This week’s news includes: Local coverage of the BMA’s Flashback exhibition, Deutsch Foundation names George A. Hopkins as Jane Brown’s successor, Ben Shockey joins Baltimore Jewelry Center as Interim Director, Hamiltonian Artists announces new fellowship cohort, Alanah Nichole Davis recommends 4 small gallery shows, Creative Alliance opens Unidos en el Arte, art at DC’s Harriet Tubman Elementary, Port Discovery’s upcoming exhibition B’More You, Trawick Mansion at Strathmore renamed after gift, Turnstile’s free concert, and MAP chooses Toby Mendez as sculptor for Black Sox memorial.
Twelve Must-See Photographs at the BMA’s New ‘Flashback’ Exhibit
by Lydia Woolever
Published October 12 in Baltimore Magazine
Amy Sherald is a tough act to follow. Throughout a 22-week run at the Baltimore Museum of Art earlier this year, 80,000 people stood before the canvases of Sherald’s exhibition, American Sublime, marking the institution’s highest attendance this century.
But this fall’s lineup proves that landmark success was more than just luck—that the BMA is generating its own momentum, and that it might just be at the top of its game.
Open since Oct. 4, Flashback: Two Centuries of Baltimore Photography is the first major exhibition to document the city’s role in the history of this art form. The collection features more than 90 photographers and 200 images, ranging from rare daguerreotypes and tintypes to powerful photojournalism and contemporary street photography, all taken here.
Never seen before: Baltimore photography retrospective takes the spotlight at the BMA
by Wesley Case
Published October 12 in The Baltimore Banner
Abolitionist Frederick Douglass’ first-known portrait. Martin Luther King Jr. shaking hands with Baltimoreans. Tension-filled frontline photos from city streets during 2015’s Uprising protests.
They’re all now on display at the Baltimore Museum of Art — along with much, much more — inside “Flashback: Two Centuries of Baltimore Photography,” the first major exhibition to explore the city’s deep history and stylistic evolution of documentation through a camera lens, said BMA department head Leslie Cozzi.
Somehow, Baltimore’s rich, sprawling history of must-see photography has never received a proper survey from a museum — until now.
Smile: The BMA’s new ‘Flashback’ exhibition spans two centuries of Baltimore photography
by Aliza Worthington
Published October 14 in Baltimore Fishbowl
The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) is running several special programs alongside its photographic deep dive, Flashback: Two Centuries of Baltimore Photography. The exhibition runs until Feb. 21, 2027.
Flashback is the first deep study of the history of photography in Baltimore spanning the invention of the daguerreotype to the photograph from 1840 to the present. The exhibition includes 210 images by 90 artists and historic studios, featuring rare daguerreotypes and Civil War-era photographs, images of pivotal cultural moments in history, and exciting photos. The range gives visitors a sense of the evolution of photography – and of Baltimore – across the generations. The Flashback exhibition underscores the ways in which Baltimore was a hub for innovation in documentary and portrait photography.
The Robert W. Deutsch Foundation Welcomes New President & CEO George A. Hopkins
The Robert W. Deutsch Foundation Board of Directors today announced its selection of current senior staff member, George A. Hopkins, to succeed Jane Brown as President & CEO, as of January 2027. Hopkins is a native of Baltimore’s Cherry Hill neighborhood and a graduate of Morgan State University. He has eighteen years of experience as a community leader, organizer, and pastor. After leading the private foundation for 31 years, Brown will step into the role of board chair to make way for a new generation of leadership.
Established in 1991 by Dr. Robert W. Deutsch, the Deutsch Foundation is a hyper-local and early investing philanthropic institution committed to improving the lives of Baltimore residents and strengthening the vitality of the city’s neighborhoods. Launched in June, its search for a new leader attracted 119 applicants in a comprehensive review process managed by Pluck Consulting.
Since joining the Foundation in early 2025, Hopkins’ work has focused on housing and neighborhood renewal, while serving on the grantmaking committee and supporting other priority areas of arts and culture and digital equity. Last year, the Foundation awarded 98 grants with a total investment of $4.8 million in local organizations and initiatives. Hopkins previously served as co-chair of Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development (BUILD) and board chair of ReBuild Metro.
