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Weekend Warriors: The Snow Isn’t Stopping Me

1/23/19

By Nick Dekker

Sorry, winter-haters… but I say BRING. ON. THE. SNOW. There’s something to love about every season, but in order to fully appreciate my spring, summer and fall, I need some heavy, street-clogging, break-out-your-winter-coat snowfall.

The thing is, as a western Michigan native, snow doesn’t stop me from leaving the house. So no matter how many inches we get, I’m still scanning the calendars on ColumbusMakesArt.com and brushing up on my #artmakescbus hashtag to plan our artistic adventures.

This week includes two epic, long-in-the-making performances. Opera Columbus performs The Journey on Jan. 24, highlighting 200 years of African American music, and nodding to the role of music in the Harlem Renaissance. Then Mark Lomax debuts 400: An Afrikan Epic, the culmination of his residency at the Wexner Center for the Arts. During the Jan. 26 performance, he’ll showcase selections from his upcoming 12-album cycle.

Two new exhibitions are on my radar for this week. ROY G BIV’s annual IMAGEOHIO opened at the Shot Tower Gallery; they’re holding a reception on Friday, Jan. 25. And the Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery opens their first exhibition of 2019, Duo Trio, on Jan. 24.

Our boys loved the Pete the Cat books, so we’re hoping to see Columbus Children’s Theatre’s one-act musical, which opened last week and runs through Feb. 3. Imagine Productions performs the Sondheim classic Into the Woods starting on Friday, Jan. 25. I haven’t seen that musical since high school, but it’s my favorite Sondheim piece.

I love Beethoven’s works, having developed a love for them from my high school band director, and on Jan. 25-26, the Columbus Symphony features their concertmaster Joana Frankel in a marathon of Beethoven’s works. (And you can read this great interview with Frankel here!)

I need to introduce my boys to more classic comedies from Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. The Wexner Center shows a new biography of Keaton, titled The Great Buster, in their film/video theater on Jan. 24 and 25.

Every Saturday evening, the Nest Theatre hosts ComedySportz, a short form improv competition. This type of improv is delightful and hilarious. The teams compete and the audience awards points. Think like “Who’s Line Is It Anyway?” If you’ve never seen live improv, this is the perfect introduction.

Nick is Marketing, Communications, & Events Administrator for the Arts Council. He also leads culinary tours and blogs about breakfast at breakfastwithnick.com. He’s glad he ordered more firewood last week.

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Weekend Warriors: 14 events that are worth braving the cold

By Lacey Luce

1/16/19

I think I was a bear in a past life. When winter hits I have an overwhelming desire to hibernate. This year I am determined to push back on that compulsion, and one of the tools I’m using to accomplish this goal is the arts—more specifically the arts calendar at columbusmakesart.com.

As of this posting, I have a ticket to the Thurber House Evenings with Authors featuring John Kenney. He mc’d an event I went to late last year and had me LMFAO. He has a dry self-deprecating wit and is quite easy on the eyes. It’s tonight (Wed. Jan. 16) and I can’t wait. Also going on tonight (and free) is Ucelli: Four Women at the Short North Stage. The quartet of cellists will be performing new work by Columbus composer Mark Lomax II.

Thursday (Jan. 17) kicks off a lot of events worthy of braving the cold. I am particularly excited about Shadowbox Live bringing back F*(K Cancer the Musical. I missed it when it premiered and I am very grateful for this second chance to see the show, which I have heard rave reviews about from friends. Also on Thursday, Available Light Theater is premiering Appropriate, by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and the Columbus Cultural Center’s Conversations & Coffee series welcomes scenic designer Dan Gray—I find set design fascinating, plus I know that Dan is a delightful human being. Want a little more science infused into your cultural offerings? Checking COSI’s new series, Insider, launching this Thursday.

Friday, Jan. 18, offers The Floorwalkers at Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza,  Storyteller & MIXTAPE (improve) at the Nest Theater, Songs and Sounds of the Harlem Renaissance with Jazz Arts Group at the Lincoln Theatre, and if you need more jazz in your weekend, Saturday, Jan. 19 Chamber Music Columbus brings Harlem Quartet to the Southern Theatre.

Sunday’s offerings include two Columbus Arts Festival performer alumni, G. Love & Special Sauce at the Basement and the Shazzbots at the McConnel Arts Center— this has me thinking of warmer days.

Another way that I am fighting hibernation is more walking, and that’s a lot easier when there are cool destinations that I can walk to. Near work (hello post-lunch exercise) I can go visit Angela Meleca Gallery, which just opened Danielle Julian Norton, Double Yellow Line. I met Danielle when I worked at Columbus College of Art & Design and I admire her both as an artist and a human. Within walking distance of home is Wild Goose Creative. This Saturday, as part of their fabulous  exhibition Diamond in a Rhinestone World: A Dolly Parton Art Show, they are hosting a dance party celebrating Ms. Parton’s birthday.

I’ve listed a lot of events and it’s still just a small sampling of what’s going on this weekend. Find your own reason to get out and about at columbusmakesart.com and share your chilly arts adventures with #artmakescbus.

Lacey Luce is a digital strategist for the Greater Columbus Arts Council whose urge to sleep through the winter is real.

