BmoreArt

This week’s news includes: Artscape is on the move, Deborah Kass collaborates with Goya on a new print, remembering Kim Domanski, Baltimore Center Stage will not comply with DEI order, new BMA exhibition highlights Belair-Edison and Johnston Square heros, AVAM gala to honor Dr. John Carlos, Maryland still goes to the movies, Terri Lee Freeman’s Women’s History Month message, Kin: Rooted in Hope selected for ‘One Maryland One Book,’ The Voxel’s 2025 lineup, Visarts announces new Bresler Residents, MPT and the Key Bridge, spring art classes at HCAC, and Second Chance’s “concept house” — with reporting from Baltimore Magazine, Baltimore Fishbowl, The Baltimore Banner, and other local and independent news sources.

Header Image: Deborah Kass, Save The Country Now, 2025 is a silkscreen on paper, 36 x 28 in. (91.4 x 71.1 cm), in a limited, signed, and numbered edition of 40, published by Goya Contemporary / Goya-Girl Press and printed by Brand X.

Station North will remain a hub for arts and culture with or without Artscape, community leader vows
by Ed Gunts
Published March 10 in Baltimore Fishbowl

Excerpt: Will Mayor Brandon Scott’s decision to move Artscape to War Memorial Plaza and other parts of downtown be a setback for the Station North Arts and Entertainment District, where much of the event has been held for the past two years?

Or is Station North so strong and vibrant now that it doesn’t need the extra boost that exposure during Artscape can bring?

Ellen Janes, executive director of the Central Baltimore Partnership, is looking on the bright side. The CBP works to revitalize communities in Central Baltimore, including the Station North arts district, and was a key organizer of Artscape activities in 2023 and 2024. It collaborated with local artists and entrepreneurs to remake street-level spaces for arts-oriented programming, including the Blinkatorium, See-Saw City and Mobtown Ballroom Pop-up on the Street.

How do Baltimoreans feel about Artscape’s move downtown? It’s complicated
by Wesley Case
Published March 12 in The Baltimore Banner

Last year, Mayor Brandon Scott announced his ambitious vision to revitalize Baltimore’s downtown — a 10-year initiative to write “the comeback story of our generation.”

To the surprise of many, those plans now include the relocation of Artscape, the country’s largest free arts festival, from its longtime home across the Station North Arts District, Bolton Hill and Mount Vernon, to downtown.

Not everyone is happy about the decision. The announcement made last month has been met with concern and skepticism from some attendees and artists. From Reddit and Instagram to this reporter’s inbox, many seemed to worry this effort to “uplift” downtown will come at the expense of Station North, which became one of Maryland’s first state-designated arts and entertainment districts in 2002.

“The Mayor, out of sheer desperation to make his downtown look lively, is stealing good things from great parts of Baltimore and plonking them into an empty business district,” wrote one Banner subscriber. “Sorry, as a Downtown resident, this makes no sense,” added another.

Timothy Nohe, a University of Maryland, Baltimore County professor and artist who has presented his work at Artscape, has seen up close the benefits the festival has had at Station North, where he’s had a Greenmount West studio for more than 15 years.

Artscape, which debuted in 1982, has been a reliable weekend of community building among a concentration of rising and dedicated artists — not to mention restaurants, bars and other businesses — and he’s concerned that sense of connectivity will be lost.

“I’m missing that tie to history, community, the many people that have shown their [art] over decades and the way that it nurtures artists on their way up,” Nohe said.

Gaia, a street artist who’s lived in the Station North area for nearly two decades, said he first felt “trepidation” over Artscape’s move but now thinks “downtown really makes sense” from a logistical standpoint, like offering some physical cover from rain and more parking options.

“There’s a part of me that thinks the footprint of Artscape — while it was great to be ingrained in the fabric of the [Station North] neighborhood — had sort of outgrown itself,” Gaia said.

Scott acknowledged at February’s press conference the benefits that Station North and Mount Vernon have seen from Artscape, but said it’s time for a new section of the city to reap such rewards.

Other factors were at play when it came to the location change, said Robyn Murphy, interim CEO of the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts, the city’s nonprofit arts council that’s seen major upheaval over the past year. That included a desire to hold the festival in May rather than its usual July date, when many complained about the scorching temperatures.

“Downtown necessarily needs some love,” Gaia said, echoing a sentiment some expressed online. “Overall I welcome moving the festival to a time that is not as hot as the July/August time slot. I also agree that downtown needs to see a more positive addition,” one Banner subscriber wrote.

The new date of Memorial Day weekend, however, coincides with a busy week in the Bolton Hill area, including commencements at the Maryland Institute College of Art and the University of Baltimore. Those events would create problems for mounting art installations in advance, along with strains on city services and police, Murphy said.

Artscape’s new map includes the underpass beneath the Jones Falls Expressway, home to the Sunday farmers market. The festival’s artisan market will now be held there, while new permanent murals and lighting will be added to benefit farmers market shoppers after Artscape ends, said Tonya Miller Hall, the mayor’s senior advisor for arts and culture.

