We recently connected with Abby Becker and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Abby thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
What I bring to my role as the Director of the Station North Arts District comes from my own experience as a working artist. I know what the hustle is like. I know what it means to get paid this week instead of next week, and to be able to pay your people. Baltimore is a city that is driven by relationship and by community. My experience working with people over the last 15 years, coming up together, and building a track record of doing big, crazy things is what makes me effective. This is what comes from putting down roots in a place.
I also give a lot of credit to my degree in Peace Studies, which is what brought me to Baltimore to study at Goucher College. I studied in multiple disciplines; I learned how to shift perspectives and how to navigate conflict.
One of the obstacles I encounter daily is that the city remains segregated, by race, class, genre, neighborhood. It takes intention and sustained effort to get beyond my immediate network and my comfort zone. But this work is vital; we need everyone if we’re going to create the beautiful place we want to live in.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I was working as a dog walker / teaching artist and playing music. I started working with friends to put on the kinds of events I wanted to go: great music, mixing disciplines and genres. I started out on a small contract running an outdoor arts venue called the Ynot Lot, which was managed by the Station North Arts District. Through the pandemic, I took on more projects and was eventually promoted to District Director. I work to make the area, which is the center of Baltimore City, a vibrant and interesting place. I run events, I help recruit new businesses, support artists, and tell the story of what is happening here.
In Baltimore, you can safely guess that every person pouring you a drink or serving your meal is some of artist. Like so many others, I have a second life outside of my job, as a musician. I am working on finishing my first full-length album with my band, Cora Sone. I write music to move people. Our time is so precious, I want to make the most of it. If I’m gonna invite you to something, know that it’s going to be really freaking good.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Pay artists for their work. Be a patron. Collect art. Go to shows. Buy tickets. Go to the theater. Go to the club. Pay the max you can on the sliding scale. Tip well. Bring your friends out. Do things in person. Buy directly from your favorite artist / band / writer / maker. Commission something you will treasure. Don’t wait for something else to make something happen. Do something imperfectly and then do the next thing. You’ll make where you live a more interesting place.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Make the world more beautiful. Creating art is an existence that can’t be measured by our capitalist society, try as we might. I want to live into that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://corasone.bandcamp.com/ | https://www.stationnorth.org/
- Instagram: @cora_sone | @stationnorth
Image Credits
Lead photo: JPG Industry
Performing at Metro Baltimore: Dave Iden
On stage holding mic at the Ynot Lot: Side A Photo
Filming on the street in Station North: Lena McBean
Installing wheat paste mural with Phaan Howng: Floyd Godsey
Cora Sone band photo: Side A Photo
In doorway at Bloom: Theresa Robertson