A couple days ago I received an invitation to Mahan Gallery’s March art opening. My eyes popped when I opened the envelope. The featured artist: Ric Ocasek. My first thought was: “How many Ric Ocasek’s can there be?” A product of the ‘70s and ‘80s, I immediately associated R.O. with the Cars, even hearing a bit of “Just What I Needed” in my head. It couldn’t be the same guy. And yet, when I turned the invitation over, there was the confirmation. Step One… I immediately called and rsvp’d. Step Two… I pondered why Ric was dabbling in art. I wondered how many people would show up purely because of the fanboy effect, and how many would be there for the art. That led me to a question of celebrity and commercialism versus authenticity. So before I dug myself a deeper hole, I called Jacquie Mahan (gallery proprietor) and scheduled a chat on the subject.

And I was glad I did.

We sat at Jacquie’s desk (pure white, blending in with the white exhibition walls) at the back of the gallery. Before jumping in to the obvious questions I thought I’d start with a bit of focus on the gallery itself.

JA: What is your philosophy about art and your gallery?
JM: I want to keep it real. Accessible. Honest. We are a highly contemporary gallery. We take a lot of risks and they usually pay off.

JA: So it’s not always a formal or traditional installation?
JM: We do feature traditionally hung shows, but it’s also fun to do something non-traditional. Artwork doesn’t have to be so serious. Sometimes it can be really fun. We support young artists as well as high-profile artists. In June we have an exhibit with the architect, George Acock.

JA: How serious are you about the gallery experience?
JM: I take artwork seriously, but I don’t take myself so seriously. I’m always open to learning, to hearing new ideas, and to experiencing. I think Mahan Gallery stands out with a very different gallery formula in Columbus. There are a lot of “art shops” out there filled with pieces to sell. Our gallery is attention driven. We embrace a theme. Make it intense. Make it an experience. We want the gallery to be a destination apart from other galleries.

JA: Give me an example of “experiential.”
JM: One of my favorites was our Maya Hayuk installation. Maya is from Brooklyn and has been to Columbus several times. She came to do a solo show at our gallery. We gave her the entire space. She simply took over. Paintings. Photos. She even painted pieces directly on our walls. Not on canvas, on our walls. It was completely immersive. If you didn’t see it at the gallery, you wouldn’t see it anywhere else. When collectors entered the door, they could instantly feel the art. There was even an opportunity to take self-portraits with the art via a ripcord - camera mechanism Maya installed. Fully engaging. It was a risk. And we liked taking it.

JA: So let’s talk about Ric. How did you get him to make his first gallery appearance at Mahan?
JM: It’s funny. People are going to think it’s only because he’s my father-in-law, but that’s not the whole story. It took years to gradually convince him to take this step. Yes, I had an inside track, but the biggest factors were probably the quality of our gallery, including our website, and his trust in how we would handle the installation. In the end, he decided to let us install the exhibit.

JA: So you made a proposal to Ric and here we are.
JM: Not nearly. It took five years of putting seeds out there. I saw Ric’s work for the first time on a beach trip. My husband Adam said: “You have to go see my dad’s work. It’s really cool.” From that point I began telling Ric: “You’re really good at this. You should share it with others.” We never went much deeper than that, and I decided not to push it. I just kept putting it out there. One day Paulina said: “You should talk to him about an installation.” She’s the one who really gave me the signal to make the ask. So I broached the subject. Ric simply said: “When are we having a show?” I said 6 months. “Okay. How many pieces?”  I suggested 50 - 150. Ric responded: “I’ll send you more.” That was about the extent of the conversation once we got over the hurdle of having the exhibit. So it was a lot of being patient. A lot of saying the right things at the right time. And having no ulterior motives. When he picked Mahan I was really happy, but if he had picked somewhere else I still would have been happy to see the works finally displayed.

JA: So here’s the rub. Is this really about an artist or an insanely famous guy?
JM: This installation is about the person. When it all gets peeled away, (the rock icon, my father-in-law, Adam’s dad, Paulina Porizkova’s husband) what’s left is some amazing artwork. The artwork speaks for itself. Ric’s work is really personal. It’s real. He makes his work for himself and by himself. Being around him at family functions I watch how he works. He sits by himself and starts creating. He’s no longer in the room. He’s by himself. I see that zoning out in Adam as well. I find the work very vulnerable. It’s a self-portrait. Think about it. If you made something never intending for others to see it, you make it real. You make it the way you want it to be. You’re not thinking about how others will react.