The War Memorial Building on North Gay Street will host the inaugural SCOUT Art Fair, curated by artist Derrick Adams and Teri Henderson, while musical headliners Fantasia, Robin Thicke and others will perform at the War Memorial Plaza outside of City Hall.

The hope, Murphy said, is to attract more first-time attendees and out-of-towners to Artscape. Based on attendance data, the festival “had become stagnant” in drawing new audiences, she said, and the tighter downtown footprint aims to appeal to those who found the old location too spread out.

Still, she’s aware of pushback over the relocation. Murphy doesn’t believe it reflects “all of the voices in the room.”

“I’m on Facebook so I see people that are vocal, like, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe it’s leaving,’” Murphy said. “I deeply respect community discourse but I also know that, in the vein of a Yelp review, I know I only write Yelp reviews when I’m irritated.”

Miller Hall said in an email the general reaction from the local arts community has been ”overwhelmingly favorable.”

“Artists and cultural stakeholders recognize that this move allows us to reimagine the festival in a way that better serves the creative community and the city as a whole,” she said.

Station North Arts District Manager Abby Becker declined an interview request and instead shared a statement from Ellen Janes, executive director of Central Baltimore Partnership, of which Station North is a program.

“The decision to relocate Artscape does not diminish our dedication to our artists, creatives, and the community at large,” it partly reads. “We continue to work diligently to create new opportunities for events and festivals that contribute to the arts and cultural vitality of Baltimore, all year long, not just one weekend out of 365 days.”

Concessions could still be made. Nicholas Cohen, executive director of the Station North-based advocacy organization Maryland Citizens for the Arts, said he expressed artists’ concerns over the relocation to organizers and found them receptive to finding solutions that could incorporate Station North into this year’s plans. Murphy said there are plans to hold the Artscape After Dark parties in “various places” in the city, though details have yet to be announced.

“The first reaction, of course, is like ‘Whoa, we’re losing Artscape,’’ Cohen said. “But then I think the mayor’s office and BOPA have said, ‘No, we’re going to honor the fact that Station North is one of our jewels as an arts district and we’re going to figure out how to connect it to the bigger Artscape footprint, which I think is a good sign.”

Nacir the Younger, a painter from East Baltimore who showed his work at last Artscape’s B24 exhibition, described the relocation as “a bit of an annoyance because downtown just feels so cramped,” but said artists are used to having to adapt.

“Change is going to come eventually, no matter what you’re doing,” the 24-year-old artist said. “So it’s like, believe in your community and believe in what you can do as an artist, and you can adapt to any situation.”

Murphy is optimistic the downtown version of Artscape will ultimately win over doubters.

“I believe that once folks get their eyes on what is being built for all of us, then I don’t think that there will be many people who think that the shift in date or location were a bad thing,” Murphy said.

Gaia said he welcomes a new vision for a familiar event. Still, the criticism in response doesn’t surprise him.

“It’s easy to be righteous and judgmental in Baltimore. That’s what we’re good at. We’re really good at complaining about stuff that changes because we get very comfortable,” Gaia said.

And if downtown ultimately doesn’t work, what’s stopping Artscape from returning to its old home?

“I have patience, so I hope it all works out,” he said. “And if it doesn’t, you know there’s no reason why it can’t go back. It’s really not the biggest deal in the world.”

This story was republished with permission from The Baltimore Banner. Visit www.thebaltimorebanner.com for more.

Announcing New Edition in Collaboration with Deborah Kass
Press Release :: March 6

Goya Contemporary Gallery is pleased to present a new edition of prints in collaboration with Deborah Kass, which will debut for the first time during the 2025 IFPDA Print Fair at the Park Avenue Armory later this month.

When asked to describe the print, Kass expressed deep concern over the current erosion of democracy, highlighting the profound human cost to both Americans and the rest of the world as the United States edges closer to a dangerous form of dictatorship, and Europe moves closer to war. Regarding the work, she stated, “Save the country. It’s now or never. I don’t know what else to say.” ¹ 

Ten percent (10%) of the proceeds from the sale of these works will be donated to the ACLU.

Deborah Kass is a prominent American artist known for her bold and thought-provoking work that explores themes of identity, culture, and history, often with a focus on gender, feminism, politics, and the Jewish experience. Kass gained significant recognition for her vibrant and politically charged reinterpretations of pop culture, often blending iconic imagery from artists like Warhol and Lichtenstein with her own unique perspective. Her work spans a variety of mediums, including painting, sculpture, and printmaking.

One of her most notable series, The Warhol Project, draws inspiration from Andy Warhol’s iconic style while reflecting her personal narrative. Kass is celebrated for her ability to challenge societal norms, using her art to address issues such as power, representation, and the complexities of American identity.

For inquiries, please contact 410-366-2001 or email [email protected].

