Queernesseseseses
"Queernesseseseses!" Queernesseseseses community project launched in 2024 lead by community artist, Maria Gabriela Aldana. Art of Solidarity and Bmore Liberated teamed up in an intensive planning process. The big LGBTQ mural calls attention to the importance of queer mental health while training at-risk youth in public arts design, teamwork skills, and muralism. Facing Fayette Ave on the corner of Lakewood Ave, the massive work of art is on the north side wall of Bmore Liberated, who also served as part of the steering committee. The community-centered design process and grant application process was facilitated every-step-of-the-way by Maria Gabriela Aldana. Thanks to a $10,000 planning grant through the Maryland State Arts Council, free workshops produced over 80 designs! Partnerships with YouthWorks and ESCALERA program of CASA, provided paid summer internships to high school students. The workshops participants were Baltimore City and Baltimore County students, queer therapists, filmmakers, volunteers, and a variety of local LGBTQ leaders. By August 2024, the project earned local attention for its documentary shorts, telling the untold stories of LGBTQ change-makers in Baltimore. Youth presented what they learned as part of their internship and gained valuable workforce experience as this was one of their first paid jobs. A $30,000 Public Arts Across Maryland New Works implementation grant in 2025 funded supervision of a new youth cohort, ten community work and paint days, and funding for supplies and artist fees. Additional support from neighbors, friends, residents, and volunteers chipped in cash and in-kind donations to make this all happen! Donate to support our next project through Fractured Atlas!