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Praise Song by Mama Linda Goss

A woman in a bright pink shirt and white necklace.A woman in a bright pink shirt and white necklace.PRAISE SONG FOR THE GARDEN AT THE PEALE
Dedicated at the Reopening of the Peale on August 13, 2022
by Mama Linda Goss

My Bells are Ringing!
My Soul is Singing!
In the Center of the Universe
In the Center of Charm City
In the Middle of Baltimore
is a place called The Peale Center.

I want to go to the Garden at The Peale.
I want to go to a Garden of Ideas.
I want to go to the Garden at The Peale.

I WANT TO GO TO A
GARDEN OF LIVING DREAMS!

I AM THE SUN.
I AM THE WIND.
I AM THE BOBCAT.
I AM THE MUSKRAT.
I AM THE RAINBOW.
I AM THE SKY.
I AM THE CHECKERSPOT BUTTERFLY!

There is so much Education.
You can use your Imagination.
There is a Path of Talking Bricks.
Let’s wonder then have a picnic.

I want to go to the Garden at The Peale.
I want to go to a Garden of Ideas.
I want to go to the Garden at The Peale.

I WANT TO GO TO A
GARDEN OF LIVING DREAMS!

I AM THE RAVEN.
I AM THE RAIN.
I AM THE ORIOLE.
I AM THE SQUIRREL.
I AM THE SUNFLOWER.
I AM THE BEAR.
I AM A SYCAMORE FROM BALTIMORE!

In the Garden
You can be your favorite flower.
You can become your favorite bird.
You can become your favorite tree.
You can be whatever you want to be!

I want to go to the Garden at The Peale.
I want to go to a Garden of Ideas.
I want to go to the Garden at The Peale.

I WANT TO GO TO A
GARDEN OF LIVING DREAMS.

I AM A TERRAPIN.
I AM A DEER.
I AM A BULLFROG.
I AM A BULLDOG.
I AM A DIAMOND.
I AM A BEE.
A GARDEN IS A JEWEL
IN THE COMMUNITY.

Garden walls tell ancient stories.
Architectural Discoveries.
Revealing Histories.
Uncovering Mysteries.

I want to go to the Garden at The Peale.
I want to go to a Garden of Ideas.
I want to go to the Garden at The Peale.

I WANT TO GO TO A
GARDEN OF LIVING DREAMS.
I AM A CHIPMUNK.
I AM A FOX.
I AM A COTTONTAIL.
I AM A SNAIL.
I AM A BLUECRAB.
I AM A BLUEJAY.
HAVE A HOLIDAY ON A STREET
CALLED HOLLIDAY.

My Bells are Ringing!
My Soul is Singing!
I am dancing in the
Garden at The Peale!

(Aside) I am a Tiger.
I am a Hawk
I am a Sea Hawk.
I am the Sea Gull.
I am the Sea.
I am me.
I am a Gopher.
I am a Greyhound.
I am an Eagle.
I am the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
I am a Gator —
See you later
at The Peale!

Mama Linda Goss
Copyright © 2022 by Linda Goss

 

In Memory of Romaine Somerville

A woman with gray hair, round glasses, and a purple top stands in front of an orange-colored background.

Remembering Peale Board Member Romaine Somerville

“Helping to restore the Peale Museum left neglected for years by Baltimore City was just the ticket for Romaine Somerville. Diminutive in stature, but filled to the brim with enthusiasm, good nature, and interest in preserving Baltimore’s historic buildings and neighborhoods, she joined the Peale Board and served as its secretary. At the time, the Peale Board was small and met in private homes to plan strategies to raise the millions of dollars necessary to repair and reopen the failing building. Romaine arrived at meetings impeccably dressed and ready to get to work.  She had years of experience in the museum world and the contacts to match.  She was always willing to make phone calls and write letters to help the board achieve its goals.

Romaine often lingered after board meetings over a cup of tea and loved to talk about her grandchildren. She was proud of their accomplishments and glad they lived nearby in Washington, DC.  She was very skeptical when her daughter bought a place near the beach but came to love spending long relaxing weekends there with Frank and her family.

