Mackenzie Coy and Cora Bartels play a game of hide and seek in the Exhibit Columbus installation This Appearance Is ___ in front of the Cummins parking garage off Washington Street in Columbus, Ind., Friday, Aug. 20, 2021. Mike Wolanin | The Republic
COLUMBUS, Ind. — The 2021 Exhibit Columbus’ exhibition recorded an estimated attendance of 15,000 to 20,000 amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic that included thousands fewer downtown workers to circulate among most of the architectural installations.
The 2019 exhibition attracted an estimated 30,000 people and the novel, inaugural exhibition that generated worldwide publicity attracted an estimated 40,000 people, according to organizers.
Richard McCoy, executive director of the umbrella organization known as Landmark Columbus Foundation, said he believes that fewer workers working downtown in Cummins Inc. and other offices throughout the exhibition had a significant impact.
Exhibit Columbus’ exhibition is a biannual exhibition of design, architecture and community, using temporary public art to celebrate the Modernist legacy of Columbus.
“It just wasn’t quite enough to outpace the idea of thousand of employees not being downtown nearly everyday,” McCoy said. “It’s not that we were exactly anticipating downtown workers all being there (at installations). It’s just that having them there downtown generally creates a buzz and an interest.
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