Black Butterfly

Join Wide Angle Youth Media for Black Butterfly at Maryland Institute College of Art's prestigious Falvey Hall. The evening will be a culmination of Wide Angle's exploration of the student-selected theme "Why Black Lives Matter". Over the 2017-2018 school year, youth across Baltimore created hundreds of photographs, videos, and design projects about the Black experience in the United States. Their final projects depict Black struggle and as well as Black joy, and reflect upon issues impacting individuals throughout the region.

The evening will showcase their work, premier new films, launch a Wide Angle curriculum, and include commentary from youth presenters as well as Delegate Mary Washington, District 43. Low ticket prices and free admission for students will encourage a diverse group of community members to join together in meaningful dialogue around racial equity in Baltimore.

Proceeds from the event will support our free media education and youth development programs. This is an important and timely topic, and we invite you to attend, and spread the word to your family, friends and colleagues!

We are honored to share this work, and hope you can join us as we commemorate youth voice and progress towards a more inclusive city, fueled by creativity.

Refreshments will be served following the screening. The evening's agenda will be:

Event Schedule

5:30 pm - Doors Open

6:00 pm - Screening & Presenters

7:00 pm - Reception

Can't attend? You can still support us by making a donation! Donate today via the link to the right of your screen, and we will send the films to you to view after the premiere!

About The Videos

This Is Me and My City

In spring, 2018, middle school youth at the Govans library integrated projections into their storytelling, to metaphorically address stereotypes that are associated with young people in Baltimore.

Black Stories Matter

Ayanna White provides a brief history of the portrayal of Black people in the media and film industries, and the need for dynamic, realistic Black people in our media.

Mirror of a Black Man

Justin Marine confronts the pervasive negative stereotypes Black men encounter daily and the toll they take on his community.

Dear Me

Sama Muhammad's powerful letter to herself recalls her she came to terms with "seeing color", a growing understanding of her identity and how to move through the world.

Black Rainbow

Joelle Faison reconciles her experiences growing up in a largely White community, in contrast to many of her Black family members and peers.

The Black Experience

Madison Hall's poignant reflection on her identity and how she exists outside of the dominant narratives of what it means to be a Black American.

The Unspoken Truth of Baltimore

Lily Pretl investigates Black/White race tensions in Baltimore, White prejudice, and the importance of the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

Black Butterfly

In Spring 2018, high school students explored the experiences of Black GLBTQ youth, through a touching narrative portrayal of one girl's struggle to seek understanding and embrace her true identity.

About the Design Projects

Every Month is Black History Month

This unique calendar runs February 2019 - February 2020, embracing the belief that Black history is American history, and should be celebrated every month. With original portraits to commemorate contemporary Black Baltimoreans, and highlighting dates significant to the Black community, including the founding of the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

The Skin We're In

A youth-produced zine, created by middle school students at the Orleans library, who used their design and research skills to celebrate Black culture with articles featuring an overview of Black fashion, noteworthy Black abstract expressionist painters, and a profile of Mae Jemison.

About the Photography

Highlights from the Community Voices photography program will be on exhibit, with a selection framed and available for purchase.

About the Curriculum

Printed copies of the Wide Angle produced curriculum, Why Black Lives Matter - Discussing Race Through Film, Photography and Design, will be available for FREE to educators. This original curriculum pairs youth media with instructional content for use in middle, high school and college level classrooms.

About Delegate Mary Washington, District 43

Delegate Mary Washington is an advocate for Maryland's 43rd District as a legislator, professor, ally, public policy leader and trail-blazer. Born in Philadelphia, Mary Washington began her professional career teaching at a Catholic elementary school. Her scholarly interests and dedication to serving at-risk populations and urban communities brought her to Baltimore where she earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in Sociology from The Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Washington began her academic career as an assistant professor at Lehigh University, was awarded post-graduate fellow at the Population Studies Center of the University of Pennsylvania and is currently a member of the part-time faculty at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA).

In 2010, Mary made history becoming the first openly LGBT African-American elected official in Maryland – and only the second such state legislator in the country. Over her two terms as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, she has distinguished herself as a leader fighting for affordable access to water, protecting families at risk of losing their homes to unfair tax sales and foreclosures, making sure Baltimore city schools receive fair and equitable funding, and helping unaccompanied homeless youth get the services and support they need. Delegate Washington has passed landmark legislation that bars the inhumane practice of shackling female prisoners during labor and delivery; sponsored and passed the nation's first law protecting social media (Facebook) password privacy; secured stronger safeguards from electronic harassment via text or direct messaging; won new restrictions on price-gouging and abusive treatment of consumers by rent-to-own stores targeting low-income and minority communities; and passed the state's first legislation establishing the community schools model as the statewide strategy for addressing concentrated poverty. Delegate Washington has also played a leading role in legislative work to establish marriage equality, prevent discrimination against transgender Marylanders, eliminate the death penalty, implement the Maryland DREAM Act, and win additional funding for Baltimore's public schools. Her work as Delegate has earned the trust of her colleagues and constituents on budget and tax issues, as well as, the impact of funding choices on Maryland's families. Delegate Washington is currently the Democratic State Senator Nominee for the 43rd District of Maryland. Without a challenger in the upcoming general election, Delegate Washington is expected to be voted in as the district's next State Senator in November 2018.

Thank you to our current sponsors and supporters:

Bronze Sponsor: Kaiser Permanente, Maryland Film Office

Producing Sponsors: CohnReznick, CSX

Partner Sponsors: Seawall Development, Municipal Employees Credit Union, T. Rowe Price

In-Kind: Maryland Institute College of Art, Sweet27, Wegman's, Charm City Cakes, The Elephany, Monument Brewing Company

Parking Details: