Visionary Art Museum celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

On Monday, January 18, America celebrated the birth of Martin Luther King, Jr. On this significant date in history, the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore was open and free of admission all day. In addition to no charge, several exciting events took place throughout the day. Some of these included an in-depth tour of the "Life, Liberty & Pursuit of Happiness" exhibit, free cake while singing "Happy Birthday" to Dr. King, a flute maker, and a performance by Batala (an all-woman percussion band).

One particular event that deserves credit was the performance by the aforementioned all-woman percussion band, Batala. The members of the band played afro-Brazilian and samba-reggae rhythms while dancing along with the beat of their drums to further engage the audience. People came to watch this performance with their families, children, spouses, boyfriends and girlfriends, classmates, and friends. People of every gender, age, and race enjoyed the performance, down to each foot-tapping and hand-patting beat.

Not only were the events related to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day entertaining and patriotic, but the rest of the museum itself contained intriguing exhibits that seemed to interest all of its viewers and observers. Before even walking into the American Visionary Art Museum building, you feel surrounded by life, color, and art. Near the entrance, a school bus decorated by a mosaic pattern could entertain the viewer for hours. The detail of the bus is incredible and the pattern is mixed with pieces of mirrors, buttons, broken plates, and other materials that engage the eye.

As stated on the American Visionary Art Museum website, their mission is as follows: "We seek to draw attention to America's history as a Mecca for forward-looking innovators, optimists, dreamers and doers - highlighting the sense that America is at her best when she actively remembers that many of her greatest citizens were very much self-taught, self-made pioneers."

As soon as you set foot inside the Art Museum building, the mission is certainly visible everywhere you look. As you go up the winding stairs to the first floor of displays, the wall is decorated with various postcards from PostSecret that immediately stimulate the minds of visitors. Artwork outside of specific exhibits could also be seen on other walls, hanging from the ceiling, tied to the railings, and mounted on the floors. Unlike most typical museums, the American Visionary Art Museum has a certain welcoming and warming environment. Rather than silence and whispering around the artwork, people engage in normal volume conversation and some children run around playfully in the exhibits.

Although that behavior may seem inappropriate, the museum appears to have a certain trust in its visitors that makes the environment much more pleasing.

The current theme of the exhibitions at the museum is "Life, Liberty & Pursuit of Happiness." The show began on October 3, 2009, and will end on September 5, 2010. Among the contributors to the "Life, Liberty & Pursuit of Happiness" display are 86 different visionary artists. Although all the contributors crafted their pieces in regards to the same theme, it is interesting to see just how different the pieces can be.

For example, one part of the exhibit showed a model of the Lusitania ship split in half. The detail of the artwork was remarkable; this notability was reminiscent of another drastically different piece. The latter was a dress on a mannequin made of old materials such as yarn and buttons. Throughout the museum there are many pieces like this that are completely unusual, but still have an extremely powerful impact and impression on the observers.

The American Visionary Art Museum is captivating and inspiring. The art present in the exhibits is unique and thought-provoking. Once a visit to this museum is made, you will understand the fascinating impact of this colorful atmosphere. Be sure to visit the Eye Shop to find funky gadgets and souvenirs.