Dale Chihuly
Mille Fiori, 2008
de Young Museum, San Franciso
Photo by Teresa Nouri Rishel

If you haven’t been to the Columbus Museum of Art lately, now is the time to visit. Chihuly Illuminated is one of their current exhibitions and includes six large installations and various other pieces. You’ll also get a behind the scenes peek at Dale Chihuly’s studio and life.

With pieces never before seen in Columbus, the exhibit focuses on light and glass. A couple of the pieces even incorporate neon in the glass to make it glow.

My favorite was Mille Fiori, which is the biggest and most colorful in the exhibit. From the moment you turn the corner you are hit with so many bright, vibrant colors and shapes. The piece is very reminiscent of a garden with plants, flowers and animals all made of beautiful glass. It is quite breathtaking to stand back and try and take everything in.

Chihuly Illuminated isn’t the only place in Columbus you’ll find the works of Dale Chihuly; different Chihuly exhibits are running at the Franklin Park Conservatory (check out Cathe’s blog post about that here ), and also at Hawk Galleries. For more details on these and other glass exhibits throughout the year, visit GlassArt365.com .

Available Light Theatre has wowed me once again.

This time, they’ve done it with Killadelphia: mixtape of a city . I attended a preview of the production on Saturday, which will open to audiences this week.

I now find myself still thinking about the show, which I’ll undoubtedly do for some time. In the days ahead, I’ll continue to contemplate the stories it tells and the realizations it stirs in its audience.

It’s just that kind of performance.

Killadelphia examines crime and murder in Philadelphia, and does so in a unique way - by bringing to the stage the voices of inmates who are serving life sentences in Graterford Prison. Their accounts and thoughts are interwoven with those of the city’s residents, political talk show hosts, prison employees and others.

Amazingly, all these characters are brought to life by a single individual on stage. A single individual with a great deal of talent. Sean Christopher Lewis, Killadelphia playwright and actor, shifts from role to role remarkably.

Lewis also plays himself in a role that guides the audience through his real-life experience of creating the play. As he reenacts his interviews with inmates and shares his own reflections, he forces you to take an unvarnished look at what is happening in America’s cities.

You might also find yourself confronting what you really believe, or don’t believe, about the human condition.

Sean Christopher Lewis, together with director Matt Slaybaugh, deftly tell gripping stories that also manage to explore complex societal issues. In true Available Light fashion, Killadelphia masterfully entertains and artfully educates.

What will you think? What will you feel? What will you learn?

Find out. The show opens Thursday and runs through Sunday. For a full list of showtimes and other details, click here .

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - one of the things I love about Columbus is the undercurrent of creativity that exists here.

But, maybe I shouldn’t even call it an "undercurrent" anymore . . . it’s more obvious than that. It’s a definitive energy. An unmistakable spirit.

If you want proof, there’s somewhere you should be this Saturday, Sept. 19: on Gay Street for Independents’ Day . A gathering of active people and creative people, in celebration of all things independent and all things Columbus.

You’ll find…

• The Urban Street Market, made up of the booths of over 150 Columbus artists and businesses.

• Live music and performances on multiple stages, plus live painting (see bands and schedule listed here ).

• Via Colori artists creating large scale chalk masterpieces.

• Food from Dine Originals Columbus , a collective of well-loved, locally owned and operated restaurants.

• Films, a dance party, more, more, more . . .

Find out all that’s in store here .

Local blogger Leigh Householder, writer of Advergirl , described the event this way:

"In the words of the founders, this is a day-long explosion of creative spirit. I believe it’s destined to be as big as SxSW and twice as cool."

Click to read more about it from Leigh (plus, she shares additional Columbus event recommendations; ones that are right on target, if you ask me).

See you Saturday?

If you are looking for a fun night out this week, I highly recommend going to see Mamma Mia! at the Ohio Theatre . As a bride-to-be, I was quite intrigued by the storyline: On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago.

The music was fabulous and I guarantee anyone who goes will know no less than six songs in the show. From "Dancing Queen" to "Take A Chance On Me," the audience was singing along the whole way through.

Insider tip: After the cast takes their bow, DON’T LEAVE! I’m not going to give it all away, but it involves sequin pants and platform shoes.

The show runs through Sunday - check here for more details and tickets from Broadway Across America-Columbus .

And if you’re an ABBA fan, note that there’s more fun to come later this month. Sweden’s best ABBA tribute band, WATERLOO, will play at the Columbus Symphony’s Picnic with the Pops on July 25 .  Bring your own picnic to enjoy during the outdoor show, or reserve a table for your group. You can buy tickets here .

July 4 marks the beginning of an entire year’s worth of glass art exhibitions in Columbus. Seven organizations are hosting glass art programs - three featuring the works of Dale Chihuly, and many at the same time:

• Franklin Park Conservatory: Chihuly Reimagined (July 4-March 28)

• OSU Urban Arts Space and Hawk Galleries: BIGG: Breakthrough Ideas in Global Glass (July 10-Oct. 10)

• Upper Arlington’s Concourse Gallery: Melting Pot (July 22-Aug. 21)

• Columbus Museum of Art: Chihuly Illuminated (Sept. 25-July 4)

• Hawk Galleries: Chihuly XIV (Oct. 2-Jan. 31)

• The King Arts Complex: African Art: Tradition and Influence (Nov. 12-Dec. 15)

• Glass Axis : glass workshops (ongoing)

This weekend, the anticipated Chihuly Reimagined opens at the Franklin Park Conservatory . The Conservatory’s entire collection of Chihuly glasswork is on display throughout the facility, along with three brand new installations.

