Since I happened upon Gallery 788 a few months ago, it has quickly become one of my favorite hangouts in Baltimore. The gallery is located at 3602 Hickory Ave., right in the thick of Hampden’s rich culture.
The small brick building doesn’t look like much from the outside, but once you enter the gallery, you are enveloped in artwork. A myriad of art objects line every hallway. The walls of the main room are tastefully slathered in paintings, photographs and three-dimensional works. The ceiling tiles have been painted to give the illusion of a grand American flag. Large leather couches sit in the center of the gallery for your lounging needs. It’s all very charming and Hampden-esque.
The gallery is spacious, but on event nights, the place gets comfortably crowded. G788 hosts events several times a month — drag show competitions, theatrical performances, eccentric fundraisers, intimate shows by musical artists — and they are certainly a spectacle.
Past events to note include the all-female art show cleverly named ARTRIARCHY, which ran from April 2 – March 1. According to the gallery’s official Facebook page, the show was “an exploration of femininity in the modern millennia, with an emphasis on contemporary art and abstraction.” It featured various artistic media, including video and poetry, among more traditional methods.
Venus Envy, on April 2 at 7 p.m. will be an an artshow comprised of all-female local artists. There will be musical performances as well as live painting.
If prefer a more zen vibe, you can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the gallery and practice your poses with the “Your Body is Art” program, a yoga class offered on Saturday mornings at 10 and 11:30 a.m.
Gallery 788 is also hosting performances of The Dum Dums through Baltimore theater group Glass Mind Theater. It is a show about three female astronauts exploring super-Earth when they run into a programming error. The (likely hilarious and bizarre) performances will take place until April 4.
The gallery has a very active Facebook presence, and you can easily keep track of G788’s goings-on if you check out their page.
Of course, it is nice to go to big events with a few of your most eccentric friends or stop in during the day after grabbing a bite to eat in Hampden. However, my recommendation for getting acquainted with Gallery 788 is to attend an exhibition opening. G788 attracts a vibrant and diverse crowd, and these nights are perfect for socializing with Baltimore’s lovers of art and culture. Everyone is extremely friendly and eager to tell you about other cultural hubs to explore in the city. The boxed wine is flowing (for those of you who are of age), the conversation is enriching and the people are lively.
Gallery 788 is fun, unpretentious and welcoming. The owners and directors know what makes a gallery successful: personality. And G788 has considerable personality.
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