The bricks of the Short North are looking more like an art museum than buildings these days. A twist on classic pieces by Da Vinci, Bellows, Van Gogh and others can be seen on the sides of High Street buildings throughout the Short North.
Chris Steele is the president of Citizens for a Better Skyline, a non-profit organization that strives to beautify the urban area with art. This organization started the mural movement with the painting of the Union Station Trains mural at 620 N. High St.
“They’re a positive way to make an impact and support Ohio art,” said Steele.
They were also responsible for perhaps the most recognizable mural, “Mona Lisa” at 742 Pearl St. “Mona Lisa” was originally painted in 1990 by Brian Clemons and has since been restored and repainted. “Mona Lisa” is painted on her side which makes it look more interesting.
“The murals have become a signature for the Short North,” said Sandy Wood.
Wood is owner of the Wood Companies – a real estate company with properties in the Short North that offered the canvas for some of these great murals. Wood enjoyed meeting with artists to decide which paintings the public would get to enjoy on his buildings.
More and more people have taken interest in the paintings, and additional public interest groups have taken them on as pet projects.
The BrickStreet Arts Association is the group responsible for a recent mural addition to the Short North. Maddy Weisz is the president of the association which strives to bring art into the older urban areas of Columbus, including Victorian Village, Harrison West, and the Short North, to name a few. The BrickStreet Art Association determined a mural site at 641 N. High St. which would display a rendition of George Bellow’s famous “Cliff Dwellers” painting in 2004.
“The response from the community has been wonderful,” said Weisz.
Weisz is employed in the office of human resources at The Ohio State University as an organization development consultant, and has been a resident of Columbus for the past 30 years. Her love for the arts has led her toward the pursuit of public art integration through the association.
Curtis Goldstein and fiancée Michelle Attias are the artists responsible for painting the massive “Cliff Dwellers” mural. Goldstein was a past art director for The Limited and Express stores, but his love of public work brought him to the forefront of the mural creations on High Street. The pair liked the idea of painting a Bellow’s work because he was a Columbus native.
“The theme of the Bellow’s painting was perfect for the area because the subject matter was urban,” said Goldstein, “This historic painting was a representation of the underbelly of a city.”
The “Cliff Dwellers” mural took one-and-a-half months to complete and cost $15,000. Because the weather takes a toll on these pieces, Goldstein has helped repaint past murals such as the “Mona Lisa” on High Street.
These paintings represent the city for which they were painted.
“I think the mural (Cliff Dwellers), represents how the Short North may have looked 100 years ago,” Goldstein said.
