Baltimonster!

Baltimonster!
The Echo (14 W. North Ave.)
October 24th, 2008 at 9PM
http://www.myspace.com/fourthwall08

Baltimonster! was no ordinary monster mash. Local art, live music, a costume contest, and the spirit of Halloween were all effectively combined in order to produce this one of a kind event. Baltimonster! was one of the first events to be held in this newly renovated exhibition and performance space. The open layout was just the right size to allow room for the many works of art as well as the live band. The only instructions the contributing artists were given were to “make it monster.” There was definitely no shortage of monsters depicted in the art, everything from Frankenstein, Dracula, to the evil Sarah Palin was on display. As I walked around the show I was pleasantly horrified by some of the gruesome works of art with lots of blood and guts. The graphic artworks were also very impressive with their bold colors and sharp lines illustrating vampires and demons. Intermittingly placed on the walls were less shocking, darker, and shadowy pieces, which served as a nice contrast. Not all of the art was gory. There were some dark comedic pieces such as “Goodbye Kitty,” and one of Popeye the Sailorman cartoon being operated on. Besides hanging pictures, throughout the gallery were weird creepy looking hand-made stuffed animals, as well as deformed sculptures, and paintings done on the backs of skateboards. My favorite piece was the piece of art that was actually being created during the event. When we arrived I noticed a large blank piece of paper mounted to some wood, and rows of chairs placed in front of it. About an hour into the event some artistes grabbed black and red markers and just started drawing. They were actually making the art right before our eyes. I was amazed at their fluidity and creativeness, and not to mention the pretty rapid pace at which they were drawing. I had never before seen this new wave of graphic art, and was absolutely mesmerized by it. I must have sat in a chair and watched them for at least an hour applauding their talent.
The atmosphere was energetic with people dancing in their “monsterific” costumes, except for me of course who arrived as a happy pumpkin (not realizing the monster/horror theme). The music also provided the perfect backdrop for viewing the chilling works of art on display. The scary live music could be heard throughout the night from various groups such as, The Survivors of Camp Crystal Lake, We Are the Seahorses, and Mr. Moccasin. Featured artists of the evening included: Brian Ralph, Kevin Sherry/Squidfire, Alex Fine, Nolen Strals, Shaun Bingham, Sean of the Dead, Daniel Krall, Scott Archer, Kali Ciesemier, Jimmy Giegrich, Andrea Kalfas, Daniel Albrigo, Ghostfreehood, Rick Kercz, Brady Starr, Josh Sisk, Peter Goode, and many more.
Seeing all of the people dressed up was like candy for my eyes, which was appropriate since it time for Halloween. There were zombies, monsters, bloody princesses, old creepy ladies, and randomly Flavor Flave. I had a wonderfully terrifying night and hope they continue this event in future years.

Rough Draft of Art Car Video

Baltimore Book Festival Video

Art Car Extravaganza

Rally for the River Festival 2008

The 9th Annual Rally for the River Festival
The Jones Watershed
www.jonesfalls.org

The Jones Falls Watershed Association could not have asked for a more perfect Sunday afternoon. The 9th Annual Rally for the River Festival was a family friendly event not to be missed. The association started the rally in order to help support the on-going restoration of the waterway. Being relatively new to the region, I had driven on the cities main north south freeway, the Jones Falls Express (or JFX for short), and not once did I know about the river that runs along it from which it derives its name. During the rally they close off the northbound part of this major highway in order to increase awareness of the environment. Here the focus was on the river and it’s importance to Baltimore. Although the much abused and polluted Jones Falls is not ideal for swimming, it can be kayaked safely, and today was the perfect day to rent one and explore. Not a fan of kayaking? Not a problem- other options included biking, skating, rollerblading, running, or just strolling down the JFX.

The small donation fee of five dollars per adult was well worth it. All proceeds went towards restoring and protecting Baltimore’s streams, rivers, neighborhood parks, and the Chesapeake Bay. The festival is not only fun, but serves a valuable purpose. It gets the message out about the importance of preserving the environment. I enjoyed the warm weather, listened to the live bands perform, ate the much anticipated “fair food,” and also to my surprise learned a lot as well. Instead of the typical craft and business vendors that one may see at any given civic festivity, the theme of eco-awareness took center stage. Included were many environmental groups, earth friendly vendors, and other eco-centric non-profits. Participants were informed on how to reduce their carbon footprint and lead a greener lifestyle.

It was an event for a real cause with an important message. We live in a wasteful society, one in which we neglect and inevitably damage our environment. The most important point of the festival, is that we all need to be aware of our actions and move swiftly to reduce our harmful effects on the environment in order to ensure a greener, more beautiful and safe future for all.

Finding Fresh

Waverly Farmer’s Market

32nd Street and Waverly

Saturdays 7AM- Noon (weather permitting)

www.32ndstreetmarket.org



I have lived in the Garden State (New Jersey) all of my life. My home state is more famous for its turnpike and in many places it’s putrid smell then its long-standing nickname. Admittedly if you look hard enough and are willing to make a day of it, you can find farms and markets that offer some great produce. When I moved to Baltimore I expected the social problems and high crime rate, but was surprised and pleased to find city life afforded many rewards. The farmer’s markets with their easy access to high quality fresh produce are particularly prized. It was not until this past weekend that I had the pleasure of experiencing the Waverly Farmer’s Market. While I have heard of the other more elaborate markets downtown, here I was able to go completely green. I brought my canvas reusable bag and walked to the market, which is a short distance from my apartment.

As I walked around the market smiling, I watched as children ran around playing while their parents bought fresh goodies for the week. There was a man sitting on the stool playing his guitar for all to enjoy. Unlike other bigger more crowded markets known for their hustle and bustle, Waverly offered a more relaxed and soothing atmosphere. Not once was I overwhelmed or trampled by the crowd, which led me to truly appreciate it’s quaintness and size.

The market had a wide variety and selection of fresh produce and other items as well. There were vendors selling hand-made jewelry, beautiful original pieces of art, flower arrangements, and aromatic organic soaps. There were plenty of food vendors offering everything from Thai, Indian, and even Ethiopian cuisine. Apparently I am not the only one who takes pleasure in fresh made bread. By the time I arrived half of the selection was gone, and there was a long line of people ready to buy what was left. I found the beautiful array of colors, from the vibrant purple eggplants to the dark rich greens of the herbs and squash stimulating. I wanted to taste it all.

Some people complain about the price of fresh produce, but it is worth every penny. Not only did I find that the prices were considerably less then the Giant Supermarket only a few blocks away, but the quality and freshness make each item much better. We need to support farmers, and by buying organic with no pesticides you do just that.

Venturing to Waverly Farmer’s Market was the perfect way to start my weekend. Where else can you go and have the perfectly ripened melon picked out for you by the person who grew it? I felt a real part of the Baltimore community.