The Maryland Film Festival is proudly celebrating its 10th anniversary! Last year over 17,000 people attended nearly 170 films, including people like David Simon of "The Wire". The festival's founder and director, Jed Dietz, joins us to talk about the next decade's plan. This year's festival is May 1 - 4 at various locations. Go to the Festival's link below for more film information.

The Maryland Film Festival

The independent watermen of the Chesapeake Bay hold a special fascination for marine artist Marc Castelli, whose work is featured in a segment in this week's program. Not content to work as a distant "observer," Castelli spends hundreds of hours a year out on workboats in all kinds of weather, sketching, photographing and working side by side with watermen as they fish for everything from crabs and oysters, to eels, clams and rockfish. Back in his studio, Castelli distills this first-hand experience into beautifully-composed watercolors that provide an intimate portrait of the struggles, hardships and hopes of the men who continue to fish the bay in this time-honored way. A version of this segment originally appeared on MPT’s "Outdoors Maryland" program. Castelli’s work can be seen in a one-man show at the Carla Massoni Gallery in Chestertown, Md. from May 16-June 21.

Carla Massoni Gallery
Marc Castelli

Tom Chapin has been writing and performing folksongs for over thirty years. Whether for children or adults, his songs are vibrant and ring of authenticity. He joins us today to give us a sample of his "Chesapeake Bay" song, which will become the theme song of MPT's Chesapeake Bay Week. You can see him perform more on MPT's Chesapeake Bay Week "Volunteerathon" on Sunday, April 27th at 7pm. And you can learn more about Tom Chapin's music at his link below. Check out additional programs during MPT's "Chesapeake Bay Week".

The music of Tom Chapin
MPT's Chesapeake Bay Week

There are so many people who have dedicated their lives to enriching and extolling the Chesapeake Bay, one of America's great natural resources. Author Michael Buckley found and interviewed a large number of them, and their stories as environmentalists, watermen, scientists or artists, form the core of this book. Many of the books photographs are by David Harp, a wonderful talent as well. "Voices of the Chesapeake Bay" is available at area bookstores and at www.getgup.com.

"Voices of the Chesapeake Bay" Book

To celebrate Chesapeake Bay Week, our salon art this week is by Marcy Dunn Ramsey. Ms. Ramsey concentrates her artistic energies working in oil paintings that capture the ephemeral world of the river. She has been drawing from the real world of nature for the past eighteen years and is drawn to the linear elements that are found in grasses and marsh flora of local waterways. Ms Ramsey received a BA from Emmanuel College in Boston and studied art at the Museum School of Fine Art, the University of Maine and the University of Maryland. Currently, her work is on display at the Carla Massoni Gallery in Chestertown, MD. Winter gallery hours are Thursday and Friday, 11 to 4pm and Saturdays, 10 -5pm. Private appointments can be arranged by calling 410-778-7330.

Carla Massoni Gallery
Marcy Dunn Ramsey website