This year's Artscape, even more than in years past, will have a lot of people asking themselves how to tell the artwork from the outdoor furniture.
Both inside and outside the galleries along Mount Royal Avenue and at other locations around town, local artists will be presenting some of their most adventurous and challenging work.
You don't have to be an expert to enjoy or appreciate what's offered -- so long as you're willing to keep an open mind and take some things with a grain of salt.
Many of the artists in this year's show have taken a definitely tongue-in-cheek attitude toward the idea that everything they create must be a "masterpiece."
Another thing you're likely to notice: The language that visual artists use to express their ideas has changed quite a bit since the days when making "art" mostly meant painting canvases or carving stone.
This year, there probably are fewer traditional paintings and sculpture proportionately than in any previous year.
In their place are murals, photography, installations and forms that defy classification.
Take, for example, the six artists who composed large outdoor works based on the theme of home and hearth. Curator Gary Kachadourian asked each of them to build a sculpture based on a house with a 100-square-foot floor plan.
The idea was for them to use the pieces to explore such issues as sanctuary, shelter, ownership and display, as well as to introduce viewers to the highly personal visual language each of the artists has been developing over the past few years.
Are such works sculpture in the traditional sense?
Maybe, but perhaps they are better described as installation, a relatively new form in which the artist employs objects, drawing and other techniques to create a total environment that transforms the meaning of the site on which they are located.
All this may sound pretty obscure until you realize that Washington's Vietnam Memorial is a kind of installation, as was artist Fred Wilson's groundbreaking "Mining the Museum" exhibition at the Maryland Historical Society a few years back.
Both took an existing site and transformed its meaning by juxtaposing familiar objects in new, unexpected ways.
Artscape's 100-square-foot houses range from Allyn Massey's long, skinny glass pool house to Sam Christian Holmes' massive twin steel towers and gates.
The former evokes fragility and vulnerability, while the latter exults in its sheer power and strength. Each of the artists has chosen materials appropriate to the theme.
A house can be a hut or a palace -- or it can be, like a birdhouse or a doghouse, unfit for any human habitation.
Steve Ziger's tongue-in-cheek "Treehouse" is all yet none of the above.
Say the word "treehouse," and most people think of a cozy hideaway perched in sturdy oak or meandering apple boughs.
But Ziger decided to interpret the word literally -- as a house built for a tree to live in.
Ziger's house is a handsome brick structure 10 feet on a side and fronted by a lovely lawn and reflecting pond.
The front door is quite narrow, possibly because the house's occupant, a graceful linden tree planted in the median strip along Mount Royal Avenue, obviously isn't going anywhere.
(Still, one needs to keep up appearances, even if one happens to be a tree living in a house. I wonder who mows the lawn?)
One might well ask what's the point of such art. That's a question each viewer must decide for him or herself.
I can only suggest that pieces like these exist mainly to be enjoyed, appreciated and occasionally puzzled over.
After all, the purpose of art should be to provoke contemplation.
We are well beyond the time when artists felt a professional duty to educate, inspire or morally uplift their audiences. Some people still miss that era.
But Artscape's 100-square-foot houses surely fit the famous dictum of 19th-century critic Walter Pater that the most perfect art is also perfectly useless -- and perhaps therein lies its beauty.
What: Artscape 2000 minus 1
When: Tomorrow, 6 p.m.-10:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, noon-10:30 p.m.,
Where: Mount Royal Avenue (accessible by Light Rail)
Admission: Free
Call: 410-396-4575 or TTY, 410-225-2283
Web: www.artscape.org
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Ongoing
Art car show, Bright StARTS tent, Cultural Resources Tent, Creation Station and Art of Harmony at the Lyric Opera House, Literary Arts Market, Artists' Market, food sales, and exhibits at Maryland Institute, College of Art; City Hall Courtyard Galleries; Villa Julie College Gallery; Maryland Art Place; School 33 Art Center; and throughout festival grounds
Friday
6 p.m.
BGE Kinderman Kick-off Parade, Fox to Decker Stage
6:30 p.m.
The Crawdaddies, Cajun/zydeco/swing, Fox Stage
Freeman A. Hrabowski, keynote speaker for literary events, Moot Court Room, Angelos Law Center, University of Baltimore
7 p.m.
