Governor Kasich Proclaims October Arts & Humanities Month in Ohio
by Amy McKay
Governor John Kasich has issued a proclamation declaring October Arts & Humanities Month in Ohio.
"The arts and humanities play a unique role in the lives of our families, communities and country by enhancing and enriching the human experience," proclaims Gov. Kasich. "I hereby designate October 2011 as Arts & Humanities Month throughout Ohio and encourage the residents of Ohio to celebrate and promote the arts and culture in our state."
National Arts & Humanities Month (NAHM) has been celebrated since 1993 and provides a great opportunity for people to participate in the arts offered in their communities. The Ohio Arts Council (OAC) is teaming up with the Ohio Statehouse to celebrate NAHM by organizing a series of free arts events in downtown Columbus.
On Tuesday, October 4, the month-long celebration will kick off in the Statehouse Atrium from noon to 1 p.m. with a reading of Gov. Kasich's proclamation of October as Arts & Humanities Month throughout Ohio. Following the reading, high-energy bluegrass band Grassahol will perform a 45-minute set of their toe-tapping music. Described as "original, contemporary bluegrass at its finest" by Bluegrass Unlimited, the band frequently entertains audiences across the Midwest and features the musical stylings of Carl Yaffey (banjo), Chas Williams (fiddle), Heidi White (bass), Buren Carter (guitar), Scott Brooks (mandolin) and Larry Shicks (fiddle). The lunchtime event will be free and open to the public.
On Friday, October 14, join us for a lunch-hour poetry reading event--A Celebration of Poetry--from noon to 1 p.m. at the OAC's Riffe Gallery, located at 77 S. High St. in downtown Columbus. Ohio poets Katie Daley, Wendy McVicker and Andy Roberts will read their original poetry, and Ohio Poetry Out Loud School Champion Emily Carnevale, from Centennial High School, will perform selections from the POL anthology as well as her own compositions. Ohio poet Chiquita Mullins Lee will emcee the event and conduct Q&A sessions. This event is free and open to the public.
Click here for the poet biographies.
For visual art lovers, the Natural Light: Paintings by Ohio Plein Air Society exhibition will be on display at the OAC's Riffe Gallery in the Vern Riffe Center until October 16. For more information, visit www.riffegallery.org.
On Thursday, October 27, First Lady Karen Kasich will read the 2012 Arts Day book, Hidden Ohio by Julie K. Rubini and Anne Margaret Lewis, to a group of school children. The event will take place in the Statehouse Rotunda at 10:30 a.m.
Every Wednesday in October, from noon to 1 p.m., visitors to the Statehouse can take a special Art Tour highlighting the People's Art Collection. The tour will include the governors' portrait collection, the impressive artwork in the Rotunda and other paintings and sculptures throughout the Capitol Square complex. Tours will depart at noon from the Map Room on the ground floor of the Statehouse, easily accessible from the Third Street entrance. The tours are free and open to the public.
A visit to the Statehouse is always a good time to explore the People's Art Collection. The artwork in the collection depicts the hopes, dreams, values and aspirations of Ohioans and commemorates Ohio's accomplishments and struggles. With the support of the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education and the OAC, the People's Art Collection created integrated lessons about the artwork found within the Statehouse and on Capitol Square. These resources are available for parents and teachers at: http://www.ohiostatehouse.org/Education/PeoplesArtCollection.aspx
The Statehouse is just one place where Ohioans can discover and explore the arts in the Buckeye state during NAHM. To discover the rich variety of arts and cultural activities going on throughout Ohio, visit ArtsinOhio.com. The OAC also encourages arts organizations to schedule events in coordination with NAHM and to use ArtsinOhio.com to promote them. Organizations can register online for free and post their events to the website.
Ohio Arts & Humanities Month events are organized by the Ohio Arts Council and the Capitol Square Review & Advisory Board with support from the Central Ohio Bluegrass Association and Ohio Citizens for the Arts.
NAHM is coordinated by Americans for the Arts, the national organization working to empower communities with the resources and support necessary to provide access to all of the arts for all of the people. For more information or for suggestions on how to celebrate the arts, visit the OAC website.
About the Ohio Arts Council:
The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally and economically.
About the Capitol Square Review & Advisory Board:
The Capitol Square Review & Advisory Board is responsible for maintaining the historic character of the Statehouse and Capitol Square while providing for the health, safety and convenience of those who work in or visit the complex.
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