Liberté/Liberty

Collecting Maryland

Art | Artifacts | Community

The 350,000 objects, artworks, and artifacts within the museum collections of MCHC tell the stories of our state’s interconnected communities. Collecting Maryland: Art, Artifacts, Community returns important works of fine and decorative arts to public view. Vignettes highlighting major collecting themes are organized to provide an introspective look at our institution and dive into the depth and breadth of our collections assembled over our 180-year history.  Through the lens of “We Are. . .” our core values of Community, Authenticity, Dialogue, and Discovery are echoed in objects, ideas, and stories throughout the galleries. Collecting Maryland is designed as a flexible space for our curatorial team to experiment with new ideas and rotate frequently. We invite our members and larger community to come and learn something new with each visit.

Material & Memories

Elizabeth Talford Scott and the Crazy Quilt Tradition

Talford Scott’s work as the centerpiece of this collaborative exhibition which engages the crazy quilt form in dialogue with responsive works by the African American Quilters of Baltimore and the antique quilts in MCHC’s collection. Crafted from the scraps of family members’ clothing and decorative household fabrics, these quilts are deeply personal “landscapes of memory.” Of Abstract #1, Elizabeth Talford Scott said, “This is a family quilt, all something from the family. Everything that I didn’t want to throw out I saved a piece of it.” In 1999, MCHC partnered with the Maryland Institute College of Art’s Exhibition Development Seminar to present Eyewinkers, Tumbleturds, and Candlebugs: The Art of Elizabeth Talford Scott, a retrospective of her work. Material and Memories reconnects MCHC as a community partner with the Baltimore Museum of Art’s anniversary show, presenting Talford Scott’s work at locations throughout Baltimore City.

Passion and Purpose

Voices of Maryland’s Civil Rights Activists

Marylanders have been at the forefront of the national Black freedom struggle, from lawsuits that revealed the lies of the “separate but equal” doctrine in the 1930s and ’40s, to massive protests in the streets during the 1960s that forced a nation to confront its moral consciousness. This legacy continues through today. Visitors to Passion and Purpose learn and draw inspiration from the lived experiences of these activists who make up a complex mosaic of the long and continuing fight for civil rights in Maryland and the nation. This exhibition is on long-term view.

Claire / McCardell

On view now!

Claire McCardell redefined women’s fashion in America during the 1930s –1950s and she continues to influence American sportswear today. By designing for modern American women like herself, McCardell became synonymous with the American fashion rebellion. Beneath her dynamic, confident, and strong-willed business persona, Claire was a shy introvert in conflict with this perceived identity. Through family letters, personal interviews, and archival documents, juxtaposed with examples of McCardell’s designs spanning her career, this exhibition gives a more intimate look at the woman behind the iconic label. This exhibition is curated by Tory Burch Claire McCardell Fashion Fellow Robyn Levy. Support for this Fellowship is generously provided by the Tory Burch Foundation.