The Academy Art Museum is pleased to present the 3rd Annual 48-Hour Video Race in partnership with the Chesapeake Film Festival and Ocean City Film Festival. This event is organized by Francisco Salazar and included in the AAM Community Program Series which is free and open to the public.

Filmmakers of all ages (either as a team or solo) will have the chance to create a one-to-seven-minute video that will be screened at the Academy Art Museum on Friday, September 20. Films must incorporate a word and theme that will be provided to competitors via email on Friday, September 13 at 5 pm. Budding and experienced filmmakers will have just 48 hours to shoot, edit, and submit a video by the deadline of Sunday, September 15 at 5 pm.

A panel of judges including Cid Collins Walker (Festival Director) of the Chesapeake Film Festival, B.L. Strang-Moya (Festival Director) of the Ocean City Film Festival, and Sundance Filmmaker Natalie Jasmine Harris will choose the Best in Show for two categories—Student/Family (at least 50% of the filmmaking team are under 18) and Adult—in addition to a People’s Choice Award. Best in Show winners will receive a Day Pass to see films in the Chesapeake Film Festival for 2024 and a chance to showcase their films at the 2025 Ocean City Film Festival. Cash prizes will also be awarded in all categories.

Location: 106 South Street, Easton, Maryland
Hours: Tuesday & Wednesday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Thursday 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Closed Mondays and Federal holidays.
Admission: Free

The Academy Art Museum is pleased to announce its 2024 Artist-in-Residence Anita Groener. Following Groener’s residency, her installation, To the Edge of Your World, previously shown in Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris, France, and Museum Rijswijk, The Hague, the Netherlands, will be presented at AAM in Summer 2025. Premiering at AAM at the same time will be Shelter, a stop-motion animation the artist is currently working on, made collaboratively with Talbot Interfaith Shelter in Easton and film editor Matt Kresling.

Over the course of her career, Groener has developed a body of work that constitutes a profound meditation on war, loss, displacement, exile, resilience, renewal, and hope. She painstakingly transforms discarded materials such as twigs, twine, and cardboard into delicate sculptural metaphors for the interconnectedness of individual experiences, histories, and world events. Questions of migration, memory, place, time and what it means to be human today have catalyzed the artist’s practice since she left her native country. Her work echoes displacement and the fragility of existence, simultaneously probing the psychological effects of human tragedy and the resilience that may result.  

Born in the Netherlands and based in Dublin, Ireland, Anita Groener works through drawing, sculpture, installation, film, and animation. She recently exhibited at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin; Columbia Circle, Shanghai; Riverside Art Museum, Beijing; and Poggiali & Forconi Gallery, Florence. Collections include The Irish Museum of Modern Art, The Arts Council, Ireland; the State Art Collection, Ireland; The National Drawing Archive, Ireland; VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam; the Contemporary Irish Art Society; Meta EMEO HQ, Dublin and LinkedIn HQ, Dublin as well as many private collections in the USA and Europe. Until 2014, the artist was a professor at Technical University Dublin, where she was the Head of Fine Art from 2004 to 2006. 

Please join us at the Academy Art Museum during Groener’s two-week residency, September 16-27, where she will conduct a studio workshop on September 19, give a public talk on September 24, and release a limited edition print for the Emerging Collector’s Circle. The AiR program is made possible through the generous support of Mary Ann Schindler.

For additional information and to register for events, please visit: academyartmuseum.org

The Academy Art Museum is pleased to present the 48-Hour Video Race, organized by Francisco Salazar and in partnership with the Chesapeake Film Festival and Ocean City Film Festival. This event is included in the AAM Summer Series programming and is free and open to the public. 

Filmmakers of all ages (either as a team or solo) will have the chance to create a one-to-seven-minute video that will be screened at the Academy Art Museum on Friday, September 20. Films must incorporate a word and theme that will be provided to competitors via email on Friday, September 13 at 5 pm. Budding and experienced filmmakers will have just 48 hours to shoot, edit, and submit a video by the deadline of Sunday, September 15 at 5 pm. 

