Tuesday, Nov. 5, 3:45 to 5:30 p.m.
Levering Field at The St. Paul’s Schools

Looking to sharpen your lacrosse skills with advice from IAAM championship players? St. Paul’s School for Girls will host a lacrosse clinic led by IAAM Coach of the Year Mary Gagnon for prospective students in grades 6 through 8. Following the clinic, participants and their families are invited to a conversation and Q&A with Coach Gagnon and varsity student-athletes from the 2024 IAAM “A” Conference championship lacrosse team.

The Harbor Harvest Children’s Fall Festival will return for its 17th year on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Rash Field Park. Families are invited to enjoy pumpkins, pony rides, and a petting zoo while dressed in their favorite Halloween costumes for a day filled with fall festivities.

Children can explore a pumpkin patch; dive into hay piles; and, for a small fee, enjoy pony rides, petting zoo animals, a trackless train, and carnival rides. There will be a pie-baking contest, and participants will compete for both the People’s Choice Award and the Judge’s Choice Award.

Enjoy the costume contest, where participants can win ribbons and prizes, and get some great exercise with a fun climb at Rash Field’s Adventure Park or enjoy the scenes at the BGE Nature Park!

Local food vendors will be on-site for the event.

Admission to the festival is free, and select activities like pumpkins, pumpkin decorating, fall crafts, and more are included at no cost.

With the purchase of a Harbor Harvest Children’s Pass, attendees can enjoy additional activities, such as mechanical rides, pony rides, a trackless train, and other attractions. The Children’s Pass is available in advance for $12 or at the event for $15.

For those interested in specific activities, individual tickets can be purchased on the day of the event for $3 each. Participation in the pie baking contest is free, with advance registration available on Eventbrite. For the costume contest, sign-ups will take place on the day of the event.

Rash Field Park is located at the Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD 21230.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit this link.

In the event of inclement weather, all proceeds will go towards children’s programming at Rash Field Park. All Children’s Pass items (pumpkin, pumpkin decorating, and fall craft) will be available to pick up at a determined date.

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield this week opened its approximately 20,000-square-foot West Baltimore workspace at The Village at Mondawmin.

In a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, officials marked CareFirst’s dedication to community-centered healthcare and economic empowerment. The new workspace represents CareFirst’s commitment to West Baltimore, serving as a community hub for health and wellness resources, workforce development programs, and support services for residents.

“Completing this project marks a significant moment in our mission at CareFirst as we continue to invest with the communities we serve,” said Brian D. Pieninck, CareFirst’s president and CEO. “In partnership with leaders from Coppin State University, Center for Urban Families, and Whiting-Turner, who share our strong belief in West Baltimore’s future, we understand success comes through being led by the community. The center’s vision is built around community voices, community talents, and community dreams.”

CareFirst’s novel workforce development initiative launched in 2023 in partnership with Coppin State University and the Center for Urban Families. The program’s focus is to create economic growth and opportunities for West Baltimore residents living in the 21215, 21216, and 21217 zip codes.

The initiative recruits and trains residents for jobs in the healthcare industry, from customer service to community health advocacy and beyond. Choosing The Village at Mondawmin as the location for the workspace helps address common barriers to employment, like transportation and childcare.

The community hub and resource center give residents access to free fitness and health education classes, in addition to help from CareFirst team members on billing, claims, benefits, and more. This in-person support helps current and new members and addresses the neighborhood’s health equity needs. Additionally, the resource center offers programs ranging from home-buying courses to legal education.

“We are proud to see our vision for The Village at Mondawmin come to fruition with CareFirst as a vital partner in this important project,” said Tim Regan, co-owner of The Village at Mondawmin and CEO of The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company. “We are working hard with our community partners to revitalize West Baltimore and enhance the quality of life. By attracting meaningful tenants, a dynamic community hub that addresses critical needs and unlocks opportunities for growth is being built. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with CareFirst and community leaders to ensure this space serves as a catalyst for positive change.”

“Our collective aim is to build safer, vibrant communities across Baltimore,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “The commitment and involvement of CareFirst in West Baltimore is a shining example of the transformative change that can be generated when community organizations and leaders unite. When we harness our collective strength, we can effect meaningful change that benefits our region and its residents.”

“Baltimore will lead Maryland into a new decade and partnerships that contribute to our shared progress are crucial to that mission,” said Gov. Wes Moore. “I want to commend CareFirst, Coppin State University, and the Center for Urban Families for their innovative workforce development program, along with all the organizations in The Village at Mondawmin. Today, we are not only celebrating the continued success of the workforce development program and the new CareFirst workspace; we also recognize the potential, resilience, and power within a revitalized, healthier, and thriving West Baltimore.”

CareFirst members and non-members are encouraged to check out programming as it is shared at CareFirst or Eventbrite. Initial grand opening events include a Medicaid Made Simple Class on Oct. 28 and a Holistic Childbirth Class on Nov. 2.

It’s the final weekend before Halloween, so spooky season is in full swing in Baltimore.

From the 25th annual Great Halloween Lantern Parade to Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” performed by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, embrace some frightful fun.

Check it all out in our weekend events roundup:

ArBOOretum, Thursday, Oct. 24, 5 p.m., Cylburn Arboretum. Go on guided moonlit nature walks, explore spooky trails, and enjoy Halloween decorations at the Cylburn mansion. While this is a candy-free event to prevent litter, there is plenty of fun to be had.

