Museums: Where Silence Is Golden (And So Is The Lighting)

There are some Sunday mornings when you wake up with nothing to do. Sure, you can scroll through Instagram Reels, either to feel more mature than looking at TikTok or, more likely, because you deleted the app when it was banned for those few seconds. However, this morning feels different: you want to do something with your morning, ideally spending these hours doing something beautiful. Enter, the Baltimore Museum of Art, or more affectionately known as BMA to locals. 

The great thing about the BMA, aside from its free admission price, is its size. The museum isn't too small that you'll be able to see everything in an hour or two, but it isn't too large where it can seem intimidating or leaving you not knowing where to start. On one particular weekend morning, I woke up, made myself a cup of coffee, and realized that I had nothing to do until later that day. Turning my phone to its 'do not disturb' settings, I made my way over to the BMA. 

If you're starting off near Loyola's campus, the museum is very easy to drive to (you'll be there in 10 minutes). It's also extremely accessible by public transit: take the 51 bus downtown a few stops to Saint Paul St. & 31st Ave. and walk two blocks to the museum's entrance. You can't miss the giant building on Art Museum Drive, the aptly named street where the museum is located. 

While no food or drinks are allowed in the museum, you can stop for a beverage along the way to enjoy in the Sculpture Gardens. Blueprint Cafe and Bird in Hand are both within a one-block radius of the museum, and have great coffee selections. Blueprint is a new addition to the Baltimore cafe scene, and a portion of their proceeds go towards supporting students studying architecture at Morgan State University. Bird in Hand is a bit more established, and is a hybrid cafe-bookstore with amazing floor to ceiling windows. 

Once you decide on a drink, head on over to the Sculpture Gardens, where you can stroll and sip away. If you're doing a solo adventure for the day, you can pop headphones in and que up a podcast or bring a book for one of the benches. After your peaceful outdoor time and your drink is done, head on inside to see the exhibits!

As standard for most museums, there are permanent collections and a rotating display of temporary collections. From the permanent, my favorite is the Modern Art wing; this time in art history was all about capturing the world surrounding the artists, with special attention paid to the wind, light, and textures of the subjects. Also worth the stop is the European collection, housed in a part of the museum with dark herringbone floors and rich, moody wall colors that alert you to the decadent works before you can spot the first painting. The prints and photographs and Indigenous works round out the best of the permanent collection, moving along to some of the temporary works before calling it a day here. 

Currently, there are three temporary collections: 'More than Conquerors: A Monument for Community Health Workers of Baltimore, Maryland 2021-2022,' 'and imagine you are here,' and 'Exist in the Width of a Knife's Edge.' While all three deserve your time, 'and imagine you are here' is so delightfully playful and fun, you'll get lost in the artist's works.

After a full day at the BMA, I highly recommend checking out one of my favorite Indian restaurants in Baltimore, which (how convenient for you!) is only a block or two away. Tucked in the middle of the block between East 31st and 32nd streets on Saint Paul Street, you'll find Sakoon. You won't be able to miss the red storefront. Head inside, and grab some lunch or an early dinner before heading home. You won't be disappointed with whatever you order off the menu.