A panel of judges including Cid Collins Walker (Festival Director) of the Chesapeake Film Festival, B.L. Strang-Moya (Festival Director) of the Ocean City Film Festival, and Sundance Filmmaker Natalie Jasmine Harris will choose the Best in Show for two categories—Student/Family (at least 50% of the filmmaking team are under 18) and Adult—in addition to a People’s Choice Award. Best in Show winners will receive a Day Pass to see films in the Chesapeake Film Festival for 2024. Winners will also get a chance to showcase their films at the 2025 Ocean City Film Festival. 

Timeline: 

Now through Sept. 13 – Sign-up to participate. Register here: https://bit.ly/48videorace2024 Friday, Sept. 13, 5 pm – Film theme and word will be emailed to all teams 

Sunday, Sept. 15, 5 pm – Film submission deadline 

Friday, Sept. 20 – All films will screen at AAM, winners will be announced

About the Chesapeake Film Festival 

Founded in 2008, it is the mission of the Chesapeake Film Festival to entertain, empower, educate and inspire diverse audiences of all ages by presenting exceptional independent films and events. They offer outstanding filmmakers, experienced and emerging, a forum to showcase and discuss stories of compelling interest to a local and global community. Because of the location and diverse population of the Chesapeake Bay, the Festival prioritizes films that focus on the environment and social justice issues. The Festival also strives to be an economic engine for the Eastern Shore by enticing visitors to experience exceptional films, world-famous seafood, art, and the beauty of the Bay’s waterways. The 17th anniversary of the Chesapeake Film Festival will include a weekend of provocative, insightful, and innovative films at the Live Festival on September 27-29, 2024. 

About the Ocean City Film Festival 

The Film Fest was founded in 2017 and is a production of the nonprofit Art League of Ocean City, whose youth and outreach programs benefit from the festival. An annual event that attracts international, national, and regional artists working in film, in 2024 the festival screened 100 independent films, both short and feature length, and offered socializing with the filmmakers. The 4-day festival creates community engagement for film lovers and networking opportunities for filmmakers of all levels. 

About Francisco Salazar 

Francisco Salazar is an award-winning filmmaker who has directed two feature films Nowhere and Colibri, both of which he co-directed with his brother 

David. Nowhere was selected into more than 20 film festivals, including

Outfest Fusion, the OutShine Film Festival, Cinequest Film Festival, and Woods Hole Film Festival, where it was the runner-up Jury Award winner and Second Runner Up for the Audience Award. Colibri won the Best International Feature at the Long Island International Film Expo and opened nationally in Colombian Cinemas. 

About the Academy Art Museum 

As the premier art museum on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, the Academy Art Museum presents high-quality exhibitions and a full range of art classes for visitors of all ages. Past exhibitions have featured artists such as James Turrell, Robert Rauschenberg, Mark Rothko, Pat Steir and Richard Diebenkorn. The permanent collection focuses on works on paper by American and European artists from four centuries including recent acquisitions by Graciela Iturbide and Zanele Muholi. Arts educational programs range from life drawing lessons to digital art instruction, and include lunchtime and cocktail hour concerts, lectures and special art events, as well as a Fall Craft Show. AAM also provides arts education to public and private school children from the region and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. 

Location: 106 South Street, Easton, Maryland 

Summer Hours: Tuesday – Wednesday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Thursday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm, Friday – Sunday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Closed Mondays and Federal holidays. 

Admission: Free

The Academy Art Museum is excited to announce the upcoming photography exhibit, A Moment in Time, featuring works by members of the Tidewater Camera Club. The exhibit will be on display from August 6 through October 20, 2024, showcasing the club’s members’ exceptional talent and diverse interests.

Founded in 1963 as an autonomous entity within the Academy of the Arts in Easton (now the Academy Art Museum), the Tidewater Camera Club has a long history of promoting and advancing the art of photography in the region. Although the two organizations are now separate, their collaborative spirit continues to thrive, as demonstrated by this joint exhibit.