In Memory of Kim Domanski
Newsletter :: March 12

Dear Peale Family,

We are deeply saddened to share that our Chief Operations Officer, Kim Domanski, passed away over the weekend. Kim was not only a valued colleague but also a dear friend to many. Her infectious laugh and unwavering kindness left a lasting impression on everyone she met.

Kim’s contributions to the city and its artists spanned more than two decades. She founded Baltimore’s Public Art Commission and authored the city’s official policy for accepting and maintaining gifts of public art. She also managed the Gifts of Public Art approval process and oversaw the Percent-for-Art program, commissioning several works of public art that will continue to be enjoyed by generations of Baltimoreans and visitors.

Kim is perhaps best known as the co-founder of the Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize and as curator of the Light City exhibition. In these roles, she collaborated with curators and artists of national and international renown, overseeing dozens of public art installations each year. Alongside her life partner, the artist Ed Istwan, she also served on the jury for AVAM’s Kinetic Sculpture Race from its inaugural year in 1999 to the present.

Kim brought her wealth of experience and deep network to The Peale, shaping all of the exhibitions and programs we have presented—more than 100 since her arrival in the fall of 2022. She also played a pivotal role in developing a robust rental program, which was key to establishing The Peale’s sustainability. Many of the partnerships that enriched The Peale stemmed from Kim’s personal connections. She worked closely with every community partner to ensure their vision was realized, that each program had the staffing and equipment it needed, and that events were both efficient and impactful.

Beyond her work with exhibitions, Kim was a mentor to two cohorts of apprentices and Peale staff, generously sharing best practices in exhibition installation and program management drawn from her 25 years in the arts. Together with Ed, she created The Peale’s Curiosity Shop, a showcase for local artists and artisans, as well as vintage items—reflecting The Peale’s dual purpose as a platform for Baltimore’s history and contemporary creativity. Thanks to Kim’s dedication, The Peale saw exponential growth in visitation over the last two years.

We are deeply honored to have known and worked with Kim.

A celebration of her life will be held at a later date, at the convenience of her loved ones.

Baltimore Center Stage refuses to comply with federal anti-DEI guidelines for funding
by Wesley Case
Published March 5 in The Baltimore Banner

Excerpt: The National Endowment for the Arts announced last month new guidelines and the elimination of Challenge America, a grant program that supports underserved groups and communities — moves that falls in line with President Donald Trump’s plan to reshape federal arts policy.

Now, Baltimore Center Stage, Maryland’s state theater, says it will refuse to comply with the NEA’s new guidelines — which state that applicants “will not operate any programs promoting ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’” or “gender ideology” — at the cost of its own potential federal funding in the future.

Under the new guidelines, the NEA is encouraging applicants to create projects that honor the upcoming 250th anniversary of the country’s adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

“As long as the guidelines impose the requirements as we understand them, we are committed to not accept federal funding,” Center Stage Managing Director Adam Frank said Wednesday afternoon. Recent productions there, such as “Mexodus” and “The Hot Wing King,” may have not been possible under those policies.

… this story continues. Read the rest at The Baltimore Banner: Baltimore Center Stage refuses to comply with federal anti-DEI guidelines for funding

BMA Presents 21 Community Portraits in Baltimore Heroes from Belair-Edison and Johnston Square
Press Release :: March 10

The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) today announced it is hosting an exhibition featuring 21 portraits of community and civic leaders who are working to strengthen two east Baltimore neighborhoods: Belair-Edison and Johnston Square. The works were created as part of artist Mary Jo Messenger’s “Beacons of Light” series, launched with the support of Maryland State Senator Cory McCray. McCray has represented both communities as a delegate and senator since 2015 and Messenger is a Howard-County-based realist painter who was inspired to convey her appreciation for the selfless people in these communities who share an unwavering dedication to serving others. Baltimore Heroes from Belair-Edison and Johnston Square is on view at the BMA March 29–April 6, 2025.

“This exhibition is a powerful reflection of the heart and soul of Belair-Edison and Johnston Square—communities built on dedication, grit, and an unwavering commitment to service,” said Senator McCray. “These portraits honor individuals who lead not for recognition but for the love of their neighbors and the future of Baltimore. Their work—whether in education, activism, mentorship, or public service—ensures that these neighborhoods continue to thrive. I’m grateful to Mary Jo Messenger for capturing their stories through art and to the Baltimore Museum of Art for shining a light on the real heroes shaping our city.”

Belair-Edison in northeast Baltimore is nestled between the 300-acre Herring Run Park, Lake Montebello, and Clifton Park. The neighborhood contains more than 6,900 homes, a revitalizing business district, shopping centers, and a micro-brewery. Messenger’s Belair-Edison portraits include Delegate Jackie Addison, design entrepreneur Stepanie Bradshaw, BE Transformed founder Michelle Chase, Baltimore City Police Officer Monica Jones-Cooper with athletic coach and mentor Marlon Harty, Pastor Ray Cotton, Belair-Edison Community Association president Rita Crews, Ayfa Public Charter School Principal Tiffany Halsey, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, and The Belair School Social and Emotional Director Brenna Williams.

