This week’s news includes: Baltimore is home to multiple James Beard Semifinalists, Rhea L. Combs and Ellen McBreen announced as BMA Curatorial Fellows, Ami Dang becomes Director of Development at The Lyric, a shakeup at the Smithsonian, more cancellations at the Kennedy Center, Glenstone Museum’s 2026 message, an interview with George Figgs, arts scholarship funding announced by Chesapeake Arts Center, a new mural in Dundalk, and The Sphere comes to Maryland.
Baltimore is home to four James Beard Award semifinalists
by Marcus Dieterle
Published January 21 in Baltimore Fishbowl
Four Baltimore dining professionals and destinations are among the 2026 semifinalists for the culinary world’s prestigious James Beard Awards.
The James Beard Foundation on Wednesday announced its list of semifinalists across 25 categories – and Charm City finds itself represented in four of them.
Matthew Oetting, chef and owner of the restaurant Marta in Baltimore’s Butchers Hill neighborhood, is in the running for “Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic.” Marta plans to expand to Harbor Point, with Marta al Mare slated to open in summer 2026 at the T. Rowe Price’s headquarters.
BMA Announces Rhea L. Combs and Ellen McBreen as Recipients of Two Major Curatorial Fellowships
Press Release :: January 15
The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) today announced two significant fellowship appointments, to support research, explore exhibition and publication subjects, and imagine new curatorial frameworks. Dr. Rhea L. Combs will take the role of Senior Fellow in Contemporary and Global Art, an independent two-year fellowship at the museum, and Dr. Ellen McBreen will serve as the second Ruth R. Marder Center for Matisse Studies Fellow. The two positions reflect the BMA’s commitment to new scholarship within the field and to offering curators and scholars unrestricted opportunities to pursue new ideas and approaches that enhance our understanding and connections to art.
Combs is an award-winning curator has dedicated her career to exploring how visual culture can shape our shared history. She has more than two decades of curatorial and museum experience, most recently as the Director of Curatorial Affairs and Chief Curator at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery (2021-2026). Previously, Combs was the Senior Curator of Photography and Film and the founding director of the Earl W. and Amanda Stafford Center for African American Media Arts at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.
McBreen has written and presented extensively on Matisse and her research focuses on 19th- and 20th-century art, design, and visual culture in Europe as well as 20th-century art in the U.S. She is professor of History of Art at Wheaton College, Massachusetts, where she teaches courses in modern and contemporary art. She also recently served as the Director of the Wheaton Institute for the Interdisciplinary Humanities (2022-2024).
Lyric Baltimore Appoints Award-Winning Artist Ami Dang as Director of Development
Press Release :: January 21
Lyric Baltimore has named Ami Dang as its Director of Development, a strategic appointment designed to advance the historic venue’s mission to present world-class performances and deliver impactful arts education. Dang, a celebrated Baltimore-based musician and seasoned development professional, will lead all fundraising activities, designing a comprehensive strategy that encompasses individual giving, corporate sponsorships, and government grants.
The addition of Dang marks the third major hire for the Lyric in recent months, following the appointments of Tom Bailey as CEO and General Manager and Tyler Hoffberger as VP of Branding & Innovation. Together, this leadership team is tasked with modernizing the 131-year-old institution while deepening its philanthropic and civic roots in the Baltimore community.
Smithsonian Complies With Trump’s Documents Request
by Isa Farfan
Published January 15 in Hyperallergic
Months after the Trump administration promised to issue “content corrections” for Smithsonian exhibits in line with his bid to promote “American exceptionalism” in the museum system, the institution complied with the President’s request to hand over documents, wall texts, and other materials.
An internal email sent by Lonnie G. Bunch, reviewed by Hyperallergic, notified Smithsonian staff that the institution had carried out the White House’s request, following the administration’s December threat to withhold congressional appropriations from the organization unless it complied.