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Weekend Warriors: (Mostly) Family Friendly Arts

1/9/2019

By Nick Dekker

One of my family’s goals this year is to tackle more experiences around the city. This means exploring more of our metro parks. It means taking time to visit local bookstores. It means seeking out more family arts adventures.

My first step, then, is searching the calendars on ColumbusMakesArt.com. I can even search for events labeled as Family Friendly. Here’s what I’m eyeing…

With one glance, I’m seeing a lot of fascinating concerts, theater and public art. On Jan. 10, Blockfort hosts the opening of their latest exhibition, All About Town. They’ve partnered with Goodwill Arts, Open Door Studio and Art Outside the Lines – all organizations working to empower adult artists with disabilities. We have some pieces from Open Door artists in our home already!

On Jan. 12, Six String Concerts hosts a family friendly concert called An Evening with Three Women and The Truth. CATCO’s children’s theater program opens their latest production, Sunshine, on Jan. 11. From Jan. 11-13, the Opera Project Columbus performs The Merry Widow featuring vocalist Kathrin Danzmayr. And maybe we’ll visit the students’ sculptures for Expressions of Emotion, located outside Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School in Grandview.

Of course, there are things just for the adults, too…

On Thursday, Jan. 10, Actors’ Theatre launches a new program called The Drunken Underground. It’s similar to their annual Shakespeare Underground series, except they perform Shakespeare at local watering holes while, uh…. getting in the spirit. This week’s show is Hamlet, and takes place at Pretentious Barrel House, a cool little brewery on the near east side dabbling in sour beers.

That same night, Carpe Diem String Quartet performs their latest at the Columbus Museum of Art. Every performance this year features a different theme, and January’s is titled War and Peace.

One of my goals this year is to better support our city’s improv scene. The two owners of the Nest Theatre perform a fully improvised musical called Here: The Improvised Musical every month. Their first offering of 2019 is Thursday, Jan. 10, and I hope to be there!We’ll see what we discover as a family, and we’ll tag all with #artmakescbus!

Nick is Marketing, Communications, & Events Administrator for the Arts Council. He also leads culinary tours and blogs about breakfast at breakfastwithnick.com. He got a tiny drone for Christmas and has gotten it stuck in the trees twice.

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Weekend Warriors: Kicking off the new year with music, spoken word, exhibitions and more

1/2/19

By Lacey Luce

Greetings and salutations! I find the new year is like getting a new, blank notebook. For a moment, it’s a clean slate and all things are possible. I would like to fill the first page of my new notebook with uplifting experiences—you with me?! Here’s a short list of possibilities that I am excited about.

I keep saying I want to check out Wild Goose Creative’s open mic storytelling night, Speak Easy. This year is the year and the next one is Thursday, Jan. 3  and the theme is “out on a limb.”

Columbus College of Art & Design is opening a new exhibition on Thursday that is near and dear to my heart: 140 Years of Creative Excellence. The exhibition showcases marketing materials (postcards, fliers, catalogs) from 140 years of student exhibitions. I worked at CCAD for a combined nine years. The end of year student exhibition was always an incredible celebration of the work that happened throughout the year. I have many happy memories from those shows. While the show opens Thursday, the reception is Tuesday, Jan. 15.

Gallery 934 is kicking off the new year opening two new exhibitions on Friday, Jan. 4: Issues with work by Mat Kish and Aaron M. Fitzwater and Family Portrait by Timothy Karpinski (Sensing a theme? Just me?).  On Saturday, Jan. 5 the artists will be on hand to talk about their shows and answer questions.

Friday and Saturday are also the dates for the Columbus Symphony’s Russian Winter Festival at the Ohio Theatre, which is part of their Masterworks Series.

There are many, many options for Sunday, including a live taping of Songs at the Center at the Lincoln Theatre. The event is free, goes from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and features Columbus-based artists John Schwab and T.Wong, along with national touring artists Chris Trapper (Boston), Diana Chittester (Cleveland), Olivia Millerschin (Detroit), and Sarah Peacock (Nashville). The show is hosted by singer-songwriter Eric Gnezda, of Columbus.

Natialie’s Coal Fired Pizza also has a day of local music in store for Sunday, including Gospel Soul Brunch with Debra James Tucker, Paisha Thomas and Nikki D from 2:30 to 4 p.m.; and Soul Sunday hosted by Paisha Thomas and featuring Mistar Anderson, from 8-10 p.m.

You can find more events to kick off your brand-new year at columbusmakesart.com. Share your 2019 arts experiences with #artmakescbus.

Lacey Luce is a digital strategist for the Greater Columbus Arts Council who is excited about 2019’s potential.

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Weekend Warriors: Holiday Arts Adventures III: Holiday with a Vengeance

12/26/18

By Nick Dekker

I tend to think of the holidays as a season that spans Thanksgiving to New Year’s. I hate the letdown of a big build-up to just a single day, so I’m a fan of extended celebrations. You know, the 12 Days of Christmas and all that.

So I love seeing how art events — both holiday-themed and not — continue past Christmas Day and into early January. My family and I will probably sneak out for final looks at the Christmas lights and holiday train displays. On Wednesday, Dec. 26 we can rock our faces off with the annual visit from Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

We still haven’t seen Mickalene Thomas’ I Can’t See You Without Me exhibition at the Wexner Center. It closes after Dec. 30! While we’re there, we’ll definitely visit Art & Ecology, an exhibition from central Ohio high school students exploring environmental challenges to our planet.

