The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) will host an exhibition featuring 21 community portraits called “Baltimore Heroes from Belair-Edison and Johnston Square.”
Featuring community and civic leaders who work to strengthen those two east Baltimore neighborhoods, Belair-Edison and Johnston Square, the works will be on display at the BMA from March 29 to April 6, 2025.
The portraits were created as part of artist Mary Jo Messenger’s “Beacons of Light” series, launched with the support of Maryland State Senator Cory McCray. Messenger is a Howard County-based realist painter who is inspired by the beauty of nature and everyday objects. Many of her paintings center around her home in Columbia, Maryland, and she studies with contemporary realist David Zuccarini at the Howard County Center for the Arts. McCray has represented Belair-Edison and Johnston Square as a delegate and senator in Maryland’s General Assembly since 2015.
Messenger’s inspiration for “Baltimore Heroes from Belair-Edison and Johnston Square” grew from her deep appreciation for those in the two communities who show a selfless and unshakeable dedication to serving and helping others.
“This exhibition is a powerful reflection of the heart and soul of Belair-Edison and Johnston Square—communities built on dedication, grit, and an unwavering commitment to service,” McCray said. “These portraits honor individuals who lead not for recognition but for the love of their neighbors and the future of Baltimore. Their work—whether in education, activism, mentorship, or public service—ensures that these neighborhoods continue to thrive. I’m grateful to Mary Jo Messenger for capturing their stories through art and to the Baltimore Museum of Art for shining a light on the real heroes shaping our city.”
Belair-Edison comprises more than 6,900 homes in northeast Baltimore bordered by Herring Run Park, Lake Montebello, and Clifton Park. It also contains a revitalizing business district, shopping centers, and a micro-brewery. Messenger’s Belair-Edison portraits include Delegate Jackie Addison, Baltimore City Police Officer Monica Jones-Cooper with athletic coach and mentor Marlon Harty, The Belair School Social and Emotional Director Brenna Williams, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, and more.
Johnston Square is a small neighborhood in central east Baltimore bordered by Greenmount Cemetery, I-83, and Eager Street. Housing includes many rowhomes and apartments. There is also a park with a view of downtown and a public swimming pool.
Messenger’s Johnston Square portraits include Senator Cory McCray with late U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings, community volunteer Keith Hammond, Living Classrooms Foundation Director of Community Safety Initiatives Danté Johnson, Sister Brenda Motte, Johnston Square Elementary School Principal Baba Ayinde Olumiji, Green Team organizer Ida Lynn Powell, community activist Lillian Trotman, marching band founder Peggy Winder, and more.
“Like LaToya Ruby Frazier’s portraits of Baltimore’s Community Health Workers, this exhibition is an opportunity to celebrate remarkable individuals who are the cornerstones of their communities,” said Asma Naeem, the BMA’s Dorothy Wagner Wallis Director. “Their collective dedication to creating safer, stronger, cleaner, and more cohesive communities for all ages is truly inspiring. I am also inspired by Senator McCray’s enduring commitment to the well-being of these communities as well as his support for art and artists.”
The BMA is located at 10 Art Museum Drive, Baltimore, MD. General admission is free.
