Both of Mrs. Christ’s creative writing classes recently went on a field trip to the American visionary art museum. The AVAM is a museum and art display in Baltimore that specializes in displaying artwork made by people without degrees or any formal training. The building itself has a very unique look, with many of the buildings being decorated with glass, plastic, metal, and other trash that wouldn’t decompose otherwise.
Notable artists at the AVAM include Howard Finster, who designed over 46,000 pieces of garden decorations during his career. Leonard Knight, the designer of the famous “salvation mountain” monument at Slab city, and Judith Scott, who was a deaf woman with down syndrome. Scott, who had an entire exhibit focused on her pieces, was unable to speak to her family or teachers from a young age but was still able to create art pieces.
The art piece that both classes were most interested in is definitely the sculpture and glasswork “Black Icarus” by Andrew Logan, which was suspended above the central staircase of the museum.
Overall, the AVAM offers an incredibly unique and enjoyable experience that allows visitors to gain a new appreciation for art and what it means to be an artist. For anyone visiting Baltimore at any time this year, CMW recommends the AVAM, though, they are closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
