roadtrip: MICA!

We blasted to Baltimore last week for a college visit with our daughter, who was accepted to Maryland Institute College of Art. It’s a good road trip when your name is on it…

We kept our eyes peeled for anything and everything, spotting a black rooster along the Cross Bronx highway, and also this spectacular mural.

Baltimore has quite the buffet of mural art, too. This one greeted us when we rolled into town.

Our hosts are former Peaks Islanders, award-winning writers, and now educators in Baltimore. Karen teaches at Morgan State and Steve teaches in the grad program at Towson University. So good to see them! Cheers!

The next day we visited with Marty’s former colleague in design, Donna Crivello, owner of Donna’s.

I often did illustrations for Donna during her days at the Baltimore Sun, and here’s a vintage collage I created for a Donna’s ad, back in the day.

I still have my souvenir cup.

After filling up with great food, we headed to the American Visionary Art Museum, a favorite place.

Photography is not allowed inside. Just as well, our eyes melted. So much Obsessive Compulsive Delight! Best quote inside is from Einstein: “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

We rode around mural gazing.

We dined later at Henninger’s Tavern, which is it’s own kind of visionary.

On Sunday, it was all about MICA. While waiting for the action to start, we watched a graphic history of the institution. They don’t make diplomas like they used to.

President Sammy Hoi introduced a panel of engaging juniors and seniors that was super informative.

We headed out on tour. The day was brisk, I couldn’t hear what was said about this building, but it’s pretty eye-catching.

Getting a look at freshmen dorms is kind of a thing, right?

Our guide said we lucked out, getting into the newest of dorms.

And there are common studio areas! What’s not to love?

We stopped at the original Main Building, quite impressive in architectural detail.

Several tour groups collided here.

I found a quiet place in a drawing room.

The student work on display was equally impressive.

Sadly, we missed out on getting into the bookstore. Time flies sometimes.

Daisy really liked the Brown Center!

So much art to see, but no time to sit. Loved this impossible chair.

We walked through the Illustration Department.

Spied these clever works:

After having lunch with other families and some faculty, we followed Sarah McNeil into the Animation Department.

Daisy was glad to meet Sarah, a fellow Mainer. Everyone we met was warm and welcoming.

We took a break in the Decker Library in the Bunting Center.

An Imaginary Museum exhibit proved delightful.

They had some of the original Globe Poster plates on display. MICA acquired the collection of Globe Poster wood type and letterpress cuts, creating a commercial press for interns.

Lo and behold, we walked right into it visiting the Printmaking Department. Here is Allison Fisher on the right, making us feel right at home.

Who knew Hello Kitty is 40 years old?

Daisy was shown how to roll off a print.

Best souvenir ever.

MICA, you totally charmed us!

We stopped in on Donna one last time…

Many thanks to MICA, Karen and Steve and Zach, Donna and Peter, for showing us such a grand time. We have a couple more college visits to make, but this one will be hard to top. No wonder Baltimore is called Charm City!