visit micacuratorial.org/exhibition-development-seminar-eds.html.

Maryland Art Place (MAP)

Maryland Art Place inspires, supports, and encourages artistic expression through innovative programming, exhibitions, and educational opportunities while recognizing the powerful impact art can have on our community. MAP creates a dynamic environment for artists of our time to engage the public by nurturing and promoting new ideas. MAP has served as a critical resource for contemporary art in the Mid-Atlantic since 1981. mdartplace.org. MAP is supported by the Maryland State Arts Council, the Baltimore County Commission on the Arts & Sciences, and the William G Baker Jr. Memorial Fund. For more information, visit mdartplace.org.

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Founded in 1826, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) is the oldest continuously degree-granting college of art and design in the nation. The College enrolls nearly 3,500 undergraduate, graduate and continuing studies students from 49 states and 65 countries in fine arts, design, electronic media, art education, liberal arts, and professional studies degree and non-credit programs. With art and design programs ranked in the top ten by U.S. News and World Report, MICA is pioneering interdisciplinary approaches to innovation, research, and community and social engagement. Alumni and programming reach around the globe, even as MICA remains a cultural cornerstone in the Baltimore/Washington region, hosting hundreds of exhibitions and events annually by students, faculty and other established artists.

BALTIMORE, Tuesday, March 21, 2017 – Out of Order, MAP’s iconic spring benefit exhibition, is back and headed to the Emerald City! Put on your ruby slippers and join the celebration in support of local & regional artists. The evening will include a combination of music, performances, an open bar, and hundreds of artworks. Out of Order will feature roaming performances by the fabulous Betty O'Hellno, Onyx D. Pearl & Whimsy Thrift, and music by DJ AK of Ridiculous Entertainment.

MAP will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Out of Order on Friday, April 7, 2017, at 7 o'clock in the evening. The fundraiser, party, and exhibition will take place at 218 West Saratoga Street, the original home to MAP; located in the Bromo Arts and Entertainment District on Baltimore’s west side. A highly revered event among the Baltimore arts community, Out of Order presents attendees with a unique opportunity to collect affordable art while engaging with artists and patrons at the event.

Costumes are encouraged and awarded – dress to impress in your most classic and unusual emerald attire! A special “Bromo District” award will be gifted to the winner of the costume competition & Pixilated Photo Booth will be ready to snap pictures of your fabulous ensemble throughout the evening!

Visit Out of Order’s open wine and beer bar and try a specialty cocktail provided by Baltimore Cocktail Week! Out of Order’s “Wizard’s Fix” cocktail will include Reyka vodka in sparkling water with fresh mint, English cucumber, and organic limeade; garnished with lime or lemon. Frederick Wildman & Sons Importers are providing La Linda Malbec and Chardonnay along with Cavicchioli Prosecco. Union Craft Brewing will provide select brews for the event as well.

Tickets to the April 7th OOO Exhibition and Silent Auction are on sale now for $40 pre-sale on MissionTix and $45 at the door. All tickets include free entry to KIDOOO.

MAP would like to thank its Out of Order in-kind sponsors: Union Craft Brewing, Baltimore Cocktail Week, Sticky Rice, Arrow Parking, Pixilated Photobooth, Frederick Wildman & Sons Importers & Losian Audio Works.

Major sponsors include: The Cordish Family Fund, Michel Modell (in loving memory of David Modell), Fredye & Adam Gross, Matthew & Susan Brown, Greenspring Associates, Crawford B. & Sarah Simpkins, Fred & Marcia Simpkins, Elizabeth Schroeder Courtemanche, Megan Isennock & Rob Tate, Gorges & Co., Jeremy Batoff, Seawall Development and Julie Cavnor.

MAP is pleased to offer an opportunity for artists to contribute their work to a local charity. For the eighth year, participating artists may choose to donate their unsold art to The Art Connection in the Capital Region (ACCR), a nonprofit organization that works to enrich the lives of under-served members of our community through the access to public art within the Greater Metropolitan Washington, DC area.

What will you submit to Out of Order? For the twentieth year, MAP will open its doors to host more than 250 artists in the main gallery. Whether you are an emerging, mid-career or established artist, join Maryland Art Place for the biggest exhibition and silent auction event of the year!

The Out of Order 2017 host committee includes Chris Janian, Scott Burkholder, Naomi Davidoff, Julie Cavnor, Tace Joelle Loeb, Elizabeth Burger, Jerrell Gibbs, Kelly Cross, Chris Zickefoose, Justin Williams, Sonjay DeCaires, George Petrocheilos, Angela Joshi, Ginny Lawhorn, Brittany Hargest, & Carlyn Thomas.

For more information on tickets, sponsorship opportunities and artist installation day for OOO or KIDOOO, please visit MAP’s website located at www.mdartplace.org.

