COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) opens a new exhibition in its Loann Crane Gallery titled From Formation to Murmuration, created in conjunction with the Veteran’s Administration (VA) Veteran’s Art Initiative (VAI) and Whole Health Program, on Monday, Sept. 12. An opening reception will be held from 5-6:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 19 at the gallery located at 182 E. Long St.
From Formation to Murmuration is a collection of two bodies of work. The first is a group show of 10 artists who are leaders in Ohio as art professors, mentors and advocates. Members are astute artists and veterans: they have built their lives committed to their art practice. These artists include Leni D. Anderson, Shawn Beasley, Colin Dearth, Ken Frick, Robert A. James III, Daniel King, Patrick Paquin, Veronica Shields, Mary Skrenta and Ray Wollschleger.
The second body of work is a site-specific national collaborative art installation to honor the innate resiliency of our active duty, veterans, military families and caretakers. Starting in May of 2022, to honor Mental Health Awareness Month, Tandy Leather and partnering veteran’s service organizations hosted an international three-month-long event teaching feather carving to promote resiliency and to end the stigma of seeking mental health treatment. Almost 3,000 feathers were made in solidarity, many of them coming with personal notes and dedications of who the feather was being created for. Over 500 of the 2,700 total feathers will be installed in the lobby of GCAC’s Loann Crane Gallery.
The Veteran Arts Initiative offers multi-disciplinary creative arts opportunities under the umbrella of the VA’s Whole Health program to veterans, caretakers and family members. VAI seeks to foster therapeutic expression, promote resilience and create social connections with purpose. VAI’s mission is simple: confidence through creativity, pride through accomplishment, healing through collaborative activity, and understanding through expression. VAI programs include visual arts, theater, dance, music, writing, group-based contemporary art interpretation, discussion and exhibition.
From Formation to Murmuration will be on view through Dec. 9, 2022. Loann Crane Gallery hours are Monday-Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Thursday-Friday by appointment only. The gallery is also a meeting space and subject to availability for drop-in visits; visitors who are planning a visit are encouraged to contact GCAC at gallery@gcac.org to ensure availability.
The featured artwork will also be available virtually through the gallery website at gcacgallery.org.
Named for the long-time benefactor of the arts and social justice in Columbus, the Loann Crane Gallery is located in GCAC’s offices at 182 E. Long St. downtown. Exhibitions in the gallery are focused on showcasing work by artists from historically marginalized communities.
Mission of the Greater Columbus Arts Council: To support and advance the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. www.gcac.org
The Greater Columbus Arts Council receives major financial support from the City of Columbus, Franklin County Commissioners and the Ohio Arts Council.
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CONTACT: Jami Goldstein
(614) 221-8492
jgoldstein@gcac.org