Trixie & Katya, Thursday, Oct. 24, doors open at 7 p.m., event starts at 8 p.m., Lyric Baltimore. You know them from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and “All Stars,” and on their web series “UNHhhh.” Now this comedic duo is bring their show, “The Bald and the Beautiful with Trixie and Katya,” to Baltimore.

The Textures of Us, Friday, Oct. 25, through Sunday, Oct. 27, Galerie Myrtis. Artist Devin Allen will display work in a solo exhibition titled “The Textures of Us” at Galerie Myrtis. The exhibition will feature photos from Allen’s new book, “Devin Allen: Baltimore”; unreleased images, and work from Allen’s students. The exhibition will open this weekend and will remain on view through Jan. 11.

Halloween Ride, Friday, Oct. 25, meet at 6:45 p.m. at St. Mary’s Park. Ride through the city with the Baltimore Bike Party. This event is a Halloween-themed ride, so costumes are encouraged.

Oyster Gardening, Saturday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Harbor East Marina. Join the Great Baltimore Oyster Partnership in their efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay’s oyster population. Volunteers will help plant baby oysters (spat), build oyster habitats, and install a new oyster garden at Harbor East Marina.

ZOOmbie Run, Saturday, Oct. 26, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Maryland Zoo. Scary movies aren’t the only way to get your blood pumping this spooky season. Participate in a 5K run or a 1-mile walk through the Maryland Zoo. Costumes are encouraged. There will be food trucks, a photo booth, and other post-race activities.

Sailabration, Saturday, Oct. 26, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fells Point Broadway Pier. Learn about the connections between sailing and tattooing. Plus, experience what life was like sailing on the high seas in the 18th and 19th centuries by drinking grog and sampling “hardtack.” Read more in this Baltimore Fishbowl article.

Play Me A Ghost Story, Saturday, Oct. 26, 11 a.m., Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Listen to symphonic ghost stories inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, Frankenstein, and more. The event will feature music by Gustav Mahler, Lou Reed, and Jim Stephenson.

South Baltimore Halloween Bash, Saturday, Oct. 26, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Riverside Park. Participate in scavenger hunts and races; eat cotton candy, popcorn, and other yummy treats; get a glitter tattoo; shop vendors; and more.

World Oddities Expo, Saturday, Oct. 26, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Baltimore Convention Center. The strange, the peculiar, and the downright bizarre will all be on full display at the World Oddities Expo. This traveling event comes to Baltimore this Saturday, where it will feature vendors, speakers, performances and more. From taxidermy to insects to macabre art, there’s something for everyone who needs a little oddness in their life.

Great Halloween Lantern Parade, Saturday, Oct. 26, festival begins at 4 p.m., parade starts at 7 p.m., Patterson Park. Watch beautiful lanterns parade through the park — and even make your own — at the 25th annual Great Halloween Lantern Parade. There will be a kids costume contest, arts & crafts market, performances, food trucks, and more. Read more in this Baltimore Fishbowl article.

Haunted Harbor, Saturday, Oct. 26, 9 p.m., Power Plant Live! Get in on the ghostly fun, with DJ performances, costume contests, access to bars and nightclubs, and more.

Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert, Saturday, Oct. 26, and Sunday, Oct. 27, Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Hear the music from Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” performed live by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra as you watch the film on the big screen.

Monument to Monument Ride, Sunday, Oct. 27, 9 a.m., Baltimore Washington Monument. Participate in a ride from Baltimore’s Washington Monument at Mount Vernon Place all the way to the Washington Monument in D.C.

Harbor Harvest Children’s Fall Festival, Sunday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Rash Field Park. Decorate pumpkins, pet some animals, participate in pie-baking and costume contests, and more at the festival. Read more in this Baltimore Fishbowl article.

Bluegrass and Goats, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Wyman Park Dell at 29th and Charles streets. Watch goats graze on invasive species while you enjoy a Baltimore Bluegrass Jam hosted by Alex Lacquement, Maddie Witler and Sam Guthridge.

The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) has chosen Baltimore to host its annual conference, bringing together more than 1,500 minority architects from around the country for a five-day summit in Charm City.

The 12 local young architects organizing the conference will highlight the housing, entertainment, and community projects making Baltimore the unique and exciting city it is for learning, living, and exploring.

The annual meeting takes place from Wednesday, Oct. 23 – Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 and is sold out. NOMA is a 50-year-old organization with 25 chapters around the United States. Baltimore’s chapter began in 2017 with just five members and boasts over 100 members today.

In addition to attending sessions designed around the topics of design; technical; community and justice; business; and “Hey, Smalltimore!”, there will be numerous networking events held around the city and keynotes featuring esteemed and groundbreaking minority architects on topics as broad as bridging continents to focused topics like underserved communities in Baltimore.

“With over 45-chapter cities to choose from to host our national conference, we are excited to be in Baltimore to honor its place in design history as well as it’s emerging community-inspired design programs. It is in cities like these where we want to gather, exchange local ideas that can make a national impact, and lift up our mission and members,” said Tiffany Brown, MBA, NOMA, Assoc. AIA, NOMA Executive Director. “From the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of African American History and Culture – designed by our former NOMA architecture colleague Philip Freelon, to the legacy of Morgan State University as the only Historically Black College and University in Maryland where we have an amazing student chapter, we are pleased to be here, engaged with the emerging design leadership in Charm City.” 

Some of the networking events include a private White House tour; a reception at Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture (designed by Philip Freelon, a late NOMA member, after whom the professional design awards are named); a graduate fair expo with 70+ exhibitors; tours around Baltimore including the Baltimore Art Museum, Lexington Market, Camden Yards Sports Complex Stadium Tour, and more.

