The Peale's storytelling program launched in the summer of 2016, in conjunction with the MuseWeb Foundation. The storytelling program is a new way to discover the people and places of the city, as told by the residents of Baltimore. To date, we have shared more than 1,500 stories online, through live events at the Peale, and in Baltimore’s communities.
Noreen (00:01): Hi. I'm here with Jeffrey Kent, a Baltimore-based artist, who did some wonderful artwork to support Black Lives Matter, which is being displayed at the front of the Peale Museum. I just wanted to ask a few questions in reference to his inspiration and motivation for the work that he did. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. My first question is, why do you think this particular work was so important for you to do?
Jeffrey Kent (00:35): Well, first of all, I want to thank you [Noreen 00:00:39] and the Peale Museum for the opportunity to share my and express my opinion. I would say the reason I think it was important to make this work was because the Peale being the first building built in America to be an art museum. Myself being an artist, both being Baltimore-based, and after the Freddie Gray uprising, was the first straw that broke the camel's back for me. Then after this last incident with George Floyd, I just felt it to be imperative that the Peale and every other organization that I'm associated with express their solidarity with black people. That's why I think it was important to do this work.
Noreen (01:48): Fantastic. Do you think that it's important that artists participate in movements like this? Do you think that it's impactful when they do?
Jeffrey Kent (02:04): I do think that artists are great activists for any movement. History has shown many times how artists have helped move the needle in society. I think that because we are always expressing our emotions visually, or whether we're writing music or poetry, it's everlasting and it's historical in a way that it preserves what's happening. It was just another way of documenting history. I think that is another reason why it's important that artists do activist work.
Noreen (03:02): And also answers the question of why it's impactful, how it's impactful. Just the fact that it preserves the history. It's another way to tell a story.
Jeffrey Kent (03:12): Right. There's also the fact that being able to see something handmade is inspirational to many people, and so it also lends itself as an inspiration as well to make art and to show art.
Noreen (03:34): Thank you so much for answering these questions. I really appreciate your work and your time. Thank you so much in standing in solidarity through your work, not even just through your being, because you are a black man, but also through your work. We really appreciate you and God bless in everything you're doing.
Jeffrey Kent (03:55): Thank you.
Asset ID: 8558
