Reginald F. Lewis Museum

Live Performance Threads - In Honor of Elizabeth Talford Scott
2024-04-13 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, 21202, United States
Live Performance | Threads – In Honor of Elizabeth Talford Scott
Saturday, April 13 | 1 pm to 2 pm | Museum Admission
The Reginald F. Lewis Museum pays tribute to the life and legacy of Black fiber artist Elizabeth Talford Scott whose creative genius transformed the art of quilting. Enjoy an interdisciplinary experience produced by jazz trumpeter Brandon Woody and band, Troy Long – Main Keys ,Vittorio Stropoli- Aux Synth, Michael Saunders- Bass, Quincy Phillips- Drums, Wendel Patrick- Turntables, Leon June- Engineer, dancer artist Asya Shaw and poet Nia June in observance of Jazz and Poetry Appreciation Month.
In conjunction with BLACK WOMAN GENIUS: Elizabeth Talford Scott—Tapestries of Generations. The exhibition focuses on Elizabeth Talford Scott as a key figure for Black women in the fiber arts. Through her exceptional artistry, she brilliantly reflects her life experiences as a Black Woman.
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70th Anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Decision
2024-04-25 17:30 - 20:30 | Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, 21202, United States
70th Anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Decision
Thursday, April 25 | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE EVENT
Please join Thurgood Marshall Center Trust Inc.T in partnership with the Reginald F. Lewis Museum ,Baltimore, MD and the International African American Museum in Charleston SC as we commemorate the legacy of Justice Marshall, and the 70th Anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Decision, the progress we have made and the challenges we face toward a more inclusive society.
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African American Children’s Book Fair Festival Presented by BGE, An Exelon Company
2024-04-27 11:00 - 15:00 | Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, 21202, United States
African American Children’s Book Fair Festival Presented by BGE, An Exelon Company
Saturday, April 27th | 11 am – 3 pm | FREE EVENT
Join the Reginald F. Lewis Museum for the return of our family friendly African American Children’s Book Fair Festival Presented by BGE, An Exelon Company. Children and families can enjoy a fun-filled day exploring kids’ literature about African Americans while meeting some of your favorite children’s authors and illustrators in our Book Village. Enjoy author readings, illustration workshops, craft activities, an Urban Beekeeping Workshop with John Newman Honeybee Company and dance performances with TikTok dancers, Shag and Flash. Museum visitors can receive a free book with a book purchase in the Book Village. Free books are on a limited supply basis.
The African American Children’s Book Festival strives to connect families to high quality books about and for African American children as well as other multicultural populations. We aim to foster a love of reading for families by connecting them with renown and up and coming creators of children’s books.
Participating Entertainers, Authors and Illustrators

Terry Catasus Jennings
Desiree Cooper
Kim Holt

Benjamin Hicks
Jerdine Nolen
LaToya D. Council
Wendy LaRoche

Stephen McGill
Juanita Banks-Whittington
Leah Henderson

Charly Palmer
Talia Skyles
Keisha Morris
Lesley Younge

Cheryl & Wade Hudson
Kelly Starling Lyons
Ashley Palmer
Mariah Torries

David Miller
Kerwyn Phillip
Markette Sheppard

Dr. Melissa Boyd
Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
Sanaa Chege

Kim C. Lee

Ayo Shag and TSU Flash
James Tate
Donnita Fowler

Shadra Strickland
Vanessa Brantley Newton
Zetta Elliott

Participating Community Partners

Baltimore Family Alliance
Chesapeake Educational Alliance
Enoch Pratt Free Library
Lupus Foundation of America, Inc
Maryland Department of Transportation
Reading Partners of Baltimore
The Peaces Collective
NPS Chesapeake Gateways Listening Session

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An Evening With Sam Pollard Free Screening of Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power
2024-05-03 18:30 | Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, 21202, United States
An Evening With Sam Pollard Free Screening of Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power
Friday, May 3 | 6:30 pm to 8 pm | FREE EVENT
Join the Reginald F. Lewis Museum and Black Public Media with a film screening and conversation with award winning filmmaker Sam Pollard. With a career spanning over forty years, this multiple Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning producer-director-editor, Pollard is known for his work on a plethora of important works including:

The League and Bill Russell: Legend (2023)
Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power (2022)
MLK/FBI (2020)
Maynard (2017)
Eyes On The Prize (1987)
Spike Lee’s Mo’ Better Blues (1990), Jungle Fever (1991), Clockers (1995);Girl 6 (1996), Four Little Girls (1997) and Bamboozled (2000) – Served as Editor