The NOMA Awards Banquet will be held on Friday to honor exceptional leadership, elevate NOMA members moving to the NOMA Council (NOMAC), and recognize award-winning work of NOMA professional and student members. These awards are sponsored by national architecture firms HDR, SOM and Stantec.

Over 80 firms applied to this year’s Phil Freelon Professional Design Awards. Baltimore is home to several buildings designed by Freelon and his firm, including the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, and the Center for the Built Environment and Infrastructure Studies (CBEIS) at Morgan State University, the only Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Maryland with an accredited architecture program.

Melanie Ray, president of NOMA’s Baltimore chapter and the northeast university liaison for NOMA’s national board, spoke to Baltimore Fishbowl about some of the architectural design trends, their emphasis on design justice and accessibility, and what NOMA is doing to increase architecture studies to HBCUs nationwide.

Ray explained that attendees of the conference do not have to be members.

“We do have a lot of our conference attendees this year are either sponsors or allied professionals,” she said. “In some cases, they’re allied individuals who just support the mission of the organization to truly champion diversity within architecture and related professions.”

Since Ray sits on both the local and national boards of NOMA, she was able to speak to the organization’s involvement in HBCUs on both levels. Locally, NOMA partners with Morgan State University, since it has an architecture program (the student chapters are called NOMAS) and over 20 Morgan students are attending this year.

“We partner with them throughout the year,” Ray explained. “We co-host events with them. We invite them to our organization’s events. We do portfolio reviews. We really try to ensure that our NOMAS members have a direct connection to the professional community within Baltimore, so that when they graduate, they’ve got a job, they’ve got connections and mentorship.”

Beyond Morgan State University, NOMA has student chapters at all seven HBCUs that have architecture programs. NOMA has an HBCU professional development program that partners students with professionals for virtual membership opportunities. Additionally, this year, national president Pascale Sablan will visit all seven of the HBCUS with architecture programs.

Ray said NOMA approaches everything through the lens of design justice when it comes to accessibility, affordable housing, and planning. Since she does work in affordable housing, and those projects are federally funded, the emphasis is on universal design as the basis for all spaces. Universal design, according to the National League of Cities, “prioritizes usability by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialization.”

“There’s actually seven key features as it relates to universal design, and we’re seeing more and more jurisdictions incorporate this into their design requirements for new buildings,” Ray said. “We are seeing a heavier focus on designing spaces that accommodate everyone, without heavy adaptation or changes that often make people feel like these changes are inconveniencing other people or going above and beyond. But if you design spaces from the beginning to be accessible to all, then you don’t have to worry about that being an afterthought later.”

Speaking about justice, Ray exuded enthusiasm for kicking off the Baltimore NOMA conference at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture. “It’s a really iconic building, from the outside, the graphics, even to the ‘Black History Matters’ letters that are on the front,” Ray said. “Just kind of really highlighting that as the keynote of the conference.”

The Great Halloween Lantern Parade, a cherished tradition held yearly in Patterson Park, is celebrating its 25th anniversary in part with a new 15-foot-tall float. 

Maggie the Monstersaurus is a giant paper and reed construction that commemorates Margaret Footner, a co-founder of Creative Alliance, the non-profit organization that hosts the beloved event. 

“We’re all here together and we’re all just celebrating each other,” said Rachel Rush, educational director at Creative Alliance and director of the parade. “Each other’s culture, each other’s interests, each other’s artistic talent. To see such a mixture all together, seeing people just cheer each other on, it’s really lovely.” 

The event kicks off on Saturday, Oct. 26, with a festival from 4 to 7 p.m. that will feature food trucks, art vendors, information tents, musical and dance performances, and a costume contest. 

During the festival, participants are encouraged to create their own lantern with provided resources or use one from previous years. Throughout the course of the fall, Creative Alliance hosts free lantern making workshops for residents who want to prepare a lantern prior to the special day. 

New selfie frames highlighting some of the most popular past floats will also be available this year.

The parade sets off at 7 p.m. with participants marching nearly a mile through and around Patterson Park alongside marching bands, dance troupes, musicians, and cultural groups. 

“When you come and experience it, it really is a joyful community experience,” Rush said. “After people come, they’re like, ‘I’m not gonna miss it again, I’m gonna make sure I come every single year!’” 

The Creative Alliance’s mission is to bring people together and serve our community, and “nothing does that better than the Lantern Parade,” she said. 

Katie Long, program director of Friends of Patterson Park, has been involved with the parade for 15 years. She says the event captures people’s imaginations and is a real community lift. 

“There’s lantern workshops all over town, there’s people taking stilt walking classes to be able to stilt in the parade,” Long said. “We start planning it the day after the parade ends, so all year we’re kind of recruiting people to be parade marshals, or float carriers, or maybe to walk or march in the parade…it’s very much embedded in the community.” 

Edwin Perez, a high school Spanish teacher, explained that the event is crucial to the Baltimore community. He has volunteered with the costume contest and recruitment for the past 10 years. 

“There’s this idea of using art to unify, to express yourself in a way that is open to all…it really is a family friendly event, and it allows you to be creative,” Perez said. “The concepts of wearing a mask, or dressing up, or using light as a decorative tool is something that’s universal and found in many cultures.”   

Acknowledging that 25 years is a huge milestone, Perez said he is hopeful that the event will continue for many more years to come. 