Johnston Square is a small neighborhood in central east Baltimore bordered by Greenmount Cemetery, I-83, and Eager Street. It has many rowhomes and apartments, a park with a view of downtown, and a public swimming pool. Messenger’s Johnston Square portraits include Senator Cory McCray with late U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings, Johnston Square Community Association founder Regina Hammond, community volunteer Keith Hammond, Living Classrooms Foundation Director of Community Safety Initiatives Danté Johnson, community school coordinator Scott Johnson, Bishop Douglas Miles, Sister Brenda Motte, Johnston Square Elementary School Principal Baba Ayinde Olumiji, Green Team organizer Ida Lynn Powell, Sinclair Lane Elementary School Principal Roxanne Thorn-Lumpkins, community activist Lillian Trotman, Zion Baptist Church Turn Around Tuesday founder Tyrell Williams, and marching band founder Peggy Winder.[…]

AVAM 2025 Gala to Honor Olympian and Humanitarian Dr. John Carlos with Lifetime Grand Visionary Award
Press Release :: March 10

The American Visionary Art Museum—Baltimore’s Congressionally-designated national museum and education center dedicated to showcasing intuitive, self-taught artistry and thought—will honor 1968 Mexico City Olympic Bronze Medalist and civil rights activist Dr. John Carlos with its Lifetime Grand Visionary Award during their festive “Play(ful) Ball” Gala evening on Saturday, June 28, 2025 from 5:30 p.m.–12:00 a.m.

“With admiration and gratitude for all that Dr. John Carlos has achieved in the field of human dignity and betterment, the Board of Directors of the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) has designated him the 2025 recipient and honored celebrant of our Lifetime Grand Visionary Award,” said Christopher Goelet, Chair of the AVAM Board. “Few sports figures have demonstrated the courage and determination to stand for something larger than themselves, transcendent of their innate talent and competitor skills. A true Olympian, Dr. Carlos’ heroic 1968 protest spoke volumes in a powerful plea for our nation to better honor its founding ideals of equality for all. Through his silent eloquence and subsequent actions, Dr. Carlos continues to practice the high art of social justice and compassion in action. In recognizing Dr. John Carlos with AVAM’s highest award, we hope new generations of Americans will be inspired to model his courage, caring, commitment, and vision.”

AVAM’s Board of Directors and Gala Committee selected Dr. John Carlos as the recipient of the Lifetime Grand Visionary Award for his lifelong commitment to sports activism and courageous protest against social injustice, immortalized when he joined Gold Medalist Tommie Smith and Silver Medalist, Australian Peter Norman, on the podium at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. During the medal ceremony, Carlos and Smith raised their gloved fists as the U.S. National Anthem played. This moment remains one of the most iconic political statements in sports history.

The Varsity VIP Experience kicks off at 5:30 p.m. in the AVAM Café and includes an intimate gathering with Dr. Carlos and a guided tour of the “Good Sports: The Wisdom & Fun of Fair Play” MEGA-Exhibition, led by curator Gage Branda. At 6:30 p.m., guests will enjoy a Pre-Game Cocktail Hour, followed by the Playful Plates Dinner & Program at 7:45 p.m. on the 3rd floor of the Jim Rouse Visionary Center (JRVC). As guests enjoy a meal provided by Rouge Catering, they will hear from featured speakers including Honoree Dr. John Carlos. The evening concludes with the Extra Innings After Party at 9:30 p.m. in AVAM’s Tall Sculpture Barn, where attendees can dance the rest of the night away to the music of Baltimore’s DJ Uncle Quincy.

________________________

John Wesley Carlos was born in The Bronx in June 1945, and was raised in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. He received a full track and field scholarship to East Texas State University (ETSU), where he led the school to its first Lone State Conference Championship. Transferring to San Jose State University after one year at ETSU, he led that team to its first NCAA Championship, tying the 100-yard dash record with a time of 9.1 seconds. At the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, Dr. Carlos earned bronze in the 200-meter race. During the award ceremony he courageously stood up for worldwide human rights, removing his shoes and raising his black-gloved fist in the air, alongside teammate Tommie Smith. This act established a legacy of championing for equal rights that continues to inspire activists to this day.

After his track career, Dr. Carlos enjoyed brief stints in the National Football League and Canadian Football League, but retired due to injury. He became involved with the United States Olympic Committee and helped to organize the 1984 Summer Olympics.

Dr. Carlos was elected into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame in 2003 for his leadership. In 2008, at ESPN’s ESPY Awards, he accepted the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage for his 1968 Olympic salute. He was recognized at the White House by President Barack Obama in 2016. Dr. Carlos continues to work for human rights and is a founding member of the Olympic Project for Human Rights.

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The American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) is a Congressionally-designated national museum and education center dedicated to intuitive, self-taught artistry. AVAM champions the role intuition plays in creative invention and evolutionary innovation of all sorts — be it in the field of art, science, health/wellbeing, engineering, humor or philosophy, and especially in inspiring compassionate and creative acts of social justice and betterment.

