Local Treasure
If you want to see a major exhibition of the work of one our most treasured local artists, head to the Delaware Art Museum for “Painted Poetry: The Art of Mary Page Evans,” a retrospective that opens March 31. You’ll see beautiful depictions of nature as Evans has experienced it in favored places such as the Shenandoah Valley and the Florida coast, as well as local gardens and gardens in France, including Claude Monet’s Giverny. “In Evans’ work there is always a balance between the representational and the abstract as well as between impulsive and meditative applications of paint to her canvas,” painter Bill Scott has said. “She camouflages the numerous decisions and immense effort required to make her works look so effortless.” Many of the works on display are paired with words that have inspired her, be they contemporary poems or musings by Paul Cézanne. In fact, programming around the exhibition includes poetry readings and a concert, to highlight the other disciplines that inform and inspire her work. Meet the artist and work with her during other special events. “Painted Poetry” closes July 15. 571-9590, delart.org
Illuminating Illustration
Those interested in publishing and illustration may want to visit the Brandywine River Museum soon to see “Scribner’s Magazine: The Early Years in Illustration” to learn about the importance of illustrated magazines in the late 18th and early 20th centuries. Of the important artists Scribner’s hired, you’ll notice Maxfield Parrish, Howard Pyle, Frank Schoonover and N.C. Wyeth as notables, men who helped make the magazine one of the most popular in its day. Learn more about the “golden age of illustration” through May 2. (610) 388-2700, brandywinemusuem.org
Ongoing at the Museums
At The Biggs Musuem, “Jewels of the Generations: The Legacy of the Loockerman and Bradford Family of Dover,” displays early American clothing, Victorian jewelry, European and Asian ceramics, American and European silver, American and European portraits, and Delaware- and Philadelphia-made furniture that was collected by Vincent Loockerman, the largest collector of Delaware and Philadelphia-made furniture in his day, and his descendants, the Bradfords. 674-2111, biggsmusuem.org
With spring in the air, our thoughts turn to “A Secret Book of Designs: The Burne-Jones Flower Book” at the Delaware Art Museum through April 22. Pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones made a series of circular images, each inspired by the name of a flower, between 1882-1898. In 1905 the images were published as individual collotypes in a beautifully printed volume. Only 300 editions were printed. “A Secret Book of Designs” features all 38 images. Rare, indeed. 571-9590, delart.org
Harping On
The nationally recognized Celtic harp orchestra will play music from Ireland and Scotland under the direction of Janet Witman at Smyrna Opera House in “Celtic Crossings featuring Brandywine Harps” March 31. Witman, a U.S. national Scottish harp champion, will lead the 16-harp orchestra, singers and guests on a unique musical journey. 653-4236, smyrnaoperahouse.org
Continuing Theater
When professor Henry Higgins tries to transform cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle into a proper lady, the relationship evolves into something more. Find out what as Clear Space Theatre Company stages the classic American musical “My Fair Lady” through April 1. 227-2270, ClearSpaceTheatre.org
What if Picasso and Einstein met before they fractured space and time and changed our understanding of the world? This unpredictable comedy by Steve Martin imagines such a meeting, with a big twist. See it through March 31 at the Wilmington Drama League. 764-3396, wilmingtondramaleague.org
Few Broadway musicals have been as popular as “The Producers.” See the uproarious comedy in Wilmington at Cab Calloway School of the Arts, performed by some of the best student actors in the state, through April 1. There will be more than enough laughs to go around. cabcallowayschool.org
Bridget sees a great opportunity to spend a summer in New York by living with her Nana, yet she has no idea that her sweet Nana is running an illegal boutique, selling hand-made lingerie. See the craziness that follows when Possum Point Players in Georgetown stages “Nana’s Naughty Knickers” as a dinner theater at Possum Hall on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through April 1. The cast is an ensemble group of the best actors in Sussex. 856-3460, possumpointplayers.org
Looking Ahead
Plan now to see First State Ballet Theatre’s “Giselle” April 14-15. The beautiful and haunting romantic work is a premiere for Delaware’s only professional ballet company. See it at The Grand Opera House. 800-37GRAND, firststateballet.com