“Today we transmitted more information in response to that request, which included digital photographs of labels, placards, and other text on public display in several galleries,” Bunch wrote in the email, sent on January 13. “We will continue to provide responsive information on a rolling basis.”
Backlash at the Kennedy Center is boosting local theaters and concert halls
by Hannah Yasharoff
Published January 21 in The Baltimore Banner
The Kennedy Center’s loss. Montgomery County’s gain. After the Trump administration took charge of the John F. Kennedy Center, changing its name and programming, many local theatergoers decided to boycott the famed national arts venue — and take their business to stages across Montgomery County and beyond.
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, for example, which performs regularly at Strathmore in North Bethesda, has seen a 16% increase in classical concert ticket sales at the Montgomery County venue over the past year. That compares to a 9% increase at its Baltimore venue, Mark Hanson, president and CEO of the BSO, told The Banner.
A Note from Glenstone’s Director
New Year’s greetings from Glenstone. It is with great joy that I am writing to share with you what is planned for 2026, our 20th anniversary year.
Since opening our doors to visitors in 2006, we have welcomed more than 750,000 visitors to our campus in Potomac, Maryland to enjoy a serene, contemplative experience engaging with art, architecture and nature.
On View in 2026
We will be celebrating the innovative spirit of American artists this year with three dynamic exhibitions across the Gallery and Pavilions to commemorate America 250.
On February 12, we will open Ties of our common kindred in the Gallery. The presentation will celebrate some of the most significant achievements of American artists over the last century, with iconic artworks from Glenstone’s collection, including key examples by Ruth Asawa, Willem de Kooning, Kerry James Marshall, Jackson Pollock, Cindy Sherman, and Andy Warhol. Together, these works represent styles and voices that have influenced generations of artists working today.
A selection of important works by American artist Jasper Johns will also be on view beginning February 12 in Room 9 of the Pavilions. In the late 1950s, Johns challenged the dominance of Abstract Expressionism by introducing recognizable symbols like targets, numbers, and maps into his paintings. His approach blurred the line between representation and abstraction, prompting viewers to reconsider what constitutes an image and what constitutes an object. Johns’ work compels viewers to look beyond the surface and question how symbols shape (and are shaped by) the cultural and political narratives people carry.
In Room 2, we will open an exhibition by Andrea Bowers on March 19. One of the largest presentations of Bowers’ work to date, her multidisciplinary practice includes video, sculpture, neon, and drawings on paper and cardboard that amplify and archive the work of activists. A selection of Bowers’ intimately rendered photorealist drawings are featured prominently throughout the exhibition. Each drawing is made from Bowers’ archive of photographs she has taken of individual protestors at marches and demonstrations around the country.
Stay tuned for additional artist presentations in Fall 2026 to be announced later this year.
Thank you for being a part of the Glenstone community. Your experience, each time you visit, is why we are here.
I look forward to a vibrant and engaging anniversary year together.
Sincerely,
Emily Wei Rales
Dreamlander George Figgs, Who Played Jesus in John Waters’ First Talking Feature, Still Loves Movies
by Ron Cassie
Published January 21 in Baltimore Magazine
“When John asked me to play Jesus, I was taking so much acid at the time, I thought I was Jesus,” George Figgs, with a mischievous grin, tells the audience after a recent Maryland Film Festival showing of Multiple Maniacs, John Waters’ first talking feature.
Screened in its original 16mm format, the 1970 black comedy holds up surprisingly well. An irreverent, profane commentary on the hippies vs. straights battles of its day—think Woke Left vs. MAGA—the guerrilla film satirizes middlebrow suburbia, sanctimonious politics, and, especially, the sexual mores of the Catholic Church. (“I thank God I was raised Catholic,” Waters once said, “so sex will always be dirty.”)
Figgs, now 78 and pictured above at Beyond Video, actually attended seminary for a year before finding his calling as a Waters’ ensemble Dreamlander.