“It’s happening in a community that’s open to all, that really welcomes anybody from all backgrounds and all abilities…the fun factor is also there–it’s a joyful event,” Perez said. “For this one moment in the evening, you can really have fun with neighbors, with strangers, and have a really good atmosphere in one of the best parks in the city.” 

To learn more about Creative Alliance and Patterson Park visit, creativealliance.org and bcrp.baltimorecity.gov/parks/patterson-park. 

Who says the entertainment of terror must be limited to October? Not the “Insidious” films; they are here for your horror needs year-round and even on stage at The Lyric Baltimore on March 13, 2025.

That’s right, the world of “Insidious” jumps off the screen and into the theater with “INSIDIOUS: THE FURTHER YOU FEAR” — a live, immersive horror experience based on the box office hit horror film franchise from Blumhouse, director James Wan, and writer Leigh Whannell. The show will haunt 80+ seated theaters across North America in 2025.

Blumhouse, GEO Live, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and RoadCo Entertainment promise “INSIDIOUS: THE FURTHER YOU FEAR” will be “a heart-pounding live theatrical experience where the lines between reality and fiction blur, constantly challenging what’s real and what’s imagined, what’s safe and what’s dangerous.” No fourth wall keeping or protecting audience members from the terror. Be prepared to go face-to-face with the protagonists. The audience will be an integral character in the plot as it unravels.

“We have brought some of the most respected names in the horror and entertainment industries together to make this groundbreaking show possible and ensure a hauntingly unforgettable experience for audiences everywhere,” said Floris Douwes from GEA Live.

“We’re excited to bring the eerie and otherworldly thrills of ‘Insidious’ to cities around the country,” said Toby Park, co-director. Park is also composing the original music for the show, and he and co-director Aitor Basauri serve as creative directors for “INSIDIOUS: THE FURTHER YOU FEAR.”

“Bringing audiences deeper into The Further with this live experience has been an exciting challenge, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how they respond,” said Jason Blum, founder and CEO of Blumhouse. “Insidious is one of our most popular franchises, with a sixth installment premiering next year, and this is a fresh and frightening new way for fans to experience it.”

“INSIDIOUS: THE FURTHER YOU FEAR” is a brand-new story conceived within the “Insidious” universe. The “real” Specs and Tucker (the paranormal investigators who inspired the first movie) try desperately to prove they are legitimate ghost-hunters. Things go ghastly (or ghostly?) wrong when a paranormal demonstration goes awry, and dark forces are unleashed. Trapped in this haunted theater, with something sinister lurking backstage, the audience will be under attack from iconic characters like the Bride in Black, the Wheezing Man and, of course, the terrifying Lipstick Faced Demon. Audience members will be questioning what is real, what is the show, and who really IS that person they’re sitting next to?

While the “Insidious” franchise has a growing fanbase and active community of five million social media followers, the show is also created for those who don’t know the films and especially for those who simply love a fun, thrill-filled night out at the theater.

Tickets for “INSIDIOUS: THE FURTHER YOU FEAR” go on sale Friday, Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. at The Lyric Baltimore, Etix website, or in person at The Lyric Box Office.

The Lyric Baltimore is located at 140 West Mount Royal Avenue, Baltimore, MD.

Join the fun November 8-10, 2024, when the Maryland Irish Festival returns to the Timonium Fairgrounds to celebrate 50 years! Rock out to contemporary Irish music or tap your toes to traditional tunes while watching an authentic Irish dance troupe take the stage. Enjoy delicious Irish food & drink, (yes we have colcannon, Irish Stew, Guinness & Tullamore Dew), soak in the cultural exhibits, browse beautiful gifts from dozens of regional vendors, and check out the children’s activities area, too.

• Friday Night Happy Hour 6-8pm with $5 Beer and live music from Kilmaine Saints
• Saturday Night Irish Ceili at 7:45pm led by Eammon De Cogian (Audience Participation Social Dance)
• Sunday Mass at 10:30am led by Fr. Collin Poston and Fr. Leo Patalinghug
• Saturday and Sunday Whiskey Tastings

Live music includes Kilmaine Saints, Albannach, Piper Jones Band, Syr, Dublin 5, The ShamRogues, Brendan’s Voyage, Poehemia, Diddley Idols, and more!

Proceeds benefit the Irish Charities of Maryland. Kids and Active Military get in FREE. For details, event schedule, and tickets visit www.irishfestival.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

It’s fall, and that means time for warm, spicy chili on the weekends. Add fundraising for a great cause, and Baltimoreans can enjoy  The Baltimore Station’s 10^th annual Stars, Stripes and Chow: Chili Edition!

Presented by M&T Bank and taking place Nov. 2 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, this chowdown for charity brings talented home chefs from all over Maryland together to showcase their finest chili creations. The cookoff is dedicated to raising funds for unhoused veterans.

The event features a competition between teams across Maryland. This year’s teams are M&T Bank, Fuchs NA, MartinFederal, Maryland Multi-Housing Association, Baltimore Gas and Electric, WPG Financial Group, The Nelson Family, Peraton, T. Rowe Price, Element Fleet, Jimmy’s Famous Seafood and Society of American Military Engineers. The event is family friendly and will have a kids’ zone with fun activities in addition to live music, food, beverages, raffles, a silent auction, and more.

Attendees can cast their vote for “People’s Choice” and “Best Theme,” and a panel of judges representing each military branch will crown the “Judge’s Choice” champion.

