The CFF is pleased to announce that it has received a prestigious grant from the Shared Earth Foundation for 2025 operations and programming. This important funding will help the CFF feature many distinguished environmental filmmakers in this year’s lineup, including films by Sandy Cannon-Brown, Dave Harp, Maggie Stogner, The Nature Conservancy, and CFF president Irene Magafan. 

Submissions are now OPEN on the Chesapeake Film Festival filmmakers’ portal – FilmFreeway.com! Filmmakers from around the world are invited to showcase their work and  become part of the fastest-growing, prestigious film festival on the Eastern Shore. We offer  outstanding filmmakers, experienced and emerging, a forum to showcase and discuss stories of  compelling interest to our local and global community. Because of our location on the  Chesapeake Bay and our diverse population, we prioritize films that focus on the environment  and social justice issues. Founded in 2008, it is our mission to entertain, empower, educate and  inspire diverse audiences of all ages by presenting exceptional independent films and events.  

“Every year we task our Programming Committee with reviewing and rating hundreds of film  submissions – in 2024 that included over 200 films from 30 states and six countries. Our goal is  to curate a fresh, compelling and diverse program that spans features, environmental films,  documentaries, shorts, animation and student films,” states Cid Collins Walker, Executive and  Artistic Director, Chesapeake Film Festival. “Each year we look forward to adding more  exceptional story-tellers to our legacy community of talented filmmakers.”  

Film Categories Include: 

• Environmental Features and Shorts 
• International Features and Documentaries 
• Narrative Features 
• Documentaries 
• Spotlight on Maryland 
• Student Shorts 
• Animations

Key Dates to Remember: 

• Regular Submission Deadline: June 1, 2025 
• Extended Submission Deadline: June 21, 2025 
• Notification Date: July 7, 2025 

Festival Dates: October 10, 11, and 12, 2025 

Venues: Ebenezer Theater, Academy Art Museum, and Talbot County Free Library 

Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your film at one of the most dynamic cultural events on  the Eastern Shore. Submit your film today and be part of an inspiring celebration of cinema. 

For more information and to submit your film, please visit www.chesapeakefilmfestival.com or  to enter directly on FilmFreeway visit https://filmfreeway.com/chesapeakefilmfestival 

Celebrate Earth Day with our Free Monthly Film Series  

The Chesapeake Film Festival (CFF) and the Talbot County Free Library began our  collaborative monthly film series in March in celebration of the library’s 100th Anniversary and  CFF’s 18th Season. Don’t miss our April feature film – River – in honor of Earth Day, narrated  by Willem Dafoe.  

Free to the public, this monthly series — Our Bay, Our World, Our Festival — features a  captivating lineup of high-profile films showcased on select Wednesdays and Saturday at the  Talbot County Free Library in historic downtown Easton. Upcoming screenings begin at 6PM  for the next two Wednesday screenings and at 2PM for the June Saturday date, offering perfect  midweek and weekend cultural escapes with a wonderful film for younger audiences in June.  

Upcoming Film Highlights & Key Dates  

• Wednesday, April 30: River — In honor of Earth Day, experience this breathtaking  documentary narrated by Willem Dafoe, exploring the vital role of rivers in our  ecosystem and culture. 
• Wednesday, May 21: Conclave — Dive into the intrigue of this Oscar-nominated film  starring Ralph Fiennes and Isabella Rossellini, a gripping narrative of power and secrecy. • Saturday, June 21: Wicked — Get ready for a wild and wonderful cinematic journey  with this theatrical masterpiece starring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jeff  Goldblum.  

This programming is brought to you by our generous sponsors Maryland State Arts Council,  Talbot County Free Library, Maryland Humanities Foundation, The Artistic Insights Fund,  Shared Earth Foundation, Talbot Arts, The William Lucks Professional Group powered by  Keller Williams Realty and Laser Letters.

All screenings are free and open to the public. No reservations required. Films start at 6PM  in April and May & 2PM in June.  

For more information, please visit www.chesapeakefilmfestival.com. Or call the library at (410)  822-1626.

“One Stone” by Diz Hormel

Studio B Art Gallery is thrilled to announce its participation in the return of the First Friday Gallery Walk for 2025, featuring a special exhibition by acclaimed artist Diz Hormel. Join us on April 4, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. to meet the artist and view her stunning collection of still-life oil paintings.

