Solidarity

Solidarity is an original mixed media painting by Wendell Supreme Shannon, commissioned by a third-generation longshoreman. Using a stylized, geometric abstraction and vibrant color palette, Shannon captures the ever-changing visual landscape of the Port of Baltimore. Drawing from his own 10-year experience as a member of ILA Local 333, the artist presents an intimate and dynamic depiction of longshore life—highlighting the movement of containers, the vast steel cranes, and the waterfront’s shifting skies across different times of day and weather conditions. The backdrop, composed of interlaced patterns of black and blue, echoes both structure and fluidity, referencing labor, unity, and the port’s crucial economic role. The painting gained historic and emotional significance following the 2024 Key Bridge collapse, when it was featured prominently in efforts to honor the lives and labor of Baltimore’s maritime workforce. It was later acquired by the Baltimore Museum of Industry, where it now stands as a visual emblem of resilience, remembrance, and the community spirit of the region’s working-class heroes. 
 
Canvas Print   |   24" x 36"