Montpelier

As a former colony of France, now an independent nation whose official language is French, the West African nation of Senegal has long ties to Europe and one should not be surprised to see a European influence in its contemporary art.One does, in a current show of seven Senegalese artists at the Montpelier Cultural Arts Center. But the more successful of these artists use elements of what can be interpreted as European style in order to deal with deeper concerns. When style itself comes more to the fore, as it does with other artists here, the work comes off as less essential and more superficial.

Baltimore Police are investigating a double homicide late Sunday and two other shootings that occurred in the predawn hours. Responding to calls of gunfire at about 10:50 p.m., Northeast District officers found an unresponsive man lying in the street in the 1700 block of Montpelier St. suffering from gunshot wounds. Up the block, police found a car with the front passenger door open and a woman inside, who had also been shot and was unresponsive. Both victims were transported to Johns Hopkins Hospital.

NOW THAT the "X-Files" has been moved to Sunday night, what's to do on a Friday evening?The Montpelier Cultural Arts Center has the answer.Come meet the future stars of the art world at a reception held in honor of new artists exhibiting at the center next month.The free reception for artists Roslyn Logson, Carol Sky, Bill Tamburrino, Gary Irby, Karen Peacock, Jennifer Berringer and Melissa Burley will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 8.The Montpelier Cultural Arts Center is at the intersection of Routes 295 and 197.Information: (301)

Visit with the Chesapeake Woodturners at Hands-On History Day: Be a Woodturner's Apprentice, Saturday, March 24 and Sunday, March 25 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Montpelier Mansion, 9650 Muirkirk Road. See how chairs are made by hand on a foot-powered treadle lathe. Visitors can sand the spindles and weave the seats. At the end, visitors can sign their own "apprentice contract" with a quill pen. On Sunday, watch pens being turned on an electric lathe, then assemble the pens to take home and watch as wooden tops are made and take one home.

WITH THE weather finally warming up, a person's fancy turns to thoughts of -- getting out of the house.No longer forced by bitter weather to cocoon ourselves, we can all sally forth to meet our neighbors and sample our area's delights.This weekend features several great things to do.Hammond High is presenting the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "Oklahoma!" this weekend and next.As in all Hammond productions, it's an all-singing, all-acting, all-dancing delight.More than 100 staff members and students joined together to present this classic musical drama.

It's the beginning of a new month, so that means the Montpelier Cultural Arts Center is changing the exhibitions around again.Sam Soto, a sculptor who has a studio in the center, exhibits his stone and rawhide pieces in the Resident Artist's Gallery through June 30. There will be a reception in his honor June 16 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. As usual, both the exhibit and the reception are free.Susanne Arnold, a Virginia artist, has been selected from a field of 150 to be the 1995 Montpelier National Visiting artist.

Remember that tonight you and your loved ones can see a free performance of "Romeo and Juliet" under the stars.Bring a blanket, a light repast and your crew to the grounds of Montpelier Mansion for an evening of star-crossed romance put on by the Washington Stage Guild.The group will first perform a short musical play about the 300-year history of Prince George's County.The performance will begin at 7: 30 p.m., so plan to get there right after work.The mansion is at the Route 197 exit of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.

The Montpelier Arts Center, 9652 Muirkirk Road, Laurel, will begin its Classical Recital Series at 3 p.m. today with a concert by the Mendelssohn Piano Trio. The recital series, which ends Oct. 28 with a performance by Voice XXI, a chamber chorus, features musicians from the Washington area performing in the intimate setting of the Montpelier main gallery. A donation of $5 is suggested. Reservations are requested. Information or reservations: 301-953-1993. Art workshops for children Camellia A. Blackwell of the International Center for Artistic Development at Savage Mill will offer Saturday-morning art workshops for children, ages 6 to 15, from 11 a.m. to noon Oct. 13 and 20. The Oct. 13 workshop will focus on drawing and clay sculptures; the second on completing the sculptures.

The 29th Montpelier Summer Concert Series is to begin at 8 p.m. June 24 with three free performances by the Tent Troupe, a traveling summer tent theater sponsored by St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church in Silver Spring. Neil Simon's Fools, a family show, will be presented at 8 p.m. June 24 and 25. A children's production, All God's Critters, is planned at 1:45 p.m. June 25. The show includes favorite songs, skits, stories and games. Performances will be held, rain or shine, under the Big Top tent at Montpelier; seating is provided.

MONTPELIER, Va. - James Madison, the fourth president of the United States, never liked the limelight. He was a quiet man who loved books more than crowds, a man with a soft voice and a modest signature, one of the smallest on the U.S. Constitution. His home, Montpelier, was always his beloved refuge. When Madison became president in 1809, he left his estate in the rolling hills of Virginia's Piedmont reluctantly. Today's visitors to the historic home can see why. The house is as grand as ever, and along with its lovely gardens and surrounding forest, it is becoming more and more popular as a museum.

