Come to the Alley Thursday

Arts in the Alley Activities! No fooling — Thursday, April 1, is the next triple-gallery-opening-night with live jazz in Arts in the Alley at South Campus Gateway, High Street at 10th. The Arts Initiative space presents Mathematic Abstraction, new works by Carly Witmer (above), curated by Kate Dowell; the Shoebox gallery hosts a show of Columbus images called Iconic Columbus; and the Ohio Art League presents Open House, works by Allison Buenger and Colin McDonald, curated by Amy Koenig. Opening receptions are 6-9 pm. Live music from jazz quintet The Truth will add to the festive atmosphere. Drawing inspiration from Miles Davis to Pablo Picasso, The Truth is a band fueled by the works of masters of all modern art. Led by composer/saxophonist Joe Graziosi (left), it features some of the brightest, upcoming musicians in Columbus. For information, call 247-7050.

The Big Ten Network's latest O-H-I-O program features our OSU / Royal Shakespeare Company partnership and the central Ohio teachers involved in the program. Other spots on the current BTN program explore the real-life possibility of a global flu pandemic with OSU researchers and uncover the little-known habits of Cameroon land herders. Check out the TV program here.

The Lantern just posted an article about the Royal Shakespeare Company and its growing relationship with Ohio State. Read it here.

Save the Date for an ARTillery Art Talk at 7 pm on April 15. Stop by the Shoebox at South Campus Gateway and listen to local artists discuss their artwork currently on exhibit in the Alley galleries. Enjoy some pie, too, says organizer Kate Dowell.

600 Golfers at Gateway

Over the weekend, more than 600 people played Couchfire Collective's mini golf course created by 18 groups of artists at South Campus Gateway. From the Price is Right set and a Big Bird to a farmyard -- complete with "cow pile" hazards and farm-tool putters, the 18-hole course was a fun fundraiser and a chance for the artists to showcase their creativity.



Notable News

Put April 1 on your calendar! No fooling, it's the next triple-gallery-opening-night in Arts in the Alley at South Campus Gateway. The Arts Initiative space presents Mathematic Abstraction, new works by Carly Witmer, curated by Kate Dowell; the Shoebox gallery hosts a show called Iconic Columbus; and the Ohio Art League presents Open House, works by Allison Buenger and Colin McDonald, curated by Amy Koenig. Live music and refreshments will add to the opening festivities, which run 6 to 9 pm.

One of the Arts Initiative's objectives is to support individual emerging artists in central Ohio, and an event last Friday helped do just that. OSU President E Gordon Gee (below) generously hosted a "salon and conversation" at the University Residence for artists and local business and arts leaders. Reps from City Council, the Greater Columbus Arts Council, Experience Columbus and other local leaders mingled with and discussed the state of the arts in Columbus with 30 emerging visual and performing artists. The conversation focused on how to build on the already-dynamic independent arts community here. Above, David Barker of Experience Columbus chats with artists Lisa McLymont (left) and Amandda Graham.

GCAC’s OPPArt (Opportunities for Artists) Series is a way for local artists to connect with each other and further themselves and their work through professional workshops, roundtable discussions, social events and more. On March 25, 11:30 am-1 pm, the series features Jodie Engle discussing the OAPN (Ohio Arts Presenters Network) in GCAC's large conference room, 100 East Broad Street, Ste. 2250. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2010, OAPN invites performing artists to learn more about the organization and how to apply to showcase at the group's annual conference, to be held in Columbus in October. RSVP by Mar 22 by calling or emailing Ruby Classen at rclassen@gcac.org or 221-8406.

Two OSU tap dance classes -- taught by Jenai Cutcher -- produced, presented and performed a "tap informance" for an appreciative crowd that gathered at the Arts Initiative space (above) on Weds, March 10.