Filmgoers will enjoy a screening of LOWNDES COUNTY AND THE ROAD TO BLACK POWER which through first-person accounts and searing archival footage, tells the story of the local movement and young Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) organizers who fought not just for voting rights, but for Black Power in Lowndes County, Alabama.
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A Royal Affair | Return to Pennsylvania Avenue | The 2024 Reginald F. Lewis Museum Gala
2024-05-09 18:30 - 23:00 | Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, 21202, United States
A Royal Affair | Return to Pennsylvania Avenue | The 2024 Reginald F. Lewis Museum Gala
Thursday, May 9th | 6:30 pm – 11 pm
Where | M&T Bank Exchange : 401 W Fayette St, Baltimore, MD 21201
Time | Cocktail Hour : 6:30 PM & Dinner & Awards : 7 PM
Attire | 1950s Fabulous, 1960s Chic or Cocktail Attire
The museum’s namesake Reginald F. Lewis – the first African American to execute a leveraged buyout valued at nearly $1 billion –was respected as a titan of industry, a maverick, and a trailblazer. Each year, The Lewis Museum hosts its premier fundraising event and celebrates individuals. Pennsylvania Avenue was the epicenter for Black arts and entertainment businesses in the early-to-mid-20th century, including venues such as The Royal Theater, clubs, restaurants, and hotels. However, redlining, blockbusting, and racially restrictive covenants led to decades of disinvestment in the area. This year, A Royal Affair will recall the glory and the heyday of Black arts and culture as celebrated along with vibrant West Baltimore corridor in the 1950s and 1960s.
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Mother’s Day Program | In Our Mothers Garden Film Screening and Discussion
2024-05-11 13:00 - 15:00 | Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, 21202, United States
Mother’s Day Program | In Our Mothers Garden Film Screening and Discussion
Saturday, May 11 | 1 pm to 3 pm | Museum Admission
Celebrate Mothers Day Weekend with your mammas, grannies, aunties or sister girls with a film screening of In Our Mothers Garden followed by a post film conversation with filmmaker Shantrelle Lewis and author Marita Golden. Light refreshments will be served.
IN OUR MOTHERS’ GARDENS celebrates the strength and resiliency of Black women and Black families through the complex, and oftentimes humorous, relationship between mothers and daughters. The film pays homage to Black maternal ancestors while examining the immediate and critical importance of self-care, and the healing tools necessary for Black communities to thrive. Featured interviews include: #MeToo founder Tarana Burke; The Roots and Chris Rock tour manager Tina Farris; cultural critic Dr. Brittney Cooper of Rutgers University; Rev. Dr. Theresa S. Thames of Princeton University; holistic lifestyle maven Latham Thomas; photographer Adama Delphine Fawundu and NPR’s Senior Director for Programming Yolanda Sangweni.
“Shantrelle P. Lewis’s doc will have you laughing, crying and educated about the historical lineage of Black mothers and daughters. It is a must see! “– THE CURVY FILM CRITIC
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Felt Memories | 2D Needle Felting Workshop
2024-05-18 11:00 - 13:00 | Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, 21202, United States
Felt Memories | 2D Needle Felting Workshop
Saturday, May 18 | 11 am to 1 pm | Museum Admission
When was the last time you looked through that box of old family and childhood photos? In this workshop, we will source imagery from some of our most fondest memories to recreate a two-dimensional felted portrait with wool. Using a piece of felt fabric to size, we will apply transfer methods to allow for an exact fiber replica of the original photo. Then, with a specific set of needles, we will add all the details needed to bring these moments to life. Once completed, you’ll leave this workshop with a hand crafted retelling of a story you once lived. This fiber art workshop is facilitated by Black Women Genius artist, Nastassja Swift. This workshop is open to all ages. This workshop has limited space.
NOTE: All materials are provided, though you will need a physical copy of your image.
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Black Women Genius Conversations Art & Healing
2024-05-18 14:00 - 15:00 | Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, 21202, United States
Black Women Genius Conversations Art & Healing
Saturday, May 18 | 2 pm – 3 pm
Enjoy a roundtable conversation exploring Black women identity through the contemporary works of Black Women Genius fiber artists Aliana Grace Bailey, Murjoni Merriweather and Nastassja Swift. These artists will discuss how their soft sculptural and woven installations become transformative narratives embracing healing and love for Black women and Black culture.
Aliana Grace Bailey’s art is a powerful journey of self-discovery, celebrating Black womanhood, and honoring the sacred aspects of life. Through her creative expressions, she weaves intricate narratives using vibrant colors and environments, inviting viewers to join her on a path of self-awareness.Through her work, she weaves layers of interconnection, comfort, and storytelling. Her art beautifully juxtaposes notions of beauty, optimism, and, at times, the harsh realities of life. Aliana Grace Bailey’s creations are a testament to the power of art as a transformative and healing force.
Murjoni Merriweather’s art is a response to and a rejection of these negative stereotypes about Blackness, both within and outside the Black community. It involves dismantling European beauty standards imposed on Black people while promoting and normalizing Black culture. Embracing their hair, skin, and features without shame, her artwork celebrates various facets of Black culture, from hair and grills to nail art.
Nastassja Swift is an artist who specializes in making sculptures using wool. She creates soft sculptures that tell stories about history, women, spirituality, and community connected to the human body.She gets inspiration from West African masks and Yoruba rituals, using techniques like needle felting and working with fibers to bring her ideas to life.Her portraits challenge traditional ideas of who we celebrate, question historical accounts, and share Black people’s rich experiences and memories.
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Indigo Village Dye Doll Workshops and Artist Talk with Kibibi Ajanku | Part 1
2024-06-01 12:00 - 16:00 | Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, 21202, United States
Indigo Village Dye Doll Workshops and Artist Talk | Part 1
Saturday, June 1 | 12pm – 4 pm | Fee: $40 Includes sessions (2), talk, doll and Museum Admission | Workshops are FREE FOR MEMBERS
Experience the world of indigo dyeing with esteemed Black Woman Genius fiber artist, Kibibi Ajanku. Ajanku, renowned for her skill in indigo dyes and West African textile practices will guide workshop participants through an exploration of tradition and identity in the realm of indigo dyeing with a dyeing workshop session followed by a talk on this topic (June 1st). Participants will return for Session II (June 8) to adorn their indigo cloth dolls with beading. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your textile and fiber arts skills. Space is limited.
Important Note: When purchasing tickets for June 1st and 8th, it is 1 payment for 2 workshop sessions and museum admission. Attendance to both sessions is required. When registering for the Artist Talk on June 1st, it does not include the 2 workshops. Registering grants admission into the museum.
Purchase Tickets for June 1st & 8th
Register for June 1st Artist Talk Only

