Chocolate, champagne, art converge at gallery

EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK

Friday, Nov. 6, 2009

The CalvART Gallery in Prince Frederick will host a "Champagne and Chocolate Party" from 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 21 to celebrate the exhibit of "New Works," featuring art created by Mimi Little and Abbey Griffin, both of Port Republic.

"The thought behind [the party] was that, rather than a reception, we wanted to have more of a party to celebrate our new works, and the [holiday] season, and celebrate it in a more festive way," said Little, who added that the show will have a limited showing which also lent to not having a more traditional exhibit opening reception.

Little has been a member of the CalvART Gallery since it opened four years ago, but has been involved in the arts scene in Calvert "for quite awhile." Griffin has been a member of the gallery for a couple of years and is fairly new to the art scene in Calvert. The theme of the exhibit is "timelines" and places that are important to the artists' lives.

"[The exhibit] has all new pieces, new in terms that they haven't been shown before," Little said. "They're more personal, more narrative, narrative in telling a story about places that I have lived, things that have been important to me … some have a little writing in them … journal entries, things like that."

Little said that Griffin "really works with very strong paintings, both abstract and representation. They are very emotional."

About 20 to 25 pieces will be on display beginning Nov. 11.

"Come to the party [Nov. 21]; we're going to have fun," Little said. "CalvART Gallery is a great gallery. We have a lot of great things going on for the holiday season."

The gallery is located in the Prince Frederick Shopping Center. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, call 410-535-9252, or go to www.calvartgallery.com.

Forestry Board to host tree farm tour

The Calvert County Forestry Board invites the public to attend its Fall Forestry Tour from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Bennett O. Hughes Memorial Tree Farm, located at 1320 Clay Hammond Road in Prince Frederick.

The property is owned and managed by the county Natural Resources Division with assistance from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service. Tour topics will include timber harvesting, site preparation, reforestation and wild land fire management. The tour will highlight a controlled slash burn on the property and will emphasize the benefits of controlled burning. Refreshments will be served before the tour and a lunch will be provided to all who RSVP. Door prizes will also be awarded. For more information, call 410-535-1303.