11/07/2025
For the second time in recent years, a new group of residents has accepted invitations from the Arts Council to lend a treasured painting, drawing, photograph or poster to an exhibit which enables the entire community to see the amazing variety of art that exists in many of our homes.
The exhibition, “Broadmead Collects II,” was hung in the Community Center’s South Gallery last month and will be on view until the end of December. It features 45 pieces from 36 resident households.
The breadth and diversity of the art loaned for the show is stunning. It embraces large and small abstracts and intimate watercolor drawings, cityscapes of Baltimore neighborhoods, scenes from abroad, portraits, museum posters, works by Australian and Native American artists, and more.
The art was chosen by the Arts Council’s Exhibitions Committee. Selections were based on recommendations from Council members, resident collectors themselves, and residents who were aware of their friends’ and neighbors’ art collections. Jackie Mintz, co-chair of the Council and chair of its Exhibitions Committee, curated the show. Committee co-chair Gerry Ballek handled the complicated logistics of having the art delivered safely to the Center for installation.
Marsha Howes, chair of the Arts Council’s Education Committee, said committee members will soon be offering “conversations” about individual paintings, photographs or posters in the exhibit. In some cases, lenders of the art will participate with committee members in conversations about a particular work.
Until then, when passing through the South Gallery, visitors are encouraged to slow down, forget the news of the day, and spend a few minutes with a picture that has captured your attention. The reward for doing that will be greater than one might think.
🎨 Pictured: The variety of styles and subject matter on view in Broadmead Collects II is remarkable. At bottom right is “Message on the Wind,” a lithograph by Adrian Wong-Shue, from the collection of Carel Hedlund and Len Fass. At left: My Hands Smell of Earth,” an oil painting by Mai Stoebe, from the collection of Beth Babikow, and top right is “Come to the Fair,” an oil painting by Helen O’Connell, from the collection of Roz and Nelson Hyman.
—Written by Ross Jones