Indigo Village Dye Doll Workshops and Artist Talk with Kibibi Ajanku | Part 2
2024-06-08 12:00 - 14:30 | Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, 21202, United States
Indigo Village Dye Doll Workshops and Artist Talk | Part 2
Saturday, June 8 | 12 pm – 2:00 pm | Fee: $40 Includes 2 sessions (June 1st & 8th), Artist talk, doll and Museum admission | Workshops are FREE FOR MEMBERS
Experience the world of indigo dyeing with esteemed Black Woman Genius fiber artist, Kibibi Ajanku. Ajanku, renowned for her skill in indigo dyes and West African textile practices will guide workshop participants through an exploration of tradition and identity in the realm of indigo dyeing with a dyeing workshop session followed by a talk on this topic (June 1st). Participants will return for Session II (June 8) to adorn their indigo cloth dolls with beading. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your textile and fiber arts skills. Space is limited.
Important Note: When purchasing tickets for June 1st and 8th, it is 1 payment for 2 workshop sessions and museum admission. Attendance to both sessions is required. When registering for the Artist Talk on June 1st, it does not include the 2 workshops. Registering grants admission into the museum.
Purchase Tickets for June 1st & 8th

Juneteenth Celebration 2024 | Freedom’s Voices from Jubilee to Reparations
2024-06-19 11:00 - 17:30 | Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, 21202, United States
Juneteenth Celebration 2024 | Freedom’s Voices from Jubilee to Reparations
Wednesday, June 19 | 11 am – 5:30 pm | FREE EVENT
Spend the day celebrating Juneteenth with Reginald F. Lewis Museum through intergenerational and artistic voices expressing freedom, “jubilee”, and reparations. Enjoy a Freedom Quilt Artist Talk on emancipation and create your own Juneteenth quilt block square with story quilter, Dr. Joan M. E. Gaither. Music lovers can experience a musical concert of “jubilee” with the Carter Legacy Singers while theatergoers can hear today’s youth honor Black Woman Genius fiber artists with their monologues co-written by artistic producer Wordsmith. Museum visitors can end the day discussing what reparations look like in Baltimore and beyond with the film screening and panel discussion of Pay Up..Get Out of the Way with filmmaker John Comer. Juneteenth refreshments will be available while supplies last.
Register Here
Juneteenth Schedule
NOTE: Photography & Video
By registering for and attending Juneteenth Celebration 2024 | Freedom’s Voices from Jubilee to Reparations, you grant the Reginald F. Lewis Museum (“RFLM”) and its authorized representatives permission to film, photograph, or otherwise record your participation in the event. You further agree that such images, photographs, and recordings may be used by RFLM without your prior approval in any form and for any lawful purpose including, without limitation, promoting RFLM. Such use will not entitle you to any credit or compensation. You release RFLM, its officers, and employees from any liability connected with the use of any image, photograph, or recording taken during the Juneteenth Celebration 2024.

