Art in Transit Program

Art in Transit Process Moves Forward

The artist review station design renderings. Nobuho Nagasawa (left) and Jann Rosen-Queralt (right) review station design renderings.In the fall of 2012, the Baltimore Red Line announced its Art in Transit program, aimed at enhancing the stations and the environment along the corridor in order to make the Red Line more welcoming to riders, integrated into communities and reflective of the communities' characteristics and histories. In December 2012, 41 artists responded to a Call for Artists/Request for Qualifications for Phase 1 of the program. A selection committee, composed of community arts leaders from the Baltimore area, reviewed the applications to identify two artists for Phase 1. According to Jo Schneider, the Art in Transit Manager, "a number of terrific artists with impressive portfolios and talent responded to the request."

Congratulations to Nobuho Nagasawa and Jann Rosen-Queralt. Nobuho Nagasawa is an interdisciplinary artist who has been commissioned for more than 30 public art projects internationally, and has received numerous awards. Her civic projects include works for the Los Angeles Metro System. Jann Rosen-Queralt is motivated to create places that encourage human interaction. She has been commissioned for works in Charlotte, North Carolina (Billingsey Medical Center) and Washington, D.C. (Columbia Heights) and is presently a member of the Public Art Commission for the City of Baltimore and teaches both graduate and undergraduate classes at the Maryland Institute College of Art. These artists will collaborate with the project team to work with the community on potential opportunities to incorporate art into Red Line design elements.

About the Phase I Artists

Jann Rosen-Queralt is motivated to create places that encourage human interaction. Much of her public artwork has been based on in-depth work with the communities and stakeholders that use these spaces. A sample of her commissions include a rain garden that treats stormwater runoff at Powhatan Springs Park, Arlington, Virginia; and a sound garden at the Billingsley Medical Center , Charlotte, North Carolina. She has participated on several planning teams including the Brightwater Wastewater Treatment Facility that will provide services for Snohomish and King Counties in Washington State, the Columbia Heights Neighborhood Revitalization and Streetscape Plan in Washington, DC. and the Gwynns Falls Greenway Trail and Eco-Industrial Park in Baltimore, Maryland. Rosen-Queralt believes that successful public artists are "interested in exchanging ideas that involve the public, becoming a catalyst for encouraging discovery and collaboration." She is presently a member of the Public Art Commission for the City of Baltimore and teaches both graduate and undergraduate classes at the Maryland Institute College of Art.

Nobuho Nagasawa is an interdisciplinary artist whose site-specific work explores the places, politics, ecology, and psychological dimensions of space and people. Her work involves in-depth research into cultural history and memory, and extensive community participation. In the field of public art, she establishes a conceptual framework through site investigations and research, and creates works based on the culture and physical qualities of their location. She has been commissioned for more than 30 public art projects internationally, and received numerous awards, including, “Design Excellence Award for Architecture and Public Art” through the Office of Cultural Affairs of Los Angeles, and “Art Commission Awards for Excellence in Design,” from the City of New York. Her civic projects include public art works for the National Government Plaza in Japan, Seattle City Hall, Metro station in Los Angeles, University of Florida Business School, and Water Reclamation Facilities in California and Florida, as well as exhibitions around the world. She was a member of the Visual Artist Team to develop the concept and identify the locations for the art for the Sound Transit system in Seattle in Washington. Nagasawa has maintained a careful balance between public art and ephemeral work throughout her career, creating a body of work that includes large-scale multi media installations, and intimate studio works.

Neighborhood Identity Questionnaire

Communities' input will be an important component of the artwork created for specific stations and locations within the corridor. Artists will gather with communities to understand their perspectives, priorities, and visions for art. Community members interested in getting involved in the Art in Transit effort now can complete the Neighborhood Identity questionnaire below. Answers to these questions will be used as a starting point for educating artists about a neighborhood's distinct character and identity.

Please complete the form below to the best of your ability. If you would rather respond in writing, you may download and print the PDF version of the Neighborhood Identity Questionnaire:

First Name

Last Name

E-Mail Address

Choose the station location to which your comments refer:

How do you make use of this station area?

Are you a Maryland resident?

Yes No

I. Culture and Significant places or institutions

What is the contemporary culture of the neighborhood?
What are the significant cultural events and landmarks in this neighborhood?
Are there other significant happenings or events?
Are there local arts institutions?

II. Historical

What is the history of the neighborhood?
What are the significant historical landmarks and events of the neighborhood?

III. Significant People

Who are persons who have made a significant contribution to the community and beyond? Are there famous individuals from this neighborhood?

IV. Ideas for Public Art and Potential for Interactive art: Frames for posters, photos, poetry, etc. music, performance venues:

What type of art or theme for public art would be significant to this neighborhood?
Is there one theme, idea, object, person, event, happening that you think captures the essence of this neighborhood?
Are there specific locations or ideas for integrating art into the station design that would be preferable?
Does the opportunity exist to create an on-going interactive event? Are there community centers or schools that would supply art work or maintain frames or bulletin boards with work? Would musicians or performance artists be an asset here?

V. Images:

Please upload any image that represents your neighborhood.

You may upload multiple files as a ZIP archive. File size must be less than 5MB.

Select File: