The Arts Initiative at Ohio State

Alison Bomber Directs Othello

2011-02-07T10:39:00.000-08:00

Alison Bomber, (above) the voice and text coach for the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon in England, calls her chance to spend winter quarter at Ohio State "happy serendipity." She is in residence in the Department of Theatre, where she's directing nine MFA graduate acting students in a production of Shakespeare's Othello, which opened Feb 10. Her residency is part of the larger partnership between Ohio State and the RSC. "I decided to seize the opportunity," she says. "It fit in well with my schedule at the RSC, and I already had a strong relationship with the MFA actors from their work with the RSC last summer. This was the perfect opportunity for me to stretch my directing muscles."

The MFA actors have created an ensemble performance for Othello, which runs through Feb 26. Bomber describes the play as very passionate, dealing with issues of race, of sexual jealousy, of high passion. "It's the madness of love and how close love is to hate," she says.

Working with the OSU students has been a joy, adds Bomber. "The MFAs are great, there is such a generosity among them in the rehearsal room," she says. "They have a strong relationship and a strong respect for each other's work. I'm pushing them in new directions, and they're fantastically open to that. It's a playful, joyous, creative room."

Othello is being presented in the Roy Bowen Theatre, Drake Performance and Event Center. In addition, several matinees are being performed for high school students. And what might those young people expect?

"I really hope they'll come and enjoy the play. It's a cracking good story!" Bomber says. "I hope they'll say they can't believe Shakespeare could be so much fun, so exciting, so dramatic."

(Photo above, Moopi Mothibeli as Othello, and Charlesanne Rabensburg as Desdemona. Below, Mothibeli with Kevin McClatchey as Iago.)

Notable News

The Department of Theatre's production of Othello and the RSC's Alison Bomber, guest director, have been garnering a good deal of coverage lately in the media, including a Columbus Dispatch Sunday Arts article, an OnCampus story, and an Artzine video feature.

On Monday morning (Feb 14) (left to right) teacher Amy McKibben, MFA actor Moopi Mothibeli and Alison Bomber were guests on the WOSU radio program All Sides with Ann Fisher (far right). They were joined by RSC education director Jacqui O'Hanlon by phone. The program is rebroadcast the same evening at 8 pm on 89.7 FM and can also be heard on the WOSU website.

Sixth Graders Learn Shakespeare Desk-Free

2010-12-03T09:05:00.000-08:00

The first thing Sandy Guinto (above) did when the school year started was to remove every desk from her 6th grade language arts classroom at Waggoner Road Middle School in Reynoldsburg. Out in the hallway the desks went. Inside the room she arranged all of the students’ chairs in a big circle with ample room in the center for active learning.

Guinto is one of 38 Columbus-area teachers involved in a program that’s at the heart of a partnership between The Ohio State University and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Spearheaded by The Arts Initiative at Ohio State, the professional development program is transforming the way children are taught and is based on the RSC’s renowned “Stand Up for Shakespeare” program, which advocates “Doing Shakespeare on Your Feet; Seeing it Live; and Starting it Earlier.”

“It was very scary to start this process,” Guinto admits. “As an educator, we are taught how to arrange desks so that classroom management is easier. When the desks were gone, all of the safety of what I had known for management went out the window. But I jumped in and have been learning ever since.”

She adds, “It is unbelievably amazing as I watch students – who consider school to be extremely hard – work with Shakespeare’s text and understand it. They have debates about why a character says or does things. They are challenged to have an opinion and be able to justify it. They beg to do Shakespeare! How many times does a teacher get to hear that?”

One of her students had a similar reaction to the reconfigured classroom. “At the beginning of the year I was a little confused when I walked into Mrs Guinto’s room and there were no desks. I was like, where are the desks? But now I realize it’s really fun (to be active) without desks. And Shakespeare is fun!”

Guinto’s class is studying Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and using the play as a springboard for various school subjects. For example, they are just starting to work on their first quarter essay about their own “four personal worlds” based on the overlapping worlds that the fairy Puck experiences in the play.

They also are investigating Shakespeare’s characters. While Guinto was in Stratford-upon-Avon last summer, 10 master of fine arts acting students from Ohio State also went through the RSC training program, and are now visiting the schools to help with acting processes. One Ohio State student, Alison Vasquez, (right) recently came to Waggoner Road Middle School.

“Alison came to my classroom as Hippolyta so the students could interview the character,” Guinto explains. “She did an awesome job fielding some difficult questions posed to the Queen of the Amazon. The students were mesmerized when Alison ‘became’ Hippolyta and demonstrated how she can switch her voice to different dialects. One student was so captivated with an actor being in our room that she declared she wants to act when she grows up.”

Sandy Guinto is one of 38 Columbus-area teachers in grades 1-12 who are part of an intensive teacher professional development program called Stand Up for Shakespeare America, which is at the core of the unique partnership between The Ohio State University and the UK’s Royal Shakespeare Company.

Notable News

The for/word company, in association with Whistling in the Dark Theatre Co., presents a staged reading of a new play by Jen Schlueter. The Little Book, featuring Christina Ritter, Christopher Roche and Emily Bach, will be presented Sunday, Dec 5, at 3 pm in the Arts Initiative space in the South Campus Gateway alley (across from OAL and the Green Room). The play chronicles the story of EB White, once best known as the voice of The New Yorker, and later as the author of Stuart Little. It follows White's professional and personal experiences with two powerful women, and takes a look at the clash of the modern world with the Victorian, the tension between style and sentiment, and a battle over a book about a little mouse. Admission is free.

Don't forget the award winning Sketch by Number troupe presents The Eight Reindeer Monologues, a play by Jeff Goode, at 7:30 pm on Dec 9, 11 and 12 at the Green Room, in the South Campus Gateway alley. Cost is $10 at the door.

And Artillery Ohio presents its Holiday Art Market on Saturday, Dec 11, from 10 am to 5 pm at the Gateway Film Center at South Campus Gateway. Plenty of artist vendors will be offering items for your gift-buying browsing, from paintings and ornaments to pottery, glass and jewelry.

Shakespeare at Lunch

2010-11-22T10:16:00.000-08:00

Ten sixth grade students from Hannah Ashton Middle School in Reynoldsburg (above) along with three MFA acting students from Ohio State performed a wee bit of Romeo and Juliet (below) to guests at OSU President Gee's pre-game lunch event on November 13. The children are students of Amy McKibben, who is one of 38 local schoolteachers involved in the OSU/Royal Shakespeare Company partnership and teacher professional development program called "Stand Up for Shakespeare America." The students performed part of Act I, Scene I for about 300 guests, capped off with a staged fight by MFA actors Ibsen Santos and Kevin McClatchey and a wrap-up to the scene by MFA Charlesanne Rabensburg.

The event not only let the kids spotlight some of the Shakespeare techniques they've learned, but also served as a kick-off for Ohio State's summer 2011 fund-raising initiative in New York City. Ohio State will join Lincoln Center Festival and Park Avenue Armory next summer to present the entire RSC ensemble in a repertory of plays for six weeks. On July 12, 2011, Ohio State will thank major donors and generous alumni for their financial support of Stand Up for Shakespeare America with the Scarlet and Gray Shakespeare Gala, a private performance of the RSC's celebrated new production of Romeo and Juliet at the Armory.

The announcement about the initiative appeared in the Columbus Dispatch the day after the lunch event. Read it here.

Notable News

Mark your calendar for a double gallery opening on Thurs, Dec 2, 6-9 pm. The Arts Initiative is co-sponsoring the Ohio Art League's annual Thumb Box Exhibition (below), and the show will fill both galleries in the alley at South Campus Gateway. Stop by and see a wide range of "small works" by local artists.

Artillery Ohio will present its Holiday Art Market on Saturday, Dec 11, from 10 am to 5 pm at the Gateway Film Center at South Campus Gateway (High St at 10th). More than 30 artists will be offering original and affordable gifts for the holiday season, from pottery and knitwear to jewelry and more. The market will be followed by the Ohio Art League's Holiday Mirror Ball from 7 to 11 pm in the gallery next to the film center.

Sketch by Number presents its holiday show -- The Eight Reindeer Monologues -- at 7:30 pm, Dec 9, 10 and 11 at the Green Room at South Campus Gateway. The "wickedly funny" show, by Jeff Goode, focuses on the viewpoint of the eight tiny reindeer when something isn't right at the North Pole. Tickets are $10. Email tickets@sketchbynumber.org for reservations.

First Grade Students Embrace Shakespeare

2010-11-16T08:21:00.000-08:00

Walk down the hallway of one urban elementary school in Columbus OH, and on one side you see typical first-grade artwork and writing samples about brown bears and red apples. The other side of the hall, however, is adorned with hand-drawn maps of Verona, Italy, and stories carefully hand-written from the viewpoint of various characters in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Inside the classroom are hand-colored portraits of William Shakespeare and wall-size excerpts from the text itself, plus huge paper castles labeled “Montague” and “Capulet.” Are these 6-year-olds at South Mifflin Stem Academy really learning Shakespeare?

Oh, yes. And they absolutely love it. Their teacher, Art Isennagle or “Mr. I” as he’s known, is one of 20 Columbus-area teachers who trained over the summer in a program at the heart of a partnership between The Ohio State University and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Spearheaded by The Arts Initiative at Ohio State, the professional development program is transforming the way children are taught and is based on the RSC’s renowned “Stand Up for Shakespeare” program, which advocates “Doing Shakespeare on Your Feet; Seeing it Live; and Starting it Earlier.”

“After going through the program with the RSC in Stratford, I have to admit I was skeptical. I could see how these techniques could work in the 5^th grade, the 7^th grade, high school,” he says. “But I wasn’t sure how it would work with 1^st graders! These are 6 year olds just learning to read. But I am absolutely amazed with what they are doing. I feel like we’re breaking new ground here.”

Mr. I incorporates Shakespeare in many lessons. For example, students read together from a portion of Act 1 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet. In addition to improving their reading skills, this has also taught the children to learn new words and to think about what the text means – for example, they had to figure out what “neighbor stained steel” means.

Students act out sections of the text, embracing the emotions of the townspeople and relatives of Romeo and Juliet. They imagine they are citizens of Verona and have written personal narratives about what kind of shopkeeper they are – one girl, for instance, wrote, “I am the apothecary in Verona, Italy. I make medicines out of plants called herbs. I work in the market place. I have had enough of the Capulets and Montagues fighting.”

The children have had discussions about how to deal with people who are not getting along, and they’ve created Venn diagrams showing how the Capulets, Montagues and townspeople are similar and different. Next up, they would love to perform the play!

“I am amazed at how quickly the students have embraced Shakespeare,” Mr. I says. “Pretending and imagination are what let us get into it so quickly.”

One little girl in pigtails agreed. “I love pretending and I love Shakespeare! It’s so much fun!”

Next Generation of Leaders Fellows Announced

2010-10-11T07:43:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-04T07:23:00.000-07:00

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.

Arts in the Alley Celebrates Students

2010-09-16T07:02:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the return of Ohio State's student population, Arts in the Alley -- the arts and entertainment district at South Campus Gateway -- has a whole evening of fun planned. On Tuesday, Sept 21, the alley will be hopping with special activities from 5 to 9 pm. The alley itself will host a lively art fair, with local artists selling their works and live music provided by several bands. The Gateway Film Center will be closed for regular business that evening and open to incoming students only for a night of free movies and concessions. Movie showtimes are 4:30, 7 and 9:30 pm. In between shows, students can catch some comedy when Sketch by Number (above) offers full-length shows at 7:30 and 10 pm in the Green Room in the alley. And...don't be surprised if the sketch comics pop up in unexpected places in the alley throughout the evening!

The three galleries in the alley will host receptions for current shows. In the Arts Initiative space, Spencer Mustine and Nick Stull (below) showcase their work in HumanScapes: A Sense of Place. The Ohio Art League has a reception for What Would JOAN Do, works by Cyndi Bellerose-McAfee. And the Shoebox gallery hosts a closing reception spotlighting the Couchfire Collective.

Notable News

On Saturday, Sept 25, the Shoebox gallery hosts the opening reception 5-9 pm for the Very Exquisite Corpse show, a "progressive art" exhibition where works were created sequentially by several artists. The event is being presented by ARTillery Ohio and Artmobile as a fundraiser for several arts advocacy groups and Artmobile.

Also on Saturday, Sept 25, the Black Box Theatre in the Gateway Film Center will be the site of the Not Painful Film Festival, a celebration of short experimental films and sound pieces. It begins at 8 pm; admission is free but space is limited.

Mark your calendars for Thursday, Oct 7 for another "First Thursday" in Arts in the Alley. The Shoebox gallery, Arts Initiative space and Ohio Art League will all host opening receptions for new shows. Stay tuned for more details!

Spaces are still available to attend the 10th triennial Festival of Cartoon Art at Ohio State Oct 14-17. The festival will feature presentations by acclaimed cartoonists including Steve Breen, Roz Chast, Tony Cochran, Jan Eliot, Dave Kellett, Dan Piraro, Jen Sorenson, Paul Levitz and more. For information, click here.

Alley, Radio Show and More

2010-08-31T07:29:00.000-07:00

Check out our latest Emerging Artist Studio radio features on the web! The most recent interviews spotlight Karen Bell talking with Colleen Leonardi (above) and Kal Poole. The spots air weekly on WOSU's Capital City Radio Station and are posted on the internet here.