Romaine’s love of art and art history melded well with the history of the Peale Family and their contributions to the young America’s art world. Her beloved home in Bolton Hill and its adjoining neighbor was built of stone left over from the 1890 construction of Corpus Christi Catholic Church, located right across Lafayette Street. Her library of art history books and a grand piano shared the sun filled front room on the second floor of her house. She looked forward to her annual trip to the Winter Show in New York City where she met former colleagues, was surrounded by beautiful art and antiques and added to her library at home.

The Peale, a National Historic Landmark and America’s first purpose-built museum, is now restored to tell its story and share the stories of Baltimore’s citizens. Romaine Somerville appreciated its historic and architectural significance as well as its role in America’s art history and contributed to its successful preservation.”

—Sally Johnston, former Treasurer of the Peale

Photo of Romaine Somerville by Julia Ulstrup

2022 Grit Fund Recipients Announced!

Congratulations to all the Grit Fund Grant Recipients!

  • Baltimore Indians, $10,000- Ashley Minner, Tiffany Chavis, Stanton Lewis, Katie Lively, Dare Turner and Sean Scheidt 
  • Invisible Folx, $8,000- Ephraim Nehemiah, Kairo Miles, Kenneth Something, and Jabari Lyles 
  • Puppets, Masks, and Crankies: Shifting the Story, $7,000- Sheila Gaskins, Tara Cariaso, and Maura Dwyer 
  • PalatePALETTE, $7,000- Krystal C. Mack, Matt Freire, Sharea Harris, Émile Joseph Weeks, and Erin Nutsugah 
  • Community Weaving Studio, $7,000- Ọmọlará Williams McCallister and Najee Haynes Follins 
  • Funktopia Nation, $6,000- Petula Caesar, Jonathan Gilmore, Stevanie Williams, Jermeka Warren, Ben Pierce, Myles Gilmore, Phil Thomas, Mary Ellen Mink, Stephanie Edwards aka “Safiyatou.” Tamika Peters, and Chris Ashworth
  • What The Water Gave Me/Things My Mother Taught Me, $5,000- Alexis Araminta Renee, Kirby Griffin, Nia Hampton, and Alexis Renee 
  • Latin(X)equis | Baltimore, $5,000- Hoesy Corona and Stephanie Mercedes 
  • TERRA: LAND + BODY COLLECTIVE, $5,000- Jonna McKone, Se Jong Cho, and Elena DeBold 
  • HellBond: Dancing with the Spirits, $5,000- Jia Le Ling and Michael Young 

Stay tuned for in depth descriptions of the projects and how you can engage with all that they have to offer over the next year.

Communities for Immunity Project

Two teal-colored bandaids in the shape of a heart.

In 2021, a coalition of national museum and library associations announced the recipients of the second round of funding for Communities for Immunity, and the Peale was among the awardees, following on from its Round 1 work with this initiative.

Supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Communities for Immunity provides funding awards and support to museums and libraries engaging their communities to boost COVID-19 vaccine confidence. As trusted community partners, museums and libraries play a critical role in building vaccine confidence and fighting the pandemic.

“Through this unprecedented partnership, Communities for Immunity is providing nearly 100 museums, libraries, and tribal organizations across the country with over $1.6 million over two rounds of funding to help their community members make well-informed decisions about COVID-19 and vaccinations,” said Laura Lott, President and CEO of the American Alliance of Museums. “These organizations are linchpins in helping bring an end to the pandemic and leading their communities into a brighter, healthier future.”

Submit your own story!

We are working with our friends at The Stoop Storytelling Series, DiscoverME/RecoverME, and other community partners to do our part, particularly to gather stories about people’s experiences with COVID and how they felt about being vaccinated. We’ll share your stories with our online audiences.

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in the recordings for this project do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. If you have any question about whether your product requires this statement, please contact the Office of Communications at 202-653-4757.

The IMLS logo features bold, black type and a burst of green dots on the left of the words.

 

New! Your Face, Your Place in History

A room in an old house that features a green, wooden chair rail and small portraits along that rail, midway up on the way.

Do you have a heart for Baltimore? Offer your face too!

