What is the definition of art? Is it a medium of expression? Does it draw on creativity or reality? Is it restricted to certain forms, like paintings and sculptures, or can it manifest in other means? These are the questions debated and answered at The Circle Gallery off State Circle. The small gallery that’s part of Maryland Federation of Art (MFA) is pushing the limits of what’s art. Currently, the gallery features light sculptures, a slew of unconventional photos, and sculptures crafted from recycled products. We visited the downtown gallery for more on the subject in the hopes to inspired you to visit it as well.
Inside The Circle Gallery, the Main Gallery flows into the Holley Gallery, the latter which is the named for the Maryland Federation of Art co-founder. Maryland Federation of Art’s site, www.mdfedart.com, tells more of the history. MFA was founded in the early 60s, though The Circle Gallery preceded it in the mid 1800s, making The Circle Gallery Annapolis’s oldest art gallery. In fact, the brick and beams in the gallery are original. 
Not only does The Circle Gallery provide art that pushes the boundaries of its definition, but the gallery at 18 State Circle puts on events for youth, like the “MFA Scavenger Hunt,” where young visitors are challenged to discover more about art.
Presently, “Cool +2” is on exhibit, a show that celebrates the creative interpretation of artists younger than 35.Though The Circle Gallery received more than two-hundred pieces of art, twenty-three were chosen. The work chosen represents states all over the fifty, though most of the artists are from Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland. Some are from Annapolis, like Aaron Kramer and Harrison Doyle. The other artists in the show are, respectively: Milana Braslavasky, Andrew Brown, Jay Hendrick, Alex Porter, Nathan Sholley, Aaron Treher, Andrew Watson, and Brent Webb. The price of these works range from $55 to $6,000. This exhibit is open until July 21.
Aside from the works by young artists at the “Cool +2” show, The Circle Gallery puts on a range of exhibits that each celebrate a different group of artists or kind of art. For example, in 2011, the gallery featured an “Art on Paper” show that brought together artists who specialize in drawings, paintings, and photography. In 2012, The Circle Gallery put on “Fiber Options: Material Explorations,” a show that celebrated works of art crafted with fiber materials. Thus, the show featured lots of tapestries and sculptures made with fabric. Another interesting show was the “Found Objects” one in 2010, which celebrated repurposing by calling for the artists to make art out of items from at yard sales, found in a friend’s home, and wherever else. 
In the Holley Gallery, paintings by Desiree Holmes Scherini are hung with pride–paintings of exquisite landscapes and the like. An upcoming exhibit–opening on July 25–celebrates a major milestone for the gallery. The “MFA 50th Anniversary Exhibition” will feature all art forms. For more on this event or more on MFA in general, head to the site linked above. Take some time today to appreciate the works of art near you.
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