I was lucky enough to preview the exhibit and it definitely lives up to the hype. The contrast of the bold Chihuly glass among lush foliage is spectacular. My two favorites were the hundreds of blue reeds in the courtyard and a rowboat upstairs in the showhouse that is filled with gorgeous purple and blue glass.

Chihuly’s Blue Reeds
at Franklin Park Conservatory

Although most pieces have been on display at the Conservatory before, some of the work has been positioned differently, changing the light and bringing a fresh perspective. For instance, the Persian Ceiling is now in the Himalayan zone. It’s in two sections that are much closer to eye level, so you can see parts you never noticed before.

Next week, the OSU Urban Arts Space in the old Lazarus building and Hawk Galleries (a few blocks away at the corner of Main and Fourth streets) open a really intriguing exhibit of international glass artists entitled BIGG: Breakthrough Ideas in Global Glass . This is juried exhibition of master-level artists (or the equivalent in their country) and really represents the future of glass art.

On July 22, Melting Pot opens at the Concourse Gallery, followed by the rest . . .

For details on each exhibition and photos, visit GlassArt365.com .

Photo: Franklin Park Conservatory

If you’re looking for an all-ages activity, consider a visit to Blooms & Butterflies , open through September 7 at the Franklin Park Conservatory.

The annual exhibit features a daily release of dozens of butterflies in the Conservatory’s Pacific Island Water Garden - a place that really is as relaxing as it sounds.

It’s an affordable outing, and you have the option of attending just the Blooms & Butterflies exhibit or touring the entire Franklin Park Conservatory .

For the little ones, the bright colors of the flowers and movement of the butterflies offer much to watch. My 9-month-old daughter was fascinated by the brightly colored butterflies flying about and was working hard at tracking them as they flitted around the Pacific Island Water Garden. The biggest hit, however, was the koi pond, which was filled with enormous Japanese koi of various colors. The constant movement of the fish swimming around floating Chihuly glass pieces kept my daughter transfixed for quite awhile.

Blooms & Butterflies easily makes me feel as though I am off on a tropical island somewhere. With exotic flowers, trickling water, lush green foliage and butterflies it’s easy to feel transported. I felt more and more relaxed as we lazily wandered the exhibit.

I can’t wait to bring my daughter back to the Conservatory for Chihuly Reimagined , which opens July 4th. I’m sure she will enjoy the bright colors of this exhibit as well, while I admire the artistry.

The post below was written by Leigh Householder, a local blogger who writes at Advergirl.com , IndieColumbus.com and DowntownSnob.com .

Available Light Theatre - Leigh’s very favorite arts group in Columbus - is opening a new play this weekend. Leigh’s here to share the details and, of course, convince you to go.

I exist among the 75% of Available Light attendees Leigh mentions here. My first show hooked me, and I won’t be missing this one. How about you?

———————————————————- 

So, GI Joe, the Tooth Fairy and Eleni Papaleonardos walk into a theater…
by Leigh Householder

I want to invite you to see some local theater.

I know what you’re thinking - sounds like school. You think you’ll squirm, not get the references and generally be busier doodling on the program than being entertained.

But this isn’t just any play. This play has G.I. Joe, an erratic tooth fairy and a barrel full of family drama. Better yet, it’s produced by Available Light Theatre - a wicked talented group of artists dedicated to building a more conscious and compassionate world through joyful and profound theater.

Yeah, joyful and profound. Those are the things that make their productions so addictive. You laugh (or cry) and have a great time watching the show, but then find yourself thinking about - and talking about it - for days afterward. IF it’s like school, it’s like that one class that totally inspired you to want to change the world.

Ok, about the play. Here’s the rundown:

In this story, a family is both torn apart and drawn together by the accidental death of a child. They are aided in their search for connection and solace by flights of fantasy involving a singing Tooth Fairy and a life-size G.I. Joe. In the space between what is said and what is unspeakable they find a heartrending collage of truth and cliché.

As the New York Times declared, “words gush forth in torrents, spewing up like geysers on a ghostly plain” in this “arrestingly odd … ode to love, loss and the routines of life.”

Even in the most emotional moments, Director Eleni Papaleonardos manages to bring hilarity, tension and even sensuality to the stage. It is something of wild ride.

So come. And bring friends. Over 75% of first-time attendees at Available Light’s two most recent shows reported that they “loved it” (much to the satisfaction of the AVLT veterans who had told them over and over again that they would). If you’re bringing a group of eight or more, call ahead and they’ll save a whole row for you.

