In southwest Baltimore, Second Chance received a second function recently as a canvas for one of the city’s newest pieces of public art. Artist Steve Powers’ latest “Love Letter to Baltimore” is a store-sized mural that reads, “What is and What Can Be.”
The second piece of a planned five-part series by the artist, the mural is designed to project a message of renewal.
“Something that has come up over and over in our conversations with community members is how much they value the history of Baltimore and their commitment to the future of Baltimore,” Powers said in a description of the work.
Second Chance, located at 1700 Ridgely Street, was an apt choice. The organization deconstructs older buildings to make the materials available for reuse, and its workforce is made up of people who face barriers to employment.
“The message reflects the potential of giving second chances to people and material,” said Second Chance Founder and President Mark Foster.
Powers has written similar love letters in Brooklyn his hometown of Philadelphia. The Baltimore series of murals was commissioned by the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts. Powers scouted locations that were highly visible along the I-95 and I-295 corridors. The first was at the former Fitch Co. building, located in the 2200 block of Russell St.
Cool!