The Hanover Street Gallery Brings Artwork to the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Bridge

Maryland Art Place (MAP) has partnered with the South Baltimore Gateway Partnership (SBG), the Youth Resiliency Institute (YRI), Fusion Partnerships, and Weller Development to curate the newly-established “Hanover Street Gallery: Reframing Pathways,” an outdoor gallery space on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Bridge (Hanover Street Bridge) façade. MAP curated 24 works of art created by “a diverse group of living artists with artworks primarily centered around abstraction, expressionism, and pattern & design.”

The Hanover Street Gallery presents replicated and enlarged original works of art printed on vinyl that are up to 12 ft. high. The pieces are not permanent, and will likely last about six months. The works were installed on the base of the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Bridge over this past weekend in time for the 4th of July festivities on the Middle Branch, including the Cherry Hill Arts & Music Waterfront Festival. The process of getting the vinyls on the bridge involved using an adhesive and blow torch.

“Tombstone information” is available for each artwork so that visitors will have access to information such as the medium of the original artwork and the artists’ names. The Cherry Hill side of the bridge uses a replicated painting detail from artist Dirk Joseph for the 10 archway columns under the bridge. Hanover Street Gallery artists include: Ernest Shaw, Will Shanklin, Se Jong Co, Sarah Tilton, Ben Marcin (C. Grimaldis Gallery), Emily Uchytil, Katty Huertas, Elli Hernandez, Alfonso Fernandez (C. Grimaldis Gallery), Magnolia Laurie, Rene Trevino, Karl Connolly, Jenee Mateer, Minas Konsolas, Timothy J. Horjus, Amy Helminiak, Terence Hannum, Jowita Wyszomirska, Dirk Joseph, and Trace Miller (Goya Contemporary).

All the artists are Maryland residents and received a licensing fee for their works.

MAP Executive Director Amy Cavanaugh told SouthBMore.com, “the hope is that every year there will be new works by new artists. In my opinion we can do more with even more time. We know the process now and can get ahead of it with bigger and bolder art projects down there in the future.” She noted that she’d love to see some digital installations on the bridge in the future.

The project was cleared by the Baltimore City Department of Transportation which owns the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Bridge and Weller Development which owns the adjacent land on the Port Covington side of the bridge.

Cavanaugh hopes the Hanover Street Gallery will be a draw like any other fine art exhibit and will be enjoyed by those already visiting the attractions around the gallery.

“To work on a such truly collaborative and equitable project with the Youth Resiliency Institute, Maryland Art Place, and the South Baltimore Gateway Partnership has been very rewarding,” said Weller Development founding partner Marc Weller. “Being able to create new opportunities for area artists while beautifying our public spaces is a top priority for our team as we work to build Port Covington. We look forward to supporting many more projects like this one in the years to come.”

Weller Development has made improvements to public spaces on both sides of the bridge in Port Covington including landscaping improvements to West Covington Park, shoreline and marina improvements at Nick’s Fish House, and a new bike path that connects both sides of Hanover St. while traveling under one of the bridges 102-year-old arches.

“Local artists have come together to showcase how talented we are as a community, and how beautiful it is here in South Baltimore,” said SBGP Executive Director Brad Rogers. “When visitors come down for the 4th of July, they’re going to say, ‘Wow, this place looks amazing!’”

Along with the Cherry Hill Arts & Music Waterfront Festival, there will be a 930pm fireworks show. Outdoor bar South Point in Port Covington will also be open at 4pm for patrons to celebrate the holiday on the Middle Branch.

About the Author: Kevin Lynch

Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, father of three, amateur pizza chef, skateboarder, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Kevin@InceptMM.com and follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin.