Vanitas still life paintings functioned as dazzling visual morality plays, reminding 17th-century Dutch audiences that the exquisite earthly pleasures they enjoyed were temporary and death was inevitable.
We reimagined this genre in order to celebrate Baltimore’s abundance of impeccable craft objects and the pleasure that creative makers bring to our everyday existence in a photo essay originally published in Issue 09: Craft. The photo essay is designed to highlight a few Baltimore-based artists who work in ceramics, metal, leather, fibers, and basket weaving. We also wanted to include a sampling of craft whiskey and beer made in Baltimore, as well as other grocery items, like produce and meat, which represented fading earthly pleasures and abundance in Dutch Vanitas paintings. We also recognize the beautiful blooms from Pomona Florals, nail and tattoo art, and we were thrilled to work with two hand models who also happen to be artists.
Although we are socially distant and businesses are struggling because of Covid restrictions, this season we wanted to make it easy to patronize Baltimore-based artists and shops and to luxuriate in the amazing range of quality that you can support and sustain through your purchases.
This photo essay includes Jewelry by Rebecca Myers and Lauren Schott, Fiber Art by Rachel Beckman and Jean Yang, Hand Models Abbey Parrish and Erin Nutsugah with nails by Psychedelic Nails and tattoo by Lyric Shen, Flowers by Pomona Florals, Ceramics by Dana Bechert, Christina Haines, and Jani Hileman, Baskets and Leather Wallets by Jenn Kim, Craft Whiskey by Old Line Spirits, Prints by Baltimore Print Studios, Pizza from Vito’s Pizza, with fruit and T-bone steak from Eddie’s of Roland Park.
Photo essay by Jill Fannon with styling by Cara Ober and René Treviño
