Giant Golden Hand
Adam Kurtzman
Jim Rouse Visionary Center, Exterior
AVAM began its "Flicks from the Hill" outdoor family film series in the summer of 2005 with generous support from the Hughes Family. The delightful, 11-foot 'Giant Golden Hand' sculpture by Adam Kurtzman, along with a 32-foot outdoor movie screen were installed on the large wall of the newly dedicated (fall 2004) Jim Rouse Visionary Center. Facing the three-tiered, grassy green slope of adjacent Federal Hill Park, "The Hughes Family Outdoor Theater" was born, and at once, beckoned this 'new Baltimore tradition.' Kurtzman's 'Hand,' giving the illusion of holding the screen twixt its fingers, is seen as a 'Divine Hand' supporting the public movie screenings, which are truly an incredible, urban, communal experience. The resulting natural outdoor amphitheater on historic Federal Hill is capable of easily seating more than 1,000 people with clear visual and audio access. Flicks from the Hill has been listed by the international magazine Travel + Leisure as one of the "World's Best Free Things" and is frequently listed as one of Baltimore City Paper's "Critic's Picks."