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BALTIMORE, Tuesday, February 21, 2017 -- Maryland Art Place (MAP) announces the return of the Annual Spring Benefit & Silent Auction, Out of Order (OOO). Out of Order will celebrate its 20th year on Friday, April 7, 2016 at 7’oclock in the evening. The iconic fundraiser will take place at 218 West Saratoga Street, the original home to MAP, located in the Bromo Tower Arts and Entertainment District on Baltimore’s west side. One of the most celebrated annual events among the Baltimore arts community, Out of Order is a one-night-only opportunity for collectors to acquire contemporary art at unbelievably low silent auction prices.

By covering the walls from floor to ceiling, Out of Order provides an opportunity for artists to hang their work in a salon-style exhibition. OOO plays host to a variety of artists and professionals practicing in the visual arts, and is a great opportunity for students and emerging artists to get their feet wet in Baltimore’s creative sector. MAP expects up to 400 guests to filter in and out of the Out of Order exhibition. Artists and art patrons will mix and mingle while enjoying music, libations and light fare.

“We are thrilled to continue our Out of Order tradition and celebrate this 20th anniversary milestone by inviting youth artists to participate,” stated Amy Cavanaugh Royce, Executive Director of Maryland Art Place.

For Out of Order’s 20th Anniversary, MAP is celebrating art of all ages with the launch an accompanying youth-driven exhibition. KIDOOO will take place in tandem with MAP's annual OOO on April 7, 2017 on the 2nd floor in the new MAP Member Gallery. KIDOOO was created as an opportunity for young artists to exhibit their work in a major arts venue, expanding MAP’s services to students in elementary, middle school and high school level arts classes. KIDOOO encourages creative expression and promotes artistic engagement across Maryland’s youth. Young artists, ages six to sixteen, are encouraged to apply.

Tickets to the April 7th OOO Exhibition and Silent Auction are on sale now for $40 pre-sale on MissionTix and $45 at the door. All tickets include free entry to KIDOOO.

OOO is a unique way to get involved with Baltimore’s growing art scene while supporting one of Baltimore’s most established contemporary arts organizations. Proceeds from art sales are split equally between MAP and the artist. Revenue generated at Out of Order directly supports MAP’s programs, exhibitions and opportunities; furthering MAP’s mission to support emerging and mid-career artists and professionals throughout the year.

MAP is pleased to offer an opportunity for artists to contribute their work to a local charity. For the eighth year, participating artists may choose to donate their unsold art to The Art Connection in the Capital Region (ACCR,) a nonprofit organization that works to enrich the lives of under-served members of our community through the access to public art within the Greater Metropolitan Washington, DC area.

The 2017 Out of Order host committee includes Chris Janian, Scott Burkholder, Naomi Davidoff, Julie Cavnor, Tace Joelle Loeb, Elizabeth Burger, Jerrell Gibbs, Kelly Cross, Chris Zickefoose, Justin Williams, Sonjay DeCaires, George Petrocheilos, Angela Joshi, Ginny Lawhorn, Brittany Hargest, & Carlyn Thomas.

Any and all artists are invited to participate in Out of Order. During the Do-It-Yourself Installation Day on Thursday, March 30, 7am – midnight, each participating artist can hang one original piece in the MAP gallery. Each piece must be framed and ready to hang with dimensions under 40” x 40”.

Young artists ages sixteen and under are welcome to hang one original work of art on the first come, first served installation day of KIDOOO, MAP's first kids Out of Order! The open installation day for KIDOOO will take place on Saturday April 1, 2017 from 11am - 4pm in the new Member Gallery. Each piece must be framed and ready to hang with dimensions under 24” x 24”.

For more information on tickets, sponsorship opportunities and artists submission for OOO or KIDOOO, please visit MAP’s website located at www.mdartplace.org.

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MARYLAND ART PLACE ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF HARBOR COURT COMMISSION WITH ARTIST JOWITA WYSZOMIRSKA

January 24, 2017, Maryland Art Place (MAP) is pleased to announce the completion of a publicly commissioned artwork created by Jowita Wyszomirska at The Towers at Harbor Court Condominium (Harbor Court). After a rigorous six-month selection process and an array of studio-visits with local artists, Harbor Court chose Wyszomirska to create a signature work of art for their lobby. The outcome was a large-scale, three-paneled piece titled, “Minute 3”. The work was created using acrylic, conté crayon and markers on panel. Each panel is a staggering 91” x 47 ¼”, and is part of an ongoing series inspired by the weather. “I record and transform weather data to reflect the effects of climate change with regard to freak winter storms, extreme weather changes, and highly fluctuating temperatures,” states Wyszomirska. “After using digital manipulation, I laser cut an output of patterns derived from the satellite imagery of NASA of the Chesapeake region. From there, my process becomes more intuitive as I use the resulting templates for layering, drawing and painting.”

The Towers at Harbor Court Condominium is a luxury “community and facility that fully embraces city living and is uniquely sited and structured to thrive as a part of Baltimore’s downtown Inner Harbor neighborhoods.” Maryland Art Place was brought on board, by former MAP Trustee, Craig M. Gayhardt to facilitate the process in finding the perfect candidate for this public commission. Barbara Valerie, the President of The Towers at Harbor Court Condominium Association, states, “it is striking, elegant and unique... the perfect addition to our condominium lobby. I would encourage the developers of residential and commercial properties in Maryland, and especially Baltimore City, to use the works of the many talented artists who live and work in Maryland to add the perfect finishing touches to their new or renovated buildings.” A sentiment shared by Maryland Art Place’s leadership.