The Short Kuts Show Nothin’ But A “G” Thang: Stories of Black Woman Genius
2024-06-29 14:00 | Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, 21202, United States
The Short Kuts Show Nothin’ But A “G” Thang: Stories of Black Woman Genius
Saturday, June 29 | 2 pm | Museum Admission
Vibe with live short storytelling from the Short Kuts Show told by six ingenious and compelling Black women storytellers expressing their own personal Black Woman genius moments in today’s culture. Representative of the West African griot, the Short Kuts Show celebrates stories for and by the Black- American community typically expressed in the safe sanctuary of the African American barbershop and beauty salon. This program is in conjunction with Black Woman Genius: Elizabeth Talford Scott – Tapestries of Generations.
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Anatomy of the Face Clay Workshop with Artist Murjoni Merriweather
2024-07-13 12:00 - 15:00 | Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, 21202, United States
Anatomy of the Face Clay Workshop with Artist Murjoni Merriweather
Saturday, July 13 | Noon – 3pm | Free with Museum Admission
Sculpting facial features is a fascinating and rewarding art form that allows you to be present and observant. This one day workshop with Black Woman Genius artist Murjoni Merriweather is specially crafted for anyone who wants to build a relaxing relationship with clay around some good company. Participants will learn the fundamentals of sculpting and develop the skills necessary to create three-dimensional representations of various facial features of their choice, such as eyes, noses, mouths, and ears from a block of clay.This workshop is designed for all levels of clayworking (even if you have never touched clay before). Murjoni Merriweather has over 10 years experience of sculpture and has so much patience in teaching others about clay. Murjoni wants to create a space for claymakers and clay admirers who want to learn more about sculpture. She is interested in making sculpture a peaceful place for people who are curious about it. She will provide step-by-step guidance, individualized feedback, and demonstrations to help participants achieve the best results in their sculpting journey. Space is limited.
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Little Satchmo Film Screening & Discussion
2024-07-25 18:30
Little Satchmo Film Screening & Discussion
Thursday, July 25, 6:30 pm | General Admission $10 / MEMBERS FREE
To the world, Louis Armstrong is iconic — a symbol of musical genius, unparalleled success, and unassailable character. To Sharon, he was simply Dad. Armstrong’s wholesome, non-threatening image preserved his singular career as a black performer with unfettered access to a white man’s world. Yet he was more than a caricature. In private, he held tightly to the things he loved. Perhaps closest to his heart was a child whom he hid from the world: a daughter sworn to a life of secrecy until now.
Join the Reginald F. Lewis Museum for a screening of the Emmy-winning documentary (2023) exploring the life and legacy of Louis Armstrong through his relationship with the daughter that the public never knew existed. Based on a revealing memoir written by Armstrong’s silent daughter, the film seeks to correct a historical narrative relying on caricature for too long. A discussion with his daughter, Sharon Preston-Folta will follow. Sharon Preston – Folta is the Executive Producer and Writer to Little Satcmo. Sharon became a published author with her memoir “Living in The Shadow of my Father, Louis Daniel Armstrong” in 2012, which made public the private family life of Louis Armstrong.
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African American Quilters of Baltimore (AAQB) Trunk Show and Fiber Artist Talk with Glenda Richardson
2024-07-27 12:00 - 16:00
African American Quilters of Baltimore (AAQB) Trunk Show and Fiber Artist Talk with Glenda Richardson
Saturday, July 27th, Noon – 4 pm | Museum Admission
Are you a secret crafter at heart and love viewing the sewing handwork and artistic craftsmanship from quilting? Spend the afternoon at a fiber arts trunk show viewing quilts showcased from the African American Quilters of Baltimore as they present their favorite textile creations in conversation with museum visitors. Black Woman Genius Exhibit Artist Glenda Richardson will present a talk on her current quilts on display in the Black Woman Genius: Elizabeth Talford Scott – Tapestries of Generations.
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African American History Teacher Institute: Reginald F. Lewis Museum Maryland Civil Rights Summer Teacher Institute 2024
2024-07-29 09:00 - 2024-08-02 17:00 | Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, 21202, United States
African American History Teacher Institute: Reginald F. Lewis Museum Maryland Civil Rights Summer Teacher Institute 2024
Monday, July 29 – Friday, August 2 | 9 am – 5 pm (Daily)
Did you know that 2024 has been proclaimed The Year of Civil Rights in Maryland by Maryland Governor Wes Moore? Educators can join the Reginald F. Lewis Museum this summer to celebrate this proclamation of the 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with a week-long Teacher Institute focusing on Maryland Civil Rights history.
This Institute will provide an overview and understanding of the Movement and its central leaders from this region to enhance the scholarship of Maryland educators. During the Institute scholars will learn about Baltimore’s CORE chairman, Walter Percival Carter, known as the “Martin Luther King of Maryland” and for his skills in organizing demonstrations against discrimination throughout Maryland from Route 40 to Ocean City. National speakers Dr. Lisa Delpit (Other People’s Children) and Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries (Understanding and Teaching the Civil Rights Movement) will present during the Teachers Institute.
Participating scholars will receive up to 2 – 3 MSDE Credit Hours (pending), an $800 stipend and a resource backpack of educational tools for this immersive learning experience. Housing accommodations for long distance travel (25+ miles) are available for eligible participants. This Institute is open to Maryland educators working with grades K-12. Participants to the program are selected through an application review process. Applications are due Friday, May 17, 2024.
Throughout the Institute, participants will:

