From the creative mind of visual artist Zachary Z. Handler comes his new project, “Errands,” a portrait series that visually documents the shared shelter-in-place experiences of people around both Maryland and the world, from the comfort and safety of their own home. Handler recently chatted with Baltimore OUTloud regarding inspiration for the project. The inspiration for “Errands” started about two weeks into the pandemic for Handler. “We hadn’t been in quarantine yet. I was coming home after my job in healthcare, which feels lately like the first day on the job – everything we’ve known has been evolving due to […]
Pandemic Portraits
Photographer Eadweard Muybridge once said, “Only photography has been able to divide human life into a series of moments, each of them has the value of a complete existence.” For visual artist, Zachary Z. Handler, his work and the value it exudes speaks for itself. Baltimore OUTloud recently chatted with Handler regarding his work in the community, his background as a photographer and his recent project, “Errands.” Born on October 31st, 1980, the Silver Spring, Maryland-native grew up in Gaithersburg, north of the Potomac area. “When I was very young,” began Handler, “I can remember receiving this giant art kit. […]
Zachary Z. Handler’s ERRANDS Puts Shelter-In Place Under a New Lens
From the creative mind of visual artist Zachary Z. Handler comes his fabulous new project, ERRANDS. ERRANDS is a portrait series that visually documents the shared shelter-in-place experiences of people around both Maryland and the world, from the comfort and safety of their own home. Handler recently chatted with Baltimore OUTloud regarding inspiration for the project. The inspiration for ERRANDS, started about two weeks into the pandemic for Handler. “We hadn’t been in quarantine yet. I was coming home after my job in healthcare, which feels lately like the first day on the job – everything we’ve known has been […]
Baltimore-Based Tattoo Artist Nationally Represents Charm City
Emac, a Baltimore-based tattoo artist who just represented Charm City in “Ink Master: Turf War,” recently chatted with Baltimore OUTloud. “Ink Master: Turf War” is a reality competition that premiered on January 7th. The show introduces 20 tattoo artists who are split into four teams based on their respective home region. Even though Emac was eliminated in the second episode of the show, he’s taken lessons with him that will help propel him even further in his tattoo artistry career. Frankie Kujawa: Could you describe for audiences what it was like being part of “Ink Master: Turf War”? Emac: In […]
Hippodrome Theatre’s Chris Mahan
“Food, just like theatre, tells a story,” says Chris Mahan, VP of venue operations at Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre. Lounging in iconic Matthew’s Pizza, Mahan recently sat down with Baltimore OUTloud to reflect upon his one-year anniversary at the Hippodrome Theatre, as well as a freshman resident of Charm City. “It’s my first anniversary, and I continue to fall in love with Baltimore,” began Mahan, who hails from Worcester, Massachusetts. “Baltimore reminds me of where I came from. There’s something about coming from a working-class city, just a down-to-earth, ‘work hard and do the right thing’ kind-of-city. Baltimore reminds me so […]
A Chat with B’more’s Fiercest New Bar Owner: Night Shift 2.0’s Beth Cooper
The Night Shift 2.0 celebrated its grand opening on October 4th to the delight of many in the Baltimore LGBTQ community. Located at 1725 Ponca Street, The Night Shift 2.0 already serves as a beacon for everyone in the community looking for a place to be themselves. Baltimore OUTloud recently chatted with owner Beth Cooper. “My inspiration,” began Cooper, “was to continue to provide an-all inclusive place for everyone in the LGBTQ community. I had been affiliated with other safe-spaces and I didn’t realize how special it was for people to have a place of their own to feel comfortable. […]
Meet and Greet: Johanna Dolan
Canadian activist Elaine MacDonald once said, “A life coach does for the rest of your life what a personal trainer does for your health and fitness.” Life coach and trainer Johanna Dolan’s work exudes empowerment. Dolan recently chatted with Baltimore OUTloud on her work and deep Baltimore roots. “I am a native Baltimorean,” began Dolan. “I was born in Towson and lived on Pratt Street. We moved when I was in second grade to West Virginia. My dad was a truck driver during the week and a minister. On Sundays, we would go to whatever church we were attending at […]
Theatre Meets Community
Baltimore Center Stage recently announced in July the addition of award-winning playwright and community organizer Annalisa Dias to its staff as the theater’s director of artistic partnerships and innovation. In her role, Dias will lead the development of new projects and steward relationships with artists and other cultural organizations. Baltimore OUTloud recently chatted with Dias on her new role and what the idea of community means to her. Frankie Kujawa: Can you tell our readers a little bit about your background? Annalisa Dias: I grew up in Pittsburgh, on the traditional territories of the Osage and Haudenosaunee Nations. I went […]
Steve Preston and Marvin ‘Doc’ Cheatham, Sr.’s Miracle on McKean
Coretta Scott King once said, “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” For Parks & People’s Steven Preston and community leader Marvin L. “Doc” Cheatham, Sr., compassion for the community is rooted in their DNA. Preston and Cheatham recently chatted with Baltimore OUTloud regarding their collaboration on the “Miracle on McKean” – the Easterwood / Sandtown park and playground and their enduring friendship that has grown from the project. For Steve Preston, parks construction and design manager for the Parks & People Foundation, the word “community” isn’t isolated to a single […]
The Dogs of Peace Gay couple bonded through love of teaching, now authors of children’s books featuring justice-loving canine
By definition, “peace” conveys harmonious well-being and freedom from hostile aggression. Peace Pom: Ronan Makes a Difference the second book in the series by Mark Gruber-Lebowitz (and illustrated by his husband Sheldon Gruber-Lebowitz), is the story about a young Pomeranian dog who is hoping to tell everyone about peace – how we can feel it ourselves and how we can spread it to those around us. The children’s book, for children of all ages, is a delightful tale that not only educates but touches readers’ souls. Baltimore OUTloud recently sat down with the book’s creators. For Mark, a retired elementary […]