Where’s Marty? Meet the artist behind Baltimore’s iconic salt box project – CBS Baltimore

Hi guys!

It’s the first day of spring, so what better time to say goodbye to Baltimore’s most famous winter feature, the saltbox? And who better to spend the day with Juliet Ames, the brains behind those memorable salt-box displays?

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Ames is a local artist specializing in jewelry created from broken ceramic objects. Her artwork offers fun ideas for any occasion, whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for Christmas, a birthday, or an anniversary.

But don’t take my word for it–Check out her stuff for yourself. You can find Ames’ inventory on her appropriately named website, ibreakplates.com.

Jewelry aside, Ames spends two months of the year on the Salt Box project.

Somehow: it all started with a lonely yellow box in her neighborhood. Like so many others, it’s filled with a mixture of salt and sand that you spread under your tires for extra grip, or sprinkled on your driveway for a better ride.

There are between 900 and 1,600 boxes of this salt in Baltimore. During the pandemic, boxes were discarded and many, like Juliet’s, showed signs of wear. So she created a fake front with ceramic content, “Salt Box”, and fastened it in.

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And finally. As they say, is history.

The city liked the idea and started encouraging other artists to be creative. Ames coordinated the project spontaneously, and it worked. Social media has helped increase the visibility of artwork and allow people to enjoy ‘the work of Ames and others’.

That is why, in a time marked by so much confusion and uncertainty, these little saltboxes have become a spark of hope and hope for so many. It’s almost as if they say to us, “We can keep a little sense of humor and get through it all together.”

And today, we got a glimpse of the first saltbox console for next winter. This film, made by Ames herself, depicts a good woman you and I both know well. And, of course, it brought a smile to that particular woman’s face.

Marty B!

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