Mural Celebrates East Baltimore Neighborhood, Residents, Future Leaders
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A new mural was unveiled Saturday in East Baltimore featuring prominent city leaders.
Take a drive up east Biddle Street, and it's hard to miss the newest piece of art now on display, adding a pop of color, and a touch of culture to East Baltimore.
"I think it's a beautiful sight, you have a lot of Black faces that are being portrayed in a positive light," said Carrington Dennis of East Baltimore.
Painted by local muralist LaToya Peoples, it pays homage to past, present and future leaders.
"Every community deserves art that reflects its people, where they've been and where they're going, and I hope my work captures some small piece of the picture," she said.
Peoples worked with the community while designing this piece of art. Carrington Dennis says it's nice to see people that represent him, in this larger-than-life mural in his neighborhood.
"It just makes me feel more connected to the community and the art piece," he said.
The mural was made possible by East Baltimore Development, Inc.
"We're in the process of transforming this 88 acres, and building buildings is one thing but how do you build community? It's all through vibrant public art projects, and other things like food access, affordable housing and economic inclusion," said EBDI chief executive officer Cheryl Washington.
The mural features typical historic East Baltimore rowhome features, including bright marble stairs, a transom window, and the distinctive brick façade, with subtle themes throughout that uniquely connect back to East Baltimore, EBDI officials said.
The mural features the following residents EBDI described as past, present and future leaders:
- Darrian Alexander, a rising ninth-grader and recent graduate of Henderson-Hopkins;
- Randolph Scott, a lifelong Middle East/Eager Park resident and retired Army veteran;
- SirKaeden Carr, a rising 1st grader at Henderson-Hopkins;
- Del. Hattie Harrison, who represented District 45 in the Maryland General Assembly from 1973 until she died in 2013. She was the longest-serving member of the Maryland House of Delegates and the first Black woman to chair a major committee;
- Latisha Jackson, a Henderson-Hopkins teacher, and her son, Daryll Thames, a rising fourth-grader at Henderson-Hopkins;
- Sol Aloe, a rising fourth-grader at Henderson-Hopkins
This piece transformed a former elementary school, which now sits empty on the corner of East Biddle and North Wolfe streets.