Baltimore artist and participatory-history specialist Lauren Muney is hand-creating and installing custom silhouette (profile portraits) friezes of Baltimore City, Maryland, residents’ silhouettes for long-term, free public installation at the Peale. These faces will encircle several rooms of the historical Peale walls, giving visitors, residents and guests the opportunity to feel the Baltimore ‘family’ all around them.

All of the faces will be profiles, all in the same color—classic black. The portraits showcase the beauty and dignity of each individual. Each face will be equally represented and equally valued because they are seen for their essence—not their skin color nor social class, nor any weight of society’s judgements.

All #PealeFaces participants receive their own gorgeous, historical-style handmade portrait.

> Sign up to be part of this historic project! 

We are especially looking for change-makers and community-enhancers. Forward this to your friends who are making Baltimore a better place!

Read about the project and sign up at the bottom of the webpage: https://old.thepealecenter.org/peale-faces/

Follow #PealeFaces in social media

Call for Grit Fund Jurors

Grit Fund supports projects that add to the vibrancy and development of Baltimore’s arts and culture. We focus on funding projects that bring artists and community members together to explore a sense of place and shared space. We are searching for jurors to be part of our team that reviews the grant applications and decides who will be our Grit Fund 2022 Project Grant Recipients.
The deadline for applying to be a juror is February 14th, 2022, 11:59 pm EST.

> Follow this link to apply to be a juror.

Jurors Role and Responsibility

  • Review applications within 3 weeks
  • Attend meetings
    • On boarding meeting: Thursday February 24th- 1 hr– time TBD
    • Meeting to discuss applications: Thursday, March 31st- 3 hrs–time TBD
    • Be available for a possible third meeting to discuss applications, if needed.
  • Each juror will receive a stipend of $400 when the review process is finished.

Eligibility Requirements

  • You must live in Baltimore City or Baltimore County to be a juror.
  • You can’t apply for the Grit Fund Project Grants or be part of any grit fund projects if you are selected as a juror.

Follow this link to apply to be a juror.

Please reach out with any questions at gritfund@old.thepealecenter.org

Accessible Version of Kim Rice: Inheritance Catalogue Available for Download

View of two magazine spreads side-by-side, showing a group of paper butterflies on the floor in a room in a historic home.

Hot Off the Digital Press!

Download the fully accessible Inheritance catalogue, exploring Kim Rice’s provocative 2021 exhibition at the Peale. A print version is coming soon too!

Curator’s Foreward:

Inheritance by Kim Rice was scheduled prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and the heinous murders of yet more Black people, some by police, including Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor. In this pivotal historical moment, facing racial divides and the continuous discrimination against black and brown people in America, it is critical to amplify voices around the discussion of equal justice and de-investing in the police in order to invest in real social change in marginalized communities. For years we have seen examples of activism through artwork, but rarely from white artists specifically informed by their privilege as white people. In this exhibit, Rice does not try to tell a story unrelated to her personal experience; instead, she confronts racism by examining the roots of the many opportunities awarded to her.

In her research, Rice discovered documents including the will of her ancestor, William Venable, which identified hundreds of enslaved humans as property. In “Family Values 2,” the Last Will and Testament of William Venable cast a shadow on the wall, as racism and slavery have cast a shadow across generations of United States Americans. Rice’s skin represents a legacy of generational wealth built upon the disenfranchisement of others, as does all “white” skin. From “Naturalization Act of 1790” to works about redlining in the 20th century, Rice lays bare the systems that have been designed to keep white privilege strong.

See Individual Works  | Take a Virtual Tour

New Grant for the Peale!

Peale Awarded Grant to Help Gather Stories about Vaccination and Increase Vaccine Awareness

Two teal-colored bandaids in the shape of a heart.

Last week, a coalition of national museum and library associations announced the recipients of the second round of funding for Communities for Immunity, and the Peale was among the awardees.

Supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Communities for Immunity provides funding awards and support to museums and libraries engaging their communities to boost COVID-19 vaccine confidence. As trusted community partners, museums and libraries play a critical role in building vaccine confidence and fighting the pandemic.

