The Columbus arts and entertainment community has taken up lodging at the South Campus Gateway, opening new exhibition venues in the open alley space between Ninth and 11th avenues, amid the area’s popular bars and restaurants.
Given the monicker Arts in the Alley, the district is a partnership between the Arts Initiative at Ohio State, the Ohio Art League, Couchfire Collective and local artists. Their goal is to develop relationships between local artists and surrounding neighborhoods.
Along with exhibits, film screenings and performances, the space will also open a media lab with banks of computers to host community programs.
The Arts Initiative laid out the groundwork for the project by sponsoring the relocation of the Ohio Art League from its Short North gallery into a new 1,500-square-foot space in the new district. The space was donated by South Campus Gateway.
Despite rain last Thursday, crowds of community members packed exhibition spaces at the inaugural celebration of Arts in the Alley. The Arts Initiative offices hosted the opening reception with an exhibit of works by Ohio State lecturer Ian Magargee.
Next-door, three teams of artists channeled their creativity into the new exhibition space, including visual art, performance art and digital media.
Magargee, who recently received his master’s degree from OSU, said he was excited that the arts are expanding closer to campus. He said he looks forward to using the new exhibition spaces to give new meaning to his abstract pieces.
Victoria Ellwood, director of public relations for the Arts Initiative, affirmed that she is “excited to be working with different artists emerging into their careers.”
Angela Weixel, a second-year in social work, tap dances with the Department of Dance at OSU and performed at the opening receptions with her class. Along with the other artists, she was “excited about having a new space to dance.”
Students are encouraged to visit the galleries and get involved with the many programming opportunities available. Coming Nov. 5 through 28, the Ohio Arts League will feature hand-cut paper and etched glass pieces by Laura Alexander in a new exhibit, “Effervescent.”
