We are full-swing in the fall arts season, and theater companies and institutions like the Baltimore Museum of Art, American Visionary Art Museum, and The Walters Art Museum are launching new productions and exhibits. (Check our website as we cover these openings.) But here’s a list of even more cultural events you should have on your radar.
VISUAL ART
Maryland Art Place’s 35th Anniversary Exhibition
Through Oct. 27, 218 W. Saratoga St. A host of more than 30 artists, including Raoul Middleman and recent McArthur genius grant recipient Joyce Scott, help MAP celebrate its 35th year, and further it’s mission to support emerging and mid-career artists. Check out the open house on Oct. 16 at 3 p.m.
Like Fine Wine at La Bodega
Oct. 7, 1501 Guilford Ave. A100 La Bodega’s latest show celebrates the work of four established women artists— Laure Drogoul, Cheryl Edwards, Genna Watson, and Sue Wrbican—who live and work in the DMV. Swing by the gallery on Friday to see the show during All Over Street, Station North’s monthly art walk.
Quincunx at Terrault
Oct. 8-Nov. 5, 218 W. Saratoga St., 3rd floor Pete Cullen’s still-life paintings examines the intersections of history, power, conflict, and communication by juxtaposing items like heirloom produce and locally sourced pork alongside more unsavory elements from contemporary life in Baltimore.
Kin Killin’ Kin
Through Jan. 8, 2017, Reginald Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St. The images in this exhibit portray young people in urban settings, or events like the March on Washington, dressed in stylized klan garb that mirrors modern hip hop clothing trends. Though sure to incite some controversy, the works, says artist James Pate, are evidence of his concern for the epidemic of youth violence in the African American community. The museum will hold a teen summit on Oct. 22 that will correspond with the exhibit, where youth, ages 12 to 19, will participate in workshops on conflict resolution, skill-building and creative nonviolent expression through music, writing, visual arts, and media.
PERFORMING ARTS
U+N Fest
Oct. 21, 22, Ottobar, 2549 N. Howard St. For the past few years, Unregistered Nurse Booking has been working tirelessly to bring good old-fashioned ass-kicking punk and garage rock to Baltimore. This year’s raging good time stretches across two days and features the likes of Wing Dam and Sun Club.
Wright Now Play Later
Various locations, through January 2017 This unique concept from Center Stage merges theater and social media. During the second weekend of the month, a team of playwrights from all over the country will begin writing via prompts from social media, and have 24 hours to complete a play. Then the public vortes on the play, which will be performed in pop-up locations throughout the city, and streamed online.
Net Worth at The Strand
Oct. 6 through 23, 5426 Harford Rd. The
Strand Theater Company opens the inaugural season in its new home in Baltimore’s historic
Hamilton-Lauraville neighborhood with the regional premiere of Net Worth,
which takes the audience on a journey of humor, money management
and desperate self-reflection.
EVENTS
Free Fall Baltimore
Various locations, through Oct. 31 You can’t say no if it’s free, right? Every October for 11 years, Baltimore has offered hundreds of cultural events—plays, concerts, exhibits—for free. This year, there are more than 200 events from close to 70 participants—way too many to list here—so be sure to check out the website to take full advantage.
The Enigmatic Edgar A. Poe
Through Feb. 5, 2017, George Peabody Library, 17 E. Mt. Vernon Place Edgar Allan Poe’s death in Baltimore in October 1849 ensured that the writer and the city would be forever linked. But it is Poe’s life and legacy, both in and beyond Baltimore, that provide the focus for this exhibition, which includes Poe’s first published book of poems, the engagement ring he gave his teenage sweetheart in Richmond, as well as other highlights from one of the finest collections of Poe materials in the world.
Open Studio Tour
Oct. 7, 8, 9, various locations See the spaces that inspire our city’s amazing artists. And no matter your location, there are sure to be spots to visit, so you can catch a glimpse of where the magic happens.
An Evening of Artistic Excellence
Thursday, Oct. 13, Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Drive This annual event is organized by Contemporary Arts, Inc., and will feature solo and collaborative performances by over a dozen past performing arts winners of the Baker Artist Awards. And you can expect an announcement with news about the Bakers as well.
Doors Open Baltimore
Oct. 22, various locations Take in more than 60 historic structures throughout Baltimore—from food hall R. House to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, America’s first cathedral—that aren’t typically open to the public.
FILM
Throw
We can all identify with being misunderstood, and it’s especially inspiring to see someone triumph through that time. That was the case for Coffin Nachtmahr, an East Baltimore native, who coped by becoming really good, and we mean winning national competitions good, at throwing a yo-yo. This short film by Baltimore-based Early Light Media is an honest portrayal of finding one’s way in the world, and was selected as a Vimeo Staff Pick and the director’s choice at the Mountainfilm festival in Telluride, Co.
The Southern Strategy
Baltimore rapper JPEGMAFIA’s experimental short film explores politics and cultural racism in a surrealistic, edgy way. He traces the path that he believes has led to Donald Trump’s candidacy, with appearances by members of the LLAMADON collective, including Abud Ali. Check it out now, because the film will only be available until the day after Nov. 8’s presidential election.
NEWS
Starting next march, Center Stage Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah will bring his musical about reggae legend Bob Marley to London—with a new name. Instead of Marley, as it was called when it premiered at Center Stage in May 2015—and became the highest-grossing and highest-attended show in the theater’s history—One Love: The Bob Marley Musical, will be presented by the Birmingham Repertory Theatre through April 8, 2017.
Elissa Blount Moorhead will become executive director of the Station North Arts & Entertainment district. Blount Moorhead moved to Baltimore from Brooklyn in 2014 and is an arts leader and artist who has served as advisor The Contemporary and a member of the Curatorial Advisory Council. She previously taught at Pratt Institute’s Graduate School of Art and Cultural Management and Parsons Graduate School of Design.