Programs

OMRY

Kenn Hall Sample Sale @ MAP 

Saturday, June 22 | 10am - 7pm

About Kenn Hall: Kenn Hall’s passion for fashion began at a young age where his interest in the human form and design collided. Under the mentorship of Mrs. Deborah Williams at BSU,  Kenn got his fashion legs doing shows for various colleges and Artscape, before leaving Baltimore to fulfill bigger dreams. After relocating to New York Kenn secured an internship with a local bridal/evening designer. He began as an assistant designer eventually moving on to production and development roles for renowned names like Donna Karan, Men’s Wearhouse, and Express, where he gained valuable experience. Kenn is now back in Baltimore to expand his own brand identity, embracing the motto "Apres moi le deluge."

E. Brady Robinson | Power Aesthetics 

On View: June 29 - July 18, 2024

Closing Reception: July 18 | 6 to 9pm 

Photographer E. Brady Robinson's exhibition Power Aesthetics exhibits a series of portraits of Baltimore-based Creatives, including SK8 GRLS and ICONS, all-powerful individuals depicted, empowered through action.The exhibition will be on view at Maryland Art Place (MAP), 3rd floor gallery June 29 - July 18.

Power Aesthetics celebrates independent artists within Baltimore's skate culture. Inspired by the intersection of portraiture, studio art, athleticism and street culture, Robinson’s initiative captures the raw energy and individuality of the city, focusing on the resurgence of roller-skating since the Covid pandemic. 

Bringing the street to the artist’s studio in Baltimore’s historic Hooper Mill, the project's new iteration showcases a collection of vibrant metal prints featuring local entrepreneurs, musicians, and artists on skates. Meticulously crafted in the photographer’s studio, the photographs utilize strobe lights and color gels to capture movement, energy, and form. 

The exhibition features a large-scale slideshow projection of SK8R GRLS onto the gallery walls. With the backdrop of vibrant Baltimore club music, a curated playlist by Mighty Mark, this installation celebrates the pluricultural community and artistic aspects of skate culture, reflecting the urban experience of Baltimore. Robinson creates an immersive opportunity for the audience to appreciate the artistry of skating while emphasizing empowerment, athleticism, and femme identity within the skater community. 

For her MAP debut, Robinson shifts the kaleidoscope of her vision away from portraiture to embrace figuration, color and motion. These images celebrate the universality of movement, of self-expression and definition, motion capture and high key lighting to photograph an indefinable essence of style and joy.  Helping to define this indefinable essence, Robinson has included her series ICONS - photographs of famous voguer Marquis Clanton and King Kory Kruze, both prominent figures in the int’l ballroom scene and based in Baltimore.

SK8R GRLS and ICONS series are conduits for spotlighting the nuanced facets of skate culture, ballroom scene and its legacy, and the creative community of Baltimore and its inherent inclusivity. The project serves as a potent platform for local artists, magnifying their creative voices, while simultaneously serving as a vibrant celebration of Baltimore's unparalleled creative spirit. Through innovative photography techniques and the immersive environment of the slideshow projection, the project encapsulates the essence of Baltimore's unique artistic identity.

E. Brady Robinson is a photographer based in Baltimore, MD. Her work has been featured in group and solo exhibitions in the US and internationally. Her fine art photography is represented by Addison/Ripley Fine Art in Washington, D.C. She is Contributor for BmoreArt Magazine and faculty at Georgetown University. For more follow IG: @ebradyrobinson