Diz Hormel is an Eastern Shore-based artist known for her evocative oil paintings that capture a sense of serenity and timeless beauty. Specializing in still life, her work reflects a deep appreciation for the quiet elegance of organic forms and man-made objects. Classically trained under renowned artist Juliette Aristides, Diz’s paintings offer a gentle escape from the busyness of modern life.

“My journey to painting has been anything but direct,” Diz explained. “I took a drawing class in my early twenties and loved it, but life took many detours before I found my way back to art. I spent years working in the culinary profession and then making jewelry while I raised my three sons in DC. After moving to the Eastern Shore, I was struck by the beauty and serenity of my surroundings, which ultimately led me back to making art.”

Diz honed her skills through formal training, first studying metalsmithing at the Revere Academy and later at the Corcoran School of Art. Her interest in mastering traditional techniques led her to the Aristides Atelier, where she refined her methodical, layered approach to studio painting. Diz’s work is influenced by chiaroscuro lighting, thoughtful composition, and a meditative painting process that invites stillness and contemplation.

Diz is a board member of the Academy Art Museum in Easton, Maryland. She served as chair for their annual Craft Show for 4 years and is now the chair of the Education Committee.

A member of the Oil Painters of America, Working Artists Forum, and St. Michaels Art League, Diz has received numerous accolades, including the 2024 Best in Show award at Local Color Easton.

“We are honored to feature Diz Hormel and her exquisite still life paintings,” said Studio B Art Gallery Owner Betty Huang. “Her work brings a sense of depth and tranquility that perfectly complements our gallery’s collection.”

Guests attending the First Friday Gallery Walk will have the opportunity to meet Diz, view her latest works, and learn more about her artistic process. Her exhibit at Studio B Art Gallery will showcase a collection of still life paintings that highlight her masterful use of light, form, and composition.

For more information about Studio B Art Gallery, visit us online at www.studiobartgallery.com, on Facebook and Instagram @studiobartgallery, or contact Betty Huang at [email protected].

Studio B Art Gallery is located at 7 B Goldsborough Street in historic downtown Easton, Maryland. The gallery represents nationally and internationally known painters Lani Browning, Hiu Lai Chong, Bernard Dellario, Ken DeWaard, Diz Hormel, Betty Huang, Qiang Huang, Charles Newman, Daniel Robbins, Master Jove Wang, and sculptor Rick Casali.

An extraordinary experience with the legendary songwriter and singer, Graham Nash, on the Avalon stage provided sold-out audiences with a tour through his live, his loves and his music. The performance, running over two hours, was a perfect way to spend an evening with an individual who describes himself as a simple man and has been a part of our lives for several decades.

Sunday evening there were no fewer than four encore songs performed for an audience that had little interest in leaving and performers that seemed to feel the same way.

The weekend performance launched an extraordinary 2025 tour for Nash and his remarkable musicians. Here are the locations of shows for the next several months.

Many of the songs can be heard on his most recent (2023) album, NOW. You can find it HERE if you wish to listen.

Returning home from the concert, I wanted to be reminded of Graham Nash’s incredible life and found the biography below on his site. The songs from the past were performed throughout the evening, accompanied by his stories about how they came to be written.

Here are excerpts from the biography that appears on his homepage where you will find much more along with links to his albums.

Legendary artist Graham Nash, as a founding member of both the Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash, is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee who has seen rock history unfold at some of its seminal moments – from the launch of the British to the birth of the Laurel Canyon movement a year later. He is an extraordinary Grammy Award® winning renaissance artist, and self-described “simple man” who has contributed a wealth of songs to the popular music canon. Nash was inducted twice into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, for his work with CSN and for his work as a solo artist.

NOW, Nash’s most recent studio album (May 2023), stays true to his six-decade mission – observing the human experience through the lens of a Northern boy. His recent songs range from the intensely political rallying cry of “Stand Up,” and a scorching indictment of MAGA in “Golden Idols,” to the fervent hope that we are leaving the kids “A Better Life,” co-written with George Merrill (of “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” renown). “Buddy’s Back,” with Hollies co-founder Allan Clarke contributing vocal harmony, celebrates the enduring influence of both Buddy Holly and the Hollies in their lives, harkening back to that Christmas 1962, when they gave the Hollies its name.

In between the releases of This Path Tonight (Nash’s previous studio album, released in 2016) and Graham Nash: Live, he and Joel Bernstein, his long-time aide-de-camp curated the archival collection, Over The Years… (2018). The 30-song double-CD contains one disc of Nash’s best known songs with CSNY, CSN, the Crosby-Nash duo and as a solo artist; the other disc comprises 15 released and unreleased demos.