Notable News

Are you an artist? The Arts Initiative space is issuing a call for artists' proposals for exhibitions in our Arts in the Alley gallery for 2011. Deadline is Sept 10. Check out the application here.

Stop by a gallery before the football game! The Arts in the Alley galleries will be open this Thursday, Sept 2, from 6 to 9 pm. The Arts Initiative space continues the exhibition, HumanScapes: A Sense of Place, featuring duo artists Spencer Mustine and Nick Stull. Next door, the Shoebox gallery opens a show spotlighting the Couchfire Collective. And across the alley, the Ohio Art League hosts the new show, What Would Joan Do?, with works by Cyndi Bellerose-McAfee.

August Art Fun in the Alley

2010-08-11T09:53:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday evening, Arts in the Alley was hopping with visitors for our "First Thursday" gallery openings. In the Arts Initiative space, a happy crowd browsed around viewing new works by Spencer Mustine and Nick Stull (above). Their show, HumanScapes: A Sense of Place, continues through September. Both artists, says curator Kate Dowell, use abstraction to take the figure beyond simple representation, and both keep use of the figure engaging by reinterpreting a sense of place.

Throughout the evening, gallery-goers and passers-by enjoyed the artwork and live music in the alley. The Shoebox gallery hosted an opening reception for its new show, the ARTillery Invitational, with works by Ron Abram, Aby Algueseva, Waylon Bigsby, Allison Buenger, Molly Burke, Sarah Fairchild, Brittany Ference, Giovani, Joey Monsoon, Beth Nash, Tristan Seeger, Kristin Patton and Elaine Quave. And the Ohio Art League gallery (below) opened It's Complicated, with works by Clare Fox and Tara Polansky.

Surprise visitors to the alley were two British chaps straight out of the 1800s (below). Liam Cronin (left) and Dwayne Blackaller are stars of the comedy Shipwrecked, a play presented by Whistling in the Dark Theatre Company and now playing through Sunday at The Green Room in the alley. For discounted tickets, click here.

Royal Shakespeare Company Announces Five Plays for NYC in Summer 2011

2010-08-04T14:00:00.000-07:00

Lincoln Center Festival and Royal Shakespeare Company announced yesterday that the RSC's 44-member acting ensemble will perform five Shakespeare plays at Park Avenue Armory as part of the Lincoln Center Festival, in association with The Ohio State University, next summer in New York City. The five plays are As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet , King Lear, Antony and Cleopatra and The Winter's Tale, and will be presented during a six-week engagement, July 6-Aug 14, 2011. The five plays will be performed on a specially built thrust-stage theatre -- named the Scarlet and Gray Stage for the event -- based on the RSC's newly transformed theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. (Above, Sam Troughton and Mariah Gale in Romeo and Juliet; photo: Ellie Kurttz)

The announcement appeared in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times.

One New York performance will be exclusively assigned to Ohio State for "Scarlet and Gray Shakespeare" -- a national benefit gala -- on July 12, 2011 featuring the RSC's critically acclaimed Romeo and Juliet. For more details, see our website.

Notable News

This Thursday, Aug 5, Arts in the Alley comes alive from 6 to 9 pm with opening receptions for three new exhibitions, live music outdoors and free refreshments. In the Arts Initiative space, artists Nick Stull and Spencer Mustine present paintings in their show, HumanScapes: A Sense of Place (above). The Shoebox gallery hosts the ARTillery invitational, with works by Ron Abram, Aby Algueseva, Waylon Bigsby, Allison Buenger, Molly Burke, Sarah Fairchild, Brittany Ference, Giovani, Joey Monsoon, Beth Nash, Tristan Seeger, Kristin Patton and Elaine Quave. And the Ohio Art League gallery opens It's Complicated, with works by Clare Fox and Tara Polansky.

Shipwrecked, An Entertainment: The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont, by Donald Margulies, continues through Aug 15 at The Green Room, a new theatre venue at South Campus Gateway. The show, presented by Whistling in the Dark Theatre Company, is based on the true story of a shipwrecked British explorer in the late 1800s, whose adventures – along with his trusty dog Bruno – included high-seas tales of giant sea turtles, flying wombats, a man-eating octopus and Queen Victoria herself. With a focus on the power of storytelling, Shipwrecked runs Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm. Tickets are available at the door or – at a discount – online here.

The Green Room is sponsored by the Arts Initiative at Ohio State and Campus Partners. The new space, a former storefront in the Arts in the Alley area that also houses three galleries, is the summer home to Whistling in the Dark, which is breaking ground by bringing "sustainable theatre" to Columbus. The company strives to be eco-friendly and cost efficient wherever possible.

Shipwrecked, Art Market and More!

2010-07-26T07:01:00.000-07:00

Liam Cronin (left) and Dwayne Blackaller star in the comedy Shipwrecked, An Entertainment: The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont, by Donald Margulies. Presented by Whistling in the Dark Theatre Company, the play is performed at The Green Room, a new theatre venue at South Campus Gateway. The show, sure to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages, is based on the true story of a shipwrecked British explorer in the late 1800s, whose adventures – along with his trusty dog Bruno – included high-seas tales of giant sea turtles, flying wombats, a man-eating octopus and Queen Victoria herself. With a focus on the power of storytelling, Shipwrecked runs Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through Aug 15. Tickets are available at the door or – at a discount – online here.

The Green Room is sponsored by the Arts Initiative at Ohio State and Campus Partners. The new space, a former storefront in the Arts in the Alley area that also houses three galleries, is the summer home to Whistling in the Dark, which is breaking ground by bringing "sustainable theatre" to Columbus. The company strives to be eco-friendly and cost efficient wherever possible.

Notable News

The Arts Initiative is proud to support the International Kids' Guernica Peace Mural Exhibit, on view through Aug 6 in the former Long's Bookstore at 1836 N High St. The mural exhibit is part of an international children's art project to create peace murals on Picasso's "guernica" size canvas (11.5 x 22.5 feet). The project was started by Art Japan Network in 1995 to design artwork on a global canvas expressing the spirit of peace. Over the years, more than 160 murals have been created in 40 countries. Twelve existing murals from around the world are on display in the space. And, this week, 25 local children from the Somali-American community are working with OSU students to create a new mural. For information, call 688-4703.

This Saturday (July 31), Arts in the Alley at South Campus Gateway presents a Summer Art Market while the Ohio Art League Gallery hosts a food-related art exhibition from Couchfire Collective called Too Yummy! The Art Market will feature live music and artwork from 16 local artists for sale in the alley from 2 to 8 pm. Opening reception for the Too Yummy show is from 6 to 9 pm and celebrates all things related to food and drink (the show continues until Aug 1). Across the alley at the Shoebox gallery is the opening reception for the Intern Show featuring artists Michael Price and Chelsea Boyd. Stop by and join in the fun on Saturday!

On Thursday, Aug 5, Arts in the Alley will come alive from 6 to 9 pm with opening receptions for three new exhibitions, along with refreshments and live music. In the Arts Initiative space, artists Nick Stull and Spencer Mustine present paintings in their show, HumanScapes: A Sense of Place (above). The Shoebox gallery hosts the ARTillery invitational, with works by Ron Abram, Aby Algueseva, Waylon Bigsby, Allison Buenger, Molly Burke, Sarah Fairchild, Brittany Ference, Giovani, Joey Monsoon, Beth Nash, Tristan Seeger, Kristin Patton and Elaine Quave. And the Ohio Art League gallery opens It's Complicated, with works by Clare Fox and Tara Polansky.

RSC Continues Workshops in Ohio

2010-07-14T10:47:00.000-07:00

RSC education practitioners Virginia Grainger (above, right) and Rachel Gartside -- who led an inspirational week of educational development in Stratford-upon-Avon two weeks ago for Ohio teachers and Theatre MFA students -- are at Ohio State this week to continue working with the group. They are joined by OSU's Brian Edmiston, who leads the OSU/RSC workshops and educational program in Ohio.

While in England, the group of 20 teachers and 10 MFAs participated in learning the RSC's active, drama-based approaches to Shakespeare. This five-day follow-up week will have the group shift their focus on how to teach the approaches in their own classrooms. While on campus, they are focusing primarily on Romeo and Juliet, exploring the text and its performance, the characters and their points of view, and Shakespeare's themes and language. Yesterday, they were standing in the shoes of the various characters. Below, MFA actors Kevin McClatchy and Hannah Rockey go over an excerpt of the script.

This year's group of teachers is the second to participate in the OSU/RSC Stand Up for Shakespeare America program. The first group of 20 teachers will interact and share experiences with the current group throughout the coming year. A few of the original participants came to Ohio State this week to observe, including Danielle Berring and Tim Wangler (below).

Features

"It's great to be reconnecting with this group now that we're back at home in our Ohio mode. It helps connect what we learned in England with what I can do with my kids in the classroom."
Kelly Simmons, 5th grade math and science, Linden STEM Academy

Among other things, our week in England turned into somewhat of a big blur of wonderful experiences. Coming back and reconnecting as a group helps reinforce and reconstruct some of those moments. The beauty of it is seeing how I can use the techniques not only in the classroom. . . but also in the rehearsal room as an actor."
Aaron Zook, MFA acting student

Notable News

Whistling in the Dark Theatre Company presents Shipwrecked, An Entertainment: The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont, by Donald Margulies. It premieres tonight -- Thursday, July 15, at 8 pm at The Green Room, a new theatre venue at South Campus Gateway. The show, sure to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages, is based on the true story of a shipwrecked British explorer in the late 1800s, whose adventures – along with his trusty dog Bruno – included high-seas tales of giant sea turtles, flying wombats, a man-eating octopus and Queen Victoria herself. The show, with a focus on the power of storytelling, runs Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through Aug 7. Tickets are available at the door or – at a discount – online here.

Directed by Kal Poole (above), Shipwrecked's cast includes Dwayne Blackaller, Liam Cronin, Doug Davis, Alison Vasquez and Kayla Jackmon. Musicians are Emily Mills and Joy Wysong.

The Green Room is sponsored by the Arts Initiative at Ohio State and Campus Partners. The new space, a former storefront in the Arts in the Alley area that also houses three galleries, is the summer home to Whistling in the Dark, which is breaking ground by bringing "sustainable theatre" to Columbus. The company strives to be eco-friendly and cost efficient wherever possible.

Virginia and Rachel and Romeo and Juliet. . .

2010-07-02T09:12:00.001-07:00

RSC education practitioners extraordinaire Virginia Grainger (left) and Rachel Gartside, who led the five days of intensive leadership training for our Ohio group in Stratford-upon-Avon, finished up the week with Romeo and Juliet. The pair led the group through a variety of active learning sessions exploring the text, which the teachers can take into their classrooms next year. And, on the last night in Stratford, our Ohio troupe had the incredible opportunity to see the RSC production of Romeo and Juliet, which Stage magazine has called a "mind-blowing production" and the Evening Standard said it "positively bristles with invention and bold ideas".

Following the production, the Ohio group had a farewell reception at the Dirty Duck (below), and a few of the cast members stopped by to say hello, including David Carr (further below, second from right), who played Escalus.

In mid-July, the group of teachers and MFA actors will come together for a second week of intensive leadership training in Columbus, and Virginia and Rachel will fly in to town to help facilitate those sessions. In the meantime, it's a little hard to say goodbye to Stratford-upon-Avon. After all, who can't love a town that has its own Baguette Boat? And...ugly ducklings?

Features

"Kids are so focused on the 'right' or 'wrong' of their answers instead of concentrating on the process, the 'whys' and the 'hows.' The activities we've learned this week will have them learn without thinking about what might be the right answer, by working together and immersing themselves in the text. The ensemble-building games are great -- every classroom should do some sort of these activities to start out the day. It only takes a few minutes and makes a huge difference. I think they'd change the whole climate of the school."

Jill Sampson, 8th grade special education, reading & social studies, Hilltonia Middle School

"This experience has reminded me what it's like to be a student. When we've been embracing new things, sometimes it's a little scary. It's a good reminder that my students can feel that way too. It's good to reflect on that so I can find ways to help them through it. The ensemble-building is so important. Last year, at the end of the school year, I had a student tell me she did not know the names of all the students in our class. . . and there were only 19 kids. So, how can I expect them to share the text, participate with each other and ask questions if they don't even know each other? Now I will do ensemble building first."

Jessica Sharp, 12th grade English, Reynoldsburg High School

Alison, Antony and Cleopatra

2010-07-01T23:43:00.000-07:00

Alison Bomber (above, right), the Royal Shakespeare Company's voice coach, worked all day Thursday with the MFA acting students (including Kevin McClatchy and Victoria Matsos, above) and the Ohio teachers. Bomber will be in residence at Ohio State during winter quarter 2011, when she will direct the MFA students in a production of Othello.

The week is quickly winding down in Stratford-upon-Avon, where construction is nearly finished on the completely transformed Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The theatre (above), situated squarely on the banks of the River Avon, was originally built in 1932 and will retain its Art Deco and Victorian features. The rebuilt theatre aims to improve the relationship between the audience and the actor by bringing them closer together and creating a more intimate theatre experience.

Throughout the week, the teachers and MFAs have had plenty of time for reflection and discussion about their experiences with the RSC through morning chats with OSU professor Brian Edmiston (above) and Pat Enciso in the hotel's courtyard.

The Ohio group wound up the day Thursday by attending the RSC production of Antony and Cleopatra, Shakespeare's captivating tragedy directed by Michael Boyd.

