Daily Dose - April 29, 2020

Hello friends - 

So another week has flown by for me... May is just a few days away. When did that happen?

I realized last night that somehow I missed Arbor Day, a holiday with many special memories for me. Growing up in New England, every year we would plant trees in memory of loved ones. I always loved the tradition. Now, every time I drive by one of those trees, I always get such a warm feeling.

Although I missed the day, I still have time to plant my trees. If you missed it as well, It's not too late. I hope you can still celebrate Arbor Day and plant a tree for someone you love too.

Take care and stay well,

Sue Wilson, RiverArts Gallery Director

Towering Trees at Eastern Neck by Kristina Kelley

William Wordsworth's 250th anniversary marked with mass readings

Stephen Fry and Brian Cox have joined descendants of the great Romantic and members of the public to record host of his poems.

Stephen Fry and Brian Cox’s sonorous tones can be heard declaiming William Wordsworth’s The World Is Too Much With Us, Caroline Quentin is reading the Romantic poet’s Lines Written in Early Spring, and William H Macy has taken on his She Dwelt Among the Untrodden Ways.

A host of actors and celebrities have jumped at the chance to record their favourite Wordsworth poems to mark the 250th anniversary of his birth, with the poet’s descendants now appealing to the public to send in their own readings to help them build a living archive of his writing online.

Click Here to hear the poems and learn more.

William Wordsworth

Paint the Town

Here are some of the winners from last year's Paint the Town. We are sorry we won't see you this year but look forward to 2021! If you are painting at home, we still would love to see what you are doing!

• 1st - Best Body of Work, 2019 Paint the Town, On the Shady Side by Raymond Ewing
• 1st - Best Body of Work, 2019 Paint the Town, Sun Lit by Raymond Ewing
• 2nd - Best Body of Work, 2019 Paint the Town, Dogwood Shadows by Ann Crostic
• 2nd - Best Body of Work, 2019 Paint the Town, At Rest by Ann Crostic
• 2nd - Best in Show, 2019 Paint the Town, Fountain Night by Maggii Sarfaty

The Bennett Prize’s Call for Entries Is Now Open

Women figurative realist painters have until October 16 to enter to win $50,000 and a traveling solo exhibition of their work.

"All women figurative realist painters are cordially invited to submit their work.”

THE BENNETT PRIZE, created in 2018, awards $50,000 to a woman artist to create her own solo exhibition of figurative realist paintings, which will travel the country. The Prize will propel the careers of women painters who have not yet realized full professional recognition, empowering new artists and those who have painted for many years. The Prize will expand opportunities for the public, who may not be familiar with figurative realist painting, to learn more about the creative vision of talented women painters in this increasingly popular genre.

Call for entries is open: April 16 to Oct. 16, 2020. Click here for more information.

On This Day in (Mostly) Arts History

• 1813: JACOB HUMMEL RECEIVED PATENT FOR VARNISH OF ELASTIC GUM
• BORN 1863: WILLIAM HEARST (EDITOR/PUBLISHER)
• BORN 1899: DUKE ELLINGTON (MUSICIAN)

Duke Ellington c. 1940s

• BORN 1907: FRED ZINNEMANN (DIRECTOR OF FILM)
• 1931: U.S. PRESIDENT HOOVER RECEIVED KING AND QUEEN OF SIAM
• BORN 1954: JERRY SEINFELD (COMEDIAN & ACTOR)
• BORN 1957: DANIEL DAY-LEWIS (ACTOR)
• BORN 1958: EVE PLUMB (ACTRESS)
• 1961: ABC'S WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS PREMIERED
• BORN 1968: CARNIE WILSON (SINGER)
• BORN 1970: UMA THURMAN (ACTRESS)
• BORN 1970: ANDRE AGASSI (TENNIS PLAYER)
• DIED 1980: ALFRED HITCHCOCK (FILMMAKER)
• 1988: THE FIRST CONDOR TO BE CONCEIVED IN CAPTIVITY HATCHED AT THE SAN DIEGO WILD ANIMAL PARK HELPING TO BRING THE SPECIES BACK FROM THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION
• DIED 2005: WILLIAM J. BELL (WRITER AND PRODUCER)
• 2008: A PERFECT PINK RING AROUND THE SUN WAS VISIBLE FOR SEVERAL HOURS FROM KEY LARGO TO KEY WEST, FLORIDA. IT'S KNOWN AS THE RARE HALO PHENOMENON, A REFRACTION OF LIGHT THROUGH MULTIPLE LAYERS OF ICE-CRYSTAL CLOUDS IN THE UPPER LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE. A HALO USUALLY INDICATES THAT RAIN IS ON THE WAY.
• 2011: PRINCE WILLIAM MARRIED CATHERINE MIDDLETON
• 2014: ANNULAR ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.
• DIED 2014: BOB HOSKINS (ACTOR)

Arts Trivia

The first person to email the correct answer to mariawood@chestertownriverarts.org gets a shout-out in tomorrow's Daily Dose.