Howard County Center

Art is not a team sport. That's what an instructor used to tell Ginger Peloquin, a resident artist at Howard County Center for the Arts in Ellicott City. It seems a pretty natural deduction. Artists are considered solitary figures, individual in mind and body of work. They're hardly the sort who meet for brainstorming sessions or to discuss how they can make their pieces more uniform. But for Peloquin and Jay Kissel, another resident artist, their new show is a team effort. "We observed each other's work and found a commonality," says Kissel, who lives in Columbia.

The nation's debt to men and women who serve in uniform can never be fully repaid. But Jane Kramer believes every little bit helps. She said that's why the Howard County Garden Club undertook the project to install a Blue Star Memorial marker, honoring present and former armed forces members, in the heart of Ellicott City. At the Howard County Welcome Center at 8267 Main St. in Ellicott City, a formal dedication was held Friday at 10 a.m., with live music, military ceremonies, presentations and comments from local elected officials.

ArtHoCo, a biennial exhibition of work by artists who live, work or study in Howard County, is like an old-fashioned variety store, filled with interesting items and intriguing possibilities.In spite of its trendy name, the show at the Howard County Center for the Arts has a neighborly feel.Accomplished work sits side by side with laudable efforts by less-experienced artists. Styles range from 17th century to surreal and avant-garde.It's a comfortable show.A child with dark eyes and round cheeks looks out through a jagged doorway in Tae Won Kim's photograph "Looking Out."

Call for artists The Bernice Kish Gallery at Slayton House is accepting applications for artists to exhibit in the galleries for the 2013 season. The Gallery Screening Committee will begin reviewing applications in the spring. Deadline for applications is June 1. For applications and more information, go to wildelake.org. Mail applications to gallery director Carole Black at Bernice Kish Gallery, Slayton House, 10400 Cross Fox Lane, Columbia, 21044; or send email to cjblack@columbiavillages.org . Workshops The public school system's Office of Early Childhood Programs and the Transition to Kindergarten Workgroup will host a series of workshops for parents with children who will be 5 by Sept.

The villages of Columbia, African Art Museum of Maryland, Howard County Center of African American Culture and Columbia Association will sponsor an afternoon program, "Roots of Howard County in Celebration of African-American History," from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 11 at Historic Oakland, 5430 Vantage Point Road, Columbia. Admission is free. The event, which will commemorate Black History Month, will include a visit to the African Art Museum of Maryland, displays organized by the Howard County Center of African American Culture, children's entries in the Columbia Association's "Images of Freedom" poster contest, a musical performance by Rae Bernard of Harmony of Sol and a panel of speakers that is to include Maggie J. Brown, Herman Charity, C. Vernon Gray, Morgan Rollins, Barbara Russell, Jean Toomer and Diop Wallace.

The Howard County Arts Council is accepting exhibition proposals for the 1998-1999 gallery season at the Howard County Center for the Arts in Ellicott City.Regional organizations, groups and individuals who wish to curate an exhibition or show their own work are invited to submit proposals.To receive an application, call Jennifer Scott at 410-313-2787. Or write to the Howard County Arts Council, Howard County Center for the Arts, 8510 High Ridge Road, Ellicott City 21043.Pub Date: 1/11/98

The Visual Artist Alliance of Maryland meets at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Howard County Center for the Arts, 8510 High Ridge Road. Ann Wiker will give a talk on "How to Write an Artist's Statement." For more information, call 301-854-3478.

The Howard County Center for the Arts has two concurrent shows at the moment.In its Gallery I, "Ho Co Open" is a nonjuried, multimedia exhibit that gives amateur as well as professional artists a chance to show their work, and features works by more than 70 Howard County artists.In Gallery II, "No Boundaries" is a show of the work of artists with disabilities from the Therapeutic Recreation Program of Howard County Recreation and Parks.At the Howard County Center for the Arts, 8510 High Ridge Road, Ellicott City, through Aug. 21. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

The Howard County Photography Society is sponsoring a program on photography with the Hubble Space Telescope at 7:30 p.m. April 26 at the Howard County Center for the Arts.Society members John Bedke and Zolton Levay from the Space Science Institute in Baltimore will discuss various aspects of the telescope and space photography.Also featured will be a display of slides and photos taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.The Howard County Center for the Arts is at 8510 High Ridge Road, Ellicott City.

Howard County Center for the Arts is holding registration for its visual and performing arts programs beginning Monday and continuing through June 13. Adult courses include beginner watercolor painting, sumi painting and knitting. Youth courses for ages 5-12 include creating comics and cartoons. Brochures are available at 8510 High Ridge Road or at hocoarts.org. Information: 410-313-2787.

Activity Pals For single seniors. Get together with others to attend events, shop, go sightseeing, dine out and more. 301-596-6385. The Bain Center 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. 410-313-7213. •Another Way to See It Laughter Club. Mondays, 9 a.m. $2 instructor fee at class each week. •Bain Friday Documentaries. Aug. 5, 1 p.m. "The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers. " •Bain Thursday Afternoon Movies . Aug. 11, 1 p.m. "Red.

These groups meet regularly. Afternoon Tea at Historic Oakland — Last Thursday, 4:30-6 p.m. Historic Oakland, 5430 Vantage Point Road, Columbia. Tea, sandwiches, desserts and more will be served. $20 per person. Reservations are required at least 48 hours in advance. 410-730-4744, 800-730-4802 or http://www.historic-oakland.com . A Novel Idea — Fourth Thursday, 7 p.m. Discussion of recently published novels. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Long Gate Shopping Center, Montgomery Road, Ellicott City.

Renovation project The Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks has received a $30,000 grant from the National Recreational Trails Program Fund. The grant will be used for the renovation of the Village of Owen Brown's pedestrian pathway system. The project, scheduled to begin in October, will allow the restoration of the deteriorating east Columbia pathway with a new overlay of asphalt. Howard County will provide $30,000 in matching funds, along with any remaining funds needed for the project.

Workshop Lois Wolford, a member of the National Watercolor Society and the Baltimore Watercolor Society, leads "Basics of Acrylic Painting" from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 12 at Howard County Center for the Arts, 8510 High Ridge Road. Cost is $65, $55 for members. Information: 410-313-2787. Music Matters Showcase Majolica Buzz, Tribe of Five and Happy Haines perform 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, May 29, at Sweet Bakery and Cafe, 8143 Main St. Information: 410-461-9275.

Howard County Center for the Arts is holding registration for its visual and performing arts programs beginning Monday and continuing through June 13. Adult courses include beginner watercolor painting, sumi painting and knitting. Youth courses for ages 5-12 include creating comics and cartoons. Brochures are available at 8510 High Ridge Road or at hocoarts.org. Information: 410-313-2787.