Artscape

Yes, Artscape is America’s “largest free celebration of the arts.” And yes, we marvel at its sheer enormity. But what’s truly impressive about Artscape, now in its 27th year, is how it reinvents itself. We’re psyched to see it expanding into Station North, a neighborhood whose arts district has too-long been the redheaded stepchild of Mount Vernon’s. And we are pumped for the new art exhibits, covering everything from war to carnivals to graffiti and experimental public furnishings. There’s even a DIY-gasm this year! And we still think Artscape is the only place where a Billie Holiday competition, art cars, African dance troupes and an organic food court can co-exist.

Of course, we couldn’t cover everything going on at the festival, held today through Sunday (for full details, go here), but here are some highlights:

More, better

The big/best visual arts news at Artscape this year? The expansion into the Station North Arts & Entertainment District. Look for film and live music at Metro Gallery and exhibitions “Midway,” an artistic comment on carnivals, and “Phone Booth,” featuring 500-plus impromptu shots of festival-goers (both at Charles Street Bridge area). For the even more adventurous, try the Baltimore Erotic Arts Festival exhibition “On the Edge” at Load of Fun (120 W. North Ave.). We say: It’s about time. Welcome to the party, Station North!

•••• More than 50 tables will offer DIY wares this year, because, really, how many mass-produced Van Gogh prints and dreamcatchers can you own?

•••• Break out the wallet: More than 150 local and international artists will set up shop this year.

•••• The Janet & Walter Sondheim Prize finalists exhibition at the Baltimore Museum of Art celebrates artists working in the Baltimore region. Baltimore County teacher Geoff Grace won this year for his multimedia work “it’s the linger, not the long.”

On stage

In Darren Goins’ “Constructed,” five monologues address issues of masculinity, especially how formative experiences can shape male identity. The performance marks the national debut of the Cockeysville writer’s work, inspired by 1980s Broadway productions by Eric Bogosian and Whoopi Goldberg.

“They not only re-created how men were interacting in the changing environment around them, but how they ought to react,” said Goins, 36.

Most of the monologues are based on Goins’ interviews with others, but the first is autobiographical.

“[It’s] about my accelerated promotion to man of the family after the unexpected and premature death of my father and my brother, six years apart,” he said. See his work at 4:30 today at Theatre Project (45 W. Preston St.). Free.

•••• Along with “Constructed,” Theatre Project hosts free theater performances throughout Artscape. Works include “The Tragedy of Macbeth” (2:30 p.m. Saturday), an improv night (8:30 p.m. Saturday) and a comedy night (6:30 p.m. Sunday).

•••• Also on tap: Baltimore Opera Company performances Saturday and Sunday at the Brown Center, 1301 Mount Royal Ave., dance performances Saturday and Sunday at the Lyric Opera House, 101 W. Mount Royal Ave. and ongoing street theater at Maryland Institute College of Art’s main building (1300 Mount Royal Ave).

Headliners

•••• Check out big-name acts Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Dru Hill (with Sisqo), Mario and Roberta Flack at the Main and Saturn stages throughout the weekend.

•••• The DJ Culture Stage (North Charles Street and Mount Royal Avenue) keeps it pumping with a revolving slate of spinners and MCs today-Sunday. Look for Blaqstarr and Dave Nada on Friday, DIPLO on Saturday and The Clipse on Sunday.

•••• At Metro Gallery (1700 block of Charles St. near East Lanvale Street) from noon-3 p.m. Saturday look for Quartet Offensive, The Go Station and Thrushes. From 1-6:30 p.m. Sunday the lineup is The Jennifers, Hybrid Groove, Payola Reserve and Caleb Stine & The Brakemen.

•••• The University of Baltimore Stage (Mount Royal Avenue near Lafayette Avenue) features local and regional artists today-Sunday, with an emphasis on blues and jazz. Among the acts: Old Man Blues, Memphis Gold and Charles “Big Daddy” Stallings.

•••• Vocal competitions include the Billie Holiday and Cab Calloway Vocal Competitions (noon-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St.). The Chick Webb Jazz Combo Competition is from 3-5:45 p.m. Saturday at the Everyman Theatre, 1727 N. Charles St.

The art of marital bliss

They had their first date at Artscape two years ago, so it was a no-brainer that Mary Donahue and Bill Hicks would get married at the festival.

“Artscape is the perfect venue for reaching out and touching other lives,” said Donahue, 46. “Every type of person, every culture is represented. It’s a beautiful event for sharing themes of union and love.”

It’s the first time Artscape has hosted a wedding. “I like being the person who paved the way,” she said.
Donahue and Hicks, 48, will marry on Artscape’s Main Stage at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, in front of friends (invited through Evite) and who-knows how many others. The groom will wear a Hawaiian shirt, the bride, a formal ivory dress. The reception venue? All of Artscape. Both are members of the Baltimore Blues Society, so Donahue is looking forward to seeing Rusted Root and “Big Daddy” Stallings perform.

And the honeymoon? They’ve booked a night at Abacrombie bed and breakfast, right in the thick of Artscape. They’ll be back to the festival Sunday.

“Every year, for our anniversary, we’ll come back,” Donahue said.

•••• What do you get when you cross ‘70s exploitation flicks with drag queens? “Starrbooty,” starring drag legends RuPaul and Lady Bunny — natch. Catch the screening at 8 p.m. Sunday at Metro Gallery (1700 N. Charles St. ). Tickets are $6. Also screened: footage of upcoming underground film “Black Devil Doll.”

•••• What would Artscape be without art cars? Throughout the weekend, the wacky wheels will be on display at Cathedral and Preston streets. Don’t miss the art car caravan during a parade starting at Mount Royal and Mosher avenues at 12:30 p.m. Bonus: “Automorphosis,” a film featuring local art cars, will screen at the parking lot across from the Charles Theatre at 8:45 p.m. Saturday.

PERFORMANCES

MAIN STAGE 1400 Cathedral St. and Mount Royal Avenue

today
MIA MIATA 4 p.m.
GROOVE STU 5:30 p.m.
ROBERTA FLACK 8:30 p.m.

saturday
REVERB 1 p.m.
KIA HEATH 2 p.m.
JSOUL 3:30 p.m.
RYE-RYE, DJ CLASS, K-SWIFT 5 p.m.
MARIO 7 p.m.
DRU HILL 8:30 p.m.

sunday
3 THE HARD WAY 1 p.m.
SEE I 3 p.m.
SOJA 4:30 p.m.
THE WAILERS 6:30 p.m.

SATURN STAGE Mount Royal Avenue, near Mosher Street

today
KARTER JAYMES noon
JAY BUTTS 1:30 p.m.
THE ORANGES BAND 5 p.m.
CHARM CITY DEVILS 6:30 p.m.
JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS 8:30 p.m.

saturday
ANNIE SIDLEY 12:30 p.m.
STUPID HERO 2 p.m.
SOUND OFF! WINNER GARY B AND THE NOTIONS 4 p.m.
BACK DOOR SLAM 5:30 p.m.
MIKE DOUGHTY 7 p.m.
RUSTED ROOT 8:30 p.m.

sunday
THE GRILLED LINCOLNS noon
VICTORIA FOX 1:30 p.m.
3 FIFTHS 3 p.m.
CHOPTEETH 4:30 p.m.
BACHATA ROJA 6:30 p.m.

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