While movie theaters close nationwide, Maryland’s independent theaters survive
by Adam Hudacek, Capital News Service
Published March 5 in Baltimore Fishbowl

Excerpt: Driving through Maryland, you might come across an iconic sight: a neon-lined, art deco facade standing out amongst mundane downtown storefronts. The posters flanking its double-wide doors aren’t showing the familiar blockbusters of the day – they’re advertising indie circuit flicks and 35mm prints dug out from basement boxes.

It’s an independent movie theater, part of a group of cinematic safe havens beating the national trends of declining theatrical profits.

Since a wave of pandemic-era theater closures that began five years ago, the United States has lost nearly 5,000 theater screens, about 12% of the pre-pandemic footprint. Over half went dark between 2022 and 2023, the worst single-year slump in at least 30 years. Simultaneously, streaming services soared in popularity while traditional film studios were forced to delay theatrical content on the release calendar, or abandon exclusive theatrical releases.

Happy Women’s History Month From President Terri Lee Freeman!
Newsletter :: March 12

Happy Women’s History Month!

There is a saying that March comes in like a lion and goes out like lamb. While this saying pertains to the changing weather during the late-winter, beginning-of-spring month, I like to think of March as a lioness. AI notes that a lioness is characterized by being the primary hunter within a pride, displaying strong maternal instincts, working collaboratively with other females to raise cubs, leading the social structure of the pride and exhibiting a combination of strength, agility and strategic hunting skills. This definition sounds like every woman I know!

Women have contributed so much to our country, state and local communities. Women like Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Ieshia Evans, (the young woman in Baton Rouge who calmly faced down riot police in 2016) teach us lessons of courage, poise under pressure, confidence and competence. Women like Madam CJ Walker and Rihanna demonstrate that entrepreneurship is in our blood and that we create our own destinies. Mothers of the Movement like Myrlie Evers, Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker, Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi show us how to bear the burdens of our community and use those challenges to gain strength that benefits the collective.

And women like Lillian Todd, Louise Moone, Jenny Hicks Lee, and Barbara Lee Chaney taught me to believe in myself, to help my neighbor and keep my head about me. These women were the generations that came before me. These women were the women whose knees I sat at to learn my history. These women’s arms were the strongest I could ever imagine.

During this Women’s History Month as you learn about the many incredible women you don’t know, take time out to honor those incredible women you do know – friends, family,mentors and colleagues. These are the women who truly help shape us into the lioness we all are. Happy Women’s History Month!

-President Terri Lee Freeman, RFLM

2025 One Maryland One Book Selection Announced
Press Release :: March 6

Maryland Humanities is thrilled to announce Kin: Rooted in Hope by Carole Boston Weatherford as the 2025 One Maryland One Book Selection. The poetry collection from the Maryland author includes art by Jeffery Boston Weatherford.

A combination of history, art, and personal genealogy depicts the author’s search for her family tree, which leads her to ancestors who were some of Maryland’s founders. Through art and poetic voice, Carole and Jeffery Boston Weatherford impart their family’s lives and offer a view into Maryland’s African American history.

“Kin: Rooted in Hope is a family affair, a mother-son collaboration on a family saga dating back to colonial Maryland,” says Carole Boston Weatherford. “Kin conjures the past, reclaims lost ancestral narratives and brings us to the realization that knowing your history is generational wealth,” Weatherford continues.

“As a Marylander, I am so proud that Kin‘s selection as the 2025 One Maryland One Book will further amplify our ancestors’ voices. Their story of bondage and freedom—a history shared by many African Americans—is the American story.”

The collection weaves the personas of the Weatherfords’ ancestors, from experiences on the Wye House Plantation in Talbot County through the Civil War and into the twentieth century.  Maryland locations feature prominently in the book, many the subject of their own poems, including the Chesapeake Bay, the port of Oxford, Fort McHenry, and the Wye River, where the Wye House plantation sits.

Kin: Rooted in Hope is a Coretta Scott King Honor Book and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Poetry Award Winner. A selection committee consisting of Maryland teachers, scholars, librarians, writers, booksellers, and community workers chose the book for One Maryland One Book under the theme of “What We Collect / What We Tell.”

Maryland Humanities looks forward to staging programming that invites readers to explore histories of African Americans, of Maryland, and their families. Maryland Humanities will announce our 2025 Author Tour details this summer. A calendar of free public events, including our annual Author Tour and VIP Reception, will be available online. To keep up with this year’s One Maryland One Book you can follow us on all social media platforms @mdhumanites, sign up for our Literature eNewsletter, or with a monthly donation you can become a Humanities Hero and receive special OMOB perks.

“I couldn’t be more excited about Kin: Rooted in Hope as our 2025 One Maryland One Book pick.” says Lindsey Baker, CEO of Maryland Humanities. “This book does exactly what our theme asks of us — it pieces together history, memory, and loss to reclaim stories that deserve to be told. Carole Boston Weatherford and Jeffery Boston Weatherford don’t just bring the past to life; they remind us why it matters today. With deep Maryland roots, Kin is a powerful, moving, and necessary read, and I can’t wait for people across the state to experience it.”

