New Annapolis Mural Unveiled, Artist Honors Black Musicians

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Annapolis artist Comacell Brown on May 22 unveiled his new mural at Park Place. The painting is a tribute to Carr's Beach, an Annapolis venue where Black musicians performed during segregation.

"It has been exciting to be able to provide art that is commemorative," Brown said in a press release. "To display work that people will be able to talk about for years to come is even better."

Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford and Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Guests saw performances from the Maryland Cultural and Conference Center resident dance company and the Londontowne Symphony Orchestra. Visitors also learned about the history of Carr's Beach.

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The venue operated from 1926 to 1974. It hosted famous acts like:

• Aretha Franklin
• Billie Holiday
• Count Basie
• Dinah Washington
• Duke Ellington
• Ella Fitzgerald
• Etta James
• James Brown
• Little Richard
• Ray Charles

Perched at the end of Edgewood Road, Carr's Beach was a bayfront getaway for Black Marylanders excluded from other attractions. Elizabeth Carr Smith, the daughter of a former slave, owned and operated the destination, which had a swimming area, a concert hall and a small amusement park. Brown's mural commemorates this legacy and culture.

"This project is an amazing opportunity for The Maryland State Archives to partner with a local nonprofit and honor the rich history of Carr’s Beach," Digital Archivist Corey Lewis said in a separate release.

The painting isn't Brown's first in Annapolis. Last summer, Brown painted a mural of George Floyd at City Dock and a memorial to Breonna Taylor at Chambers Park. Both Black Americans died at the hands of police, fueling protests against racial injustice. Brown is also the artist behind the Walking Man mural on West Street.

Brown, who goes by "Cell Spitfire," has additionally worked with NFL quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Cam Newton, as well as rapper 50 Cent.

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Brown's latest mural is located alongside StageOne at Park Place. This outdoor venue is home to the Maryland Cultural and Conference Center, formerly named the Maryland Theatre for the Performing Arts.

The theater company, also known as MC3, recently suggested constructing a 1,200-seat auditorium on this open plot of land near the intersection of West Street and Taylor Avenue. If built, the $57 million complex would house performances and gatherings. The proposal is still in its early stages of fundraising, however.

"In alignment with MC3’s mission to provide equitable access to innovative and diverse arts ..., we recognize that Carr's Beach was our city's original presenter of culturally diverse entertainment," MC3 Board Member and Project Lead Eric Elston said.

The theater company raised money for the effort on GoFundMe. The group collected $15,220, exceeding its $15,000 goal.

GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.

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RELATED:

• Annapolis Artist To Paint Mural Honoring Black Musicians
• New Theater Proposed In Annapolis; Leaders Hope To Draw Visitors

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