All proceeds from this event will benefit The Baltimore Station, an organization that supports people, primarily veterans, dealing with being unhoused and with substance use disorder. The Baltimore Station provides residential therapy and workforce development programs.

To celebrate the fundraiser’s 10^th anniversary, tickets will be the same price they were in 2014, the first year of the event: $40 for adults, $35 for veterans, active duty, and first responders, $20 for young adults ages 11-20, and free for children 10 and under. Special 10th-anniversary pricing will last until Oct. 25. After that, ticket prices will be $50 for adults, $40 for veterans, active duty and first responders, $30 for young adults ages 11-20 and free for guests 10 and under.

The Stars, Stripes and Chow: Chili Edition takes place Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Orioles Park at Camden Yards, 330 W. Camden Street, Baltimore, MD.

To learn more and purchase tickets, click this link.

One year after Johns Hopkins University dedicated its $647.5 million Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C., leaders are unveiling part of the building that hasn’t been open before, the Irene and Richard Frary Gallery.

Named for two longtime art patrons and Hopkins benefactors, the gallery is a 1000-square-foot space that will present rotating exhibitions in line with the center’s mission to foster dialogue around the arts and democracy.

The inaugural exhibition, which opens along with the gallery on Wednesday, Oct. 23, is entitled “Art and Graphic Design of the European Avant-Gardes.” It brings together 75 rare works of art, books and ephemera spanning the Eastern European avant-garde movements from 1910 to 1941, including Futurism, Dadaism, Suprematism, Constructivism and Surrealism.

In tandem with the gallery opening, Hopkins announced that it is launching an arts-oriented lecture series in D.C. in 2025 and that it recently added two works of art to a contemporary art gallery on its East Baltimore medical campus.

Dedicated on Oct. 19, 2023, the Hopkins Bloomberg Center is a multidisciplinary academic facility that was created using the shell of the former Newseum building at 555 Pennsylvania Ave. N. W. Hopkins built it to bring under one roof its Washington-based programs that were previously located in several buildings, to extend its visibility and reach in the nation’s capital, and to maximize the impact of its research and scholarship.

Designed by Rockwell Group, the gallery will present exhibitions drawn from the university’s collections, and special exhibitions born out of partnerships with leading museums and collections. Design of the gallery and inaugural exhibition was overseen by Dan Kershaw, senior exhibition designer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The first gallery director is Caitlin Berry, formerly the inaugural director of the Rubell Museum D. C.

Hopkins scheduled a day of festivities and a press preview on Tuesday for the inaugural exhibit, which is free and open to the public. Starting Oct. 23, gallery hours are Tuesday to Friday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed on university holidays. The inaugural exhibit will remain on view until Feb. 21, 2025.

The preview included a panel discussion with D.C. based-arts leaders on “Why Art is Essential to Democracy,” followed by a reception. Preceding the panel discussion was a “Music for Freedom” concert featuring Peabody Institute students performing works by Dmitri Shostakovich and Ludwig van Beethoven.  

The exhibition includes works by El Lissitzky, Kazimir Malevich, Liubov Popova, Aleksandr Rodchenko, Lajos Kassak, Karel Teige and Victo Brauner. Several of the works have not previously been on public display in North America. The exhibition draws parallels between abstract works across geographic boundaries and linguistic differences, revealing ways in which avant-garde artists engaged in an international exchange of ideas to bring about new visual vocabularies in a modern, post-war age.

“We are deeply grateful to Irene and Richard Frary for their support of the Hopkins Bloomberg Center and their significant contribution to our mission to connect the worlds of research, and the arts,” said Cybele Bjorklund, the center’s executive director, in a statement. “Through its opening exhibition, programming, and future presentations, the Irene and Richard Frary Gallery will bring a fresh infusion of artistic expression and cultural dialogue to Pennsylvania Avenue. We invite our neighbors throughout the Washington community to discover the diverse array of free public events and concerts at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center.”

The exhibition draws from the Frarys’ rarely-seen private collection of art and literature and includes many recent gifts from the collection to the Johns Hopkins Sheridan Libraries. Highlights include photography and photomontages from avant-garde artists impacted by preceding art movements, as well as works from lesser-known avant-garde publishing cultures in Armenia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and the former Yugoslavia, including a large group of rare avant-garde and modernist books in Yiddish and Hebrew.

“The juxtaposition of art from across the continent allows viewers to uncover commonalities between each of the five ‘isms,’ painting a more complex picture of artistic movements previously defined by nationality and enabling a better understanding of a time marked by major political, social, and cultural transformations,” said exhibition curator Philipp Penka, in a statement. “The Frarys’ remarkable collection offers a glimpse at one of the defining periods in European modernism. It makes visible a complex international network spanning from Paris and Berlin to the Baltics, the Caucasus, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Romania, the Soviet Union, and modern-day Ukraine, and reveals the avant-garde’s shared concern with uncovering the contradictions of an obsolete societal order, and to give shape to a more just and truthful society.”

The works on display include:

• Liubov Popova’s 6 graviur L. Popovoi (1917), a suite of multi-color linocut prints;
• One of only five copies of UNOVIS (1920), an anthology published by artists in Vitebsk, Belarus, that includes several works on paper by El Lissitzky and Kazimir Malevich;
• Hungarian artist Lajos Kassák’s Bildarchitektur [Picture Architecture] (1925), a 1927 india ink drawing (Composition), and a very early woodcut (1921);
• One of three known copies of Aleksandr Rodchenko’s “Composition 73,” a color lithograph printed by the Weimar Bauhaus workshops for Adolf Behne, Der Sieg der Farbe (Berlin, 1924);
• An untitled Suprematist artist book by Ivan Puni (1920);
• Dutch artist Lou Loeber’s cardboard box object with multi-color geometrical gouache design in the manner of De Stijl (1920s);
• Three original photo collages by Crimean-born graphic artist, designer, and actor Petr Galadzhev.

