Five years and many city developments later, “West Baltimore Ruins” still has a major impact on my life and my growth as a storyteller. In 2018, when I started this archival project, we could recall our favorite memories in structures that appeared empty, but still stood tall with character. Now those memories are compartmentalized in our heads, and new structures that lack individuality or grass plots have replaced what we once knew.
“West Baltimore Ruins” has multiple purposes. It serves as a blueprint of the city before and during major shifts. It serves as nostalgia for West Baltimore residents who spent their lives on this side of town at some point of time. It serves as an educational text for people to actually understand the history of the housing crisis and other issues that posed a threat to the well-being of West Baltimore and its residents. The imagery is strikingly beautiful and haunting at the same time because we will never see this version of Baltimore again.
“West Baltimore Ruins” is a time capsule with vitality.