In our wanderings, we inevitably end up at the North Market, where we can see the latest exhibition on the mezzanine level. This month’s pieces, titled Experiencing North Market, are created by artists from Open Door Art Studio. Catch it before Dec. 31!

We can barely keep up with the musical offerings of Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza. I swear, there’s music every single night. On Thursday, Dec. 27 they’re hosting a songwriter showcase with Carole Walker, Barry Weaver and Dustin Vincent, all led by Eric Gnezda. We may hit that up to experience some great local talent.

Finally, we can always use a visit to the Columbus Museum of Art. They recently opened an exhibition titled Back of the Bus, featuring children’s book illustrations by Floyd Cooper depicting Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her bus seat.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year – all the happy greetings! I hope you discover something new through ColumbusMakesArt.com and share it with others using #artmakescbus!

Nick is Marketing, Communications, & Events Administrator for the Arts Council. He also leads culinary tours and blogs about breakfast at breakfastwithnick.com. He’s hoping he gets Legos and bourbon for Christmas.

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Weekend Warriors: Holiday Arts Adventures the Sequel

12/19/18

By Lacey Luce

The other day I was on an online discussion group and someone asked for arts, sports, and restaurant recommendations for entertaining a visiting 12-year-old. Quickly folks recommended the Columbus Museum of Art’s free Sundays program, COSI and the Franklin Park Conservatory. I added on Mama Mia at the Short North Stage (I think that’s 12-year-old friendly?); Columbus Children’s Theatre’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, and of course a link to ColumbusMakesArt.com so they could search for other events and activities (I was assuming they already knew about BalletMet’s spectacular production of The Nutcracker).

The whole exchange got me thinking about visiting relatives and what to do with them. For adult sibs, aunts, uncles and cousins who you can have a beer with, Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza is going to be a great resource. On Dec. 20 they have guitarist Tom Carroll with Tony Monaco and Andy Carlson; Dec. 21 features Urban Jazz Coalition,  and Dec. 23 The Kells: A Celtic Christmas.

Of course a visit to the Short North is always a good family outing, especially if a few folks still have some shopping to do. If you go, definitely check out Sherrie Gallerie and their Best-of show—lots of local talent to explore. You’ll also find local talent at Hammond Harkins Gallery, which has a small works show up called Small and Wonderful.

Another destination outing idea is the Cultural Arts Center and the Scioto Mile. Visit CAC’s exhibition Ceramics Studio Challenge: Up, visit their gift shop for last minute shopping, walk along the Scioto Mile and enjoy the lights, then grab a bite to eat at one of downtown’s many eateries and invite me to join you, because, as I write this, that is sounding like a really nice afternoon.

If you want something really Christmasy, check out the McConnell Arts Center on Dec. 19 or Dec. 20 for their Mad Mad Men, Swingin’ Holiday Show. It’s worth noting that each show includes a free happy hour before the performance. Now that’s holiday cheer! Also Christmasy, but definitely more of an adult outing is MadLab’s Sketchy XXX-Mas, Dec. 21 & Dec. 22.  Also under the category of much-needed seasonal laughs is always Shadowbox Live. This year they have their traditional and wildly popular Holiday Hoopla and Cratchit, a holiday Jukebox musical. Both of these shows run through Dec. 23.

Whether you are entertaining travelers or just enjoying the arts in your city, have a fun holiday and share your arts adventures via #artmakescbus.

Lacey Luce is the digital strategist for the Greater Columbus Arts Council who is in the middle of her annual “why am I baking all of these cookies!” holiday mental breakdown.

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Weekend Warriors: Holiday Arts Adventures

12/12/18

By Nick Dekker

Oh, ‘tis the season. It’s the wonderful time of year of colorful lights, holiday shows and general merriment. So far my family and I have strolled the light displays at the Columbus Commons and Dragon Lights, and driven through a three-mile display called Fantasy of Lights up at Alum Creek State Park. We already have our tickets to Columbus Children’s Theatre’s production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, opening Dec. 13. Our boys have never seen it, so we’re excited to introduce them to the story!

To fill out our holiday adventures, I’ve searched the calendars on ColumbusMakesArt.com for ideas, and have found some great event pairings – both holiday-centric and non.

We make an annual visit to the Columbus Metropolitan Library main branch to see the Huntington Holiday Train display. While we’re there, we’ll explore the 12th Annual Ohio Online Visual Artist Registry (fun title) exhibition currently in the Carnegie Gallery.

I’m hoping to see the Ohio Village’s annual Dickens of a Christmas event (Dec. 15-16); we can combine that with a visit to the Ohio History Center’s Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythms show.

Same with the Columbus Museum of Art: we’ll take the boys to the Lego displays of Think Outside the Brick and pair that with the Harlem Renaissance exhibition (which was just called out by the Washington Post as a top exhibition in 2018!)

Let me finish with a recommendation for your holiday shopping: give the gift of arts experiences! Buy someone season passes to a local theater company. Give a membership to the Wexner Center or the Columbus Museum of Art. Sign someone up for a class at Glass Axis, the Cultural Arts Center or the Idea Foundry.

