Royal Visit

Eight educators and actors from the UK's Royal Shakespeare Company were in town last week to work with teachers in local schools and take part in a public panel discussion hosted by Karen Bell, associate vice president and head of the Arts Initiative (above). More than 80 people from the university and community attended the Thursday evening event at South Campus Gateway. The panel included Jacqui O'Hanlon, RSC; Brian Edmiston, OSU; Amy McKibben, Reynoldsburg teacher; and David Rubin, RSC. The discussion focused on the partnership between OSU and the RSC, and the 20 local school teachers who are taking part in a three-year teacher leadership program based on the RSC's Stand Up for Shakespeare program. They posed, below, under the Gateway movie theatre marquis that touted their visit.

While in town, the RSC guests spent time with the participating teachers in a Reynoldsburg elementary school, at Linden McKinley High School and at Metro High School. The British guests also spent an afternoon with the OSU Department of Theatre's new class of MFA actors (below), who are gearing up to be involved in the partnership by working with the teachers and schools.

Notable News

WOSU's ArtZine, produced by Cindy Gaillard, shot a video introduction for a feature about the OSU/RSC partnership (above), with host Charlene Brown (left) interviewing Jacqui O'Hanlon, director of education at the RSC, and Karen Bell, the Arts Initiative at Ohio State. The feature included the video about the unique international partnership that's airing on OSU's main web page.

WOSU theatre critic Joy Reilly interviewed Bell and O'Hanlon for a feature that aired last Thursday. You can listen to the interview here.

Head to Arts in the Alley at South Campus Gateway on Thursday, Dec 3, for lots of arts activities! An opening reception will be held that night 6-9 pm for the solo show Sarah Weinstock: In the Overlap, with drawings and paintings (left) by the local artist and OSU alumna in the Arts Initiative space, 1568 N High St. Her show continues until Jan 22. That same night, Take the Floor will be part of the festivities at the Arts Initiative to celebrate our new wood, sprung floor. Surprise performances to celebrate the floor and join-in-the-fun sock-hop dance party will be part of the evening, says organizer Jenai Cutcher of JamJam Productions.

Across the alley at the Ohio Art League Gallery, the popular Annual Thumb Box Exhibition kicks off the same evening, showcasing small works by OAL members. That show continues until Dec 29. All pieces, available for sale, will be 6 x 6 x 6 inches or less.

The Shoebox, 1570 N High St, next door to the Arts Initiative, launches its featured artist program Dec 3, with an opening reception 6-9 pm for photographer Dave Kube's series Queering the Landscape (above).

Also in the South Campus Gateway community, Dec 3 is a special holiday shopping event at Aveda Institute, 1581 N High St, with all sorts of holiday specials 6:30-9:30 pm.

Looking ahead, ARTillery, the emerging visual artists who are part of the Shoebox space, will host a Holiday Art Market Dec 12 and 19, from noon to 6 pm each day, at the former Skye Bar space in South Campus Gateway. The group is still seeking vendors for those events; to apply go to the website.

Glass Axis, a not-for-profit community glass studio in Columbus, is currently seeking candidates for the new position of executive director. For more information, go to the website.

A panel discussion -- "Catching the Glass Bug: Life as a Glass Blower" kicks off a new series of presentations at Franklin Park Conservatory, co-sponsored by Arts and Sciences and the Institute for Collaborative Research and Public Humanities. The presentation, Weds, Dec 2, 6-7 pm, will be moderated by Kelly Stevelt Kaser, and will include artists Richard Harned, Adam Kaser, Kami Meighan and Dan Schreiber.

Sprucing up the Alley

Arts in the Alley -- the new arts community at South Campus Gateway -- has a brand new look! Banners were installed this week along buildings in the alley and along High Street to draw attention to the area. The installation, created by artist Adam Brouillette, pairs images of passers-by with artwork by local artists, and ask questions such as "Are you paying attention?" and "Does art make your community better?" Arts in the Alley is a forward-thinking collaboration with South Campus Gateway and the Arts Initiative that brings together arts and entertainment organizations within a commercial development, creating a vibrant and open community dedicated to learning, commerce and the arts. Stop down at the Gateway and take a look!


