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Welcome to Artist Alley,
Washington County Arts Council's electronic newsletter.
We hope this publication will engage you with the arts in your community.
WCAC welcomes your ideas and support as it continues to take the lead in bringing together the community's art organizations to strengthen our region's arts culture.
For artist information, arts events, calls for art, and more visit WCAC's web page...
www.washingtoncountyarts.com.
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Most images are "clickable," meaning you can click or touch an image
to go to that event's website/event page.
| | Because of you, art thrives. | | The WCAC We Create Accessible Culture Grant is for nonprofits and individual artists presenting public arts programs and art projects that directly benefit residents of Washington County. | | |
Guidelines
(previously CAD Grant, new guidelines apply, please review thoroughly before applying)
Application
due by August 15, 2025
Download the application above, then open it with Adobe Acrobat Reader
(Get the free Adobe Acrobat Reader).
Save and send the renamed .pdf application file to nicolea@washingtoncountyarts.com.
OR
Fill out the form in a web browser by clicking this link.
You must attach this Word file with the answers to the questions using the first "File Attachment" field.
Please do not attach multiple .doc or .docx files or attach the same file multiple times.
Once complete you may receive an email from Adobe to confirm.
Your completed application will not be received by WCAC until you click the confirmation link in that email.
ALL 2024-2025 CAD Grantees must submit their
FY '25 Final Report - CAD Recipients by July 31, 2025.
For more information contact Nicole Abuhamada at nicolea@washingtoncountyarts.com
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Main Gallery - Julia Purinton: We Reap What We Sow
Michael G. Callas Gallery - Brielle Thames: Abstract and Realism
Thursday, August 7, 2025 - Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
Opening Reception: Thursday, August 7, 2025 from 5pm to 7pm
at the galleries, 34 S Potomac St, Ste 100, Hagerstown, MD 21740
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Denny Clarke: Marine Scenes
Now through Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
in the Main and Michael G. Callas galleries at
34 S Potomac St, Ste 100, Hagerstown, MD 21740
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7th Annual Washington Goes Purple
2025 Call for Artists
The Washington County Arts Council, Inc. (WCAC), in partnership with Washington Goes Purple, invites artists working in all media to submit work for the September 2025 juried exhibition, The Art of Overcoming: Healing Through Creativity. This exhibition will explore themes of recovery, resilience, and the transformative power of creative expression.
Generous support for this exhibition is provided by The Nora Roberts Foundation. Juror-selected works will be eligible for cash awards.
Please read Prospectus and Guidelines before submitting through out Submission Form.
If chosen, please adhere to the Hanging Specifications
and fill out the online PR/Media Release Form.
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Washington County Arts Council
Exhibits - Call for Artists
The Washington County Arts Council accepts exhibition proposals on a rolling basis. Please download and fill out the application, save it, and email with your proposal and required materials to gallerymanager@washingtoncountyarts.com. Applications encompassing both galleries are encouraged! Please make note of the intent to show in both galleries within your application materials.
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Auditions
July 14-15 @ 7pm
The story of Second Samuel steps out of all stereotypes and any, what you might call, narrative bounds. There really isn’t an individual hero, no specific protagonist other than the town itself. This tale is about the decisions and consequences that have to be faced by the small community of Second Samuel GA, and ultimately, by each of our communities today. It boils down to one question: What does “Love Your Neighbor” actually look like?
With a healthy dose of humor, and a little added music, PamelaParker’s original work, Second Samuel questions some of the most divisive issues of the 21st century.
Directed by Cathy James with kind permission of Dramatic Publishing Company, auditions for Second Samuel will be held on July 14 and July 15, 2025 at The Potomac Playmakers Performing Arts Center, located at 17303 W. Washington Street, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740. Auditions start at 7:00 p.m. and will consist of cold readings from the script. The play calls for seven men and four women, ranging in ages from 25-60. People of color are strongly encouraged and needed for the cast, and one female performer will be needed to sing in a gospel style. The show will run September 5-7 and September 12-14, 2025.
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July 19 - August 23
Parallel Perspectives
Michael Gibson and Steve Prince
Opening Reception
Meet both artists July 19 & 20
1:00 to 6:00 PM
Step into this exhibition where the gentle caress of graphite strokes meet the audacious flair of linoleum carving, crafting a breathtaking tapestry of artistry that speaks directly to the soul. We invite you to immerse yourself in the remarkable synergy between these two exceptional visual griots. This exhibition is not just a feast for the eyes; it’s a sensory banquet, encouraging you to delve into the delicate techniques that define their work—from the soft, emotive shading of graphite that whispers intimate secrets, to the striking contrasts of carved linoleum that boldly demand your attention. Engage with the rich stories woven into their creations and discover how art can ignite conversations and inspire change.
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Just Lookin' Gallery
40 Summit Avenue
Hagerstown, MD 21740
P 301.714.2278
www.justlookin.com
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Plein Air
Spruce Forest Artisan Village is offering a Plein Air opportunity on Saturday, July 19, 2025. Check in time starts at 8am at the Pavilion near the entrance. Entry fee is $10.00. Artists are to return their work at 3pm.
