Apr 22 Wednesday
Ayomilekan Akinbinu, Guitar & Alto SaxophoneKofi Boateng, Keyboard & TrumpetLucas Hanson, KeyboardImran Musa, BassAdeolu Opadina, Drums
Hailing from Laurel, Maryland, Sade's Collective blends R&B with the complex rhythms of highlife and the soulful improvisation of jazz. Born from jam sessions in a lead guitarist’s basement, the band’s name is a tribute to those collaborative beginnings, with "Sade" honoring the host and "Collective" representing their shared musical vision. Their sound is a unique fusion that feels both spontaneous and nostalgic, creating a vibrant tapestry of intricate grooves and rich melodies. Think Tony Allen meets the Vanguard — a sound that respects tradition while pushing it into new, exciting territory. Sades Collective is currently in the studio, crafting their debut music to share their fresh take on jazz with a wider audience.
Based on the beloved Newbery Medal- and National Book Award-winning novel—and the hit 2003 film starring Shia LaBeouf, Sigourney Weaver, and Jon Voight—this theatrical adaptation is a thrilling ride for audiences of all ages. When teenager Stanley Yelnats is hit by a pair of falling sneakers, his unlucky family curse strikes again. Wrongly convicted of stealing the sneakers and sent to the mysterious Camp Green Lake, Stanley joins a ragtag group of boys digging endless holes under the blistering sun—all in the name of building character. But as the layers of dirt pile up, so do the secrets buried beneath them. Part mystery, part adventure, and packed with heart, Holes is a wildly imaginative tale about friendship, fate, and the courage it takes to rewrite your story. Holes is “a fast-paced and inventive family show that works on every level” (The Stage).
1999 Newbery Medal1998 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature1999 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction
A Soldier's Play is a gripping adaptation of the acclaimed 1984 film A Soldier's Story. This powerful production dives deep into the complexities of race, duty, and justice within the military, exploring the mysterious murder of a Black sergeant on a Louisiana Army base during World War II.
Screening of Robert Mugge's 1980 film Sun Ra: A Joyful Noise, a 60-minute portrait of visionary artist Sun Ra and his avant- garde jazz Arkestra filmed in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. in 1978 and 1980.
Apr 23 Thursday
The Neighborhood Design Center (NDC) invites you to join The Vision is Yours, a transformative regional forum focused on placemaking and placekeeping.
This multi-day gathering convenes urban planners, community leaders, designers, artists, and public officials to explore innovative approaches to reimagining public spaces across Maryland and the Washington, D.C. area.
From inspiring keynotes and hands-on learning labs, to lively networking events and mobile workshops showcasing groundbreaking projects, the forum sparks the radical imagination needed to shape a brighter, more equitable and inclusive future shaped by local communities.
Experience the legendary tale of the Titanic like never before with Titanic: An Immersive Voyage. Featuring more than 300 artifacts, life-sized reconstructed rooms, 3D views, video animations, and state-of-the-art technology, this immersive experience offers a riveting and emotional journey through one of history’s most iconic tragedies. From the ship’s grand construction to its fatal collision with the iceberg, you’ll get to fully immerse yourself in the Titanic's captivating story. Wander through its lavish halls, watch the iceberg appear, and relive the ship’s dramatic final moments in an immersive gallery. Plus, with a virtual reality exploration of the Titanic’s wreck site more than 2.5 miles deep into the ocean, it promises to be a retelling of the Titanic story like no other.
When was the last time you unplugged?
Disconnect, slow down, and rediscover what it means to be present inside the BMA’s historic Spring House, where acclaimed American conceptual artist Rachel Lee Hovnanian presents the Nature Deficit Disorder immersion room this spring. The powerful installation challenges our digital dependence and rekindles our connection to the natural world.
Inspired by journalist Richard Louv’s term “nature deficit disorder,” described as a growing disconnection from nature, often linked to diminished focus and negative moods, Hovnanian transforms the Spring House into a simulated nighttime forest.
“My work has long explored how technology shapes attention, mental health, and human connection. This installation emerged from my observations of society’s growing digital dependence, alongside my own experience of it.” –Rachel Lee HovnanianAway from the constant ping of notifications and endless scrolling, surrender your phone, surround yourself with fir trees, and let lantern light guide you. Hear the crunch of leaves beneath your feet and watch the flicker of a campfire casting shadows across the room.
In a world where we check our phones every other minute, Hovnanian invites you to linger for at least five minutes in the immersion room and consider what is lost when we give our attention to apps and devices rather than real-life experiences.
“What do we lose when our lives are constantly mediated by screens? I hope to offer a pause—an invitation to rediscover how it feels to be fully present.” –Rachel Lee Hovnanian
Between 1946 and 1953, Henri Matisse created 28 lithographic portraits for Poésies Antillaises (Antillean Poetry), a book of poems by John-Antoine Nau. Published posthumously in 1972, this rare volume remains one of Matisse’s least-known illustrated works.
Inspired by his brief 1930 visit to Martinique, Matisse translated Nau’s evocative poems—celebrating travel, music, and oceanic landscapes—into vibrant portraits. These reflect the artist’s collaborations with notable Caribbean and international models and are presented alongside works by two leading artists from Martinique and Guadeloupe, Germaine Casse and Serge Hélénon. This focus exhibition illuminates aspects of the transatlantic artistic circles active during the late French colonial period.