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White book cover that reads, "Cockeysville to Baltimore: Levester Williams at CADVC."

Cockeysville to Baltimore: Levester Williams at CADVC

Rebecca Uchill and Michelle Diane Wright

2024

Center for Art Design and Visual Culture

42 pages

CADVC featured artist resident Levester Williams in “all matters aside,” a survey exhibition curated by Lisa D. Freiman and presented in the gallery at CADVC in the fall of 2024. The exhibition highlighted a selection of works produced during Williams’s artist residency research into the histories and mythologies of Cockeysville marble, a material used in both the Washington Monument in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood and the iconic exterior steps of local row homes. The exhibition was accompanied by a number of public-facing activities, including an outdoor public art video projection installation launched in February 2024, gallery panel discussions, K-12 programming, and a print publication, “Cockeysville to Baltimore.”

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An installation view of a gallery space. On a central wall, "Levester Williams" and "all matters aside" are shown in black lettering. Below it is a mixed media sculpture with two wooden poles pointed in opposite directions from a metallic base.
Installation view, “Levester Williams: all matters aside,” curated by Lisa D. Freiman, presented in the gallery at CADVC in the fall of 2024. Photo: Tedd Henn
An installation view of a video projection. An individual with a dark skin-tone stands to the left side of the projection, wearing a white fur vest and white shorts. They are blowing a large pink bubblegum bubble. The rest of the scene is empty except for a black and khaki green panel to the subject's left.
Installation view, “Levester Williams: all matters aside,” curated by Lisa D. Freiman, presented in the gallery at CADVC in the fall of 2024. Photo: Tedd Henn
A man and a woman are seated to the right of another woman, who holds a microphone while talking to a larger audience. She has short blonde hair and wears an all black outfit aside from a khaki button-down shirt. Behind her is a yellow wall with scripted text.
From left: CADVC resident artist, Levester Williams and curator, Lisa D. Freiman in conversation with CADVC director, Rebecca Uchilli, February 2024. Photo: Tedd Henn
A man with a dark skin-tone and a colorful button-down shirt speaks to an audience through a microphone, which he holds in his right hand.
CADVC Artist in Residence, Levester Williams, speaking during at panel discussion at the opening reception of his exhibition, “Levester Williams: all matters aside” Photo: Tedd Henn
A large group of people stand outside a building entrance and look to the right side of the image. Towards the center of the group, two people point in the same direction everyone is looking.
Audience memebers at the launch of Levester Williams’s public art projection outside UMBC Fine Arts Building, February 2024. Photo: Tedd Henn
An exterior view of a red brick building. A yellow-toned video is projected between the second and third floors of the building. At the base of a the building near a set of outdoor stairs is a white banner that reads "Levester Williams" black text.
“dreaming of a beyond: Baltimore” (2021-2024) Levester Williams’s public art projection outside the UMBC Fine Arts Building, February 2024. Photo: Tedd Henn
Two women stand in a gallery space. The women at left wears black jacket, grey pants, and red sneakers. She is posing with her arms up. To the right is a woman in a grey hoodie, black leggings, and white sneakers. She holds up the camera to take a picture of the other, smiling while doing so.
Perry Hall High School’s visit to the “Levester Williams: all matters aside” Photo by Tedd Henn
A person out-of-frame holds up a worksheet to read. Other worksheets are piled before them on a white table.
Perry Hall High School’s post-gallery studio worksheet in collaboration with PHSS art chair and UMBC Education adjunct, Jennifer Harvill. Photo: Tedd Henn
30 works of art are laid on a white linoleum floor. The works are arranged in a 4 x 7 grid with two works to the left. The works consist of collages and drawings.
Perry Hall High School student artwork inspired through their visit to “all matters aside” Photo: Tedd Henn
Screen shot of CADVC sound design webinar with Levester Williams.
Screen shot of CADVC sound design webinar with Levester Williams. Photo: Tedd Henn
Gallery visitors view works by Levester Williams mounted on the gallery wall. A blue light is emitted from one room of the gallery.

Learn more about Levester Williams: all matters aside

View Exhibition

Selected Press

UMBC Stories

UMBC’s exploratory artist in residence Levester Williams examines history of Cockeysville marble in film project

Since 2014, multimedia artist Levester Williams has developed a personal connection and exploration with a natural material that is a historic staple of Baltimore life—Cockeysville, Maryland, marble.

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Hunt Valley Life

Cockeysville’s Marble

UMBC’s exploratory artist in residence Levester Williams examines history of Cockeysville marble in film project

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e-flux Education

Levester Williams: all matters aside

The Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture presents the early-career survey Levester Williams: all matters aside, an exhibition curated by Lisa D. Freiman, professor of art history at Virginia Commonwealth University, on view at the CADVC gallery from September 20 through December 14.

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UMBC

Levester Williams: all matters aside

The Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture presents the early-career survey Levester Williams: all matters aside, an exhibition curated by Lisa D. Freiman, professor of art history at Virginia Commonwealth University, on view at the CADVC gallery from September 20 through December 14.

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HYPERALLERGIC

Carrying On the Legacy of Trailblazing Curator Maurice Berger

A new program fund at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County continues Berger’s work at the intersection of race, social justice, and visual culture.

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Bmore Art

Levester Williams: “all matters aside” Quarries the Local and Literary

The CADVC Survey of Williams’ Multidisciplinary Practice Draws Connections Between Big Ideas and Quotidian Materials

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e-flux Education

Spring 2025 at CADVC

Center for Art, Design, and Visual Culture at UMBC (CADVC) proudly announces its spring 2025 programs. A research center, art gallery, publisher, and teaching and learning space in an R1 public university setting, CADVC hosts a research-based artist residency program, a new large-scale public video art projection gallery, UMBC student and faculty exhibitions, and rigorous interdisciplinary public programs.

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Baltimore Fishbowl

BmoreArt’s Picks: March 5-11

This Week: Levester Williams in conversation with Sheila Gaskins and Savannah Knoop at UMBC CADVC, Creatives in the Garden at Stem&Vine, Misty Copeland at UMBC, Bill Schmidt, Annette Sauermann, and Madeleine Dietz opening receptions at C. Grimaldis Gallery, Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company at the BMA, FS x Greedy Reads present HIDDEN PALACE, Merkin Dream II at MAP, Station North Art Walk, Social Contracts opening reception at Current, and Ornamenta at Baltimore Jewelry Center — PLUS The Art of Racing call for entry and more featured opportunities!

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