Curated by Sahm Doherty-Sefton, a former photo editor for Time magazine, the exhibit features photographs that reflect diverse interests and skills. Each image captures a unique moment, showcasing the photographers’ mastery in various genres and techniques. “This exhibit is a testament to the passion and talent of our members,” said Jack Upchurch, President of the Tidewater Camera Club. “We are thrilled to share their work with the community and continue our mission to advance photography as both an art form and a means of personal expression.”

The exhibit holds special significance as it is dedicated to D. Graham Slaughter, a founding member of the Tidewater Camera Club. Graham’s enthusiasm and support were instrumental in shaping the club’s direction and success. Though he sadly passed away before seeing his images installed, his legacy and spirit are honored through this exhibit.

The exhibition is supported, in part, with a gift from Steve Lingeman.

About Tidewater Camera Club

Since its inception, the Tidewater Camera Club has been committed to exploring all facets of photography. Members capture, process, and display photographs, delve into the commercial, educational, personal, and artistic uses of this medium, and share their experiences with others. The club continues to be a vibrant community for photographers in the region, fostering both learning and appreciation of photography.

About Academy Art Museum

As the premier art museum on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, the Academy Art Museum presents high-quality exhibitions and a full range of art classes for visitors of all ages. Past exhibitions have featured artists such as James Turrell, Robert Rauschenberg, Mark Rothko, Pat Steir, and Richard Diebenkorn. The permanent collection focuses on works on paper by American and European artists from four centuries, including recent acquisitions by Graciela Iturbide and Zanele Muholi. Arts educational programs range from life drawing lessons to digital art instruction and include lunchtime and cocktail hour concerts, lectures, and special art events, as well as a Fall Craft Show celebrating 27 years. AAM also provides arts education to school children from the region and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. To continue the institutional movement of offering free public programming and to give barrier-free access to art, AAM eliminated admission fees in 2023.  For more information, please visit www.academyartmuseum.org.

The Academy Art Museum, in collaboration with Brea Soul, presents the third annual Exchange: An Annual Art Showcase. Featuring ten regional artisans, the showcase will kick off with an opening reception on Friday, August 9, followed by a talk with a panel of curators, artists, and creative leaders on Saturday, August 10. Exchange celebrates artists and takes on many characteristics of community—exchanging ideas, craft, and support! Join in to discover new art, shop from creative entrepreneurs, and connect with a vibrant art community.