JA: So what is Ric’s inspiration?
JM: Ric views his work as a visual form of his music. He calls it the visual noise going on in his head. That’s where the name of the exhibit came from: Noise Colored Party. There is a rhythm and a tempo to every thing you will see.

JA: And what can we expect from Noise Colored Party?
JM: Ric works with markers, pen, and pencil on paper… some even on his letterhead from Elektra Records. There are also photographs, paintings and paper collages.

JA: Is there a theme or message in his work?
JM: Ric is very abstract. You can’t sum him up. His work is what it is. You can’t say it means anything specific… it means everything. If anything, it’s a stream of consciousness show. It’s a product of what people do when nobody’s looking. He’s really being himself.

JA: So this is a big deal for him to take this step with Mahan?
JM: It really is. It shows how paralleled he is. Keeping to himself all these years and now opening up to share his work.

JA: Did he have specifications about the installation?
JM: He said: “Make the installation look like music.” There will be 171 pieces for the show, maybe 175 if we get the four additional paintings I would like to include. The whole place will be totally saturated in crazy drawings.

JA: Will the works be for sale?
JM: Yes.
Photographs $800 - $1,200
Drawings $800 - $2,200
Paintings $2,500 - $5,000

JA: How is Ric feeling about his decision now that the opening is less than a month away?
JM: He is taken aback that people are interested in the pieces. He’s flattered that people like them so much. I don’t think he gives himself credit for his talent. To him, this is his knitting. Paulina is a knitter. She knits every night. I like sewing. We all have creative outlets. His is art.

JA: So what’s left to be done for the installation?
JM: Tons! We pick up the framing supplies on Friday. We will be building new frames for every single piece. Ric is a perfectionist. Each work is float mounted and placed on tiered matting. We will be working nonstop March 1 - March 5. It will take a really long time, but it will be totally worth it.

JA: How has the community reacted to news of the debut?
JM: I think people of the 80’s, people who love his music are particularly excited. They have an affinity for him, they relate to him, they want to know more about him. There has been a lot of support and expectation.

JA: One last question. How did Mahan Gallery end up in Columbus… in the Short North?
JM: I have family here. But that’s not enough. More importantly, Columbus is a viable community. I came to the SN because the rent was cheap. I liked the area. I liked the mix. I felt grateful to get established. There was no other choice. I wouldn’t have thrived the same way anywhere else… it’s a community where we keep it real.

_________________________

Noise Colored Party

Ric Ocasek

Solo Exhibition

March 6 - April 25, 2009
Invite-Only Reception: Fri., March 6
Gallery Hop: Sat., March 7, 6-10p

Mahan Gallery • 717 N High Street

HighBall keeps taking more strides toward becoming Columbus’ newest signature event. And though it never ceases to amaze me how much effort it takes to create a high-quality event, it also never ceases to amaze me how fun it can be when all the pieces begin to interconnect.

HighBall earned its stripes with the city this week when the department of transportation signed off on closing High Street from Buttles to Hubbard for the night. Though we had crossed our fingers for 6:00PM, we’re quite happy with the 6:30PM close time we were granted. This is a big deal. Closing High Street on a regular work day right after rush hour isn’t something that happens all that often. In fact, High Street event closings of the last five years have really been limited to holiday timings, such as Doo Dah’s 25th anniversary on the 4th of July. Everyone from the city to COTA to the Convention Center have now weighed in on HighBall. The question: “What is the balance of community experience versus the temporary traffic flow inconvenience?” The answer: “Extremely positive!”

Earlier this week, Charly Bauer and I shared the HighBall story with our friends at Experience Columbus. Paul Astleford, Pete McGinty, Xenia Palus, Beth Ervin, Kari Kaughman and the rest of the team (nearly 40 in all) were thrilled about the potential the event represents. In fact, we reconvened a few days later and discussed a regional push that involves sharing the story with upwards of 2,000 writers! Stay tuned on that front. Maybe we can get the entire state talking about it.