Notable News

Dispatch theatre critic Michael Grossberg devoted his theatre blog to news about the OSU/Royal Shakespeare Company partnership and this week's visit by eight RSC guests to campus. Take a look here.

The Arts Initiative welcomes the Wexner Center to South Campus Gateway! The Wex's just-announced film collaboration with Campus Partners at the Gateway Film Center will bring innovative programming and add to the energy in the Arts in the Alley community.

ARTillery is currently seeking vendors to participate in the Allied Arts Holiday Extravaganza, a two-day event Dec 12 and 19, designed to provide local artists with a venue to sell their work before the holidays arrive. The group -- which recently took up residence in the Shoebox at South Campus Gateway -- is looking for energized and motivated artists who produce quality objects for sale including ceramics, jewelry, photography, painting, printmaking, sculpture and wearable items. The event will be at the former Skye Bar space at South Campus Gateway both days noon-6 pm. For details, click here. ARTillery is a program of Allied Arts sponsored by the Arts Initiative and South Campus Gateway.

Learn the Shim Sham! Talented tap dancer Jenai Cutcher (above) is offering adult beginner tap dance classes every Weds at 5:30 at the Shoebox in the South Campus Gateway as part of the Arts in the Alley activities. Come when you can, pay what you can. More details on Jenai's JamJam Productions website.

Please join the Arts Initiative at Ohio State for A Talk with the Royal Shakespeare Company: "Building Ensemble with Ohio Teachers” on Thursday, Nov 19, 4:30-6 pm, at the Event Place at South Campus Gateway. Karen Bell, associate vice president, OSU, will moderate a panel discussion and open conversation with representatives from the UK’s Royal Shakespeare Company, Ohio State and local schools. A casual reception follows the program. Panel members include Jacqui O’Hanlon, director of education and David Rubin, actor, Royal Shakespeare Company, along with Brian Edmiston, associate professor, OSU, and Amy McKibben, middle school teacher from Reynoldsburg. Admission is free but space is limited.
Please RSVP to ellwood.1@osu.edu.

OSU's Royal Web Feature!

The main page of the OSU website is curently running a video and story about the Arts Initiative’s collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company. The feature follows the first group of local school teachers (above) working with the RSC over the summer, and highlights the university’s commitment to the arts, outreach to local public school children, education and building international relationships.

The piece was beautifully produced by Kristen Convery and Jake Housh in Ohio State’s New Media Unit. It will also be promoted via Ohio State’s social media platforms, and in Connect, the e-newsletter for OSU alumni and donors.

Notable News

Please join the Arts Initiative at Ohio State for A Talk with the Royal Shakespeare Company: "Building Ensemble with Ohio Teachers” on Thursday, Nov 19, 4:30-6 pm, at the Event Place at South Campus Gateway. Karen Bell, associate vice president, OSU, will moderate a panel discussion and open conversation with representatives from the UK’s Royal Shakespeare Company, Ohio State and local schools. A casual reception follows the program. Panel members include Jacqui O’Hanlon, director of education and David Rubin, actor, Royal Shakespeare Company, along with Brian Edmiston, associate professor, OSU, and Amy McKibben, middle school teacher from Reynoldsburg. Admission is free but space is limited.
Please RSVP by Nov 11 to ellwood.1@osu.edu.

Check out the activities in Arts in the Alley this Thursday, Nov 5, 6-9 pm. A number of events are planned that evening in the arts community that's sponsored by South Campus Gateway and the Arts Initiative. The Ohio Art League gallery presents the opening reception of Effervescent, works by Laura Alexander, curated by Somer Mager. The exhibition continues in the gallery until Nov 28. The same evening, the Allied Arts in the Shoebox, across the Alley from OAL, will come to life with music and a DJ, along with a wide range of artwork for sale from local, emerging artists. The Arts Initiative space -- also in the Alley -- will be open with large-scale work by Ian Magargee.