Make Studio

Thanks very much to the @thebaltimorebanner.com for visiting yesterday and for this piece about Disability Pride Arts Fest! (Please note that the performance program runs from 12-1, not 1-2 as printed.)

A grid of details from acrylic paintings by artist Eddie Kim. They are all based on portraits of or by French impressionists.

Sorry, Bluesky! We’ve been neglecting you. That stops now (until we do it again…apologies in advance). You can catch up on our latest happenings here: mailchi.mp/make-studio/...

A selfie of Sutton, taken in the rear of our gallery, shot at an angle so that she appears to have her head tilted jauntily and is in the righthand side of the frame. She is a young white woman with shoulder length brown hair and glasses.

Sutton’s drawing “The Many Emotions of Gopher, pt. 1”, which is a comic style depiction of gophers making humorously exaggerated facial expressions.

Last up in this installment of “Introducing…”, in which we publicly welcome our newest artists, is Sutton Clark!
“I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. When I'm drawing, it puts me in my own little world and I become a part of my drawing.”
Sutton also has a great sense of humor!

A portrait of Chaewon, a young Korean American woman wearing glasses and smiling. An in-progress painting and watercolor set are on the work table she’s seated at.

One of Chaewon’s drawings that combines patches of expressive color, energetic lines, a big yellow sun, and layered writing based on words seen on a studio whiteboard.

Next up in “Introducing…”, in which we publicly welcome our newest artists, is Chaewon Song! We’re still getting to know all of her preferences, but she’s already made a splash in the studio with her energetic style. Her pastel of flowers is the featured image for our upcoming show SPRINGS.

A a photograph of Doris seated and subtly smiling at her studio worktable; she is a Black women in her 60s, with curly hair and glasses, wearing a plaid blazer. Doris loves drawing so much that she takes her sketchbook almost everywhere, including the doctor’s office to stay busy while she waits. She always comes to the studio in style, complete with well paired and layered accessories, reflecting her love of fashion. She likes driving - but not too far - and enjoys cheerleading and superhero movies. Doris is a graduate of University of Arizona’s online program.

Image of Doris’s diptych of two ink drawings, recently featured in our 15th anniversary exhibition, “Talking Heads & A Few Old Men”.

Today, on this last day of Women’s History Month for 2025, we couldn’t have a more fitting artist to (re)introduce you to as kick-off for our latest installment of “Introducing…” in which we publicly welcome our newest artists. Doris Washington is herself an enthusiast of history as well as music.

Baltimore Unity Hall invites organizations and employers to participate in an upcoming job and wellness fair designed to connect government employees impacted by recent job cuts and local residents seeking new employment opportunities!
www.eventbrite.com/e/baltimore-...

Tabling with so many amazing artists and craftspeople and friends who are both of those things!

4/27 at Black Collar in Baltimore

Jennifer’s mixed media painting on paper, depicting 6 rows of multicolored tulips against a yellow ground.

Tyrone’s pencil drawing of Baltimore Orioles baseball player Colton Cowser caught in the moment of dramatically throwing a ball with onlookers in the stands behind him.

Welcome back Spring! We sure are glad to see you.

Jennifer O’Neill • My Dream Fantasy Tulip Garden • Mixed media on paper • 2025

Tyrone Weedon • “This One Goes Out to Birdland” • Graphite and colored pencil on paper • 2025

Tyrone’s portrait of author bell hooks, shown from the shoulders up surrounded by covers of her books, which he has delicately drawn in detailed miniature.

Artist Tyrone Weedon’a portraits are really flying off his work table lately.

“bell hooks” • Mixed media on paper • 2025

#MakeStudioGems #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackHistoryIsAmericanHistory

This Baltimore Beat section aims to help the community with resources and support they may not know are available. https://baltimorebeat.com/community-resources/

Artist Dontavius Woody, a smiling Black man wearing a cozy hoodie while seated at a work table in our studio. His in-progress colorful ink drawing is on the table in front of him.

Woody: "Make Studio's been open for 15 years. They are clean people to work for & they don't have nothing to say when you feel like you are doing something wrong. They will help you…They want to make sure you feel like it's right [for you]."
Aw, shucks, TY DW!
secure.givelively.org/event/make-s...?

Tony LaBate’s ink portrait of the head of Warren G. Harding (in office 1921-1923), labeled as a Republican, with a short paragraph of criticism by historians.

Tony LaBate’s ink portrait of the head of Andrew Johnson (in office 1865-1869), labeled as a Democrat, with a short paragraph of criticism by historians.

Tony LaBate’s ink portrait of the head of Franklin Pierce (in office 1853-1857), labeled as a Democrat, with a short paragraph of criticism by historians.

Tony LaBate’s ink portrait of the head of James Buchanan (in office 1857-1861), labeled as a Democrat, with a short paragraph of criticism by historians.

Tony LaBate’s ink drawing that includes portraits of Andrew Johnson and James Buchanan depicted in his angular, minimal style. There are short paragraphs of description about each former President, highlighting reasons that historians gave these men poor rankings as POTUS. The drawing has larger text, which included the names of the men and the title: “The Two Worst President[s] Who Were Democrats Before Trump”.