Irene Frary is a member of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s advisory board. Richard Frary, a member of Hopkins’ Class of 1969, has provided leadership at the university through advisory board service, and as vice chair emeritus of its Board of Trustees and chair emeritus of the Sheridan Libraries National Advisory Council.

The Frarys are avid art and book collectors with more than 3,000 objects across diverse artistic movements, and they have shared their collections with the Hopkins community. They further support Johns Hopkins through scholarship and endowment support.  

“This inaugural exhibition of major works from the Frary Collections provides an unprecedented opportunity to explore a major artistic period in a new and innovative way,” said Daniel H. Weiss, Homewood Professor of the Humanities at Johns Hopkins University and president emeritus of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. “Through its thoughtful and ambitious program, the Irene and Richard Frary Gallery attests to the vitality and importance of the arts at the Bloomberg Center and at Johns Hopkins.”

“Irene and I are delighted to be a part of the first of many thought-provoking presentations at the Irene and Richard Frary Gallery that will inspire new conversations, ideas, and research through art,” said Richard Frary, a Class of 1969 Hopkins alumnus, donor and volunteer leader for more than 40 years “It is our hope that this exhibition, which cumulates a diversity of artistic and ideological perspectives, will advance the Hopkins Bloomberg Center’s mission to foster discovery, democracy, and global dialogue.”

Sam Gilliam Lecture Series

Hopkins officials this week announced that the university is launching The Sam Gilliam Lecture Series, which will be hosted starting in March 2025 at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C.

The series is being created with the Sam Gilliam Foundation to honor the artistic legacy and social justice commitments of the late Washington D.C.-based painter, sculptor and educator Sam Gilliam, who died in 2022 at age 88. Made possible by the foundation’s support, the series will welcome prominent artists and speakers to the Bloomberg Center to reflect on the intersections between contemporary art, academia, and public policy, and the role art plays in advancing society. Speakers will be announced at a later date. According to Hopkins’ announcement in The Hub, The Sam Gilliam Lecture Series will focus on topics in keeping with the themes and issues addressed in the artist’s life and work, including racial equity, democracy, and the transformative power of art. Consistent with the Bloomberg Center’s mission of connecting knowledge and research with policymaking, the series will provide a platform for contemporary artists and policymakers to engage in meaningful conversations about the role of art in addressing critical social issues.

“We are grateful to Annie Gawlak and the Sam Gilliam Foundation for their support and partnership on this series, which fits perfectly with the Hopkins Bloomberg Center’s mission,” said Bjorklund, the center’s executive director. “The series will create synergies between policy development and the arts, supporting important multidisciplinary conversations on key topics that will complement the Irene and Richard Frary Gallery, permanent art installations, and myriad arts programs hosted at the center.”

Tupelo, Mississippi, Gilliam was a pioneering Black artist renowned not only for his innovations in post-war American art, but also his commitment to issues of social justice, racial equity, and democratizing access to art. Having moved to Washington, D.C. in 1962 and living there throughout his prolific artmaking career, Gilliam had a long-standing and deep relationship with the city throughout the Civil Rights movement and other periods of extreme change in the nation.

The Bloomberg Center is home to a permanent, large-scale acrylic and mixed media installation by Gilliam, entitled A Lovely Blue And ! (2022). Measuring eight feet by 20 feet, it’s one of the final works created by the artist in the months before his death.

“Our partnership with Johns Hopkins University on this ongoing public program at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center highlights the role that contemporary art can play in advancing social and racial equity and supporting democracy,” said Gawlak, president of the Sam Gilliam Foundation, in a statement. “Throughout his life, Sam’s work lay at the intersection of art and advocacy, and he believed ardently in the ability of art to inspire and influence critical change. It is an honor to launch The Sam Gilliam Lecture Series in continuation of the activism Sam enacted throughout his career as an artist and educator.”

Works by Latoya Hobbs, Ernest Shaw Jr., and SHAN Wallace

In East Baltimore, Hopkins this month unveiled new paintings to its contemporary art collection in the Bloomberg School of Public Health’s North Gallery: “Sistership,’ by Latoya Hobbs, and ‘Crossing Godz 5’ by Ernest Shaw Jr. Both artists are Baltimore-based.

Hobbs’ painting uses vivid hues of green, gold, and brown to depict two Black women sharing an embrace while turned away from the viewer. In his painting, Shaw depicts two young squeegee workers who also have their arms around each other and their faces obscured. “Though they look out directly from the canvas, outlines of West African masks hide their features and elevate them to royalty,” notes author Aleyna Renta in a Hub article about the works. “To complete the image of nobility, the two boys hold their squeegees like scepters.

“Let me just say how thrilled I am to have these pieces here,” Bloomberg School of Public Health Dean Ellen MacKenzie said at the unveiling ceremony. “The art on our walls is an expression of the values we cherish. They show us the joy of human connection and reflect the power of Baltimore’s artistic voices. They are a lasting testament to the connection between our school and our city, and a very strong reminder that we want that connection to continue to deepen and to grow.”

