Children were making art in the bright and beautiful Sculpture Court of the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore on Saturday morning. They sat at tables or kneeled on chairs to lean over tables to make greeting cards as their parents watched. Adults were also sketching or cutting and glue-sticking colorful construction paper, creating art. As icy rain hailed down on Charles Street, just outside the museum, the Drop-In Art Making program was in full swing, and what a smart and inviting use of a public space.
Every child seemed to be absorbed with their projects, and for a time I was absorbed in regarding them. Such a great scene on a Saturday morning: A giant old stone institution wide open to the public.
There’s no admission charge at the Walters and there were dozens of people taking advantage of one of America’s greatest freebies, wandering through the well-maintained galleries, among massive oil paintings, marble sculptures and the ancient art and artifacts collected by Henry and William Walters, father and son, over several decades. It is such a rich place — both in the gallery’s splendor and the artwork on its huge walls — that you can get lost in the wonder of it all, and forget all the ugliness of Trump and Musk, their vulgarities and lies, 45 miles to the south, in the nation’s sad capital.
There’s a place in the Walters called the Charles Street Cupola, with a great view of the Washington Monument and Mount Vernon Place. I forget how I got there, but I was drawn to it by the singular and arresting work of art sitting in the middle of the space: Othello, by Pietro Calvi, an unusual, 19th Century bronze-and-marble sculpture of Shakespeare’s tragic moor.
Othello was dark skinned, the “other” among others in Venice, and the Calvi sculpture was apparently based on Ira Aldridge (1807–67), the first Black actor to play leading Shakespearean roles. And he did that, in England and the U.S., despite the prejudice Black actors experienced for daring to perform in Shakespeare’s plays. Aldridge was also an outspoken abolitionist. I knew nothing about that man until I saw the Calvi sculpture. And so I’m glad I wandered into the Charles Street Cupola. I’m thankful for the Walters. My time there was enriching, and it got me thinking about beauty and truth rather than vulgarity and lies.
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Dan Rodricks 
It’s been a while since I visited the Walters Art Gallery but today’s story has inspired me to visit again. I know that circle well, since I went to Western when it was at Howard and Center Streets and that’s where the Flower Mart took place in the Spring, that and driving up Charles Street a million times to get home.
Thanks, Dan, for reminding us of what Baltimore offers for free: multiple art museums that expand our knowledge if we are open to it.
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Dan, your observations are always a breath of fresh air. As an artist myself, making and seeing art is what keeps me sane during these times, when it would be really easy to self-isolate and wallow in despair. Thank goodness for our wonderful Baltimore institutions like the Walters, the BMA, AVAM, Center Stage, Creative Alliance, and more, which offer uplifting programs and exhibits to remind us what humanity is about. And thank goodness for writers like you, who point out the simple things in life that can nourish us.
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Thanks for sharing your feelings as you watched a bunch of kids and their parents engaged in an art project at the Walters Art Gallery. Mentioning Ira Aldridge being the model for the Othello sculpture reminded me of when James Earl Jones played that role at the Baltimore Mechanic Theatre in 1981. Some days I don’t recognize the tragic things as actually happening in my country. Then something like reading your article perks me up.
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Hi Dan. Regarding the Walters Art Museum, it really is a great place to visit. I also remember going to the Pratt Central Library, Mee Jun Low’s and Martick’s all on Mulberry Street. Take care. Tanya B Rodich
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For some while my daughter was regularly taking classes there Thursday evenings, when the galleries are open late. They are pretty much empty at that time and I can wander the galleries for a couple of hours Thursday nights without seeing another person sometimes. It was in some ways a bit too much so I got to the point where on a given Thursday I would just pick a single gallery. Highly recommended to visit at that time, and to enjoy your own personal museum.
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ART CAN HEAL
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