Jowita Wyszomirska is a Polish-American artist with an inter-disciplinary approach to drawing. Her work ranges from site-specific installations to video experimentations. Wyszomirska’s work has been shown in exhibitions including the Baltimore Museum of Art, MD, the VisArts, Rockville, MD, Foundry Art Centre, St. Charles, MO; The Temporary, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD, among others. Other honors and awards include the Board of Governor's Award (b-grant) she received from the William G. Baker Jr. Memorial Fund in 2014, and numerous residencies including the Soaring Gardens Residency, Meshoppen, PA, Jentel Foundation, WY; Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, NE, and International School of Painting, Drawing and Sculpture in Umbria, Italy. Wyszomirska received her BFA from the Illinois State University and her MFA from the University of Maryland, College Park. To view the completed piece, please visit Harbor Court located in Baltimore’s downtown inner harbor.

Maryland Art Place (MAP) inspires, supports, and encourages artistic expression through innovative programming, exhibitions, and educational opportunities while recognizing the powerful impact art can have on our community. MAP creates a dynamic environment for artists of our time to engage the public by nurturing and promoting new ideas. MAP has served as a critical resource for contemporary art in the Mid-Atlantic since 1981. MAP is supported by the Maryland State Arts Council and the Baltimore County Commission on the Arts & Sciences. www.mdartplace.org.

For more information or to request an accompanying image, contact: naomi@mdartplace.org or call 410.962.8565.

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MARYLAND ART PLACE ANNOUNCES DOUBLE SOLO EXHIBITION FEATURING ABHIDNYA GHUGE AND HEATHER HARVEY

Exhibition: January 19th - March 11,2017 | Opening Reception: January 19th, 2017 at 6pm

Maryland Art Place (MAP) is pleased to present the work of Abhidnya Ghuge and Heather Harvey in a double solo exhibition exploring space intervention and material use. The two shows, Our Lives Are Green (Ghuge) and ENCAMPMENT (Harvey) will be on view from January 19th to March 11, 2017 at Maryland Art Place (MAP), located on 218 W Saratoga Street in downtown Baltimore. A reception for the artists will take place at MAP on January 19th at six in the evening.

Abhidnya Ghuge is a Texas based multidisciplinary artist who uses printmaking techniques on paper plates to create site-responsive installations. Originally from India, Ghuge draws inspiration from Indian henna designs, the microscopic and macroscopic world, and cultural landscapes of America. Her work celebrates patterns, organic forms, and allows for a rich sensory and spatial experience. Ghuge’s installations are typically vast and comprised of many small parts, (in this instance the plates), to create imaginative, free form, colorful structures. Abhi draws on the similarities between paper disposal and human disposal; the point being that they are both disposable. She adds, What really matters is the time between the beginning and the end - the purpose and the impact each life has made in the world around itself. Growing up in India amongst billions of people, there was no sense of value to a life, especially a female life. Transformation of a life from completely disposable to one of importance came about after my immigration to the United States in 1993. Ghuge is currently an Adjunct Professor at the Department of Art and Art History at the university of Texas at Tyler. Her work has been shown nationally and internationally, and has public and private collections in the UK, USA, and India.

Heather Harvey creates site-specific installations and objects that straddle traditional boundaries between painting, drawing, and sculpture. Harvey explores themes of hidden infrastructures and invisible ordering mechanisms - such as gravity, quantum physic, and radio waves. These mechanisms also include the human body, memory, and contradictory emotional landscapes and internal unfolding thought processes. The exhibition, ENCAMPMENT, is an elegiac celebration and defensive stance for all that is marginal, invisible, undervalued, and under threat. Working off of the fragile, provisional, absurdist, and dangerous climate of our current national moment, it recalls itinerancy and life on the periphery in all its forms. The makeshift, transient constructions are both welcoming refuge and aggressively defended bulwarks that straddle the line between elegance and the grotesque using primarily collected trash from daily walk.

Harvey has exhibited her work in venues across the country, including The Painting Center, NYC, McKinney Avenue Contemporary in Dallas, TX, and the Claremont Graduate university gallery in Los Angeles, CA. Harvey has received several awards including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Professional Artist Fellowship 2009-2010 and was a fellow at the Virginia Center for Creative Arts in 2003. She is currently Assistant Professor of Studio Art and Studio Coordinator at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, USA.

Connecting artists with communities since 1981, Maryland Art Place (MAP) is a Baltimore-based nonprofit contemporary art center. MAP energizes the region’s cultural environment through dynamic exhibitions, events, workshops and programming.

Press Inquiries contact: Naomi Davidoff, Program Manager naomi@mdartplace.org OR Amy Cavanaugh Royce, Executive Director amy@mdartplace.org.

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