Chesapeake Arts Center Announces Scholarship Funding for Students Ages 5-18 to Take Arts Classes for Free
Press Release :: January 16
Chesapeake Arts Center (CAC) is pleased to announce the availability of scholarship funding supporting students from North and West County ages 5-18 to take arts classes for free at CAC.
Thanks to grant funding from Arundel Community Development Services (ACDS), MD Live/Local Development Council, and other community partners, these scholarships can cover up to 100% of tuition for CAC’s tuition-based arts classes or workshops. Scholarship funding is currently available via grants for families who live in the following Anne Arundel County zip codes: Brooklyn Park (21225), Glen Burnie (21060, 21061), Severn (21144) Odenton (21113), Hanover (21076), Harmans (21077), and Jessup (20794). Limited funding is currently available for students living outside these zip codes but applications will still be accepted.
CAC’s scholarship program supports students interested in a wide range of arts disciplines, offering opportunities to build skills, confidence, and creative expression through hands-on learning. By removing financial barriers, CAC’s scholarship program supports its mission to “foster creativity, create connections, and inspire joy by delivering innovative and accessible arts and education programs.”
“We are grateful that several major grants will enable students in our community to access our creative arts classes for free or at reduced rates,” says Donna Anderson, CAC’s Executive Director. “The arts should benefit all – and our scholarship funding and CAC’s many free programs ensure that students, families, adults, and seniors can all participate in and benefit from the arts without the barrier of a fee.”
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to apply and take advantage of this opportunity to support their child’s creative journey. The scholarship application is available on CAC’s website at https://www.chesapeakearts.org/scholarships and can be completed in less than 10 minutes online or by downloading it and returning it to CAC. CAC’s Education team will work with parents to choose class options based on their child’s age and interest and class date and time. For questions or additional information, parents or caregivers are encouraged to contact our Education Director, Sara, at [email protected].
Multi-Mural Public Art Project Brings Hope, Visibility, and Investment to Dundalk Community
Press Release :: November 2025
A major public art transformation has taken place in Dundalk as Projectivity Group and Thrive Collective, two non-profit organizations, completed a month-long mural installation on the exterior of the new Hope Outlet. Over the course of November, three large-scale murals—covering approximately 1,200 square feet—were painted at the prominent intersection of Dundalk Avenue and Holabird Avenue, turning a once ordinary building into a bold symbol of hope, service, and neighborhood pride.
The project represents a powerful collaboration between Projectivity Group, Thrive Collective, and Somebody Cares Baltimore, uniting art, education, and direct community service in one highly visible location. For more than 20 years, founders Jeremy Del Rio and Matt Stevens have built national networks of service rooted in Baltimore and New York City. Through Thrive Collective, Del Rio works to eliminate artless education by providing mentorship and creative access in schools and community centers. Somebody Cares Baltimore, led by Stevens, meets immediate needs by distributing food, essential goods, and services through both donation-based relief and a deeply discounted retail model operated through the Hope Outlet.
Three artists—Ryan Mizta, Shani Shih, and Projectivity Director Christian Penn—were selected to create murals grounded in the identity of Dundalk, the mission of the Hope Outlet, and the lived experiences of the surrounding community. Over the span of a month, the artists worked on-site, engaging with residents, staff, and passersby as the walls evolved into story-rich works of public art.
National Harbor to get its own Las Vegas-style Sphere
by Jess Nocera
Published January 19 in The Baltimore Banner
A new Maryland landmark could be coming to the National Harbor.
Sphere Entertainment, which operates the ball-shaped, immersive music and entertainment venue known as the Las Vegas Sphere, wants to develop its second U.S. location adjacent to the MGM National Harbor casino.
Plans for a 6,000-seat capacity Sphere at the Prince George’s County site were announced Sunday by company and state and local officials. It would be smaller than the Las Vegas Sphere, which seats 17,600 people.
Become a Member
Print Journals, Invitations, and Newsletter – Oh My!