“I am humbled and appreciative of this opportunity to honor the Foundation’s legacy, while leading its long-term investments in the city and culture of Baltimore into the future,” said George A. Hopkins, incoming Deutsch Foundation President & CEO. “I have a deep appreciation for the innovative, collaborative leadership Jane has exemplified for more than 30 years. It will be an honor to continue working with her as board chair and alongside the incredible team she has cultivated.”
Meet Our New Interim Executive Director
Newsletter :: October 19
Dear BJC Community,
I’m delighted to share the news that Ben Shockey has joined Baltimore Jewelry Center as our Interim Executive Director!
Ben comes to us with a background of over 15 years of working within arts centers and communities and understands artists and their needs. He will help guide BJC through our period of transition, supporting our staff, programs, and community as we look toward the organization’s next chapter. We are excited to work with him.
Be sure to introduce yourself if you see Ben in the studio and help us extend a warm welcome to our newest team member. We have much to look forward to, and we’re excited to welcome Ben into the fold! You can also reach out to Ben directly at [email protected].
Thank you to everyone who continues to support BJC and make it such a vibrant place for contemporary jewelry and the broader community of makers, artists, and enthusiasts.
Sincerely,
Maggie Smith
BJC Board President
Hamiltonian Artists Announces 2026-2028 Fellowship Cohort
Press Release :: October 14
Hamiltonian Artists is excited to announce the new cohort of Hamiltonian Fellows for 2026–2028: Ayana Zaire Cotton, Jake Lahah, Jonna McKone, Stephanie Germosen Salazar, and Kristen Jean Wheatley. Each artist will receive a $2,000 annual honorarium, access to studio space, connection to an expansive network of alumni and professional contacts, group exhibition participation, and a final solo exhibition at Hamiltonian Artists in 2028. The first exhibition of new fellows’ work will be in new.now., on view at Hamiltonian Artists February 20–March 27, 2027.
“Being chosen from more than 140 applicants across the region is a remarkable accomplishment,” said Lily Siegel, executive director of Hamiltonian Artists. “We congratulate Ayana, Jake, Jonna, Stephanie, and Kristen and are delighted to welcome them into our thriving network. Our job over the next two years is to give them the time, space, and connections to take risks and to make sure they leave with a community that lasts.”
The returning 2025–2027 fellows are Mallory Kimmel, Diego Borgsdorf Fuenzalida, Tara Youngborg, Behrouz Vatankhah, and Chidinma Dureke.
4 small gallery shows with big feeling in Baltimore this fall
by Alanah Nichole Davis
Published October 20 in The Baltimore Banner
The arts in Baltimore are habit-forming.
I’ll never forget my first brushes with the arts scene: poetry open mics, artist-led galleries sustained by parties, pop-up sales and vendor markets. Watching some of Baltimore’s most lauded artists develop over the last decade-plus, and seeing the authenticity and grit of their work up close, has been a privilege. I owe my love of visual art, especially, to the city’s smaller galleries and venues.
Walk in and there’s no line, no timed ticket, and the artist might be standing right there. You leave having had a conversation, not just a look. Big institutions have their place, but they can feel like somewhere you visit. A small gallery feels like somewhere you belong.
Creative Alliance holds fourth Unidos en el Arte exhibition of Latino artists
by Aliza Worthington
Published October 20 in Baltimore Fishbowl
Unidos en el Arte, an annual exhibition of Latino artists from Baltimore and beyond, opened on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at Creative Alliance in Highlandtown.
The exhibition began as a single show four years ago but has grown to be a neighborhood tradition. Newcomers and longtime Baltimoreans alike are not only welcomed in showing their work, but they are also celebrated for it. The show features Latino artists spanning different styles, many of whom mix traditional craft with contemporary fine art, honoring heritage and experimentation.
Unidos en el Arte is described as more than just an exhibition, but the embodiment of community showing up for its artists. It is a tradition “built on supportive relationships between artists, families, and neighbors in Highlandtown and across the city,” reads the Creative Alliance website.
At Harriet Tubman Elementary, Public Art Shapes the School Experience
by Michael Janis
Published October 5 by East City Art
At the newly rebuilt Harriet Tubman Elementary School in DC’s Columbia Heights, art is almost everywhere. It stretches across the entrance, hangs overhead, fills stairwells and corridors, anchors gathering spaces and stands outside along the approach to the building.
