A year ago, my favorite dance venue in my new city of Baltimore closed. Mobtown Ballroom felt like home from the moment I first entered the grand historic church. From my first time there in the summer of 2021, I felt the ballroom resonating with an energy that accumulates over many years, with many layers of stories – and, most of all, LOVE. The friends I made there encouraged me to grow and realize my dreams in ways I never thought possible.
Although Mobtown Ballroom reopened a few months later in a new venue in a different part of town, seeing the magical original space close brought waves of emotion. My paintbrush best captured how I was feeling: the sadness of saying goodbye, excitement for new adventures, and, most of all, a need to memorialize the epic nights and celebrate the community that welcomed me with open arms. I imagined the ballroom’s famous archways becoming portals, bursting out of the historic roof, and transporting us to our next space together.
(Left) The painting in my art studio, (Right) Posing with the print version - available here!
For me, my painting is a time capsule, capturing the memories of wild, sweet nights, which allowed me to connect with my body, soul, and friends, through the play and exploration of swing dancing. I hope it will be meaningful for the dancers that knew the space well, and for everyone who is poised to embark on a new journey in their lives!
Here’s to celebrating the magic and mystery in the everyday.