I am grateful to live in a community that values the arts and encourages its residents to engage with them. Art galleries can be found across Columbus, musical and theatrical performances occur regularly and the Columbus Area Arts Council (CAAC) hosts many activities throughout the year.
I visited several of the downtown locations participating in the recent CAAC-sponsored Art Break Day. I particularly enjoyed the new 411 art gallery. My favorite activity was pouring pewter into a mold to make my own toy figures at the Bartholomew County Historical Society.
The Exhibit Columbus office was not open when I went by, but I am looking forward to the upcoming symposium. My youngest son was part of the high school team that designed and built the installation “Between the Threads” last year. He had a great experience and I even got to help string some of the panels. I didn’t attend any of the first symposium in 2016, but our involvement with the installations last year has given me a vested interest in current and future Exhibit Columbus activities.
This year’s National Symposium, "Design, Community, and Progressive Preservation," takes place Sept. 26-29. Wednesday’s events take place at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, while the events on Thursday through Saturday take place in Columbus. Various speakers will discuss topics relating to this year’s theme each day.
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I am looking forward to attending the Saturday evening session where the J. Irwin and Xenia S. Miller Prize winners will be introduced. The prize winners will design temporary installations that will be located at sites around Columbus next year.
Ticket prices vary depending on which events you want to attend. As a Bartholomew County resident you can get the four-day package for $100, or one of the two-day packages for $35. Students can purchase the four day package for only $35.
Columbus does a remarkable job of providing art opportunities for adults and youth. How many cities give high school students the chance to design and build a temporary art installation? My son enjoyed the design process and also experienced the practical aspects of working within a budget and making sure the design could actually be built. Central Middle School students were able to contribute to the University of Cincinnati’s installation.
Additionally, many of the Art Break Day sites were focused on children. The Columbus Parks and Recreation Department offers youth classes in theater and hosts concerts. The Columbus Indiana Children’s Choir gives young people a chance to sing.
Our school system is another group that provides ways for our youth to engage with the arts. Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. elementary students have both music and art instruction weekly. Middle school and high school students can choose to participate in award-winning marching, concert and jazz bands, choirs and theater, or they can pick from a variety of art classes such as drawing, painting, pottery, jewelry making and photography.
We also can appreciate the arts just by driving around Columbus and noticing the varying architecture. If you want to learn more about Columbus’ architecture, you can participate in one of the tours offered by the Columbus Area Visitors Center.
The arts enrich and make our lives more enjoyable. Take advantage of the many opportunities available. Attend a play or musical performance, visit an art gallery, sign up for an architecture tour or participate in this year’s Exhibit Columbus symposium. You can also be a part of the arts by joining the Columbus City Band, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, the Philharmonic Chorus, the Mill Race Players or by taking one of the art classes sponsored by the Bartholomew County Public Library.
Whatever you choose, go enjoy the arts!
Susan Cox is one of The Republic’s community columnists, and all opinions expressed are those of the writer. She is a mother, an adjunct instructor of English at Ivy Tech Community College-Columbus and a substitute teacher for Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. She can be reached at editorial@therepublic.com.