Tickets are pay what you want. Really. There’s no expectation. The average people give is $10 - $20. But your fiver or your C-note will be equally well received.  (Tickets at this particular show are cash only)

Details:

Show times:
Thursday, June 11 @ 8pm
Friday, June 12 @ 12pm (with boxed lunch from Tip-Top)
Friday, June 12 @ 8pm
Saturday, June 13 @ 8pm
Sunday, June 14 @ 2pm
Friday, June 19 @ 8pm
Saturday, June 20 @ 8pm

Location:
Columbus Dance Theatre
592 East Main Street

Website:
http://avltheatre.com/index.php/godsear/index/

The Columbus Arts Festival , a well-loved Columbus favorite, takes place in the Discovery District this weekend (check their site here for all the details).

As part of the weekend, the Columbus Museum of Art is celebrating with a special offer and activities for festival goers including free admission, kid-friendly fun and your last chance to see To Live Forever: Egyptian Treasures from the Brooklyn Museum .

Nannette Macijunes, CMA Executive Director, shares the details below.

———————————————————-

As part of the Discovery District , the Columbus Museum of Art is delighted that the Columbus Arts Festival will once again be in our own backyard. To celebrate, CMA, and our special exhibition To Live Forever: Egyptian Treasures from the Brooklyn Museum, will be free to festival goers. The exhibition closes June 7, so if you haven’t had the chance to visit, Arts Festival is the perfect time to explore ancient Egyptian artworks, play the ancient game of the pharaohs and dress in ancient Egyptian costumes. Our parking lot will be transformed into a children’s area with hands-on art making activities and visitors can also take advantage of daily tours, Art Challenges and Museum Quest activities throughout our galleries.

There will also be a Salon Schools make-up station where you can transform yourself into a King Tut or a Cleopatra, and a Generation Gap magical Act featuring Jim Rogers and his thirteen-year-old grandson Ian Davis performing family-friendly illusions. Finally, and I have to say I think this is truly a first for the Museum, there will be a giant inflatable slide located in our parking lot along with an inflatable bounce house. I am fairly certain we’ve managed to cover our bases and can honestly say that we will, indeed, have something here for every visitor.

Arts Festival is one of those fabulous Columbus traditions that helps make central Ohio the richly layered community it is and firmly establishes us a cultural destination. Last year, nearly 7,000 people visited the Museum over the course of the festival, we hope to welcome even more of you this year.

Art Speaks. Join the Conversation.

Nannette Maciejunes, CMA Executive Director

———————————————————-

Photo: Mummy Cartonnage of a Woman, Roman Period, 1st century C.E. Linen, gilded gesso, glass and faience 22 11/16 x 14 5/8 x 7 1/2 in. (57.6 x 37.2 x 19 cm) possible place collected: Hawara, Egypt, Africa, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund.

Columbus Symphony

While I consider myself a fan of the arts, I have no extensive knowledge of one art form in particular. Rather, I like to be inspired, constantly stimulated and surrounded by beauty.

I recently discovered that the Columbus Symphony provides all three of these in one neat little package.

I attended opening night back in January. Part of the performance focused on the planets of the solar system and was narrated by former astronaut and Senator John Glenn, whose authenticity made a genuine connection with the audience. We watched the story of each planet unfold, both musically and visually, as pictures of planets flashed across a large screen in perfect unison with Gustva Holst’s The Planets.

It was my first symphony experience, and I’m glad to say I’ll be back again. Currently, the Columbus Symphony is featuring a variety of shows ranging from the works of Mozart to a collection of fairytale favorites. You can check their calendar here for upcoming performances taking place during selected weekends through May.

You may also want to check out these links to view videos and stay connected:

YouTube
Facebook
Twitter

Photo: WexArts.org

I stumbled upon Antony and the Johnsons for the first time in 2002 - I knew nothing about them and decided to attend the concert on a whim. I take these "risks" often at the Wexner Center for the Arts . I don’t always know if I will "like" what I see there, but I do know that when I leave I’ll be a little more informed and always more appreciative of the variety of film, music, art and dance that the Wex brings to Columbus.

The show began quietly, when a performer provided the audience with a long opening message given entirely in Morse code. Then a strong but feminine voice filled the room and gently commanded attention. The lights lifted and slowly unveiled the lead singer of the band, the androgynous-looking Antony Hegarty .

Antony wore a pink boa and moved subtly across the stage, allowing me to concentrate on his lyrics of melancholy and longing. In fact, the draw of his unique voice was so powerful that, after a few minutes, I stopped trying to figure out if he was male or female and instead got lost in the rest of the performance.

I left the concert and purchased anything I could find by Antony and the Johnsons. I also knew if they came back to Columbus, I’d be there. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to the show coming to our city on Feb. 4 .

Back in 2002, the dimly lit performance space at the Wexner Center was the perfect venue for a minimalist, cabaret-style delivery. But over the past seven years, Antony and the Johnsons albums have seen subtle increases in orchestral sound and growing recognition from the mainstream. So it makes sense that the venue for this visit is the Southern Theatre . Antony’s voice and the organic acoustics of this beautiful theater are sure to complement each other.

Until showtime, here are some additional links worth a look:

• Buy tickets
• Tell your friends and RSVP on Facebook
  
• Listen to tunes on YouTube
• Check out a video, an MP3 and artist info on the Wexner’s site