And be sure to tag it all with #artmakescbus!

Nick is Marketing, Communications, & Events Administrator for the Arts Council. He also leads culinary tours and blogs about breakfast at breakfastwithnick.com. A couple weeks ago he made a shiny glass ornament at Glass Axis! He’s very proud of it.

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Weekend Warriors: Feel-Good Arts Events

12/5/18

By Jenica Richards

Engaging in the arts is undisputedly good for one’s health. Viewing art can increase one’s ability to empathize and think critically, while creating can relieve stress and boost self-esteem. Thankfully I can count on columbusmakesart.com for arts events, to get my blood flowing and soothe what ails me.

Kick your butt into high gear with the ABBA-fueled musical favorite Mamma Mia! at the Short North Stage, opening Thursday. Every time I watch this show, it bumps visiting the Greek Isles to the top of my bucket list, and the lighthearted plot makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The Harmony Project’s concert this Thursday is sure to produce similar feelings of positivity. Five hundred voices, one orchestra and singer-songwriter Joshuah Brian Campbell will come together under the Nationwide Arena’s roof for The Concert for US: Sing Out. March On. Looking for something a little more low-key for your Thursday evening? 2018’s final Speak Easy at Wild Goose Creative may be just what the doctor ordered. Here you can watch community friends tell short stories, and even exercise your own yarn-spinning skills.

In this day and age, I often find myself reminiscing on simpler times. You know, the times when a wintry Saturday morning involved a bowl of Froot Loops and cartoons. The Wexner Center for the Arts will offer just that at its annual ZOOM Family Film Festival. Put on your Saturday best (e.g. that plaid flannel robe) and bring the kiddos for a pajama and cereal party before starting a hands-on craft or settling in front of the Wex’s big screen. If your wee ones like cartoons, go for shorts like Kid Flix; older tykes might enjoy Sherlock Jr. and Purple Dreams.

When I was but a nine-year-old myself, I starred in Cleveland San Jose Ballet’s The Nutcracker as one of 200 mice. So you can imagine I get a little misty-eyed when the holiday favorite returns to the Ohio Theatre stage. Catch the opening of BalletMet’s The Nutcracker this Friday, and continue feeding your Christmas spirit Saturday and Sunday at the Lincoln for An Unforgettable Nat King Cole Christmas.

Everyone knows music is like chicken soup for the soul, so it’s no wonder that Songs at the Center’s showcase in the round always draws my affection. This Saturday only, Eric Gnezda will host a nationally televised concert taping at the Grandview High School Auditorium for its upcoming season, no tickets required. Need some visual art in your diet? This Saturday marks the opening of Floyd Cooper’s Back of the Bus illustration exhibition at the Columbus Museum of Art, and Blockfort will close its Colorchart show with a vibrant reception on Sunday.

Whether you find laughter, meditation or excitement to be your best medicine, a healthy dose of the arts will surely wet your whistle. Get your creative juices flowing with local art this weekend, and be sure to include #artmakescbus in all your arts fitness endeavors!

Jenica Richards is the festival & events coordinator at the Greater Columbus Arts Council and wore pajamas at least once a month to class in high school.

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Weekend Warriors: Procrastinating the holiday season with 10 festive arts events

11/28/18

By Lacey Luce

Dear friends, family and co-workers. I am sorry to report that there will be no baked goods from me this year. Based on the number of events I see popping up on ColumbusMakesArt.com, I simply won’t have the time.

I know you have grown accustomed to buttery cookies and bars, and fruity candies from me; I even suspect that some party invitations may have been partially motivated by my bakes. Normally I would start work this weekend, but instead I’ll be out enjoying the following arts events:

I’m checking out the Lincoln Theatre on Thursday, Nov. 29 to get little pre-weekend musical inspiration with Tony Hagood and Friends.

Friday, Nov. 30 there is the reception for Generations of Art: The Sunami Family at the Cultural Arts Center and there will be a rarely performed Martha Graham piece during the evening. Also on Friday is the premier at the Gateway of the documentary My Great Day in Harlem—a multi-part series that follows the journey of five Columbus-based artists as they traveled from downtown Columbus to Harlem, New York on a mission to connect with creatives in their respective fields and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance.

Winterfair opens Nov. 30 and runs through Dec. 2. But that’s not the only fine- and craft-art shopping opportunity this weekend. CCAD’s Art Fair is Saturday Dec. 1 as is Holiday Hop in the Short North, which includes an ArtPop pop up at the Joseph AND Winterfest is Saturday and in addition to live music there will visual artists on hand selling their wares at Bicentennial Park (yes it will likely be raining, but so what? We are Ohioans, we put on our wellies, grab a beer and enjoy the show).

Xclaim Dance Company opens Tilt & Turn in Fisher Theatre on Nov. 30 and has shows running all weekend. Also running through out the weekend is Columbus Jazz Orchestra’s Home for the Holidays concert with Niki Haris at the Southern Theatre.

The holiday season is about to hit the ground in a full-on sprint. Rather then stress about what I could or “should” be doing, I think I’ll just lean back and enjoy all the offerings of the season. You can too, find more events on ColumbusMakesArt.com and share the fun you have with #artmakescbus.

