Out of the Woodwork! Bringing Tom Miller's Legacy to Light
Eubie Blake Cultural Center
847 N Howard St, Baltimore, MD 21201
Exhibition: Feb. 18 - Apr. 19, 2025
Programming: Feb. 15- Feb. 22, Mar. 22, Apr. 19, 2025
Beverly Carter Esq. shows “Justice is Not Blind” (1995) to artist Alma Roberts.
The Fifth Annual Tom Miller Week will take place from February 15–22, 2025, with events hosted at the Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and Cultural Center, the Maryland Center for History and Culture, and the Reginald F. Lewis Museum. This weeklong celebration honors the life and work of renowned artist Tom Miller through community art-making, an oral history circle, and the auction of a never-before-seen screenprint.
A key highlight is Out of the Woodwork! Bringing Tom Miller’s Legacy to Light, an exhibition showcasing locally owned artworks and memorabilia, many of which have surfaced from unexpected corners of the community since the celebration began five years ago.
The event also includes an online auction of Justice is not Blind, a striking screenprint Miller created in 1995 for the Monumental City Bar Association (MCBA) of Baltimore. This 24” x 28” piece, portraying Lady Liberty in a Black form lifting her veil to gaze upon Baltimore residents, has never been publicly displayed. The auction will be hosted through Give Butter and is sponsored in partnership with the Black Art Today Foundation. Proceeds from the auction will be equally divided between the MCBA and Blackives, LLC. The funds will support the creation of a Friends of Tom Miller group, dedicated to celebrating Miller’s legacy and preserving his artwork throughout the city. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to own a rare piece of art!
On February 18, Blackives, LLC, in partnership with the Eubie Blake Cultural Center, will host Tom Miller Day, featuring word from Tom Miller’s family, a reading of Can A Coal Scuttle Fly by Baltimore actor, poet, vocalist, and songwriter Keith Snipes, and a live performance by Rufus Roundtree and Da B'More Brass Band. The week concludes on February 22 with a family-friendly art-making activity and oral history circle.
Tom Miller Day was first declared by Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke in 1995 after Miller became one of the first African Americans from Baltimore to receive a solo exhibition at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Although Miller's whimsical Afro-Deco style is celebrated in murals and museums across the city, no event commemorating his legacy had been held for two decades. In 2021, Blackives, LLC established Tom Miller Week to honor his contributions annually and preserve his contributions to the city.
Join the Celebration
Celebrate Tom Miller’s enduring legacy by attending this year’s events and donating to the project. Your tax deductible donations will help fund the festivities, including installations, catering, and contractor expenses. Donations accepted through the Black Art Today Foundation. Checks can be made payable to Black Art Today, include a memo for Tom Miller Week 2025, and mailed to:
Black Art Today
9103 Woodmore Centre Dr. #207
Lanham, MD 20706
Thank you for your support and charitable contribution.
Sincerely,
Deyane Moses
Founder, Blackives, LLC
Lenders for this exhibition include:
AFRO American Newspapers Archives
Alma Roberts
Angela Carroll
Baltimore Museum of Art
Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts
Beverly Carter, Esq.
Chase Brexton
David Miller Jr.
Deyane Moses
Eubie Blake Cultural Center
Frances Miller
Fred Lazarus
Joanne Miller
Karen Bellesky
Maryce Miller
Maryland Center for History and Culture
Maryland Institute College of Art, Decker Library
Monumental City Bar Association
Reginald F. Lewis Museum
Rick Bennett
Steven Scott Gallery
Close up of hands painted by Tom Miller. From the collection of Beverly Carter Esq.
Programming for Tom Miller Week 2025
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Art Making Activity
Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E Pratt St, Baltimore, MD 21202
Saturday, February 15, 12 PM — 3 PM
Join the Reginald F. Lewis Museum during the 5th annual Tom Miller Week in celebrating the life and legacy of one of Baltimore’s most treasured artists with an art workshop with community artist Sallah Jenkinsdecorating a trinket box to furnish your favorite room or table. Founded by Blackives, LLC, the Tom Miller Week is a community event supported by local museums dedicated to convey his bold, whimsical art and capture Miller’s contributions that inspire art lovers throughout Baltimore. This program is suitable for all ages.