Carole Boston Weatherford recently received the 2025 Children’s Literature Legacy Award from the American Library Association. She holds a Newberry Honor and Nonfiction Award from the Children’s Book Guild.

One Maryland One Book is a program of Maryland Center for the Book at Maryland Humanities, presented in partnership with The National Endowment for the Humanities and Howard County Library System. One Maryland One Book 2024 is sponsored by The Institute of Museum and Library Services via the Maryland State Library Agency, and other funders that may be announced later.

About Maryland Humanities
Maryland Humanities creates and supports bold experiences that explore and elevate our shared stories to connect people, enhance lives, and enrich communities. For more information, visit www.mdhumanities.org. Maryland Humanities is generously supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities; the State of Maryland; the Citizens of Baltimore County; private foundations; corporations; small businesses; and individual donors. Connect with Maryland Humanities on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

About Maryland Center for the Book
Through our Maryland Center for the Book program, Maryland Humanities created One Maryland One Book (OMOB) to bring together diverse people in communities across the state through the shared experience of reading the same book. We invite readers to participate in book-centered discussions and related programs at public libraries, high schools, colleges, museums, bookstores, and community and senior centers throughout the state. Connect with Maryland Center for the Book on Facebook.

2025 Year at The Voxel
Press Release :: March 6

The Voxel Announces the 2025 Artists in Residence

The Voxel is excited to announce the 2025 Artists in Residence! Throughout the year, The Voxel will host an array of independent artists and collectives, offering public events that blend cutting-edge technology and live performance.

Mind on Fire Presents NOBODY IS EVER MISSING (January)

Mind on Fire presents a new opera composed by Tim Holt after text by Catherine Lacey: NOBODY IS EVER MISSING. Featuring a soprano soloist, vocal quartet, movers, and immersive projections, this performance explores themes of absence and the emotional landscape of loneliness. Directed by Juanita Rockwell, NOBODY IS EVER MISSING brings together some of Baltimore’s most innovative independent creators to bring this complex work to life at The Voxel. www.mindonfire.org

Afro House Presents CLOUD NEBULA (March – April)

From the outer reaches of space and time, Afro House presents CLOUD NEBULA, an epic cinematic experience! This Afrofuturistic space opera chronicles the journey of Jakub, a cosmic star in human form, tasked with guiding the refugees of her dying planet to the Golden Cloud Nebula. Written and directed by Scott Patterson, CLOUD NEBULA, is an exploration of a future that is life-giving and full of hope. Through cinema and live music performed by the Astronaut Symphony, Afro House brings you a brand-new movie going experience! www.afrohouse.org

Bmore Broadway Live Presents RISE AND SHINE (April)

Opening Easter weekend, RISE & SHINE is a powerful new work that celebrates the beauty of creation and mankind’s enduring role within it. Through a compelling fusion of chorale and contemporary gospel music, spoken word, and vibrant dance, this production explores biblical history, taking audiences on a journey of how we each fall, rise, and find resilience through the trials of life. The performance will feature the dynamic Dance & Bmore Ensemble and soulful choral collaborations. The work beautifully blends rhythm, voice, and movement, creating a harmonious and immersive experience. RISE & SHINE invites viewers to witness the transformative power of faith, unity, and the human spirit. www.danceandbmore.com

Joseph Amodei & Lyam B Gabel Present THE DANCE FLOOR, THE HOSPITAL ROOM, AND THE KITCHEN TABLE (May)

THE DANCE FLOOR, THE KITCHEN TABLE, AND THE HOSPITAL ROOM is a movement-driven ritual of memory, a queer séance, and a reckoning with history that refuses to stay in the past. Blending live performance with archival audio, this intimate and electrifying work follows three queer researchers as they wade through the voices of those lost to—and those who survived—the HIV/AIDS epidemic. As they listen, dance, and debate, the archive begins to pulse around them, refusing to be forgotten. Part ghost story, part love letter, and part urgent call to remember, this performance asks: How do we honor our ghosts while also fighting for the living?

Truepenny Projects Presents SALTY (May – June)

Truepenny Projects presents SALTY by AJ Clauss, a play about penguins and people. In a near future that is gripped by climate change, animals have stopped procreating, humans suffer from headaches, predators run rampant, and amidst it all, two male Adelie penguins parent an egg in their small Antarctic exhibit. SALTY is a poignant meditation on hope, survival, and the bonds we share with the natural world. Before and after performances, Truepenny will connect audiences with Baltimore organizations that are taking action against climate change. www.truepennyprojects.com

Sophie Maguire Presents FALLOPIA (June – July)

A garden is grown in the Voxel! Part installation, part performance, FALLOPIA is an immersive garden experience where the Plants are the actors and the garden a chorus. Questioning the human campaigns against particular vegetal species, FALLOPIA uses The Theater to deepen our understanding of and relationship with Plants commonly dismissed as ‘weeds’.

