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Montgomery County's Vinyl Celebration

National Vinyl Day was yesterday, the 12th of August, but a library and public plaza in Rockville, Maryland, will host their festivities on Saturday.  National Vinyl Day 2026 is taking place from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Rockville Memorial Library and Rockville Town Square . The event kicks off outside with percussionist Dee Hale , offering an introduction to Brazilian drumming traditions. This interactive session covers the fundamentals of batucada, the driving rhythmic style found in Rio de Janeiro's famous carnival.     Attendees can also purchase records or check out hip-hop demonstrations as well as  arts and crafts.  Teenagers can participate in a silent disco party and K-pop dance workshop. Options for younger kids include storytime and a dance party.  There is no charge, and reservations are not required.  Visit https://www. montgomerycountymd.gov/node/ 20286 for further details.

Pop Shop Auction

In 1986, Keith Haring decided to make his imagery accessible to a broader audience--and more affordable than what they'd pay at an art gallery. So he opened the Pop Shop in New York, which featured goods like prints, posters, and apparel.  The store remained open for many years after Haring's death (and far longer than a branch in Tokyo). One of Haring's collectors, Julia Markus , has teamed up with Doyle to sell Pop Shop memorabilia. Lots include a gold Radiant Baby pin, lithographic calendar with leaping figures, and a radio embellished by a three-eyed smiley face. There are also some pieces by other artists, including Kenny Scharf and Ronnie Cutrone .    Folks can see the works at Doyle New York (where Markus will join a panel discussion on August 17) and Beverly Hills through the 20th of August. The 20th is also when the auction ends.

A Festival's 57th Anniversary

In 1969, Ken Bray was a jewelry vendor at Woodstock . On August 9, the silversmith returns to Bethel Woods. He will be at the Bethel Woods Center For The Arts for two events: a golf cart tour. which costs $19.69 (like the year of the festival) and a free symposium at 3 p.m. Another special discussion, which is free but requires an RSVP, boasts Henry Diltz and Bob Gruen , on stage together for the first time. It runs from 6-8 p.m. on the 11th of August. The photographers, who were at Woodstock , are to be interviewed by music journalist Rona Elliot . Bob wrote on Instagram that he was a young, happy camper while Henry was the official photographer.  It's all part of Anniversary Week at the museum in Bethel, New York, marking 57 years since Woodstock . There are several related exhibitions as well.

Pop Art Birthday Bash

On this day in 1928, Andy Warhol was born. A gallery in St. Petersburg, Florida, will celebrate tomorrow night.  The man who came up with the idea for the Warhol Birthday & Pop Art Party 4.0 is Luke Heath , a pop artist himself.  As the name suggests, this is the fourth time the Floridarama Gallery is hosting the event.  Over thirty artists (Luke among them) are participating, and the exhibit will be up through the end of the month. Friday's event features interactive Warhol-inspired screen tests, live music and art demonstrations, and immersive installations. It is free to attend.

''Inside Job''

  A picture of a disco ball in a desert; a ring shaped like a flower; a ''crying'' mask; an installation of milk crates; and psychedelic paintings . . . just a sample of Inside Job , Christie's Staff Art Auction. The online sale starts tomorrow and runs through the 19th of August. It features art created by talented employees at Christie's New York headquarters. They include photographers, administrators, and specialists. With estimates starting at a hundred dollars, the auction is an opportunity for seasoned collectors and those just starting out. Pieces will be on view at the Rockefeller Center galleries from the 14th through the 18th of the month.  The buyer's premium from this sale will be donated to Publicolor , a nonprofit which harnesses the power of art and design to engage students in revitalizing education programs and community spaces. 

Special Announcements

The Art and Music Guide is now four years old! Also making news--a Jimi Hendrix book due on the fourth of August, and an upcoming auction to benefit disadvantaged and at-risk youth in Michigan. The Hendrix book is called Experienced and was written by the star's former road manager, Eric Barrett . Eric, who was at Woodstock and the Isle of Wight with Jimi, has also toured with Madonna, David Bowie , and George Michael .  As for the auction, all proceeds go to the Marshall Mathers Foundation. Eminem (whose real name is Marshall Mathers ) is selling over a hundred pairs of signed sneakers from his personal collection on the 25th of August. You can check them out or register to bid here: https://www. juliensauctions.com/en/ auctions/marshall-mathers- foundation-auction .

''Unlovable'' Exhibition

Next month, the Vision Gallery in Chandler, Arizona, is hosting a couple of Make and Take events. On August 8, people can create pet snakes out of pipe cleaners, beads, and other materials. And on the 22nd, they can opt for bugs. The activities are related to the Unlovable exhibit, running through August 15. Over sixty Arizona-based artists submitted paintings, sculptures, and other pieces depicting creatures deemed 'unlovable' by the public. The subjects range from arachnoids to marsupials, and much of the art is charming rather than repulsive or scary. In June, the gallery hosted a Creepy Crawler Day with bug and animal crafts as well as live exhibits from the Phoenix Zoo .