By Savannah G.M. Wood
Special to the AFRO
On Saturday, Nov. 23, the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) celebrated its 110th anniversary with a sold out BMA Ball. As guests arrived at the BMA’s historic Merrick entrance, they were greeted by the high energy of the New Baltimore Twilighters Marching Band.
Dr. Asma Naeem, the Dorothy Wagner Wallis Director at the Museum, opened the evening with thanks for the gala’s co-chairs, Amy Elias, Michael Sherman, George Petrocheilos and Diamantis Xylas, and honorary co-chairs, Maryland Governor Wes Moore and First Lady Dawn Moore, Former Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke and Patricia Schmoke, and R&B GRAMMY winner John Legend.
Asma Naeem, the Dorothy Wagner Wallis Director at the Baltimore Museum of Art, awards Sir John Akomfrah with the “Artists Who Inspire” award. (AFRO Photos / Savannah Wood)
Chad Helton, the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s new president and CEO, enjoys the 110th anniversary celebration of the Baltimore Museum of Art. (AFRO Photos / Savannah Wood)
Naeem received cheers from the crowd when announcing that the BMA had been named one of the top 20 museums in the United States by the Washington Post, and had raised more than $900,000 leading up to the event.
The Museum honored artists LaToya Ruby Frazier and Sir John Akomfrah alongside renowned civil rights lawyer and BMA Trustee Sherrilyn Ifill, who received recorded congratulatory remarks from honorary BMA Ball co-chair John Legend.
Savannah Wood, a committee member for the planning of the anniversary gala’s afterparty, enjoys a moment with BMA Chief of External Affairs Angela Wheeler. (AFRO Photos / Savannah Wood)
Kendra Parlock, who helped plan the after party of the Baltimore Museum of Art’s anniversary gala, hits the dance floor. (AFRO Photos / Savannah Wood)
Taking the opportunity to address the current political moment and to rally additional support for the Museum, Ifill opined that, “what will make a democracy survive are its institutions — its civic institutions. Its libraries, its art museums — the places we can come together and be citizens regardless of our backgrounds.”
In his remarks, Governor Wes Moore reiterated a now familiar refrain: “You can not have a thriving state if the state’s largest city is not thriving,” but, he added, “ you cannot have a thriving city if you do not have a thriving arts community. These two things go hand in hand.”
Guests were then ushered into the Museum’s galleries for a rare opportunity to dine among both their modern and contemporary holdings. As the dinner ended, the after party began with a new wave of guests arriving at the museum for light bites, drinks and dancing, courtesy of DJ Tanz.
