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Baltimore News: Waller Gallery, Linda DePalma, GBCA + Open Works

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This week’s news includes: Maryland State Arts Council announces 2023 Triennial artists, Linda DePalma’s restored RedwoodArch, The Truth in This Art’s 600th episode, Emily Breiter on this weekend’s Bromo Art Walk, and more reporting from Baltimore Fishbowl, Baltimore Beat, Baltimore Banner, Baltimore Magazine, and other local and independent news sources.

Header Image: RedwoodArch rededication. Artist, Linda DePalma. Photo, Lauren Green Bolling, Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts.

 

MSAC Arts Directory Triennial Exhibition Artists Announced!
Press Release: May 16

In celebration of the talented and diverse array of artists across the state, the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC), and Maryland Art Place (MAP) are pleased to present the third Maryland State Arts Directory exhibition this month. Held Thursday, May 18 at 6 pm, the triennial event will focus on visual artworks, literary works, and performers in the ever-growing Maryland Arts Directory, and will be held in tandem with the Bromo Arts  Entertainment District Spring Art Walk.

Maintained by MAP for more than 25 years, the Maryland Arts Directory originated as a regional resource conceived by MSAC. Curators, collectors, and patrons could physically visit MAP to review new visual artworks using slides. As time went by, slides became outdated and an official online resource was created to make access to artworks much more accessible.

The Directory is a free online platform that showcases the high-caliber, diverse, and relevant work of Maryland’s artists and arts organizations and promotes the vitality of Maryland’s arts communities. Collectively, MSAC and MAP aim to present a comprehensive survey of Maryland artists for the Triennial exhibition. “We are excited to collaborate with MAP and work with these jurors to showcase the breadth and depth of the work of Maryland artists,” said MSAC Executive Director Steven Skerritt-Davis. “The Directory as an online resource is invaluable, and having the chance to experience participating artists work in person is sure to be inspiring”

This year’s roster of talented jurors includes Jayme McLellan (visual art) – Founder and Director of Civilian Art Projects; José Ruiz (visual art) – Director and Faculty, Curatorial Practices Program at the Maryland Institute College of Art; Rahne Alexander(performance) – intermedia artist, writer, and editor; and Gerry LaFemina (literary) – acclaimed poet, writer, professor, and critic.

Participating Artists: 

 

Esperanza Alzona, Jeanne Anderton, Mollye Bendell, Karin Birch, Eric Briscoe, Bryane Broadie, Megan Burak, Japhet Chukwuma, Kitty Clark & Ray C Shaw(Performing), Jacqui Crocetta, Julianna Dail, Michel Demanche, Liz Downing (Performing), Andrea Downs, Brian Dunn, Bria Edwards, Ashley Elizabeth Evans (Literary), Anna Fine Foer, Dan Talib Latif Flounders, Kristin Fuller, Marilyn Gates-Davis, Catrice Greer (Literary), Terence Hannum, Heather Harvey, Elizabeth Hill (Performing), Lillian Bayley Hoover, Susan Hostetler, Nora Howell, Chung-Wei Huang, Corey Hughes, Sherry Insley, Chloe Irla, Kei Ito, Lillian Jacobson, Meredith Johnson (Literary), Sylvia Jones (Literary), Suzy Kopf, Nate Larson, Tzippora Lasdun, Magnolia Laurie, Lauren R. Lyde, Caidy Lynn, Julie Maynard, Jennifer McBrien, Jonna Elinor McKone, Rie Moore (Performing), Rashad Muhammad, Andrew Nelson, Kate Norris, Bart O’Reilly, Aaron Oldenburg, Janet Olney, Shana Oshiro (Performing), Betsy Packard, Scott Pennington, Linda Plaisted, Barry Louis Polisar(Literary), Ann Quinn (Literary), Stephanie Ray(Performing), Margaret Rorison, Saz Ross, Anysa Saleh, Gretchen Schermerhorn, Jennifer N. Shannon(Literary), Laura Shovan (Literary), Becky Snider, Jessica Snow, Virginia Sperry, Ramón Tasat(Performing), Sue Ellen Thompson (Literary), Andrew Thorp, René Treviño, Elijah Trice, Erhan Us, Dmitrii Volkov, Jenny Walton, Steve Wanna, Yam Chew Oh, Tara Youngborg.

The exhibition will take place on three floors of the MAP building located at 218 West Saratoga Streetbetween Park and Howard Streets in downtown Baltimore City. Parking will be available at the Arrow garage across the street from MAP and street parking will be free after 6 pm. This is a free event.