Above, in the theatre lobby at intermission.

Outside the theatre gift shop.

And later, at the Dirty Duck.

Features

"A light bulb went on today, a true 'a-ha' moment. When I heard the word 'iambic' today, I got it. Shakespeare's text is not only based on the sound of the vowels in the words but on the rhythm of the words. That really helps me understand the flow of Shakespeare's text, and it will work tremendously with inner-city kids. They're all about rhythm. They're always tapping their fingers on their desk, tapping their toes. Knowing about the rhythm in Shakespeare's work will really get them engaged. When you can teach them through rhythm, it sticks in their brains. It's amazing."

Rosalind Ebai, 6th grade reading and language arts, Wedgewood Middle School

"As a teacher, I thought I knew how to teach. This is showing me that I didn't -- I never realized until now that the kids should be an ensemble and not just a class. This week, I've loved the experience of being partnered with the MFA students -- they are very supportive of everyone, and that means something. As a writer, I've loved the attention to language and the rhythm of Shakespeare's word. I'm writing a novel and it's helping me see how the dialogue should work, how the motion and the sound of the language should flow."

David Hall, English teacher, the Charles School

RSC's Michael Boyd Visits Ohio Teachers, MFAs

2010-06-30T16:47:00.001-07:00

Our Ohio teachers and MFA students immersed in a week-long teacher leadership program with the Royal Shakespeare Company had a real treat today -- an afternoon visit from the RSC's renowned Artistic Director Michael Boyd (above, with MFA student Alex Boyles). Boyd worked with the group, first splitting them into smaller teams and instructing them to create an imaginary "machine" based on a scene or character from King Lear (below) He then spent time directing several OSU MFA acting students in one of Lear's scenes. Boyd, known for creating an ensemble among the RSC actors, ended the day with a Q & A session. He explained, "Where the play happens is really between us -- between the actors and the audience. That's where our art form happens. That's our definition of an ensemble."

The earlier part of the day was spent building ensemble within the group with a variety of activities led by Virginia Grainger and Rachel Gartside, and exploring the magic of Shakespeare's language and the rhythm of his words.

This evening, the entire Ohio group -- including Hannah Rockey, Melissa Rulong, Kelly Simmons and Faye Love (below) -- had the opportunity to go to the RSC's Courtyard Theatre for the production of King Lear, a moving performance that tells the story of the King, who, stripped of all status, heads into the wilderness with a madman and a fool for company. Directed by David Farr, Shakespeare's great tragedy peels away the trappings of society to reveal the unforgiving truth of the human condition.

Features

Throughout the week, we’ll be talking with some of the 20 teachers and 10 MFA students who are involved in the second cohort in the OSU / RSC partnership program.

"I've been impressed this week by the extreme care taken of the ensemble and the extreme care taken of the text, of Shakespeare's work. A lot of the ensemble-building exercises -- none without purpose -- lead smoothly to the next teaching moment. My ideas. . . your ideas . . . their ideas are equally valid and incorporated. Every person is equally important in this ensemble. Value is placed on other people's ideas. And, I love getting up and getting active -- it really sparks my interest.

Alison Vasquez, MFA acting student at Ohio State

"I always shied away from Shakespeare because I felt he was very austere and regal. But yesterday, I played the part of the King's drunk knight asleep on his banquet table with his dogs. That's not so stuffy, is it? That 'melted the ice' for me with Shakespeare and now I can 'splash around in the water.'"

Hannah Rockey, MFA acting student at Ohio State. . . and friend

Stratford-upon-Avon and King Lear

2010-06-29T15:11:00.000-07:00

In idyllic Stratford-upon-Avon (above), the 20 school teachers and 10 MFA students involved in the current phase of the OSU/RSC partnership got down to business today, working with RSC education staff Ginny Grainger and Rachel Gartside (right) to embrace principles at the core of their Stand Up for Shakespeare, which encourages young people to:
• Do it on your feet – explore plays actively and practically in the classroom, as actors do
• See it live – see live performances
• Start it earlier – introduce Shakespeare to younger age groups.

At the heart of the philosophy is the idea of creating "ensemble", whether it's in the classroom or among the actors in a play. The group of teachers and grad students is already is starting to create an ensemble among themselves, and today explored Shakespeare's play, King Lear, (below), which they will have the wonderful opportunity to see Wednesday evening when the RSC production is staged at Stratford's Courtyard Theatre.

They explored Lear through a variety of collaborative and shared activities including drama and movement, active listening and focusing on different points of view. Says Lesley Ferris, professor of theatre and co-director of the OSU/RSC program, "Ginny (below) and Rachel are so inventive and helped the group really get inside the 'skins' and heads of Lear's three daughters -- anchored with a 'set' of three costumed mannequins. Their expertise really brings out the actor in everyone, including all of the teachers."

The local BBC radio station is producing a feature spot about the OSU/RSC program and the week-long experiences shared by the Ohio teachers and MFA students. They sent a reporter to the training center Tuesday to talk to participants and leaders, including Metro High School teacher Kim Swensen (below).

Karen Bell (below) also talked with the reporter, as did RSC leader Rob Elkington and teacher Derek Hinkle.

On Monday evening the OSU group met up with a number of Royal Shakespeare Company leaders at the Dirty Duck, a Stratford landmark near the theatre. Welcoming all to the shared program was Vikki Heywood (below), executive director of the RSC.

Features

Throughout the week, we’ll be talking with some of the 20 teachers and 10 MFA students who are involved in the second cohort in the OSU / RSC partnership program.

"This program already has changed my outlook on teaching literature -- showing how the kids can be active players and get in tune with the characters, and how their prior experiences today can help them relate to these timeless plays. I can't believe I'm saying this in June, but I'm already looking forward to getting back to school to try these activities. It's great to have the MFAs with us, to get their professional take on the scenes. They make you think in new ways."

Jean Reph, 8th grade literature and composition, Wedgewood Middle School

"I love learning through play, and I love it because it lets you explore different components of the play -- the point of view, the plot, character traits and character motives. The sessions here are so interactive, and the collaboration among participants is awesome. It feels like a really safe environment because we all trust each other. When I get back to our learners and use these activities, I can't even imagine what it will be like because it will be so powerful."

Faye Love, 5th grade reading/language arts and social studies, Linden STEM Academy

Schoolteachers & OSU MFA Students Spend Week w/ Royal Shakespeare Company

2010-06-28T00:24:00.000-07:00

A week-long teacher education program began today in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, where the Arts Initiative at Ohio State brought a second group of 20 central Ohio schoolteachers to work with the Royal Shakespeare Company educators and actors. They are joined by 10 MFA acting students from Ohio State's Department of Theatre. This is the second year OSU has partnered with the RSC to bring teachers to Stratford to work on techniques at the core of the RSC's renowned Stand Up for Shakespeare program. (The group is shown above, in front of the RSC headquarters in Stratford.)

Says Karen Bell, OSU associate vice president for arts outreach and head of the Arts Initiative, "We are so happy to be back in Stratford-upon-Avon this summer with these fine teachers and MFA students, and look forward to their work with our RSC partners. They're exploring RSC techniques that utilize active, drama-based approaches to the teaching of Shakespeare and other complex texts. We are seeing great strides from our first group of teachers -- who were here last summer with the RSC -- in their own classrooms, and look forward to seeing this second group expand the reach of this program."

Bell said this year's endeavor with teachers and MFA students will deepen the focus on the artistic and performance aspects of this educational partnership. When the group returns to Ohio, they will work this summer and throughout the coming academic year with OSU faculty, led by Brian Edmiston, director of pedagogy, to bring Shakespeare into their classrooms. Schools include Columbus City Schools, Reynoldsburg City Schools and Metro High School.

Bell (above, left) also introduced another OSU faculty member to the partnership. "I'm delighted to welcome Lesley Ferris (above, right), professor and former chair of the OSU Department of Theatre, who along with me will co-direct the programs of the OSU/RSC partnership. Lesley's visionary leadership, recognition as an accomplished director and researcher, and leader of OSU's study abroad London program make her a perfect fit for this important partnership."

Prior to beginning the education program, the group of teachers and MFA students explored London. . . and found a special use for Big Ben (below).

The new group of teachers includes: Kim Swensen (Metro); Kimberley Cox and Jessica Sharp (Reynoldsburg High School); Tonya Peacock (Hannah Ashton Middle School); Derek Hinkle and Sandra Guinto (Waggoner Road Middle School); Janice Bartels, Jean Reph, Rosalind Ebai and Alicia Fair-Foust (Wedgewood Middle School); Ron Hairston, Jill Sampson and Allison Volz (Hilltonia Middle School); Kathleen Waughaman (Windsor STEM Academy); Kelly Simmons and Faye Love (Linden STEM Academy); Art Isennagle III (South Mifflin K-6 STEM Academy); Michael Aberth (Hamilton K-6 STEM Academy); and David Hall and Melissa Rulong (the Graham Family of Schools). MFA students are Alex Boyles, Ashley Kobza, Victoria Matsos, Kevin McClatchy, Moopi Mothibeli, Charlesanne Rabensburg, Hannah Rockey, Ibsen Santos, Alison Vasquez and Aaron Zook.

Notable News

Speaking of the Royal Shakespeare Company, the well-known theatre troupe now has an OSU presence on their website. Click here to read about our program on their web.

Features

Throughout the week, we’ll be talking with some of the 20 teachers and 10 MFA students who are involved in the second cohort in the OSU / RSC partnership program.

"The first hour (of the training program) today was the best professional development experience I've ever had in my 7 years as a teacher. Working with the RSC, the MFA students and my fellow colleagues, I feel alive and rejuvenated, and I can't wait to get the new school year started!"
Derek Hinkle, 5th grade language arts teacher, Waggoner Road Middle School, Reynoldsburg

"I absolutely love it! I come from a very academic background where you sit at the desk and read the book, so, I never felt a real attraction to Shakespeare. But getting to play with the Shakespeare text is really making it come alive! Getting up and joining in the activities leaves no room for saying 'I can't'. . . and then you realize 'you can.'"
Victoria Matsos, MFA acting student

Alley Fun

2010-06-08T13:35:00.000-07:00

Arts in the Alley was full of fun on Thurs, May 6, with gallery openings, upbeat tunes from a local DJ, and performances by several female impersonators on a stage set up among the restaurants, bars and apartments.

The festivities celebrated the opening of The Ladies of Ohio: Digital Divas, an exhibition of large-scale photographs by John Sherman Lathram III (above), in the Arts Initiative space. Lathram also was celebrating the release of his new book of photos of the "ladies." His show continues through July.

Across the alley the Ohio Art League gallery presented the opening of Amateur Cartography, works by Jen Adrion, a show that continues until June 26. And in the Shoebox gallery, works by Anne Mills and Alexander Contino are on view (below) throughout the month.

Notable News

The partnership with The Ohio State University and the Royal Shakespeare Company is expanding! This summer, a second group of 20 local schoolteachers join the group of 19 teachers who have just completed their first year in the teacher leadership & education program. In addition, 10 Master of Fine Arts acting students from the OSU Department of Theatre join the program, too. The new teachers and MFAs will travel to Stratford upon Avon later this month for an intensive week of training with RSC actors and educators, and will continue working together and with OSU faculty for an intensive week on campus and in regular workshops throughout the year. According to the Arts Initiative's Karen Bell, the partnership has deepened and expanded its relationship with Columbus City Schools, Reynoldsburg City Schools and Metro High School. The new group of teachers includes: Kim Swensen (Metro); Kimberley Cox and Jessica Sharp (Reynoldsburg High School); Tonya Peacock (Hannah Ashton Middle School); Derek Hinkle and Sandra Guinto (Waggoner Road Middle School); Janice Bartels, Jean Reph, Rosalind Ebai and Alicia Fair-Foust (Wedgewood Middle School); Ron Hairston, Jill Sampson and Allison Volz (Hilltonia Middle School); Kathleen Waughaman (Windsor STEM Academy); Kelly Simmons and Faye Love (Linden STEM Academy); Art Isennagle III (South Mifflin K-6 STEM Academy); Michael Aberth (Hamilton K-6 STEM Academy); and David Hall and Melissa Rulong (the Graham Family of Schools). MFA students are Alex Boyles, Ashley Kobza, Victoria Matsos, Kevin McClatchy, Moopi Mothibeli, Charlesanne Rabensburg, Hannah Rockey, Ibsen Santos, Alison Vasquez and Aaron Zook.

Come on down to Arts in the Alley this Saturday for a Summer Art Market. ARTillery Ohio (above) presents a wide range of artwork for sale, along with live music and workshops in screenprinting and pottery-glazing in the alley at South Campus Gateway. Hours are noon to 8 pm.

Mahan Gallery in the Short North presents All I Need to Know: A Celebration of First Grade, with artwork by 24 first grade students taught by Cavin Bodouin in New Albany. Last year, his class exhibited their work in the Arts Initiative space. The new show opens June 26 and runs through July 1 at the gallery at 717 N High St.

