Ben Taylor's circumstance is far from normal. His parents, father James Taylor, mother Carly Simon, are giants of popular music. And with that lineage come the expectations that make ANOTHER RUN AROUND THE SUN a milestone as well as a masterwork. Of course, there was never any pressure from his family to match their achievements - no pressure, that is, except from BEN himself. He's always kept his standards high - how could he not? And when his sound began to evolve, and invariably it showed signs of influence from those who were closest to him, he found himself at a crossroads that most artists never have to visit.

His choice was whether to deny his birthright, to pack up his music and take it somewhere else for reasons that have nothing to do with the music itself, or he could stake his claim on the family land, sing and play the way he wanted to, and against all odds stand as an artist with unique qualities of his own. It took a while, but with ANOTHER RUN AROUND THE SUN, Ben makes that choice - the right choice. Listening to his album is like slipping into a brand new shirt that feels as comfortable as one you've worn with pleasure before. As you button up and shrug it into place, though, you notice the differences. That combination of the familiar with the new is the key to appreciating Ben Taylor.

Ben Taylor is on stage at Rams Head Tavern in Annapolis, Wednesday, Dec. 6. For more information or tickets, call (410) 268-4545.

Ben Taylor Band
Rams Head Tavern

From the age of three, Howard Zane has had a lifelong love of model trains. Since 1983 he has been building and expanding what is one of the country's largest, private, scale model railroads. At 2,850 square feet, encompassing 200 working locomotives and 2,000 pieces of working stock, Zane's "Piermont Division" is one of the largest in the world.

He has published a new book -- "Howard Zane: My Life With Model Trains" -- which chronicles a journey through his train layout, in 300 pages and 450 full color photographs. Zane writes to introduce others to the "greatest hobby in the world", as well as to entertain and educate hobbyists at all levels of interest.

Building and operating scale model railroads exercises skills and a number of talents, including electronics, visual arts, horticulture, carpentry, modeling, historical research, storytelling, and computer technology. According to Zane, "I approach building a model railroad as a painter, sculptor or any other kind of artisan. Here is a situation where art is imitating life. Every structure that I build, and each mountain, cliff, waterway, road, tree, or texture contributes to one vast artscape."

"Howard Zane: My Life With Model Trains" is available at his web site as well as on amazon.com.

Howard Zane's web site

It's a rare treat to see Martha Szerlip's artwork displayed in Baltimore. This Baltimore transplant from Chapel Hill, North Carolina has been very busy for many years as an artist, art restorer and appraiser specializing in antler, ivory, bone, wood and porcelain. Her artwork is collected privately and commissioned for collections all over the United States, Canada and Great Britain. Thanks to the persuasive powers of Made in Metal Gallery in Baltimore's Clipper Mill area, we have a rare opportunity to see and acquire Martha's work. The work is personal and meticulously done as you will see on this week's Artworks This Week. What a treat, having a chance to visit with this very fine artist.

NOTE: Martha also takes us on a tour of one of her favorite places in her adopted city of Baltimore, The Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens of Baltimore, the beautiful glass Victorian building located at the edge of Druid Hill Park. Martha's slowly but surely populating the various habitats with life size sculptures of indigenous critters to fit each room's terrain. You can see most of them now in the Desert Room - but be sure to save time in your holiday schedule to see the Conservatory Workers' grand poinsettia display. Guaranteed to please!

Made in Metal Gallery
The Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens of Baltimore

This week's Salon Art features the work of Beverly Davis and Ann Oster. Currently, they are on display in the Carroll Mansion Art Gallery through January 7. Both Davis and Oster are members of the Women Artists' Forum. Davis, who works in collage, watercolor, pastel, ink and charcoal, studied at Maryland Institute College of Art. Oster has taught art for 17 years at St. Paul's School for Girls and is working towards a Master of Arts in Teaching at MICA. She uses mainly soft pastels and oils in her artwork. The two artists have also studied together at the studio of well-known local artist Betsey Heuisler. Women Artists' Forum formed 10 years ago out of the need for a supportive niche for local women artists. From an impromptu meeting of nine, WAF has grown into an organization of over 80 local women artists, holding at least two group shows and 10 organized meetings per year. The Carroll Mansion is located at 800 E. Lombard St. For more information, call 410-605-2964.

Women Artists' Forum

On ArtChat This Week, Nate and Rhea discuss how much a difference a year can make. It wasn't long ago that the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra was facing several challenges...chief among them...a new conductor, new administration and severe fiscal shortfalls. Now it seems that they've done a complete 360 degree turnaround with the confirmation of Marin Alsop as the symphony's conductor, a new president at the helm of the BSO, Paul Meecham and several new sources of potential revenue are pending that promise to allieviate the BSO's fiscal shortfalls. Former American Idol contestant Clay Aiken returns to the Lyric for a holiday concert December 6, 2006 at 8pm. Better hurry.