Brandon Donahue-Shipp: Come As You Are Exhibition Reception

Come join the conversation, come be part of the art—just Come As You Are. Over the past two years, Baltimore-based artist Brandon J. Donahue-Shipp has been dreaming with the team at BlackRock Center for the Arts about what community-driven public art could look like. The next phase of this dream blooms on Juneteenth 2026 as Come As You Are, an exhibition and series of community collaborations lasting through the summer and culminating in our public art groundbreaking. The Kay Gallery will serve as a satellite studio for Donahue-Shipp where he will work with the local Germantown community to create segments of the public artwork. The space will also include paintings and sculptures by the artist, along with participatory research materials collected over the last year. Local residents are invited to our Bring What You Carry community collaboration gatherings to contribute objects they feel are imbued with a sense of our community, imbued with feelings of care, curiosity, and belonging.

About BlackRock Center for the Arts:

Nestled in the Germantown Town Center, BlackRock Center for the Arts (BlackRock Center) stands as the leading venue for performing and visual arts in Upper Montgomery County, MD.We are dedicated to enriching our community by providing accessible and high-quality cultural and creative experiences to the most diverse unincorporated city in the country. BlackRock programs include free art galleries featuring exquisite exhibitions, exceptional live performances, an art supplies thrift store, and a wide range of arts education classes designed for all ages and skill levels.