Artscape

So having been away for a week, today I thought I'd take a moment to rep my American hood. i.e. Baltimore. This weekend in Charm City was the 28th annual Artscape-- the largest free arts festival in America, attracting upwards of 350,000 visitors each year. It's always pretty sweet...  past performers include Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin. Oh, and also... all events and performances are completely free. 

I know, right?

This year featured the usual repertoire of local and visiting visual artists, musicians, performers and exhibitors, not to mention the best street food that Baltimore has to offer-- as the low-to-mid range food capital of the country, you can imagine that the deliciousness is borderline unacceptable. Headliners included Robert Randolf and the Family Band, Dionne Warwick (who is definitely still on crack), and CAKE. 

The festival is hosted in Mt. Royal around the Maryland Institute College of Art (an unreal art school) and Baltimore's symphony hall, the Meyerhoff. 

Long story short-- if you ever live within a drivable/train-takable distance, or need to be in D.C. or Baltimore in the middle of July, you should ch-ch-ch-check it out.

For more information, here's the official website.

and I'll throw in a link to these graffiti artists from Load of Fun Studios whose stuff I really liked. Obviously the tags weren't for sale. The products offered tended towards more portable,  more legal forms of art.