 

 

GBCA and Open Works Announce Partnership
Press Release: May 16

The Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance (GBCA) and Open Works today announced a new partnership that aims to further opportunities for artists and creatives in Baltimore. Beginning May 2023, GBCA members will receive membership and space rental discounts to Open Works, increasing their access to the makerspace’s workshops, education, tools, equipment, and more. The partnership will be launched with a happy hour event on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at Open Works, located at 1400 Greenmount Avenue, Baltimore, MD.

“GBCA is excited and grateful for this new partnership with Open Works, and for the opportunity to increase the affordability of the incredible resources they offer for our members,” said Jeannie Howe, Executive Director at GBCA. “Equally important, we look forward to ensuring Open Works’ members have access to the funding, industry discounts, promotional tools, and professional development resources GBCA provides to artists and creatives across the region.”

“Since we opened in 2016, Open Works has been an affordable resource for Baltimore’s working artists, and we’re excited to be working with the GBCA to extend those resources even further,” said April Danielle Lewis, Director of Community and Culture at Open Works.

As both organizations work to develop an equitable framework for GBCA to distribute two annual memberships to Open Works, this collaboration, among other efforts, reflects the organizations’ commitment to addressing the economic challenges the Baltimore arts and culture community is experiencing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To learn more about the member benefits offered by GBCA and their partnership with Open Works, please visit www.baltimoreculture.org/GBCAOpenworkspartnership.

About GBCA
The Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance (GBCA) creates equity and opportunity In, Through, and For arts and culture in Greater Baltimore. A leading nonprofit provider of services to artists and cultural organizations in the region, GBCA believes in unifying and strengthening all members of the creative community. We do this through marketing, education, financial support, and developing innovative programs that increase equity in the cultural sector and beyond.

About Open Works
Open Works is a 501c3 non-profit makerspace with a mission to make tools, technology, and the knowledge to use them accessible to all. Open Works provides affordable access to workshops, tools and equipment, studio space, education, and community programming for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.

 

 

Waller Gallery Reopening
Press Release: May 10

Hello Friends and Supporters!

Wow, it has been a ride for us at Waller Gallery. Since Spring 2020 we have embraced the pivot and re-structured to work with more artists than we had for our first 3 years! We have explored and collaborated with institutions and artists virtually, in person, and through the pilot launch of the Waller Fellowship. This is our 5th year and we couldn’t be happier to continue our journey as a gallery and community space! We dedicate our work to Sandra McMillan who passed away in 2021, gallery manager and mother of our Director, Joy Davis.

Our Renovation Story

One of the biggest shake-ups at Waller over the last two to three years has been advocating for grant funds for renovations of our space. We achieved our goal with immense support from the Baltimore Central Partnership and the Neighborhood Design Center (NDC). The renovation and permit process has been tiring and daunting but we are almost at the finish line! We are scheduled to reopen our doors with our first show in May. Read more about the road to renovation on the NDC website and our Instagram!

Realigning Our Spaces

As we renovate our physical space, we are working on your experience with us online and during events. In addition to experiences, we are working on our focus for this year and the next. We would love to hear from you on what you are looking forward to. Please email us and let us know or introduce yourself at one of our events! Some of the changes you can look forward to are:

  • Adjustments to the website: We are updating our website! In a few weeks, you can explore new and archived documentation, fine art advisory support, buy artwork, and sign up to rent the space.
  • The upcoming exhibition schedule is coming in the next email this month!Focus for 2023 is reopening, and creating new experiences for our Patreon supporters and buyers!

 

 

Lauren Green Bolling, Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts.

RedwoodArch Rededication
Press Release: May 13

The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts (BOPA) and the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore (DPB) held a rededication ceremony to celebrate the completed restoration of Linda DePalma’s RedwoodArch sculpture on Saturday, May 13 at 4:00 p.m. The ceremony took place at 419 Redwood Street in Baltimore. This restoration project was made possible through the generous support of the BOPA, DPB, and the Maryland State Arts Council. The restoration project was coordinated by the Baltimore City Public Art Commission (PAC), which is managed by BOPA. We are grateful for the support of our funders, DPB, and the Baltimore City Public Art Commission to ensure the preservation of this valued treasure for the benefit of all Baltimoreans.

RedwoodArch is a historic piece of public art created by Linda DePalma that has served as the gateway to Baltimore’s Loft District for 30 years. The Municipal Art Society of Baltimore describes the piece as “a dense, complex mass of images drawn from the garment industry — hats, scissors, ribbons, and threads and men and women in coats, suits, and dresses are combined with very expressive figures of runners, fighters, divers, dancers, and dogs, not to mention Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing together one last time.” Artist Linda DePalma took her inspiration for the sculpture from the surrounding businesses that once made-up Baltimore’s garment district.