Next Week in the Alley: Divas, DJs and More

2010-05-26T10:05:00.000-07:00

Put Thursday, June 3, on your calendar for lots of Arts in the Alley activities from 6 to 9 pm -- three gallery openings, live performances and tunes from a local DJ. In the Arts Initiative gallery, John Sherman Lathram III presents The Ladies of Ohio: Digital Divas, a photo exhibition of Ohio's female illusionists. The show includes select, large-scale images from Lathram's upcoming book of the same name. At 7 and 8 pm, several local female illusionists featured in the book -- including Paige Passion, Danyel Vasquez (above), Diamond Hunter and Vivi Velour -- will perform on a stage in the alley. Music will be provided by a guest DJ and refreshments will be served. Across the Alley, the Ohio Art League will present the opening of Amateur Cartography, works by Jen Adrion, curated by Haley Boehning. And the Shoebox gallery continues an exhibition of works by Linda Diec (whose work is shown below). All activities are in the alley at South Campus Gateway, just off High Street at 10th.

Notable News

The Emerging Artist Studio -- our short radio feature that airs weekly on WOSU's Capital City Radio station -- has posted two of our most recent interviews on the program's website. The show, which spotlights Karen Bell talking with local emerging artists, most recently features dancer and choreographer Coco Lupe and artist Laura Alexander (see her work above). You can listen to the interviews h ere.

Couchfire Collective presents ABX, a two-venue show May 28-29 in Arts in the Alley at South Campus Gateway. The show, which focuses on Visual Rhythms, features artworks by 14 local independent artists in the Ohio Art League Gallery (1552 N High St) and the Arts Initiative gallery (1568 N High St). Opening reception is Fri, May 28, 6-9 pm, with music by special guest DJ Moxy. The exhibition was organized by Juan Cerrera and curated by Stephanie Rond.

ARTillery is hosting a "last Saturday" Art Market in Arts in the Alley on Saturday, May, 29, from 1 to 6 pm. Artists from around the community have been invited to set up their wares for sale in the alley at South Campus Gateway.

Scarlet and Gray Theatre Named in New York

2010-05-18T09:16:00.000-07:00

The Ohio State University has announced that the Scarlet & Gray Theatre is the name of the theatre being constructed in New York City to house performances of the UK’s Royal Shakespeare Company during its unprecedented six-week residency in summer 2011. The name was unveiled May 12 -- at an event at the university residence, welcoming visitors from the RSC to town -- by President Gordon Gee; RSC Artistic Director Michael Boyd and the Arts Initiative's Karen Bell (above). Ohio State is joining with Lincoln Center Festival and Park Avenue Armory to bring the renowned theatre company to New York for the Lincoln Center Festival. As part of the collaboration, the university was given naming rights for the theatre – a thrust-stage auditorium that brings actors and audiences closer together. The theatre is a full-scale replica of the award-winning Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The sponsorship opportunity for the university was created when the Wexner Family made a generous gift to the Royal Shakespeare Company America to support the RSC’s 2011 visit to the US. The family requested any credit or visibility resulting from their charitable contribution be assigned to the university.

Guests at the event enjoyed a short vignette performed by RSC actors, including Howard Ward (above) and Akiya Henry (middle photo).

Notable News

Six actors, two directors and leaders from the Royal Shakespeare Company were in town last week to celebrate the growing partnership between two world-renowned institutions -- OSU and RSC. While in the community, the actors presented a short "Shakespeare in a Suitcase" program at the downtown Columbus Metropolitan Club, at a luncheon attended by nearly 200 business, community and university leaders. The troupe presented a 20-minute vignette of Henry V, in a program that drew in the audience, which included Lady Susie Sainsbury, chairwoman of Royal Shakespeare Company America, and Abigail Wexner.

Following lunch Karen Bell, associate vice president for arts outreach, moderated a discussion that included Jacqui O'Hanlon, RSC director of education, and Michael Boyd, artistic director. They talked about the partnership and Stand Up for Shakespeare America, an educational leadership program that involves local schoolteachers in the Columbus area.

Later that day, the RSC actors presented a vignette of Much Ado About Nothing for about 200 OSU students, faculty, staff and local teachers at OSU's Drake Performance and Event Center. They presented the program on a stage that worked just fine -- though it was actually built for the premiere of Three Sisters that same day.

Bell, O'Hanlon and Boyd had a discussion with the audience and fielded questions from the campus community about the partnership and educational leadership program. All photos above by Kevin Fitzsimons, Photo Services.

Nineteen local schoolteachers (above) -- from Metro High School, Columbus City Schools and Reynoldsburg City Schools -- were also on campus last week to work with the RSC guests, particularly education practitioners Ginny Grainger and Rachel Gartside. The teachers have been involved with the program for one year, traveling last summer to Stratford-upon-Avon and working with OSU faculty throughout the academic year. Their efforts based on the program are making an impact with students in their classrooms. Last Thursday, the teachers had the chance to explore more Stand Up for Shakespeare activities. A few MFA acting students joined the session at the Arts Initiative office (below). Ten MFA actors from Ohio State will be involved in the RSC program starting this summer.

Upcoming Arts in the Alley Events

Couchfire Collective presents ABX, a two-venue show May 28-29 in Arts in the Alley at South Campus Gateway. The show, which focuses on Visual Rhythms, features artworks by 14 local independent artists in the Ohio Art League Gallery (1552 N High St) and the Arts Initiative gallery (1568 N High St). Opening reception is Fri, May 28, 6-9 pm, with music by special guest DJ Moxy. The exhibition was organized by Juan Cerrera and curated by Stephanie Rond.

Save the Date! Thursday, June 3, marks the opening reception for The Ladies of Ohio: Digital Divas, a photo exhibition of Ohio's female illusionists by John Sherman Lathram III in the Arts Initiative gallery, 1568 N High St in the South Campus Gateway complex. The show features large-scale photographs from the artist's upcoming book by the same name. Best of all, a DJ will provide music and some of the ladies from the book will perform at the 6-9 pm opening reception.

May 6 in the Alley

2010-05-03T10:23:00.000-07:00

The weather is supposed to be perfect this Thursday, May 6 -- so head on over to Arts in the Alley at South Campus Gateway from 6 to 9 pm for gallery openings and live music! The Ohio Art League presents SEEPS, works by Justin Cramer, curated by Molly Jo Burke. According to the OAL, Cramer's paintings resemble eruptions of organisms that tend to thrive in grime, exposing underground tensions. The Shoebox gallery presents a show of works by ARTillery members, including Jesse Mills, Kate Dowell, Lisa Belsky, Lance Thompson, Uriah Landfried, Lisa McLymont, Katie Kikta, Jen Kiko, Bobby Rosenstock, Heather Wirth, Whitney Moore and Eric Rausch. And Mathematic Abstractions, works by Carly Witmer, continues in the Arts Initiative space. Live music by local rock band the Jive Pilots -- including original music and cover tunes -- will liven up the alley itself. All events are free!

Notable News

Check out our latest radio guests! The Arts Initiative's radio show -- the Emerging Artist Studio on WOSU's Capital City Radio -- has four new interviews posted online. Check out the spots featuring Karen Bell interviewing Chris Roche, Emily Bach, Helma Groot and Joe Graziosi. Click here.

An Afternoon with the Royal Shakespeare Company! Michael Boyd, renowned artistic director of the UK’s Royal Shakespeare Company, will be at Ohio State on May 12 along with six actors from the RSC Acting Company. The actors will present a “vignette” of a Shakespeare work, while Boyd will take part in a panel discussion with the RSC’s Jacqui O’Hanlon, education director, and Karen Bell, OSU associate vice president for arts outreach. They will present the program at 4 pm in Drake Performance Center. More information is available here.

The Earth Day Art Market attracted crowds of shoppers to the Arts in the Alley event on Saturday, April 24. Most of the vendors set up their wares in the Gateway Film Center lobby because of threatening weather, though others braved the showers and sold their works in the alley. Vendors sold everything from jewelry and glass to fiber works, ceramics, paintings and silk-screened t-shirts. A children's book reading and live music added to the festivities.

Whistling in the Dark Theatre Company presents The Colony by Galen Roth: A Staged Reading on Sunday, May 9, at 7 pm in the Shoebox at South Campus Gateway, 1570 N High St. The event is part of the group's "Sundays @ 7" series, and is just $3, including refreshments. A new work, The Colony is a philosophical thriller that explores the darker sides of destiny and fate in an artists' colony where six artists eventually become dissatisfied with their lots in life.

Call for Artists. Courage Unmasked for Joan's Fund -- a campaign to support head and neck cancer research at the James Cancer Center -- is seeking 50 artists from a variety of mediums to transform 50 radiation masks into works of art. The masks will be auctioned off next spring to raise funds for the campaign. Interested artists will be asked to submit two images of their current work. The campaign kicks off May 21. For information or to submit art samples, contact Melinda Cogley at MelindaCogley@msn.com.

Jazzy Time in the Alley

2010-04-13T07:15:00.000-07:00

On an unseasonably warm and sunny April 1 evening, Arts in the Alley came to life with gallery openings and the sweet sounds of live jazz. The Truth -- a jazz quintet led by School of Music student Joe Graziosi on sax -- played two sets in the middle of the alley while visitors stopped to enjoy the music while browsing the three galleries. In the Arts Initiative space, Carly Witmer's solo show, Mathematic Abstraction, opened (2 photos below), while the Ohio Art League Gallery hosted a reception for the exhibition Open House, and the Shoebox Gallery opened the doors to Iconic Columbus. Witmer's show continues through May; the other two exhibitions continue through April.

Notable News

This Thursday, April 15, ARTillery hosts an Art Talk in the Shoebox Gallery at South Campus Gateway. Local artists exhibiting in the galleries in Arts in the Alley during April and May will talk about their work. Confirmed so far are Kate Dowell, Linda Diec and Carly Witmer. The discussion starts at 7 pm.

Franklin Park Conservatory has issued a call for entries for Savage Gardens: the Real and Imaginary World of Carnivorous Plants. The June 10-Nov 14 exhibition is accepting existing artworks and site-specific art proposals. Deadline is June 30. For details, click here.

Save the Date! Celebrate Earth Day in the Alley! ARTillery is hosting an outdoor Arts Market on Saturday, April 24, when Arts in the Alley will sport a wide array of artwork by local artists, live music and activities including a t-shirt silk-screening activity, recycled art project, a children's book reading and Aveda mini-massages. Stop by the Alley for Earth Day fun!

Come to the Alley Thursday

2010-03-29T06:23:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-22T13:29:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-15T07:31:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-03-04T11:18:00.000-08:00

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.

Art Market Saturday

2010-02-25T06:22:00.000-08:00

It's a celebration of everything clay! Mugs, cups, bowls, plates, tiles, vases, tumblers, magnets, sculptures, teapots, stoneware, porcelain, raku work, figures and more. Stop by the Clay Art Market with hand-crafted clay work by local artists for sale on Saturday, Feb 27, noon to 6 pm, at the Arts Initiative office, 1568 N High St in the alley at South Campus Gateway.

Notable News

Please touch the art! Couchfire Collective presents a hands-on exhibition -- Touchy Feely -- in the Ohio Art League Gallery Feb 25-27. This interactive exhibition invites visitors to pick up the artwork and really get "in touch" with it. Opening reception is Saturday, Feb 27, 6-10 pm. The gallery is located in Arts in the Alley at South Campus Gateway. Stop in after the Art Market (see above).

Enjoy a hot lunch. . . for a cause! Stop by the ShoeBox Gallery in the South Campus Gateway alley for lunch on Friday Feb 26, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm when ARTillery will host an empty bowls fundraiser. For $20 you can choose a hand-made ceramic bowl that will be filled with vegetarian black bean soup from MadMex. Enjoy it with a piece of artisan bread while you check out the this month's Art Market preview featuring clay work from local artists. The bowl is yours to keep. Money from sales will go to a central Ohio food bank, ARTillery Ohio and the artist.

ARTillery is seeking submissions for Iconic Columbus, an exhibition of artworks that capture the essensce of our city. For complete information and to submit an application please visit www.artilleryohio.com. Deadline to apply is March 10.

ARTillery's March featured artist is Bobby Rosenstock, whose exhibition in the Shoebox opens Thurs, March 4, 6-9 pm. The exhibition of Rosenstock's work continues until March 27.
Rosenstock runs a letterpress shop, Just A Jar , in Marietta, Ohio. His large-format woodcuts and artist books evoke a quality of modern mythology and storytelling. With an old-fashioned, raw style and a bit of quirky humor, his unique prints speak of his process while channeling philosophy, history and science.

On that same evening -- March 4, 6-9 pm -- in Arts in the Alley at South Campus Gateway, the Ohio Art League gallery opens a new exhibition of works by Larissa Mellor, curated by Nicole Langille. And Heroes and Legends, an exhibition of new works by Adam Brouilette, continues in the Arts Initiative space.

ARTillery Kicks off ARTtalks

2010-02-17T09:29:00.000-08:00

by Kate Dowell, ARTilllery Assistant Director

ARTillery ARTtalks (above) kicked off this past Thursday at the Shoebox featuring Adam Brouillette, Larissa Mellor and Bobby Rosenstock. Friends and community members came out to hear about their work straight from the artists’ mouths. (And to try my homemade pie of course).

To start the night Eric Rausch gave a brief intro about ARTillery and officially announced that we are seeking new members. If you are interested in becoming a member check out the benefits at www.artilleryohio.com and submit a form on the site telling us why you what to be involved and what you can bring to the group.

Continue reading Kate's article here.

Notable News

You can catch the latest four interviews on our very own WOSU radio feature here. The short program, The Emerging Artist Studio, features Karen Bell of the Arts Initiative interviewing promising emerging artists. The most recent interviews spotlight Maggie Page, Eric Rausch, Matt Slaybaugh and Liv Gjestvang. Enjoy!