Lacey Luce is a digital strategist for the Greater Columbus Arts Council who is wondering if Santa’s elves do freelance work.

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Weekend Warriors: Thankful For the Arts

11/21/18

By Nick Dekker

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. There. I’m just going to say it. I love turkey and mashed potatoes and gravy and stuffing and pumpkin pie. I love the Macy’s parade and football on TV (even though I don’t really watch the football). I like building a fire in the fireplace and making coffee and hanging out with family. I especially love that Thanksgiving is the beginning of holiday season. There’s all the excitement and none of the letdown.

Also, I love that we have a short work-week and get to do fun stuff as a family, which includes filling the weekend with the arts.

But first things first: isn’t the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving supposed to be one of the biggest bar nights of the year? Count me in! I might head to Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza to see Angela Perley & The Howlin’ Moons perform Wednesday, Nov. 21.

Now that it’s Thanksgiving week, we’re officially into the holidays. This weekend we’re hoping to check out Dragon Lights. We’ve visited the past couple years and it always made for a fun evening, strolling through the colorful silk lanterns and enjoying the performances.

Shadowbox Live also kicks off a new holiday musical, Cratchit, on Sunday, Nov. 25. It follows Bob Cratchit and his role in Charles Dicken’s famous story.

This Sunday, Nov. 25 is the Pizzuti Collection’s Free Family Day. It’s a free day to explore the museum and do crafts influenced by the current exhibitions. This Sunday families can create abstract mobiles using recycled materials, inspired by work in the Take Up Space exhibition. While we’re in Short North, we’ll sneak over to the new(ish) (Not) Sheep Gallery for their Small Works Show.

We’ve also been loving the latest exhibition at Highline Coffee in Old Worthington. It’s our neighborhood coffee shop, and they dedicate one wall to featuring local artists. The latest installation includes colorful animal-themed artwork from Parker Smith.

Happy Thanksgiving! Be sure to get outside and experience the arts this holiday weekend. Search the calendars on ColumbusMakesArt.com for ideas, and tag your adventures #artmakescbus!

Nick is Marketing, Communications, & Events Administrator for the Arts Council. He also leads culinary tours and blogs about breakfast at breakfastwithnick.com. He really is looking forward to that turkey and mashed potatoes and gravy.

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Weekend Warriors: Viva las Artes!

11/14/18

By Jenica Richards

The year may be winding down, but to my delight, the arts are turning up. This time of year generally brings about holiday-themed events (and trust me, there are many to choose from), but what fills me with glee is Columbus’ dedication to supporting arts of all shapes and sizes regardless of the season. Here’s what ColumbusMakesArt.com has to say about this weekend’s energy-filled arts offerings.

I used to be a singer myself, but I’m sure I couldn’t hold a candle to Opera Columbus presenting their high-voltage Voice of Freedom. Their second free performance will fill the Main Library this Thursday with a wall of sound, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Harlem Renassiance. If you’re able to witness this powerful piece, don’t forget to walk down the hall and behold How Beautiful Am I one last time; the similarly Harlem Renaissance-themed exhibition, curated by April Sunami, closes on Friday. To continue the commemoration of the Harlem Renaissance, CAPA will host the electrifying Dance Theatre of Harlem on its Palace Theatre stage this Friday.

Just around the corner from the Palace, TEDxColumbus 2018: On the Edge speakers like Scott Woods will stimulate thinking caps at the Davidson Theatre in the Riffe Center, Friday as well. Scott’s lecture will explore the effect of social issues on poetry, so ready your mind for awakening. At the Wexner Center for the Arts, Lars Jan’s Early Morning Opera, a theatrical adaptation of Joan Didion’s essay The White Album, will satisfy your thirst for rebellion. Join actress Mia Barron Friday and Saturday as she performs the provocative essay while accompanied by a well-choreographed house party onstage.

Of course, this weekend would be incomplete without a little spark of holiday cheer. Hammond Harkins’ annual wintertime tradition Small & Wonderful, opening Friday, will feature artists like Dennison Griffith and Laura Alexander. Step up your gift game with wares from Gifts of the Craftsmen, now open at the Ohio Craft Museum. This Thursday, Shadowbox Live will kick off their spicy seasonal favorite Holiday Hoopla, and it’s sure to add a pep to your step. Finally, children and adults alike can marvel at Think Outside the Brick, Columbus Museum of Art’s annual LEGO exhibition. Is that a twinkle in your eye I see?

With these arts tips in hand, you can live your best life this weekend. Add some zest to your holiday, and remember to tag #artmakescbus!

Jenica Richards is the festival and events coordinator at the Greater Columbus Arts Council, whose husband brought home three containers of LEGOs just last night.

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Weekend Warriors: Nine not-to-be-missed events

By Lacey Luce

11/7/18

I won’t be in Cbus this weekend. I’ll be at a conference, sitting and learning and basically being a responsible adult. In a fit of masochistic self pity, I went to the ColumbusMakesArt.com events calendar to see what all I’ll be missing.

I’m particularly bummed to miss the opening receptions for three exhibitions that I’m excited about.

