Welcome to our “Monthly Mini Feature”, we are highlighting different local artisans and crafters who have been busy imagining, creating, dreaming, and doing! Our Maker of the Month for November 2022 is Brandy Blackstone! Brandy is a mixed media artist who specializes in realistic abstract works of art inspired by nature and the world around her. From a very young age, our featured artist has loved being creative and working with her hands. She recalls making dollhouses where she designed and constructed both the house and the small furniture pieces. Brandy also crafted flowered wallpap ..read more

  Since 1996, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Southern Division (Greenbelt), has been an unexpected, but quite welcoming venue for large-scale art shows. The Southern Division includes the counties of Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, Montgomery, and Prince George’s. Courthouse services include a variety of hearings, full court trials, bankruptcy appeals, both civil and criminal procedures, and other matters. With multiple stories of vast wall space and a high volume of foot traffic, the Greenbelt location is the perfect setting to feature a wide variety of art sizes, t ..read more

A big thank you to all who joined us on First Friday, November 3rd, 2023, for a very special Meet & Greet with local illustrator Michael Munshaw! We were very happy to meet Michael, his family, and such a fun group of so many comic fans! A chance encounter at the “Big Duck Weekend” last August connected us with this very talented artist. After seeing Michael’s work and hearing about his artistic adventures, we asked him if he would be available for a special guest appearance at our gallery. Munshaw was kind enough to not only accept our invitation, but also brought with him a big box of 11 ..read more

  Join us on Second Fridays from 1 to 2 PM to meet the St. Mary’s County Arts Council staff, other artists, friends of the Arts Council, and anyone else who would like to stop by and visit! This is an informal hour to connect with others and meet new friends. No reservation needed, just stop by anytime between 1 and 2 PM! Bring your favorite beverage if you like (there are several coffee spots within an easy walking distance). Pets and children are also welcome! If you are an artist feel free to bring one of your pieces, we love seeing everyone’s work! Our dates for 2024 are as follows ..read more

  The St. Mary’s County Arts Council presented four $1,000 awards to recently graduated high school seniors who are pursuing the arts in higher education. The Arts Council has established these awards to recognize, encourage, and support individuals who demonstrate excellence and a high level of interest in the Performing, Theater, or Visual Arts. This year’s recipients are Eliza Eschenbrenner, Katelyn Freese, Matthew Hayden, and Lily O’Neill. Congratulations to all! Eliza Eschenbrenner - Performing Arts Category (Chopticon High School) Eliza has been involved in Theater Arts since 4th g ..read more

Artist Susan Carney at Leonardtown Library (photo by Caitlin Wakefield/St. Mary’s County Arts Council). Photo credit: www.susancarney.com Be sure to stop by the Leonardtown Library during the months of June and July, 2023! A limited-run exhibit of paintings by Susan Carney is on display at the new library gallery. Featured are several larger-than-life works from Susan’s curated collection of favorite art pieces. “Susan Carney continues to evolve in terms of what inspires her choice of subject matter, the media and mediums she employs, and the art forms and or processes in which she engages ..read more

Through shining peer recommendations and a Review Committee from St. Mary’s County Arts Council, two outstanding local art teachers have been selected for the Kay Daugherty Arts Educator Award! The recipients chosen for 2023 are: Megan Czechanski-Giannuzzi, Leonardtown Middle School, Band Director Sarah Tyson, Chesapeake Public Charter School, Art Instructor Megan Czechanski-Giannuzzi Ms. Czechanski-Giannuzzi believes that all students should have both access and the opportunity to learn and play an instrument of their choice. If students are struggling with their musical studies, she ..read more

Photographer Sierra Ridley (photo by Caitlin Wakefield). Visit the Lexington Park Library during the months of June and July, 2023, for a tour of Italy’s beautiful countryside! This limited-run exhibit featuring photography by local artist Sierra Ridley is on display near the library’s main desk. Sierra’s show includes nine framed photography pieces based in the countryside of Pineto and Abruzzo, Italy, and also in the Apennine Mountains. These were selected as some of Sierra’s favorite images of which she had captured during her travels abroad. Admission to the Gallery at the Lexington Park ..read more

Be part of crafting a vision for public art at Lexington Manor Passive Park! Please join the St. Mary’s County Arts Council and their planning consultants to build upon community ideas about public art that were shared in the Lexington Manor Passive Park Master Plan. Stop by the Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions Interpretive Center on Wednesday, July 19th, 2023 from 6 to 7:30 PM to hear updates regarding the master plan, share your ideas, and be a voice for the community! The address for the interpretive center is 21675 S. Coral Drive, Lexington Park, MD 20653. Parking is avail ..read more

Visit the St. Mary’s County Arts Council Gallery & Gift Shop during the month of June 2023 to see our newest in-house art exhibit! This special show will feature the work of local photographer Michael Montillo. Michael started taking pictures at a young age by “borrowing” his mom’s camera enough times that she began buying him Kodak disposables. He continued his adventures in film through his college years, often visiting beach and surf locations to capture the many different moods of the seashores. Years later, in December of 2014, our featured artist received his first digital camera as ..read more