DePalma received her BA at Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York, and her MFA from Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). She has created several pieces of public art in the Baltimore area, including a Nature Walk gate at Ladew Topiary Gardens, a big blue gateway at the Maryland Public Health Laboratory on Ashland Avenue, benches at various locations, and fence panels for the walkway at the Riggs Road Station for the Purple Line Light Rail in Washington, DC.

 

 

The Truth In This Art Reaches 600 Episodes!
Press Release: May 18

“The Truth In This Art,” the acclaimed podcast hosted by Rob Lee, is proud to announce a significant milestone with the release of its 600th episode. This achievement showcases the podcast’s dedication to exploring contemporary art, cultural preservation, and the creative process.

Since its launch in 2019, “The Truth In This Art” has captivated audiences with candid conversations featuring artists, curators, and cultural leaders. Rob Lee’s engaging hosting style has provided listeners with a deeper understanding of the creative process and the profound impact of art on our lives.

Designed for artists, art lovers, and anyone intrigued by the creative process, “The Truth In This Art” delves into a wide range of topics, occasionally featuring interviews with creatives from acting, music, journalism, and other industries. The podcast expands its mission beyond Baltimore, highlighting the creative communities in cities that share the same spirit as Charm City.

Season 8 of “The Truth In This Art” has been a remarkable journey, featuring a special series of Mardi Gras-themed episodes recorded in New Orleans, a captivating Jazz-themed series for Jazz Appreciation Month, and interviews with talented photographers and visual artists for National Photo Month. The podcast continues to bring inspiring guests to its listeners, including Grammy Winner Professor Larry Jenkins from Tennessee State University’s renowned marching band, the “Aristocrat of Bands,” and Hrag Vartanian, editor-in-chief and co-founder of the esteemed online arts magazine, Hyperallergic.

“The Truth In This Art” has become a go-to resource for anyone interested in the intersection of creativity and culture. The podcast’s commitment to expanding storytelling about creativity and culture underscores the importance of documenting and preserving artists’ contributions to the cultural canon.
Listeners can access “The Truth In This Art” on popular podcast platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Simplecast, and Stitcher. With 600 episodes and counting, the podcast continues to inspire and engage a growing community of art enthusiasts.

 

 

Photo courtesy of Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts.

Q&A with Bromo Arts District Executive Director Emily Breiter about the Bromo Art Walk on May 18
by Ed Schrader
Published May 17 in Baltimore Fishbowl

Excerpt: The Bromo Arts District will host their fifth annual art walk Thursday from 5-9 p.m., featuring live performances, great food, open studio tours, pop-up markets and exhibits, plus an after party at Current Space’s Garden Bar and more.

Attendees will be able to dance, buy directly from local artists, and eat to the beat while strolling through the historic BromoArts District, which encompasses an eclectic array of galleries, performance spaces, food vendors, historical landmarks, research spaces, cultural hubs, institutes, retail locations, and much more.

From West Read Street to Lombard Street, you’re sure to find something that strikes your fancy, but be sure to register at eventbrite.com so you don’t miss out on special discounts and event updates.

 

 

Jodi Feldman and Andy Yamazaki meet John Waters. Photo by Ed Gunts.

John Waters greets cavalcade of fans at Atomic Books, will receive an honorary degree from the University of Baltimore next week
by Ed Gunts
Published May 16 in Baltimore Fishbowl

Excerpt: The message in the window of Atomic Books in Baltimore promised a book signing with John Waters, but that was only the beginning.

Over the course of two and a half hours on Friday, the writer and filmmaker did autograph copies of his 2022 novel, “Liarmouth: A Feel-Bad Romance,” and other books he had written.

He also signed DVDs, Blu-rays, photos, posters, clothing, high heels, a Natty Boh beer can, an eggless egg carton, a never-scratched Odorama card from “Polyester,” customized Nike shoes and more than a dozen Funko Pop! figurines of himself.

 

 

Home Maid and Cloudy Donut Co. owner Derrick Faulcon in his Mount Vernon home. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner)

Derrick Faulcon, owner of Home Maid and Cloudy Donut Co., is a Baltimore success story
by Lawrence Burney
Published May 16 in The Baltimore Banner

Excerpt: With a huge painting of a cracked egg on its exterior, it’s hard to miss Home Maid, a restaurant located on Key Highway in the heart of Federal Hill.