FLUFF at Gallery 934, Nov. 9, is painting and installation work by German artists Vincent Haynes, Anna Nero and Malte Stiehl— Anna Nero is the current artist in residence via the Greater Columbus Arts Council’s exchange program between Columbus and sister-city Dresden. Nero, Haynes and Stiehl have been working together for several years and organized various joint exhibitions including a show in Detroit in 2016 and an Art Lab in Yangon, Burma earlier this year.

The next Blockfort exhibition is Colorchart. The resident Blockfort artists are creating something in their own style, but the catch is that each piece is based on a color that will be blindly drawn in a lottery format. The works will then be hung in the gallery in a rainbow order and will be available for sale. I love the idea for this exhibition and would urge anyone looking to build their art collection to head over.

Nov. 9 is also the date for the artists reception at the Fort Hayes shot Tower Gallery for Point of Departure a retrospective of works by Ron Anderson, whose paintings I absolutely LOVE. Anderson has also invited Talle Bamazin and Omar Shaheed to participate in this show, which celebrates the Harlem Renaissance.

At least I’ll have a few weeks after I get back to catch these shows. Sadly, the same cannot be said for some of the live music performances coming up, and I was recently reminded (at a Jazz Arts Group event) how uplifting and transformative live music can be.

Speakeasy on the Avenue is Nov. 9  at the King Arts Complex, and this amazing immersive event will feature multiple disciplines celebrating the Harlem Renaissance at 100, including MoJoFlo, Dionne Custer Edwards and BalletMet2.

The Columbus Symphony and Columbus Symphony Chorus are performing Handel’s Messiah on Nov. 9 and 10 at the Ohio Theatre.

On Nov. 10 is Ladies Night: Celebrating Women through Music at the Lincoln Theatre.

A few more events on my radar, On Thursday, Nov. 8, (Not) Sheep Gallery and Writing Wrongs Poetry is hosting their first poetry slam, featuring William Evans, Ruth Awad, Fayce Hammond and a mystery guest poet. Nov. 10 the Cultural Arts Center is throwing a free Absolutely Absurd Science Party, hosted by Colubmus-based painter Amandda Tirey. And, Nov. 10 & 11 the Gateway is Hosting the Columbus Veterans Film Festival.

This is just a handful of arts events that you can go to, but I will miss. Maybe you could do me a solid and go to these events and post photos via #artmakescubs? At least then I can enjoy vicariously.

Lacey Luce is a digital strategist for the Greater Columbus Arts Council who will miss you all very much while she’s away.

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Weekend Warriors: Scare Up Some Arts Fun!

10/31/18

By Nick Dekker

I’ve never been super into Halloween, aside from the fun of dressing up in costumes as a kid. I mean, I love the fall and the leaves and the cooler weather and pumpkin everything, sure. But all the scary stuff, horror movies, blood and gore — just not my thing.

But if that IS your thing… Columbus arts organizations are there for you. On Oct. 31, for instance, you can see Bloodthirsty Virgins play at Natalie’s, catch Dracula from Columbus Children’s Theatre or see the special performance of The Rocky Horror Show at Short North Stage. (P.S. Rocky Horror runs all weekend.)

This is all just the start of an arts-filled weekend. I searched the calendars on ColumbusMakesArt.com and discovered so, so much to do:

Hixon Dance performs City Dance, a showcase of contemporary choreography at the Columbus Dance Theatre, Nov. 2-3.

CityMusic hosts the Alonso Brothers, performing classic works from Cuba at the Southern Theatre on Thursday, Nov. 1.

After they wrap Rocky Horror, the Short North Stage launches a production of La Cage Aux Folles that runs Nov. 1-25.

CATCO recently opened Breaking the Code at the Riffe Center, about the life of Alan Turing, running through Nov. 11.

Columbus artist April Sunami opened a new exhibition, Matter and Spirit, at the OSU Faculty Club. The exhibition is free, and runs through Dec. 14.

And this Sunday, Nov. 4 is a special Downtown Art Sunday. You can spend your extra hour exploring CCAD’s Beeler Gallery, Angela Meleca Gallery, the Cultural Arts Center, Riffe Gallery, OSU Urban Art Space and other spots downtown. Best of all: it’s all free.

Now don’t be scared! Get out and explore Columbus arts, and tag your discoveries with #artmakescbus.

Nick is Marketing, Communications, & Events Administrator for the Arts Council. He also leads culinary tours and blogs about breakfast at breakfastwithnick.com. He once went as a weirdo for Halloween. And, no, he didn’t just dress as himself.

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Weekend Warriors: Artists, Work Your Magic

By Jenica Richards

10/24/2018

I’d like to make the case that the last week of October is undoubtedly the best cluster of days that central Ohio experiences every year. In Columbus, “Halloween” is synonymous with “cute pets dressed for trick-or-treating.” We turn costume contests into fashion shows and dance parties. Our local farmer’s markets explode in a big and colorful final harvest. Not to mention, some very wise, highly-cultured people celebrate their birthdays (shameless plug: I turn 28 on Sunday and I’m jonesing for Watershed’s apple brandy). Whether you’re a 614 lifer or a newly transplanted Ohioan, our city’s rich art scene will treat you and your late-fall cravings.

