Artists and Churchgoers Collaborate on Exhibit at College of Art

THE BALTIMORE SUN
By Mary Carole McCauley

"Everything that ought to have remained" (2011) by Leigh Davis at NYC church, now on display at MICA

MARYLAND---The old arched red wooden door to the Seventh Metro Church is less that two blocks from the modern glass-and-steel panel that floats in front of the Maryland Institute College of Art's newest exhibition space. They bring to mind two different eras and seem designed to be used by two dissimilar groups of people: spiky-haired artists and church ladies wearing fancy hats. But when a white art student in her 20s met a middle-aged African-American pastor, they discovered that both doors opened into sacred spaces where people look for answers to the same big questions. One of the nicest surprises is that the project brought into contact the leaders and members of all five churches. Though they were located just a few blocks from one another, most had never met. [link]

Maryland Institute College of Art: "Congregate art + faith + community" (Ends Sept. 25), 131 W. North Ave, Baltimore, MD; (410) 669-9200, congregatebaltimore.com

In addition, there are several free public arts events inspired by the exhibit:

• The second annual Akimbo Artwalk, which features site-specific dance and movement organized by the Deep Vision Dance Company, will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at nearly two dozen locations throughout Station North.
• At 3 p.m. Sept. 22, Baltimore Performance Kitchen will stage "Closets" at MICA's Studio Center. This live performance features the real-life stories of congregation members that will be interpreted and performed by members of Single Carrot Theatre.
• "Congregate's" cpmfa@mica.edu closing party will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sept. 25. It will feature live performances by church choirs and will launch the exhibit catalog.
• A picnic and afternoon of stories, support and sharing will be held from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. outside Penn Station. The event is co-sponsored by the rape-eradication advocacy group FORCE.