The paintings were installed as part of the university’s new public arts initiative, which aims to uplift promising Baltimore artists and reflect the broader community by housing their works on Hopkins’ campuses. The effort, which involved an initial investment of $500,000 over two years and includes plans for future acquisitions, is an outgrowth of the university’s Diverse Names and Narratives Project. Hopkins’ Art Collecting Committee, made up of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and trustee representatives, selected the works from an artist portfolio curated by BmoreArt consultants Cara Ober and Inés Sanchez de Lozada.

Hopkins’ public arts initiative began with the installation of two black and white photographs by East Baltimore native SHAN Wallace. More artists are slated to have works displayed at the university, including painter Linling Lu, sculptor Sebastian Martorana, and photographer Elena Volkova.

BmoreArt’s Picks: October 22-28

This Week: Enoch Pratt Artist-in-Residence Phylicia Ghee at Current; Livewire 14 featuring Annea Lockwood at UMBC; Angela N. Carroll lecture at Towson; opening reception for Devin Allen at Galerie Myrtis, Ainsley Burrows, Cara Ober, Jeffrey Kent, and Kirk Shannon-Butts in conversation at Gallery in the Sky followed by an Art Soiree; Our Art Room’s 2024 cohort at The Peale; Creative Alliance’s Great Halloween Lantern Parade; Sky Hopinka film screening at the BMA; and Raquel Castedo, Ellen Lupton, and Tony Venne in conversation with Cara Ober at MICA Brown Center — PLUS Station North Holiday Market call for vendors and more featured opportunities!

BmoreArt’s Picks presents the best weekly art openings, events, and performances happening in Baltimore and surrounding areas. For a more comprehensive perspective, check the BmoreArt Calendar page, which includes ongoing exhibits and performances, and is updated on a daily basis.

To submit your calendar event, email us at events@bmoreart.com!

Artistry Unveiled: An Evening with Enoch Pratt’s New Resident Artist, Phylicia Ghee
Tuesday, October 22 :: 7pm
@ Current Space

Join us for an Evening with Phylicia Ghee!

Explore the world of art with the Enoch Pratt Free Library as they introduce Phylicia Ghee, their new Artist in Residence during a special evening at Current Space.

Tuesday, October 22nd
7:00 PM – 9:30 PM

The Hackerman Artist in Residence Program is a unique artist residency designed to bring creatives from all corners of Baltimore together to share and create at the Pratt Library.

The Hackerman 2025 Artist in Residence is local artist Phylicia Ghee.

During her residency, she will explore a deeply personal collaboration with her grandmother to create a quilt that delves into themes of lineage, memory, and ancestral connection. This quilt will incorporate self-portraits, family photographs, MRI scans, and natural fabrics, weaving together both personal and collective histories.

Throughout the year, Phylicia will engage with Library visitors through workshops, talks, and exhibitions, providing valuable insights into her creative approach.

Phylicia Ghee is an interdisciplinary visual artist, photographer and curator whose work documents transition, explores healing, rites-of-passage, ritual and genetic memory. Ghee thrives on creating immersive worlds that explore interiority, both physically and psychologically. Taught by her Grandfather at an early age; Ghee works in photography, performance, video, fibers, mixed media, installation & painting. She earned her BFA in Photography with a Concentration in Curatorial Studies from Maryland Institute College of Art in 2010.

Livewire 14: Resounding, featuring Annea Lockwood
Thursday, October 24 | Ongoing through October 26
@ UMBC

Join us for UMBC’s 14th annual Livewire new music festival, an exploration of new sounds presented in six concerts over three days, October 24 to 26.

Livewire 14: Resounding, featuring Annea Lockwood, celebrates the work and completion of I Resound Press, an online archive of scores and recordings by women composers selected for their imagination, innovation and craft. Featured guest composer Annea Lockwood will interact with students and audiences in a variety of events, including a sound installation, public conversations, open rehearsals, and a concluding portrait concert of her recent works. Hub New Music, Sofia Kamayianni and Tim Ward, Caballito Negro, and the UMBC faculty contemporary ensemble Ruckus will present concerts including works from the I Resound archive by composers Rahilia Hasanova, Patricia Repar, Sofia Kamayianni, Linda Dusman, Anna Rubin, Lois V Vierk, Caterina Calderoni, Jane Rigler, and Eleanor Hovda. Livewire 14 features premieres by Hasanova, Dusman, Alexandra Gardner, and others, including Sam Garrett, the commissioned alumnus composer for 2024.

In recent years, Lockwood (b. 1939) and her music have received widespread attention, including a Columbia University Miller Theatre Composer Portrait concert, a feature article in The New York Times, a SEAMUS Lifetime Achievement Award, a documentary film by director Sam Green, and most recently, election to the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Her recent collaborative works Into the Vanishing Point with the ensemble Yarn/Wire and Becoming Air with avant-garde trumpeter Nate Wooley were released on Black Truffle Records to great acclaim. Her work has been presented internationally at institutions and festivals such as Lucerne Festival, Tectonics Athens Festival, Signale Graz, Counterflows International Festival of Music and Art, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, and many others.

Livewire is produced by UMBC’s Department of Music, with support from UMBC’s Center for Innovation, Research, and Creativity in the Arts (CIRCA).