Learn from content experts the contributions and strategies utilized by Maryland Civil Rights activists and organizations during the Jim Crow era
Gain a better understanding of why this history must continue to be taught
Discuss best practices and pedagogy for teaching Civil Rights curricular resources with Institute Lead Teacher, Guest Practitioners and National Expert Speakers
Explore regional museums and historical sites related to our local history
Connect with a community of educators to create learning resource activities for classroom use

Apply Here

Participants are selected through an application review process. Applications are due Friday, May 17, 2024. Applicants must submit a statement of purpose including:

A 250 to 300-word statement explaining why you would like to attend the Institute and how the topic relates to your education practice.
A 150 to 200- word plan for sharing what you learn from your Institute experience with students and/or colleagues upon completion of the program.

Selection will be based on an individual’s statement of purpose. To encourage diverse geographical representation, efforts will be made to enroll candidates from each of the Maryland Regions:

Capital Region (Frederick, Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties)
Central Maryland (Anne Arundel, Baltimore City, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard Counties)
Eastern Shore (Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester Counties)
Southern Maryland (Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s Counties)
Western Maryland (Allegheny, Garrett and Washington Counties)

Applicants will be notified of acceptance by Friday, May 30, 2024.
Contact: Please direct questions about this program to terry.taylor@lewismuseum.org. In your email, provide a telephone number and the times of day when you can be reached.
The Reginald F. Lewis Museum Maryland Civil Rights Summer Teacher Institute 2024 is supported by generous gifts from the Truist Charitable Fund (“TCF”). The Truist Charitable Fund (“TCF”) is committed to Truist Financial Corporation’s (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives. TCF was established as a donor-advised fund.

iWITNESS: Media & The Movement | Calendar Page
2024-08-08 - 2026-12-31
iWITNESS: Media & The Movement
August 8th, 2024 – September 1, 2025 | Museum Admission
iWITNESS: Media & The Movement is a compelling forthcoming exhibit to the Reginald F. Lewis Museum this August, that will examine how media—Radio, Television, Photography, and the Press—impacted the modern American Civil Rights Movement. This exhibit commemorates the 60th anniversary of the monumental Civil Rights Act of 1964, and explores the efforts of activists, community leaders, and organizations in the state of Maryland who leveraged the power of media to open the eyes, hearts, and minds of many, forcing them to bear witness to injustices while compelling them to seek change.
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Exhibit Expressions Dance Concert: Black Woman Genius: Elizabeth Talford Scott – Tapestries of Generation and iWitness Media & The Movement
2024-08-10 13:00
Exhibit Expressions Dance Concert: Black Woman Genius: Elizabeth Talford Scott – Tapestries of Generation and iWitness Media & The Movement
Saturday, Aug 10, 1 pm | FREE

Explore the Reginald F. Lewis Museum’s latest summer exhibitions, Black Woman Genius and IWitness: Media & the Movement through dance interpretation. This dance showcase will present themes of creative expression through media and art while interpreting ancestry, resilience and spirituality displayed in these museum works. A curator’s highlight tour of Black Woman Genius with Curator Imani Haynes will be provided following the dance presentations.

