Harmonic Time is a public art installation by Bruce Willen (Public Mechanics), depicting three lesser-known Baltimore jazz heroes of different eras – Elmer Snowden, Ellis Larkins, and Ruby Glover.

This colorful, touchable monument is a counterpoint to traditional “great man” sculptures on pedestals. Open silhouette portraits form a symbolic passage between musical generations, inviting visitors to play, explore, and find themselves within the continuum of art and history. Harmonic Time takes inspiration from the way that music connects us across time and space, along with inverting traditional monumental portraiture, both in design and by seeking to honor of under-recognized figures.

The three musicians depicted in this installation form a trio on rhythm banjo, piano, and vocals across nine decades of Baltimore jazz history:

– Banjo player Elmer Snowden (1898-1973) was a bandleader in the 1920s and 30s who helped launch the careers of Duke Ellington, Chick Webb, Count Basie, and others. Originally a guitarist and reeds player, Snowden first picked up banjo from Baltimore jazz legend Eubie Blake before developing his own signature rhythmic playing style.

– Pianist Ellis Larkins (1923-2002) was the first Black student to study at the Peabody Conservatory of Music. Best known for his 1950s recordings with Ella Fitzgerald, Larkins’ subtle melodies add nuance to many classic jazz recordings of the mid-century era.

– Singer Ruby Glover (1929-2007) grew up in nearby Oldtown. Known as Baltimore’s “Godmother of Jazz”, she dedicated her life to music and to mentoring generations of students in Baltimore City public schools, Towson University, and Sojourner-Douglass College. Her legacy reverberates through the many musicians she taught, collaborated with, and influenced.

Harmonic Time celebrates this musical continuum and honors the individual contributions of three Baltimore musicians who broke down barriers and inspired future generations. “As a musician myself, I am inspired by the idea of musical throughlines – how the artists who came before reach across time and genre to influence future generations” said Bruce Willen.