Right Now Downtown

BUCKS IN THE 43215

Columbus is a Buckeye town, no doubt.  But is it a Buckeye downtown?  Most things Ohio State are confined to the campus area and to our TVs when the Bucks don the scarlet and gray for some gridiron or cager glory.  But there is a little corner of Buckeye-dom right in the center of 43215.

Sure the OSU Urban Arts Space, which is housed in the beautifully renovated Lazarus Building, has some really cool exhibits and activities, but did you know the great minds and hard work behind the art come from Buckeyes through and through?

Leigh Lotocki, Communications Coordinator for the Urban Arts Space, explains that the mission of the OSU Urban Arts Space is to act as a bridge – between the OSU campus and the Columbus community and between the City of Columbus and the world art community.

“The Urban Arts Space is a completely student-operated gallery,” said Lotocki.  “All operations are run by OSU students, and we strive to have a wide range of artists –  international, regional and local.”

Between 15 and 20 paid students staff the gallery, along with interns and volunteers.  There are employees from a variety of disciplines at OSU, including event management, writing, communications, business, journalism and, of course, art and arts administration.  Because employees only work during their time as OSU students, there is a nice amount of turnover as students graduate.

“That is a unique thing about our space.  Lots of turnover means a lot of new energy and ideas,” added Lotocki.  “It can be challenging, but it also is part of what makes us great.”

Lotocki noted that many graduates with OSU Urban Arts Space work experience move on to careers in the field.  Her predecessor has moved on to another facility working in communications and another student assistant has moved to Chicago to work with art installation.  Students also can take advantage of networking with the artists whose work is displayed at the space.

“Working at the Urban Arts Space allows us to meet a lot of artists and make contact with people who work in the field,” added Lotocki.  “It’s a great networking tool and a stepping stone for us.”

They’re open Tuesday through Saturday and it won’t cost you a penny to check it out. So, go support the Bucks and get a creative fix as you appreciate this truly urban arts space.

CULTURE FOR CANINES

Do you ever feel a little guilty leaving Fido in his crate when you leave the house for a day of fun on the weekend?  Sure, The Dog Whisperer says our furry friends are cozy in their little metal dens, but come on… there are plenty of other places they’d rather sniff, right?

How about the OSU Urban Arts Space?  You heard us.  Give your dog a little culture during Pup-a-Palooza on Saturday, October 16 from 1 – 4 p.m.  OSU Urban Arts Space is opening its doors to canines and their masters.  It’s a great way to check out what’s been going on in the historic Lazarus Building at 50 W. Town Street, Suite 130.  We might just party like it’s 1999.

Your pet will have a tail-wagging good time while you both check out caricatures, photography booth portraits, local vendors and treats.  Wanna teach your old dog a new trick or maybe Fido has a feisty streak?  Training experts from Sit Means Sit will be on hand with tips and demos to help you take the upper hand with your drooling buddy.

What?  You don’t have a dog?  Well, you’re even in luck there because October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, and the Franklin County Dog Shelter will be there too with all kinds of information about the pets available for adoption.

So, grab the leash or your desire to meet a new furry friend and head to the OSU Urban Arts Space for a barkin’ good time, but drop them a line first to RSVP so they know how many dog biscuits to have on hand.

Columbus is home to many innovators.  Few have changed art and technology as much as Charles Csuri, a pioneer in computer animation.  Smithsonian Magazine recognizes him as the “father of digital art and animation.”

His work is being exhibited at the OSU Urban Arts Space in the former Lazarus Building through October 9.  The exhibition includes more than 85 computer works dating from 1963 to 2010.

One of my favorite pieces is “Scribbles and Smears in Space,” an animation projected in a “black box.”  The area, which has a seat in the middle, is cordoned off with blackout curtains.  Walking into the space will make you forget all your troubles and will measurably lower your blood pressure.

Charles Csuri became a well-known neighborhood name after I first moved to the Short North in 1980.  In 1981, he formed a company called Cranston/Csuri Productions at Neil and 8th Avenues to find commercial applications for computer-generated art.  The result of his work can be found in movie theatres each time a feature-length animation hits the big screen.