The key is the vision for the event and the role it plays in Columbus’ offerings. The development committee has been working extremely hard to make sure HighBall IS an artistic, experiential, wow-factor event… and that it IS NOT a mindless beerfest. This is a question looming for many folks watching the evolution of HighBall. This weekend I ran in to Haley Boehning at the Gallery Hop. She wasn’t shy about expressing her concern that an OU Halloween-bash-clone was in the works. I can understand her trepidations, but I have faith in the creative class of Columbus. If we start this event by taking the artistry dimension to the max, we’ll set the tone for years to come. The eye-candy we create this year will set the bar for the event next year. It’s our competitive spirit. The costumes will become even more elaborate. The staging more magical. The event more experiential.

If we inspire, challenge and reward… it will happen.

Now, I’m not saying that every person who comes to HighBall has to create a 9′ tall, flowing fabric, Priscilla Queen of the Dessert, screaming drag queen ensemble. A few would be cool! Expectation: maybe 10% of the attendees will really take it over the top and invest the energy to make a real statement. The other 90%? They will be there to see what the 10% do! And that’s just fine. That’s all it takes to make the difference.

So here’s to HighBall: the launch, the experience, the evolution. Let’s make it our experience. Columbus’ experience. And let’s make the region buzz with envy that we can pull it off!

Next up… convincing the mayor he would look great in a Venetian Carnivale mask.

Ciao, for now.

ja

So the juggling continues. HighBall is rockin’… some major stuff to talk about later on that front. We’re down to 5 weeks and counting. So what should I talk about? The Short North Gala of course! I haven’t brought that one to the front blog-burner as yet… and it’s just 2 weeks away!

Last year we introduced the Short North Gala to celebrate the lighting of the High Street arches. Remember when the arches were just architectural background? Okay, that’s a different story. So the gala was an instant sell out and we immediately decided it HAD to be an annual event. But, as with any launch, we learned some things that will make year 2 an even greater experience. Less time between courses. More time for after party. Recognize award recipients all through the evening. Order more wine!

So here we are in round two. Where to start? Well, it’s a culinary thing. It’s a spirit thing. It’s a Short North thing. And the whole thing takes place at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Sunday, October 12. Start with cocktails in the courtyard at 5:30, dinner at 7:00, after party at 9:00. In between? One heck of an incredible foodie experience. Rosendales. Rigsby’s. Hyde Park Steakhouse. Athletic Club of Columbus. Union Cafe. Marcella’s. Martini. basi italia. Haiku. Jeni’s Ice Creams. Yep. A phenomenal course from each and every one of them.

The spirit part… We’re dedicating the evening to our two luminary award recipients, Maria Galloway (owner and founder of pm gallery - 28 years in the making) and John Allen (owner and found of the Short North Tavern - 27 years in the making). We’re also recognizing the behind-the-scenes contributions of four great “Unsung Heroes”: Tray Hunker, Greg Maynard, Christie Nohle and Katie Reider.

The theme is the “Glow of Success.” Corny but true. It’s a nod to the arches, and a nod the amazing accolades the district has received over the last year, including: Gallery Hop—Best Art Event in the State per Ohio Magazine and the Expy Award from Experience Columbus for contributions to the visitor experience in our fair city.

Our event chairs (Joe Spinelli, Xenia Palus and Jeni Bauer) have been working their little tushes off getting the details together. Add to that Joe Baer’s creative team from ZenGenius and you have the makings for one unforgettable evening. By the way, ZG is working with the constraint that all color in the room’s decor has to be chemical or electric. That’s all I’m sayin’ ’bout that.

If you would like to get your ticket before the event is sold out, drop me a line and I’ll send you an invitation. That sounds so used-car-salesman, but I know you’ll have a fabulous time.

Ciao for now.

ja

It’s becoming obvious to me that blogging about the Short North is going to be more challenging than I had expected. Turns out that with all the projects and tasks at hand, taking a break long enough to write about them isn’t so easy. There’s always the option to go do one more something and write about it a bit later. Unfortunately, “a bit later” becomes considerably later, becomes oops I forgot. This past week is a perfect example. HighBall has been barreling along full-steam. Meeting after meeting. Lining up bands. Getting permits for street closures, sound variances, alcohol sales, bagging meters, and half a dozen other required officiallities. Then there’s event insurance. Staging. Lighting. Recruiting fashion designers. Creating flyers, table tents and advertisements. Talking one-on-one with area businesses about the logistics. And, of course, courting sponsors. Thank goodness for committees and great volunteers who help lighten the load.

