Wonderful art and conversation awaits you at Studio B Art Gallery during the First Friday Gallery Walk Reception on November First. There are many new works by the artists represented by Studio B Art Gallery. This is a wonderful time of year to look for that very special gift for the holidays. The gift of art is a thoughtful, one-of-a-kind, special way to show your love and appreciation to those close to you, as well as business and professional relationships.

The Old Port by Ken DeWaard

The gallery artists include nationally and internationally known painters Hiu Lai Chong, Ken DeWaard, Qiang Huang, Master Jove Wang, Betty Huang, as well as sculptor Rick Casali. Throughout the month, the art of these exceptional artists is available for viewing and purchasing during all gallery hours.

The public is invited to stop by the reception on November first, from 5-8 pm. Studio B Art Gallery is located at 7 B Goldsborough Street in the heart of the historic district of Easton

In conjunction with The Smithsonian’s Waterways Exhibit  on view at the Dorchester Arts Center this fall, Main Street Gallery’s upcoming November/December show features found object artist, Karen O’Dowd, whose exhibit, titled  un*sus*tain*a*ble, is a visual portrayal of our un-relenting use of plastic and its impact on our oceans and waterways. The exhibit will open on Friday, November 1 and run through Sunday, January 5.

“A Sea of Plastic” by Karen O’Dowd

Passionate about recycling and upcycling, Karen’s work took a curve after she read that by the year 2050, plastic will outweigh marine life in our oceans.  Always interested in making art out of found objects that others toss away, Karen has found plastic waste to be a compelling material for her latest works.

“Every speck of plastic we use will last 500-1,000 years”, the artist states. “And an enormous of amount of it is ending up in our oceans, creating a swath of toxic, marine life- killing habitat.”  In her unique way, the artist, who lives and maintains her studio in Royal Oak, is making a bold artistic statement about this troubling state of affairs by using plastics to create sculptures, jewelry and wall hangings and by incorporating plastics into her paintings. Although her works are largely made from recycled plastics, “Recycling is not an answer(for our planet), at least not yet” says the artist. “It is too costly and the market for recyclable plastic cannot begin to keep up with our consumption.”  “Plus,” she adds, “the vast majority of plastic produced is not recyclable.”

By making striking artworks out of plastic, Karen is underscoring and highlighting in a creative way, her belief that “we need to act, personally and on regional and global levels to address this world wide problem.”  Everyone needs to use less and while alternatives to plastic are only just beginning to become readily available, we all can do better, use less and buy smarter.  We can make our voices heard and demand reductions in single-use plastic.

There will be two “meet the artist” receptions  for un*sus*tain*a*ble on Second Saturdays, November 9 and December 14 from 5-8 pm at the gallery at 518 Poplar St., in Cambridge, across from Jimmie and Sooks restaurant . Karen will speak about her artistic methods and her vision at the November 9 reception and  a celebration with champagne and chocolates will take place at the December 14 holiday reception. Both receptions are free and open to the public. The twelve members of Main Street Gallery will also be showing works that relate to the Waterways theme as well as small works for holiday giving.  For more information, please call the gallery at: 410-330-4659 or visit the website: www.mainstgallery.org.

Main Street Gallery is Cambridge’s only artist-owned and run cooperative and is currently reviewing work from prospective members. Please contact the Gallery if you are interested in being a part of this vibrant artist community.

For over twenty-five years, Marc Castelli has been exhibiting his stunning watercolors of the workboats, watermen, and historic log canoes of the Chesapeake at the Carla Massoni Gallery in Chestertown, Maryland.  The King’s Tide, his annual one-man exhibition opens on October 25^th and continues through November 27^th.  Collectors, friends and all who love the Chesapeake will have the opportunity to visit with Castelli at his Opening Reception on Friday, October 26^th from 5-7:30 pm.  There will be two public receptions with a second planned for Downrigging Weekend on Friday, November 1^st from 5-7:30 pm

Massoniart is honored to have been involved with of the Sultana Education Foundation’s premier festival since its inception.  Now in its 19^th year, the Sultana’s Downrigging 2019 festival Tall Ships and Bluegrass has a new twist.  Taking advantage of Chestertown’s newly revitalized waterfront, Downrigging 2019 is expanding to include three days of bluegrass music and public sails on a fleet of Tall Ships.  There is no other festival in the world like Sultana Downrigging.  MASSONIART is proud to be a sponsor and to feature the annual Castelli exhibition as an official partner event.   For a list of festival activities:  www.sultanaeducation.org

During the Downrigging Weekend, plan to join us for the festival and Chestertown’s November First Friday Celebration on November 1, 5 -7:30 pm.  Visitors are also welcome to Marc Castelli’s Gallery Talk on Saturday, November 2^nd at 10 am.  Each year, Marc offers an in-depth conversation as he walks the exhibit and shares the narrative of the year’s collection.Complimentary coffee from Evergrain Bakery.

