BEAUTIFUL CELEBRATION’

residents to public art by dividing the county into several creative zones. It details where new artwork should be placed, how the artwork will be funded and how the artwork should be taken care of.

New Spire Stages was one of the places the FAC determined to be in need of visual artwork. Hawk, who has worked there since December 2021, is glad they chose the venue. She felt that the big, empty walls were not helping connect people with the space and expressed joy now that New Spire Stages is decorated with murals like other spots in downtown Frederick.

The FAC commissioned Eguino, a muralist born in Bolivia and a graduate from the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, to create the two pieces. Raised by parents who were artistic and deeply involved in Bolivian music, Eguino was a perfect fit for the assignment of painting murals in a performing arts venue. The FAC chose Eguino’s design over submissions provided by other artists.

“Music has always been a very integral part of my growing up,” said Eguino, who is based in Washington, D.C. “When it came to this specific site and the imagery I wanted to have, I was thinking about the role of an artist.”

According to Eguino, the murals are a celebration of the performing arts, specifically regarding its return to the city. After a long pause on inperson shows due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she made sure her design would be joyous and full of life, as well as reflective.

“The visitor in any performing arts space right now is coming back from a collective trauma that was the pandemic,” Eguino said. “But now we’re picking up the pace we were at in the past. I think that’s a cause for celebration.”

For Eguino, there is even more significance as to why she painted jazz musicians and Baldwin. She worked to provide mental health support for mostly Black and Hispanic youth during the height of the pandemic, a very eyeopening experience for her, she said. Seeing inequality manifest itself during her time in that job motivated her to become more involved in societal issues and take inspiration from civil rights icons such as Baldwin.

“It’s always very important to highlight why Black and immigrant communities in this country should be extremely proud of what they’ve contributed,” Eguino said. “The significance of the jazz performers, for me, is a sense of pride.”

Hawk agreed about the importance of depicting people of color in the murals.

“Performing arts, in particular, was hit very hard by the pandemic,” Hawk said, “so having the art come back in a way that’s focused on diversity and more artists of color is very important.”

The staff of New Spire Stages are excited to have the new murals in their workplace, and Hawk is welcoming people to come to the venue and see it themselves.

“We’re very proud of them,” she said. “We’d like to invite people to come to the New Spire Stages space and see what’s happening.”

Dorvall Bedford is a freelance journalist living in Frederick. His work has appeared in Washington City Paper, Smithsonian magazine and DCist.

Frederick County Public Schools

Youth Art Month Student Exhibition

— through March 26. The annual Youth Art Month exhibition features hundreds of 2D and 3D artworks in a variety of media created by students from each public school within Frederick County. Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. 301-698-0656, delaplaine. org.

Frederick County Public Schools

Faculty Exhibition — through March 26. A salute to those who make Youth Art Month possible, this exhibition showcases the creative talents of Frederick County Public Schools educators. Works in a variety of media. Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. 301-698-0656, delaplaine. org.

“Home Away From Home” — through March 26, DISTRICT Arts, 15 N. Market St., Frederick. Laurenee Gauvin’s homage to her Haitian roots. This featured-artist exhibition introduces an emotional look into what home feels like in today’s climate and reflects the journey and the arrival of Gauvin as an exciting and thought-provoking presence on the contemporary art scene. Districtarts.com.

”Animal Kingdom” — through March 26, The Mansion House Art Center and Gallery, City Park, 480 Highland Ave., Hagerstown. Valley Art Association members exhibit. Hours 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. 301-797-2867 or valleyartassoc.org.

”Landscapes in Acrylic” — through March 26, Eastside Artists’ Gallery, 313 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Paintings by Mike Legenzov. Hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. eastsideartistsgallery.com.

”Color Journeys” — through March 26, Gallery 322, 322 N. Market St., Frederick. Featuring works by Leo Ramos, Roberta Staat, Paul Wilson and Karen Winston-Levin. gallery322.com, gallery322@gmail.com.

”UNSHUTTERED: Celebrating Photojournalism of The Frederick News-Post — through April 1 at the Frederick Book Arts Center, 217 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Curated by Nancy Luse, the show celebrates the NewsPost photographers during the era of film. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday and Friday, 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday. 301-228-9816 or contact@frederickbookarts.org.

Links Bridge Featured Artist: Rosemary Gallick — March 25 to April 9. Meet the artist on March 25. Links Bridge will continue displaying