Enjoy a hot lunch. . . for a cause! Stop by the ShoeBox Gallery in the South Campus Gateway alley for lunch on Friday Feb 26, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm when ARTillery will host an empty bowls fundraiser. For $20 you can choose a hand-made ceramic bowl that will be filled with vegetarian black bean soup from MadMex. Enjoy it with a piece of artisan bread while you check out the this month's Art Market preview featuring clay work from local artists. The bowl is yours to keep. Money from sales will go to a central Ohio food bank, ARTillery Ohio and the artist.

RSC to Perform in New York in 2011, in association with OSU

2010-02-09T13:45:00.000-08:00

Ohio State to join with Lincoln Center in presenting England's Royal Shakespeare Company in 2011

The Ohio State University today announced it is joining with Lincoln Center Festival and Park Avenue Armory to bring England's Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) to the New York-based Festival, for an unprecedented six-week residency in July and August 2011.

The announcement was made at New York's Lincoln Center with Karen Bell, associate vice president and head of The Arts Initiative at Ohio State, and David Frantz, secretary of Ohio State's Board of Trustees, representing the university. Both were instrumental in creating the university's partnership with the RSC. (read complete press release)

See additional articles:

Wall Street Journal: Royal Shakespeare Co. Announces 2011 Run in NYC

Los Angeles Times: Stratford-upon-Avon coming to New York city via Royal Shakespeare Company

Minneapolis Star: Royal Shakespeare Company plans 6-week New York visit during summer 2011

The Columbus Dispatch: Wexners, OSU sponsor plays

The Other Paper: Ohio State to join with Lincoln Center in presenting England’s Royal Shakespeare Company in 2011 Unique private gift enables Ohio State’s participation

Notable News

Not only are we at the Arts Initiative involved in bringing the internationally renowned Royal Shakespeare Company to the US. . . we're also supporting our own talented emerging artists here in Columbus. And. . . some no-talent acts as well. Read on:

The first No-Talent Talent Gong Show attracted a crowd of over 100 people, with about 10 to 12 talented acts vying for the top prize, a golden faucet. In the end, it was awarded by flambouyant MC Eoin O'Brien to two artists (above) Amandda Tirey Graham (left) and Lisa McLymont. The duo's act was a feather-filled skit called Avant Birds. Other acts included a mother/daughter lion-taming act, songs, jokes and a performance by an OSU tap dance class (below, awaiting their turn onstage, with Gong Show organizer Jenai Cutcher, right). The evening's performances were detailed in a next-day Columbus Dispatch article by Jeff Sheban.

Meanwhile, the Arts Initiative space opened Heroes and Legends, an exhibition of new large-scale paintings by Adam Brouillette (below).

Galleries and Gongs

2010-02-01T07:16:00.000-08:00

Arts in the Alley will be bustling with activity this Thursday, Feb 4, from 6 to 9 pm. Three gallery openings will spotlight work by four artists in the South Campus Gateway alley: Heroes and Legends, new large-scale paintings by local artist Adam Brouillette (Arts Initiative space, 6-9 pm), After, fiber works (below) by Erin Riley (Shoebox, 6-9 pm), and Constructing Color, works by Ohio State alums Christin Hutchinson (above) & Ian Magargee (Ohio Art League gallery, 6-8 pm). The No-Talent Talent Gong Show kicks off at 8 pm in the Gateway Film Center lobby with Eoin O'Brien serving as MC and a panel of celebrity judges.

Notable News

ARTillary presents Art Talks -- chats from artists who are featured in Arts in the Alley exhibitions in February and March. Stop by the Shoebox (1570 N High St) at 7 pm Thurs, Feb 11 to enjoy talks by Adam Brouillette, Larissa Mellor and Bobby Rosenstock.

Swing Time in the Alley

2010-01-25T08:07:00.000-08:00

Arts in the Alley stepped back in time last Thursday evening with a crowd decked out in fedoras and fringed dresses for the Al Capone Speakeasy. The event, called the Third Thursday Birthday Bash, was presented by JamJam Productions and (Mix)ed Media. It featured jazz-era dancers from Swing Columbus (above) and drag king troupe the Royal Renegades, along with DJ Julia Applegate (below).

Notable News

The first Art Market of the year in Arts in the Alley is Saturday, Jan 30, noon-6 pm. The market, in the Arts Initiative space, 1568 N High St, will feature a wide variety of hand-crafted jewelry from local artists. Subsequent markets, which are presented by ARTillery Ohio, are Feb 27 (clay works) and March 27 (prints).

Sundays @7, staged readings presented by Whistling in the Dark Theatre Co., continues on Sunday, Jan 31, in the Shoebox with a reading of Hunter by Jim and John Thomas, directed by Doug Davis. The piece is the original draft of the screenplay for Predator, the 1980s Arnold Schwarzenegger action film. $3 at the door.

Put next Thursday (Feb 4) on your calendar. Arts in the Alley presents three Gallery Openings and a Gong Show! Gallery openings are for: Heroes and Legends, works by Adam Brouillette (Arts Initiative space, 6-9 pm); After, fiber works by Erin Riley (Shoebox, 6-9 pm); and Constructing Color, works by Christin Hutchinson & Ian Magargee (Ohio Art League gallery, 6-8 pm). At 8 pm, the No-Talent Talent Gong Show gets underway at the Gateway Film Center Lobby. You can still sign up to enter your under-3-minute act -- just email jamjamproductions@gmail.com. Image below is a section of All My Friends are Heroes, by Brouillette.

Heroes and Legends Opens Feb 4

2010-01-19T08:05:00.000-08:00

Save the Date! Heroes and Legends, new works by Adam Brouillette, opens in the Arts Initiative space in the South Campus Gateway alley on Thurs, Feb 4, 6-9 pm. About his large-scale paintings, Adam says, "I view my work, not as revolutionary, but as a step back in time, knowing what we have learned from our modern forms of communication. I like to use the explosion of color and design that is inherent in advertising and cartoons, to convey, in a simple fashion, the broader ideas of social and personal philosophy, ideas of scientific theory and discovery, and commentary on life as I see it." Above, segment of All My Friends are Heroes.

At the same time that evening, works by Erin Riley will open next door in the Shoebox, while the Ohio Art League Gallery hosts an opening of Constructing Color, works by Christin Hutchinson and Ian Magargee.

And don't miss the first "No-Talent Talent Gong Show" that starts at 8 pm that evening in the Gateway Film Center Lobby. Stop by for a variety of crazy acts, presided over by Eoin O'Brien as MC and a panel of celebrity judges.

All events are in Arts in the Alley at South Campus Gateway, on High Street at 10th Ave.

Notable News

Thurs, Jan 21, in the Shoebox is the first Third Thursday Birthday Bash -- the Al Capone Speakeasy. Featuring performers including Swing Columbus and drag king troupe the Royal Renegades (above), the event will celebrate Jazz era dance, music, fashion and 1920s style merriment. It's pay-what-you-can admission.

On Sun, Jan 24, the Sundays at 7 staged reading by Whistling in the Dark Theatre Co. presents Tis Pity She's a Whore by John Ford, directed by Andrew Blasenak. The reading begins at 7 pm in the Shoebox, and is $3 at the door.

Check out the first Monthly Art Market brought to you by ARTillery Ohio. The art sale, in the Arts Initiative space, will feature hand-crafted jewelry by local artists. The sale runs noon to 6 pm on Sat, Jan 30. Future markets will be the last Saturday of each month. The Feb 27 market focuses on clay arts, and the March 27 event focuses on print works. For a complete schedule, go to artilleryohio.com.

Introducing our Fellows

2010-01-12T09:03:00.000-08:00

Eleven visual and performing artists from Columbus have embarked on the Arts Initiative's Fellowship for Emerging Artists. The artists are (above, l-r top row) Maggie Page, Ryan Smith, Ryan Agnew, Lisa McLymont, Stephanie Rond, Jacob Reed and Joey Monsoon, and (l-r front row) Eric Rausch, Amandda Tirey Graham, Colleen Leonardi and Jenai Cutcher. They were nominated by local arts professionals and chosen by an advisory panel. The program is a post-college effort to help creative, promising artists create their work and compose their lives in central Ohio. The year-long fellowship, directed by Donn Vickers, will include a series of workshops with ample time for reflection, exploring and for envisioning what success will look like for them.

Notable News
Things are hopping in Arts in the Alley at South Campus Gateway. Take a look at some upcoming events:

Al Capone Speakeasy (a 3rd Thursday Birthday Bash)
Thurs, Jan 21, 7 – 10 pm at the Shoebox, 1570 N High St
Jam Jam Productions and (Mix)ed Media announce the premier of an event series for 2010 -- 3rd Thursday Birthday Bashes @ The Shoebox. Each month we’ll celebrate the life and culture of a famous, or sometimes infamous, historical figure whose birthday falls during the month. Kick off the series Jan 21 with The Al Capone Speakeasy. Entertainment includes performances by Swing Columbus and drag king troupe, the Royal Renegades. Pay what you can.

The No-Talent Talent Gong Show
Thurs, Feb 4, 8 - 9:30 pm, Gateway Film Center Lobby, 1550 N. High St.
Can you play the harmonica with your nose? Or the piano with your toes? Tell lousy jokes? Impersonate Elvis? If you have a crazy act, then come be a part of a new event brought to you by JamJam Productions and Everybody's Favorite Carrie – the No-Talent Talent Gong Show. Interested? Send an email to jamjamproductions@gmail.com and include type of performance, number of performers, and contact name, email, phone. If you just want to come enjoy the show, it's pay-what-you-can admission. MC for the evening is Eoin O'Brien, and celebrity judges include John Petric and Melissa Starker.

Save the Date: Opening Receptions for Three Gallery Exhibitions
Thurs, Feb 4, 6 – 9 pm, Arts in the Alley, South Campus Gateway
Works by Adam Brouillette, The Arts Initiative Space
Works by Erin Riley, The Shoebox
Works by Christin Hutchinson and Ian Magargee, Ohio Art League gallery.

Sundays @7: Staged Readings presented by Whistling in the Dark Theatre Co.
Sundays, 7 pm, the Shoebox, 1570 N High St
$3 at the door

Jan 17: The Faculty Room by Bridget Carpenter, directed by Liz Martin
Bridget Carpenter’s caustically funny play is a hall pass to what happens when you mix gun-toting sophomores, lonely teachers and an unnatural obsession with the Rapture.

Jan 24: Tis Pity She's a Whore by John Ford, directed by Andrew Blasenak
Did you think Shakespeare was the only good playwright of early modern England? Think again! John Ford's tale of ill-fated lovers tests the taboos of any time. It's like Spring Awakening meets Romeo and Juliet, where a brother and sister succumb to their attraction to one another while her host of suitors and the men and women they have wronged join the battle royale of wooing, bedding, wedding, revenge, disguise, ambush, poison, and a host of treachery and betrayal.

Canceling Events Tonight

2010-01-07T13:34:00.001-08:00

Due to the snow storm, Arts in the Alley events for tonight are canceled, including the Sketch Comedy performance, Act-o-Matic, DJ entertainment and Dan Gerdeman's exhibition opening reception.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-04T19:59:00.000-08:00

Very warm wishes for the new year from the Arts Initiative at Ohio State to you! We are delighted to be part of an exciting venture -- Arts in the Alley -- at South Campus Gateway, with Campus Partners, the Gateway, Ohio Art League and some amazing emerging artists. Take a look at the video from a recent "first Thursday" opening. . . and stop by and visit us sometime!

Arts in the Alley Celebrates 2010

2010-01-04T09:08:00.000-08:00

Visit Arts in the Alley this Thursday, Jan 7, 6-9 pm to kick off the new year! The alley -- a collaborative venture with the Arts Initiative, South Campus Gateway, Campus Partners and Ohio Art League -- will come to life with a gallery opening, comedy sketches, music and more.

Sketch By Number presents Your New Year's Resolution Sucks, two 20 minute shows at 6:30 and 7:30 pm, admission free, in the Arts Initiative space. Dwayne Blackaller’s “Act-O-Matic” provides entertainment around the shows. The opening reception for This is not a Coincidence, artwork by Dan Gerdeman, whose work centers on conversations, pop culture, flights of fancy and imprints on our psyche, takes place in the Shoebox space. DJ and VJ entertainment will be provided. Plus, a new exhibition is on view at the Ohio Art League gallery and continuation of works by Sarah Weinstock is in at the Arts Initiative Space.
Arts in the Alley is at South Campus Gateway, N High St at 10th. Artwork above: My Castle, Dan Gerdeman, Acrylic on Panel. 2009

Notable News

WOSU TV's monthly arts and culture news program, Artzine, produced by Cindy Gaillard, recently featured the OSU/Royal Shakespeare Company partnership, airing the video created by Jake Housh and Kristen Convery from University Relations. Watch it here.

Whistling in the Dark Theatre Company presents Sundays @ 7 -- weekly staged readings starting at 7 pm in the Shoebox, 1570 N High St, in the alley at South Campus Gateway. Upcoming shows include Top Gun (Jan 10) by Chip Proser, directed by Kal Poole; The Faculty Room (Jan 17) by Bridget Carpenter, directed by Liz Martin; and Tis Pity She's a Whore (Jan 24) by John Ford, directed by Andrew Blasenak.

