Art with a Heart (AWAH) is inviting people of all ages to be part of Randallstown history by helping create the public art installation for the Milford Mill Market Square.
The final workshop will take place during the Liberty Live Concert Series on Friday, Aug. 21, from 6–9 p.m.
The nearly eight-foot-tall mosaic sculpture will be installed as part of a joint initiative to create a welcoming public gathering place that reflects the identity, pride, and resilience of the Randallstown community. The shopping center’s renovations are part of the revitalization of Milford Mill Market Square and the Liberty Road Corridor. AWAH was chosen to design and create a sculpture that honored Randallstown’s history and culture.
Community members have been working on the sculpture, which depicts Mother Earth, over several workshop sessions throughout the summer. This will be the final community mosaic workshop. The original sculpture was created by Howard Connelly, of Cambridge, Md.
The Mother Earth sculpture shows a powerful female figure moving forward while holding a solar-powered lantern above her head. It will be decorated with stained glass mosaic designs, honoring Randallstown’s African-American heritage and celebrating the neighborhood’s Afro-Caribbean culture. The sculpture has her in a flowing gown with colorful patterns inspired by fresh fruits and vegetables to pay tribute to the business and community life emerging at the newly revitalized Milford Mill Market Square.
“Good development brings the tenants; art gives the place its meaning,” said Josh Rosemore, vice president of development for ARLS Properties. “Mother Earth carries the greater Randallstown area’s history in her lantern and its neighbors’ thumbprints in her mosaics — she makes this corner a landmark, and landmarks are what make developments last.”
AWAH has been creating community-centered art experiences and more than 300 public art installations for more than 25 years. Their website even has an interactive public art map that shows where in and around Baltimore these installations are located. Art with a Heart provides a wide variety of arts classes in schools, community centers, group homes, shelters, permanent housing facilities, veteran’s facilities, hospitals, senior facilities, and more.
The collaborative initiative has been led by by ARLS Properties, the Greater Randallstown Community Development Organization (GRCDO), Baltimore County and community stakeholders.
The Milford Mill Market Square sculpture has seen hundreds of community members join to become co-creators of the artwork through hands-on mosaic workshops, which have been held during the Liberty Live Concert Series. The concerts are free, family-friendly summer celebrations presented by GRDCO with neighbors enjoying live music, food trucks, local vendors, and community connection. Concert-goers have contributed tiles and ceramic thumbprints that will be incorporated into the finished sculpture.
Everyone is welcome to participate, and no artistic experience is needed. For more information, visit AWAH’s website. Milford Mill Market Square located at the corner of Liberty and Milford Mill roads.
