With "Growing Art in Baltimore" as its motto, Artscape '98 promises a celebration that's grown to be bigger than ever, its organizers say.
In its 17th year, Baltimore's free annual arts festival will feature music and performing arts on three outdoor stages, indoor and outdoor visual arts exhibitions, opera, chamber music, international dance, literary arts workshops and celebrity readings, street theater and activities for children and families.
Artscape runs tomorrow through Sunday.
"It's an incredibly wonderful coming together of everyone in the region," said Claudia Bismark, director of development for Artscape '98. "We have participants from all up and down the East Coast."
Bismark said highlights of the literary arts celebration will include a celebrity reading Saturday with filmmaker and author John Waters, a writers' dialogue with mystery writers Laura Lippman and Sujata Massey, and Sunday panel discussions on "How To Get Published" and "Baltimore Bylines."
Performing arts will take place on three stages. The headliners are Roger Daltrey, formerly of the Who, tomorrow, and Gladys Knight on Sunday.
For family fun, Bismark said, festival-goers should be sure to catch "Growing Shakespeare & Kids" - a performance of Macbeth put on by 20 children ranging in age from 7 to 17. Another crowd-pleaser will be the
Creation Station: Architectonics, a hands-on exhibit where kids, along with architects and designers, will be able to build labyrinths with interlocking blocks.
The visual arts exhibitions will include nine different shows in addition to a Literary Arts Market and an Artists' Market, where art will be for sale.
Bismark said Artscape organizers are expecting about 1.5 million people to attend the event, topping the million mark hit at every festival since 1992.
"If you're not familiar with the arts, there will always be something to entice you," she said. "There's something for everybody at Artscape."
THE FACTS
What: Artscape '98
When: Tomorrow, 5:45 p.m.-10:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, noon-10:30 p.m. (rain or shine)
Where: Mount Royal Avenue, between North Avenue and Preston Street near the Lyric Opera House, Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, University of Baltimore and Maryland Institute, College of Art
Admission: Free
Access: Public transportation includes a light rail stop on festival grounds and access from Amtrak's Penn Station. Limited parking is available nearby. Artscape is accessible to those with disabilities.
Information: Call 410-396-4575 or look at the Artscape Web site, http://www.artscape.org
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday
5:45 p.m.
BGE Kinderman Art Parade, Fox Stage to Decker Stage
6 p.m.
Literary Arts Market opens, Mount Royal Avenue at Lyric Opera House
Artists' Market opens, Preston Street, Cathedral Street and through Pearlstone Park
6:45 p.m.
lan, pop/jazz/world beat, Decker Stage
7 p.m.
All Mighty Senators, funk and pop, Fox Stage
7:30 p.m.
Literary arts awards ceremony, Moot Court Room, UB. Host: Daniel Mark Epstein.
8 p.m.
Readings by poetry and short story award winners Laura Lynds and Molly Bruce Jacobs, Moot Court Room, UB
Roger Daltrey with British Rock Symphony and Choir, Decker Stage
8:15 p.m.
Ruth Brown, rhythm and blues, Fox Stage
Saturday
Noon
Opening of Creation Station, Bright StARTS Tent, Literary Arts Market, Artists' Market, art exhibits, art car show
Poetry and short story readings by literary arts award nominees, Moot Court Room, UB
12:30 p.m.
"Macbeth," Growing Shakespeare and Kids, Decker Auditorium, MICA
Darryl Morgan PEP, percussion, Gordon Plaza, UB
Navasha D. Boxley, winner of the Mayor's 1998 Billie Holiday Vocal Competition, Fox Stage
12:45 p.m.
Kinderman John Taylor, MICA main building steps
Collaboration, rhythm and blues, Decker Stage
1 p.m.
Tir Na Nog Irish Dancers, Langsdale Auditorium, UB
Part Harmony, a cappella, Mount Royal Avenue at Dolphin Street
Louis Paul, Balloons with Enchantment, until 7 p.m. in Pearlstone Park
L Bright StARTS Performers, McDonald's Family Performance Tent
Jay Kishor, Indian sitar and surbahar, Gordon Stage
1:15 p.m.
Dunbar Jazz Ensemble, Fox Stage
1:45 p.m.
L John Allicock, the Calypso Tumbler, MICA main building steps
Mystic Warriors, Andean music, Maryland Avenue at Mount Royal Avenue
2 p.m.
Nilimma Devi, classical Indian dance, Langsdale Auditorium, UB
Baltimore Youth Television, student videos, Decker Auditorium, Station Building, MICA
Devonna Rowe's Songs of Africa, McDonald's Family Performance Tent
"A Woman's Life: A Personal View," panel discussion with Allegra Bennett, Judith Hillman Paterson, Lillie Shockney, RN, and MiMi Zannino, Moot Court Room, UB
The Recipe, Appalachian roots rock, Fox Stage
Chu Shan Chinese Opera, for kids too, Gordon Stage
2:15 p.m.
Baaba Maal, African pop, Decker Stage
2:30 p.m.
Kinderman John Taylor, song and dance, Mount Royal Avenue at Dolphin Street
3 p.m.
Hua Sha, Chinese dance, Langsdale Auditorium, UB
B.L.A.C.K. Steppers, dancing and rapping, food tent area
Anansegromma, West African drumming and dance, McDonald's Family Performance Tent
