Art School

The Contemporary School of the Arts & Gallery is seeking a donation to purchase turkey and ham to feed 200 people at a "Meet and Greet Dinner. " This event will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, 2010, at the Bridge of Life Church, 14 S. Potomac St. Members of the Baltimore Ravens and Baltimore Orioles have been invited to speak at this event. The goal of the fundraiser is to monetarily support the school's children's art program. For more information or to make a donation, call 301-791-6191.

HAGERSTOWN -- The Barbara Ingram School for the Arts in Hagerstown is accepting applications for the 2010-11 school year. The two-page application is available on the Washington County Public Schools and Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Web sites. Applications also may be obtained at any middle or high school, or at the Washington County Public Schools Central Office at 820 Commonwealth Ave. in Hagerstown. Principal Michael Thorsen said the applications are due by Dec. 15, and auditions will be held Jan. 9, 16 and 23. "It's open to anybody who wants to apply," Thorsen said.

HAGERSTOWN -- Marvin Hurley shared his passion for music with Washington County Public Schools students for 32 years. What better way to honor his commitment than to assemble an orchestra of his former students to raise money for a school that is dedicated to the arts? A committee of 10 people, along with Hurley's wife, Nancy, did just that. Last year, the Hurley Alumni Orchestra celebrated Hurley's 70th birthday with a reunion concert and raised $22,000 for the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Foundation.

HAGERSTOWN -- Afternoon traffic was diverted on Tuesday so students could play music, sing and perform on a downtown street. It was the latest in a series of celebrations and fundraising events for the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts, which opened in August. This one included Nancy S. Grasmick, the state superintendent of schools, who told students, "Remember, you have a charge. You are the pioneers and what you do to create the path will make a difference to all who follow you. " Grasmick called the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts "truly the most unique" out of more than 1,600 schools in Maryland.

At my age, reading a really, really good book always makes me nervous. Somewhere along the line, I will, with apprehension, turn to the back flap for a glimpse of the author's picture. If it's some old coot, I breathe a sigh of relief. More often, however, it's some fresh-faced punk who in no way should be writing such glorious prose given what I assume to be relatively little real-life experience. It's not right. How did the late David Foster Wallace get so good so fast? And, as a junk writer myself, I begin to rationalize.

The word of the day was, wow, and we haven't seen nuthin' yet. The Herald-Mail editorial board toured the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts on South Potomac Street in Hagerstown this week and I think we all were impressed. School Principal Michael Thorsen led us through the four floors of the latest diamond of Hagerstown's downtown. Although most of the instruments are still in boxes, the ivories on the keyboards have not been tickled and the cardboard covers are still taped to the tops of the classroom desks, you can really visualize how close to reality the place really is. Some highlights of the trip: o As we entered the cavernous dance theater, we were greeted by beautiful hand-carved woodwork and tall mirrors for the dancers to watch their moves.

In public school arts circles throughout the region, the buzz this spring and summer has been all about the new Barbara Ingram School for the Arts, opening in downtown Hagerstown this fall. This would be the case under normal circumstances, but it is all the more poignant this year since most public school districts are headed in the opposite direction - cutting back on arts spending as educational dollars are becoming more scarce because of the contracting economy. To use stock parlance, Washington County is getting into the market at a time when the herd is heading for the hills.

HAGERSTOWN -- When Vincent Groh unexpectedly contributed $250,000 Saturday night to help the arts school bearing his late wife's name, the Hagerstown attorney and philanthropist received a standing ovation. "I was surprised and pleased," Groh said Thursday. Groh, who previously donated the downtown Hagerstown building that will house the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts, said he got caught up in students' enthusiasm at Saturday's gala and auction. During the auction at The Maryland Theatre, about 100 students cheered heartily from the balcony, creating a lively atmosphere as 10 butterfly statues were sold.

HAGERSTOWN -- The Maryland Theatre's floor seats were for bidding and the balcony was for cheering during Saturday's butterfly statue auction "Buy it, buy it, buy it," dozens of students in the balcony chanted from above during one bidding battle. Several times, the students -- soon to start at the new Barbara Ingram School for the Arts next door -- yelled their support for the money soon to change hands. Saturday's Take Flight auction and gala in downtown Hagerstown capped months of butterfly-related hoopla over the new school, which is scheduled to open in August.

ANNAPOLIS -- A new high school for the performing arts in downtown Hagerstown and two local museums are expected to receive at least $100,000 each in state money. Sen. Donald F. Munson, R-Washington, and Del. John P. Donoghue, D-Washington, each requested bond bills of up to $250,000 for the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts, up to $100,000 for the Doleman Black Heritage Museum Inc. and up to $150,000 for the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts. The requests were made for the fiscal year 2010.