St. Patty's Day Comedy Show

The comedy troupe Sketch by Number teams up with Whistling in the Dark Theatre Co. to present a new show -- called Sketching in the Dark -- at South Campus Gateway on St. Patrick's Day. The event includes a comedy show and reading of a Transformers episode, and kicks off at 8 pm on Wednesday, March 17. Catch the fun in the Black Box at the Gateway Film Center. Cost is $5. . . or $4 if you buy a drink before the show.

The Other Paper published a review of two Arts in the Alley exhibitions in last Thursday's paper -- ARTillery's exhibition of print works by Bobby Rosenstock (above) and the Ohio Art League show of works by Larissa Mellor. Read it here.

Community dance event: the King Arts Complex and Ministries in Motion present From Bondage to Breakthrough Dance Concert at 7 pm Saturday, March 20, at the King Arts Complex. Columbus community churches and local dance companies will present dance, mime, drama and music. Tickets available at the King Arts Complex.

Don't forget about this weekend's artist-built mini golf course -- dubbed A-Holes by its organizers, Couchfire Collective. It's open to the public March 19-21 in the Gateway Film Center Lobby at South Campus Gateway (High Street at 10th). Cost is $8 for a round of golf, with coupons good for discount movie tickets included and snacks and beverages close by. Hours are 5 pm-midnight Friday, noon-midnight Saturday and noon-5 pm Sunday. Artist groups include Artillery, Wild Goose Creative, Crafty Cotillion, Junctionview Studios, Primary Colours, Cow Brow, F.A.D., Super Collider Theater, 13 E. Tulane, Zen Genius, Idea Foundry, CAW, CCAD, Cloud Haus, Etsy Team Columbus, Skylab, Mother Artists at Work and Couchfire Collective. For more, go to www.thecouchfire.org

An Artistic Round of Golf?

Imagine 18 groups of creative local artists dreaming up and crafting 18 unique putt putt golf holes. That's the idea behind an artist-built mini golf course -- dubbed A-Holes by its organizers, Couchfire Collective. It's open to the public March 19-21 in the Gateway Film Center Lobby at South Campus Gateway (High Street at 10th). Cost is $8 for a round of golf, with coupons good for discount movie tickets included and snacks and beverages close by. Hours are 5 pm-midnight Friday, noon-midnight Saturday and noon-5 pm Sunday. Artist groups include Artillery, Wild Goose Creative, Crafty Cotillion, Junctionview Studios, Primary Colours, Cow Brow, F.A.D., Super Collider Theater, 13 E. Tulane, Zen Genius, Idea Foundry, CAW, CCAD, Cloud Haus, Etsy Team Columbus, Skylab, Mother Artists at Work and Couchfire Collective. For more, go to www.thecouchfire.org.

Whistling in the Dark Theatre Company invites you to a sneak preview of its new play -- HG Wells: The Science of Fiction, by Dwayne Blackaller. The piece will be presented on Sunday, March 14, at 7 pm as part of the troupe's Sundays @ 7 series in the Shoebox at South Campus Gateway. Admission is $3. The play combines the elements of science, English and theatre, and follows the exploits of a young Wells as he examines questions of scientific morality, the future of mankind and his place in a wildly imaginative universe of possibilities. The play was developed to tour to schools.

The Arts Initiative's weekly radio feature -- the Emerging Artist Studio -- on WOSU's new Capital City Radio station was featured last week in the Lantern. Read about it here. The weekly feature, which airs twice a day on Fridays, also is available on the station's website. A new group of emerging artists in town -- including theatre artist Chris Roche, jazz musician Joe Graziosi (left), theatre artist Emily Bach and visual artist Helma Groot -- were interviewed by host Karen Bell last week; their pieces will be up on the website shortly.

Catch a free dance concert with OSU dancers at 7 pm Wednesday, March 10, in the Arts Initiative space at South Campus Gateway. The program includes one long dance, two shorts and 5 minis, performed by Jenai Cutcher's Tap 1 and 2 classes.