Baltimore was one of eight cities to receive $1 million from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge in support of Inviting Light.
The project is curated by Baltimore’s very own Derrick Adams with additional curatorial support from Jose Ruiz, and is facilitated by Central Baltimore Partnership in partnership with the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office and NDC.
Inviting Light will bring five site-specific temporary public art installations to Station North in Central Baltimore as well as five site activations by artists. This will be followed by a year of scheduled events and curated arts programming for the community to engage with.
Located at the North Avenue Market, Zoë is conjuring Bwanga of Cameroon as a security nightlight for those seeking spiritual comfort and protection while passing the North Avenue Marketplace at night.
Playing off big action movies, Phaan is turning the Charles St. Garage into an over-the-top light-filled action movie– right across from the Charles Theatre.
Tony’s work is an homage to real Baltimore people found in their usual neon-lit haunts. This one will be installed on the facade of what was formerly known as Gatsby’s on Charles St.
Ekene’s installation challenges people to make connections through energy and light in the Barclay neighborhood.
Get ready. A new contemplative gym is coming to the new YNOT Lot. Currently a vacant lot, it will become a new performance pavilion for Station North programming in fall 2025 and projected to extend until 2028-2030 when the site will be developed.
Three Community Light Walks were held where community members could learn more about the Inviting Light sites and installations, get behind-the-scenes updates, and experience the creative lighting research and design throughout Signal Station North - which serves as a foundation for this project.
These walks bring new perspectives to our nighttime environments and celebrate the power of light to transform spaces. Keep an ear out for future walks!
Inviting Light builds upon the extensive research and insights gathered from Signal Station North — NDC’s district lighting plan and public space initiative for Central Baltimore.
Fueled by community input gathered through publications, workshops, and events, the project centered community engagement, research, and urban analysis to inform:
A Public space lighting plan
Creative lighting installations
Free, practical community tools for Station North and other communities wishing to implement public lighting projects.
We are thrilled to continue this work to foster a vibrant and equitable public space in Central Baltimore that resonates with the community’s values and aspirations.
Light supports our experience in public spaces in obvious ways, like lighting our way, but also some less obvious ways — it helps us keep time, it serves as a guidepost, it creates a sense of place. And, just as light can welcome us in, it can also keep us out. Light can make us feel alert, focused, wary. Or it make us assured, calm, and invited.
Contact Sara Warfield, on behalf of NDC
Sara@ SaraWarfieldCommunications.com
410-952-1271
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