Dance Presenters include:

Dance Baltimore Repertory Ensemble
SoundXpressed Dance Company
Hope Byers

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Fiber Play: Ancestral Wall Hangings with Artist Aliana Grace Bailey
2024-08-24 12:00 - 15:00
Fiber Play: Ancestral Wall Hangings with Artist Aliana Grace Bailey
Saturday August 24, Noon – 3 pm | Museum Admission
In conversation with Black Woman Genius artist Aliana Grace Bailey, workshop participants will reflect on the beauty and gifts of their ancestors and create a mixed media, fiber-based wall hanging collage to honor them and what’s been passed down to us. These colorful and pattern filled wall hangings can serve as an affirmation—a daily reminder of love. Participants can bring a small family keepsake to attach to their fabric art collage, such as a piece of cloth, button, or printed photograph. Children can participate with their families to create a collaborative family piece. Aliana will also have one of her floor looms available for participants to try!
Aliana Grace Bailey is an interdisciplinary fiber artist based in Baltimore, Maryland, originally from Washington, DC. Her work is not just about art; it’s also a passionate advocacy for radical self-love, wellness, healing, and grief support. Aliana holds a special place in her heart for NC A&T State University, where she earned a double major, obtaining a Bachelor of Social Work and a Bachelor of Art in Visual Arts Media Design. She’s been actively engaged as a socially-conscious teaching artist since 2017, following her completion of the Art for Social Impact fellowship at The Sanctuaries. Aliana is the founder of vibrant grace studio, where she not only creates patterns, products, and designs but also leads art and healing workshops. Her studio is deeply committed to initiatives centered around health, social justice, and wellness, with a strong dedication to promoting the well-being, joy, and liberation of Black communities.
Register/RSVP Here

Black Women Book Chat: Words of Self - Healing with Authors Marita Golden, Bernadine Watson and Michelle Petties
2024-09-14 13:00
Black Women Book Chat: Words of Self – Healing with Authors Marita Golden, Bernadine Watson and Michelle Petties
Saturday, September 14, 1 pm | Museum Admission
Spend the afternoon with authors Marita Golden, Bernadine Watson and Michelle Petties as they reflect on the Black women’s journey towards self – healing concerning mental health, fitness, illness and food addictions while in conversation on their latest written works. Featured books include:

The New Black Woman: Loves Herself, Has Boundaries, and Heals Every Day by Marita Golden – Marita Golden, a prominent interviewee of Oprah Winfrey, wrote this mental and physical health guide for women to learn who they are, to set healthy boundaries, and to jump into health related fitness practices to balance out their daily lives.
Transplant: A Memoir by Bernadine Watson – Transplant: A Memoir, is a page-turning, personal journey into one Black woman’s battle with kidney disease and the American medical system. Bernardine Watson’s book is at once a truth-telling and an affirmation of the life force propelling us all toward love and hope.
Leaving Large: The Stories of a Food Addict by Michelle Petties –. In Leaving Large: The Stories of a Food Addict, Michelle Petties shares a collection of personal essays that chronicle her triumph over 42 years of obesity and ill-health. As a result of uncovering and understanding her Food Stories, Michelle untangled long held and mistaken beliefs around food and hunger.

Note: A Q & A along with a book signing will follow this moderated book conversation. This program is in conjunction with Black Woman Genius: Elizabeth Talford Scott – Tapestries of Generations.
“You must love and care for yourself, because that’s when the best comes out.” – Tina Turner
Register/RSVP Here

Lift Every Voice & Vote: Preserving Tomorrow’s History | Voter Registration Day
2024-09-20 13:00 - 17:00
Lift Every Voice & Vote: Preserving Tomorrow’s History | Voter Registration Day
Friday, September 20, 1 pm | FREE | Note: Museum admission to enter the exhibitions
Join us for Lift Every Voice & Vote: Preserving Tomorrow’s History Voter Registration Day! In partnership with RadioOne @radioonelife and the Greater Baltimore Urban League @gbulorg, we’re empowering our community to make history. Be part of the movement—come out, register, and let your voice shape the future!

