Issue 19: Hidden Gems

Issue 19: Hidden Gems

A Conversation with the BMA's Jewelry Buyer and Why You Should Never Overlook a Museum Gift Shop

After serving nearly ten years as Head Jewelry Buyer for the BMA's gift shop, Gray was promoted to her current role as Assistant Director of Retail Operations in early 2025. We talked about the ins and outs of working in the museum retail space and what inspires her love of jewelry.

From Upcycled Heirlooms to Ren-Fest Regalia, Craft Honed Over Half a Century

A collaborative approach and emphasis on repurposing materials characterizes Lauren Schott’s jewelry making and highlights the ethos of her business. Schott is not only a highly skilled jeweler with over five decades of experience, but she also is dedicated to reusing metals and gemstones.

How an Unassuming Storefront on Maryland Ave Became a Site of Foodie Pilgrimage

Le Comptoir du Vin in French, opened in 2018 as a natural wine bar and neighborhood bistro in Baltimore’s Station North Arts District. It immediately received national attention when it was named one of the nation’s Best New Restaurants in 2019 by Bon Appétit.

Plant Stylist and Social Media Influencer Reigns King of the Urban Jungle

A Baltimore native and a creative force, Carter is changing the way people think about greenery in their homes, encouraging the masses to bring nature indoors.

Overlooked Liminal Spaces Host Some of Baltimore's Best Public Art

All the demolition and reconstruction in the decades preceding the 80s reated a plethora of liminal spaces in our cities—and Baltimore was lucky to attract artists who rose to the placemaking challenge they presented.

Elevating Connection at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

As the first Black music director of a major orchestra and also the youngest, breaking barriers and leaning into a bold vision is at the core of Heyward's personal playbook.

UMBC’s newly launched Maurice Berger CADVC Program Fund pledges to support work on the histories of race, representation and justice in visual culture

Berger’s notion of us was always an expansive one, so it’s fitting that his legacy continues to grow, even after his death.

Meet the Curator Helming the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture

"The stories you tell and the artwork you choose have the power to transport people—to new times, deeper understandings, and different vantage points. That’s a sacred responsibility. Reshaping institutions begins with grounding yourself in purpose." "

Placemaking, Community-Building, and Poetry

The mission of the house today sits in alignment with the legacy of its former owners, Lucille and Fred Clifton, expanding under the steadfast stewardship of their daughter Sidney Clifton to nourish the creative ecosystem in Baltimore City.

The Gardens of Douglas & Tsognie Hamilton

Situated anonymously among vast swaths of verdant Baltimore County farmland, Tashiding is a marvel of landscape, architecture, art, and most of all a purposeful mixture of Eastern and Western traditions.

Haskins' Currency Studio Is the Blueprint For Baltimore Art, Fashion, and Culture

There’s nothing quite like Michael E. Haskins’ Currency Studio in the city. Looking around the space, you’ll find everything from hats, baby vests, jewelry, stools, tote bags, speakers, and more. The self-proclaimed visionary does it all: He paints, sculpts, makes furniture, clothing, and more.

How the Painter is Guided by Sound and Memory

While music is clearly a dominant voice in Lu’s work at the moment, and has been at least an undercurrent throughout her life and career, the other harmonic elements underpinning and interacting with it are as rich, varied, and complex as her palette.

A Life Devoted to Restoring, Reproducing, and Interpreting Beautiful Things

David Wiesand's custom built furniture workshop and showroom hosts an enthralling mix of original historic objects, lovingly created reproductions, and elegant adaptations where art history and technical expertise go hand in hand.

Bringing the Life and Legacy of Baby Laurence to Stage

It is late February 2025, the premier night of The Baby Laurence Legacy Project: Tracing Steps, Ali’s epic two-hour performance three years in the making, yet as the interdisciplinary artist begins to dance, I can feel the separative notions of time and place bend to the summoning of her feet.

Party Photos from BmoreArt's Release for Issue 19 on May 15

In Issue 19, we celebrate Baltimore’s “hidden gems” through the stories of individuals and organizations often operating below the public radar but making a solid contribution to city life.

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