But at the end of the day, HighBall is one of half-a-dozen such projects underway in the Business Association of Columbus’ most hyper-active destination. The Short North Gala arrives October 12. The next issue of the Short North Visitors Guide is due out in December. We’re working on our plans for the holidays… which, of course, includes Holiday Hop. We’ve partnered with the city to address aggressive panhandling. We’re working with the downtown community to add way-finding signage to the area. You know, it’s really amazing how much great stuff bubbles up to the active list here in the Short North… and before you know it, another 80-hour week sneaks up on you.

So finding a few minutes to talk about it, isn’t as easy as I expected. That’s cool. There are little spics and specs here and there. There are moments waiting for meetings or the occasional solo lunch. There’s enough time to reflect. I know I have to work on the discipline factor, and take advantage of the snippets. It is doable.

Sitting on my patio watching the Sunday sun rise over the Short North Kroger happens to be a great little moment. Puck is squirrel hunting. The traffic is picking up. Laptop on lap. Battery only partially charged. Ah, that’s good; forces time limits. Looks like the district was hit with more Skully’s and Obama flyers. Mental note, take those down when we head out for our morning constitution.

Okay, here’s the real blog posting. Let’s call it “The Short North Spark”

I started the Short North blog with a bent toward the behind-the-scenes work we do at the Business Association. Now I’m realizing it’s also a great place to share the behind-the-scenes work the various district personalities do to make the Short North so special.

Friday night I received a call from Christie Nohle, owner of Urban Gardener. Christie was teaming with Larry Totzke, president of the Italian Villlage Society for a movie night fundraiser in Christie’s parking lot. The feature: Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday. Larry had borrowed the SNBA’s information tent earlier in the day for the gig, but it hadn’t quite registered with me what he was planning.

Around 7:30 (yes, a bit later than I was expecting to be at the office on a Friday), Christie called to “reserve” my projector as a backup in case hers wasn’t strong enough. “No problem,” I agreed. About half an hour later, a second call from Christie: They had started the pre-movie cartoons. All was fine. “What are you and Frank doing? Come join us!” If you know Christie, you know how her voice can carry excitement and a sense of expectation and wonder. “It’s going to be so much fun!” So okay, Frank and I opted to cruise on over to Urban Gardener’s parking lot for a Friday night movie. Why not?

When we arrived, Larry and his wife Sylvia were serving up samples of Italian Village Society wine they had made at Camelot Cellars. The SNBA information tent was their distribution hut. Christie had brought out every chair she stocked in her business. Tall ones. Low ones. Metal ones. Cloth ones. The seating was as eclectic as the 30 or so neighborhood supporters who had shown up for the evening.

Frank and I tossed our $5 suggested contributions into the collection pot and grabbed our bags of popcorn, beverages, bags of candy AND Medco gifts (travel office supplies and sorta fun band-aid dispenser). Good lord. When did $5 ever get so much value? We perched atop a couple of patio bar stools and settled in. As the night progressed it got cooler. We considered sneaking out to warm up. Christie got wind of the issue and ran inside to snag a bright red jacket for me to cut the chill. Crisis averted. The movie was quite enjoyable (the black and white images playing off the textures of the brick wall added a ghostly, surreal sense to the storyline), but I was more caught up in WHAT was going on.

My neighbors were investing their time to create community. It wasn’t just happening, as so many would like to believe is the way of the world… things just magically happen. It was being created. And it took commitment, effort and time. And it touched my heart.

Larry. Sylvia. Christie. Running around picking up tents. Setting out chairs. Spreading the word. Making wine. So many little details. So much time. They probably raised a few hundred dollars on Friday for the Italian Village Park. But far more than that, they created a wonderfully experiential Short North moment. It was after work hours for everyone. But Christie was still setting out chairs for her neighbors. Larry was still pouring samples of wine and welcoming new comers. And Frank and I were absorbing the wonderful fruits of their extra labor, following what was probably an 80-hour work week for each of them. 10:00PM Big rounds of hugs. Helping hands to load equipment into cars. And we were off to the next Short North stop. Completely re-energized and inspired to do our parts the next time.

And as I finish this entry, the sun has fully risen and the entire area is buzzing with energy. Sunday mornings aren’t really as sleepy as everyone would have you believe.

Realization. It’s been another special moment for me in the Short North.

Now it’s time to take Puck on that morning constitution and do a little district clean up. Taking time for community isn’t always on the clock. Sometimes it’s not really work at all. Sometimes it’s an investment in the quality of life we each desire… and well worth the time to reflect upon.

Ciao.

