When walking into the Columbus Museum of Art, 480 E. Broad St., on a recent Thursday, you could hear the recognizable sound of laughter and music as you approached the entrance. Peeking into the outdoor garden space brought a welcome sight – an artist at an easel, a DJ spinning top-40, and fancy cocktails being enjoyed by visitors sitting at tables tucked between the trees around The Mountain, a sculpture and fountain that serves as the centerpiece of the Museum’s outdoor sanctuary.
After a year of uncertainty, this scene can’t help but give a feeling of optimism for a bright summer ahead. The Museum has recently launched BAM Thursdays, a weekly opportunity to gather with friends and celebrate art in a safe, socially-distant way. BAM stands for Bar-Art-Music and happens every Thursday evening from 5 – 9 p.m. through October.
“We’re excited to offer BAM Thursdays this summer” says Nannette Maciejunes, Executive Director and CEO of Columbus Museum of Art. “People have been looking for ways to safely connect, and our Museum garden is truly a hidden gem. We hope people will stop by to enjoy a cocktail and experience great local art with us!”
The local creative community is an important part of BAM Thursdays as well. Featured artists will be creating work live on the first Thursday of each month from 6 – 8 p.m. In April, artist Shawn Augustson shared his work, which he describes as Post Traumatic Expression™; fashion designer Tracey Powell wowed with a floral-inspired runway show; and DJs Moxy Martinez and William Alexander set the mood with great music.
May features artist Khaila Carr, a graduate of CCAD whose work is influenced by color, dreams, love, psychedelia, and her Filipino-American heritage. The Museum looks forward to featuring many more of Columbus’ talented artists and musicians throughout the summer.
Every Thursday will offer fresh libations, great art and lively music at the Museum. Visitors are invited to sip and vibe with friends in the Museum’s outdoor garden space, with limited seating also available inside Schokko Café.
The event is free and open to everyone, and for those interested in visiting the galleries, Museum admission is only $5 on Thursday evenings or free for Museum members.
For more information and to view the current schedule, visit columbusmuseum.org.
This article is brought to you with support from the Dublin Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Visit Dublin Ohio serves as an economic driver for the City of Dublin attracting visitors and events that generate jobs and global awareness of Dublin.