Join in the opening of new exhibits at a reception at the Montpelier Arts Center, 9652 Muirkirk Road, Friday, Feb. 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. Prints by Lou Stovall and others from the master printmaker's workshop will be on display in the Main Gallery through March 26. In the Library Gallery, performance artist Natalia Panfile will be exhibiting videos of past performances through March 30 as well as performing an endurance piece March 4 from 2 to 4 p.m....

Needleart 2011 fills the rooms of Montpelier Mansion, 9652 Muirkirk Road, with an array of stitched art, from needlepoint to ribbon work. Sponsored by Stitching Pretty of Laurel, the exhibit continues through Nov. 27, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving). This year's theme is "Life on the Chesapeake. " Judges choose winners in several categories and exhibit visitors are invited to vote for the People's Choice award. This year's Best in the Show award-winner is "Asia Floral," stitched by Jean Chandler, of St. Mary's County.

16th annual Needleart exhibit opens Friday Needleart 2011 fills the rooms of Montpelier Mansion, 9652 Muirkirk Road, with an array of stitched art, from needlepoint to ribbon work. Sponsored by Stitching Pretty of Laurel, the exhibit opens Friday, Nov. 4 from 3 to 7 p.m. and continues Nov. 5 through 27, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving). This year's theme is "Life on the Chesapeake. " Judges choose winners in several categories and exhibit visitors are invited to vote for the People's Choice award.

There's a treasure sitting in our neighborhood, constructed between 1781 and 1785. It's the Montpelier Mansion. The house is breathtaking; the land surrounding is pristine and well maintained by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Department of Parks and Recreation, and Prince George's County. Seeing this historic property first-hand is indeed a rewarding experience for all. One of the main focuses of the history of Montpelier is to educate guests of all ages.

Hear jazz played with a funky beat by pianist John Ozment and his organ trio, Friday, Oct. 7, 8 p.m. at Montpelier Arts Center, 9652 Muirkirk Road. Tickets are $20 per person. For tickets, call 301-377-7800.

On Sunday, Sept. 11, the Montpelier Art Center hosted a reception for three new exhibits. Guests were treated to an excellent selection of finger foods and provided with the opportunity to meet the featured artists Linda Bernard, Roslyn Logsdon, Charlie Risselada and Rachel Rotenberg. Bernard and Logsdon, who are both resident artists at the center, collaborated on a presentation titled "Windows. " Logsdon works hooked fibers and fabrics into images of windows on a facade.

There's still time to catch Al Zaruba's one-person sculpture show at Montpelier Cultural Arts Center, but it closes in a mere nine days. Zaruba's sculptures look like creatures from outer space, and also from your most frightening dreams, which is what makes them relevant.They look like human fears and dreads made visible and therefore are more manageable than when they reside solely in the mind. They're frightening but funny as well, awkward but also obviously the product of a sophisticated, ruminative, highly original mind.

`Big Woods Walk' at Madison's estate Your arms won't reach around most of the trees in the James Madison Landmark Forest in Montpelier Station, Va. But you can hug the trees, nevertheless, during a guided tour Sunday of the 200-acre old-growth forest at James Madison's Montpelier. The forest, also known as the "Big Woods," includes trees - oaks, poplars and hickories - that are between 200 to 300 years old years and are up to 60 inches in diameter. The undisturbed forest floor harbors a large population of wildlife and is rich with native-plant species, including redbuds, spicebush, Virginia creeper, honeysuckle and grapevines.

Listen to the jazz sounds of the Chris Vadala Quartet , Fri., Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. at the Montpelier Arts Center, 9652 Muirkirk Road. Saxophonist Chris Vadala toured for many years with Churck Mangione and now heads the jazz studies program at the University of Maryland. Tickets are $20 per person; $18 for members and seniors. For tickets, call 301-377-7800. Help kickoff the Ryan Odelle Mance Memorial Scholarship Foundation's inaugural 5k walk fundraiser, Sat., Sept. 17. Check-in and donation submission begin at 8:15 a.m., with shotgun start at 9 a.m. at Riverfront Park, off Main Street at Avondale Street.

Montpelier Marlins swimmers tied a league record and broke two team records at the Prince-Mont Swim League All-Star Meet at Whitehall Pool and Tennis Club in Bowie July 30. Dylan Buehler tied the league record in the boys 13-14 50-meter butterfly in 27.82, and broke the Montpelier team record in the 100-meter individual medley with a time of 1:05.41. After winning both events, Buehler joined the boys medley relay with Nick Mills, Caleb Heidel and Matt Derrick for a third place finish.