ARTS & CULTURE Embrace the Arts BY CHRISTINE JACKSON Maryland is home to so many cultural gems, from pieces of American history to wonders of contemporary art. Whether you’re looking to traverse the state in search of music, art and theater or take a day trip to one spot to soak up all the local scene has to offer, there’s something to inspire the artist in all of us. Want more? Visit the digitial inspiration guide at VisitMaryland.org/things-to-do/arts-culture The arts thrive in Maryland—from folk to eclectic and contemporary art and artisans to world-class performers. The diversity of the state has allowed pieces of the past to remain while new artists and voices bring visitors into the future. There’s so much to see, do, watch and hear across Maryland, but consider these stops as great places to start. Iconic artists at the Baltimore Museum of Art. This free museum has offered Baltimore access to some of the world’s greatest artists since 1929, and it has only gotten SEE... better with age. Gaze up at Spencer Finch’s otherworldly light installation Moon Dust for a while before working your way through the iconic Cone Collection of Modern Art, which is home to the largest public collection of works by Henri Matisse in the world. The free museum has also recently expanded its collection by selling some works in order to acquire art created by female artists and artists of color. Unexpected creations at the American Visionary Art Museum. Hop on a water taxi or take a scenic drive around Baltimore’s Inner Harbor to get to the mosaic-walled museum that’s home to the nation’s best collection of outsider art, created by self-taught masters who had little to no contact with the mainstream art world. Take in the hand-embroidered story quilts of Holocaust survivor Esther Krinitz in the main building, or wander across the courtyard to the Jim Rouse Visionary Center to see local treasures such as painted screens, kinetic sculptures and a towering tribute to drag queen Divine. Art in a new way at Glenstone. Get your tickets well in advance and plan to spend the day at this Potomac estate PHOTO: RAY STUDIOS 30 ✥ VISITMARYLAND.ORG | 1-877-209-5883
Maryland Official Visitors Guide 2020 Maryland Official Visitors Guide: Page 30
