Pondering the Harbor's Future Through Art

Attracting native species to Baltimore. Promoting healthy water in the Inner Harbor. Reconnecting the city with its natural history. These are all important components of National Aquarium Harbor Wetland® presented by CFG Bank. So is art that encourages visitors to connect with the exhibit in unique and meaningful ways.

"Much like the experimentation and vision that brought Harbor Wetland to life, art plays a big part in encouraging guests to imagine what the harbor's future could hold and how we might get there," says the Aquarium's Director of Experiential Design Adrienne Garwood.

A spray-painted mural creates a striking backdrop for the exhibit, while an original soundscape turns water quality data into dynamic musical movements guests hear as they explore. There's also an interactive art installation on the Harbor Wetland dock facing out over the harbor toward the Maryland Science Center. This installation invites guests to pause and explore different points of view expressed through art as they look out over the water that connects Baltimore to the Patapsco River, Chesapeake Bay and the ocean beyond.

Creating New Art for Harbor Wetland

The installation has three four-sided spinners. One side of each spinner holds an overview panel while the remaining three display original works of art. Guests can turn the spinners to view all the panels.

The spinners were designed to have fresh artwork periodically, and new spinner art was just unveiled in October as part of a partnership between the National Aquarium and the nonprofit Baltimore Youth Arts (BYA). The spinners now feature 12 original panels created collaboratively by BYA apprentices earlier this year.

How do 31 young artists combine their voices and viewpoints into one cohesive body of artwork? A lot of sharing, talking, practicing conflict resolution skills and building trust.

Throughout this spring and summer, BYA apprentices partnered with each other and with members of the Aquarium's Experiential Design team (who develop and design exhibits) and Conservation and Education teams to envision what a healthy Inner Harbor could look like in 25, 50 and 100 years. Led by BYA Executive Director Gianna Rodriguez, Deputy Director Dave Eassa, Summer Studio Facilitators Pran Gupta and Brandon Slewion, and Operations Coordinator and BYA alum Jasmine Artis, the apprentices studied the science and history behind harbor restoration.

Work by all 31 apprentices is included in the 12 panels, which combine original works of art through a highly collaborative process. The apprentices utilized their fine arts skills in painting, drawing, collage and printmaking. They then married these wide-ranging visual elements into cohesive works using digital design tools such as Procreate, Photoshop and Illustrator.

This collaboration reflects a shared belief that environmental restoration and community voice go hand in hand. By pairing scientific expertise with youth creativity, this partnership offers a new way to see the Inner Harbor—and Baltimore's future—shaped by the young people who will inherit it. Every piece responds to the question, "What should the future of the Inner Harbor look like?"

About Baltimore Youth Arts

BYA Apprentice Christian McCray was one of the artists who collaborated on the Harbor Wetland project.

"At BYA and working on this project with the Aquarium, I grew my social skills and knowledge of Baltimore," Christian said. "When I first got here, I didn't know anyone. I didn't want to get to know anyone. But then I found friendships here. I didn't even know about the Harbor Wetland project when we started, and then I learned about all the fish and the wetland."

BYA is a community-based arts and workforce development program for youth ages 14 to 25, focusing on those impacted by the juvenile justice system. BYA offers young people a platform to express themselves, build leadership skills, and prepare for employment and adulthood. They do this through paid creative job training, mentorship and educational programming. The BYA team works inside youth detention centers and in the community.

"We want to ensure that young people are recognized for their creativity, resilience and power, and create a future where they're not only heard but also hired and celebrated," said Gianna, who founded BYA in 2014.

In the organization's first 12 years, it has had a positive impact on more than 2,500 young people, including more than 270 whom BYA employed. And BYA continues to build on that success today, including through partnerships with other Baltimore institutions like the Aquarium.

Always Something New to See

Every visit to Harbor Wetland is unique, with sights and sounds changing with the time of day or year, the weather, even the people you're sharing the space with. The BYA apprentices' artwork adds another new element to see and experience. The next time you're on Harbor Wetland, see how their visions for Baltimore's Inner Harbor compare with your own.