Roy Lichtenstein, Stanley Twardowicz, George Bellows. You’ve certainly heard of them, but did you know that they lived and worked in Columbus? Indeed, they did, and as part of the celebration of the city’s bicentennial this year, the Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery is hosting an exhibition of these and 49 other artists who once called Columbus home.
Anyone who has spent much time in the city knows there’s a creative presence that permeates everything we do here. Whether it’s our large collection of public art, variety of independent shops and galleries, or the vast academic and institutional art community, 100 Years of Art: Celebrating Columbus’ Legacy is a tribute to all those who worked to form this artistic tradition and creative backdrop that helps make Columbus the progressive city it is today.
“The city’s art world perhaps is best characterized by a remarkably easy and dynamic exchange among its diverse artistic communities,” said curator Melissa Wolfe from the Columbus Museum of Art. “Such exchanges characterize the nature of the city’s artistic history. The local has had a healthy and consistent infusion from the national, and has equally contributed significantly to the national scene.”
Employing a wide variety of media and artistic styles, the long list of artists featured in the exhibition—which also includes Hoyt Sherman, Alice Schille, Elijah Pierce and James Thurber—illustrate everything from folk and commercial art, to national artistic movements and local personalities. Together, they represent the rich history and changing face of the capital city’s artistic community.
The show opens today, January 26, and will run though Sunday, April 15. Join us tonight for a free opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. In conjunction with the exhibition, curator Melissa Wolfe will lead a free, informational tour through the show at the Riffe Gallery tomorrow, January 27, from noon to 1 p.m.
On Sunday, February 12, from 2 to 4 p.m. the Riffe Gallery will also host a free family workshop. Jim Arter, a Columbus artist and Greater Columbus Arts Council Community Arts Education staff member, will guide children ages 6 to 17 in creating paintings and drawings inspired by iconic images of people, places and events in Columbus. Registration is required for all attendees. Visit www.riffegallery.org to register.
Admission to 100 Years of Art is free. The Riffe Gallery is at located at 77 S. High St. on the first floor of the Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts in downtown Columbus. For more information and gallery hours, visit www.riffegallery.org or call 614/644-9624.
GCAC Presents is a bi-weekly column brought to you by the Greater Columbus Arts Council – supporting art and advancing culture in Columbus – in partnership with the Columbus Arts Marketing Association, a professional development and networking association of arts marketers. Each column will be written by a different local arts organization to give you an insiders look at the arts in Columbus.