Let’s just be honest, Highball Halloween in the Short North Arts District is the whipped cream topping to Columbus’ pumpkin pie. 40,000 people, characters and monsters will gather to rock out to favorite local musicians on Friday and witness the intricate, ghoulish handiwork of the best fashion designers in town Saturday night. Public costume contests and karaoke will be held both nights. Join our favorite fabulous drag queen Nina West as she hosts this two-day bash, and don’t forget to break out your best glitter—this party is not for the faint of heart!

In the spirit of things that go bump in the night, Opera Project Columbus will grace the Lincoln Theatre stage with The Myth of Faust on Friday and Sunday. This German tale about dealmaking with the devil has been spun for centuries and is sure to send shivers up your spine. Still in the mood for a thriller? Before it closes on Saturday, take a journey through time and stop by To What Red Hell at Angela Meleca Gallery. The exhibition uncovers the mystery of the Ohio State Penitentiary, with ghostly mugshots of death row inmates. Personally, I’m quite fond of the mixed-media piece that illustrates the history of prison toilets.

If you prefer your blood to remain uncurdled, fear not; this weekend will have plenty of spook-less arts events in store. Back for a second year, Unorthodocs will return to the Wexner Center for the Arts screen from Thursday until Monday of next week. Expect this film festival to present a cornucopia of award-winning nonfiction documentaries like Minding the Gap and Hale County This Morning, This Evening.

BalletMet’s Lineage will open at the Davidson Theatre downtown on Friday. Edwaard Liang’s artistic direction will link the work of three prolific choreographers in this emotional triple bill performance featuring two grand pianos on stage. With equally astounding dexterity, violinist Rachel Barton Pine will join the Columbus Symphony in undertaking Paganini’s challenging Violin Concerto No. 1 at the Italian Festival Masterworks Series. It’s no trick, tickets are still available for the Friday and Saturday performances at the Southern Theatre. And I promise, you won’t hear a single “boo”.

Thanks to all these colorful arts events, you can be sure your weekend won’t be a nightmare. If you’re chilling out at the ballet or sporting your best sparkle at Highball, be sure to tag #artmakescbus in all of your unbe-leaf-able adventures (I had to).

Jenica Richards is the Greater Columbus Arts Council’s festival and events coordinator and likes to pretend that Highball Halloween is a birthday party just for her.

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Weekend Warriors: Ten Events to Warm Your Soul

By Lacey Luce

10/17/18

Um, did I miss fall? One minute it was 87 degrees and the next it was 55? Did I take an extended nap? Ohio’s lack of proper fall is letting me down, but luckily, there is plenty to do in the arts scene to cheer me up.

I need to start with an event that, for me, is the big-deal, not-to-be-missed “do” of the season—the opening of the Columbus Museum of Art Exhibition I, Too, Sing America: The Harlem Renaissance at 100, on Friday, Oct. 19.

Curated by author and native son Wil Haygood, this exhibition celebrates the cultural blossoming that occurred in Harlem in the 1920-50s. Featuring works by Jacob Lawrence, Romare Beardon, Aaron Douglas, Augusta Savage, and unprinted photographs by James Van Der Zee, I, Too, Sing America explores the creative, religious, political and cultural activism of everyday life during this period

We have written a lot about events related to the Columbus celebration of the Harlem Renaissance at 100. Dozens of organizations from across the city have created amazing arts events, in all disciplines, around this theme. The I, Too, Sing America exhibition at the museum was the catalyst for this incredible citywide collaboration and celebration.

It’s going to be a busy weekend, so why don’t I just break down nine more events that are on my radar.

Thursday, Oct. 18

Jazz Arts Group is kicking off their season at the Southern Theatre with guest artist Maurice Hines. There are show times through Oct. 21.

Columbus Children’s Theatre is opening Dracula at the Park Street Theater. It runs through Oct. 31.

COSI is hosting their monthly After Dark event (for 21+ aka big kids) and this month’s theme is pick your poison *smiles wickedly*.

Friday, Oct. 19

Anna and the Annadroids is doing a free performance at the Cultural Arts Center at 7 p.m.

MadLab presents The Medes, it’s improv (there might be drinking) of historical events.

Saturday, Oct. 20

Spoken-word artist Sara Abou Rashed has her first one-woman show, A Map of Myself, at the Lincoln Theatre. Directed by Larry Smith (of Six Word Memoir fame), this passionate poet is not to be missed.

The McConnell Arts Center hosts Hixon Dance: From the Ground Up, an immersive dance experience that allows the audience to see the choreography process.

Sunday, Oct. 21

T.Wong is performing from his album The Upside Down at Natalie’s Coal-Fired Pizza.

Reception and artist talk with Melinda Rosenberg at Sherrie Gallerie (3-5 p.m) for the opening of Fanning the Flame.

That’s my two cents on what to do this weekend. You can find even more at ColumbusMakesArt.com. Share your warm arts moments with #artmakescbus.

Lacey Luce is a digital strategist for the Greater Columbus Arts Council who has lived in Ohio all her life, but for some reason is still surprised when the weather doesn’t do what she wants.