FEATURED ARTISTS

	Born in Alexandria, Egypt, Dina AZ. Salem grew up on the Mediterranean Sea, where, as a child, her innate ability to masterfully produce representational drawings, paintings, and sculptures was first recognized and nurtured by her late father, Ahmed Zaki. Now, residing and with a studio in Washington, DC, her artwork depicts the visual language of the soul as a tool to express the depth of human experience and emotions.
	Eric January is a multidisciplinary artist from Chicago IL, a recently graduated painting major at Howard University, Summa Cum Laude. His work explores contemporary life in the Black community, ranging from observing athletes to everyday people. He uses surreal dramatic language rooted in the prophetic black tradition. Blending the line between raw abstract expressionism and romantic gestures, Eric surfaces a balance between motion and stillness.
	Shashi is an artist pursuing a Bachelor of Arts at Pratt Institute and specializes in surreal, melancholic mixed-media pieces. Her work expresses themes of female pain and identity,  influenced by her experiences as a Korean American, Queer woman.
	Olivia Morgan is a Jamaican-American born artist & photographer. Their creative journey started in 2016 when they moved out of their family home. Photography helped Olivia break free from self- isolation. Overtime, crafting a shooting style that reflects Their artistic journey as a queer woman of color, championing a mission to shine a spotlight on overlooked and underrepresented people. Using film photography to capture the emotional & physical narratives of people – inviting viewers to partake in their stories Creating a more inclusive and accepting world.
	Ken Brothertonhas a BFA from the University of North Texas, Denton, TX, and is based in Arlington, VA. Although it has never been his official vocation, photography has long been central to his creative expression. He says he tries not to chimp—that habit of constantly going back to review pictures just taken —and prefers to keep his eyes and mind looking forward to the next potential image. The photos he presents in this show and his current portfolio, are street photography, candid, unscripted moments of people living their everyday lives. His work is currently included in an exhibit entitled Street+Night+ Architecture at the Black Box Gallery in Portland, OR.
	Niles Tatumis a self-taught multimedia artist based in Baltimore, Maryland. He first began creating at the age of 8, deeply inspired by the vibrancy of the cartoons in his youth. His beginnings would later foreshadow his propensity for hyper-saturation.
	Taylor Wheatly, a 24-year-old artist born and raised in Easton, MD, founded CreaTAYtive Customs. As a mother of a two-year-old, Taylor uses her art to express uncomfortable truths and to inspire others to share their voices. She is passionate about bridging the creative gap in her community. Specializing in realism and expressionism, Taylor’s mission is to grow her brand into an all-purpose and accessible creative service, providing innovative solutions to her local community.
	Trang Huynhwas born in 2002 in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam and currently lives and works in the United States. In 2024, she received her BFA in General Fine Arts from Maryland Institute College of Art. Historical, political and personal references of growing up as a Vietnamese Post-War generation acts as a catalyst for Huynh to use art as a healing tool. She portrays people with colorful traditional clothes in intimate settings to explore the intertwined relationship between love, pain and forgiveness. Huynh is currently an Artist-in-residence at Creative Alliance, Baltimore, MD.
	Whitney Elliott’s love for fiber art bloomed in 2018 when she and her husband and experienced two miscarriages just months apart. From there, Whitney started looking for a hobby to keep her mind busy during that devastating time. While shopping for home decor items, she came across a macramé wall hanging and thought “I could probably make that.” Therefore, she did! Based in Cambridge, MD, Double Rainbow Design officially opened in February 2019 and she hasn’t looked back since. She makes modern macrame made with positive thoughts and positive vibes.
	Erik Holdenis a Washington, DC-based artist who works in contemporary art. Using subjects with blurred faces and pop culture references, his paintings present collages of figuration, pairing subjects in the classical poses and draped fabrics of the Renaissance, cartoon characters, and parts of famous paintings. His subjects all play familiar roles that are timeless in the stories we share as humans.

FEATURED PANELISTS

	Brea Soul is a creative strategist and curator with over a decade of experience in arts and culture. Initially from Trappe, MD, she holds a B.A. in Fine Arts and an M.S. in Strategic Communications from the University of Maryland, College Park. Now based in Miami, FL, Brea is Superblue’s Senior Brand Marketing Manager and curates artful experiences through Soul Studios, championing emerging creatives and communities with opportunity disparities.
	Gail Patterson, a physician and art lover, originally launched her gallery at Art Basel Miami and the Outsider Art Fair in 2012-2013. After an intensive career in medicine, she now brings her enthusiasm for contemporary Afro-Caribbean art, particularly Haitian works to the Eastern Shore. Through Spirialis Gallery, Gail aims to connect cultures and people through the Spirialis Gallery, thus emphasizing and exploring our common humanity.
	As a self-taught portrait painter from Baltimore, G.Pack’s artwork reflects a fusion of classical Baroque influences with contemporary sensibilities, aimed to celebrate and preserve the vibrancy of his Black cultural heritage. With a commitment to showcase Black history and culture through portraits, he aims to expand the representation of Black subjects and voices in the realm of contemporary fine art.

TCC’s members have always been interested in and supported just about everything photographic – the genres of photography, the techniques for capturing, processing, and displaying photographs, and the commercial, educational, personal, and artistic uses of photographs. The images in this exhibit were curated by Sahm Doherty-Sefton, a long-time AAM instructor and photo editor for Time magazine for years, and express the range of interests and skills of TCC’s members as they captured a moment in time.

Lastly, TCC dedicates this exhibit to D. Graham Slaughter, a founding member of the Club. Graham was looking forward to this exhibit but passed away before his images were installed.

The Academy Art Museum is pleased to announce the upcoming exhibition, Blanche Lazzell: Becoming an American Modernist.  An opening reception will be held on Thursday, August 1, from 5 – 7 pm. A short documentary produced in conjunction with the exhibition will be shown on a large screen throughout the opening.

