Pixel Pancho and 2501 in Unsanctioned Baltimore

Unsanctioned Baltimore (Part 1 of 3) : Pixel Pancho, 2501

What’s better than hunting around back lots and alleys in Baltimore’s boarded up neighborhoods looking for Street Art? Having Baltimore native Martha Cooper as your guide, showing you all her favorite secret spots, listening to her stories, and meeting the neighbors, who all call her “picture lady”.  Open Walls Baltimore brought a lot of attention to the city this spring and we were lucky to see many familiar Street Artists and see the giant murals in process in the district where Gaia staged it.

But zipping through SoWeBo with the formidable hosts of Martha and her cousin Sally, who used to take the bus to school together through these streets a half century ago, leaves all that stuff in the shadow. With a natural radar for finding the unsanctioned, Martha is a blur, pointing in different directions and laughing and telling you about trailing Stikman up the street or hooking up Other (Toy Lovegates) with a spot – with much the same ease as she recalls stories of graffiti artists Dondi and Blaze and Lee in NYC rail yards in the 70s.  We’ve been happy to share our Street Art knowledge with her these last few years, and she always generously leads us to a head-scratching bit of gorgeousness that’s just beyond this alleyway, or tracks, or skateboard park, if you know where to look. We are most grateful for the sweet moments of discovery together.

Pixel Pancho and 2501. Baltimore. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Pixel Pancho and 2501. Baltimore. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

2501. Baltimore. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Pixel Pancho. Baltimore. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

2501 and Stikman. Baltimore. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Pixel Pancho and 2501. Baltimore. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Pixel Pancho. The owner of this house asked them to include the mascot from Baltimore Oriols baseball team into the composition for her children. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Pixel Pancho and 2501. Baltimore. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

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