AFTA in Baltimore

New officers, councilors take positions July 1
A new slate of Maryland State Art Council officers – elected at the Council's annual meeting, June 4 – assumes leadership this month.

William Mandicott, formerly secretary-treasurer, is now chair of the Arts Council. Mandicott is assistant vice president for student and community involvement at Frostburg State University in Allegany County. He is also chair of Frostburg's Cultural Event Series. The Allegany County resident was appointed to the Arts Council by Gov. Martin O'Malley in July 2007.

Abigail Hoffman, remains vice chair of the Arts Council. Hoffman, an attorney, is a principal of R&R Professional Recovery Inc., based in Baltimore County where she also resides. David Terry is now secretary/treasurer. Terry is executive director of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of African American History and Culture, located near Baltimore's Inner Harbor. He is a resident of Prince George's County.

Two new councilors also join the Arts Council in July: Margaret Footner and Lora Bottinelli. Footner is executive director and one of the founders of the Creative Alliance, a multi-discipline arts center located in southeast Baltimore. The center is an anchor of the Highlandtown Arts and Entertainment District. Bottinelli is executive director of Salisbury University's Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art. Previously, she was deputy director, curator and folklorist at the museum. She is editor of Wildfowl Art Journal and a member of the Middle Atlantic Folklife Association's board of directors.

Six master musicians performed with their apprentices at the June 10 Showcase : Donna Long, traditional Irish musician; Lafayette Gilchrist, Baltimore jazz pianist; Burton DeBusk, Appalachian gospel singer; Ali Analouei, a Persian daf (drum) master; Samia Ahmad , Hindustani vocalist; and Gustavo Nieto, Colombian accordionist.

Also, the recipients of ALTA (Achievement in Living Traditions and Arts) Award were announced. Uncle Nace's Day – a yearly Talbot County celebration that started as Maryland Emancipation Day in 1867 – won the “People” category. It was named after its founder, Nathaniel “Uncle Nace” Hopkins (a former slave and Civil War veteran) in 1900. Globe Poster, which has produced posters for entertainment events, elections and festivals for 65 years at its Baltimore City location, was named winner of the “Place” category. And, Maryland's state sport – jousting – won the “Tradition” category.

Allegany County arts leader gets award from Pa. group
William Mandicott, chair of Frostburg State University's Cultural Event Series and the newly elected chair of the Maryland State Arts Council, was honored as “Presenter of the Year” by Pennsylvania Presenters – a consortium of arts presenters and others involved in staging performing-arts events throughout Pennsylvania and neighboring states. The award was given at the organization's annual Spring Arts Conference, held June 9-11 in Gettysburg, Pa.

Pennsylvania Presenters honored Mandicott for being “an inspirational mover and shaker in the presenting field” who “connects audiences, colleagues, artists and students through art.” The award is given annually to an individual who “goes above and beyond the performance of (his or her) regular paid responsibilities and regular expectations of a Pennsylvania Presenter.”

Members of Pennsylvania Presenters collaborate on programming, block-booking and grant opportunities. They work with a variety of Pennsylvania arts groups, as well as the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.

Baker winner Shodekeh takes stage with BSO
Conductor Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) perform the music of Frank Zappa and Philip Glass – two native sons – on Friday, July 23. The evening also features Shodekeh, a Baltimore beatboxer, who recalls working as an usher for the BSO six years ago.

After watching Shodekeh perform in Colorado, Chicago Sun-Times critic Roger Ebert later wrote about the experience in his online journal: “He picked up a mike, and I assumed he was a vocalist. Well, in a way he was. Shodekeh is a percussionist who plays his body as his instrument. He's the only percussion section I've ever seen with choreography.”

Shodekeh was one of the Baltimore's Choice Prize winners in the 2010 Baker Artist Awards competition and the recipient of the inaugural Nancy Haragan Award, which is given to the Baltimore's Choice winner who best mirrors Haragan's dedication to the Baltimore area's cultural community.