January 2nd, 2012
American Visionary Art Museum, AVAM, The Official National Museum and Education Center for Intuitive, Self-Taught Artistry, Non-Traditional, Outside the Box, Charm City, Baltimore, Maryland
“Visionary Art begins by listening to the inner voices of the soul, and often may not even be thought of as “art” by its creator.” american visionary art museum
The last time I was in Baltimore, just the buildings caught my attention; I wondered what surprises the inside would bring. Not disappointed in the least. I want to go back and see more of it; every piece of art regardless of its size has a story behind it.
American Visionary Art Museum, AVAM, started with a concept and its own visionary, Rebecca Alban Hoffberger, in 1984 as she held the position of Development Director of People Encouraging People, which was a program of the Dept. of Psychiatry at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.
There are several buildings, one of such the 1913 former offices of the Baltimore Copper Paint Co., other building is a historic whiskey factory, Four Roses Whiskey.
AVAM opened in 1995. The location is 800 Key Highway, Baltimore, MD, 21230. Tel. 410-244-1900. It is easy to find; at the base of Historic Federal Hill, adjacent to the Inner Harbor.
It has the neatest website with all this information and more, www.avam.org.
AVAM is the largest of more than 40 museums and major art environments around the world.
What is Visionary Art? AVAM’s Mission Statement is: “Visionary art as defined for the purposes of the American Visionary Art Museum refers to art produced by self-taught individuals, usually without formal training, whose works arise from an innate personal vision that revels foremost in the creative art itself.”
This museum is for the whole family; kids would love it. The main building is recycled mirror, glass and china chards. It is 3 stories high. This work is the product of a program started in 2000 by AVAM, which was America’s largest youth-at-risk and youth incarcerated, mosaic apprenticeship program, called “Shining Walls/Shining Youth”.
For obvious reasons, no photos were allowed inside the buildings. Other exterior walls of buildings show you how “outside the box” AVAM is.
The Mosaic Bus is called “The Gallery A-Go-Go”. It was created in 1996 by Nancy Josephson. It is a beacon for visionary art lovers; has traveled from Chicago to Baltimore and it is a mobile mini-museum.
I really do want to go back and see it more in-depth; a tour might be the thing to do. There is so much to see. The Museum makes you feel so good inside; happy.
For info. on hours of operation, current exhibits, directions, history, etc. etc., please do visit www.avam.org. Oh, and guess what? Over 70 weddings are held at AVAM every year!!
Note: Information for my post was taken from the American Visionary Art Museum’s website.
New Year….full of new experiences, expectations…looking forward to it, definitely!!
Tags: American Visionary Art Museum, Americas Official National Museum & Education Center for Intuitive Self-taught artistry, AVAM, Baltimore, Charm City, Exhibits, Maryland, Museum, Non traditional museum, Visionary art in Baltimore, Visionary Museum
My daughter got married there during Hurricane Irene. Not only is the Art incredible the staff is excellent. The venue was perfect and I also agree. I can’t wait to go back to see more! The museum is AWESOME!
Hi Rita: It was so nice of you to write to the blog. I can’t imagine how much fun and how unique the wedding must have been; even with the hurricane. I have been dying to go to the Museum. Cannot wait to go back. Baltimore should be very busy this year with the bi-centennial of the War of 1812. I have a deep connection with Baltimore and love it. Again, thanks.