Sketch Comedy by Sketch by Number comes to Arts in the Alley the Second Saturday of each month in the Shoebox, 1570 N High St at South Campus Gateway. Sketch by Number is a community of young writers, jokesters, editors, philosophers, artists, managers, and trash talkers who believe that comedy is the greatest vehicle to any topic. Shows begin at 8 pm. $5 at the door.

Jam Jam Productions and (Mix)ed Media announce the premier of 3rd Thursday Birthday Bashes at The Shoebox. Each month will celebrate the life and culture of a famous, or sometimes infamous, historical figure whose birthday falls that given month. On Thursday, Jan 21, the series remembers an American gangster with the first birthday bash of the season: The Al Capone Speakeasy. Come to the Shoebox for Jazz era dance, music, fashion and 1920s style merriment. Festivities start at 7 pm. Pay what you can.

Commotion in the Alley

2009-12-04T09:52:00.000-08:00

Arts in the Alley came alive last night (Dec 3) with lots of gallery openings and activities in the South Campus Gateway alley. Sarah Weinstock (above with Dance's Dave Covey) celebrated the opening of her solo exhibition In the Overlap installed in the Arts Initiative space, while Jenai Cutcher's OSU tap dance class (below) broke in the new wood, sprung dance floor there, with tunes provided by DJ Lisa McLymont.Across the alley at the Ohio Art League gallery, the popular annual Thumb Box Show opened with a wide variety of works -- all 6 x 6 x 6 inches or smaller -- on display (right). And in The Shoebox (below), large-scale photographs from featured artist Dave Kube were on display along with artwork from ARTillery member artists and an interactive arts activity from (Mix)ed Media.
Notable News

The Emerging Artist Studio -- a short, weekly radio feature from the Arts Initiative on WOSU's new Capital City Radio -- has begun airing on Fridays at 7:40 am and 12:33 pm. The shows, hosted by Karen Bell, each feature an interview with a local emerging artist. They're also available in podcast form; you can listen to the first four features here.

The 10,000 square foot former Skye Bar at South Campus Gateway is being revamped into ARTillery's first annual Holiday Art Market on Dec 12 and 19, noon - 6 pm. Enjoy live music, unique gifts and original artwork from more than 35 local artists, from ceramics, glass and jewelry to photography, fibers, ornaments and more. Prices starting at only $1! The first 30 shoppers will receive free tickets for the Art Market raffle, featuring artwork donated by local artists. Bring the whole family for Kids Holiday Craft Workshops and Holiday Movies taking place in The Shoebox during the sale, and stick around on the 19th for the Ohio Art League Holiday Mirror Ball in the Skye Bar at 8 pm. The Holiday Art Market is brought to you by Allied Arts in the Shoebox, a program of the Arts Initiative.

ARTillery is currently accepting applications for its featured artist program for 2010. Featured artists show their work in a solo exhibition within The Shoebox space, with an opening reception on Arts in the Alley First Thursdays (corresponding with receptions at Ohio Art League and the Ohio Arts Initiative) and have the opportunity to participate in ARTillery's artist lecture series. For complete application details and to apply, please go here. Deadline Dec 31. Contact Kate Dowell at artilleryohio@gmail.com with questions.

Royal Visit

2009-11-23T09:35:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-16T11:40:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-11-02T11:04:00.000-08:00

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.

Alley Activity

2009-10-23T11:11:00.000-07:00

The grand opening of Arts in the Alley -- the new arts community sponsored by the Arts Initiative at Ohio State and South Campus Gateway -- on Oct 8 attracted big crowds and lots of activity. The festive evening welcomed new partners to the area, including the Ohio Art League (below), Couchfire Collective and emerging artists taking up residence in the Shoebox, all in the alley at the Gateway on High Street at 10th Avenue. Some of the evening's activities included a tap dance class doing the Shim Sham (above), along with a DJ and VJ, a wide range of artwork for sale and two solo exhibitions.

Works by Joey Monsoon (above) were featured in the Ohio Art League gallery, while the Arts Initiative spotlighted paintings by Ian Magargee (below), who chatted with special guest, OSU President Gordon Gee.
Notable News

The Shoebox -- part of Arts in the Alley at South Campus Gateway -- is gearing up with all sorts of events and activities. The space came to be after local artists submitted proposals for the space, outlining their vision to perform, teach, display and sell artwork that will energize the neighborhood. The groups that are collaborating together within the Shoebox space (below) are ARTillery (artilleryohio@gmail.com), JamJam Productions (http://jamjamproductions.org/), (Mix)ed Media (http://learnmakeshare.com) and Whistling in the Dark Theatre Co. (http://www.whistlingtheatre.com).

A few upcoming Shoebox activities include:

• Monster Mash, Weds, Oct 28, door opens at 6:30 pm, screening of Psycho at 8. Halloween mixer with live DJ spinning spooky tunes, VJ mixing monster mashups, and a goblin-themed art market, followed by an 8 pm screening of Hitchcock’s Psycho. $5 donation suggested. More info at: www.learnmakeshare.com.

• The Howlariouis Hahalloween Puntastic Sketch Show, Oct 31, 7 pm. Sketch by Number, a sketch comedy troupe of young Ohioans committed to new, exciting, observational comedy is haunting the Gateway. Stop by on your way to High Ball in the Short North. After this, Sketch by Number will be presented every Thursday night at 11 pm. $5 suggested donation.

• Workshop: DVDesign, Weds, Nov 11, 7 pm. Looking for a way to organize your digital photos and video? This hands-on workshop in basic DVD design will help you make a keepsake DVD of your favorite digital files. $15. For more info and to sign up, go to www.learnmakeshare.com.

• William Shakespeare’s classic Macbeth, Nov 15, 7 pm. Directed by Kal Poole, the inaugural ShoeboxSundays@7 is a staged reading of the most horrifying Scottish tragedy ever written for King James I of England. Sundays@7 is a series of staged readings of new plays, classics, slam poetry and live radio dramas offered in the Shoebox every Sunday at 7pm. $3.

ARTillery also has regular gallery hours at the Shoebox with an ever-changing inventory of original works of art. Hours are Tuesdays and Fridays 11 am-7 pm, Wednesdays and Thursdays 11 am-2 pm, and Saturdays 11 am-4 pm.

For more, go to http://artsinitiative.osu.edu and click on Arts in the Alley.

Photo Op! Photographers were snapping pics of lots of passers-by in Arts in the Alley on Oct 26. Why all the shooting? The banners hanging on some of the store fronts in the alley are getting spruced up. Watch for the area's brand new look in a few weeks.

Arts in the Alley Grand Opening!

2009-09-29T11:12:00.000-07:00

Don't miss the Oct 8 inaugural celebration of Arts in the Alley -- the new arts community sponsored by the Arts Initiative at Ohio State and South Campus Gateway. The two organizations welcome new partners -- including the Ohio Art League, Couchfire Collective and a group of local emerging artists -- in storefront spaces in the Gateway Alley, an arts and entertainment district just off High Street between 9th and 11th Avenues.

The evening includes the 6-9 pm opening reception for Works by Ian Magargee (below) in the Arts Initiative offices, 1568 N High St. The solo exhibition features large scale, geometric paintings by Magargee, a recent OSU MFA graduate. At the same time that evening, the Ohio Art League opens its doors in its new space just across the alley (1552 N High St) with an opening reception for Dreamsters Union, works by Joey Monsoon.

Also that evening, three teams of emerging artists converge in their new space at 1570 N High St in the Alley. They’ll present multimedia art with a live DJ, VJ and live feed, along with visual artwork for sale and a range of short, live performances.

See what The Other Paper has to say about Arts in the Alley here.
Notable News

Speaking of Arts in the Alley and good things happening in the arts. . . check out what Chris Purdy has to say on his WOSU blog in his piece, The Arts are Thriving in Columbus, Ohio.

The OSU Faculty Club presents Curtis Goldstein: Paintings through Oct 23. A reception is planned at the Faculty Club, 181 S Oval Dr on campus, on Friday, Oct 2, 6:30-8:30 pm. Goldstein is a Columbus artist and OSU alum who expresses his Ohio roots through his paintings of city scenes (below). He also is known for his large murals in Columbus.

OSU Art faculty members Ann Hamilton and Michael Mercil announce the opening Oct 4 of Murmeration, a sound installation at Teardrop Park, Battery Park City, in New York. The unique installation brings the calls of more than 350 wild bird species, which reside in or are migratory visitors to New York City, to the park. Their avian calls mix with sounds from frogs, crickets and spring peepers, audible to visitors through speakers placed within resonant chambers of five drainage basins scattered throughout the park. The installation also involved Ben Rubin and clarinetist Ned Rothenberg.

All Ohio State students, faculty, staff and visiting scholars are invited to submit photos to the 2009 International Photography Competition. All entries must have been taken outside the US and should be creative, original, and of high quality. A Best of Show will be selected, as well as 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards in the following categories: People, Places and Food. Winning photographs will be exhibited in Bricker Hall Nov 16 - Dec 31. Deadline for entries is 5 pm, Wednesday, Oct 16.

Musician, Inc.: The Working Artist is a free half-day conference Friday, Oct 9, for students, faculty or staff interested in the law, technology and business of the music industry. Speakers cover topics including recording, press, booking, law and business as they relate to musicians. Marti Dodson from Saving Jane will be one of the panelists. The event is from 1 to 5 pm at RPAC, 337 W 17th Ave, on campus. It's organized by the Sports and Entertainment Law Association. For info, contact Kristi Wilcox, wilcox.164@buckeyemail.osu.edu

A Bridge Life: Finding our Way Home is a documentary film by Josh Grossberg, with a musical score composed by OSU's Steven Glaser, that will be screened at 7 pm Weds, Oct 7, at the Wexner Center. Grossberg and Glaser will introduce the film, which follows Dan Sheffer, a Florida loan officer, who traveled to the Houston Astrodome to bring Hurricane Katrina victims back to Florida.

Arts Alley Invites Proposals

2009-08-24T12:46:00.000-07:00

The Arts Initiative and South Campus Gateway are teaming up to create "Arts Alley," part of the Arts Initiative's emerging artist program designed to help creative, talented entrepreneurial artists compose their lives and create work in Columbus. The partnership provides emerging artists with programming and studio space in the Gateway, starting this fall, with the intention of artists building community, exhibiting and selling artwork, performing, teaching and offering public lectures and/or studio talks. An application for available space for emerging artists is available now; deadline for proposals is Sept 7. To access the application and related list of guidelines, click here.

Notable News

Twenty Ohio public school teachers are back from their trip to Stratford-upon-Avon, UK, (above) where they spent a week exploring experiential education techniques with the Royal Shakespeare Company actors and educators. Their trip, and a related week of workshops at Ohio State, are part of the partnership between OSU and the RSC. If you haven't seen the blog detailing their experiences, click here.

An opening reception for Window of Hope, an exhibition at the Fresh A.I.R. Gallery in downtown Columbus, is tonight (Aug 24), 5:30-7 pm. The show includes works by 16 women living at the YWCA Columbus Women's Residency, and is a window for sharing images of their hope, survival and strength. The exhibition runs through Aug 28 at the gallery, 131 N High St. For info, call 744-8110.

Feed your Soul, a benefit for Available Light Theatre, is Sat, Aug 29, 6:30-9:30 pm at the Riffe Center's Studio 2. Hors d'oeuvres, performances and a silent auction are included; performance emcee is Karen Bell, associate vice president, the Arts Initiative. For ticket information, click here.

Cartoon Art Exhibitions

2009-07-19T08:53:00.000-07:00

Don't miss two summer exhibitions from Ohio State's International Museum of Cartoon Art. From the Yellow Kid to Conan: American Cartoons from the International Museum of Cartoon Art Collection (through August 7) is on view at Hopkins Gallery + Corridor, 10:30-4:30 M-F. For group tours, call 614-262-6493. The other show is Hogarth and Beyond: Global Cartoons from the International Museum of Cartoon Art Collection (though August 31) at the Cartoon Library & Museum Reading Room Gallery, 27 West 17th Avenue Mall, 9-5 M-F. The image above is by Richard Felton Outcault, 1863-1928, Hogan’s Alley, April 4, 1897, ink and watercolor on paper. Outcault was a native of Lancaster, Ohio, and is credited with creating Hogan’s Alley, the first commercially successful American comic strip.

Notable News

Shakespeare program kicks off! The OSU / Royal Shakespeare Company partnership starts up in earnest this week when 20 Ohio public schoolteachers travel to Stratford for a week of intensive teacher education with the RSC actors and educators. The teachers are a very diverse group — representing grades 3 to 12, and including everything from science, math and English teachers to music instructors, intervention specialists, ESL teachers and more. They will work with the RSC in Stratford, then with OSU faculty and staff for a week on campus. Throughout the year, they will work with OSU faculty, researchers and Theatre/English students to embrace the RSC’s “Stand Up for Shakespeare” program in their schools, ultimately impacting hundreds of young students. Participating schools include Metro High School, Linden-McKinley High School and its feeder schools, and Reynoldsburg City Schools. A separate blog will be updated daily while they participate in the training with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford.

Through Aug 28, The OSU Faculty Club features Leaders in Glass: Selected Glass Artists from The Ohio State University, curated by Joel O'Dorisio. Fourteen nationally recognized glass artists present their works in glass, a show designed to offer an examnination of the breadth of talent developed through Ohio State's glass art program. Artists include Scott Benefield, Bridgit Boss, Matt Carmean, Martha Croasdale, Scott Darlington, John Drury, Roberta Eichenberg, David King, Tom Kreager, Jonathan Tepperman, Kami Meighan, Ed Schmid, Aimee Sones and Joel O'Dorisio.

