Local Artists

This February, many area museums have mounted small, tightly focused exhibitions of African-American art to commemorate Black History Month, including the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington. However, these efforts also remind us of how rarely we get to see works of African-American artists during the rest of the year, particularly in local galleries. Barbara Chase-Riboud's show at Gomez Gallery and Chevelle Makeba Moore Jones' at Galerie Francoise last year were notable exceptions.

On any given night, the main dining room at Piccolo's, the popular Italian restaurant in Columbia, is filled with patrons enjoying steaming plates of risotto, spaghetti and veal chops. The lighting is romantic, the noise level is high.Off to the side, away from preoccupied diners and hustling wait staff, is the Florentine Room, which usually is reserved for receptions, parties and the overflow crowd on the restaurant's busiest weekend nights.It's also a de facto art gallery with a respected curator who screens and chooses work from local artists, hangs their art on the white walls of the glassed-in room and supervises six or seven exhibits each year.

Devon Davison's words tumble out as he talks about his life, his dreams, the molecular differences between cotton fibers and polyester, and his plans for a vacant city firehouse at 43 S. Carey St. in Southwest Baltimore. He plans to buy the century-old station, move in and set up a digital arts studio where local artists and neighborhood children can use computers for video, broadcasting and other creative projects. He also hopes to link with city schools to provide internships for students.

Jimmy Rouse is an artist. Always has been. Always will be. "I've painted my whole life," he says.For 15 years, he has also owned Louie's Book Store Cafe on North Charles Street. During all that time, he has organized an art show at the cafe every six weeks, typically three artists and 50 or 60 works per show. Eight shows a year, about 120 shows in all, thousands of works of art, 200 different artists at least. In all that time, he's never had a show of his own art. He's put a painting in the annual show of employees' work; that's it.Now he's giving up Louie's, gradually, so he can devote more time to his first love, painting.

Chandler Designs celebrates 10th yearChandler Designs, a Columbia picture framer at 9017 Mendenhall Court, Suite A, will celebrate its 10th year in business from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 21 with demonstrations using marble and paste papers, printmaking and book binding.Guest artists will include Judith Kornett and Dedree Drees, who teaches at Catonsville Community College.Original works by local artists will be on sale.

The Mount Royal Tavern has been a neighborhood watering hole for decades. The bar, at 1204 W. Mount Royal Ave. in Bolton Hill, attracts a diverse crowd, including students from the nearby Maryland Institute College of Art. In summer, the tavern is host to Foodscape, an annual exhibit organized by local artists to spoof Artscape.

Care for some art as an appetizer? Or perhaps an oil painting with your new 'do'? Maybe a watercolor with that fresh set of windshield wiper blades?You no longer have to go to a gallery or museum to see such things -- works by local artists are cropping up in places where people can't miss them.Restaurants are the most common uncommon venues, but home-grown artworks also can be found on display locally in a beauty parlor, banks and a car dealership. Last year, a police chief allowed a miniart show in his office.

Where: 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda When: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sunday Why: Because sometimes it's nice to just wander around outside without a schedule. Local artists will display their photography, prints, paintings, fabrics and jewelry. The St. Petersburg Trio, Spencer Bates and the James Bazen/Brian Litz Duo will provide music all day. The show goes on rain or shine. Admission: Free Information: 301-215-6660 or visit www.bethesda.org.

Local artists -- Howard County Center for the Arts is presenting its HoCo Open, a biennial nonjuried exhibit open on a first-come, first-served basis to adult artists who live, work or study in Howard County, in Gallery I. No Boundaries, a display of work by people with disabilities, is in Gallery II. The shows run through Aug. 18. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. 410-313-ARTS.