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Free Admission and Drop-in Art Activity
MD Center for History & Culture, 610 Park Ave., Baltimore , MD 21201
February, 16, 11 AM — 1 PM
In celebration of Tom Miller Week, taking place February 15–22, enjoy a day of free Museum admission. View Tom Miller’s Summer in Baltimore triptych painting, on display in Collecting Maryland. A family-friendly art-making activity will be available for visitors in the Museum Lobby. The observation of Tom Miller Week 2025 is done in partnership with Blackives LLC and the Eubie Blake Cultural Center.
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Tom Miller Day!
Opening Reception & 30th Anniversary Celebration
Eubie Blake Cultural Center, 847 N. Howard St, Baltimore, MD 21201
Tuesday, February 18, 5 PM — 8 PM
Join us for the opening reception of "Out of the Woodwork! Bringing Tom Miller’s Legacy to Light" and the 30th anniversary celebration of Tom Miller Day, beginning at 5 PM.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to purchase a never-before-seen painting, commissioned by the Monumental City Bar Association in 1995, through an online auction during the exhibition, which runs through April 19, 2025
At 6 PM, a special program will feature family, friends, and the community in honoring Tom Miller's legacy. Enjoy a reading of Can a Coal Scuttle Fly by Baltimore actor, poet, vocalist, and songwriter Keith Snipes, followed by live music from Rufus Roundtree and Da B'More Brass Band. Guests will also have a chance to win a signed Tom Miller poster.
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Online Auction: Monumental City Bar Association Painting (1995)
Online, February 18, 5 PM—April 19, 7PM
Join us for an exclusive online auction of Tom Miller's iconic 1995 painting, commissioned by the Monumental City Bar Association (MCBA) for their annual conference program. This vibrant 24" x 28" artwork has never been publicly displayed and offers a powerful depiction of Lady Liberty in a Black form, lifting her veil to gaze upon the residents of Baltimore. The piece is rich in local motifs, including Baltimore row homes, the Washington Monument, and a nostalgic nod to the AFRO-American Newspapers’ Clean Block Campaign.
The auction, hosted on Give Butter, runs throughout Tom Miller Week 2025 (Feb. 18 - April 19, 2025), and is presented in partnership with the MCBA and sponsored by Black Art Today Foundation. The artwork will also be showcased at Out of the Woodwork! Bringing Tom Miller’s Legacy to Light at the Eubie Blake Cultural Center.
Proceeds will support both the MCBA and Blackives, LLC, as they work to celebrate Miller’s legacy and preserve his art. Don’t miss your chance to own a piece of Baltimore’s vibrant history while supporting two impactful organizations!
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Tom Miller's Snapshot Studio!
Eubie Blake Cultural Center, 847 N. Howard St, Baltimore, MD 21201
Saturday, February 22, 11 AM — 1 PM
Step into the world of Tom Miller's Afro-Deco style by creating your own props, capturing themed photos, and adding your contribution to the exhibition. Don't miss your chance to enter a raffle for a signed Tom Miller poster.
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Oral History Circle! Remembering Tom Miller
Eubie Blake Cultural Center, 847 N. Howard St, Baltimore, MD 21201
Saturday, February 22, 6 PM — 8 PM
Join us for an intimate storytelling session where you can share or listen to heartfelt stories about Tom Miller. Participants will have the opportunity to enter a free raffle for a chance to win a signed Tom Miller poster. If you'd like to reflect on your experience with Tom Miller, please email hello@blackives.org.
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The Artist Speaks! An Interview with Tom Miller
Eubie Blake Cultural Center, 847 N. Howard St, Baltimore, MD 21201
Saturday, March 22, 11 AM — 1 PM
Join us for a special screening of an exclusive interview with Tom Miller from the archives of the Baltimore Museum of Art with permission from the Maryland Institute College of Art. Afterward, enjoy a guided tour of his exhibition led by Curator Deyane Moses and Curatorial Assistant, Aleem Allison.
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Closing Reception
Panel Discussion & After Party
Eubie Blake Cultural Center, 847 N. Howard St, Baltimore, MD 21201
Saturday, April 19, 5 PM — 8 PM
Engage in a discussion about personal art collection and preservation, enjoy live music by SoundsbySeven, and take part in a raffle as we mark the end of the online auction at this celebratory closing event.