Awards will be presented at 4pm:
Best of Show: $200.00
First Place: $100.00
Spirit of the Village: $50.00
Most Creative: $50.00
Child Age 12 and under: $50.000
Kathy Delaney, Event Chairwoman
Spruce Forest Artisan Village
177 Casselman Rd
Grantsville, Maryland 21536
(301) 895-3332
info@spruceforest.org
https://www.spruceforest.org/
Facebook
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Through July 27 – Cumberland Valley Photographers
Juried, annual exhibition showcasing artists of the Cumberland Valley region. Organized by the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, support for the exhibition has been provided by Conservit, Inc., and Delaplaine Foundation, Inc; awards funded by Jennifer Jones of Cooling Services, Inc.; Hugh and Marty Talton; Nora and Bruce Wilder (Best in Show); Sherry Cramer (Juror’s Awards); Louis Kawaja in honor of Ms. Mary Helen Strauch; and Washington County Arts Council (Juror’s Awards).
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Washington County Museum of Fine Arts
401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740
Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.
(301) 739-5727
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One Acts Festival
July 27 & 28, 2025
The 2025 One Act Play Festival will be held at the Potomac Playmakers Performing Arts Center on July 25 at 8 PM and July 26 at 3 PM. Admission is by Donation at the door.
The four original plays are:
"Three Little Birds" by Samantha Oty, directed by Jim Zuna
"The Door" by Dan Morra, directed by Krissi Dean
"Flight of Fancy" by Morey Norkin, directed by Susan Kleit
"The Last Student" by Meredith Yanchak, directed by Amy Fox
Perks of a $10 Potomac Playmakers Membership
During the membership meeting a new membership perk was announced: Membership costs just $10 per year. In exchange for a membership, you will receive 1 complimentary ticket to any show of the season. Also, anyone in a show, whether cast or crew, must be a paid member for the year, starting July 1. In addition to the 1 comp ticket, all cast and crew for a particular show will receive a comp for the show. That means that if you are in 1 show (cast or crew) you will receive 2 comp tickets for the year. Quite a deal for $10! Join by clicking HERE.
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The Potomac Playmaker Performing Arts Center
17303 W Washington St
Hagerstown, MD 21740-5155
potomacplaymakers@gmail.com
(240) 513-6260
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North Gallery Show
Just Trippin'
August 1-24, 2025
Paintings and other artwork by Valley Art Association artists for exhibit and sale.
The theme changes monthly.
Mansion House
480 Highland Avenue in City Park
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Fridays and Saturdays: 11am-4pm; Sundays 1-5pm
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Lesa Cook Workshop
August 1 & 2, 2025
In this 2 day workshop students will work from their own photos to create a low relief in water based clay. Taking inspiration from the reliefs of Saint-Gaudens, Verrochio, and contemporary sculptors, we will sculpt a bas (low) relief. Animal, human, you choose the subject matter and provide the reference photo. (If it is a person, the suggestion is to use a profile). Learn techniques for creating the illusion of depth in a shallow space, and combine drawing and sculpting to create a shallow relief that can be wall-mounted after firing. Topics explored will include proper use of tools, properties of clay, preparation for firing, and finishing details. This class is open to all levels of sculpting but best for students with some drawing experience. Instructor will loan tools for use in class, and keep sculpture pieces hydrated between classes.
About Lesa Cook
Lesa Cook is a sculptor and painter living in Burkittsville, MD. She has studied under: Robert Liberace, Richard Weaver, Brian Booth Craig and others. She spent two years in the sculpture program at the Florence Academy of Art in Florence, Italy. She is an instructor at the Delaplaine Art Center in Frederick, MD, and is a certified copyist at the National Gallery in Washington, D.C.. She has won numerous awards and her work has been shown internationally. She has a passion for figurative work, and is an enthusiastic and experienced teacher. Her work can be seen at www.lesacook.com, and on Instagram: www.instagram.com/lesacook_art.
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Frida Kahlo: Picturing an Icon
This summer and fall, visitors to the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts (WCMFA) in Hagerstown, Maryland, will have the opportunity to view Mexican artist and activist Frida Kahlo’s life as she saw it – not through her paintings, but through her personal photographs, as captured by friends, lovers and family members.
Frida Kahlo: Picturing an Icon, running through October 5, offers an intimate view of the celebrated artist’s life and consists of 115 images out of the 450 images and objects acquired in 2003 by Cuban-born Vicente Wolf, a New York City-based interior designer believed to be the owner of the largest known collection of personal and family photographs of Kahlo in private hands.
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Washington County Museum of Fine Arts
401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740
Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.
(301) 739-5727
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Opportunities for Artists
Explore MSAC grants and opportunities available to independent artists.
Click here for details.
Maryland Arts Directory
A free online platform that showcases the high-caliber, diverse,
and relevant work of Maryland’s artists and arts organizations.
Click here for details.
Arts Across Maryland
Use our map to find public art, arts venues,
and Arts & Entertainment Districts to explore.
Click here for details.
Resource Bulletin
The MSAC online Resource Bulletin is maintained by the Maryland Art Place,
and includes local, regional, and national opportunities, calls for artists,
grants, and vendor opportunities.
Click here for details.
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The Washington County Arts Council, Inc. is funded by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC), an agency of the Department of Business & Economic Development. | | |
The Washington County Arts Council is a proud member of
County Arts Agencies of Maryland,
Maryland Citizens for the Arts, and Americans for the Arts
| | The WCAC facility is wheelchair accessible! | | |
Thank you for providing your email address to the
Washington County Arts Council. Your information was obtained from
at least one of the following methods: signing our guest book,
becoming a member, donating, entering a contest, or exhibiting with us.
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