Ever seen a show at the Platform Gallery? It's now or never!
On July 4, the Platform Gallery announced that they will be closing their operation after three years of service. The founders and co-owners, Abbey Parrish and Lydia Pettit, announced this plan over the gallery's Facebook page,Three years ago, we started Platform as determined 22-year-olds with hopes of creating an accessible and inclusive gallery for emerging and established artists alike to speak on their work and stories," they write. "We wanted to question the role of the gallery and to be conscious of the space we were occupying as well as the audience we were speaking to."In the past, the gallery has hosted such artists as the Manhattan-based sculptor Hein Koh and Baltimore's own photographer Shannon Wallace.
Parrish and Pettit will both be on hiatus, though they may team up for curatorial projects in the future. Parrish will be spending her break working with Baltimore creatives on individual projects and travelling, while Pettit will be focusing on her painting practice, pursuing an MFA program and various artist residencies.
The gallery, located at 116 W Mullberry St, will be passed on to the artist-run after-school program, Baltimore Youth Arts. The program provides artistic and professional opportunities to young people between the ages of 14 and 22, and they will be hosting their own exhibits and events at the space.
The Platform Gallery's last official show is called "Here!", curated by local artists Malcolm Peacock and Markele Cullins. "Here!" is a multidisciplinary exhibit displaying work from graduates of the Baltimore School of the Arts and Carver School for Arts and Sciences among independent, emerging and established artists in Baltimore.
"In conversation with one another, the pieces on display explore content that is essential to the identities, experiences, and lives of the artists," the Platform owners write.
The show opens on July 22, with performances from Lynn Hunter on August 4, 5, and 6. You can support Baltimore Youth Arts right here!