Valentine’s Day is upon us. I’m trying not to roll my eyes. I’m only bringing it up because while searching the events calendar at columbusmakesart.com I noticed that several organizations have put together arts experiences to celebrate (or at least recognize) the day.
Franklin Park Conservatory has a special tour and tasting event, Jazz Arts Group is focused on the Love songs of Nat King Cole at the Southern Theatre, while Shadowbox Live is exploring Desire and Angela Perley will be bringing the love to Natalie’s Coal-Fired Pizza.The Wex is screening a Japanese love story, Asako I & II, and hosting a book signing with Columbus-based visual artist Kent Grosswiler, who will read from his book Beauty Found in Darkness. St. James Tavern will present their Theatre Shorts Festival with a darker V-day theme —“you’re the worst thing that ever happened to me.” Try getting that on a candy heart.
In other news, the Dispatch Home & Garden Show opens at the Ohio Expo this weekend and this year there’s an extra special arts twist. Ten Columbus-based artists have been paired with 10 landscape designers to collaborate on an installation—a gARTen. These artists include sculptors, painters, fiber artists and musicians. One pairing, Molly Winters & the Salty Caramels with landscape designer Riepenhoff Landscape resulted in a performance garden with a stellar line up of music and poetry performances that include Chaz & Nicki, Hilda Doyle, Barbara Fant, KaTanya Ingram, Dominique Larue, Maya Mougey, the Salty Caramels, Molly Winters and Scott Woods. Pro Tip: there’s a BOGO offer so you can see these collaborations for half the price.
In addition to the gARTens the Home & Garden Show will include the second-annual Arts Fest Pop Up, on Feb. 17. So, while you get inspiration for your home and garden, you can also collect some original artwork to give your space a mini makeover.
But wait, there’s more:
- Red Herring Productions is premiering a new comedy, Dirt, on Feb. 14.
- Rogue Poets, a poetry slam event, is happening at (Not) Sheep Gallery, Feb. 15.
- The annual Aminah Robinson Family Day, at the King Arts Complex, is Feb. 16.
- Also on Feb. 16, there are two opportunities to catch dance productions. Milk & Bones by SeaBus Dance Company at Columbus Dance Theatre’s Fischer Theater and Parallel by OYO Dance Company at the Columbus Performing Arts Center.
Of course, this is just a handful of the arts events happening this weekend. Find more at columbusmakesart.com and share what you get up to with #artmakescbus.
Lacey Luce is a digital strategist for the Greater Columbus Arts Council who thinks Valentine’s Day is kind of a guilt trip to buy presents. She does however appreciate the chocolate that will go on sale Feb. 15.