This post is written by Jennifer Poleon, Digital Communications Manager for the Columbus Museum of Art. You can follow the Museum on Twitter @ColumbusMuseum .

In honor of the Columbus Bicentennial and our relationship with our sister city Genoa, Italy, our exclusive Caravaggio: Behold the Man exhibition featuring the Ecce Homo painting remains on view through February 12, 2012 . This is your last week to take advantage of this rare opportunity to see the Italian master’s work up close. Caravaggio’s works are quite rare, as in his short life the Italian master only painted about 80 known works. Our Curator of European Art Dominique Vasseur reflects back on what it’s been like to host such an important exhibition.

As Curator of European Art, what are two of the most exciting things about having the Ecce Homo in Columbus?
The opportunity to host an internationally-known painting by Caravaggio from Genoa, our sister city, and the ability to share with our visitors this artist’s amazing impact upon European painting in the early 17th century.

The exhibition has attracted everyone from young art students to clergy members. What is it about Caravaggio that appeals to such a wide audience?
Caravaggio’s realism and ability to address the human condition are as true today as during his lifetime. Students may be drawn to the immediacy of his painting technique, as well as, the stories of his turbulent life. Members of the clergy—both Catholic and Protestant—are likely moved by the poignancy of this important moment in Christ’s passion and the sensitive manner in which Caravaggio depicts it.

What is the most memorable moment of the exhibition for you?
There are many actually, but I have to share my top four: my November 2010 meeting in Genoa with the director of the Musei di Strada Nuova to see and discuss the Caravaggio; the morning of Sunday, October 16, 2011, when we un-crated and installed the Ecce Homo here; our Media/VIP preview the evening of October 19, which was a great success; and finally the lecture presented here on November 12 by Italian scholar Lorenzo Pericolo, who had just published an important and scholarly book on Caravaggio. In it he thoroughly discusses the Ecce Homo and presents several fascinating new theories about the unusual figure of Pontius Pilate.

What about the exhibition were you most proud of?
I am very proud that Columbus was able to organize this special, focus exhibition as a way to begin our 2012 Columbus bicentennial celebrations, as well as the fact that all the major art museums in Ohio (Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton, Oberlin, and Toledo) so generously lent Caravaggesque works to support the thesis of the exhibition: “the impact of a revolutionary realist.” It was immensely gratifying.

This post is written by Megumi Robinson of Geben Communication.

It’s no secret that Central Ohio isn’t the warmest place to be in February, so Thurber House , a nonprofit literary museum and center located in the former home of writer and cartoonist James Thurber, is bringing warmth and sunshine to Columbus through New York Times bestselling author Tim Dorsey .

On Feb. 22, Thurber House’s Evenings with Authors series welcomes Dorsey as he shares from his newest book, Pineapple Grenade, set in sunny Miami, Fla. His fifteenth novel features Serge Storms, the hero of Dorsey’s stories, and the series of events he finds himself in including getting involved with Homeland Security, umbrella drinks, a dictator, murder and madcap adventure. The reading begins at 7:30 p.m. and is at the Columbus Museum of Art . (Click here for more details.)

We’re giving you the chance win a pair of tickets to hear Tim share from his hilarious new novel, ask questions and meet and greet with him after the event during a book signing.

Here’s how to win: Leave a comment below, or tweet at us (@ExpCols ) with the best book you’ve read this winter to be entered to win a pair of tickets to Evenings with Authors featuring Tim Dorsey. All entries must be posted by Thursday, Feb. 9 . One entry per person, please. We’ll randomly select the winners and notify you if you’ve won by Feb. 10.

This post is written by Claudia Plumley, Experience Columbus’ Marketing Manager.

The fall’s one of my favorite times of the year and it’s not just because of the changing leaves. Fall’s the official start of the arts season.

Learning about Columbus’ arts scene - and all of Ohio’s arts events – is easy. Just read the Arts in Ohio Guide . Along with being available online, it’s also included in the September issue of Ohio Magazine.

I’ve already got my tickets for several events and have a bunch of others circled on my calendar. Here are just a few events I plan to see in 2011-12.

Guitarist Kevin Eubanks will join the Columbus Jazz Orchestra on Oct. 26-30. Does the name sound familiar? He’s the former bandleader from the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

The Columbus Jazz Orchestra will team with BalletMet for Jazz Moves Columbus Feb. 2-12. It’s the third time these two groups have collaborated. Having seen the first two shows, I can easily say I’d move a European vacation to see this show. It’s just that good.

I’m also really curious about BalletMet’s DanceTech on April 20-28. It’s collaboration with the Wexner Center for the Arts where real-time video images will be created in direct response to the movement of the dancers. No performance will be the same – how cool is that?!

The Columbus Museum of Art is bringing out many of my favorite artworks for the exhibit Monet to Matisse starting Sept. 23. They’re showcasing their entire Sirak Collection, considered one of the finest private collections in the world when they acquired it 20 years ago.

I’ve never seen Mamma Mia and can’t wait for it to return to Columbus Dec. 13-18. Who can resist singing those great ABBA songs?!