Ruby Glover, jazz, Decker Stage
7:30 p.m.
Meet W.E.B. Dubois, portrayed by Bill Grimmette, Moot Court Room, Angelos Law Center, UB
8 p.m.
Stanley Turrentine, blues tenor saxophone, Fox Stage
8:15 p.m.
The Temptations, soul, Decker Stage
Saturday
10 a.m.
CARavan of art cars to festival site begins at American Visionary Art Museum, Key Highway
11 a.m.
Literary Spotlights readings and Poetry Slam sign-up, Moot Court Room, Angelos Law Center, UB
Noon
Poetry Slam, with a Baltimore theme, Moot Court Room, Angelos Law Center, UB
Thundersmith Industries, large-scale puppets, Gordon Plaza
12:15 p.m.
Magical Experiences Art Company, theater for kids with disabilities, Gordon Plaza
12:30 p.m.
Yat-Kha, throat-singers from Republic of Tuva, Gordon Stage
Elaine Foster, 10th annual Mayor's Billie Holiday Vocal Competition winner, Fox Stage
Growing Shakespeare and Kids, "The Tempest" produced by students, Decker Auditorium, Mount Royal Station Building
12:45 p.m.
Tara Richmond, jazz vocals, Decker Stage
1 p.m.
Verein Deutscher Trachten, German dance, Langsdale Auditorium, UB
Schroeder Cherry and his puppets, Family Performance Tent
Part Harmony, street theater, Maryland Avenue at Mount Royal Avenue
"The Lies of Brian," magic show, Corpus Christi Church lot
1:15 p.m.
Fluid Movement, "Carmen" hot-dog opera, Gordon Plaza
1:30 p.m.
Jah Works, reggae, Fox Stage
John Taylor, Kinderman, street theater, Oliver Street at Mount Royal Avenue
Literary Spotlights readings, Moot Court Room, Angelos Law Center, UB
1:35 p.m.
Jay Kishor, Indian sitar and surbahar, Gordon Stage
2 p.m.
Samba Ngo, Congolese jazz funk and Soukous guitar, Decker Stage
Arte Flamenco, Spanish dancers, Langsdale Auditorium, UB
BYTV, Baltimore Youth Television video program, Decker Auditorium, Mount Royal Station Building
Bright StARTS Storytellers, Family Performance Tent
Black Cherry Puppet Theater, Corpus Christi Church lot
Julia Kasdorf poetry reading, Moot Court Room, Angelos Law Center, UB
2:20 p.m.
Thundersmith Industries, large-scale puppets, Gordon Plaza
2:30 p.m.
The Iguanas, New Orleans rhythm and blues, rock and zydeco, Fox Stage
Part Harmony, street theater, Oliver Street at Mount Royal Avenue
2:40 p.m.
Bill Parsons, contemporary folk, Gordon Stage
3 p.m.
Nile, Ethiopian dance ensemble, Langsdale Auditorium, UB
Eric Beatty's "Sandlot Stories," interactive baseball fun, Family Performance Tent
John Taylor, Kinderman, street theater, Maryland Avenue at Mount Royal Avenue
"Publishing Face to Face," panel discussion and later book signing with author Stephen Hunter, agent Jennifer Bent, publisher Kwame Alexander, critic Eileen Murphy and marketer Juliana Wood, Moot Court Room, Angelos Law Center, UB
3:25 p.m.
Thundersmith Industries, large-scale puppets, Gordon Plaza
3:30 p.m.
Patti Austin, eclectic rhythm and blues, Decker Stage
Positive Youth Expressions, street theater, Oliver Street at Mount Royal Avenue
"The Lies of Brian," magic show, Corpus Christi Church lot
"A Letter Without Words," film screening, Decker Auditorium, Mount Royal Station Building
3:45 p.m.
Joshua Ramos, Latin pop, Gordon Stage
Sandtown Children of Praise, gospel, Gordon Plaza
4 p.m.
Yat-Kha, Tuvan throat-singers with traditional instruments, Fox Stage
Psalms Foundation Dancers, Family Performance Tent
4:15 p.m.
Fluid Movement, "Carmen" hot-dog opera, Gordon Plaza
4:30 p.m.