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Weekend Warriors: Concerts Around the Campfire and More Goings-On

10/10/18

By Nick Dekker

This Friday night we’re hosting a Canadian Thanksgiving dinner. We estimate it’s the 13th time we’ve held the dinner; a close friend of ours is Canadian, and she’s not always able to get home to celebrate. We roast a turkey, make poutine, crack open bottles of pumpkin ale (my goodness, we sound like hobbits) and enjoy a good time together. I’m building a campfire in the backyard in preparation for the festivities.

Sitting around the campfire and telling stories or enjoying music seems like the perfect thing to do this weekend. So I was quite pleased to discover, through the ColumbusMakesArt.com event search, the Campfire Sessions at Rockmill Brewery. They’re small concerts around the campfire on the brewery’s premises, and this Sunday they feature The Cordial Sins.

And that led me to searching for more activities this weekend, and I discovered…

The Ohio History Center opens a new exhibition in conjunction with the King Arts Complex and the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center titled Black Heritage Through Visual Rhythms. It looks to be a fascinating show exploring the African diaspora and African American culture.

Christopher Burk just opened a new exhibition called The Obscured Landscape at Brandt-Roberts Galleries. I love his work, the stylized streetscapes he paints, his focus on lines and shapes of buildings. To get a taste of what he does, follow @rooflinestudios on Instagram.

ProMusica opens their new season with Naked Classics this Friday night. They’re exploring three composers that used folk music from their homelands in their compositions. The Columbus Symphony also performs the latest in their Masterworks series, focused around the complex work of Leonard Bernstein.

Two new theater productions open this weekend: The Wave That Set the Fire at Madlab and Falsettos! from the Gallery Players at the Jewish Community Center.

And just because it’s fall doesn’t mean festival season is over! This Saturday is the annual B.R.E.A.D. Festival of Arts and Community. The acronym stands for “Bake, Reconnect, Educate, make Art and celebrate Diversity.” This year the festival will feature Tibetan monks creating a mandala sand painting, as well as music, dance, food and hands-on arts activities. Sounds like sure winner for the entire fam!

As you plan your own weekend’s adventures, let ColumbusMakesArt.com guide your way, and tag your discoveries with #artmakescbus!

Nick is Marketing, Communications, & Events Administrator for the Arts Council. He also leads culinary tours and blogs about breakfast at breakfastwithnick.com. He’s looking forward to turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, beer and a campfire.

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Weekend Warriors: When Artists Come Together

By Jenica Richards

10/3/18

There are many great partnerships in life. Rhythm and blues. Pancake balls and Nutella. The new Legoland store and my equally as new engineer husband. Working together makes the greatest things even greater, and it’s no different in the art world. When local experts collaborate, the result is a lot of what you can expect to see this weekend.

Case in point: the incredible team of writers Larry Smith and Sara Abou Rashed. The duo has worked to produce A Map of Myself, by Sara Abou Rashed, Sara’s first full-length theatrical production opening tonight at Denison University’s Herrick Performance Hall. Not able to make it to Granville this evening? The performance will return to the Lincoln Theatre stage later this month.

The Lincoln will be hopping this Friday as CAPA brings the world-famous Harlem Gospel Choir to the Columbus stage, and I can’t wait for all the feels. Pay no attention to the girl behind the curtain; choral music plus Jenica often equals tears upon tears.

If instrumental tunes are more your style, celebrate the marriage of art, science, food and music at Chamber Brews: Celestial on Friday. The Chamber Brews orchestra is cooking up a space-themed program at the Cultural Arts Center to accompany the new exhibition Hypotheses: Art Inspired by the Many Worlds of Science. In partnership with COSI and the Fuse Factory, this show explores the relationship between art and elements of the physical world as we know it.

Ready to turn your thinking cap off for a bit? Enjoy some lighthearted entertainment at the crossroads of musical theater, comedy and horror. This Friday, Club Diversity will open ThanksKilling the Musical, a performance-meets-drinking game based on the motion picture. This is good news, because my hunger for adapted cult classics has been growing since The Toxic Avenger came to town.

I’ve never painted a poem, and to be honest, the idea blows my mind in a why-didn’t-I-think-of-that kind of way. Mixed-media artist Mandi Caskey knows that written and visual art pair well together, which is why she’s created What the Living Know, a graphic adaptation of Ruth Awad’s Set to Music a Wild Fire poetry collection. See the opening reception this Friday at 934 Gallery in the Milo Arts District, then make a return journey to the third-annual 934 Fest in the same space on Saturday. Enjoy performances, Jeni’s ice cream and almost as many murals as this month’s Gallery Hop (see what I did there?). This Saturday’s Hop hosts a special treat: a collaborative exhibition by Creative Women of Color called Nevertheless, She Persisted. The name alone makes me feel empowered! The show will open on Saturday at the Sean Christopher Gallery and will feature work by local African-American women artists, joining together in solidarity to vocalize the issues of race and gender through a variety of mediums.

There you have it, folks; a weekend full of comradery and good art. Grab your best bud and paint the town red together, because nothing compares to watching creative teamwork unfold with someone by your side. Whether your artistic adventures are enjoyed solo or collaboratively, be sure to tag #artmakescbus and share your story with the world.

Jenica Richards (previously Money) is the festival & events coordinator at the Greater Columbus Arts Council. If there’s one thing she won’t share, it’s ramen. Ramen is a private journey.