Activism and Art
The Catonsville Nine, 50 Years Later; Presented May 2018-May 2019
On the 50th anniversary of the Catonsville Nine protest demonstration, Activism and Art opened to the public, sharing the lives and art of the infamous Catonsville Nine, and reflecting on Maryland’s history of protest as it continues today.
Civil Disobedience
In 1968, nine Catholic peace activists protested the Vietnam War in a fiery blaze in Catonsville, Maryland. They became known as the Catonsville Nine. Almost 50 years later, hundreds of demonstrators marched through the streets of Baltimore to protest the death of Freddie Gray.
The 2015 uprisings resonated deeply in our culture, representing an ongoing sense of dissatisfaction with the status quo in our society. The tradition of protest extends beyond Maryland throughout our entire nation. What does this history tell us and how are we impacted by this legacy today?
Activism and Art: The Catonsville Nine, 50 Years Later examined one of the most iconic and written-about acts of political protest in 20th-century American history. Through art created by Catonsville Nine activist Tom Lewis and elements of the documentary “Hit & Stay: A History of Faith and Resistance,” this exhibition explored the motivations and considered the consequences of civil disobedience, and contextualized this protest in our present turbulent political climate.
Shop This Exhibition
Your History Lives Here
Since 1844, we have collected, preserved, and interpreted Maryland's diverse history, art, and culture. Visit and see it at the Maryland Center for History and Culture.
Hours & TicketingDirections & AccessibilityFAQs