Art in Action at Art Walk
By Susan Nolan
Thirty-two years ago, Cynthia McBride, owner of McBride Gallery in Annapolis, was concerned her customers would not be able to find her. “We had just moved to our present location at 215 Main Street. At the time, this part of town was still mostly offices,” she says. The solution? An event in which people could stroll from gallery to gallery and become acquainted with all the art galleries in downtown Annapolis.
That event has become an annual tradition for local residents and visitors alike. Thursday, Aug. 18, McBride Gallery and 16 other galleries will open their doors for the 32nd Annual Annapolis Art Walk. Each location will feature an artist reception or an art demonstration.
Maria Marino, a local pastelist known for her vibrant colors, will be at McBride Gallery. “Maria is one of the few artists in the entire world allowed to work in Monet’s garden,” says McBride.
This is the second time Marino has participated in the Annapolis Art Walk; the first was in 2017. “This is an opportunity for the public to learn more about working with pastels,” says Marino, who plans on doing a demonstration of her techniques. “Pastels are beautiful and often misunderstood.”
According to McBride, the best way to enjoy the Art Walk is to anywhere you like and just visit as many galleries as you desire. Maps are available at each stop and participating galleries will display yellow balloons making them easy to recognize.
McBride offers one more tip for those who don’t mind a little extra walking: Free parking is available at the city garage at St. Johns Street and Calvert Street.
More details: mcbridegallery.com.