Colloquium - Fiberations: The Evolution and Tradition of African American Fiber Aesthetics
2024-09-21 10:00 - 17:00
Colloquium – Fiberations: The Evolution and Tradition of African American Fiber Aesthetics
Saturday, September 21 | 10 am – 5 pm | FREE
The Reginald F. Lewis Museum is excited to present Fiberations: The Evolution and Tradition of African American Fiber Aesthetics. Cutting edge fiber artists, scholars and curators are invited to discuss the evolution of Black women fiber artistry from the past to the present through artist conversations, a roundtable discussion and loom weaving demonstrations. Guest artists include: Bisa Butler, Joyce Scott, Sanford Biggers, Karen Baker, Murjoni Merriweather, Nastassja Swift and Vera Hall and Dr. Joan M.E. Gaither. A curator’s highlight tour of Black Woman Genius: Elizabeth Talford Scott- Tapestries of Generations with curator Imani Haynes will conclude the day. Moderators include Dr. Leslie King-Hammonds. Lunch will be provided.
Register Here

iWitness Media Youth Photography Club with Kyle Pompey
2024-10-12 11:30 - 12:30
iWitness Media Youth Photography Club with Kyle Pompey
Saturday, Oct 12 | 11 am – 12:30 pm | Museum Admission
Learn how to tell stories through the lens of a camera with photojournalist Kyle Pompey while sharpening your photography skills. Youth will learn how to shoot with a 35mm camera, capture captivating photos and be introduced to the works of several African American photographers whose works were published in the press. Participants will capture photos with Kyle Pompey touring the Museum’s local neighborhood of Little Italy.
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Film Screening & Discussion: The Picture Taker
2024-10-12 14:00
Film Screening & Discussion: The Picture Taker
Saturday, Oct 12 | 2 pm | Museum Admission
With Ernest Withers, iconic African American civil rights photographer—and paid FBI informant—there was a lot more than meets the eye. From his Memphis studio, Withers’ nearly 2 million images were a treasured record of Black history but his legacy was complicated by decades of secret FBI service revealed only after his death. Was he a friend of the civil rights community, or enemy—or both? Join the Reginald F. Lewis Museum for a film screening of this intriguing documentary. A post film discussion with filmmaker Lise Yasui and Rosalind Withers, Founder of the Withers Collection Museum & Gallery will follow with a Q&A moderated by RFLM President Terri Lee Freeman.
Rosalind Withers is the daughter of Civil Rights Movement photographer Ernest C. Withers. She founded the Withers Collection Museum & Gallery which opened to the public in February 2011 with a mission to educate from this pictorial legacy of over 1.8 million images and to preserve the works of her father Dr. Ernest C. Withers, Sr.
Dr. Withers left behind one of the largest and most significant collection of photography ever amassed by an individual. With focus on the museum’s mission Rosalind curated the 7,000 square feet space, located on the world-famous Beale Street to give 30,000 plus worldwide visitors a stunning photographic experience in American and Civil Rights history.
Lise Yasui is the film producer for The Picture Taker. She produced and directed the Oscar-nominated Family Gathering, about her Japanese American family’s WWII internment experience. It aired on American Experience, the BBC, and Star TV. She co-produced Frontline’s Peabody-winning The Gate of Heavenly Peace, about the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, which was broadcast internationally.
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Maryland Emancipation Author Talk: Combee: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom during the Civil War with Dr. Edda L. Fields - Black
2024-11-01 18:30
Maryland Emancipation Author Talk: Combee: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom during the Civil War with Dr. Edda L. Fields – Black
November 1 | 6:30 pm | Teachers/Members (Free); Non-Member: $10
Celebrate Maryland Emancipation Day, an additional Freedom Day besides Juneteenth, with a book talk and book signing on Maryland freedom shero Harriet Tubman with Dr. Edda L. Fields – Black with her latest book. Guests can also mingle with light refreshments at our wine and cheese bar during this epic evening book talk.
Educators are encouraged to attend.Most Americans know of Harriet Tubman’s legendary life: escaping enslavement in 1849, she led more than 60 others out of bondage via the Underground Railroad, gave instructions on getting to freedom to scores more, and went on to live a lifetime fighting for change. Yet the many biographies, children’s books, and films about Tubman omit a crucial chapter: during the Civil War, hired by the Union Army, she ventured into the heart of slave territory–Beaufort, South Carolina–to live, work, and gather intelligence for a daring raid up the Combahee River to attack the major plantations of Rice Country, the breadbasket of the Confederacy.
