From left, Republic editor Julie McClure moderates a panel discussion with Exhibit Columbus Miller Prize recipients Vishaan Chakrabarti, Sara Zewde, Chris Marcinkoski and Tatiana Bilbao during the Exhibit Columbus Symposium at The Commons in Columbus on Oct. 21.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
The Miller Prize-winning architects and designers who will be participating in the 2022-23 round of Exhibit Columbus are going public with their plans, reinforcing the “Public By Design” theme for installations that will be envisioned with community input and unveiled next year.
At a symposium last week, participants detailed the connections they are making and plan to make with local people as they create locally inspired artistic installations for such landmarks as the Bartholomew County Public Library, The Commons, Mill Race Center and Mill Race Park.
Sara Zewde of Harlem-based Studio Zewde described the role as interpreters, connecting local people’s perspectives of sites such as Mill Race Park, where her team will work, “and the memories and meanings those sites hold for many,” The Republic’s Brian Blair reported.
Likewise, Tatiana Bilbao of EStudio in Mexico City, whose installation will be on the library plaza said “she nearly wishes the theme for the newest Exhibit Columbus cycle could be slightly tweaked to read, ‘Designed By the Public’ instead of ‘Public By Design,’ such is her desire to allow input and submitted ideas,” Blair wrote.
Exhibit Columbus is a relatively young event that creates a unique focus on our city’s unique architectural and design heritage. And the opportunities for local connection and input to this effort are by design. So if you have ideas, they aren’t just welcomed, they’re expected.
Get involved, keep up to date or learn more about this inventive program at exhibitcolumbus.org.
Hope aims to be alive with holiday spirit
We know it’s still only a couple of days before Halloween, but we can’t help feeling the holiday spirit rise just a bit as the temperature falls. Before you know it, many of us will be decking the halls, making a list and checking it twice.
Add this to your list: the town of Hope is doubling down on its traditional good tidings. As The Republic’s Mark Webber reported, in addition to Hope’s annual Christmas of Yesteryear, to be held this year on Dec. 2, Hope also for the first time plans to stage a German Christmas Market. It will run on Dec. 2 and 3 as well the following Friday and Saturday, Dec. 9 and 10.
To which we say, wunderbar! If Hope’s charming town square celebrations aren’t on your list for the holidays, you might want to check again.
Columbus legend’s drive keeps going
Back when Columbus native Tony Stewart was bouncing between being a dominant force on both the NASCAR and IndyCar circuits, it was commonly said that the driver known as “Smoke” could race anything with wheels. And he did with gusto, often returning to the Indiana short tracks and his midget and sprint car racing roots.
“Anything” now will include dragsters. Stewart is set to debut this weekend in the top alcohol class on the hot rod circuit at the NHRA Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He’s trained and tested for this over the past two years. Yet at 51, he’ll still be a rookie when the green light drops.
“I’m excited and nervous at the same time,” Stewart said earlier this week. “… I’ve been working toward this moment. I’m not taking it lightly. It’s a serious business and I’m going to be as prepared as possible when I get to Las Vegas.”
It’s always been hard to keep up with Stewart on the track. His legacy as a driver is cemented, yet he’s also staying out front in life, continuing to test himself and take on new challenges.
Sounds like winning.
