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Gallery Hop last night was great! The weather was gorgeous and I kept running in to people I knew every block or so. This is why I love Columbus!
And if you haven't checked out the show at the Ohio Art League gallery yet, you should go! Drew Jones, a friend of mine from the Art Ed program at OSU, is the one who paints the landscapes. They are just abstract enough to be interesting, very painterly and ethereal.
Hope Weekend was very impressive. So many people worked hard to put this together. The auction at the Art Exchange looked AMAZING!! I caught the tail end (no pun intended!) of Two Cow Garage and they were excellent as well.
Here is some press about the event:
NBC4 wroteGallery Hop Draws 'Hope' For Widomski
By Ashley Brown
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Gallery Hop in the Short North will host a "Hope Weekend" for Rachel Widomski, the server at Haiku Restaurant who was severely injured after being run over by a dine-and-dash customer, NBC 4 reported.
A number of businesses will take part in the Hope Weekend fund-raising campaign, which runs Friday and Saturday. Art auctions and a benefit concert will take place in an effort to help Widomski, an art student at The Ohio State University, pay her medical bills.
Widomski and her boss were running after a man who reportedly left without paying his bill at Haiku when the driver allegedly hit them both with his car in the parking lot.
The Columbus Dispatch wroteInjured woman on minds of Gallery Hop patrons
Silent auction, donated tips go toward care for hit-and-run victim
Sunday, June 8, 2008
By Bobby Pierce
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
John Ohlinger and his daughter, 8-year-old Sarah Marrone, write a message of hope for Rachel Widomski on a large scroll at the corner of Russell and N. High streets in the Short North.
The Short North's support for Rachel Widomski mixed with Gallery Hop last night at events that showcased her artwork and raised money for her recovery.
The Art Exchange gallery held a silent auction of more than 30 pieces of art with all proceeds going to The Rachel Widomski Medical Care Trust. The 28-year-old woman, who also worked as a bartender, was paralyzed from the waist down when she was struck on May 15 as she tried to stop a man leaving the Haiku restaurant at 800 N. High St. without paying a bill of more than $100.
Columbus police say the man backed over her and a co-owner of the restaurant in a Jeep Cherokee.
"We have some very generous artists in this town," said Jen Adrion, a member of the Couchfire Collective, a local artists group Widomski worked with. She said many of the donated pieces would retail for more than $400.
Widomski's own work, including a self-portrait, also was on display at the gallery.
"It's good to see her art and great art donated for her," said Kristin Meyer, a former classmate of Widomski's at Ohio University who owns the Art Exchange. "We had over 100 artists offer to donate their art."
Widomski most recently was studying fine art at Ohio State University.
"Throughout the district people are talking about Rachel," said John Angelo, executive director of the Short North Business Association. "I am really struck with the level of awareness and generosity; it is the epitome of community."
Servers at restaurants in the Short North donated their tips and collected money for Widomski using more than 100 tips jars, Angelo said.
A reflection area at Russell and High streets was staffed last night by friends and former OU classmates of Widomski's. People were encouraged to write notes to be delivered to her or to sign one of two large banners offering good wishes.
Jon Ohlinger and his daughter Sarah Marrone stopped to write words of encouragement. Ohlinger said Widomski once worked for him at Guess Jeans and he was shocked by what had happened to her.
"People are writing heartfelt notes," said Nicole Bursh, a former roommate of Widomski's. "Someone who was paralyzed last year came out just to give support."
Family members wore shirts with a painting of Widomski's on the back. Her uncle John Frano said she started her first rehabilitation session yesterday at Ohio State University Medical Center.
Michael A. Rose, the man accused of hitting Widomski and two others, including a patron who tried to stop him, remained in the Franklin County jail last night. He has been indicted on a count of aggravated robbery and four counts of felonious assault.
Unfortunately, the night ended with tons of sirens and helicopters and my friends and I were wondering what was going on. Here's that story:
NBC4 wroteLate Night Shooting Turns Fatal In Columbus
By Laurie Omness
COLUMBUS, Ohio--Last night at approximately 11:03 p.m., the Columbus Police were dispatched to N. Fourth and First Avenue in regards to a shooting. When officers arrived, they found the victim lying in the street with a gunshot wound to the chest. The victim was then transported to Grant Medical Center and shortly died from his injuries.
Homicide Sergeant Dana Norman told NBC 4 that the victim was shot in the chest by an unknown suspect. The suspect then ran off and was possibly seen getting into a dark colored car. Anyone with information about this homicide is asked to call the Homicide Squad at (614) 645-4730.
This is the 35th homicide in Columbus in 2008.
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