Then, there’s all of the great art that’s moved – or moving downtown in the next year. Shadowbox’s new digs in the Brewery District are awesome. (No more mall bathrooms!!) They’re presenting The Rocky Horror Picture Show Sept. 11-Nov. 13. I haven’t done the time warp since high school – can’t wait!

One of my favorite festivals, the Columbus Arts Festival , is moving back to the riverfront in next June. And The Columbus Symphony is moving next summer’s Picnic with the Pops concerts to the new Columbus Commons.

I could write all day about the great arts events happening year-round in Columbus. Check out the full list in the Arts in Ohio Guide .

Today’s Top 3 list comes from Nanette Maciejunes, the Executive Director of the Columbus Museum of Art .  Art speaks to different people in different ways, but if you’ve only got 1/2 hour at the Museum (a travesty!) you can’t do better than to catch these three works. Admission to the museum is free in July and August 2011 thanks to PNC.

Choosing a favorite work of art is like choosing a favorite child. Each piece in our collection is unique and wonderful. However, I do have a few favorites that speak to me more than others.

Agnes Martin’s Wind
This is truly a master work – one of Martin’s best. I love that you really have to be with this work to experience it because the nuances cannot be reproduce

Edgar Degas’ Houses at the Foot of a Cliff
Several of my colleagues have flown to Columbus just to see this painting – that is how rare a landscape by Degas is. This work is from our Sirak Collection which significantly increased CMA’s holdings of Impressionism and German Expressionism and which has many unexpected works by famous artists. We will be reinstalling the entire Sirak Collection in September.

George Bellows’ Blue Snow, The Battery
One of my most favorite pictures is by our hometown artist who is widely considered the greatest American painter of his generation. Look closely at the brush work on this magnificent painting.

This post is written by Bri Pollard, an intern at Experience Columbus. Bri is a senior at The Ohio State University and will be graduating in June with a degree in Communication.
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We’ve all done flowers and breakfast in bed for mom. Why not show her you really care and do something different this Mother’s Day? With the assortment of things going on around the city, there’s sure to be something for every deserving mother. Here are eight ways to do Mother’s Day, Columbus Style.

1) Put a twist on the traditional Mother’s Day brunch at the Ohio Historical Center with Brunch at Ohio Village on May 8. Treat your mom to a delicious meal in the American House Hotel and watch “In Mother’s Drawers,” a historic fashion show featuring women’s and children’s fashions through the years in Town Hall. Sunday 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. $39 Adults. $16.95 Youth (ages 6-12).

2) Rather than just giving your mom flowers, take her to Plant Fest in downtown Worthington on May 7 to pick out the plants she likes for a much longer lasting gift. Spruce up her house or help her get her garden started. Outdoors on the historic Village Green at the corner of Rt. 161 and High Street. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

3) Take mom out for lunch and shopping in Grandview , the Short North Arts District or German Village . (more…)

This post is part 4 of a 6 part series featuring Experience Columbus Days , which takes place Oct. 8-11. During that time, Columbus attractions offer 50% off (or in some cases, BOGO or free admission). Plus, the restaurants of Dine Originals Columbus offer 25% off your food bill for two people.

In this post, Ben features things to do that are perfect for art fans during Experience Columbus Days. You can also check out previous posts that feature delicious dining options , plus outings that are great for groups and great for dates . Stay tuned for the last two posts in the series - we’ll feature Experience Columbus Days activities that are fun for kids and recommended for history buffs.

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It’s no secret that Columbus has a lot to offer when it comes to the arts, and the same is true for Experience Columbus Days. If you’re an art fan, check out these options to make the most of Experience Columbus Days discounts (and don’t forget your discount flyer ). (more…)

If you only had 24 hours to spend in Columbus, what would you do? This was a hard question for me to answer, but I’ve come up with a list of must sees and must dos that I feel will leave any visitor with an experience uniquely Columbus.

I’m sharing these ideas in a three part series - the first post is geared to families, the next to the business traveler, and finally, a post to help a local decide what to do with visiting friends or family.

Here’s part three of three, with suggestions geared to residents looking to entertain visiting friends or family.

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We all have friends and family come to visit us. And inevitably we all get asked the question, “So, what are we going to do while in town?”  Check out the following ideas for a fun Columbus experience and give your visitors a better sense of why you call Columbus home.

Where to Eat
My favorite place to take family and friends to eat in Columbus is Tasi Cafe . Located just behind High Street, Tasi’s offers freshly prepared comfort food with a unique flair. The casual atmosphere makes it a favorite of locals, and the menu offers breakfast, lunch and dinner options.

The Refectory is an AAA Four Diamond award winner, offering contemporary American cuisine and classic French cuisine. The restaurant’s location is unique - it’s inside of an old church, and the atmosphere has a rustic feel. Also, they have an amazing wine cellar with over 700 selections.

No matter what your visitors’ tastes, they are sure to find something they like at the North Market . Central Ohio’s historic public market since 1876 and located between the Short North and Arena District, it features fresh and prepared foods, and authentic ethnic cuisine. (more…)

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 .

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 .

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.

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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

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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.