Happy President’s Day! For your consideration, a piece and a series (in the comments) from artist Tony LaBate that reminds us that, in the USA, Presidents are not kings.

Artist Sarah Oh, a young Asian American woman, is standing in our studio and holding her drawing of a rainbow colored cake with 5 candles with a rainbow colored beverage with straw next to it.

R: “Sarah, do you eat cake on your birthday?”

Sarah: “Vanilla!”

While you have birthday cake on the brain, why not RSVP to our 15th anniversary celebration on 2/22! You can do that here: secure.givelively.org/event/make-s...

Amazing Art Viewing Technology for the Low Vision Community - created by a Baltimore-based Innovator and JHU CBID Graduate.

bmoreart.com/2025/02/visi...

NEA Throws Out Grant Program for Underserved Communities The NEA announced that it is scrapping its Challenge America grants and focusing on projects related to the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Amid Trump’s crackdowns on DEI in the federal government, the National Endowment for the Arts is scrapping its Challenge America grants, which earmarked funds for small arts organizations that extended outreach to underserved communities.

A fantastical blue horse leaping or swimming the through swirling colors.

Two purple hands floating in space, reaching fingers towards each other. There are abstracted words wrapping around the hands.

A multi-paneled digital comic featuring a young child being helped by a woman.

Samples of Camilla’s digital artwork.

Camilla, a young Asian American wheelchair user, is in our gallery in front of and gesturing to a wall-mounted tablet streaming her digital artwork.

Locals! The guest group show THREAD is on view in our gallery now. We’ll have extra hours on 2/13, 4-6 and a “finale” on 2/15, 10-1.
Intro’ing here a featured artist, Camilla Gu! We’ve gotten to know her well as one of our Community Site Leaders through MICA. She provides invaluable support to us.

Autism Terminology Preferences Among Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults in North America | Autism in Adulthood Background: There is widespread debate about the language used to describe autistic people; many professionals prefer person-first language (e.g., “person with autism”), and many autistic people prefe...

Today in Hell Yes, Research! and also Journalists, Take Note:

Autistic people in North America consistently prefer the term "autistic" compared to "person with autism"—and also dislike/don't use functioning labels like "high-" or "low-functioning autism."

www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/... #autism

Statement from Maryland Association of Community Services (MACS) and The Arc Maryland. We thank them for their leadership in these advocacy efforts! Addresses the situation that today Governor Wes Moore's State of the State address did not acknowledge the biggest challenge facing our community— this devastating $457 million cut to DD supports. This situation is particularly dire given recent national developments that impact disabilities, nonprofit, and human rights service provision.

Make Studio joins Maryland’s developmental disability community in voicing our concerns about the substantial proposed budget cuts to essential disability services. Tell @govwesmoore.bsky.social and legislators to #SaveOurDDServices Please join this effort by callong, emailing, and sharing!

Here in Maryland, we remain steadfast in our commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable state. Our diversity is not a source of weakness—it is among our great strengths. The President’s statements at his press conference attributing Wednesday’s tragic plane crash to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, including those that support employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, are deeply troubling and warrant a thoughtful response. The people of Maryland take pride in our diversity. We know from experience that inclusivity drives innovation and resilience—from our schools and workplaces to our neighborhoods and public institutions. Our efforts ensure that workplaces are welcoming, representative, and prepared to tap into the full potential of all people.

We very much appreciate and agree with @mddisabilities.bsky.social statement on recent comments made by the POTUS:
www.facebook.com/share/15pEr2...

You can see what we have to loan anytime on our website at www.equipforchildren.org!

#ECFC #KIDS #health #wellness #disability #DisabilityAwareness #AbilityAdvocate #ChronicIllness

Ready or not, it’s time for… 15! Make Studio's phenomenal 15th birthday celebration and member artist exhibition begins Saturday, February 22 from 2-5 p.m.

Hey, friends! Those we know from other places and who we’re meeting here. We are still getting warmed up, but now aim to share all our updates with you fine folks over here, too. If you DO already know us pretty well, you know we love to celebrate our birthdays! Join us!
mailchi.mp/make-studio/...

One of Make Studio artist Tony LaBate’s Santa and Mrs. Claus “re-castings” drawings. This one is of Robert Wagner and Jill St. John as the festive holiday couple.

There’s now less than two days left to visit our gallery for last-minute gifts. We’re open til 3:30 today and from 10:30-4 tomorrow.

Our studio program and gallery will then be closed until Tuesday, January 7 for a break to rest and regroup for the New Year.

Thank you, kindly, sir!

We don’t have a huge following here yet, but today is both #GivingTuesday and UN International Day of Persons with #Disability, so we hope folks might take a glance at our update and help us spread the word about our goals for our 15th year! mailchi.mp/make-studio/...

Expressive acrylic painting of a bright blue sky with eighteen fluffy white clouds, seeming to have the texture of cotton balls, floating in it.

Hey, Bluesky!

We’re not sure what we’ll be doing here, but we heard this was the good place to be. We’re always up for trying new things.

This painting was created by member artist Alex and is titled “Clouds”. You can see more of his art here: www.make-studio.org/alex_albert....

#Art #Disability