Next Generation of Leaders Fellows Announced

The Arts Initiative at Ohio State is pleased to announce newly named members of the Next Generation of Leaders Fellowship. The year-long fellowship is designed to identify, support and prepare the most promising next generation of leaders at local institutions of arts and culture. They got together recently for a welcome reception at the Arts Initiative space (above), where they talked with Karen Bell, associate vice president for arts outreach, and program director Christy Farnbauch, along with alums from previous years of the fellowship. New fellows include Lauren Emond, arts coordinator, City of Upper Arlington Cultural Arts; John Shaw, director of production and fabrication, COSI; Tony Pellerite, marketing coordinator, Wexner Center for the Arts; Ruby Classen, grants and services manager, GCAC; Eliza Jones, gallery director, Ohio Art League; Anna Wuerth, part C program coordinator, Columbus Aids Task Force; Joe Bishara, associate artistic director, CATCO-Phoenix Theatre; Dustin Grovemiller, donor relations manager, CAPA; Geoffrey Martin, assistant arts administrator, Columbus Cultural Arts Center; and Lisa Dent, associate curator of contemporary art, Columbus Museum of Art.

The fellowship will include nine small-group sessions with highly individualized attention to the professional development needs of the participants in the context of the multiple demands of leadership.

Notable News

The Arts Initiative space was lively last Thursday when it hosted an opening reception for the work of Tom Kelly (above). His exhibition, Elegies and Vestiges, is a show about fragments, drawn from literary sources and through the use of found objects. Kelly is a self-taught mixed-media visual artist, who cites lyric writing, mythology and storytelling of ancient and contemporary sources as inspirations for his work. His show continues through November.

The same evening, the Ohio Art League hosted an opening reception for Industrial Lichen, work by Michelle Stitzlein (below), while the Shoebox gallery spotlighted new works by Stephanie Livingston in her show, Plush Apocalypse.

Coming up -- the 6th annual Craftin' Outlaws craft fair will be held at the Gateway Film Center on Saturday, Oct 16, 10 am to 5 pm. Vendors include 50 of the area's top crafters, artists and designers. Activities include screen printing, pumpkin carving / decorating, and candle-making.

October is National Arts and Humanities Month! If you're looking for some ideas on how to celebrate the arts, check out the website here.

Arts in the Alley Hosts Oct 7 Events

Arts in the Alley -- the arts and entertainment district in the alley at South Campus Gateway near the Ohio State campus (High Street at 10th) -- will come alive on Thursday, October 7, from 6 to 9 pm with three gallery openings, live music and a special film offering. The galleries will host free opening receptions for:

Elegies and Vestiges, mixed media paintings (above) by Tom Kelly, in the Arts Initiative space (1568 N High St). The show is a collection of the artist's work that highlights his use of fragments drawn from physical and literary sources. Elegies is a collection of paintings inspired by the surviving work of the ancient Greek lyric poet Sappho. Vestiges is a collection of Kelly's paintings using found objects as well as literary and historical sources. The show continues through November.

Industrial Lichen, work by Michelle Stitzlein, in the Ohio Art League Gallery (1552 N High St). The exhibition is a series of wall-hung sculptures inspired by botanical imagery and created with recycled materials. It continues through October.

The Plush Apocalypse, new works by Stephanie Livingston, in the Shoebox Gallery (1570 N High St), presented by ARTillery. The show continues through the month.

During the evening, there also will be refreshments in the galleries and live music outdoors in the alley. And the Gateway Film Center presents the Columbus premiere of the HP Mendoza comedy Fruit Fly, presented by the film center and Stonewall Columbus. It starts at 8 pm.

Notable News

The Arts Initiative's website is "new and improved" and has a host of information about our endeavors, from the Royal Shakespeare Company partnership and next summer's Scarlet and Gray Shakespeare (below) to details about our emerging artist programs and fellowships. Click here to check it out.

Sketch by Number, Arts in the Alley's award-winning sketch comedy troupe, presents The Monster Halloween Show Spectacular, with comedy and live music this month. Shows are $5 in the Green Room, 10th and High St in the alley at South Campus Gateway. On Friday, Oct 22, there's a 7 pm preview and a 9 pm show, with music by Cap City Pocket. Saturday, Oct 23, includes a show at 9 pm with music by Zak Houston. And Friday, Oct 29, has two shows at 9 and 11 pm and music by Tempted. Check it out!

Special student discount tickets are available to the Thurs, Oct 7, Condom Couture Event at BoMA, 583 E Broad St. There are SRO tickets available for any college or university student for $25; doors open at 7 pm and the runway show begins at 7:30. The popular event features runway fashions using condoms, designed by CCAD students. Proceeds benefit Planned Parenthood. Call 614-358-8730 to purchase a ticket.