Community Events Calendar

A juried exhibition of 3D work by Maine high school aged artists. Juried by professional artist, activist and curator Cheryl Harper. Conceived and coordinated by Cheryl Herr-Rains, teacher of art at Gardiner Regional High School. Sponsored by a generous grant from the Evergreen Foundation. Opening Friday, March 19, 5-8 p.m., awards announced at 6 p.m.

Event: An Evening of Classical Music and Art, and Conversation at the Harlow Gallery. 5-6:30 pm Meet & greet with artist and curator Cheryl Harper, juror for A Matter of Conscience followed by 6:30 to 8:30 pm chamber music by Con Brio, an Augusta Symphony Orchestra ensemble. KVAA members, central Maine artists and the public in general are invited to a meet and greet for artist and curator Cheryl Harper of Philadelphia, PA. This event is free and open to the public; light refreshments will be served. Baroque and Classical will be the musical bill of fare. A $5 donation is requested, to benefit the Harlow Gallery and the ASO, both nonprofit organizations supporting the arts in central Maine. Come and view the latest exhibition of local art and luxuriate in some gorgeous music. Cheryl Harper of Philadelphia, PA, trained as both an Art Historian-Curator as well as a Printmaker-Painter, and misses one when doing the other. The Harlow Gallery is owned and operated by the Kennebec Valley Art Association, a membership based 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization since 1958. The Harlow connects art, artists and community.

Downtown Augusta has been transformed into an outdoor museum with the installation of 31 signs in "The Museum in the Streets" Program. The signs, years in the planning and making, are written in both French and English, and tell the history of the building of Augusta, the city from 1625 to the present. All 29 signs and two large maps are within walking distance of each other on both sides of the Kennebec river. Another 9 Museum in the Streets signs have been installed along Canal Street in Mill Park. They tell the story of Edwards Mill, Edwards dam and industrial Augusta. The tour begins at City Center, proceeds behind Old Fort Western, moves down to Willow Street's W.H.Gannett's Comfort magazine printing house. On to a 10th sign at the east end of Calumet Bridge, then cross to the west side of the river, the 11th panel as at the corner of Bridge and Water Street. It's called "Seeing the Elephants" and shows a parade of elephants marching down Water Street. Proceed south on Water Street to Panel 13 that recounts the Great Augusta Bank robbery of New Year's weekend in 1850. On to the Great Augusta Fire of 1865 that destroyed 81 buildings on both sides of Water Street. Continue on and follow the tour to the end at Canal Street in Mill Park! The signs will be removed each November and replaced each spring. Maps of Augusta's Musuem in the Streets will be availalbe at Augusta City Center. Patrick Cardon, originally of France and now of Cushing, originated the idea in France.

Save the Date for The Children's Center's 9th Annual Chili Chowder Challenge and VOTE for the best Chili and Chowder! There are so many ways to participate in this fun-filled event. Some participating restaurants: Al's Pizza ~ Applebee's ~ Augusta House of Pancakes ~ Damon's ~ Dennis's Pizza ~ Little Dan's BBQ ~ Maple Hill Farm Inn & Conference Center ~ Margaritas ~ Red Barn ~ Red Robin ~ Texas Roadhouse ~ The Nook & Cranni ~ Wing's Hill Inn. Local businesses sponsor the event and donate auction items. Thanks to 2010 Major Sponsors: Alliance of Maine Federal Credit Union, Lipman Katz & McKee and Walmart. Families come to enjoy the food, music by Ed Desjardins and Friends, kid's activities, and the live auction at 12:30 - 1:30. Mr. Norm Elvin does it all! Tickets are available at the Children's Center at 1 Alden Avenue, Augusta & Alliance of Maine Federal CU at 44 Edison Drive, Augusta. Tickets: $10 pp or $25 per family. Children 11 and under are free! Pre-auction bids are welcome on the website: www.chilichowder.com.