That was the plan.
The artworks were commissioned through the DC Department of General Services’ Percent for Art program and developed alongside the school’s architecture, rather than brought in once the building was finished. The commissions are spread through the school, from the entrance and corridors to the gym, cafeteria, stairwells and Discovery Commons. Together, they tell parts of Harriet Tubman’s story while also changing the experience of moving through the building.
Port Discovery Announces Plans for B’More You, a Baltimore-Inspired Exhibit Coming in Summer 2027
Press Release :: October 20
Port Discovery Children’s Museum today announced plans for B’More You, a new immersive exhibit set to open next summer that will invite children to explore who they are and who they can become through play.
Inspired by the energy, creativity, and connection of Baltimore neighborhoods, B’More You will transform more than 4,500 square feet into an urban indoor oasis filled with places to move, imagine, explore their own strengths, and connect with others. As families move through the exhibit, visitors will discover how even small actions can make a difference in the world around them. The exhibit is designed to help children discover joy, curiosity, perseverance, kindness, and collaboration all through play.
Families will begin the experience in a “park,” where they are invited to pause, wonder, and get ready for what comes next. From there, children will journey through a Baltimore-inspired rowhome filled with unexpected opportunities to explore, collaborate, take on challenges, and discover something new about themselves and one another, all while having a lot of fun along the way.
Strathmore Receives Transformative Naming Gift From Longtime Patron and Philanthropist Carol Trawick
Press Release :: October 14
The Mansion at Strathmore will now be known as the Trawick Mansion at Strathmore after a generous gift from longtime patron, philanthropist and former Strathmore board chair Carol Trawick. The donation – the largest from an individual in Strathmore’s history – is intended specifically to help sustain the historic Mansion and arts destination into the future. The endowed gift will support the Mansion’s programs, operations and administration to help preserve its role as a home for intimate performances, exhibitions, community gatherings and arts experiences.
“This is a beautiful gift from Carol to the community she loves so much. We are deeply grateful to be the conduit through which she is making this generous investment,” says Monica Jeffries Hazangeles, president and CEO of Strathmore. “Her impact on Strathmore’s development is unmatched and profound.”
Turnstile announces free DC show in support of Palestine, Sudan and Lebanon
by Wesley Case
Published October 8 in The Baltimore Banner
Turnstile is ready to do it again.
The Grammy Award-winning band from Baltimore will perform a free concert at the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 24, Turnstile announced Thursday.
The concert will close out part two of the “Never Enough” Tour; part one started in Baltimore on May 10, 2025, with an instantly memorable free show at Wyman Park Dell that raised tens of thousands of dollars for Health Care for the Homeless.
The Washington Monument show will raise money to support humanitarian efforts in Palestine, Sudan and Lebanon in partnership with Human Concern International, according to a press release.
MAP Announces Artist Selected for New Westport Waterfront Park’s Black Sox Memorial
Press Release :: October 8
In late 2025 Maryland Art Place (MAP) launched a RFQ/RFP on behalf of Parks & People, South Baltimore Gateway Partnership (SBGP), and the Reimagine Middle Branch (RMB) initiative, offering an exciting opportunity to Baltimore regional artists (MD, DC, PA, DE, VA) working in large-scale sculpture to create figurative, life sized works of historical Baltimore Black Sox baseball players, champions of the Negro Leagues. This local Baltimore team included seven Hall-of-Fame players and they were winners of the 1929 championship. MAP is pleased to announce that Maryalnd sculptor, Toby Mendez has been offered this groundbreaking commission.
The Baltimore Black Sox Memorial supports the need for figurative sculptures that authentically represent and uplift the incredible history of Black athletes in public art—addressing a historic imbalance where such representation has been largely reserved for white figures in the U.S. The Black Sox have an incredible legacy not just in the baseball hall of fame, but also in local Baltimore history and the larger Civil Rights movement.
The initial candidate pool consisted of 21 submitting artists. The artist pool was narrowed to six qualified candidates, over six months, who presented their concepts to the community both physically and virtually, followed by a public feedback survey. Three artists were ultimately selected for one-on-one interviews based on their ability to convey the richness of humanity of the players through representational artistry and historical context.
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