WHAT'S ON
August 8-22
Black August: From Harlem to Havana
OPENING RECEPTION+PERFORMANCES
August 8 7-10PM
CLOSING RECEPTION+ ARTIST TALKS
August 22 2-5 PM
Black August commemorates and carries forward the struggle and sacrifices of Black political prisoners and freedom fighters. With its origins in 1979, and George Jackson's organizing in California's San Quentin State Prison, observers of Black August call for the freedom of all political prisoners in the United States. This year we want to highlight the international character of Black August, and the interconnected struggles of resisting efforts to disenfranchise Black communities, terrorize immigrants, and deepen environmental and climate injustice. We also celebrate the long history of Cuba's solidarity with Black revolutionaries, and call for resistance to U.S. imperialism and its brutal blockade and sanctions on Cuba, which grows more deadly by the day. Just as U.S. imperialism presses its boot on the Black population in the U.S., it uses the same violence on oppressed peoples around the world.
This Black August, Baltimore Artists Against Apartheid, Crows Nest, and Baltimore PSL present BLACK AUGUST: FROM HARLEM TO HAVANA, bringing together artwork that honors this international legacy of struggle for liberation. More than just a reflection on the fight for the freedom of political prisoners at home, this exhibition is a rallying cry to carry forward this international struggle today.
Coming Up: September 10-28
Holding Each Other While Pushing Back
The Crow’s Nest opened in Baltimore in September of 2024 promising to become a leading hub for art, community, and dialogue about environmental and climate justice. Over the past two years, Baltimore has embraced us with great energy and enthusiasm. We have been deeply fortunate to have collaborated with nearly one hundred artists, whose work we have shown in our gallery, who have produced art in our studios, or who have led programming in our space. We have also collaborated with environmental and political activists, faith-based communities, musicians, poets, dancers, and students. And we are proud to have served as a refuge for freedom of expression and mutual support during dark times, a role we will continue to play.
“Holding Each Other While Pushing Back,” features the work of twenty two artists who have been in residence or exhibited work at the Crow’s Nest over the past two years. The majority hail from Baltimore. We entrusted each of the artists to connect their work back to the health of our planet and communities. The show aims to underscore the importance of supporting each other through these times of oppression and hate, while continuing to fight for a better future.
Featuring the works of:
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DeVonn Caldwell
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Se Jong Cho
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Jessy DeSantis
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Nicole Dextras
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Selena "Noir" Jackson
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Angel Jones
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Katie Kehoe
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Sanzi Kermes
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Emily Kobert
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Anthony Le
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Sima Lee RBG (EK Outlaw)
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Taina Litwak
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Mary Opasik
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Loulie Rossmassler
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O.Z Sanders
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Elin o'Hara Slavick
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Taylor Smith-Hams
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Laken Sylvander
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Piotr Szyhalski
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Jordan Tierney
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MD Vazhappilly
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Tara Youngborg
Pelican Reliquary by Jordan Tierney
Online Exhibit
22 Federal Workers
“31 Civil Workers” is a series of portraits that was painted daily by Paint Brains in the month of January (2026). A curated collection of 22 Federal workers is shown in this online exhibit. Each portrait is of a current or former federal worker who is continuing to protect civil services and other federal employees. These portraits were submitted voluntarily, along with any texts they wished to share and include stories from the EPA, CDC, NIH, and more. This is a timely project featuring federal workers continuing to protect their country while they themselves are being vilified and changes in regulations restrict their abilities to work. For example, many of the featured federal employees were fired unexpectedly in 2025.