By Lacey Luce
Happy New Year!
Today I am full of the new-year spirit. I closed out December tired and in need of a serious nap, but now I’m up, full of energy and ready to embrace new experiences and grateful to live in a city that has plenty to offer. So, with this in mind I hope you will forgive me for being a little all over the place with this week’s installment.
As I perused the events on ColumbusMakesArt.com, I felt like the cliché kid in a candy store–everything just looked SO yummy.
The first thing that caught my eye was the new Access Series offering from the Columbus Symphony coming up this Thursday, Shostakovich No. 5 (Music snd Politics). A friend of mine went to the last one of these and loved it. Not only are these concerts budget friendly (tickets are only $15) but Maestro Milanov and the orchestra use the first half of the program to help the audience understand what they are hearing and provide some back story to the piece and the composer. I am a total geek for this kind of thing.
Also, coming up Thursday, Shadowbox Live is opening a new show, 50 Shades of Shadwobox and McConnell Arts Center is opening a new exhibition, Janet Grissom: Life is Art.
On Friday an exhibition is opening at Columbus College of Art & Design that simply makes my heart happy, Dennison W. Griffith: Another World. I had the good fortune to work with (and be inspired by) Denny for many years when he was the president at CCAD. He is one of my favorite people and probably has no idea that he has had an impact on my continued efforts to evolve—professionally and personally. I’ll be there on Friday, geeking out on Denny’s new work in CCAD’s beautifully renovated Beeler Gallery space (located in the Canzani Center).
Friday brings plenty of other treats. Glass Axis is opening a juried exhibition, This Leads to That; Opera Project Columbus is performing Amahl and the Night Visitors at the Lincoln Theater; and I must give a shout out to Sons of Gladys, who will be playing at the Hollywood Casino. Every time a see the name of this Elvis tribute band I smile because I am reminded of two of my good friends who are fans.
I have habit of seeing places and events that I want to check out but then not getting to them because, life. In 2016 I hope to do a better job of doing and not just trying. Top on my list is to finally visit Gallery Denmark. They recently opened The Art of Adam Levene, and the images online have me intrigued.
Finally, we sadly have to say good bye to some stellar shows from 2015. This weekend is the last chance to see Imperfections By Chance: Paul Feeley Retrospective 1954-1966 at the Columbus Museum of Art; Whiteness of the Whale the Cultural Arts Center (which has gotten some great reviews); and The Inaugural Juried Exhibition at the Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery.
Pretty stellar way to kick off the new year, right?
As always I hope you’ll share your arts adventures via #artmakescbus. I can’t think of a better cure to winter weather than scrolling through dozens of photos representing the arts in Cbus.
Lacey Luce is a marketing, communications and events strategist for the Greater Columbus Arts Council who is kinda excited about the new year.
