“ earth cast ” monoliths were crafted by sculptor Thomas Sayre . The sculptures are a way to honor Germantown ’ s agricultural heritage in the building ’ s permanent structure . Each year the monoliths are the backdrop to thousands of selfies and are impossible not to touch and explore ( no climbing please ), they are symbols of permanence and the strength of Germantown .
Where Arts and Culture Are Flourishing
BlackRock ’ s MainStage , Black- Box , and outdoor stage host live performances all year long . There is no such thing as an obstructed view , your tickets won ’ t break the bank , and the artist audience connection is the best in town . Events spotlight local artists that hit home for locals , like Go-Go , bagpipes , classical , Celtic , jazz , Broadway , drag and blues . Backstage passes are unnecessary , audience and artists alike are hugging in the lobby and posing for pictures pre and post show . Last season , under the direction of Artistic Director , Kelly Chauncey , BlackRock produced its first in-house musical , Dream- Girls , described by critics as an experience with “ fresh voices , raw energy , and ambition .” This April , Kelly will direct The Color Purple , shaping up to be a repeat performance of amazing talent . Before the FOMO sinks in , come see us for a show .
Come visit the Kay Gallery , the largest of BlackRock ’ s two art galleries . The light in the space — day or night , overcast or with the sun streaming through is stunning . The Kay Gallery is an empty canvas for mid-Atlantic , local , and
Germantown artists throughout the year . Each spring , BlackRock hosts the Art League of Germantown ’ s exhibition and art sale . In its forty-first year , you must come see and shop , there is so much talent in our hometown . I often get attached to the artwork in the space . It ’ s hard to see an exhibition end , especially the installations where the Kay Gallery was an inspiration in the creative process . When art and a place come together , people respond , feel , and connect — it ’ s a unique moment intimately shared . A gift from the artist , and Black- Rock for anyone — for everyone to experience .
Education is integrated into all that we do . Lived experiences , processing new information , practicing a skill , gleaning a new perspective , and metacognition are just a few of our responses to art whether it ’ s explicitly taught , or you have given yourself the space to truly delve into a painting or performance . BlackRock ’ s education program expands to our surrounding schools and fills the center with kids in the summer camps . Scholarship , generous grants , and partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools enable mission driven efforts to provide access to the arts for all .
This year , BlackRock will embark on the initial stages of the Great Lawn Project . An initial Maryland State Bond granted to Black- Rock to provide upgrades to its outdoor stage has launched into the beginnings of a re-visioned lawn , a place for music , a place for solitude , a place of importance , a place to picnic , a place for art , an invitation in . Second Saturdays between April and December are the best time to visit . You will find an Artisans Market , a Movie Night under the stars , or a DJ dance party — shoes kicked off , hundreds of people letting loose in the grass . Our lawn , a place for all in the city center .
BlackRock , seated within an urban city center , is on the edge and a perfect contrast to the beautiful Agriculture Reserve in the upcounty . This rich rural and expansive urban area within a few miles both provide access , economic sustainability , enrichment , education , cultural preservation , character , and community connection . Germantown and the Ag Reserve make for perfect Montgomery County neighbors .
This place has become much more than an art center in the unincorporated city center of Germantown , it has become its heartbeat . Arts and culture are essential and a catalyst for change in our lives and its impact ripples throughout a community beyond measure . When a place and its people are rich in arts and culture , barriers crumble , prejudice dissolves , and bridges are built . I am extremely proud to call Germantown my hometown . I am honored to play a small part in BlackRock ’ s legacy , where arts and culture came first for a town that grew up quickly , and beautifully .
Katie Hecklinger , Chief Executive Officer of BlackRock joined BlackRock in 2019 as after more than 22 years as an educator in Montgomery County Public Schools . She is a long-term resident of the county and lives in Germantown with her husband John , CEO of Global Fund for Children , and two sons , Miles ( 17 ), Henry ( 14 ), and sheepadoodle Pearl .
16 plenty I spring sowing 2024