Artscape 2012: Rainy and roomy

Would it be cool if this ferris wheel was outside Penn Station everyday?!

Did you go to Artscape this year? I had a blast! The weather certainly made a huge impact on the experience didn’t it? Considering Artscape usually falls on one of the hottest weekends of the summer, the combination of heat and intense crowds can make the festival overwhelming for some. This year may have been rainy, but I’ll take damp shoes any day if it means more space to walk and enjoy the festival!

World's largest John Waters.

The new Station North Stage

Some highlights that I enjoyed—although I did not by any means see everything!—included the always-entertaining Baltimore Rock Opera Society, founded by and starring fellow Goucher graduates; the new Station North Stage, extending the festival all the way up to North Avenue; the (much) larger-than-life head of John Waters; the awesome shipping-pallet installation by Morgan State students; free films at the Charles; and of course, festival food. I thought the theme of “Roadside Attractions” was clever and really gave the Art Cars an opportunity to shine!

 I have volunteered for the past few years but after always walking away utterly exhausted, I decided to just enjoy it as a spectator this year. BOPA, their many partner organizations, and all of the volunteers who make it happen deserve a big thank you. What a huge task it must be to organize—they do a brilliant job!

Speaking of art: have you heard about Open Walls Baltimore, the initiative that's been painting all of those colorful murals around Station North? I'm a big fan of this one on the side of a parking garage, but the whole project is wonderful in my book!

Here’s to Artscape 2013!