The Baltimore Museum of Industry will present its newest project on Dec. 3, an event to honor port workers and preserve the legacy of the Key Bridge.
“Labor and Innovation: Echoes from the Key Bridge” is an oral history project and public program reflecting on the Key Bridge, the Port of Baltimore, and workers and families affected by the bridge’s collapse.
The event is part of the BMI’s “Echoes from the Key Bridge” documentation project, which is led by Maria Gabriela Aldana, a community-based artist and storyteller. Aldana has recorded and preserved the voices of laborers, first responders, business owners, government workers, immigrant families, and others impacted by the tragedy. Hearing them together helps create a broader overview of the story surrounding the bridge and its significance.
“The recordings will become part of the BMI’s permanent collection, amplifying the often-overlooked contributions of laborers and immigrants, and preserving the legacy of the Key Bridge collapse,” reads the press release.
“Labor and Innovation: Echoes from the Key Bridge” will include a moderated discussion led by local radio and podcast producer Aaron Henkin. Aldana will join him, as will Catalina Rodrigues Lima, Director of Immigrant Affairs for the Mayor’s Office; Wendell Supreme Shannon, port worker and artist; and others impacted by the bridge’s collapse.
There will also be a reading by Latinx poet and author Melania Luisa Marte, who wrote a tribute poem honoring the lives of those lost in the disaster. Attendees can visit a special pop-up exhibit featuring artworks by Shannon, muralist Roberto Marquez, and self-taught local artist Kimberly Sheridan. Sheridan created six original works — one for each of the men who died in the bridge collapse — in a style inspired by Frida Kahlo’s work.
“Echoes from the Key Bridge captures the resilient stories of communities deeply affected by this tragedy,” said Brianne Mobley, public engagement manager at the Baltimore Museum of Industry, in a statement. “This is a Baltimore story, and there’s no better place to explore stories about workers than the BMI.”
The Key Bridge Project is made possible with funding from Ports America Chesapeake and STA of Baltimore Charitable Legacy, Inc., the Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF), and the Baltimore National Heritage Area.
“The Baltimore Community Foundation is proud to support Echoes from the Key Bridge as an essential tribute to the voices of those impacted by the bridge collapse,” said Crystal Harden-Lindsey, vice president of community impact for BCF, in a statement. “This project ensures that the experiences and resilience of these individuals are not only memorialized, but also serve as a reminder of the strength and unity that define Baltimore. Through initiatives like these, we aim to uphold the legacy of those who shape our city, often behind the scenes, yet always with profound impact.”
This event is part of BMI’s quarterly “Labor and Innovation” series. As such, it will explore the intersection of work and art through personal narratives, lifting the voices of workers, activists, and artists impacted by the Key Bridge collapse. The series is co-produced by Cheyanne Zadia, an interdisciplinary artist from West Baltimore who blends music, visual art, and performance to explore themes of culture, identity, and spirituality.
The Baltimore Museum of Industry is located at 1415 Key Highway, Baltimore, MD 21230.
“Labor and Innovation: Echoes from the Key Bridge” is free with registration. It takes place on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. For more information and to register, click this link.
For more information about BCF’s Maryland Tough Baltimore Strong Key Bridge Fund, click this link.
