Despite some rain last weekend, we enjoyed really lovely weather. It’s finally warming up consistently, and that has me so excited to be out and about. I’m already looking forward to this coming weekend, here’s what caught my eye in the arts scene:

• In case you missed it, Renewal: Works About Hope opened in the Loann Crane Gallery at GCAC. A co-production with Fresh A.I.R. Gallery, it features Ohio-based artists in recovery.
• The Ohio Craft Museum opened its annual Best of 2023 exhibition. See it through July 8.
• Lydia Loveless opens for Drive-By Truckers on Thursday, May 11 at the Newport Music Hall, while Andy Woodson’s Pawpaw Orchestra (great name) plays at Natalie’s that night.
• On Thursday the McConnell Arts Center opens a pair of new exhibitions: Slice and Dice: My Earth Dissected by Frauke Palmer and Grounded: The Essential Landscape by Fredrik Marsh.
• Friday, May 12 is CCAD’s Chroma, a free annual event highlighting student work, plus interactive activities, food trucks and more.
• This Friday is also Franklinton Fridays! Check out ROY G BIV’s newest exhibition or visit Wild Goose Creative for Alternative Persona: The Art of Bartending.
• Columbus Printed Arts Center hosts the Columbus Art Book Fair Saturday and Sunday at the Pizzuti Collection.
• CoMo Dance performs their popular annual Mother’s Day Tea in the Garden show at the Topiary Park Saturday and Sunday. It’s free, but RSVPs are requested.
• The Magpie Concert performs its latest program, Sounds of Summer, at Franklin Park Conservatory on Sunday.

A number of theater productions open this weekend:

• Last weekend eMBer Women’s Theatre debuted its latest production, When We Were Young and Unafraid. See it through May 20.
• On May 11 The Wild Party by Andrew Lippa (a GCAC board member) opens at the Short North Stage. The show is described as a “steamy Prohibition tale.”
• Friday, May 12 Columbus Children’s Theatre opens School of Rock the Musical. We saw a production several months back and it’s a great show.
• Eclipse Theatre Company opens Admissions, a look at a New England prep school fighting to diversify the student body.

And I have to mention… the Columbus Symphony performs the soundtrack live to my all-time favorite movie, Return of the Jedi, this Saturday, May 13. We saw the Cincinnati Symphony perform this a couple years ago, and it’s a blast.

You can find these events and so many more at ColumbusMakesArt.com!

Columbus Children’s Theatre, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Ohio Designer Craftsmen and Short North Stage receive Operating Support grants from GCAC, while ROY B BIV Gallery and Wild Goose Creative are General Support grantees. Columbus Printed Arts Center, eMBer Women’s Theatre and The Magpie Consort receive Project Support.

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Nick is marketing, communications, & events administrator for GCAC. He’s also a food/travel writer penning works for Columbus Monthly, Ohio.org, Ohio Magazine and his own site BreakfastWithNick.com. He’s ready for more nice days on the patio.