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Best Art Walks In Baltimore

So you're asking yourself, "What's a way to get some exercise while also improving myself with some culture?" Fortunately, the modern art world has anticipated your desire by creating the "art walk." An art walk is an activity wherein you take a walking tour of various art exhibits across a campus, city or other metropolitan area to give yourself a brisk exercise in appreciating the beauty of human creation. Baltimore is a city of art, so, unsurprisingly, there are a number of available art walks to be had in the Charm City area. Here are the standouts we recommend.

MICA
(credit: mica.edu)

MICA 
1300 West Mount Royal Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21217
(410) 225-2256
www.mica.edu

For nearly a decade, the Maryland Institute College of Art has held a 3K walking tour through seven buildings along the Mount Royal Avenue campus, each building crammed with impressive art from every genre an enthusiast could ask for. MICA has established itself as one of the top art schools in a very competitive city, and the art displayed on this nearly three-mile walk is by some of the best emerging artists in the field. Not only are you expanding your own horizons by participating in this event, but you are also helping the next generation of prodigies gain the much-needed exposure they require in order to start their own brilliant careers. This event features a preview party in which participants may meet and mingle with the artists themselves, and the event ends at an after-party which provides casual dinner fare, beer, wine and another opportunity to talk with the local artists.

Akimbo
1711 North Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 704-2760
www.akimbobaltimore.com

Art is a diverse media that comes in many different forms. The Akimbo art walk is a unique idea that invites patrons to take a walking tour of the Station North Arts and Entertainment District in Baltimore, visiting bars, restaurants and shops, looking at the art and architecture of this historic district. On the way, enjoy the eye-bending, stunning street murals by legendary street artists brought in for the occasion. Akimbo has arranged for street performances of dance, movement and music throughout the day. The flow of this walk is as fluid as the dance that represents it, as walkers are not held to any specific time scale or agenda. Take the walk at your own pace, and through whatever path seems most attractive to you.

Ellicott City's ArtWalk
8602 A Fredrick Rd.
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 707-9246
www.ellicottcityartscoalition.com

Historic Ellicott City is a Maryland landmark worth walking through at any time, however, during autumn, when the city is at its most beautiful, it is also at its most artful. It is then that you can take place in the celebrated ArtWalk, hosted by the Ellicott City Arts Coalition. This free art walk takes place down the scenic Main Street of the city, wherein participants receive a "passport." As they visit the various exhibits, shops, sights and locations, they get their passport stamped so they can see where they've been and what they accomplished by the end of the walk. Visitors who have received two or more stamps qualify for prizes. The locations available to visit include artist work spaces and shops, studios, galleries and retail venues. You may shop as you tour, or simply spend some time talking to the artists about their crafts and ambitions. The Ellicott City ArtWalk is as casual or intense as you want it to be, but it is undeniably beautiful.

Related: Best Up-And-Coming Visual Artists In Baltimore

Art Walk In Old Goucher
2100 - 2200 North Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 235-4411
www.oldgoucherartsmarket.wordpress.com

You will have to check ahead and see when this gem of a neighborhood celebration will be popping up. Sometimes it's in the spring, sometimes in the fall, and sometimes both. Either way, it's definitely worth catching. In an already beautiful Baltimore City neighborhood, tents and popup shops emerge from nowhere. Mingle with street performers and musicians in an eclectic celebration of life which brings paintings, sculpture, photography, jewelry, body art and delicious food to a public hungry for all of these things. Look for your chance to observe, participate and partake the next time this is held.

Artscape Crowd
(credit: artscape.org)

Artscape
10 East Baltimore St.
Baltimore, MD 21202
(443) 263-4318
www.artscape.org

It should be pretty well established at this point that Baltimore is one of the leading cities in the arts in America. So it's not surprising that it plays host to the biggest free art walk in America, which attracts over 400,000 visitors over the three days that it runs, with more than 150 artists on exhibit with art available to purchase. When they say "artists," they aren't just talking painters. There are fashion designers, sculptors, musicians, photographers, dance performers and every other kind of artist you can think of, and some you never knew existed. This also includes culinary art - as there will be plenty of delicious foods from all different nations available to sample. Get involved yourself, as there are several opportunities to participate in projects, letting out your inner artist as you survey what the pros and the up-and-comers are bringing to the table.

Related: Best Art Museums In Baltimore

Joel Furches is a freelance writer and researcher for The Examiner and Logos Software, and also manages his own catalog of writing on Hub Pages. Joel is on the board of directors for Ratio Christi. He has a bachelors in Psychology and a Masters in Education.

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