Edda L. Fields-Black–herself a descendent of one of the participants in the raid–shows how Tubman commanded a ring of spies, scouts, and pilots and participated in military expeditions behind Confederate lines. Fields-Black has worked as a consultant at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the International African American Museum, and the Senator John Heinz History Center. She teaches history at Carnegie Mellon University and serves as Director of the Dietrich College Humanities Center.
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Election Night Viewing Party
2024-11-05 19:00 - 22:00
Election Night Viewing Party
November 5, 2024 | 7 pm to 10 pm | FREE
Join us for an Election Night Viewing Party on November 5th at 7 PM! ?️? Grab your friends and watch the results roll in with us—live coverage, great company, and an evening of civic engagement. Don’t miss it!
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iWitness Media DJ Youth Workshop: B.E. M.O.R.E. S.T.E.M. with Kendrick “DJ5Starr” Tilghman
2024-11-16 10:30 - 11:30
iWitness Media DJ Youth Workshop: B.E. M.O.R.E. S.T.E.M. with Kendrick “DJ5Starr” Tilghman
November 16, 2024 | 10:30 am to 11:30 am | Museum Admission
Do you want to learn more about the science and technology used by DJs to spin records? Join the Reginald F. Lewis Museum with Kendrick “DJ 5Starr” Tilghman as he engages youth with S.T.E.M. through popular music and hands-on experience with the latest DJ equipment. “DJ 5Starr” will also discuss how often S.T.E.M. is used in the DJ industry.
Kendrick “DJ 5Starr” Tilghman is an Entrepreneur, a DJ, Educator, Outreach Specialist, and top Science Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.) Advocate. His company’s primary initiative, B.E. M.O.R.E. S.T.E.M. (Bringing Everyone More Opportunities and Relevant Experiences in S.T.E.M.), is a national initiative that engages and excites communities about S.T.E.M. careers. He has had the honor of being invited to the White House Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) initiative for his unique efforts in S.T.E.M. education.
This program is in conjunction with iWitness: Media and the Movement Exhibition and Maryland STEM Festival 2024. This year’s STEM theme is Engineering: Ideas to Reality.
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Fabric, Paint & Sip with Aliana Grace Bailey
2024-11-16 14:00
Fabric, Paint & Sip with Aliana Grace Bailey
November 16, 2024 | 2 pm | Museum Admission
Spend the afternoon expressing your inner creative self by dabbling with paint, fabric and patterns. Inspired by the exhibition artworks from Danny Simmons: The Journey to Everything you’ll create a Neo – African abstract mixed media painting. Participants can enjoy a glass of wine and other refreshing drinks while designing their own painted fabric artwork with interdisciplinary artist Aliana Grace Bailey. Art Class size is limited.
Note: This program is included with museum admission.
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Kid Zone Public Scoping Engagement Meeting
2024-11-21 18:00
Kid Zone Public Scoping Engagement Meeting
Thursday, November 21, 2024 | 6pm | FREE
This new children’s exhibit space will welcome young visitors (toddler through pre-teen) and enhance their knowledge of and appreciation for the artistic and cultural contributions of Maryland’s African Americans.
The 672 square foot space will be designed to support engagement opportunities for children of all backgrounds and abilities through tactile learning tools, exhibition texts and displays for all learning levels, as well as art-making activities. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the space will be accessible with child-safe vitrines, furnishings, and flooring, as well as on-site strollers and wheelchairs.
This new exhibition experience will provide tactile objects and art activities that complement the museum’s permanent collection, which tells the story of African American Marylanders from 1784 to the present. The dedicated space will also feature objects, texts, and activities that will highlight the museum’s temporary and rotating exhibitions.
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Artist Conversation: Frederick Douglass | Liberty
2024-11-23 12:00
Artist Conversation: Frederick Douglass | Liberty
Saturday, November 23 | 12pm
Join the Reginald F. Lewis Museum for an artist conversation on their latest art installation, Frederick Douglass| Liberty with artist, Adam Himoff and historian, Dr. Noelle Trent. Frederick Douglass | Liberty is a modernized reimagining of the American abolitionist, writer, orator, and statesman Frederick Douglass (1817-1895). In the portrait, he is confident, determined, and courageous as we know him, but he is also remarkably hip and stylish in modern fashion and posed before a graffiti-scrawled space. Adam Himoff will discuss his inspiration behind the piece which has sparked both admiration and controversy from viewers.
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