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    200Columbus Invitational Arts Competition: Visual Arts Exhibition Preview

    Omar Shaheed - African Rhino

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    The Invitational Arts Competition is an unfunded, all-volunteer initiative to bring attention to local, grassroots, community-focused arts groups, and the way they make a difference in Columbus both socially and culturally. Overall, the Competition features twenty-six different groups in four divisions, Performing, Visual, Literary and Recorded. Through the judging process, excellence in art is promoted and recognized, and the audience is guided to engage more fully and thoughtfully with art. The Competition is also intended to forge connections between diverse and widely separated groups representing a range of genres, styles and audiences, to create a stronger, more unified, densely connected and cohesive Columbus Arts community.

    The Visual Arts Exhibition will take place at the Carnegie Gallery in the old section of the Columbus Main Library, 96 South Grant Avenue, opening on September 6th at 5:30 and running until October 26th.

    Participants:

    The ultimate start-up, 83 Gallery transformed from an amateur display in an uninhabitable basement to a respected Short North intuition in just a few years, all without sacrificing the ideal of being an open door into the art world. 83 exemplifies the best parts of both an art collective and a gallery; it is inclusive and accepting of new ideas and collaboration efforts with other individuals and groups, while at the same time seriously promoting, representing and selling the work of dozens of artists each month. 83 Gallery also does consulting at multiple business to keep local art on the walls and provide additional exposure for its artists. 83 is represented in this show by painter Nick Stull.

    Nick Stull - Always, Infinity

    Cap City Creatives is a dynamic group of visual artists, musicians, photographers, performers, designers, and art enthusiasts from all over the Columbus area that meet up to network, promote local artistic talent, and to plan collaborative art events. Its goal is to build a network of talent geared towards helping each other artistically and have fun while doing it. Members are all ages and from all backgrounds that are working together to support each other. They do a little of everything and love working with each other. CCC is represented by mixed media artist Donna Estep, painter Mitch Lippencott and digital photographer Amy Leibrand.

    Cobenick Studios/CS Gallery has a mission is to provide an opportunity for artists of all levels and genre to present, market, and sell their works. It is made up of working artists and educators supporting each other. It believes that mentoring new artists, networking, and creating an experience for patrons is just as important as profit. It is a non jury gallery that believes that every artist no matter the level of expertise needs a venue to show, thrive and progress. It is also one of the few public book arts facilities catering to paper, fine print, and books. It is a key organization in the ongoing renaissance of the Near East Side neighborhood, and an anchor of the arts community on Parsons Avenue at Oak Street. CS is represented by painters R. Williams and Nathaniel Underwood and photographer Paul Binder.

    Creative Arts of Women is a an open-membership group based in Columbus, Ohio. Members are women who are visual artists, performance artists, writers, arts administrators, arts supporters, and art appreciators. The objective of this collective is to support each member in her individual career, be involved in community service, have group shows, share new work, and network. CAW is represented by painters Lisa McLymont and Amanda Tirey Graham, and mixed media artist Mabi Ponce de Leon.

    R. Williams - Hubbel & Dragon Fly

    Creative Women of Color is a collective of African American women artists whose mission is to educate, encourage, inspire and provide a creative connection with the community for the purpose of advancing the arts. Creative Women of Color views art as a powerful social force; a form of expression that has always been part of the structure of our society. As African American Woman artists, their work is influenced by their heritage and cultural traditions. They are presenting a collaborative fabric and mixed-media piece created by members Queen Brooks, Michol Childress, Judy Dixon, Janet George, Debbie Jackson, LaVerne Kemp, Wendy Kendrick, Piney Liggens, Ruth Maclin, Alisa Mbinkar, Nora Musu, Lynne Prillerman, Antoinette Savage and Michele West.

    Mother Artists at Work is a playful and subversive non-profit association of mothers who are also professionals working in the arts. Their mission is to help their members through the difficult task of keeping career and family in balance, through networking, professional development, and exhibition opportunities. They are presenting a mixed media collaboration created by members Alicia McGinty, Alissa Head, Catherine Bell Smith, Cyndi Bellerose, Erina Ammon, Heather Welch Spadafore, Judy Chesnut Gerdeman, Laine Bachman, Laura Garcia, Lisa Horkin, Melissa Ayotte, Missy Conley, Mollie Hannon and Sharon Dorsey.

    The Urban Cultural Arts Foundation’s William H. Thomas Gallery is the oldest continuously operated Columbus gallery focused around local African American artists. With a thirty year history, it has played a key role in the careers of many of the respected elders of the arts community, including Aminah Robinson, Pheoris West, Smoky Brown, Roman Johnson, Barbara Chavous and many others. In addition to its exhibitions, the Foundation also sponsors a number of cultural and community events and initiatives, including the African Village Festival. It is represented by sculptor Omar Shaheed, woodcarver Chief Shongo Obadina (working in collaboration with painter Benjamin Crumpler), and painter Richard Duarte Brown.

    Amanda Tirey Graham - extra succulent dew

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    Chris Sunami
    Chris Sunamihttp://popculturephilosopher.com
    Philosopher, programmer and musician from Columbus, Ohio. Writes the blog "The Pop Culture Philosopher." Founder of the Columbus Philosophers and the Columbus Invitational Arts Competition, co-director of Harmony on the South Side. Author of "Hero For Christ" and "How the Fisherman Tricked the Genie." Married to artist April Sunami.
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