Alexandra477

Ohio Hip Hop Expo.

There’s no crying in Hip Hop. I know this. But at yesterday’s 18^th annual Ohio Hip Hop Expo, I just couldn’t help myself. The minute I stepped into the day-long affair at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, this is what I saw: Talent. Pride. Community. Friendship. Joy. Positivity. And some ridiculously vicious dance moves. Presented by BHB (Brothers Helpin Bruthas), the Expo celebrates Hip Hop culture and its positive impact on Ohio’s urban communities. In addition to Krump and MC Battles, there were live performances by groups including A Breath of Fresh Heir, Columbus Dance Troop, The Deepest Entertainment, Goody The Great, I Am D.A.N.C.E., and TRANSIT Arts Dance Crew. Through this event and his multiple city-wide workshops, BHB is one charismatic and constructive force. Click here for more photos.

   

Short North Foundation Accepting Grant Requests.

The Short North Foundation is accepting requests for grants between $500 and $2,500 from area organizations with projects taking place in or around the Short North. Specifically, the Foundation seeks projects and programs that benefit Short North area residents, unite Short North neighborhoods, and incorporate or preserve public works of art and architecture.

The deadline to submit a grant proposal is June 29. Projects requiring multiple-year funding will be considered. Past projects that have been funded by the Foundation include the Goodale Park Music Series, Screen on the Green movie series in Goodale Park, Harrison Park Art Awards, tree plaques in Goodale Park, flower beds in Italian Village Park, Columbus Art Walks, and the Columbus Film Council. To request grant guidelines and a grant application, email Alexandra Kelley Fox. 

Founded in 2000, the Short North Foundation aims to advance the creative spirit, diversity, and vitality of the Short North Neighborhoods and Short North Arts District. It maintains partnerships with the Friends of Goodale Park, Harrison West Society, Italian Village Commission, Italian Village Society, Short North Business Association, Short North Civic Association, Short North Special Improvement District, and the Victorian Village Commission. Since its inception, the Foundation has worked with neighborhood civic organizations to help fund Short North area bench restorations, consistent neighborhood sign programs, bicycle bollards, the Community Campaign for Creating Encounters in Urban Art and History, the Short North Parking Initiative, the Short North Pocket Parks Campaign, and the Short North District Roundtables.

Arts and Social Change Panel Discussion at Fort Hayes.

I used to be so jealous of the kids who went to Fort Hayes. Yes, I was very fortunate to attend the school that I did — but Fort Hayes bleeds magic. An alternative high school in the Columbus Public Schools system, admission is based on a lottery system. With a strong focus on visual art, music, and the performing arts, it has this thumping and saucy straight-out-of-Fame aura. I was honored to be asked to participate in a panel discussion there yesterday about arts and social change.

Led by Fort Hayes’ Technical Theatre Director Rodney Grist, the three-hour session took place at Shot Tower Gallery. It explored the ability and responsibility of Central Ohio arts organizations to impact social change, and the possible formation of a socially conscious nonprofit arts organization. The 11-person panel was a “change project” for Grist’s PhD study in Leadership and Change from Antioch University. In small groups and as a whole, we brainstormed how arts programs should tackle social injustice and oppression. We also dissected the needs of Columbus arts educators and studied our own individual roles as change fosterers.

Our music, visual arts, theater, film, and multimedia programs comprise a huge part of the Columbus soul. They’re engrained in our history and in our future. They inspire us to create and teach us to collaborate. They continue to make us unique. We owe it to everyone in our community, from young children to senior citizens, to be hyper-committed to this cause. Columbus Arts and Experience Columbus offer outstanding events calendars that are searchable by date, location, discipline, and price (including free). Now excuse me while I break out the glitter and legwarmers. I’m gonna live forever, I’m gonna learn how to fly.

     

“Poetry in Motion” at Carnegie Gallery.

In the first chapter of the brilliant book Orbiting the Giant Hairball, varying ages of school children are asked to raise their hands if they’re artists. All of the first graders raise their hands, half of the second graders do, and then a third of the third graders. The older we get, the more self-conscious we become — but we all possess creative spirit, and many of us have an inherent ability to promote compassion. I was reminded of that yesterday during the opening reception of Poetry in Motion at the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Carnegie Gallery.

The pieces in this collection were made by Columbus youth aged 5-21 in the Art in the House and TRANSIT ARTS out-of-school programs. They were inspired by poems from the Poetry Society of America’s Poetry in Motion project, with guiding civil rights themes of Rosa Parks and the “Power of One.” The free exhibition, which was curated by Stephanie Rond, marks a collaboration between the library, GCAC, and COTA. Reproductions of some of the artwork will be installed on 300 COTA buses starting this month. Poetry in Motion will be on display through March 27. Click here for more photos.

        

Columbus Indie Comix Fair.

The first Columbus Indie Comix Fair was held today at Ace of Cups. Presented by SPACE (Small Press & Alternative Comic Expo) and Nix Comics, it featured comic books and artwork by 2Headed Monster, Aliastrations, Back Porch Comics, Blink Comics, Ferret Press, Monkey’s Retreat, Neno World, Nix Comics, Pander Bear, Symphony of the Universe, and Yuri the Comic. Click here for more photos.