Charles Taylor and The Availables, music history: Savoy Ballroom to Village Vanguard, Gordon Stage
Literary Spotlights readings, Moot Court Room, Angelos Law Center, UB
4:45 p.m.
Black Cherry Puppet Theater, Corpus Christi Church lot
5 p.m
Kirk Whalum, soulful jazz saxophone, Decker Stage
Literary arts awards ceremony, with readings by poets Hiram Larew, Niki Leopold and Christine F. Hohmann, Moot Court Room, Angelos Law Center, UB
One-act opera, "The Village Singer," Baltimore Opera Company, Langsdale Auditorium, UB
Abu the Flutemaker, Family Performance Tent
5:15 p.m.
Dave Alvin and the Guilty Men, rock, Fox Stage
5:30 p.m.
John Taylor, Kinderman, street theater, Oliver Street at Mount Royal Avenue
Documentary films, Decker Auditorium, Mount Royal Station Building
5:45 p.m.
Garage Sale, surf punk, Gordon Stage
6 p.m.
The Story Minstrels, Renaissance adventures with music, Family Performance Tent
Positive Youth Expressions, street theater, Maryland Avenue at Mount Royal Avenue
6:30 p.m.
O'Donel Levi, rhythm and blues guitar, Decker Stage
Narrative films, Decker Auditorium, Mount Royal Station Building
6:45 p.m.
The Kennedys, folk-rock, Fox Stage
Kalechi, reggae and jazz fusion, Gordon Stage
7 p.m.
Paul Hadfield as "Spats," a wacky comedy and variety show, Family Performance Tent
Pink Inc., street theater, Maryland Avenue at Mount Royal Avenue
Reading by Gus Russo, author of "Live by the Sword" on the JFK assassination, Moot Court Room, Angelos Law Center, UB
7:45 p.m.
Cyrus Chestnut, jazz piano, Fox Stage
Award presentation: WJZ presents The Al Sanders Foundation for Music Studies Award, Decker Stage
8 p.m.
Chris Polk, soulful blues, Gordon Stage
8:15 p.m.
Duke Ellington Orchestra and Dionne Warwick, Decker Stage
9 p.m.
Rumba Club, Latin jazz and salsa, Fox Stage
Sunday
11:30 a.m.
Jaki Terry, staged reading from Albert French's "Billy," Gordon Stage
Noon
Thundersmith Industries, large-scale puppets, Gordon Plaza
"African-American Children's Books," panel and later book signing with moderator Robin Green-Cary and authors Monalisa DeGross, Sharon Bell Mathis, Camay Calloway Murphy, Margaret Musgrove and Lydia Omolola Okutoro, Moot Court Room, Angelos Law Center, UB
12:15 p.m.
Gerald Veasley Group, eclectic jazz/hip-hop/funk, Decker Stage
Magical Experiences Arts Company, theater for kids with disabilities, Gordon Plaza
12:30 p.m.
The Moonlighters, blues/blues harp, Fox Stage
Chinese Opera Company, Gordon Stage
Growing Shakespeare and Kids, "The Tempest" produced by students, Decker Auditorium, Mount Royal Station Building
1 p.m.
Yaco and Michiaki, Yokoyama piano duo, Corpus Christi Church
Filipino American Cultural Arts Society, dance, Langsdale Auditorium, UB
Schroeder Cherry and his puppets, Family Performance Tent
Part Harmony, street theater, Maryland Avenue at Mount Royal Avenue
Literary Spotlights readings, Moot Court Room, Angelos Law Center, UB
1:15 p.m.
Fluid Movement, "Carmen" hot-dog opera, Gordon Plaza
Black Cherry Puppet Theater, Corpus Christi Church lot
1:30 p.m.
Morgan State University Choir, classical to gospel, Decker Stage
John Taylor, Kinderman, street theater, Oliver Street at Mount Royal Avenue
1:35 p.m.
Jay Kishor, Indian sitar and surbahar, Gordon Stage
1:45 p.m.
Az One, "old school" harmony, Fox Stage
2 p.m.