“We are thrilled to bring this comprehensive exploration of Lazzell’s career to the Academy, and to showcase a woman from West Virginia who upends stereotypical views about who was making avant-garde art in the United States in the early part of the twentieth century,” notes AAM Senior Curator Lee Glazer.

Blanche Lazzell: Becoming an American Modernist explores the pioneering artist’s lifelong pursuit of translating Modernism into an American art form and celebrates her largely unsung achievements in championing abstraction in the United States through painting and printmaking. This exhibition surveys the full career of American modernist Blanche Lazzell (1878–1956). Celebrated for her masterful white-line woodblock prints, Lazzell considered herself a painter first and foremost—from her early days studying in West Virginia, New York, and Paris through Depression-era Federal Art Projects and as a longtime resident of Provincetown’s vibrant art colony.

Born and raised in the small community of Maidsville, West Virginia, Lazzell graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in fine arts in 1905. Seeking further instruction, she first enrolled in the Art Students League in New York City and then went on two extensive trips to Europe. There she immersed herself in the studios of avant-garde artists who explored abstraction through the new movements of Fauvism and Cubism. Lazzell embraced these influences in her own work, creating some of the first non-objective prints and paintings seen in this country. She eventually settled in the artist colony of Provincetown, Massachusetts, where she worked with Hans Hofmann, co-founded the Provincetown Printers, and became a leading figure in white-line color woodblock printmaking.

Including more than 60 works drawn primarily from the Art Museum of West Virginia’s permanent collection, the exhibition explores the artist’s lifelong dedication to her craft and celebrates her achievements as a champion of modernist abstraction in the United States. All of the interpretive materials in the galleries will be available in English and Spanish. The exhibition also includes a short documentary video, produced by the Academy, with bilingual English and Spanish captions.

“Blanche Lazzell: Becoming an American Modernist marks a milestone as we unveil our first bilingual exhibition, opening new doors of access and inclusion to our entire community. We hope that Lazzell’s story will resonate widely, breaking down barriers and inspiring a deeper appreciation for modernist abstraction in all its forms,” adds Interim Director Jennifer Chrzanowski.

Throughout the run of the exhibition, a mobile art cart will be activated every Thursday for drop-in artmaking with a Teaching Artist, who will show visitors how to create collages inspired by Lazzell’s artwork. This program will be offered in Spanish on August 22, September 19, and October 17. Visitors with disabilities may request a session adapted to their accessibility needs.
cdxThe museum also offers a two-day workshop on floral design and printmaking, which is organized with the exhibition. On Day One, participants will learn about Lazzell’s interest in flowers and their place in her work. Lydia Woolever, owner of Easton’s own Little Fields Floral, will demonstrate the artistic process of floral design and help students make their arrangements. On Day Two, Museum Teaching Artist Sheryl Southwick will discuss Lazzell’s white-line printmaking process and show participants how to make their own print. The dates for this workshop will be announced soon. Please visit academyartmuseum.org for more information.

Blanche Lazzell: Becoming an American Modernist is organized by the Art Museum of West Virginia University and generously supported by Art Bridges.

Blanche Lazzell (American, 1878 – 1956), Hollyhock, 1917, Oil on canvas, Art Museum of West Virginia University Collection, Gift of Nancy Watkins in memory of James F. McKinley and Nancy W. McKinley

About the Academy Art Museum

As the premier art museum on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, the Academy Art Museum presents high-quality exhibitions and a full range of art classes for visitors of all ages. Past exhibitions have featured artists such as James Turrell, Robert Rauschenberg, Mark Rothko, Pat Steir and Richard Diebenkorn. The permanent collection focuses on works on paper by American and European artists from four centuries including recent acquisitions by Graciela Iturbide and Zanele Muholi. Arts educational programs range from life drawing lessons to digital art instruction, and include lunchtime and cocktail hour concerts, lectures and special art events, as well as a free block-party style Juneteenth Celebration and a Fall Craft Show celebrating 27 years. AAM also provides arts education to school children from the region and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. To continue the institutional movement of offering free public programming and to give barrier-free access to art, AAM eliminated admission fees in 2023.

