Part of the Exhibit Columbus installation “Archival/Revival” sits in an empty lot across from Cavalry Community Church in Columbus on Friday.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Part of an Exhibit Columbus Miller Prize piece has found a new, permanent home a few blocks away.
Three pieces of architect Olalekan Jeyifous’ Exhibit Columbus piece “Archival/ Revival” have been moved from the Bartholomew County Public Library Plaza on Fifth Street to an open space at 11th and California streets — property owned by Calvary Community Church across the street.
The installation focuses on local and national black history and arts dating from the early 1970s. And Bishop Charles Sims and Pastor Jane Sims of Calvary have long been community-wide leaders and also leaders among the Black community, speaking out about needs and injustices.
“It’s been awesome to get to know them better,” said Richard McCoy.
He’s executive director of Landmark Columbus Foundation, the nonprofit that oversees Exhibit Columbus, which highlights new, creative twists on the city’s Modernist architectural legacy through current installations every other year.
McCoy worked with Tracy Souza of the Heritage Fund — the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County to find a new home for these pieces of the installation.
The five Miller Prize works have been the centerpiece and the most extensive pieces of the exhibition that has run from the end of August to the end of November in 2017, 2019, and last year. They pay homage to wealthy industrialist J. Irwin Miller and wife Xenia Miller, both huge innovators and supporters of Modernist design in Columbus and beyond.
They enjoyed friendships with top architects and designers through the years, ranging from Eliel Saarinen, who built First Christian Church, to son Aero Saarinen, who built the couple’s elaborate home that is now the Modernist museum known as the Miller House and Gardens. The son also built North Christian Church.
Exhibit Columbus leaders originally called these artistic installations temporary. But a number of them since 2017 have become permanent, and this becomes another one, courtesy of Jeyifous’ gifting it to Calvary.
The work of the Nigerian-born designer, a former Bloomington resident, has long focused on Black issues, including slavery and other topics. But Bishop Sims pointed out that the three elements now on the church property appeal to a wide audience.
“I think this art can inspire especially young people — and I don’t mean only Black young people,” he said.
Sims said the pieces still will leave room for church activities such as summer picnics and more that have been held there for several years.
“This is good for the community,” Sims said. “And it’s good for this specific area.”