“Through this unprecedented partnership, Communities for Immunity is providing nearly 100 museums, libraries, and tribal organizations across the country with over $1.6 million over two rounds of funding to help their community members make well-informed decisions about COVID-19 and vaccinations,” said Laura Lott, President and CEO of the American Alliance of Museums. “These organizations are linchpins in helping bring an end to the pandemic and leading their communities into a brighter, healthier future.”

We will be working with a host of community partners to do our part! Stay tuned!

Collaborate with us!

A man stands in front of a crowd of onlookers in a gallery space at a museum.

Calling Baltimore’s Communities!

We are all about community, and we want to host your events and showcase YOUR work! The Peale can:
  • Present your performances, talks, exhibitions, and more
  • Rent our historic galleries for your special event
  • Sell your items in our shop
  • Display your artwork
  • Collaborate. Collaborate. Collaborate.

Want to join our Community Advisory Team? RSVP for our September 20th planning meeting!

Email: Events@ThePeale.org
Call: +1 667-222-1814

> Fill out a quick survey to let us know what you’re interested in collaborating on!

COVID-19 Protocols for In-Person Events

A close-up view of the novel corona virus.

Following the lead of many cultural organizations around the world, the Peale has decided to require a proof of vaccination to attend in-person events. Learn more below:

To ensure the health and wellbeing of our visitors and staff, the Peale has implemented the following protocols to help reduce the transmission of COVID-19: 

*Effective October 1, 2021, proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 will be required to attend all in person, indoor events, including Peale exhibitions and programs that take place at the Carroll Mansion. In keeping with public health and local government guidelines, facemasks, worn properly over the nose and mouth, will be required at all times for indoor Peale events until further notice. We encourage visitors to wear masks while outside as well.  Proof of a negative COVID-19 test will not be acceptable for entry at Peale events at either venue. 

  • Outdoor events do not require proof vaccination, but masks are strongly encouraged.  
  • Reservations are required to confirm attendance. Peale uses Eventbrite to manage event reservations. Registration information will be posted with the event details on our website. 
  • Help us protect everyone! If you feel sick on the day of your scheduled event, please stay at home. 

Vaccine Requirements 

All visitors, staff, volunteers, and on-site personnel must be fully vaccinated to attend indoor events at the Peale or Carroll Mansion. You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after you have received a second dose in a two-dose vaccine series or two weeks after you have received a single-dose vaccine. 

The Peale will need to see proof of vaccination against Covid-19 with a vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or by the World Health Organization (WHO). 

All audience members must provide in-person verification of vaccination. Prior to entering the Peale or its affiliated sites (such as the Carroll Mansion), you will be asked to provide proof of vaccination via an original physical vaccination card or photograph of it on your mobile device, or through a MyIR.net QR Code. You must present photo ID along with your vaccine proof. Peale staff or affiliates will review your proof of vaccination as you arrive at the Peale or its affiliated sites. 

In recognition of the great uncertainty created by the current health situation and the fact that some participants may arrive unaware of our vaccine policies, we have reviewed our ticket policies to make sure we are as flexible and accommodating as possible in the event you are unable to attend an in-person performance because of vaccine status. As such, many events will include components or elements that will be posted online. We will make every effort to help visitors experience Peale-related programs, regardless of vaccination status. 

Ticket Flexibility 

In recognition of the great uncertainty created by the current health situation and the fact that some participants may arrive unaware of our vaccine policies, we have reviewed our ticket policies to make sure we are as flexible and accommodating as possible in the event you are unable to attend an in-person performance because of vaccine status. As such, many events will include components or elements that will be posted online. We will make every effort to help visitors experience Peale-related programs, regardless of vaccination status. 

Ensuring Your Safety 

The Peale has made a number of changes to make sure its building sites are as safe and welcoming as possible when we reopen. As health and safety conditions and recommendations change, we will update our policies accordingly and keep our audiences informed. 

  • We have enhanced our cleaning procedures and will offer hand sanitizer to visitors. 
  • We will be offering e-tickets/contactless entry options. 
  • All ticket buyers will be sent a pre-performance email with specific health and safety protocols relating to the performance they are attending.