Location: 106 South Street, Easton, Maryland
Hours:  Tuesday & Wednesday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Thursday 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Closed Mondays and Federal holidays.
Admission: Free

Currently on view at the Academy Art Museum: Darlene R. Taylor: HEIRLOOMS, Albrecht Dürer: Master Prints, Light: Paintings by Philip Koch, Nancy Tankersley: Reflections and Marty Two Bulls, Jr: Dominion. 

Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 22, Noon – 4 pm
Free and open to the public

FASHION

Black Squirrel Company: Renata Philippe is a Washington, DC-based textile designer and soft goods manufacturer. She graduated with honors from the University of Delaware in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Apparel Design. In 2023, Renata received well-deserved recognition for her company and her commitment to the Artists & Makers Community. She is currently in her second year as an Emerging Artist with the American Craft Council in Baltimore, MD. The DC Chamber of Commerce and the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development named her “DC Maker of the Year” in 2023. These accolades are a testament to the hard work and dedication of Renata and her team.

Buzz Arts: Bulsby “Buzz” Duncan was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and raised in Washington, DC. Buzz is a self-taught artist whose work can be described as abstract, with deep emotion and energy. Buzz traces his artistic influence to the great abstract expressionists and contemporary artists of the 20th century. He began painting and drawing as soon as he was able to pick up a paintbrush or a pencil. Buzz explains, “For me, art just felt very natural.” Buzz had always been encouraged by family and friends to pursue his passion for painting, but it wasn’t until he met a local artist whose love and appreciation for creating art inspired him to more intentionally step into his purpose that he began his artistic journey in earnest.

NOT A PHASE: Terae Warner is an Eastern Shore native located in Denton, MD. He is the CEO of NOT A PHASE (NAP) Clothing. NAP is a brand that specializes in streetwear and sportswear clothing.  The brand was launched in July 2018, and a brick-and-mortar store opened just one year later. Terae likes to view the storefront as a “one-stop shop.” Whether you are looking for a cool new pair of sneakers or a great new shirt, this is the place to visit. As the brand continues to grow, Terae’s goal is to have multiple locations and provide a wide variety of items for men, women, and kids: SHOP NAP!

Dinah Wilson is an Eastern Shore native who has always loved creating. She remembers making doll clothes with scraps of fabric that her mother had on hand and using tape or staples to hold them together. She reminisces, “Finally, I was old enough to use my mother’s sewing machine, and I’ve been sewing ever since.” Dinah has been designing clothing for 20+ years and has made award-winning gowns for weddings, pageants, and other special events. She is also well known for her custom tailoring for both men and women. Dinah declares, “There’s a big difference in what you have to do and what you love to do…and since I love what I do, I’ll do my very best for you.”

PERFORMANCE

Devon Beck, Juneteenth’s MC, is a leader, builder, and connector who has held leadership roles in education, community development, and the music business. After receiving his undergraduate degree from University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Devon began working in the school system, mentoring and leading young students with those very lessons. Currently, he is the Facilitator of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Talbot County Board of Education and guides leaders and organizations to remove barriers to inclusion. As co-Founder with Shelton Hawkins of Play In Color, an organization that uses basketball to build community, Beck continues to make strides to leave a positive impact on the region.

Ayla is a soulful, vibrant, seventeen-year-old who has the phenomenal gift of song. She has been selected to be a part of The Voice and currently working with Tena Clark. Ayla recently made a guest appearance for UNICEF and has also worked with R&B Singer Patti LaBelle for a JCPenny commercial. She is a local talent from Easton, MD who has been raised by a single mother who pushes her to use her gift. Look for Ayla’s performances in festivals and venues across the Eastern Shore.

Howard Barnett, Jr, professionally known in the business by the name DJ E-Shore, is a Talbot County native from St. Michaels, and longtime resident of Easton, MD. Howard has been working with music for more than half of his life. His love for music started when he convinced his parents to sign him up for drum lessons as an elementary student. Howard has always been enamored by the local DJs of his early adult years and marveled at their skill to mix, scratch and blend songs by way of vinyl records on the turntables. DJ E-Shore is also many things outside of being a DJ: he is a human resource professional for the United States Government with over 35 years of tenure, a loving husband and father of 2 sons.