Lecture: Artist and Activist Angela Carroll
Thursday, October 24 :: 6:30pm
@ Towson University

Carroll is an artist-archivist, writer, curator, and investigator of art history and culture. She uses illustration, citizen journalism, documentary film, words, and experimental animation as primary mediums to contribute to and critique the archive. Carroll regularly contributes critical essays to significant publications and art exhibition catalogs and is currently a guest curator at both the Brandywine Museum of Art and Baltimore Office Promotion of the Arts (BOPA). Her recent projects include “Exploring Presence: African American Artists in the Upper South,” a catalog, exhibition, and 10-short-film docuseries that surveys under-recognized artists in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. She received her MFA in Digital Arts and New Media from the University of California at Santa Cruz.

Enjoy the MFA Exhibitions and Women’s Rights Are Human Rights Exhibition and reception following lecture

Read more of this week’s picks at BmoreArt.

Calling all nature explorers! Friends School of Baltimore invites prospective pre-k, kindergarten, and first grade students and their families for a fun-filled morning at Friends to explore our native gardens, fields, and stream with our Lower School science teacher. Binoculars to search for insects and identify plants and flowers will be provided! Saturday, October 26, 2024, 10:00 – 11:45 a.m.

Friends School of Baltimore is a private, co-educational, Quaker school serving students in pre-k through 12th grade. As Baltimore’s first school, Friends has pioneered innovative teaching and learning since 1784. A Friends education emphasizes the mastery of essential skills required to succeed in the world – skills like critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and leadership. Friends School’s holistic approach to education allows students to explore and excel across a broad range of activities in academics, athletics, and arts. As a Quaker school, Friends is guided by the Quaker testimonies of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship, and a core belief that there is that of God in each person. Students are held to a high standard of personal conduct and challenged to model behaviors that build community and promote equality.

Pride of Baltimore II will host a festival celebrating the lives of sailors and the art of tattooing on Saturday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Fells Point Broadway Pier.

Sailabration: Sailing Traditions in Ink explores and explains the connection between sailing on the high seas and tattoos. This inaugural event is free and family-friendly.

“Learn about sailors and life at sea as the festival highlights the history and art of tattooing, presented by the Baltimore Tattoo Museum or experience ‘hand poke tattooing’ with a live demonstration aboard the ship,” reads the press release. March along to performances by the Fort McHenry Fife and Drum Corps, and enjoy The Marching Elite and Ship’s Company Chanteymen, who will provide nautical music from the 1700s and 1800s.

Drink grog, sample “hardtack,” and partake of other activities that will give you a taste of what life on the high seas was like in the 18^th and 19^th centuries.

The Pride of Baltimore II is a historically evocative reproduction of one of the most famous War of 1812 privateers, Chasseur. A privateer is a private ship or vessel that is engaged in maritime warfare, commissioned by a government. Pride of Baltimore II (and Pride of Baltimore I before her) has provided more than four decades of education and fostered economic development and tourism in Maryland.

The Fells Point Broadway Pier is located at 920 S. Broadway, Baltimore, MD. For more information about this Sailabration event, click this link.

Bon Secours Community Works will dedicate their Community Resource Center to the late U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings.

In celebration, they’re hosting an event Thursday at 3 p.m. open to the community, featuring music, dance performances, refreshment, and family-friendly activities.

Cummings served as the congressman from Maryland’s 7^th Congressional District from 1996 until his passing in 2019. His family members will attend with George Kleb, executive director of Bon Secours Community Works, as the Anchor Group unveils a commissioned sculpture that honors his legacy and commitment to the residents of West Baltimore. Sculptor Frederick Hightower will also be in attendance.

The Community Resource Center opened to the public in West Baltimore in 2022. It was specifically designed by and for residents of West Baltimore, focusing on youth services, workforce development, and economic development for the neighborhood. The center also offers a variety of walk-in and scheduled programming for youth and adults.

In addition to the performances, refreshments, and activities, guests will be able to tour the Community Resource Center following the dedication program. They can learn about available programs and services, connect with one of Bon Secours’ partner organizations, and enjoy the local arts and culture with neighborhood friends.

There will also be an open call for small, meaningful West Baltimore-related items to be placed in a time capsule at the Community Resource Center, which will be sealed in January 2025.

The Bon Secours Community Resource Center is located at 31 S. Payson St., Baltimore, MD.

Join the Waldorf School of Baltimore on Sunday, November 17th, from 10 AM to 4 PM for a day of wonder and joy at the 36^th Annual Waldorf Fair!

Dive into a delightful array of “unplugged” activities that highlight the unique charm of Waldorf education. Experience the joy of jump-rope making, beeswax dipping, and candle rolling. Try your luck at the fishing game, enjoy captivating marionette shows, and sway to the sounds of live music!

Celebrated by Baltimore’s Child Magazine as one of the Best Family Events of the Year and highlighted in Baltimore Magazine’s “Must Do” Weekend Highlights, the Waldorf Fair is truly a celebration for all ages! More activities include Toddler Storytime, a photo booth, face painting, an immersive Faerie Grotto, and an instrument petting zoo provided by Stages Music Arts. Plus, there are multiple hands-on natural crafts waiting for you to explore!

The Waldorf Fair beautifully embodies the school’s educational values, grounded in a deep understanding of child development. Don’t miss the chance to browse our artisan vendor marketplace featuring over 30 stalls showcasing the unique handcrafted creations of local Baltimore artists and businesses.

Join us for a magical day that showcases an educational model inspiring children around the globe with the joy of lifelong learning since 1919.

Waldorf School of Baltimore is located at 4801 Tamarind Road. Entry is Free. Tickets required for some crafts and activities, these can be purchased at the door or in advance at www.wsbfair.com. For more information on the Waldorf School of Baltimore, please visit www.waldorfschoolofbaltimore.org