Joyce Hwang’s Exhibit Columbus installation “To Middle Species, With Love” will remain here for the next year.
Fictional baseball character Ray Kinsella’s slightly tweaked famous line from the movie “Field of Dreams” connects squarely with the latest Exhibit Columbus Modernist architectural exhibition running through month’s end: If you build it, they will come.
By the thousands. Again.
When Exhibit Columbus Director Anne Surak takes a swing at summarizing the project’s third and latest biennial run — and her first at the helm of the popular nonprofit — she acknowledges a definite sense of triumph.
That’s true especially considering that other major architectural exhibitions nationwide were canceled or substantially delayed this year because of the continuing pandemic, which delayed even builders’ initial arrival here.
Because of a range of related hurdles, heralded architect Sam Jacob never could make it here in person from his base in London, England. But his installation, one of the five Miller Prize centerpieces of the event, was pieced together on time.
“I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished,” Surak said. “I think it was a time when everyone had to be really creative and adapt to circumstances. Bringing in the two curators (Iker Gil of Chicago and Mimi Zeiger of Los Angeles) was important to capture the zeitgeist of what was happening.”
What was happening since the exhibition opened Aug. 22 was that a mix of installations were capturing the fancy of youngsters and adults alike. And though Surak is not yet sure of overall attendance, she believes estimates will at least match or exceed the 30,000 figure of 2019.
Columbus resident Adrienne Bowles was among those attending the latest architectural extravaganza. She took a field trip with her daughter’s Parkside Elementary School class through many of the exhibits a couple weeks ago. The outing demonstrated the installations’ popularity with youngsters and grown-ups alike.
“The exhibits of Exhibit Columbus were not only informative but also interactive,” Bowles said, adding that the students loved the experience. “I feel like having an open-air experience that incorporated Columbus’ rich history in art and architecture while also showcasing newer art forms is what ultimately brought both adult and child together.
“It was truly a gem.”
A variety of top designers worldwide constructed 13 pieces, ranging from the whimsy and apparent magic of “This Appearance Is ____” to the serious, ecological installment “Tracing Our Mississippi” about the fourth largest watershed in the world.
The Exhibit Columbus program, launched in 2016, is an exploration of architecture, art, design, and community that highlights the city’s Modernist design legacy.
It continues to be popular both among locals and also tourists, according to Erin Hawkins, marketing director for the Columbus Area Visitors Center. As an example, a total of 466 people downloaded a special visitors center app of an audio tour of the Exhibit Columbus sites.
“I think it’s safe to say most of the people who downloaded the tour were listening with at least one other person, so the number of people who consumed the content is far greater than 466,” Hawkins said.
“Anecdotally, I can tell you the exhibition has been popular among visitors and residents. Every day, folks are coming in to the Visitors Center asking for information, maps and activity guides for the exhibition.
“People often tell us they’ve been meaning to visit Columbus for a long time and we let them know there is no better time to come than during Exhibit Columbus. It’s a bonus for people to have the opportunity to explore the exhibition in addition to all of the other compelling reasons to spend time in our community.”
Surak believes that Exhibit Columbus gradually is reaching further into the community, no matter the final, eventual figures.
“Families have been coming out and wandering amid the exhibition, and that’s been very nice to see,” Surak said. “And I think that with each cycle, we’re engaging people more deeply. And we’re beginning to work even more closely with more community partners.”
Surak also offered a reminder that, actually, just as some components of past exhibitions remained long after the events closed, the same will be true now. Designer Joyce Hwang’s Mill Race Park installation, “To Middle Species, With Love” will remain in place for about the next year to give it time to see if it does indeed become something of a substantial bird and bat habitat as it has been designed to be.
