The Walters Art Museum has assembled a wonderful collection of bronzes and watercolors by Antoine-Louis Barye, the foremost animalier of the 19th century. Rhea visits with The Walters' senior curator of 18th- and 19th-century art, William Johnston, to talk about Mr. Barye and this beautiful exhibit. Barye's work was a favorite of the Walters family and the collection at The Walters Art Museum is technically the largest in the world—even larger than the Louvre's (once the Louvre subdivided its collection between the Louvre and the Musee D'Orsay). This is a great exhibit for animal lovers, as Mr Barye most definitely was one himself. He was a frequent visitor to Paris' Jardin des Plantes where he let his imagination take him far beyond Paris' city limits to the wilds of the African plains or the jungles of India. He even did a series of bronzes of his greyhound dog, who today proudly lies at attention, looking at you—looking at him. And then there is the assemblage of hunt sculptures designed to dress a large dining room table. Try to imagine the size table this must have been built for!—and what to serve at such a feast? When you visit this exhibit please allow a lot of time—there's lots to see and enjoy. Also, if the weather permits, take a walk up to the Washington Monument in Mt. Vernon. If you look into the park you'll notice some large lions sitting proudly. They used to sit in front of Mr. Walters' home but long ago he gave them to the City of Baltimore for the citizens to enjoy. This exhibit runs through May 6. The lions in Mt. Vernon Place remain on guard for us to enjoy forever.

The Walters Art Museum

The hit of Broadway has come to Baltimore! Spamalot, the 2005 Tony award winner for Best Musical, is currently on the boards at The Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center. This musical rendering of the classic film Monty Python and The Holy Grail is directed by Mike Nichols and peopled with all the classic characters from the Monty Python film—not to mention killer rabbits, flying cows and taunting Frenchmen who are sure to heckle "in your general direction"! Rhea gets a visit from one of the cast for a first-hand look at what it takes to be part of this classic theatre experience. Spamalot runs at The Hippodrome through March 18.

The Hippodrome Theatre

Lavishly illustrated and fact-filled, The Cherry Blossom Festival: Sakura Celebration is a glorious tribute of one of the world's great festivals. From Tokyo to Washington, exuberant festivals celebrate the spring-time blooming of the ancient cherry tree. Ann McClellan's book explores the history and symbolism surrounding the cherry blossom, including the story of the tree's thousand year old cultivation and significance in Japan. Extensive illustrations complement intriguing stories of how the trees came to America and how the likes of Eliza Scidmore, Helen Taft, and Lady Bird Johnson played pivotal roles in bringing the trees to the Tidal Basin in the capital.

Ann McClellan has held executive positions at the Smithsonian, The World Wildlife Fund and The American Association of Museums. A Washington, D.C. resident, she is always astonished by its cherry blossoms, and treasures her memory of traveling with the cherry front as it moved north in Japan, the petals falling on her last day in Tokyo. She joins us on Artworks to share her thoughts on this very seasonal festival.

Ann McClellan will discuss and sign her new book, The Cherry Blossom Festival: Sakura Celebration, at the Library of Congress at noon on Wednesday, March 30, in Dining Room A on the sixth floor of the Library’s James Madison Memorial Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. The event, part of the Center for the Book’s “Books & Beyond” author series, is free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations are needed.

Order Ann McClellan's book
Visit the Cherry Blossom Festival

The Legendary Orioles first formed in Baltimore in 1947 as the Vibranaires. They are credited as the "first R&B group" and major developer of the Doo-Wop sound. In 1993 they performed at the Clinton inauguration, and in 1995 were inducted into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame. For more information on The Legendary Orioles and how to obtain their CDs go to their website listed below.

The Legendary Orioles

This week's Salon Art is by local artist Marian Gliese. She is the March featured artist at Artists' Gallery in Columbia, MD. "Flowers," the show of paintings in oil, will open with a reception on Friday, March 9 from 6 until 8 p.m. The exhibit runs from March 5 through 29, 2007 at Artists' Gallery, American City Building, 10227 Wincopin Circle, Columbia, Maryland.

Born in Denmark, Gliese devoted her academic career to pharmaceutical science, but her study of botany and anatomy stimulated an abiding love for nature that has become the source and passion of her art today. Her sensuous, feminine paintings are cropped close to become intimate portraits. In 2004 she opened Studio Gliese with her artistic colleague, partner and husband, Ulrik Gliese, and makes her artwork available through galleries, exhibits and her website: www.mariangliese.com.

The Artists' Gallery is open Monday-Friday from 11:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and is closed on Sunday. They are also open by appointment. For more information, or in case of inclement weather, please call (410) 740-8249 during gallery hours.

Marian Gliese

On ArtChat This Week, Nate and Rhea discuss a new exhibition heading to the Academy of Art Museum on the Eastern Shore from the National Gallery of Art. The National Gallery is lending the Eastern Shore musuem three paintings from its collection while the American Galleries undergo some renovations this Spring. The Baltimore Shakespeare Festival presents All's Well That Ends Well on the Elizabethan Stage at St. Mary's in Baltimore. And this weekend's Artafare at MICA promises to be an unforgettable event. We'll update you on all the activities.

Academy Art Museum
Shakespeare Festival