Nash’s remarkable body of work as a songwriter began with his contributions to the Hollies’ British Invasion opus from 1964 to ’68, including “Stop Stop Stop,” “On A Carousel,” “Carrie Anne,” and “King Midas In Reverse.”

Towering above virtually everything that Graham Nash has accomplished in his long and multi-faceted career, stands the litany of songs that he has written and introduced to the soundtrack of our lives for nearly six decades.

The original classic union of Crosby, Stills & Nash (&Young) lasted but twenty months. Yet their songs are lightning rods embedded in our DNA, starting with Nash’s “Marrakesh Express,” “Pre-Road Downs” and “Lady Of the Island,” from the first Crosby, Stills & Nash LP (1969).

Nash’s career as a solo artist took flight in 1971, with the two aforementioned albums further showcasing the depths of his abilities as a singer and songwriter: his solo debut Songs For Beginners (with “Chicago/We Can Change the World” and “Military Madness”), and Wild Tales released in 1974 (with “Prison Song,” “Oh! Camil,” and “You’ll Never Be the Same”).

Three compositions on Songs For Beginners reflect back on the storied breakup of Nash and Joni Mitchell, “Better Days,” “I Used To Be A King” (which recalibrates the Hollies’ “King Midas In Reverse”), and “Simple Man.” A fourth song, “Wounded Bird” concerned the aftermath of Stills’ breakup with Judy Collins. “Military Madness” was dedicated to Nash’s parents, who quietly and bravely brought up their children in post-WWII England. “Chicago/We Can Change the World” was a plea to CSNY bandmates Stills and Young to join him and Crosby at a benefit concert for the defense of the Chicago Eight, (“won’t you please come to Chicago/ just to sing”).

1974’s Wild Tales addressed (among other issues) unfair jail terms for minor offenses (“Prison Song”) and the unfair treatment of Vietnam vets (“Oh! Camil,” inspired by Scott Camil, decorated founder of Vietnam Veterans Against the War). In his 2013 autobiography, Wild Tales, Nash described the eponymous Lp as “a good collection of songs but dark and moody, which was where I was at the time … in a deep emotional hole.” The autobiography is an engrossing, no-holds-barred look at his remarkable career and the music that defined a generation. The book landed him on the New York Times Best Sellers list and was released in paperback in late 2014.

The most resilient, long-lived and productive partnership to emerge from the CSNY camp was launched (before Nash’s Wild Tales) with the eponymously titled Graham Nash/David Crosby (1972), bookended by Nash’s “Southbound Train” as the opening track and “Immigration Man” as the closer. The duo contributed further to the soundtrack of the ’70s on their back-to-back Lps, Wind On the Water (1975) and Whistling Down the Wire (1976).

Nash’s passionate voice is frequently heard in support of peace, and social and environmental justice. The No Nukes/Musicians United for Safe Energy (MUSE) concerts he organized with Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt in 1979, remain seminal benefit events.

In recognition for his contributions as a musician and philanthropist, Nash was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth. While continually building his musical legacy, Nash is also an internationally renowned photographer and visual artist.

A photographer since the age of ten, Nash’s photos have been shown in galleries and museums worldwide. His company Nash Editions’ original IRIS 3047 digital printer and one of its first published works—Nash’s 1969 portrait of David Crosby— is now housed in the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution. A collection of his photos is featured in the book A Life in Focus: The Photography of Graham Nash which was released in November 2021 by Insight Editions.

Nash’s lifelong commitment to his work is unwavering. His inspiration is simple: “All the things we stood for, that love is better than hatred, that peace is better than war, that we have to take care of our fellow human beings, because that’s all we have on this planet – those things are still true today. I need to know that I’ve brought something into the world that was positive and not negative.”

