BmoreArt’s Recommendations: September 29 – October 5
This Week’s Highlights: Miguel Braceli at m/ Elizabeth Myers Mitchell Museum; the launch of Doors Open Baltimore’s ‘Love Letters’ at the Streetcar Museum; a screening of “Saving Etting Street” at SNF Parkway; New/Next Film Festival at The Charles featuring an artist talk with Billy Friebele, Fanni Somogyi, and Mollye Bendell at Towson University; Submersive Productions’ The Pansy Hour, ‘The Lines We Cross’ film event at The Lewis; Ronald Jackson in conversation with Myrtis Bedolla at Galerie Myrtis; an opening reception for Jim Condron and Dean Kessmann at MONO Practice; Queering the Collection at The Walters with V Walton; the photography exhibition Flashback opens at the BMA; and a discussion with Ed Berlin and D. Watkins at The Ivy — PLUS, nominations are now open for MSAC’s Heritage Awards and various other opportunities!
BmoreArt’s Picks presents a curated selection of the most exciting art openings, events, and performances in Baltimore and its surrounding areas. For a more extensive overview, be sure to visit the BmoreArt Calendar page, which features ongoing exhibits and performances and is updated daily.
To submit your event for our calendar, please reach out to us via email at events@bmoreart.com!
Ongoing through December 6
@ /m Elizabeth Myers Mitchell Art Museum, St. John’s College
Unburial emphasizes absence as a space for contemplation and education. The absence of the Liberty Tree evolves from mere metaphor to a transformative art intervention, reimagining it as a location ripe for reclamation through rituals that examine contemporary notions of freedom.
On the museum’s front lawn, where the Liberty Tree once thrived, Miguel Braceli has created a striking 40-foot diameter circle adorned with cemetery vases filled with local wildflowers. This installation draws attention to the tree’s absence and seeks to reclaim it as a symbol for all individuals, transcending the privilege typically associated with the Sons of Liberty and the four Annapolis signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Inside the museum, Braceli, alongside a team of skilled fabricators, has crafted three expansive murals and two additional pieces. The murals dissect the essence of the old tree, with the most prominent mural visually swirling the signature leaf shape of the tulip poplar across a 33-foot-long wall, imbuing it with energy (the leaves crafted from stencils of the original Liberty Tree leaves). Another mural abstracts the intricate root system of the tree into a water-bearing artwork that utilizes PVC tubing sprouting purple carnations. The third mural depicts the tree’s vast trunk, which was chopped down in 1999, with remnants of its wood repurposed into items such as Liberty Tree guitars, conference tables, and bible boxes. Braceli has placed nine pieces of raw wood with live orchids mounted on nine chalkboards, triggering reflection on what lessons this ancient tree imparts to us today.
The other two artworks encourage a departure from nationalistic identities, inviting viewers to attune their senses to nature. A sculptural ear is affixed to a bright red silhouette of a rose petal, a nod to the creations of Columbia-born, Venezuela-based artist Roberto Obregoń. Additionally, a flag composed of yellow roses flutters from a flagpole fashioned from a natural branch.
Doors Open Baltimore | “Love Letters Live” Kickoff Event
Wednesday, September 30 :: 5:30-7:30pm
@ Baltimore Streetcar Museum
As part of an initiative to explore America’s foundational stories, Doors Open Baltimore invites the community to engage with the city’s historic and cultural landmarks. The opening kickoff event is set for Wednesday, September 30, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at The Baltimore Streetcar Museum. Attendees can look forward to an evening of storytelling complemented by light refreshments, beer, and wine while local speakers share their “love letters” to cherished buildings and locations in Baltimore. This event marks the beginning of a month-long series featuring free open houses at over 50 buildings, allowing visitors to discover how Baltimore’s architecture reflects 250 years of liberty, equality, religious freedom, and civic action. Additionally, there will be guided tours available throughout October.
“Saving Etting Street” Screening & Discussion
Wednesday, September 30 :: 7pm
@ SNF Parkway Theatre
Saving Etting Street is a critically acclaimed documentary that chronicles the journey of master carpenter Shelley Halstead as she revitalizes a row of neglected houses in West Baltimore, transforming them into a haven for Black women homeowners through her initiative Black Women Build – Baltimore. However, tension within the group and the occurrence of a suspicious fire prompt Shelley to reconsider whether her vision for the neighborhood can truly take hold.
This free screening is hosted by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Africana Studies, and will be followed by a panel discussion led by Lawrence Jackson, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of English and History, featuring co-directors Dena Fisher and Amy Scott, Tonika Garibaldi from Black Women Build – Baltimore, and Mike Bader representing the 21st Century Cities Initiative.
Discover more of this week’s highlights at BmoreArt.
