Architecture shapes the identity of a city. The Baltimore Rowhouse tells the 200-year story. Found in neighborhoods across the city, they span from richly ornamented three-story mansions in Bolton Hill to narrow alley houses in Fell's Point. The evolution of the rowhouse from its origins as speculative housing for laborers and merchants in the 1790s and for newly arrived immigrants after 1850. Practical, cozy, and attractive, these old homes were fuel-efficient and made a wonderful nest for Baltimorians. Job loss, suburban growth, and racial segregation encouraged abandonment and vacancy of these row houses throughout history. Today, the Baltimore rowhouse is of interest for stylistic reference and as a local building genre.

This show “The greatest city in America?” features 30 student artists from CE200.01 and CE200.03 Introduction to Ceramics; Handbuilding instructed by Ara Koh. Inspired by the historic Baltimore Rowhome, each student took their own unique spin on what ‘home’ means to them. For one it was their dream house filled with sunlight and plants, for one it was a confrontation of abandonment, and for one it was a bakery filled with nostalgia from their own memories. They built homes and created a street, a city, and a community for you. What does "home" mean for you?

Participating Artists: Ana Beron, Almira Birik, Susana Chege, Shunzhi Chen, Sophie-Therese Desler, Vanessa Dobbins, Cordelia Jane Gallagher, William Groboski, Si-We Huang, Yier Huang, Soorin Kim, Amber Linkins, Ella Loveland, Jeongbeom Min, Davaney Overton, Sabrina Ortega, Neylan Parker, Naomi Remington, Olive Revis, Iris Ruvalcaba, Izaya Smith, Nick Tolkan, Cate Van Luven, Ying Wang, Yiyue Wang, Lydia Wiles, Nuo Xue, Kaiwei Ye, Xuan Zhang, and Xinyun Zhu

 Curated by Ara Koh and Maggie Wei

Location: Middendorf Gallery (Station Building, Central atrium area)
On View: October 26 - November 3, 2024
Reception: Saturday, October 26, 6:00 - 7:00 pm

Gallery Hours: 
Middendorf Gallery: Monday - Sunday, 10AM - 5PM.

Campus galleries are open to the public. Outside visitors can enter galleries after signing in at the front desk of the respective building. Please note, on weekends outside visitors will need to be accompanied by a MICA community member with a MICA ID in order to swipe and gain access into respective buildings.