'Marriage' comes to Mershon

2009-05-21T12:01:00.000-07:00

OSU Opera and the Department of Theatre present Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30 at 8 pm in Mershon Auditorium. Set in an English manor in the late 20th century, this updated version of a timeless love story will be sung in Italian with English surtitles. Discount ticket prices for students, senior citizens, OSU faculty and staff (with ID). Above, students Amedee Moore and David Wilson rehearse.

Notable News

Ohio choreographers are invited to submit works for a new project that's a partnership of the Dublin Arts Council, OSU Department of Dance and OhioDance. The project involves the development and performance of a site-specific outdoor contemporary dance work. A chosen choreographer will create the work, using the Dublin Arts Council grounds, a grassy sloping location with a rolling hill descending to the Scioto River. For more information contact Jane D'Angelo at ohiodance@hotmail.com or find the invitaiton for submission here (scroll down to Sept events).

The Arts Initiative's offices present a new exhibition May 29-June 19 -- One Year in a Lifetime: A Celebration of First Grade. OSU alum Cavin Bodouin, first grade teacher at New Albany Elementary presents large-scale murals created by his 23 students as they explored a wide variety of subject matter throughout their first grade year. Opening reception is Friday, May 29, 5-7 pm.

Ohio State's popular Percussion Ensemble Pops Concert takes place on the Oval on Tuesday, May 26, at 6:30 pm. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to this free outdoor concert and enjoy the School of Music's Mallet Ensemble with music from the Ragtime era and the golden age of the xylophone.

ART Party with President Gee

2009-04-24T10:52:00.000-07:00

The Ohio Union sponsored a special event, "ARen'T you glad you're with Dr Gee" at the Arts Initiative office at South Campus Gateway last Friday. Ohio State students with "ART" in their names -- like Arthur and Martha -- were invited to the evening event where students mingled with President E Gordon Gee and painted sun visors and bow ties. . . and even got a lesson in how to tie a bow tie. The winning bow tie was chosen by Dr Gee and will be framed and presented to him later. The event was held in conjunction with Big Arts Week, and South Campus Gateway was hopping with the sounds of live music on the plaza. Photos courtesy of Ohio Union.

Notable News

Apply for a Digital Storytelling Workshop by May 4. Would you like to tell the story of your teaching, research or outreach through a video or audio project? OSU's Digital Storytelling team invites you to apply for an intensive, hands-on Digital Storytelling Workshop to be presented Tuesday, June 16 through Thursday, June 18. Project ideas related to teaching, research or outreach will be given preference according to Liv Gjestvang, coordinater, Digital Union. Apply online here or read more here. Application deadline is May 4.

Walkscape OSU -- Join the campus-wide experiment in creative bipedalism by going for a walk. Visit new places, take new routes, look with a fresh eye. Walk by yourself, in pairs, in small groups, en masse. Document your experience with words, images, objects or sounds and contribute to the Walkscape Scroll that will be on the Oval May 20, 10 am – 4 pm. Sponsored by the Institute for Collaborative Research and Public Humanities and the Arts Initiative at Ohio State to inspire creativity on campus. For ideas, suggestions or to leave a comment, visit the walkscape blog or email livingston.28@osu.edu.

Day by Day....

2009-04-13T11:00:00.000-07:00

The Ohio State Department of Theatre partners with CAPA to present the musical Godspell April 16-19 at the historic Southern Theatre in downtown Columbus. Originally conceived by John-Michael Tebelak, with music and new lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, the Ohio State production is directed by Mandy Fox. For tickets call (614) 292-2295. Above, (l-r) Kristen Russell, Meredith Lark, Danny Ferguson and Gabriel Lopez rehearse a scene. Photo by Eric Mayer.

Notable News

The Organization of Art School Students Union (OASSU) will host an artist talk with Chris Martin at 4 pm Weds, April 15, in room 262, Hopkins Hall. Martin is an abstract painter who creates poetic works bursting with color, employing elements of collage and landscape imagery.

The Wexner Center will announce its slate of summer films -- indoor and outdoor series -- on Weds, April 15, at 2 pm via live streaming video.

Don't forget about Big Arts Week at Ohio State next week -- with a whole slate of events planned on and around campus. Enjoy performances, art exhibitions, improv, films, jazz, dance, bands and more!

Got an interest in the relationship of the cosmos and the psyche? Richard Tarnas, professor of philosophy and cultural history at the California Institute of Integral Studies, presents a lecture and workshop Fri, April 17, and Sat, April 18, at First Community Church in Columbus. The events are sponsored by the Jung Association of Central Ohio. Full time students may attend the Fri lecture for free; bring ID. For details, click here.

Synchronous Objects Launched

2009-04-03T07:31:00.001-07:00

It was a packed house at a symposium April 1 at Ohio State celebrating the launch of the interactive web project Synchronous Objects for One Flat Thing, reproduced. The symposium featured choreographer William Forsythe and web project collaborators Maria Palazzi (ACCAD), Norah Zuniga Shaw (Dance) and other Ohio State researchers from a wide range of disciplines. It was held at the Wexner Center, concurrent with the opening of the exhibition William Forsythe: Transfigurations. The interactive web project (above), now available to the public, is the result of a multi-year collaboration with The Forsythe Company, based in Germany, and Ohio State. The project presents an original collection of screen-based visualizations (video, digital artwork, animation and interactive graphics) that reveal interlocking systems of organization in the choreography. It has been featured in the New York Times, the Columbus Dispatch and the online site Information Aesthetics .

Notable News

It's never hard to find things to do around the Ohio State campus . . . but for one week in late April, there's a big bunch of arts events all going on at once! We're calling it Big Arts Week and it includes everything from a student organization-sponsored arts festival to exhibitions, a film fest, variety show and the always popular OSU Jazz Festival.

Call for artists! The second annual Art Al Fresco, a day-long event in the Short North to spotlight the power of public art, is seeking entries for this year's event, scheduled for Aug 15. Last year, the outdoor event drew over 10,000 people. Up to 50 artists will create temporary public art installations in outdoor venues, from parks and courtyards to rooftops and sidewalks. Applications, due May 22, are available online.

Student filmmakers take note! InMyShorts.com is seeking submissions for an online film festival. Submit your work online by April 11 and compete with other OSU students for prizes and recognition. Top-rated films will be shown at the Landmark Gateway Theatre on April 11 at 7 pm. Go to the website, "join" the Ohio State University group and upload your video to enter the competition. Videos must be under 10 minutes and under 50 mbs. All categories are accepted, and can be anything from experimental to musicals to Hollywood!

The media-savvy Builders Association returns to the Wexner Center April 16-18 for Continuous City, a show that looks at how our "networked selves" are stretched to occupy multiple locations. Sequences filmed in Columbus will be integrated in Continuous City's globe-spanning dreamscape.

Student Musicians Wow Crowd

2009-03-13T08:06:00.000-07:00

An audience of more than 300 community leaders enjoyed the talents of more than 20 Ohio State students and faculty from the School of Music at last week’s Columbus Council on World Affairs awards luncheon at the convention center. Ohio State was recognized at the event as the International Organization of the Year; President E. Gordon Gee accepted the award and was keynote speaker. A student jazz combo (left) played cool jazz tunes as people registered and networked in a reception area. Percussion students (above) – led by Susan Powell and Joe Krygier (Music) – provided upbeat entertainment on stage during the event, as did 11 opera singers (below) – directed by Peter Kozma and accompanied by Edward Bak – who belted out the finale from the Marriage of Figaro.

The OSU Urban Arts Space and its February 2008 grand opening event (below) and opening exhibition, Midnight Robbers: The Artists of Notting Hill Carnival (co-curated by Lesley Ferris, Theatre) were honored last week with the Artistic Excellence award by the Greater Columbus Arts Council. The $10,000 prize is given annually to an arts organization that has demonstrated innovation, risk and artistic excellence. Several of the other nominees have close ties to Ohio State too – including the Columbus Museum of Art, led by alumna Nannette Maciejunes (Art History), and its Objects of Wonder exhibition, curated by alumna Melissa Wolfe (Art History), and the Columbus Dance Theater, headed by Dance alum Tim Veach.

Twenty school teachers from central Ohio public schools – including Metro High School, Linden-McKinley High School and its feeder schools, and Reynoldsburg City Schools – have been chosen as the first participants in the Ohio State / Royal Shakespeare Company Partnership. They include 11 high school, 2 middle school and 7 elementary school teachers. Starting this summer, the group will work with RSC actors and educators and OSU faculty in an intensive teacher education program based upon the Stand Up for Shakespeare experiential learning program. Plans are also underway for a one-day workshop next fall for teachers from a wider range of schools.

Speaking of the Royal Shakespeare Company, you can catch its production of King Lear, starring Sir Ian McKellen, on WOSU TV/HD at 8 pm March 25 and on WOSU PLUS digital channel at 8 pm March 26. The 3-hour show is presented by Great Performances.

There’s never a shortage of arts events on campus. . . but the area around campus is ripe with live music and arts events too. One newcomer to the university area is Wild Goose Creative, an organization committed to “creativity, hospitality, education and community.” Formed by six friends who went to college together in Michigan – including Nick Dekker and Jessie Boettcher (Theatre) and alum Beth Dekker – the group recently moved into space at Summit and Hudson Streets. Wild Goose Creative hosts a Third Thursday group – where an artist is invited to share his or her work – as well as a painters’ and writers' groups, a Shakespeare group and more.

Voting has begun in the Music Video Challenge sponsored by the Ohio Film Office. You can give your opinion by logging on the YouTube site and casting your vote.

Guggenheim Features Hamilton Work

2009-02-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

Ann Hamilton (Art) has an installation -- human carriage -- in a new exhibition, The Third Mind: American Artists Contemplate Asia: 1860-1989, at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. The exhibition, which opened Jan 30 and continues until April 19, features 250 works by 100 artists and literary figures in a broad range of media, including the site-specific commission by Hamilton. The show explores the impact of Asian art, literature, music and philosophical concepts on American art. Hamilton's piece was created for the Guggenheim's rotunda. Focusing on themes of transmission and transformation, she devised a mechanism that traverses the entire Guggenheim balustrade, in the form of a white silk "bell carriage" with Tibetan bells inside. As the cage spirals down, the purifying bells ring. The system is propelled by a pully system and weights composed of thousands of cut-up books. According to Hamilton, the elements of human carriage compose a visual metaphor for the processes of "reading which leaves no material trace but which might forever change you."

Notable News

Drums Downtown VI comes to the Riffe Center's Capitol Theater this Fri, Feb 27, and Sat, Feb 28 at 8 pm. The popular production features percussion, dance, art and multimedia, with OSU’s Percussion Ensemble and guest students and faculty from OSU Dance—a tour de force collaboration! Click here for details and ticket info.

Calling artists! Ohio Staters Inc. and Major Campus Events Committee (MCEC) are interested in your talents. During the week of April 20, the groups will host Festival of the Finest to showcase the artistic variety and skills of OSU students and student groups. Any and all mediums, from fine art to performance, are welcome to apply. Click here for guidelines and an application. Submissions and questions should be directed to applications.osu@gmail.com by 5 pm March 6.

The Ohio Film Office launched the Ohio Film Music Video Challenge Feb 18. A production team has 3 weeks to partner with a musical act, create a concept, shoot the music video and post it (to be judged) on the official YouTube challenge site. Winners will be selected from a panel of professionals in the music and film/video industries.

Central Ohio Schools Join RSC Partnership

2009-02-06T12:12:00.000-08:00

A group of about 20 Ohio public school teachers will be the first to participate in an extensive teacher leadership education program that’s at the core of a new partnership between The Ohio State University and UK’s Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), according to Karen Bell, associate vice president, The Arts Initiative at Ohio State. The first cohort of teachers will come from Franklin County’s Metro High School; Columbus City Schools’ Linden-McKinley High School and its feeder schools; and Reynoldsburg City Schools. The schools are STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) schools affiliated with the Ohio STEM Learning Network (OSLN).

“We’re delighted to be working with these central Ohio schools in the venture with the RSC,” says Bell. “At first it may seem like a surprising fit to explore Shakespeare in STEM schools, but in fact it’s a perfect fit. Like scientific investigation, the RSC’s drama education program is all about creative learning, experiencing and exploring.” For the entire story, click here. (Photo of the RSC's Stand Up for Shakespeare program by Ellie Kurrtz.)

Notable News

Art Ed alumna Ivy Chevers (PhD) has orchestrated upcoming events celebrating the life and music of Bob Marley, at the King Arts Complex in Columbus. Events include a documentary film on Fri, Feb 6, at 6:30 and 9 pm, and a Marley tribute concert at 8 pm Sat, Feb 7. For info, click here.

The Ohio Art League presents its 98th Annual Spring Juried Exhibition at the OSU Urban Arts Space in downtown Columbus through March 27. The exhibition features works -- including this one by Ardine Nelson -- selected by juror David Pagel. For more, see the OAL website.

John Hemingway, grandson of Nobel Laureate Ernest Hemingway will read from and discuss his new memoir, Strange Tribe -- which explores the similarities between his transsexual father (Hemingway's youngest son) and Ernest Hemingway -- at a talk on Tues, Feb. 17 at 7 pm in the Wexner Center Film and Video Theatre. This talk is co-sponsored by the Department of English, OSU Sexuality Studies Program, Institute for Collaborative Research and Public Humanities and the Wexner Center for the Arts.

