I was in Baltimore’s Fells Point on a recent Saturday morning, taking in the eclectic vibe of its farmers’ market. Well, farmer’s market is a misnomer: Fells Point and the market contain multitudes.
As I watched an R&B singer entertain the morning crowd, E. Brady Robinson (@ebradyrobinson), walked up to me to say hello. Although we’re connected on social media and I’d been a fan of her work for a while, we’d never met. We chatted for a few minutes, and she was off—she lives in the neighborhood. Well, of course she does, I thought. Robinson, who teaches photography at Georgetown, is one of those people who embodies and captures the spirit of Charm City. Her new exhibit, Studio Hours/After Hours, runs through Dec. 6 at Georgetown’s Spagnuolo South Gallery (guartgalleries.org).
Here, I chat with Robinson about everything from the city’s club culture to working with students.
You’ve spent the past decade photographing Baltimore’s creative community. What have you come to understand about the city through your camera? It has revealed a city defined by resilience, originality and independence. It’s a city not without challenges, but there is a grit and determination here that continually comes through in the work being made. Baltimore has its own style and creative language. There’s an authenticity here that I don’t think can be manufactured.
Through documenting the city’s creative culture, I’ve had the opportunity to bear witness to an extraordinary range of original art, music and performance, while building an extensive archive of the people and spaces that make that culture possible. Organizations and platforms such as BmoreArt, Maryland Art Place, Creative Alliance, Metro Baltimore, Love Groove Festival and Current Space provide vital opportunities for artists to create, perform, exhibit, and connect with audiences.
What I’ve come to appreciate most is how deeply Baltimore shows up for its artists. There’s a real sense of community here.