Gallery Hours during Downrigging Weekend:  Friday, 11-7:30, Saturday, 10-6 pm, and Sunday, 11-3 pm.

Castelli is considered a master of his genre.  He is on the water over 100 days a year gathering material to paint. Forty years of crewing on racing sailboats, and over twenty years actively participating on workboats has enabled him to get past the spectator view that represents the majority of marine and regional art. Wherever he trains his focus, from workboats to the simplest of skiffs, he brings to the viewer a deeper understanding of the magic of the Chesapeake.

The King’s Tide features over forty new watercolor paintings with a full range of subjects – including workboats of all descriptions, watermen plying their trade in wild weather,hunters in the field, and the historic Chesapeake Bay log canoes. All are guaranteed to delight both collectors and those new to his work.

For additional information please contact Carla Massoni at 410-778-7330 or visit www.massoniart.com.  Gallery hours: Thursday & Friday, 11-4, Saturday, 10-5, and Sunday, 11-2 or by appointment.

To learn more about Sultana Downrigging Weekend visit www.sultanaeducation.org

For a complete list of activities in the Chestertown Arts & Entertainment District and Kent County visit: www.townofchestertown.com, www.kentcounty.com, www.downtownchestertown.org

The Mainstay welcomes back vocalist Sue Matthews for another installment of her “American Songbook” series Saturday October 26 at 8pm. Tickets are $20 online or $25 by phone reservation or at the door.Information and advance ticket sales are available on the Mainstay’s website at www.mainstayrockhall.org

Sue Matthews and Robert Redd

Vocalist Sue Matthews and pianist Robert Redd pay tribute to the music of Hoagy Carmichael, the composer of such standards as “Stardust” and “Lazy River” in another installment in the Songbook Series Sue and Robert have created celebrating the composers and tunesmiths whose works are part of the Great American Songbook. They will be joined by Randy Reinhart on cornet and trumpet and Tommy Cecil on bass.

Hoagy Carmichael was honored by the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame as “one of the most inventive and adventurous of the great American songwriters.” Born in 1899, his long career as a composer and songwriter lasted from the 1920s until the 1960s. His jazz infused songs include such classics as “Stardust,” “Skylark,” “I Get Along Without You Very Well,” “How Little We Know,” “Lazy River,” “Lazy Bones” and “Rockin’ Chair.”

Carmichael grew up in poverty in Indiana and vowed never to be poor again after the death of a sister. He earned a law degree and worked for a law firm briefly before moving to Manhattan to pursue a career in music. He performed and recorded as a singer and his early songs caught the attention of some of the major recording artists of the day. He later moved to California, continued to write hits for such artists as Louis Armstrong and Bing Crosby, songs for film and had a secondary career as an actor.

Sue Matthews is a superb singer with a silky voice, exquisite phrasing and passion for finding every bit of meaning in a song. Robert Redd tours internationally as the pianist with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Randy Reinhart has been playing cornet and/or trumpet since he was nine and plays regularly in New York with groups such as Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks, as well as performing as a headliner. Tommy Cecil is a long-time Mainstay favorite whose sound has made him one of the most in-demand players in the region.

The Mainstay (Home of Musical Magic) is the friendly informal storefront performing arts center on Rock Hall’s old time Main Street. It is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit dedicated to the arts, serving Rock Hall, MD and the surrounding region and is committed to presenting local, regional and national level talent, at a reasonable price, in an almost perfect acoustic setting. Information and advance ticket sales are available on the Mainstay’s website http://www.mainstayrockhall.org.

Upcoming Mainstay performances include:

October 28 Joe Holt welcomes Chuck Redd, Amy Shook, and Frank Russo
November 4 Joe Holt welcomes Paula Johns
November 9 Chuck Redd and the Youngbloods
November 11 Joe Holt welcomes Matt Folker
November 16 The John Thomas Quintet
November 18 Joe Holt welcomes Steve Beskrone
November 24 The Hedgelawn Classical Series presents the Gallery Winds
November 30 After Thanksgiving Party with The Blueskeepers