800 Key Highway
410-244-1900
HOURS:
Tuesday thru Sunday 10-6pm
ADMISSION:
Adults $6.00
Children, students, and seniors $4.00
Groups of ten or more $3.00
Large parking lot $3.00 a day
Abundant meter parking
This unique museum is located
waterside in the Inner Harbor and features the original works of
self-taught artists. Its seven galleries house collections of the
creative pieces of farmers, housewives, mechanics, retired folk,
the disabled, the homeless, and others. Works range from every
medium imaginable, and the museum as a whole captures some of
America’s most intuitive untrained artists, featuring everything
from carved roots to embroidered rags, tattoos to toothpicks, to
towering "junk" sculptures.
Congress deemed the Museum
America’s official "National Museum, Repository, and
Education Center for the best original, self-taught
artistry." Some of the permanent exhibits include The
Towering 55-foot Whirligig, by farmer/mechanic Vollis Simpson;
and The Non-denominational Wedding Altar, by visionary
genius and lay-naturalist Ben Wilson. Some of the temporary
exhibits being displayed now or very soon include The Tree Of
Life, an inaugural exhibition of 400 remarkable works created
from wood and tree products that celebrate Man’s connection with
Nature; and The End Is Near, an apocalyptic and
post-millennium vision of the 21st century. The
individual exhibitions are displayed throughout the entire museum
and sculpture barn, keeping the place an ever-evolving house of
unschooled, yet ingeniously imaginative, artistry.
The American Visionary Art Museum
is one of the most intriguing and inspiring places to visit in
Baltimore. It’s great for both kids and adults. Also, a nice
break in between exhibits can be a visit to the museum’s Joy
America café: seats 80 people inside, 40 on outside patio.
The cafe has a nice view of the Harbor and is open Tues. - Sat.
11-10pm, Sunday brunch 11am-4:30pm.
Not far from the AVAM is the
Baltimore Museum of Industry, and a combined tour of these
attractions makes for an excellent time as both places are
fascinating and inspiring. If you are walking the Inner Harbor,
especially the central Harbor, a visit to the AVAM might be a
little too far a walk if you’re not up to it. However, this
shouldn’t be a problem. All one needs to do is hop on a water
taxi. As far as art galleries go, this place should be # 1 on your
list. -- Michael Rando
VISIONARY
ART MUSEUM 
ATTRACTIONS