John

So HighBall is launched and now we set about making the vision reality. As a longtime event producer, I firmly believe every event should have key features that make it truly experiential. These features combine to become the signature, and differentiate it from all other events. They keep people buzzing for weeks or months after the event fades. For HighBall, there are many features, but the overarching (Short North pun intended) signature has to be its artistic creativity. HighBall will be an immersion in absolute fabulousness. It will be a celebration of Columbus’ creative class. It’s not the stereotypical witches, goblins and ghouls. It’s wow-factor, alter-egos, Priscilla Queen of the Desert and trick-or-treat “eye candy.” It’s simply fabulous.

Sometimes fabulousness isn’t easy. In fact, it can be downright arduous. But I so admire the people who decide to invest the effort because they live for the fabulous moments. They invest their art and soul into a project because they want to create an experience for themselves and for all those around them. That artistic drive is at the heart of HighBall. And it is what will make HighBall different than anything out there.

Today, here’s the story behind the couture costume fashion showdown… this is a competition for professional fashion designers and design students. Each contestant will present 3-4 items from his/her collection and add a HighBall couture costume to the set. Then they will hit a 40 foot runway staged in the middle of High Street. Thumping music, struttin’ models, a wild audience, and 4 decision-making judges. The incomparable Nina West, drag queen extraordinaire and 2008 National Entertainer of the Year, will be our celebrity emcee for this fierce fashion showdown. Someone will be crowned HighBall couture costume designer of the year and receive a $1,000 prize package… and, of course, ultimate bragging rights. More so, perhaps, all the designers will have an awesome platform to share their creativity, both in their signature collections and in their couture costumes, with an audience of influential and inspired fashion fanatics… Columbus’ creative class.

Our first two enthusiastic partners are Kelli Martin (a recent participant on Project Runway and founder of AntiLabel), and Esther Chung. Both have design businesses in Columbus, and both have a passion for the expressiveness of Halloween. If you are interested in being a spotlighted designer in the heart of the couture costume fashion showdown, drop me an email at johnangelo@shortnorth.org or give me a call at 614.299.8050 x13… and help spread the word.

Next time, details on the costume contest (for the general public) and on the dogtober halloween procession.

Ciao for now.

It’s a little early in the morning, oh ’bout 2:30AM, and I’m sorting thru the images for tonight’s HighBall Halloween event launch. It was a great day with all the pieces coming together in grand style. I have to say this is one of the most creative, talented and just downright fun teams I’ve had the privilege to work with. This is not going to be your basic slasher, frightmare Halloween. HighBall is going to absolutely pulse with creativity, self-experession and energy. Plan to be talking about this one for months.

Today (hmmm… technically yesterday now), we had our final committee meeting before the launch. The ideas were flying. It was as if hundreds of seeds had been planted over the last month and now all of a sudden they had really taken root and all these definitive concepts were ready to be harvested. The whole story will come out tonight, but here are a few details that are just downright fun…

Mark Moorehead and his team at Moorehead Design nailed the image for the event with a slammin’ logo and absolutely hot array of images. When you see the pics, you’ll get the idea.

We’ve decided to close High Street from Buttles to Hubbard. Thanks to Paul Liu’s amazing zeal for experiential happenings, we’re tapping into Haiku’s parking lot at the north end to stage live bands throughout the evening. At the south end of the strip, we’ll be offering up a fun-as-hell dance scene with a couple of Columbus’ hottest DJ’s… starting with DJ Moxy.

The costume scene is getting a real kickstart. We’ve already signed on two rockin’ fashion designers to begin creating original works of art for a runway scene. Welcome aboard Kelli and Esther. Our goal is to have a dozen Columbus designers really show their stuff.

More details tonight, including the Dogtober Howloween Procession, announcements about the costume contest and new of a certain national Entertainer of the Year lending a hand. See ya at Skully’s. 5:30P.

Now that Art al Fresco has made a successful debut, the Short North is turning its focus to the next big thing… HighBall Halloween: A Masquerade Party on High Street. On Wednesday, Sept. 10 we’ll unveil the full details during the event launch at Skully’s Music Diner, but right now the development committee is debating some of the key aspects. Charly Bauer (Jeni’s Ice Creams) wants to see “fabulous” costumes at every turn and an outrageous diva-emcee like Nina West. Dawn Friedman agrees that the “wow factor” should be off the chart if it’s going to be worthy of Short North status, but thinks there has to be a twist to the event. Ryan Morgan thinks inviting Columbus’ couture fashion designers to create original costumes for a Project Runway-style fashion showdown would get juices flowing. Walker Evans wants to see high-profile prizes for the best, most creative, and most outrageous costumes. The next meeting, tomorrow afternoon, will iron out the details.