The Capital Trio, flute, clarinet and bassoon, Corpus Christi Church
Soon Hee Ahn Korean Dance Company, Langsdale Auditorium, UB
BYTV, Baltimore Youth Television video program, Decker Auditorium, Mount Royal Station Building
Bright StARTS Storytellers, Family Performance Tent
"Writing That Heals," panel with moderators Pat Bates and Jaki Terry, psychotherapist and author Lori Wiener, and poets Kendra Kopelke, Diane Scharper and Davi Walders, Moot Court Room, Angelos Law Center, UB
2:20 p.m.
Thundersmith Industries, large-scale puppets, Gordon Plaza
2:30 p.m.
Part Harmony, street theater, Oliver Street at Mount Royal Avenue
"The Lies of Brian," magic show, Corpus Christi Church lot
2:40 p.m.
Andrew McKnight, acoustic "mountain gumbo" of folk, blues and country, Gordon Stage
2:45 p.m.
Cubanismo!, traditional Cuban dance rhythms, Decker Stage
3 p.m.
Marge Calhoun and Ron Holloway, country pop, Fox Stage
The Lyric Brass Quintet, Corpus Christi Church
M'zawa Danz, modern West African, Langsdale Auditorium, UB
Eric Beatty's "Sandlot Stories," interactive baseball fun, Family Performance Tent
John Taylor, Kinderman, street theater, Maryland Avenue at Mount Royal Avenue
Reading by Albert French, author of "Billy" and "Patches of Fire," Moot Court Room, Angelos Law Center, UB
3:25 p.m.
Thundersmith Industries, large-scale puppets, Gordon Plaza
3:30 p.m.
Positive Youth Expressions, street theater, Oliver Street at Mount Royal Avenue
"A Letter Without Words," film screening, Decker Auditorium, Mount Royal Station Building
3:45 p.m.
Sandtown Children of Praise, gospel, Gordon Plaza
4 p.m.
Vento Chiaro, classical quintet, Corpus Christi Church
Psalms Foundation Dancers, Family Performance Tent
"The Lies of Brian," magic show, Corpus Christi Church lot
4:15 p.m.
Shawn Colvin, folk rock/pop ballad, Decker Stage
Leandro "Gato" Barbieri, jazz saxophone, Fox Stage
Fluid Movement, "Carmen" hot-dog opera, Gordon Plaza
4:35 p.m.
Radiant Pig, "spaghetti western shaman rock," Gordon Stage
5 p.m.
Mendelssohn Piano Trio, Corpus Christi Church
One-act opera, "The Village Singer," Baltimore Opera Company, Langsdale Auditorium, UB
Abu the Flutemaker, Family Performance Tent
Part Harmony, street theater, Maryland Avenue at Mount Royal Avenue
5:30 p.m.
John Taylor, Kinderman, street theater, Oliver Street at Mount Royal Avenue
Experimental films, Decker Auditorium, Mount Royal Station Building
5:45 p.m.
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, American roots music, Decker Stage
The New Volcanoes, new urban world music, Gordon Stage
Black Cherry Puppet Theater, Corpus Christi Church lot
6 p.m.
Earl Klugh, jazz, Fox Stage
The Story Minstrels, Renaissance adventures with music, Family Performance Tent
Positive Youth Expressions, street theater, Maryland Avenue at Mount Royal Avenue
Literary Spotlights readings and Poetry Slam sign-up, Moot Court Room, Angelos Law Center, UB
6:30 p.m.
Narrative films, Decker Auditorium, Mount Royal Station Building
6:45 p.m.
Joe Dicey and Jamnation, blues, classic rock and Motown, Gordon Stage
7 p.m.
Paul Hadfield as "Spats," a wacky comedy and variety show, Family Performance Tent
Pink Inc., street theater, Maryland Avenue at Mount Royal Avenue
Poetry Slam, Moot Court Room, Angelos Law Center, UB
7:15 p.m.
Eva Anderson Dancers, classic modern and African-American, Decker Stage
7:30 p.m.
Experimental films, Decker Auditorium, Mount Royal Station Building
7:45 p.m.
Fertile Ground, urban world jazz, Fox Stage
8 p.m.
Artscape raffle drawing, Decker Stage
8:15 p.m.
Ashford and Simpson with Maya Angelou, Decker Stage