T4T4T Presents the #T4T4T Festival (July)

Trans4Trans4Theater is Baltimore’s FIRST EVER Trans Theater Festival. #T4T4T’s mission is to uplift Trans voices by providing them space to connect, collaborate, and present their work with their greater community in Baltimore and the DMV area. The festival will consist of various events, including new play readings by local Trans playwrights, drag performances hosted by Baltimore’s BoiNextDoor, A Trans Theater Community Roundtable, Trans Community and Art Markets, workshops, panels and more!

The Charmery Presents THE CHARMERY FULL SENSORY EXPERIENCE (July – August)

Step into an immersive world of flavor and sensation with THE CHARMERY FULL SENSORY EXPERIENCE, a groundbreaking fusion of film, physical effects, and delicious treats. This multi-sensory event promises to engage all of your senses in an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind experience.

The Arm Presents SUMMONED INTO FORM (August)

The Arm (Jason Charney, Sarah Manley, and Patrick McMinn) will present SUMMONED INTO FORM, a generative labyrinth of electroacoustic music and immersive theater. This experimental performance invites the audience to explore a complex, sonic landscape that weaves together technology, music, and theater in a truly unique way.

Nigel Semaj Presents CALL ME BY ANY OTHER NAME…JUST AS SWEET (September)

CALL ME BY ANY OTHER NAME…JUST AS SWEET is a queer reimagining of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, exploring the complexities of queer love, grief, and mortality while interrogating the nature and purpose of love itself.

Jarod Hanson Presents VESPER (October – November)

VESPER is a physical theater performance that explores the themes of night, darkness, and the unknown. Ensemble-driven and atmospheric, this production challenges its performers and audience to navigate the emotional and psychological landscapes of the night through movement and performance.

Jeff Carey & High Zero Present DIFFUSION FESTIVAL (November)

Jeff Carey and the DIFFUSION FESTIVAL bring together electronic music installations and multichannel concerts, offering a sensory-rich exploration of sound in space and push the boundaries of audio technology and music with immersive experiences that will excite electronic music fans and experimental art lovers alike.

About The Voxel:

Located in the heart of Baltimore, The Voxel is a performance venue and incubator for performing artists in Baltimore and across the country. The theater provides space and support for works that intersect theater, music, dance, multimedia, and experimental art. The 2025 residency program presents a variety of artistic voices and provide a space for creative experimentation and community engagement.

For more information about The Voxel’s 2025 residency program, please visit voxel.org.

VisArts Announces 2025-2026 Fleur and Charles Bresler Residents
Press Release : March 7

VisArts is pleased to announce our 2025-2026 Fleur and Charles Bresler Residents: Diego Borgsdorf Fuenzalida, Trisha Gupta, and Heather McMordie.

Borgsdorf, Gupta, and McMordie have been offered four-month residencies that provide a unique opportunity to create a new body of work, evolve an existing body of work, or develop a project in a stimulating, supportive environment. Residents receive a $2,000 residency stipend, a $650 exhibition stipend, and free studio space; they present their work in culminating solo exhibitions.

In addition to the residency at VisArts, McMordie will serve as Montgomery College Artist-in-Residence for three weeks, during which time she’ll be embedded in the Rockville and Germantown art departments, allowing students to work with a contemporary artist other than faculty.

The 2025-2026 Bresler Residents‘ exhibitions will be in the Kaplan and Common Ground Galleries from January 30-March 15, 2026.

Diego Borgsdorf Fuenzalida (Residency: January 17-May 9, 2025)

Image: Esha Champsi, 2024

Diego Borgsdorf Fuenzalida is a Chilean American fiber artist and ethnographic researcher based in Washington, D.C. His work combines experimental ethnography with South American weaving, natural dye, and soft sculpture traditions to examine the afterlives of 20th-century political violence in Chile and the broader trans-Pacific world.

Borgsdorf will open his first solo exhibition, Woven Ground, at Glen Echo Park in February 2025. He has exhibited in curated group shows at Room 3557 (East Los Angeles), Mile 44 (Los Angeles), Launch LA, and the Korean Cultural Center of Los Angeles. His artwork and research have been published by the Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos and En Tránsito gallery in Santiago, Chile.

In 2024, Borgsdorf was an Iburra Arts and Research Resident at Blue Light Junction in Baltimore and an AllPaper Curatorial Seminar Fellow at the Benton Museum of Art in Claremont, California. He has held curatorial roles at Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions and multiple National Park Service institutions.

Borgsdorf earned a B.A. in anthropology from Pitzer College, with studio training in ceramics, fiber arts, video art, and printmaking.

Learn More

Trisha Gupta (Residency: May 16-September 12, 2025)

Image: Alex Aldahdah

Trisha Gupta is a contemporary artist, community activist and educator. Her Indian American heritage heavily influences her work, which explores themes of mental health and immigration.

