Billie Holiday's Artistic Reverberations in Baltimore's Public Spaces

Cities benefit from public art in a variety of ways. Public art can generate a measure of civic pride.It also has social benefits, giving residents a sense of place. Certainly this has been happening in Duluth as it has in other places. Public art can lift our spirits and it can also cause us to think. (I'm thinking here of the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial). According to a study at USC it can even improve academic achievement. Many cities use public art is a means of honoring significant luminaries who had once lived there or were born there. 

"America's Photographer" Gary Firstenberg sent these photos from the neighborhood in Baltimore where Billie Holiday was raised.

Other luminaries from Charm City include Eubie Blake, Can Calloway, Frank Zappa, Babe Ruth, Thurgood Marshall, H.L. Mencken and many more.

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Nevada Bob Road Trip Continues: Taking In a Lot of History

Photographer Gary Firstenberg and Nevada Bob Gordon have been on a road trip since nearly forever. They will be in town here (Duluth) the end of this week as we work to finalize Nevada Bob's memoir for publication. Here are some photos from the most recent week on the road.

Looking to add his name to the Declaration of Independence

Touring Baltimore

The Babe was born here.

Outside the Babe Ruth Birth Place Museum

Lobbying for love and peace.

Bob joined an enclave of protesters in front of the White House.

"One Civil War is enough," Bob said, and we all agreed.

PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS

The Roberto Clemente Museum in Pittsburgh

Looking forward to sharing this special tribute 
to a great ball player and human being.

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