SOLOMONS, MD —Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center in Solomons, Maryland, presents the 22nd Annual Artsfest Fine Arts Festival on Saturday, & Sunday, September 19 & 20, 2015, 10am-5pm both days. This year’s event will feature more than 165 juried artist booths, both inside and outside, drawn from the Mid-Atlantic region and across the country. The festival activities are scattered across the beautiful wooded sculpture garden, including more than thirty performers, two entertainment stages, a myriad of children’s activities, great food, wine and beer, and more! Located in Solomons, Maryland, where the Patuxent River meets the Chesapeake Bay, Annmarie Garden’s Artsfest is a stunning celebration of the visual and performing arts with activities and entertainment for all ages.
Artsfest, established in 1993, is an annual juried arts festival that transforms Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center into a spectacular indoor and outdoor shopping experience featuring artists from the Mid-Atlantic and across the county. On display, and for sale, will be the finest in: jewelry, ceramics, drawing, fabrics, glass, graphics, metalwork, paintings, pastels, photography, printmaking, sculpture, wood, and mixed media. Artsfest is widely recognized as one of the top fine arts festival in the Mid-Atlantic region, and shopping Artsfest is truly a unique experience. From the excitement of the Tent Circle, to the splendor of the Wooded Path, to the beauty of the Murray Arts Building, each area has its own personality and ambiance. Stroll through Annmarie Garden, enjoy the sights and sounds, and find just the right art for you!
Artsfest ’15 is pleased to present an exciting line-up of entertainment including many new bands and genres. Thanks to a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, Artsfest ’15 will include The Lovejoy Group, playing jazz, blues, and Latin rhythms, and The Eric Byrd Trio, playing hot jazz. Other new bands include the Patuxent Partners, playing bluegrass, Taproot, playing roots music, Gregory Floberg offering up his tribute to well-known country music, The Roundhouse String Band, playing old time music, and the fabulous gospel singer Theresa Pinkney will be singing her original music from her Indie release entitled, “Me Against the World.” Higher Standards Jazz Trio, the Artsfest ‘14 Performing Artist Award winner, will return along with other festival favorites, including Patuxent Voices, Folk Salad Trio, Some Assembly, Sax Appeal, Steve Gellman, and many more. The rich line-up of bands and street performers adds to the excitement and diversity of the festival!
Artsfest ’15 will feature a smorgasbord of fun and creative children’s activities. In the Discovery Tent, families will find activities inspired by games – from travel games to ball games to brain teasers, kids can make and take their own games. The Zany Zone, adjacent to the Discovery Tent, is a great place for kids to run around and have fun. Giant beach balls, hula hoops, and other fun toys will keep the kids occupied while adults enjoy music, delicious food, and a drink. In the artLAB and on the Hungerford Patio, kids can enjoy more hands-on activities, and explore Cardboard City, the Treasure Troughs, blow-up bowling pin fun, sidewalk chalk time, Artsy Easels, and more. In the Studio School and the Clay Studio, guests can try their hand at a variety of art media, and learn about the many creative classes offered at Annmarie. Keep the kids busy all days with a wide variety of engaging activities at Artsfest ’15.
On the menu at Artsfst ’15 are more than twelve specialty food vendors, including Sherri’s Crab Cakes, Grizzly Mountain Grill, Sunshine Girls Lemonade, Calvert Kettle Corn, London Court Beverage, T.K. Grill, Bozick Craft Beer Tent, Solomons Island Winery, and more. Whether you enjoy crab cakes or funnel cakes, craft beer, or fine wine, Artsfest ’15 has something for every taste and budget.
Download your $1 OFF Artsfest ’15 coupon at www.annmariegarden.org, and be one of the first 500 families on either day to receive a free Artsfest ’15 shopping bag. Artsfest admission for adults is $6; children 11 & under FREE; Annmarie members are FREE. Parking is free. Artsfest is a rain or shine event; please no pets! For more information, call 410-326-4640 or visit www.annmarigarden.org
The Artsfest ’15 Design
Each year, an artist is selected to create the Artsfest design. For Artsfest ’15, Southern Maryland artist, Ann Preston, created a colorful flower design that evokes her love of bright colors, and her love for Annmarie Garden. As she says in her artist statement, “I love the vitality, beauty, strength, creativity, sense of fun, and love of nature that the Garden – as well as the people and artists connected to it – possess. I tried to incorporate these qualities into the Artsfest ’15 design by making it a bright, energetic, strong, and fun design, using nature as the inspiration.” Guests can purchase a t-shirt featuring Ann’s design at the T-Shirt Booth.
Artsfest ’15 Performance Schedule
Saturday, September 19
Main Stage
11:00-11:45 Jody’s Band, country, classic and other nostalgic music
Noon-12:45 Higher Standards Jazz Trio, jazz
1:00-1:45 Patuxent Partners, bluegrass
2:00-2:45 Patuxent Partners, bluegrass
3:00-3:45 The Eric Byrd Trio, jazz
4:00-4:45 The Eric Byrd Trio, jazz
Council Ring
11:00-11:45 COSMIC Flute Choir, classical, folk, jazz
Noon-12:45 Roundhouse String Band, old time music
1:00-1:45 Ballet Caliente Studio Company, original choreographed balletic work
2:00-2:45 Patuxent Voices, a capella
3:00-3:45 Sax Appeal, jazz, swing, popular, sacred
4:00-4:45 Calvert Brass Consortium, jazz, pop, classical, show tunes
Sunday, September 20
Main Stage
11:00-11:45 Some Assembly, Irish, Cape Breton, original compositions
Noon -12:45 Folk Salad Trio, folk
1:00-1:45 The Lovejoy Group, jazz, blues, Latin rhythms
2:00-2:45 The Lovejoy Group, jazz, blues, Latin rhythms
3:00-3:45 Gregory Floberg, tribute to country, folk, original songs
4:00-4:45 Theresa Pinkney, gospel
Council Ring
11:00-11:45 Southern Maryland Youth Orchestra & Choir, youth performance
Noon-12:45 The Wild Irish Roses, dueling fiddles, Irish Step & Scottish Highland dancing
1:00-1:45 Taproot, root musical forms
2:00-2:45 The Bootleggers, women written & performed music
3:00-3:45 Eric Skow & Bob Pfeiffer, eclectic mix from 50’s to present
4:00-4:45 Steven Gellman, contemporary folk
Street Performers & Strolling Musician
Wind Song – Mark Giuffrida Saturday & Sunday Afternoon
Living Statue/Mime/Stiltwalker Saturday & Sunday, 11am-3pm
Marigold Bumbleroot-Bubble Magic Saturday & Sunday, 10am-3pm