Artscape Highlights
Story and Photos by Quill Wordsmith

From Friday, July 18 to Sunday, July 2008, America's largest Arts & Cultural festival covered the streets of Baltimore's cultural district. As usual, from performances to art cars, there were several spectacles to take in and enjoy. This year was the first year the festival was expanded from Mount Royal Avenue all the way up the edge of Charles Village at North Avenue, allowing more room to be creative. In addition to the featured performances-such as Roberta Flack and Baltimore's own Mario and Dru Hill-there were several other exciting marvels to see.

There were several performances to see on the main stage. As usual, Reverb was one of them. From Motown hits to original compositions, this all-male sextet of singers with their accapella harmony and acoustics had the audience swaying to wholesome Rhythm and Blues. Though Reverb is more of a favorite among the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, of course there were more mainstream names that graced the stage as well. This year's top names included Baltimore's own Dru Hill featuring Sisqo and R&B wonder Mario. It almost seemed as if the Artscape organizers decided to bring some of Baltimore's stars back home. More than a good tune and a melody to hear, there were some other features that many would've missed if they weren't paying attention. The Billie Holiday Vocal Competition and the Cab Calloway Vocal Competition were two that many Artscape regulars are familiar with. This year there was an additional category: The Chick Webb Combo Competition. This took place in the newest venue of the festival: Everyman Theatre. Different Jazz groups and combos came through and performed for a full day of great live Jazz music.

This year's top names included Baltimore's own Dru Hill featuring Sisqo and R&B wonder Mario. It almost seemed as if the Artscape organizers decided to bring some of Baltimore's stars back home.

The Art Cars were lined up as well, taking over Charles Street and lined up outside of Penn Station. There were the usual participants, such as the Tree Truck, the patriotic vintage Mercedes, and the anarchy van. Some of the new additions, however, had a far louder message to bring forth. The singing marine life on the Volvo was one of them, for example. Decked all around the car were lobsters and fish singing marching tunes. The Phone Car was also quite interesting. basically a phone on wheels. The American Visionary Art Museum even set up shop with their trademark mosaic style school bus. Not too far from the art cars were several ceramic artists adjacent to the food court and DJ Culture Stage. This stage was populated with spectators standing around to see what beats would be spun off of the turntable or what b-boy would tear up the artificial dance floor with his flips and turns.

What's new to Theater Project? Improv Night was still a huge plus to the comedy factor spewing out of Theater Project. With the two featured groups-The Mime Hunters and Baltimore Improv Group (B.I.G.)-the show made for a wonderful close to Friday night. In fact, it almost makes you wonder at the end how something as simple as fish sticks and the state of Oregon could add so much fuel to an imaginary living room full of people. The following day, ETM had the pleasure of seeing the new production, Neo-Theality. LOVE the poet, Phoenix, Simba, Black Root, and J. Pope all together make up this highly unique group. Through spoken word poetry, acting, and even song, they express every deception concealed in the city's inner workings all the way up to how to LIVE LIFE and do it appreciatively. This goes to show you that art lives beyond the obvious visual arts that seem to only scratch the surface at this huge art festival.

With the two featured groups-The Mime Hunters and Baltimore Improv Group (B.I.G.)-the show made for a wonderful close to Friday night. In fact, it almost makes you wonder at the end how something as simple as fish sticks and the state of Oregon could add so much fuel to an imaginary living room full of people.

The Carnival of Freaks caught everyone's attention, even nights before the first day of the festival. Clowns, medieval actors on stilts, and even girls whirling hoola hoops around their necks almost served as props in the midst of the "Photo Booth", Rock and Roll improv tent, and simulated space ships. This gave everyone a chance to be an actual part of art. The Green Food Court featured Baltimore's vegan and vegetarian cuisine. As you continued up and out, the live instrumentation and artwork could be seen for blocks away. Each year there's always something different, something spectacular, and, quite frankly, always life changing.

The question always remains: "How in the world can they possibly outdo themselves for the upcoming year? Can they do that?" And the answer always lies in the affirmative:

"Yes, we can."

 

And He Writes..
Quill Wordsmith