Community Arts Partnership Awards
2009 Artistic Excellence Winner:
The Ohio State University College of the Arts for The OSU Urban Arts Space and opening exhibition Midnight Robbers: The Artists of Notting Hill
An estimated 1,200 people crowded the historic Lazarus building on February 8, 2008 to celebrate the grand opening of the Ohio State University College of the Arts’ Urban Arts Space, a newly renovated 10,000 square-foot multimedia arts space. The opening also commemorated the exhibit Midnight Robbers: The Artists of Notting Hill Carnival, complete with musical ensembles and decorated stilt-walkers. The exhibit, curated by OSU Theater Professor Lesley Ferris and Middlesex University’s Ruth Tompsett, brought a taste of the London area’s historic Carnival to central Ohio. Capturing the Mardi Gras-like spirit of this festival, Midnight Robbers showcased the work of international Carnival artists, including costumes, photographs, video displays and sculpture. The exhibit embodied OSU Urban Art Space’s mission to bring university arts to the community as artists and faculty led mask-making and dance workshops and a guided tour through the exhibit.
Midnight Robbers, along with other exhibitions such as Sid Chafetz: Engaging the World, provide a gateway to the university through the arts, and the OSU Urban Art Space has made a significant mark on downtown. “The space will hopefully become a very dynamic community resource,” said Karen Bell, OSU's Vice President of Outreach and Engagement. “This space is just the little drop of creative energy for Downtown, and we hope it pioneers other good things.”
2009 Artistic Excellence Nominees:
Columbus Dance Theatre
New York Preview
On January 4, 2008, Columbus Dance Theatre performed New York Preview, an evening of music and dance that culminated in a performance of …and the rest is silence. This work, from which the group performed a 10-minute section at a showcase in New York one week later, is a contemporary ballet that tells the story of a family torn apart by war. …and the rest is silence, written by CDT Artistic Director Tim Veach, is a multimedia performance that features dancers silhouetted against a backlit screen depicting images of war compiled by videographer Kevin Steele. Combining intricate partnering and athletic movement with a reduction of Philip Glass’ Violin Concerto by the Carpe Diem String Quartet, Veach’s portrait powerfully depicts the effects of war on family. New York Preview represents the blending of modern dance with a live musical score, creating a moving, multidimensional production. “We’re very excited about going (to New York),” said Carpe Diem violinist Charles Wetherbee. “It’s a wonderful example of how collaboration between two arts organizations allows us to do something extraordinary.”
Columbus Museum of Art
Objects of Wonder from The Ohio State University
The Columbus Museum of Art, in partnership with The Ohio State University, presented the exhibition Objects of Wonder from the Ohio State University as a showcase of the collection from both institutions, which have been compiling objects, knowledge and experiences since the 1870s. From September 26, 2008 through January 11, the exhibition showcased a wide range of collected items and artwork that have been used to engage the imagination, document history or simply carry out some mechanical purpose. Inspired by the German concept of wunderkammer, or “cabinet of curiosities,” Objects of Wonder invited visitors to look upon an immense collection of various natural and manmade objects from pop culture to prehistory. Whatever their origin or purpose, these objects tell many stories. Their very existence marks an intersection of all corners of the human experience, linking popular culture, creative endeavor, scientific discovery, history, commercialism and technology in a dynamic story of our shared history.
The exhibition brought together more than 700 objects from 34 different collections at Ohio State – from doctor's bags to eyeglasses owned by Abraham Lincoln to photographs of Marilyn Monroe - making it the single largest exhibition in the Columbus Museum of Art’s history. “Objects of Wonder was an amazing accomplishment," said William I. Ausich, Director of the Orton Geological Museum at Ohio State. "It captured the deep legacy and importance of Ohio State collections, a glimpse of the accomplishments and work of various people who made these collections possible, and helped to bring the disparate corners of The Ohio State University closer together."
MadLab Theatre
The Angels of Lemnos
One of MadLab Theatre’s most successful and compelling undertakings, The Angels of Lemnos explores the human capacity for forgiveness and redemption in the face of dire circumstances. Addressing the sensitive issues of child abuse, homelessness and developmental disability, Chicago playwright Jim Henry’s two-act drama follows the life of the child-like Nathan Spandrel, played by actor Andy Batt. “Nathan is so endearing to the audience,” said Batt. “Amidst all the horrible things that have happened to him in his life, he’s still a fairly happy-go-lucky character who tries to see the best in people and life.” Nathan searches for a “Gift from God” promised to him long ago by his fifth grade teacher. Coming upon this “gift” in the form of an infant abandoned in a dumpster, Nathan believes it to be an angel fallen from heaven, seeing it as his purpose to nurture it until they can both float back skyward. MadLab’s production of The Angels of Lemnos ran — quite successfully — from March 6-29, 2008. Through MadLab’s technical and artistic innovation as well as Batt’s compelling interpretation of this tragic character, The Angels of Lemnos presents a powerful narrative of depravity and reconciliation. The Other Paper named The Angels of Lemnos as the Best Columbus Drama of 2008. “Director Nikki Smith’s production of Jim Henry’s dark, flashback-laden script was atmospheric and fluid,” said critic Richard Ades. “The fact that it was shoehorned into MadLab’s small performance space made it an especially impressive achievement.”
Short North Business Association
Art al Fresco
Art al Fresco is a celebration of art and creativity in Columbus that brings all forms of artistic expression and contemporary culture into the public space of the Short North. First launched last year by the Short North Business Association, Art al Fresco combines visual and performance artists from across the country in an effort to bring the artistic experience out of the gallery, spilling it onto the streets. “It brings art that much closer to the public,” explains artist Alison Coleman. “Instead of just going into a gallery, it expands art into public space.”
The event features, for one afternoon and evening, four key elements that take place in stores, restaurants, parks and sidewalks throughout the Short North. The Usual Suspects offers a collection of artwork in over 40 traditional venues, including galleries, boutiques, restaurants and salons. PeeP Show features artists and performers in storefront windows along High Street, where patrons can witness firsthand the creation of artwork by some of Columbus’s premier artists. Unexpected Guests openly offers any aspiring artists the chance to grab their supplies and find a vacant spot along High Street where they can create and display their artwork. Summer Games, an “adult recess” held in Goodale Park, aims to free the inner child of participants through large-scale games of capture the flag, freeze tag and dodge ball. Art al Fresco celebrates the artistic spirit of the Short North, the sharing of public spaces and the accessibility of the artistic experience.