Gupta’s dedication to preserving traditional folk art and fine Indian printmaking is a cornerstone of her practice. Trained in the Western tradition of woodblock printing, she returned to Ahmedabad to study Indian woodblock carving. She has since incorporated Asian printmaking techniques, including Indian woodblock printing and viscosity, into her teaching practice, sharing her expertise with institutions such as the Smithsonian, the Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop and Pyramid Atlantic.

Gupta believes in art as a platform for social change. As an occupational therapy candidate at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, she has taught art in schools, homeless shelters and near Rikers Island. She has also organized events at the Sandy Spring Museum and VisArts in partnership with Amnesty International. Her project A Table for Everyone hosted community dinners and public art projects to help introduce new immigrants to the community. She has also developed public programming for institutions such as the KidMuseum to promote South Asian printmaking.

Gupta runs a community studio with a print shop and resident artists in Burtonsville, Maryland, where she teaches printmaking and Indian block printing. Her studio serves as a heritage site that fosters cross-cultural learning. She earned her graduate degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2024. Her work is included in the collections of the New York Public Library, the Art Students League, and private and institutional collections both nationally and internationally.

Learn More

Heather McMordie (Residency: September 19, 2025-January 16, 2026)

Image: Courtesy of the Artist

Heather McMordie is an artist, educator and curator based in Arlington, Virginia. Her work explores the complexities of soil science and environmental restoration through prints, puzzles, artist books and interactive installations. She is particularly interested in how experiences with art objects can mirror field research experiences and create opportunities for tacit learning.

McMordie has developed projects through field explorations and collaborations in Guyana, South Africa and the United States. Her work is in the collection of the Georgia Museum of Art and has been exhibited in museums nationally, including the Newport Art Museum, the Rhode Island School of Design Museum, and the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education.

Learn More

MPT and WBAL collaborate to produce Key Bridge documentary
by Aliza Worthington
Published March 11 in Baltimore Fishbowl

Excerpt: Maryland Public Television and WBAL-TV collaborated on a new documentary to mark the one-year anniversary of the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge which resulted in the loss of six lives.

The documentary, titled “Key Bridge Disaster: Reflect, Recover, Rebuild,” will premiere March 19 at 8 p.m. The one-hour special examines the collision that caused the collapse in the early morning of March 26, 2024, the heroic response efforts, and the impact on Maryland’s people and economy and beyond.

The special also examines the salvage operation, the human and economic impacts, and the funding and design of the new bridge to help Baltimore rebuild and rebound toward a brighter future. Focusing initially on the heroic efforts of first responders in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, “Key Bridge Disaster: Reflect, Recover, Rebuild” recounts the stories of the people from the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, the Baltimore Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Middle River Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company, and others.

See more:

Amid Ongoing Grief and Unresolved Legal Issues, the Rebuilding of the Key Bridge Begins
by Ron Cassie
Published March 7 in Baltimore Magazine

Maryland Public Television announces new president and CEO
by Aliza Worthington
Published March 7 in Baltimore Fishbowl

Registration Open for Spring Art Classes at the Howard County Center for the Arts
Press Release :: March 10

Registration has begun for Howard County Arts Council’s (HoCo Arts) spring educational programs at the Howard County Center for the Arts in Ellicott City. HCAC offers classes and workshops for lifelong learners from age 5-adults. Spring arts programs, open to the public, begin on April 5, 2025. Classes run for eight weeks; workshops take place on one or two days.

Springs classes for children include Saturday Art Studio (ages 5-8 & 9-12), Exploring Animation (ages 10-15), and Exploring the World of Drawing (ages 13-17). School’s Out programming for grades K-7 is also available over Spring Break from April 14 through April 17. Adult classes include Chinese Brush Painting (ages 18+), Mindfulness Through Art (ages 18+), and Art and Rituals (18+).

Weekly drop-in sessions, which offer the opportunity to sharpen drawing and painting skills in a relaxed setting, are also available. Options include Gesture and Portrait sessions featuring live models and Watercolor sessions, to which participants may bring their own artistic inspiration. A monitor coordinates all drop-in sessions, but instruction is not provided.

Registration and full class listings are available on the Arts Council website at hocoarts.org/classes. Howard County Arts Council programs are subject to minimum and maximum numbers of students; early registration is recommended.

The house that Second Chance built — for its founder
by Lillian Reed
Published March 10 in The Baltimore Banner

Excerpt: Mark Foster built the nonprofit Second Chance. Then Second Chance helped build Mark Foster a million-dollar home.

In 2013, Foster, founder and chief executive of the well-known Baltimore architectural salvage store and workforce training program, bought a painted-brick house near Loch Raven Reservoir in Baltimore County.

“A home with great bones,” the real estate listing boasted.

In the years that followed, Foster tapped Second Chance workers to take apart the original structure. The home there now is five times larger and grander, with a chef’s kitchen, three steam showers, a pool house and a wine cellar. Foster filled it with flooring, lighting, art and furniture that he and his wife hand-picked from Second Chance’s inventory and incoming donations.

… this story continues. Read the rest at The Baltimore Banner: The house that Second Chance built — for its founder