Washington County Museum

In a scene reminiscent of a more-civilized Black Friday, shoppers packed the front hall of the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, got on their marks and watched the clock. With a minute and 30 seconds left to go before the 1 p.m. half-price sale, Singer Society volunteers decided they were ready to go, and granted mercy by opening the glass atrium doors early and letting the crowd loose. Robbie Matonak, 62, of Hagerstown, bypassed the atrium and high-tailed it to the Bowman Gallery to a wooden chair with a floral needlepoint cushion.

Three exhibits are currently going on at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, according to the museum's website. • The longest-running exhibit is "Lion and Dragons and Snakes! Oh My!" This exhibit features carvings out of wood, paint, and penknives by Hagerstown resident Frank Mish, Jr.  It began Sept. 11, 2010, and will continue through Aug. 21. • The "Making Pictures: A Retrospective" Exhibition has been going on since May 14. This exhibit features paintings by R. Benjamin Jones of Hagerstown.

The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts held its annual raffle drawing on March 15 during the museum's annual membership meeting. Twelve winners were selected from the 2,389 ticket entries. The raffle, which supports the museum's annual operating program, netted $18,685. Dale Stein was chairwoman this year and was assisted by Alaina Alter. This year's top-selling raffle ticket seller was Teresa Barr.  Diane Sanford of Hagerstown won a $5,000 shopping spree from R. Bruce Carson Jewelers.

Special to The Herald-Mail The Washington County Museum of Fine Art's important oil painting by Thomas Birch (1779 to 1851), titled "The Shipwreck," 1837, plays a pivotal role in an important exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The show opened Saturday, Sept. 22, and continues through Sunday, Dec. 16. The exhibition, "Shipwreck! Winslow Homer and 'The Life Line,'" focuses on Homer's painting, "The Life Line," and explores the making and meaning of images of rescue.

The Baltimore chapter of the American Institute of Architects, or AIA, recently presented the 2012 Good Design = Good Business Award to Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects for its design of the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts courtyard enclosure and atrium. The award was presented at the annual Design Excellence Event at the Center for the Built Environment and Infrastructure Studies at Morgan State University. Murphy & Dittenhafer's design repurposed the museum's exterior courtyard as a 3,200-square-foot atrium space to better serve the historic institution.

Masterpieces of the floral nature were on display during this weekend's Art in Bloom at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts. The annual event features floral arrangements by members of regional garden clubs, said Wallace Lee, the museum's director of development. "It's a way to bring garden clubs throughout the area together," Lee said. Lee said 25 garden clubs from as far away as eastern Maryland created floral arrangements to put on display. The participants were given a work of art that already was on display in the museum and told to interpret it through a floral arrangement.

Special to The Herald-Mail " Once I drew like Raphael, but it has taken me a whole lifetime to learn to draw like children. " - Pablo Picasso For more than 60 years, in April and May, the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts has hosted an exhibition featuring works by students in grades kindergarten through 12.  Receptions sponsored by the museum's volunteers in collaboration with art teachers, are held for the students and...

In 1949, Anna Brugh Singer traveled to Hagerstown to dedicate the addition of two wings to the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, including the Singer Memorial Gallery. She and her husband, William, had originally given the museum to Hagerstown and Washington County in 1930. To establish the museum's collection, the Singers gave generously of their own art collections and encouraged gifts from friends and associates who helped to foster the museum's growth over its first 25 years.

More than 500 people wandered past the artworks of hundreds of Washington County middle and high school students during a reception Sunday at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, taking in works such as “Golden Eyes” and “This is Not the Death Star.” Those were two of the three first-place winners in the exhibit, which featured more than 1,100 works by county secondary students. A clay and acrylic bust, “Golden Eyes” was submitted by Nahja Collins and the orb-like clay “Death Star” by Jenna Baker, both students at the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts.

Stanley Plumly has received many awards and published many books in his long career in poetry. And for the past four years, the University of Maryland, College Park English professor has been Maryland's poet laureate. But this particular honor doesn't go to his head. “I guess it's an honor. I was talked into it,” Plumly said by phone from his office in College Park, Md. “The governor (Martin O'Malley) is very good. He's very literate. And he loves to quote poems. He knows a lot of old Irish poems.

1. Parade of pride Smithsburg Pride Days opening ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday, May 17. Events on Saturday, May 18, include: 7 a.m. all-you-can-eat breakfast at fire hall; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. food and craft vendors, live music and displays at library; 11 a.m. parade (shown) on new route; fireworks at dusk. Events on Sunday, May 19, include: 8 a.m. community worship; noon to 5 p.m. food and craft vendors, live music. Events at Veterans Park and throughout town of Smithsburg. Call 301-824-7722.

The Craver family won a $5,000 shopping spree at R. Bruce Carson Jewelers in the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts' annual raffle on March 21.

The Rohrersville Cornet Band of Washington County will open its 277th season Sunday, May 19.   The spring concert in the band hall on Main Street in Rohrersville  will begin at 3 p.m.  Holly Feather will direct the band as it performs concert favorites and introduces new compositions. Sherry Kemp (flute) and Jack Emanuelson (trumpet) will be featured soloists. The concert is free and open to all. Donations are accepted and appreciated. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call 301-992-9767 or go to www.rohrersvilleband.com . Halfway  Little League selling discount cards Halfway Little League has discount cards available.

HCC student art exhibition The exhibit features artwork including painting, drawing, mixed media sculpture, ceramic sculpture, pottery, digital photography and graphic design prints. Exhibit concludes Friday, May 3. Hagerstown Community College's Kepler Center, off Robinwood Drive, east of Hagerstown. Free. Call 240-500-2221 or email jhbontempo@hagerstowncc.edu . Elementary school artwork Washington County Public Schools exhibit of art by students in kindergarten through fifth grade continues through Sunday, May 5. Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, City Park, Hagerstown.

The Museum Ramble, a self-guided tour including 24 museums and historic sites from Clear Spring to Smithsburg, will be Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5. Some museums will be open only one day. A printed guide and map to participating sites are available at the Visitor Welcome Center in downtown Hagerstown. Most of the participating museums are open free of charge, and many have special events planned for the weekend. For a complete guide and map, go to museumramble.marylandmemories.org . • Antietam National Battlefield (301-432-5124)

On March 21, during the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts' annual membership meeting, the museum held its annual raffle drawing, selecting 12 winners from more than 2,400 ticket entries. The museum raised more than $19,000 through the raffle to support its annual   programs. A special thank you goes to Dale Stein, this year's chairperson, for coordinating and organizing the raffle.  Teresa Barr sold the most raffle tickets.  The museum wants to thank everyone who bought and sold tickets, and the prize sponsors who made this year's raffle a success.