AMG Opens Two New Exhibits
Finding Our Place: the Geography of Art opens Oct. 23
When Thoughts Become Art opens Oct. 25
Two new exhibits are opening at Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center in Solomons in October 2015.
Finding Our Place: the Geography of Art opens with an Annmarie After Hours event on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015, from 6 to 9 pm in the Main Gallery of the Murray Arts Building. Appetizers will be provided by Adams Ribs and live music will be performed by Sax Appeal. The exhibit juror is Mary Savig, Curator of Manuscripts, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
This exhibit is meant to invite artists to explore their sense of place in the world. That can include their physical location, or their childhood and memories of home and family. Perhaps artists have a connection to a particular place based on historical and cultural events, and that may influence their subject matter, materials, style, approach and more.
As the world shifts to a focus on the virtual, how has this impacted artists’ work? Has it resulted in a weakening of a sense of place, or has the meaning of place simply adjusted to this new reality?
When Thoughts Become Art featuring the art of John A. Schaffner and J. Luray Schaffner kicks off with a free reception from 1 to 5 pm Oct. 25, 2015, and can be seen at Annmarie until Jan. 24, 2016.
The show will be placed in the Mezzanine Gallery of the Murray Arts Building.
A dynamic Southern Maryland artistic couple, John and Luray Schaffner met at the Columbus College of Art & Design in Columbus (CCAD), Ohio in 1958. John was two years ahead of Luray but after they both graduated they were married in 1962 and have been creating art ever since. They celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary this past year and are still prolific in creating work. John creates mostly wood sculptures and Luray focuses on mixed media collages. They even surprise each other sometimes with designs and color that resemble one another even though they have separate studios.
An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, Annmarie Garden 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 35 works of art on loan from the Smithsonian Institution and the National Gallery of Art. Annmarie Garden also presents a variety of award-winning special events, gallery shows, and engaging public art programs. Annmarie Garden’s Studio School offers creative classes for all ages and abilities taught by a talented faculty. Annmarie Garden is conveniently located just off Route 2-4, on Dowell Road in Solomons, Maryland; open 9am-5pm daily; the Murray Arts Building and Gift Shop are open 10am-5pm daily. To learn more, visit www.annmariegarden.org.
