The Maryland Historical Society has an exhibit that tells the tale of young girls, black and white, through the art and skill of the needle. It's called Maryland Schoolgirl Samplers and Embroideries, 1738-1860 and it provides viewers with a look into the impressive skills that young girls exhibited in needlepoint from the mid-18th to mid-19th century. Over 100 samplers and embroideries show basic to elaborate techniques that were employed by girls ranging in age from six to eighteen. In the exhibit, there are themes ranging from Maryland architectural styles, to flora and fauna, to memorial tributes of the young girls' family members. The girls' creations are intricate and quite wondrous to see while providing glimpses into their private lives. It was once a curriculum for girls to learn how to express themselves through the skill of the needle. But the samplers and embroideries have become much more over the course of the centuries. They have become the embodiment of art itself in its purest form.

The exhibit runs until November 15th at the Maryland Historical Society, located on 201 West Monument Street. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00am to 5:00pm. For more information, call 410-685-3750.

Maryland Historical Society

The Mikvah is an ancient, even secretive ritual bath that is observed by a broad spectrum of Jewish women. The Mikvah Project, a touring exhibition celebrating the resurgence of this ancient rite, is currently on display at the Jewish Museum of Maryland. Photographer Janice Rubin captures the intimate, enigmatic nature of this rite with a series of underwater photographs that draw the viewer into its veiled history. These are followed by a series of photos that are the interaction of unknown women with their environments in relationship to the Mikvah. Through its forty photographs, the exhibit tells a compelling and mystical tale of the role that Mikvah plays as a now-modern rite. The exhibit has been running since its inception in 2001 and can now be seen at the Jewish Museum until August 19th.

The museum is open Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 12pm - 4pm. For more information, call 410-732-6400.

The Mikvah Project
The Jewish Museum of Maryland

With an impressive body of work, Michael York has enthralled audiences for over 40 years on stage and screen. Some of his more memorable credits include such films as Bob Fosse's Oscar-winning Cabaret opposite Liza Minnelli; Something for Everyone with Angela Lansbury, directed by Hal Prince; the all-star Murder on the Orient Express; The Last Remake of Beau Geste with Marty Feldman; as D'Artagnan in The Three Musketeers; as the title character in the sci-fi classic Logan's Run; and opposite Burt Lancaster in The Island of Dr. Moreau. Recently, Rhea Feikin met Mr. York at Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA to discuss his U.S. tour as King Arthur in Camelot.

Wolf Trap Foundation for the Arts
Michael York

This week's Salon art is from the Art Gallery of Fells Point. Entitled, Hear the Music through Art, this collection depicts the artist's use of music as inspiration for the visual art form.

Established in 1980, the Art Gallery of Fells Point is an artists' cooperative that is approximately 50 members strong and boasts all Maryland residents. Many of the members are award winning, nationally and internationally recognized artisans that maneuver a variety of mediums including collage, pastels, acrylic and watercolor paintings, slump glass and more. All artwork in the gallery is original or reproductions of the artist's original work.

Artists participating in the show include Bernard McGibbon, Darla Luke, George Murrill, Barbara Schatz, Lois Wolford, and Linda Sabastianelli. The Art Gallery of Fells Point is located at 1716 Thames Street, Baltimore, MD. They are open: Tuesdays through Friday, Noon to 6:00 pm. Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. For more information, call 410-327-1272.

Art Gallery of Fells Point

Restless with the emptiness found in abstract painting, Philip Koch returned to traditional subject matter—the Landscape. Growing up in the pine forests of upstate New York, his love of the outdoors is a natural inspiration. In it, he finds new rhythms and process for the way life pieces together. Currently, he is a professor at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Several of his pieces are on view as part of the UMUC exhibit, Landscape: A View from Maryland. The exhibit runs through September 9; afterwards, it will be sent to our sister state Kanagawa, Japan. Also, coming in November, Mr. Koch will have a solo show at J.L. Pierce Gallery at Greenspring Station in Lutherville.

Philip Koch
UMUC

On ArtChat This Week, Nate and Rhea discuss the opening of a special exhibition, Requiem, at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture. It’s the latest work by Maryland artist Tonya Ingersol, graduate of MICA. Requiem highlights some very interesting Baltimore history and social commentary. Ingersol pays great attention to detail and for those familiar with Baltimore, you’ll find lots of local symbolism. Requiem is on exhibit through November at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum.

Much attention is on Marin Alsop as she prepares to launch her tenure as Director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, but if some of our viewers experience a bit of nostalgia for some previous BSO directors, Temirkanov and Zinman have both released recent recordings of some of their favorite works by Mahler and Tchaikovsky. The new cds are available from Sony/BMG and RCA/Red Seal.

Reginald F. Lewis Museum