On Thursday, April 27, 2023, at 7PM, we’ll be celebrating the 10 Year Anniversary of the Earl’s Place Arts (EPA) Partnerships at the Ivy Book Shop.  I started this arts & writing partnership with Earl’s Place, a transitional housing facility for homeless men, when I was teaching a first year seminar on community radio at Goucher College.  The arts partnerships grew organically from the bonds between residents and students:  at the end of the semester, my students and the men who lived at Earl’s Place didn’t want to say goodbye.  Since that time, we’ve produced podcasts, created self-portraits, shrines, collages, pottery, and started a garden in their backyard.  I was recently awarded a Creativity Grant from the Maryland State Arts Council to continue this work publicly in the form of a mosaic mural on the Earl’s Place building. 

I hope you will be able to join us on 4/27!  In addition to the artwork, there will be music from the gospel a cappella group, The Counselors of Peace; a reflection on second chances from GPEP alums and Goucher College graduates Donte Small '18, and William Freeman '20;  and premiers of work by local artist Julia Kim Smith, and film producer Lydia Dean Pilcher of CineMosaic (https://cinemosaic.net )

Please note that portions of the exhibit – OUTSIDE/R ART + the installation by Julia Kim Smith -  will stay up through May in the greenspace behind the Ivy Book Shop.