It’s intimate and homey inside, with wallpaper comprised of classic black-and-white photography and four-top tables. Though the spot is only open Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the chefs there handcraft some of Baltimore’s most impressive brunch items. The “James Brown” features hearty grits topped with perfectly fried catfish and a house sauce. The “Tony Montana” is a jumbo lump crab cake sandwich with a fried egg and bacon. And the chicken and waffle dish has cornmeal waffles with a side of tasty sweet potato tots.

Westport native and owner Derrick Faulcon, 40, had a vision for this kind of place in his 20s, but he wasn’t sure then he’d end up in the food industry — it was also the time in his life when he was sentenced to federal prison. During his 11 years locked up for identity theft and conspiracy to commit bank fraud, he was plotting a way to be successful in legitimate business. Hungry for inspiration and already attracted to fashion, architecture and entrepreneurship, he had friends send him copies of Architectural Digest and Nylon magazines while doing his time. There, he saw the type of spaces that he’d one day like to own and operate, but he knew he had to diversify his personal network in order to pull it off.

 

 

Baltimore musician Brandon Woody. Photo credit: Schaun Champion

Baltimore Music Right Now: Brandon Woody and Lefty Bey
by Teri Henderson
Published May 14 in Baltimore Beat

Excerpt: “Playing the trumpet is like something that is like self-care for me,” musician and composer Brandon Woody told me. “Playing long tones. Getting in a meditative state.”

Music can be a vessel for communion with something other than ourselves, whether that’s a higher power or our own intuition. It has the ability to move you, sometimes physically through dance, but also spiritually, and emotionally. Woody said that through the act of playing, he loses himself in the music, and is grounded in who he truly is.

In this edition of Baltimore Music Right Now, I interviewed two artists from West Baltimore, Woody and singer Austin “Lefty” Bey. Like many artists, they use their gifts to express themselves. Through their music they create respective areas where they can self-explore and self- realize. In doing so, they create lanes for their audiences to lose themselves in those liminal spaces, too. Both artists create work that generates pockets of time for their listeners to revisit history, or to just be.

 

 

Duncan Moore make a pizza in his Remington home kitchen. Photo courtesy of Duncan Moore.

Dink’s Pies delight pizza lovers in Remington and beyond — but only on Wednesdays
by Aliza Worthington
Published May 16 in Baltimore Fishbowl

Excerpt: Baltimore may be known for crab cakes, but there is a kitchen in Remington that is fast becoming known for its pizza.

Every Tuesday in April, Duncan Moore posted a link on the Instagram page he created for his pizza, Dink’s Pies. People in the know signed up for a time slot, ordered the kind of pizza they wanted (cheese or pepperoni), and Moore texted them confirmation of the order.

On Wednesday, customers showed up at his house at their appointed time for the exchange of dough. Within two minutes of each time slot, the requested pizza was out of the oven and in the hands of the person who ordered it.

 

 

Frederick Arts Council Opens Artist Studios Space and Gallery at Downtown Frederick Square Corner
Press Release: May 16

The Frederick Arts Council announced that it has leased and will open a new artist studios complex with gallery space in the heart of downtown Frederick. The new arts spaces are to be located in the historic former BB&T Bank lobby and office buildings, at 1-11 North Market Street. Studio spaces are currently available for rent.

The gallery and studios have been renovated and outfitted with LED lighting, a new HVAC system, fresh paint and updated shared space, courtesy of property owner Patty Hurwitz. Both the studios building, which features an elevator for accessibility, and the gallery space, which has been beautifully renovated to preserve its historic character, are ready to support and highlight the work of local artists. The forthcoming Albert Hurwitz Gallery will also honor the Hurwitzes’ late uncle, a lifelong arts aficionado and Chair Emeritus in Art Education at MICA.

“This is certainly one of the most enormously exciting projects we’ve undertaken at FAC,” said Louise Kennelly, FAC’s Executive Director. “We are particularly proud of the fact that this will locate a thriving arts complex directly on the Square Corner downtown. There can be no question that the arts are central to Frederick’s success, and our new studio and gallery spaces will underscore that for the community and for visitors alike.”

The gallery space will feature rotating exhibits of the studio artists’ work in addition to contemporary installations; an opening reception will take place Tuesday, May 23rd at 6 pm. The studios building can house up to 30 artists and a limited number of units are still available; interested artists should contact Emily Holland, FAC Public Art Program Manager, at [email protected] for more information. Creatives of all disciplines are welcome; monthly rents range from $300-475.

 

 

Header Image: RedwoodArch rededication. Artist, Linda DePalma. Photo, Lauren Green Bolling, Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts.

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