Prime Time Living 6.18.25 - Flipbook - Page 18
18 A Special Advertising Section of Baltimore Sun Media Group | Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Museums, continued from page 16
the extraordinary life and lasting legacy
of Maryland native, Reginald Francis
Lewis. Widely celebrated as the first
African American to establish and lead a
billion-dollar company, Lewis transcended the realm of business as a multifaceted figure – a devoted family man, skilled
lawyer and pioneering trailblazer.
Freeman talks about other options
with the Lewis Museum. “We invite
schools and instructors, teachers, parents and guardians to visit the museum
and admission and transportation is free
to Title 1 schools. During spring and
summer breaks, lots of young people
come through, opening their eyes to a
world outside of their neighborhoods. We
get a good cross section demographically. When we have community days,
such as MLK’s birthday, Juneteenth, and
other national and local holidays, we can
teach young people about their heritage
and more.
“Maryland has an interesting history
as a border state, almost schizophrenic
because it was south of the MasonDixon line, and yet it had – and has –
southerners and northerners living side
by side. Some of the most recognizable
figures of every generation lived in or visited the state, a part of history it is good
for people to learn.
“Maryland is referred to as UpSouth
as opposed to Down South. It offers
African Americans, especially students, a
lot of options with four HBCUs, so there
is diversity and an expansive creative
community. Even though life could be
difficult due to the adversity and roadblocks they had to navigate, African
Americans were able to make their way,
using their own patience, their tenacity, and their persistence. The Lewis
Museum celebrates all this and more.”
Jewish Museum of Maryland
“A museum should not just be a place
for fancy paintings but should be a place
where we can communicate our lives
through our everyday objects.” – Orhan
Pamuk, recipient of the 2006 Nobel Prize
in Literature
The quote above describes much of
what the Jewish Museum of Maryland
(JMM) aspires to show: what the lives
of Jews in Maryland were like through
everyday objects: photos, programs for
dance recitals, programs for graduation
exercises, menus for special events or
holidays, documents that commemorate
events like immigration, stories written
about local luminaries, and so much
more.
“After over a year of transformation,
the Jewish Museum of Maryland has
reopened its doors. Inside, you’ll find
refreshed galleries, new spaces for gathering and discovery, and a participatory
museum experience designed to spark
connection and curiosity,” according to
its website.
Andria Washington Hanner, director of communications for the museum,
summed it up perfectly. “You don’t have
to be Jewish to come to the museum.”
Hanner went on to describe why you
should visit. “As someone relatively new
to the Jewish Museum of Maryland, I’ve
been deeply moved by the richness of
the stories held here. Stories are intertwined – our understanding of each other
grows when we take the time to learn
from one another. This museum is rooted
in community, identity, and shared history. Whether you’re Jewish or not, there’s
something here for everyone.
“What continues to amaze me is
the depth of the collection – photographs, documents, artwork, Judaica,
oral histories, recordings, and memorabilia – donated by current and former
Maryland residents. These aren’t just
artifacts; they’re windows into lives that
span generations. You can almost step
into their shoes, see what they saw, and
feel what they felt.
The experiences we share here reflect
a profoundly human journey – one that
resonates across cultures and genera-
tions.”
One of the current exhibits is Picturing
Past & Present, featuring participants
sharing personal family histories and the
meaning behind their photographs. This
community-sourced exhibit presents
the breadth and diversity of Maryland’s
Jewish communities through the lens
of personal family photographs. Visitors
are invited to contribute their own stories to the rich tapestry of Jewish life in
Maryland.
Hanner describes why museums add
value to our lives. “Cultural institutions
offer us a meaningful way to connect
with the stories of others. At the Jewish
Museum of Maryland, we are dedicated
to preserving the rich and nuanced history of Jewish life in this region – from
everyday objects to significant milestones. Our work ensures these stories
are honored and not forgotten.
“In a time when aspects of our history face challenges – whether through
book bans or limitations on educational
content – institutions like JMM are more
important than ever. Our new recording
studio provides a space for individuals to
share and preserve their personal histories. By protecting the past, we help build
Museums,
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