gifts to the BMA also include a painting survived the Nazi invasion of their
by artist Anne Truitt and art by painter native Poland by posing as Catholic
Amy Sherald, who recently created farm girls. The special exhibit includes
Michelle Obama’s official portrait. a partial recreation of the thatched-
roof farm home where Esther lived.
Watch the Walls Though Esther worked as a seamstress
In recent years, public art initiatives like she had no art training and began her
Open Walls Baltimore have decorated series of embroideries at the age of 50.
in her Frederick, Maryland, dress shop,
the city with colorful murals. Among the
women creating these vibrant designs?
Duo Jessie Unterhalter and Katey Truhn,
whose geometric patterns burst from
Union Collective
walls throughout the city. See their work
Stage Voices
In celebration of the Everyman
Theatre’s new intimate performance
space, The Upstairs Theatre, the group
on the walls of Union Craft Brewing
Sew Powerful debuts a new inaugural festival meant
Illustrator and Baltimore native Megan Lewis paints her hometown through At the American Visionary Art For the first run of the New Voices
mural projects that include walls on the Museum, devoted to showcasing the Festival, launching in March, all three
Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Washington work of self-taught artists, visit the plays are written by women, including
Village branch and the National Great new five-year installation “Esther & two women of color. “We’re in the
Blacks In Wax Museum (head to her The Dream of One Loving Human golden age of female playwrights,”
website MeganLewis1Illustrator.com Family.” In this collection of textile artistic director Vincent Lancisi told
for a Google maps locator). Her colorful storytelling, Holocaust survivor Esther The Baltimore Sun. “I’ve worked in the
projects primarily depict women of Krinitz created 36 intricate needlework theater for 30 years and I have never
color, including one painting of an afro- and fabric collages that depict how before seen such a vibrant pool of
clad Statue of Liberty, raising her fist. the teenage Esther and her sister new voices.”
and MICA, among other locations.
Q
Because art imitates life, how does the
BSO reflect Baltimore’s true essence?
The BSO is like a microcosm of Baltimore. The orchestra is
passionate, outspoken, not afraid to give their opinion, but
still warm and welcoming, much like Baltimore. We’ve been
through some tough times—socially, financially—but this
makes us scrappier.
Q
How would you explain the BSO to someone
who has never been?
You feel connected to humanity when you’re here. It’s an
experience. When I go to a sports game and don’t know
anything about it, I can still appreciate it. So even if you don’t
know anything about the orchestra, you can still appreciate
good music. And we have one of the best here in Baltimore.
Q
What are some of your favorite places
in Baltimore?
I love Petit Louis, Woodberry Kitchen, City Café—I go there all
the time—and the Village Square Café in Cross Keys. And the
museums are special and spectacular—people shouldn’t miss
shortage of things to do here.
them. Every night there is something going on, so there is no
Marin Alsop
to showcase emerging playwrights.