SOLOMONS, Md., — Fiber artist Felicia Reed has been awarded the 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Short-Term Residency at Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center in Solomons. The residency centers on a community-focused tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through collaborative art-making and a curated group exhibition.
Reed will lead A Bouquet for MLK, a participatory project in which visitors of all ages and abilities create wet-felted flowers to form a large-scale collaborative mural. The artwork honors Dr. King’s concept of the Beloved Community by emphasizing unity, compassion, and shared creativity. Participants will contribute individual blooms during a three-day public event, with the completed installation displayed in the Main Gallery.
The residency also includes Felicia and Friends: A Togetherness Tribute to MLK, a small group exhibition curated by Reed that will run concurrently with the community mural. Both the mural and the group show open to the public on Jan. 17, 2026.
The main public component, MLK Days: A 3-Day Community Art Event, takes place Jan. 17–19, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. Attendees can observe Reed demonstrating the wet-felting technique, then create their own felted flowers to add to the collective mural. The project reflects Reed’s artistic focus on collaboration, transformation, and inclusivity, inviting the community to engage directly in the creative process while considering the values Dr. King promoted.
Reed is a fiber artist who specializes in wet felting. She builds layered, textured compositions using color and form to examine themes of connection and shared purpose. Her pieces often convert basic materials into intricate works that encourage viewer reflection and participation. The A Bouquet for MLK initiative extends this approach by turning community members into co-creators of a unified artwork celebrating belonging and collective effort.
Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center, located in Calvert County, regularly hosts artist residencies and exhibitions that connect regional talent with public participation. The MLK residency program aligns with the center’s mission to foster inclusive arts experiences in Southern Maryland.
The selection of Reed for the 2026 residency continues a tradition of highlighting artists whose work intersects with social themes of equity and togetherness. The short-term format allows focused community engagement over a condensed period, maximizing accessibility for families, schools, and local residents during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.