Navigating History, Tension, and Creative Dialogue Through Community Engagement
The Eutaw Place Public Art Project explored opportunities for creative expression along Eutaw Place — the historic, tree-lined median dividing the Bolton Hill and Madison Park neighborhoods. Supported by a Maryland State Arts Council planning grant, the initiative examined how public art could bridge historic divides and open new space for dialogue around representation and belonging.
Project Overview
Eutaw Place, a cherished historic park, required that any potential public art respect its significant legacy.
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As Midtown Baltimore’s project lead, I partnered with WGF Studio and the No Boundaries Coalition to co-design a three-month engagement process with guided walks, listening sessions, pop-up events, and online outreach to invite broad community participation.
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The process centered on open, transparent communication between two neighborhoods with differing perspectives; one focused on preservation, the other on acknowledgment and change, while creating space for empathy and understanding through shared creative exploration.
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The engagement revealed how art, history, and identity intersect in public space. Community feedback informed three conceptual art proposals and a framework that continues to guide Midtown’s approach to inclusive, community-sensitive public art initiatives.
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Supported by the Maryland State Arts Council, the effort brought together Midtown Baltimore, WGF Studios, the No Boundaries Coalition, and residents of Bolton Hill and Madison Park, modeling a process grounded in listening, partnership, and creative trust.
