If you’re looking for a way to get your fill of art and nature in Southern Maryland, consider making the trip to the Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center. It’s located in Solomons, where the Patuxent River meets the Chesapeake Bay. This unique space includes a tranquil outdoor sculpture garden as well as an indoor gallery and arts center where you can enjoy some impressive work.

The Sculpture Garden

The garden spans about 30 acres along St. John’s Creek. Here, you can meander down their .25-mile walking path, through the woods and meadows, stopping to drink in the fascinating sculpture works on display. Their sculpture collection includes over thirty pieces on loan from the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian Institution, including works from artists Cesar, Jean Arp, Kenneth Snelson, Antonio Tobias Mendez, Barbara Hepworth, Robert Engman, and Fransisco Zuniga. There are some permanent works and installations on site as well. In this serene outdoor space, nature meets art. It’s open daily from 9:00AM-5:00PM, and if you arrive early, you can explore for free from 9:00-10:00AM.

Murray Arts Building

The John Dennis Murray Arts Building is an architecturally-unique, contemporary facility with two floors of rotating exhibits to explore. This includes the Main Floor Gallery where they also have the Nature Nook and artLAB for kids, the Kay Daugherty Gallery, and the Community Gallery. They also have a gift shop, patio, and catering kitchen. They’re open daily from 10:00AM-5:00PM.

Getting there

When you search for the Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Center on the map, you’ll find its address is located in Dowell, but the physical location on Dowell Road is accepted as being within the Solomons Island community. It’s located just east of the St. Mary’s region and you can get there by taking 4N across the Patuxent River. When you get to the Hilton Garden Inn and Ruddy Duck, take a right on Dowell Road. The garden will be less than .25 mile on your left.

Kid and pet-friendly

As opposed to a more formal museum environment, this place is a great first introduction to art for younger kids. Inside the center, kids can get involved in the Nature Nook or create something to take home in the artLAB. The outdoor gardens are a great place for kids to explore, and they’ll likely enjoy the Fairy Lolly imagination playground as well as the other child-centric attractions. Pack a picnic to enjoy in the gardens if you’re sticking around for lunch. The outdoor spaces are pet-friendly (except for special events), so you can bring your furry friend along as long as they remain leashed.

Attend a class

If you’re looking to get involved in the art-making experience, you can sign up for one of their many classes. Some are structured as a weekly series while others are one-day workshops. They regularly host classes in wheel-thrown ceramics as well as fun one-day classes like their “Woods of the Vineyard: A Wine & Jewelry-Making Workshop” coming up on October 6th, 2018.

Mark your calendar: Special Events

One of the best aspects of the Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center is that they bring the local community together with great events. Many of them are family-friendly and highlight local creativity. They host popular annual festivals, like their recently-passed Artsfest 2018 which spotlighted the visual and performing arts. Nearly every month on the first Saturday, they host their Makers Market with free admission to check out their many vendors. They also have events for adults, like their “Annmarie After Hours”, where you can join them for an evening of art, wine & beer, hors-d’oeuvres, and live music. This October 27th from 10:00AM-4:00PM, they’ll host the popular “Halloween in the Garden” event for kids. This is a ticketed daytime trick-or-treating event with activities and food vendors, and ticket proceeds benefit local charities.

 

Whether you’re an artist looking to get inspired, or you simply appreciate taking in the local creativity and culture, the Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center should be on your list of must-visits. It’s a great place to observe art in nature and even to get involved in some art-making yourself. Where’s your go-to place when you want to enjoy some artwork in southern Maryland? I’d love to hear your recommendations.