In the Studio with Nick Wilson
In the Studio with Nick Wilson

Nick Wilson is the MakerSpace Manager at CAC which means he spends his time designing our shop training programs, writing class curriculum, and setting up partnerships with schools and other nonprofits. Most days you’ll find him hosting open studio or teaching MakerSpace classes and workshops. When he’s not at CAC, however, Nick spends his time working on his boutique electric guitar company, Prophecy Instruments, which features incredible hand-crafted guitars. He’s also a freelance graphic designer, specializing in band logos for heavy and alternative music genres.

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In the Studio, MakerSpaceAshley Lines
In the Studio with Dan Goodrich
In the Studio with Dan Goodrich

Today we are going In the Studio with Dan Goodrich, CAC’s new Venue Director. By day, he oversees the entire production side of the Chesapeake Arts Center including scheduling, maintenance, and operations in our performance spaces plus management of our crew. Dan’s also what I like to call a Multitalented Creative. He’s a phenomenal professional wedding and portrait photographer and aspiring woodworker who “occasionally likes to dabble in acrylic painting, wood-burning, stained glass, watercolor, and mixed media.” Here’s Dan talking about his work, artistic process and making art his career:

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Photography, In the StudioAshley Lines
In the Studio with Pam Williams
In the Studio with Pam Williams

Pam Williams is the Finance Administrator at CAC, which means she spends her days in the office handling anything finance or HR-related. She’s also a published writer, radio host, speaker and consultant and currently pursuing her Ph.D as well as a wife, mother and grandmother to the cutest grandbabies around. We asked her about finding her voice and inspiration to do it all:

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In the StudioAshley Lines
In the Studio with Nicole Caracia
In the Studio with Nicole Caracia

As the CAC’s Artistic Director, Nicole Caracia spends her days developing and implementing the artistic vision and focus of the organization. She oversees the Education department and works with the team to provide field-trips, after-school programs, workshops and classes. Additionally, Nicole determines all the "CAC presents" performances that take place at the center, including the gallery exhibits in the Hal Gomer gallery.

When she’s not at the CAC, Nicole is an award-winning photographer and photography teacher, wife and mom to two little girls. Nicole’s diverse portfolio includes bands, landscapes, animals, portraits , models and weddings. And she’s a photography teacher at BPMS and CAC as well.

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In the Studio, Visual Arts & PhotographyAshley LinesArtist, Photographer
Local businessman Ken Stanley makes record donation to CAC
Local businessman Ken Stanley makes record donation to CAC

On Thursday, March 12, more than 60 friends, donors, and supporters gathered in CAC’s MakerSpace to celebrate a milestone event: the dedication and naming of the MakerSpace in memory of Michael Stanley.

Stanley, who passed away in 2019, was the son of Kenneth Stanley, founder of Stanley Engineering in Glen Burnie, who in December 2019 donated $100,000 to Chesapeake Arts Center (CAC). At the event, the new Michael Stanley MakerSpace name and logo was unveiled.

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CAC News, MakerSpace, EducationAshley LinesDonation, MakerSpace
Black & White Art Tutorial with Nick (Video)
Black & White Art Tutorial with Nick (Video)

Follow along with Nick Wilson, our MakerSpace Manager, for this fun, creative art tutorial. Set a timer for 15 minutes and draw an interesting picture using only these materials. Without color, artists need to be creative in how they add intrigue to their work! What happens if you press hard with your pencil? What happens if you press softly? How can you add texture? (Hint: think lines, shapes and patterns). Be sure to keep adding details until the timer goes off!

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MakerSpace, Education, Art TutorialAshley Lines
#creativethroughcorona - Join the CAC Color Wheel Challenge!
#creativethroughcorona - Join the CAC Color Wheel Challenge!

Here at CAC, we truly believe art and creativity bring us all together. And, since we cannot be physically together at the moment, we wanted to create a space to dig into some art supplies, share our ideas and, let’s be honest, give these kids something to do! We know these two weeks (and potentially beyond) are going to be incredibly challenging for parents, but we can get through it together.

With all of that in mind, we’re thrilled to share the CAC Color Wheel Challenge with you!

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Education, Art TutorialAshley Lines
CAC Closing Information
CAC Closing Information

Dear CAC Friends,

Taking care of our patrons is an essential part of our organizational culture. In accordance with those values and following the policies of Anne Arundel County Public Schools and the State of Maryland, the Chesapeake Arts Center is closing the facility starting on Friday, March 13, 2020 at 5:00pm through March 27, 2020. This means all CAC programs, after school programs, classes, rental events, and open studios will be postponed. Please stay tuned for more information on possible makeup classes from the Education Department.

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CAC NewsAshley Lines
A Note from our Executive Director: We need your help to keep the CAC healthy & clean!
A Note from our Executive Director: We need your help to keep the CAC healthy & clean!

Dear CAC Families & Patrons,

Our staff is working proactively to address concerns regarding the spread of influenza and COVID-19 (coronavirus) throughout the Chesapeake Arts Center. Following the guidance of the CDC, we have increased our cleaning routines in our facility, including frequent wiping of door handles, sink knobs, and stair rails. We are monitoring and working with Anne Arundel County Public Schools (the owner of our building) on policies and procedures to ensure the continued health and wellness of our students, patrons, and staff….

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CAC NewsAshley Lines
Chesapeake Arts Center Announces New Executive Director -- Donna Anderson to Succeed Belinda Fraley Huesman
Chesapeake Arts Center Announces New Executive Director -- Donna Anderson to Succeed Belinda Fraley Huesman

Brooklyn Park, MD –The Board of Directors of the Chesapeake Arts Center (CAC) announced the appointment of Donna L. Anderson as Executive Director effective February 18. Anderson succeeds Belinda Fraley Huesman who will step aside to transition to other entrepreneurial ventures and will serve as CAC’s part-time Strategic Initiatives Advisor through June 2020.

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CAC NewsAshley Lines
Chesapeake Arts Center Selected as a Grantee of Bloomberg Philanthropies' Arts Innovation and Management Program
Chesapeake Arts Center Selected as a Grantee of Bloomberg Philanthropies' Arts Innovation and Management Program

Chesapeake Arts Center today announced that it is a grantee recipient of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Arts Innovation and Management (AIM) program. The invitation-only program seeks to strengthen the organizational capacity and programming of small and mid-size cultural organizations within Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Denver, New Orleans, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. Through the $43 million multi-year initiative, Bloomberg Philanthropies will provide unrestricted general operating support as well as arts management training in areas that include fundraising, strategic planning, marketing and broad development.

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CAC NewsAshley Lines