There are also many logistics questions to answer by Wednesday. What part of High Street will we close for the masquerade? Should we have bands or DJs? Dancing or parades? Beer or wine!? Who gets to be the Joker!?

More to come…

Art al Fresco made its debut on Saturday, August 16 in the heart of the Short North Arts District. And by every measure, it was a smash success. Over 5,000 guests showed up, touring High Street, cameras in hand, to experience dozens of public art installations and scores of live art performances. The Columbus Dispatch enthusiastically proclaimed: “Bohemians on the Loose!”

A panel of judges toured the event bestowing special commendations to the art installations that impressed them the most. The panel consisted of Juli Rogers (owner of r design & printing and president of the Short North Business Association), Melissa Starker (Columbus alive!), Michelle Brandt (Kathryn Gallery), and Melissa Vogley Woods (Stitch in a Ditch). With so many well-executed installations, the judges debated vigorously over the merits of each.

Ultimately, a striking mural installed on the sidewall of Betty’s Fine Food + Spirit in Brickel Alley was crowned “Best of Show.” The study on the dwindling population of honey bees in the U.S. was created on site by Ben LaPlaca, Clint Davidson and Scott Williams. The piece wowed the judges with its beauty, form and message. “The color palette is the first thing I noticed. It’s absolutely striking,” commented Melissa Starker. “I was amazed by the way they combined a truly beautiful piece of work with a timely political issue,” observed Melissa Vogley Wood. “It’s perfect for the Short North. I hope it can remain on display for an extended period,” added Juli Rogers. The artists will receive $100 in cash and over $200 in gift certificates donated by area businesses.

Other award winners included:

Best Execution: Ryan Agnew for Shirts on a Wire on the south side of the Greystone Apartments. The judges were moved by the scale, movement and color selection of the installation.
Best Use of Found Materials: Yasue Sakaoka for Transparent Breezy at Bollinger Tower. The delicate, yet powerful installation was made completely of white, wire clothes hangers.

Most Whimsical: R.L. Hughes for The Wealthy Mouse and Dead Pac Man. The judges were particularly amused by the Crime Scene in the middle of a major art event.

Best Synergy Between Installation and Environment: Zen Genius for its packing material bikers racing down the wall of Dr. Mojoe. The judges commented that the side of a building is about the only place you won’t find a bike in the increasingly green-friendly Short North.

Most Original: Jen Burton and Mark Van Fleet for the “Birds of Hair” exhibit presented in the “Art Van” in the parking lot of Surly Girl Saloon. The judges appreciated the twist on established galleries in the district. “It takes ‘gallery’ out of the box.”

Best Adaptation of Materials: SSK for its tree knitwear in front of Byzantium. The judges observed that the artists had elevated a seemingly domestic craft-form to creative artform. “The colors added a splash of excitement to the streetscape.”

Judges’ Special Commendation for Excellence: Daniel Elson for Donald Goes On Vacation… a handmade silcon figure melting into the brick wall at Bodega Cafe. The judges were awed by the detail of the figure. “The skin was amazingly lifelike.”

Over 100 photos from the event are available in a six-part photo gallery. Click the following links to view each set of photos.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

The Short North Arts District extends a hardy congratulations to all the artists, performers, volunteers, and sponsors who helped christen the inaugural Art al Fresco. “We really loved the pure focus on the art and the artists,” shared Mark Wood of the Wood Companies, presenting sponsor of the event. “That focus is at the heart of the Short North.”

Art al Fresco

presenting sponsor
The Wood Companies

hosting sponsor
Columbus alive!

award sponsors
Art Exchange
John Angelo and Frank Neumann

artist sponsors
Byzantium
City Kids Daycare
Cookware Sorcerer
O’Brien & Associates
pm gallery
r design & printing

supporting partners
The Lamp Shade
First Community Bank
Ohio Art League
UPS

Special thanks
Bartha Audio Visual for its support of Walk in the Park and Ripple Effect

For information about the 2009 Art al Fresco, contact John Angelo at the Short North Arts District office.

614.299.8050 x13 or johnangelo@shortnorth.org