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Artists Selected for PromoWest and Columbus Makes Art Exhibition

in Press Releases April 24, 2017 3 min read

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Greater Columbus Arts Council (Arts Council) in collaboration with PromoWest Productions has announced the four artists selected to participate in the 2017 PromoWest and Columbus Makes Art exhibition. The selected artists’ work will be displayed on the south side of A&R Music Bar in the Arena District. Each artist will be paid a $500 honorarium by the Arts Council and will receive recognition on the installed work. The exhibition will go on view in May, and it will be up for one year.

The four winning artists are: Linda Langhorst, Nicholas Schukay, J. Shepherd and Monty Soungpradith.

Artist statements/bios:

Linda Langhorst (43221): Linda Langhorst’s imagery centers on musicians and musical towns, especially along the Blues Highway. She currently works primarily in oil. Langhorst treats her canvas as though it is a kind of tapestry, weaving bits and pieces of paint into a recognizable image. Artist in Residence at Guitar House Workshop, Grandview Ohio, Langhorst now paints at the shop, surrounded by a community of musicians. Additional paintings can be found at Sharon Weiss Gallery (Short North), Pierre Paul Gallery (Ann Arbor) and Guitar House Workshop (Grandview).

Nicholas Schukay (43215): “Life impacted me with clinical depression. Never pausing my inspiration to create, actually reinforced the emotional aspect of my art. Recently, my personal work is focusing on mental illness. Driven to render a social surrealism piece that represents depression. ‘Hollow.’ Depression is just one mental illness in the wide spectrum of mental health. Knowing people who have schizophrenia to bipolar disorder, I am passionate to create art that represents their inner battles. To expose they are not alone, but ‘We are alone together.’”

J. Shepherd: “My artwork is for every person whose been haunted by a dream, a scent, a memory. Despite their evanescence, these ethereal beasts can keep you up at night like ghosts in the attic. The butterflies in my gut, the sleeping secrets beneath every tongue — that is the place in which I dip my brush.”

Monty Soungpradith (43221): Monty Soungpradith is the principal photographer and owner of Open Image Studio based in Columbus. Open Image Studio specializes in wedding stories, lifestyle portraiture and commercial photography. His images are observant, natural, organic and authentic while eliciting a sense of joy and happiness. His artistic style is motivated by the heart and is a direct reflection of the profound experience of the exact moment he captures.

A review committee of community and Arena District business representatives selected 10 finalists, and the four artists chosen to participate in the exhibition were selected through an online public voting process.

To learn more about PromoWest Productions’ exhibition and to see the work of the finalists and winning artists, visit promowestartexhibit.com.

About PromoWest Productions: Having hosted over 8,000 concerts since 1984, PromoWest Productions is the largest full-service independent entertainment company in the Midwest. Proud to be locally owned and operated for 30 years, PromoWest has focused on bringing Columbus the most eclectic regional and national acts in entertainment as well as showcasing local and developing acts. PromoWest owns and operates EXPRESS LIVE!, Newport Music Hall, The Basement and the A&R Music Bar in Columbus, OH; Stage AE in Pittsburgh, PA and Bunbury Music Festival in Cincinnati, OH. PromoWest also produces PromoWest Live, a weekly TV show featuring live concert performances that airs on NBC after SNL in the Columbus market. PromoWest would like to thank the music fans, the City of Columbus, Greater Columbus Arts Council and its partners for their support over the past 30 years.

About the Greater Columbus Arts Council: Through vision and leadership, advocacy and collaboration, the Greater Columbus Arts Council supports art and advances the culture of the region. A catalyst for excellence and innovation, the Arts Council funds exemplary artists and arts organizations and provides programs, events and services of public value that educate and engage all audiences in our community. The Arts Council thanks the City of Columbus and the Ohio Arts Council for their continued support. www.gcac.org

The Columbus Makes Art campaign is a city-wide, collaborative marketing effort designed to highlight the incredible talent of central Ohio artists.

CONTACT: Jami Goldstein
(614) 221-8492
jgoldstein@gcac.org