Ruby Fisher is a sophomore at Saint Michaels High School. Fisher has had seven years of voice lessons and four years of choir and has performed in many musicals.

Mid Shore Voices United is a group of enthusiastic singers from several different religious denominations who cover an enormous amount of territory throughout MD, DE, and PA. The choir was founded in November 2023 when the Covenant Gospel Choir, Friends for Christ, and the Second Generation Community Chorus of Federalsburg, MD, came together to participate in a benefit for a local cause. This group brings together singers from St. Michaels, Wittman, Neavitt, Royal Oak, Bellevue, Easton, Federalsburg, Hurlock, Preston, Denton, Salisbury, and Cambridge, MD; Dover, Middletown, Milford, Millsboro, Seaford, Laurel, and Wilmington, DE; and Philadelphia, PA. The combined choir is under the joint direction of Leroy Potter (Covenant Gospel Choir), who is currently a music teacher in the Caroline County Public School System and Ambia Hooper (Second Generation Community Choir), who is a retired music teacher from The Talbot County School System.

ART

In the exhibition HEIRLOOMS, Darlene R. Taylor (b. 1960) affirms the resonance of memory in material culture as she imagines portraits of Black women obscured in historical archives. History is a muse that guides Taylor to know the past from the women who lived it. HEIRLOOMS examines the presence of Black women in Maryland’s Talbot County communities and Taylor’s own ancestry and follows the artist’s experience researching and interpreting photographs found in archives and family albums. Taylor employs mixed-media collage using vintage linens, laces, cottons, and buttons collected and handed down from mother to daughter, friend to friend. Her use of women’s personal effects also draws inspiration in part from artifacts unearthed during two excavations commissioned by the Museum at the former home of Henny and James Freeman, one of the earliest- documented free Black landowning families who lived on the Hill Community site from 1787-1828.

The works on paper on view in HEIRLOOMS engage mid-19th century forms, including silhouette, dressmaking, and quilting. Weaving the language of prose and poetry in the collages, Taylor inscribes public records with reimaginings that reveal the interior longings of generations of Black women, terrain so often distorted or absent in archives. This hybrid form of history-mapping in poetic verse and fabrics once held by ancestors assembles an archive that remembers untold stories so that more can be known of what Taylor refers to as “the love, labor, and thriving of Black life and family.”

FOOD AND VENDORS

Juneteenth fan favorites such as Spanky’s Soul Food and Danielle’s Pit Stop will be back to serve their delicious food again this year. Juneteenth food vendors will be located on the corner of Harrison and South Streets.

The celebration will also include local vendors with handmade goods for sale as well as non-profit booths.

About the Academy Art Museum: As the premier art museum on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, the Academy Art Museum presents high-quality exhibitions and a full range of art classes for visitors of all ages. Past exhibitions have featured artists such as James Turrell, Robert Rauschenberg, Mark Rothko, Pat Steir and Richard Diebenkorn. The permanent collection focuses on works on paper by American and European artists from four centuries including recent acquisitions by Graciela Iturbide and Zanele Muholi. Arts educational programs range from life drawing lessons to digital art instruction, and include lunchtime and cocktail hour concerts, lectures and special art events, as well as a free block-party style Juneteenth Celebration and a Fall Craft Show celebrating 27 years. AAM also provides arts education to school children from the region and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. To continue the institutional movement of offering free public programming and to give barrier-free access to art, AAM eliminated admission fees in 2023.

Location: 106 South Street, Easton, Maryland
Hours: Tuesday & Wednesday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Thursday 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Closed Mondays and Federal holidays.
Admission: Free

Currently on view at the Academy Art Museum: Remnants of Childhood: Selections from the Permanent Collection by AAM’s Teen Interns, Darlene R. Taylor: HEIRLOOMS, Albrecht Dürer: Master Prints, Light: Paintings by Philip Koch, and Marty Two Bulls, Jr: Dominion.