A community choir based at the campus-area church Summit on 16th will join forces with choir and band students from Indianola Middle School to present a short concert (and lots of chocolate) on Sat, Feb 14, 6 pm, at Indianola Middle School, 420 E 19th Ave. The community choir of about 25 singers under the direction of Sheena Phillips will sing choral arrangements of love songs by the Beatles, Elton John, Cole Porter and George Gershwin, and some up-tempo gospel music. Admission is free; donations will benefit the music program at Indianola.

Alum Presents Dance at King Arts Complex

2009-01-21T12:10:00.000-08:00

Photo of the Week

Dance alumna Kristina Isabelle's Dance Company presents Levels & Lines this Saturday (Jan 24) at the King Arts Complex in downtown Columbus. The performance is a multi-dimensional exploration in movement, video, light and sound, inspired by abstract expressionist painter Joan Mitchell. The evening length production incorporates "dynamic dancing on the ground, in the air and in all the space in-between." In honor of the inauguration of the country's new president and to reaffirm a commitment to the community, the King Arts Complex is offering admission to the performance on a "pay what you can" basis. Above, dancers are Jeff Fouch, Zoe Rabinowitz, Maggie Page, Jessica McKelvey and Kristina Isabelle. Photo by Stephanie Matthews.

Notable News

The Andy Warhol show at the Wexner Center continues to draw big crowds. The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) recently called the show "deeply illuminating" and "easily one of the major cultural events in Ohio at the moment." Check out the show before it leaves Feb 15. Upcoming events include a talk by Susan Rossi-Wilcox about a Warhol cookbook on Jan 28, the next First Sunday on Feb 1 and several closing events. Thursdays feature free admission 4-8 pm.

Ohio State’s Cartoon Research Library has a new name -- the Cartoon Library and Museum. The new designation comes on the heels of the acquisition of the International Museum of Cartoon Art Collection, which brings its holdings to more than 400, 000 original works of art used in its active exhibition program. The Cartoon Library and Museum is exploring options for a possible new location with museum-quality galleries and additional storage for its rapidly-growing collection. (No Honest Man Need Fear Cartoons, Homer Davenport, 19th century. From RSWCGA - Richard Samuel West Collection.)

Jan 25 is the last day for the Non Fiction Design Collective exhibition Shakespeare Wooden Minnow at the Clay Studio in Philadelphia. The Columbus-based collective is a group of four artists working together: Rebecca Harvey and Steve Thurston (Art) and alumni Guy Michael Davis and Katie Parker, who join forces in the creation of tableware, bricks, lighting and other objects. The show is the first to come from the Clay Studio's call for curatorial proposals.

ACCAD Brings Thurber Dogs to Life

2009-01-05T07:27:00.000-08:00

Students at Ohio State’s Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design (ACCAD) have been busy bringing the beloved drawings of dogs by humorist James Thurber to life via animation. The animated illustrations will be projected during a concert performed by Columbus’s ProMusica Chamber Orchestra on Jan 10—11, and will accompany Peter Schickele’s Thurber’s Dogs – Suite for Orchestra, a piece originally commissioned by ProMusica in 1994. The musical composition is based on six of Thurber’s short stories that incorporate his much-loved line drawings of dogs. The project is a collaboration with ACCAD, ProMusica and Thurber House.

Nine Ohio State graduate students worked as a team to animate six sequences involving the dogs. The students built the animations around the music, tightly timing them to the piece. Using research, storyboards, 3D modeling and animation, the group spent months creating character movement that simulated hand-drawn animation and remained true to Thurber’s unique style. The project was directed by Vita Berezina-Blackburn, animation specialist. For an overview of the project, visit the website.

Notable News

Ohio State folks can see the preview of the Evolution Theatre Company production of Frozen -- Bryony Lavery's award-winning British drama -- on Jan 14 at 8 pm. Anyone with a BuckID (students, faculty, staff) can get tickets for that show for $2.50. The production features OSU's Mandy Fox and is directed by Jimmy Bohr (Theatre), and is presented at the Columbus Performing Arts Center downtown. Artistic director of the new theatre company is Theatre PhD student and Music staffer Paul Lockwood. Tickets can be purchased (cash only) at the door, or email lockwood.38@osu.edu. For more details, go to Evolution's website.

Cinema Latino kicks off at the Wexner Center for the Arts. For the third year, the Wexner Center is presenting Cinema Latino, with the best in new film from Latin America. The acclaimed Pope’s Toilet kicks it off, a Uruguayan film about a poor town preparing for the Pope’s visit, called “alternately heartbreaking and hilarious” by the Village Voice. It’s showing Friday night (Jan 9) at 7 pm, with a free public reception prior to the screening. Another featured film is Silent Light on Feb 15, about German-speaking Mennonite farmers in Mexico, called dazzling by the New York Times. “To miss this film would be a sin,” wrote critic AO Scott. For the full schedule, click here.

OSU alumnus Tom Harbrecht has an exhibit -- Landscapes and Seascapes -- opening Jan 8 and continuing until Feb 20 at the OSU Faculty Club. A reception is planned Jan 16, 6:30-8:30 pm. The paintings include scenes from central and southeastern Ohio, and rural Florida.

Michael Layne, a Jamaican student in Art Education's "mostly online MA" program sends photos of a community mural his high school students completed in Port Antonio, Jamaica (above). The mural, which garnered the attention of Jamaica's minister of education, is one of several the group is creating. The MA program is a partnership with the Edna Manley College of the Arts in Kingston.

Urban Cabaret

2008-12-08T08:41:00.001-08:00

Photo of the Week

The OSU Urban Arts Space was transformed into an opera cabaret on Friday, Nov 21, when 14 students and two pianists presented an evening of arias, opera scenes, musical theatre and cabaret in a galleria setting. The festive evening featured 30 excerpts from operas including Bizet's Carmen, Puccini's Gianni Schicchi and Rossini's Barber of Seville along with selections from Guys and Dolls, West Side Story and Les Miserables, according to Peter Kozma, director of the opera program in the School of Music. The 180 attendees were seated in cabaret style surrounded by artworks in the current exhibitions.

Notable News

The OSU Marching Band is heading to Washington DC in January to participate in the Presidential Inaugural Parade. All 225 band members -- the largest all-brass and percussion band in the world -- will participate the Jan 20 event. The band was chosen after a rigorous application process; it will be the band's fifth Inagural Parade, having marched for Presidents Herbert Hoover, Richard Nixon, George HW Bush and twice for George W Bush. The trip will be funded by private donations.

Dr. Gerald Buckberg, an OSU alumnus and distinguished professor of surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, has found a way to use art to teach about the human heart and heart disease. Buckberg commissioned dancers at the University of Cincinnati to create The Cardiac Dance -- The Spirals of Life, a ballet that can be used as a teaching tool about heart function. Buckberg was back on the Ohio State campus in November to show a video of the dance to medical students and the public, and to talk about his research in myocardial protection and approaches to treatment of acute myocardial infarction.
Photo: University of Cincinnati

Starting this fall, OSU professor Michael Mercil is installing The Virtual Pasture at the Wexner Center for the Arts, in the spot where he previously planted The Beanfield. The Virtual Pasture is phase two of Mercil's "agri/cultural" project for The Living Culture Initiative in the Department of Art, in partnership with the Wexner Center and the Social Responsibility Initiative in the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The 500-square-foot site outside the Wexner Center along College Road includes a white post-and-rail fence, livestock forage grasses, a forthcoming apple tree and eventually a virtual flock of sheep. Click here for more information from the Wexner Center. Photo of Mercil by Tony Mendoza.

Alan Price (Design and ACCAD), travels to Linz, Austria, this month, where he has been invited to be part of the grand reopening exhibition at the Ars Electronica Center. His work will be part of a new addition to the center in a virtual environment system called "Deep Space". The high resolution stereoscopic 3D projection spans a two-story high wall and floor with user interaction through touch screens and motion tracking. Price's most recent work, "Empire of Sleep" has been adapted to the display system in collaboration with the Ars Electonica Futurelab team for permanent inclusion in the exhibition space. The public opening is Jan 3.

Student Artwork at Gateway

2008-12-02T06:15:00.000-08:00

Artwork by MFA students Bethany Haeseler, above left (glass) and Talia Shabtay (painting) along with that by several other glass students is taking center stage at the new offices for The Arts Initiative at South Campus Gateway. The office, headed by Karen Bell, associate vice president, hosted an open house Nov 14, where OSU President Gordon Gee (below) spoke about the importance of positioning Ohio State as a leader in the arts. Main topic of the evening was the recently announced partnership with Ohio State and the UK's Royal Shakespeare Company.

Notable News

Holiday glass sale at Gateway! Glass students in the Department of Art will sell hand-blown holiday ornaments and more at The Arts Initiative offices at South Campus Gateway this Thursday from 4 to 7 pm. Stop by and browse!

The visit today by Canadian playwright Sandra Dempsey to the Department of Theatre has been canceled.

The December issue of Artforum magazine each year invites a broad spectrum of artists, critics and curators to revisit the year in art and choose their "top 10" highlights. Two contributors in the current issue -- Ann Goldstein and Jack Bankowsky -- both picked the Wexner Center's exhibition Andy Warhol: Other Voices , Other Rooms as #4 in their top picks. To see their choices, click here.

Who's there?: The Ohio State Hamlet Project, an exhibition curated by grad students in the Department of Theatre as part of a class assignment, brings together holdings on many aspects of Hamlet from the collections of the Lawrence and Lee Theatre Research Institute (TRI). Ranging from artifacts to essays and playbills, covering multiple centuries and countries, the items selected by the curators underscore the fascination that Hamlet and his interpreters continue to hold for audiences. The exhibition joins the beginning stages of the European Hamlet Project, being celebrated by symposia and culminating in exhibitions across Europe in 2009-10. The OSU exhibition is taking place at the TRI and in the Department of Theatre. For more, click here.

The OSU School of Music presents its annual Musical Celebration Concert this Friday, Dec 5, at 8 pm in Mershon Auditorium. The popular, annual musical extravaganza celebrates the holiday season and showcases the school’s many performing groups, from the OSU Symphony Orchestra to its Jazz Ensemble, Glee Clubs, Symphonic Band and more. Tickets available through the Wexner Center Ticket Office (614) 292-3535.

Royal Shakespeare Company Partnership

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Photo of the Week

Ohio State formally announced a partnership with the UK’s Royal Shakespeare Company Nov 7 at the University’s Board of Trustees meeting. President Gordon Gee calls the international partnership one of the university’s most important initiatives, an opportunity for two world-class institutions to come together to create a premier program for the study, teacher training and production of Shakespeare, inspired by the methodology and highly respected practices of the Royal Shakespeare Company. The partnership – the first of its kind in the US – is spearheaded by The Arts Initiative at Ohio State, and includes the College of Education and Human Ecology, the Colleges of the Arts and Humanities, and the Wexner Center for the Arts. One of its predominant components will be a three-year teacher education program centered upon the Royal Shakespeare Company’s renowned “Stand Up for Shakespeare” program (above). Additionally, the Royal Shakespeare Company / Ohio State partnership will establish a Young People’s Shakespeare Festival, tentatively planned for 2012. For more details, click here. (Photo: Ellie Kurttz) Below, visitors from the Royal Shakespeare Company join OSU leaders at the Board of Trustees meeting. From left, David Frantz, Les Wexner, Gordon Gee, Lady Sainsbury, Karen Bell, Jacqui O’Hanlon, Michael Boyd, Brian Edmiston, Vikki Heywood.
Notable News

The OSU/Royal Shakespeare Company partnership already is garnering some international attention. The UK's Birmingham Post has this to say about it. A feature also appeared in the Columbus Dispatch.

What is The Arts Initiative at Ohio State? It's the office of Karen Bell, associate vice president, formerly known as the Office for Arts and Culture. Why the switch? To more accurately reflect our mission to advance the arts and impact our communities. Hope you enjoy the new blog for The Arts Initiative!

Ohio State recently created a video documentary about the Columbus Museum of Art's exhibition Objects of Wonder from The Ohio State University, which features comments from Karen Bell, associate vice president, and alumna Melissa Wolfe, curator.

It's everything Andy at the Wexner Center these days! Andy Warhol: Other Voices, Other Rooms continues at the Wexner Center through Feb 15, and features more than 700 items in virtually every medium that Warhol used —film, video, audio material, photography, painting, sculpture, drawings, wallpaper and more.

"Wishes and Dreams" by Retro-Blue is a new jazz CD featuring some OSU folks, including alums and instructurs from Music -- Tom Battenberg, Andy Woodson, Jim Curlis and Don Nichols. Find out more here.

PhD student Loring Resler from Art Education worked with students at Weinland Park to create a mural of Barack Obama. The Obama campaign loved it...and posted it on their website!

Gift shopping! The Department of Art's glass and ceramics students host their annual Holiday Sale in Hopkins Hall Lobby Thurs, Nov 20 and Fri, Nov 21, 10 am-6 pm. All items are handmade by students; you'll find decorative vases, jewelry, cups, plates, sculptural work, handblown Christmas ornaments, candy canes, bowls and more! Proceeds buy supplies and help fund visiting artists. For info, contact Bethany Haeseler at haeseler.4@gmail.com.