(May 2024)

 The Working Artists Forum announced the List of Juried Artists for  Local Color 2025. The Juror was Christine Lashley, Plein Air Easton 2nd Place  Winner. The list of Artists Accepted in to Local Color this year include: 

Leah Bell, William Benson, Donna Brumbergs, Katie Cassidy, Pamela Chase,  Naomi Clark-Turner, Lynne Davis, Caryl Ersenkal, Nancy Fine, Donna Finley,  Nancy Galvin, Jill Glassman, Doris Glovier, Elizabeth “Diz” Hormel, Carla Huber,  Roberta Ingram, Kathy Kopec, Marianne Kost, Diane Joy Laird, Ed Lewandowski,  Mary Ellen Mabe, Carol Meers, Karen Merkin, Amanda Milliner, Crystal Moll,  Diane Mulally, Betty Papson, Martha Pileggi, Jose Ramirez, Jim Rehak, Maggii Sarfaty, Lesley Schless, John Schisler, Anne Singer, B.K. Slocum, Scott Sullivan,  Walter Urbanek, Stephen Walker, Sharon Waters, Judith Weaver, Lori Yates,  Barbara Zuehlke. 

The Exhibition takes place Thursday, July 17th – Sunday July 20th at Easton’s Christ  Church, and is held in conjunction with The Plein Air Easton Art Festival. Forty-two  juried artists from the WAF membership and local artists from the Eastern Shore participate each year. 

Troika Gallery is featuring a Spring Show with the return of First Fridays to historic downtown Easton on April 4, 2025.   New artworks by select gallery artists are beautifully exhibited.  An opening reception will take place from 5-8 pm with light refreshments.

Presenting “The Finest of Fine Art”  since 1997, Troika Gallery is the longest operating gallery on the Eastern Shore. Whether you are an art collector, art lover, or an art browser, you will enjoy your visit to Troika Gallery as the friendly ambiance has cultivated loyal followers. Professional artist and owner Laura Era, and Gallery Manager Peg Fitzgerald, welcome your visit to browse the collections.

Troika Gallery located at 9 South Harrison Street, is open Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11 am until 6:00 pm, and Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday by appointment.  For more information, call 410-770-9190 or visit www.troikagallery.com. 

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra will present an all-Mozart program this April, highlighting three of the composer’s symphonic works. Under the direction of Maestro Michael Repper, the orchestra will perform Symphony No. 1 in E-flat major, K. 16, Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550, and Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551, known as the “Jupiter” Symphony. The performances will take place on Thursday, April 3 at 7 PM at the Easton Church of God in Easton, MD, on Saturday, April 5 at 3 PM at Epworth United Methodist Church in Rehoboth Beach, DE, and on Sunday, April 6 at 3 PM at the Community Church in Ocean Pines, MD.

The concert begins with Symphony No. 1, composed by Mozart at the age of eight while his family was in London. This early work showcases his developing musical style and an emerging sense of melody and structure. The first movement is energetic, followed by a lyrical andante, and a lively presto finale, providing insight into the foundation of Mozart’s later compositions.

Symphony No. 40, known for its recognizable opening theme, is one of Mozart’s most expressive works. Written during a challenging period in the composer’s life, the symphony features emotional intensity and distinctive orchestration. The absence of trumpets and timpani creates a darker, more intimate sound, while the first movement’s urgency, the second movement’s lyricism, and the minuet’s rhythmic character contribute to its lasting impact. The finale, with its contrapuntal complexity, is a notable example of Mozart’s ability to blend structure and emotion.

The program concludes with Symphony No. 41, the “Jupiter” Symphony, which is considered one of Mozart’s most ambitious works. This symphony is characterized by its grand orchestration and sophisticated counterpoint, particularly in the final movement, where five musical themes are interwoven. The “Jupiter” Symphony remains a significant representation of Mozart’s later symphonic style and compositional mastery.

Audiences are invited to attend these performances and experience Mozart’s symphonic repertoire. Tickets are available online and at the door. For more information, visit the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra’s website at www.midatlanticsymphony.org.

ABOUT THE MID-ATLANTIC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is the only professional symphony orchestra serving southern Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore with a full season of programs. The MSO is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council, the Talbot County Arts Council, the Worcester County Arts Council, the Sussex County (Delaware) Council, and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Inc.

A complete schedule of the 2024-2025 season’s Masterworks and Ensembles programs, including venues, times, and other details, is available at www.midatlanticsymphony.org.

Plein Air Painters of the Chesapeake Bay Exhibit and Paint-In at The Market at Dover Station

In a generous act of community outreach, The Market at Dover Station has invited the Plein Air Painters of the Chesapeake Bay (PAPCB) to exhibit recent plein air works at the Market through April 2025. An additional facet of this exhibit features a unique closing celebration in the form of a live alla prima paint-in, inside the Market on Saturday April 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public is invited to view the exhibit, watch the painters, and purchase their work. 

