Description

Baltimore, Found: Blackout Zine Kit

Make something new from something old.

Explore Baltimore’s history through six artist-designed zines made from historic maps, photographs, and forgotten texts—and then transform them into your own handmade works of art.

The Baltimore, Found Blackout Zine Kit is a grab-and-go creative experience for anyone who loves paper, collage, book arts, poetry, history, or simply making something with their hands. No art experience is required. Open the kit, choose a zine, and start creating.

Each of the six zines begins with public-domain Baltimore imagery and historical texts, carefully selected and paired with original layouts and creative prompts. You’ll find historic maps, utility photographs, vintage imagery, and fascinating texts—including writings about divination and early scams. Using a black marker, you can uncover unexpected words and phrases, create blackout poetry, add collage elements, and turn the original material into something entirely your own.

What’s Inside

• 6 unique Baltimore-inspired zines
• 1 thin black permanent marker for creating blackout poetry
• 1 glue stick
• A selection of scrapbook ephemera, including decorative papers and stickers
• Step-by-step instructions to guide your creative process

Every kit contains everything you need to get started. Just open it and make.

What You’ll Create

There is no single “right” way to use the kit. Black out words to reveal a poem. Cut and rearrange pieces. Add collage. Layer images and text. Fold, glue, experiment, and see what emerges.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s discovery.

Inspired by Baltimore History

The source materials in these zines come from the public domain and include historical images and texts connected to Baltimore. Sources and citations are included so you can explore the original materials and learn more about where the pieces of each zine came from.

This collection brings together found poetry, collage, zine-making, book arts, and local history in one tactile creative experience.

Perfect For

• Creative afternoons at home
• Art and writing activities
• Book clubs and creative groups
• Teachers and librarians
• Zine and book-art enthusiasts
• Baltimore history lovers
• Journaling and mixed-media artists
• Gifts for creative people
• Anyone who wants to try blackout poetry

No previous experience with zines, poetry, or art is necessary.

A Little Art. A Little History. A Lot of Possibility.

The best part of working with found materials is that you never quite know what you’ll discover.

Baltimore, Found invites you to look at familiar—or forgotten—pieces of the city in a new way, find the words hiding inside them, and make something that didn’t exist before.