Industrial Arts
In Baltimore, artists take back dying ’hoods, one building at a time. Here, a look inside.
Take over an empty warehouse in a withering neighborhood. At the outer fringe of each floor — where glorious sunlight floods the space — set up artists’ studios. At their center, in the building’s heart, establish a gallery.
The concept isn’t new — artists have been pioneering industrial zones since their decline began. In Charm City, multi-use gallery and performance spaces like Load of Fun Arts (www.loadoffun.net) and Open Space (www.openspacebaltimore.com) have helped revitalize the city’s designated arts district, Station North. Over on the west side, though, the H&H Building — particularly its fourth floor — has been a model of an organic arts scene for more than a decade, with indie performance art venues and galleries sharing a single building.
GALLERY FOUR
Six resident artists work as a group to coordinate four exhibitions a year at Gallery Four (www.galleryfour.net), finding new talents and funding their endeavor to bring artists on the cusp to Baltimore. The gritty neighborhood doesn’t prepare you for what’s inside — a polished, Chelsea-esque gallery space with high ceilings and airy, open rooms.
SCOTT JONES
Painting
A Baltimore transplant by way of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Scott Jones (www.scottjonesprojects.com) blends his fine and decorative arts skills with cool furniture design to make oneof-a-kind art furniture pieces.
LAURA HUDSON
Painting
Laura Hudson (www.laurahudson.net) hosts events, films the party and then re-creates the social interactions on life-sized painted canvases that fill a room and invite the viewer into the scene. Her impressive portfolio landed her a spot in the 2012 solos roster at Virginia’s Arlington Arts Center.
COLIN BENJAMIN
Sculpture & installation
Colin Benjamin (www.colinmichaelbenjamin.com) works with mixed media, including screen prints and lithographs, focusing on pop culture. He completed his graduate studies at MICA, where he teaches intro-level courses in the printmaking department.
EDDIE WINTER
Photography
Edward Winter (www.edwardwinterphotography.com) describes the local scene as a big love-fest, where artists collaborate and have fun. When Winter’s not co-curating exhibitions at the gallery or taking photos, he installs art at the Baltimore Museum of Art.
DUSTIN CARLSON
Sculpture & installation
Dustin Carlson (www.dustincarlson.net) moved into H&H in 1996 and co-founded Gallery Four in 2000. His solo show Cowboys & Engines (JulySeptember 2011) was the first time Gallery Four presented one of its own in an exhibition.
ADAM FRANCHINO
Interactive & illustration
Adam Franchino (www.adamfranchino.com) got his first taste of life at Gallery Four working late nights as an intern while he studied illustration at MICA. Since graduating in 2010, his attention has turned to interactive creations at the crossroads of art and technology.
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