Capturing the essence of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, from boatyards to farmyards, and everywhere in between, this plein air exhibit resonates with familiar places seen through the eyes of local and regional artists. The exposed bricks, open ductwork ceilings, and rustic floors of the Market’s 1912 renovated warehouse building generate warm vibes and make a wonderful exhibit space to showcase this fine art. 

Since 2014, PAPCB has gathered weekly in spring and fall. With their easels set up on waterfront estates, historic village streets and working farms, they explore and document our region through their art. In varied and distinctive methods of painting, from loose impressionism and expressionism to a tighter realism, their mediums are oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, pastel, and graphite. One member even makes monoprints in the field!

Ranging from brand new painters of all ages to seasoned award winners, PAPCB shares friendship, camaraderie, and creative support, and welcomes all to join them. 

Since it opened on November 30, 2024, The Market at Dover Station has become an upscale regional hub showcasing the work of fine artists and artisans alongside a selection of antique and vintage goods, a florist and chocolatier, a tea company, handmade balms and lotions, and more. Market partners also offer interior design, fine china rental, woodwork, antique clock repair, and many other unique finds. The Market hosts events including yoga classes, Zentangle, urban sketching on the Rails to Trails, a book club, a wildlife photography class, jewelry classes, and art classes for kids and adults. And it offers space for weddings, meetings and family gatherings. Coming soon in phase 2 are plans for a bistro café and future brewery.

The Market at Dover Station is located at 500 Dover Road, Easton, Maryland 21601. For hours, events, and more information, please stay informed at www.doverstation.com and sign up to follow on social media.

The Waterfowl Festival’s 2025 Featured Artist has been announced, naming a legendary festival favorite, Al Barker. Barker has displayed his work at every festival since its inception in 1971. His quintessential scenes of hunting, the outdoor lifestyle, and nature flawlessly capture a quiet and breathtaking beauty, bringing the viewer intimately into the scene without disrupting the magical and private moments his subjects are experiencing.

“The Waterfowl Festival is about tradition – preserving our heritage and sharing it with the new generation,” remarked Deena Kilmon, executive director. “Al’s works are the perfect way to seduce anyone who is viewing them to fall in love with the romance of the outdoors. His works are generally not large which makes them the perfect size and price point for the new collector -a key element of the festival that is very important- making sure art is accessible to everyone.”

Al Barker, was born in New Jersey and was raised within the New York Metropolitan area where he learned to appreciate the outdoors by spending a great deal of time hunting and fishing. These activities, no doubt, influenced his decision to pursue academic studies in Environmental Science where he earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in forestry and later received a National Fellowship for Doctorate work. After these academic studies, Al became a Forestry educator and worked in private industry and eventually taught his trade on the post- secondary level. Without formal art training, he began drawing and painting wildlife scenes to assist with his teaching curricula and has been influenced by the works of Milton Weiler and Don Stone, N.A. Presently, as a full-time professional artist, Al specializes in smaller sized paintings, completing works in both oil and watercolor, as well as rendering many small editions of etchings.

Al Barker is the only professional artist that has exhibited continuously at the Easton Waterfowl Festival in Easton, Maryland, since its inception over fifty years ago. Al has won over fifty major awards in premier art competitions and principal exhibitions such as the Grand National American Artists Professional League, New York; Greenwich Workshop Galleries, Connecticut and California; Settlers West, Arizona; Gallery One, Ohio; and the prestigious Salmagundi Club in New York City in which he’s been a member and on exhibit for more than 50 years. Al’s work is displayed in many National Miniature Exhibitions in the continental United States. Notably, Al’s work has been purchased by Museums for permanent collections, many private collections, as well as The White House fine arts collection.

Look for the release of Barker’s  Featured Art piece this summer! Posters from the featured piece will be printed in limited edition, pre-orders are available by calling the Waterfowl Festival office 410-822-4567 or find the link online later in the summer in the Waterfowl store. Previous year’s prints on for sale now at this site: https://waterfowlfestival.org/festival-posters/

About the Waterfowl Festival

Waterfowl Festival Inc. is dedicated to wildlife conservation, the promotion of wildlife art, and the celebration of the life and culture of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The 54th Festival will be held November 14-16, 2025 in historic Easton, Md. VIP and corporate sponsorship packages are also available. For more information, to volunteer, or donate, visit www.waterfowlfestival.org or call 410-822-4567.

To learn more about Barker, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/albarkerpainter/

images courtesy Al Barker.