Taking Center Stage
Having created ground-breaking work in New York and Los Angeles, Abby Marcus is joining Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park as managing director, bringing her creativity and passion as the theatre begins construction on its new space.
Abby Marcus has a new role with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. With experience at theaters around the country, Marcus will be the managing director at the Playhouse beginning later this summer.
She succeeds Buzz Ward, who is retiring after 29 years at the Playhouse and will become Managing Director Emeritus.
Currently, Marcus is managing director of The Orchard Project, a multidisciplinary artist residency program in Saratoga Springs, NY. She has also served as managing director of CalArts Center for New Performance in Los Angeles and as finance director at St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn, NY, where she helped oversee their $32 million capital expansion project.
“Abby is the next generation of arts leadership – creative, innovative and inclusive,” says Blake Robison, the Playhouse’s artistic director. “Her financial acumen and strategic thinking will help lead us into a new era as we emerge from the pandemic and expand our work with all parts of the greater Cincinnati community. I am excited to welcome Abby and look forward to partnering with her.”
In addition to her finance and management background, Marcus serves as a creative producer of Vampire Cowboys, an OBIE Award-winning theatre company in New York City. She has held previous leadership positions at NYC's Baryshnikov Arts Center, the Dramatists Guild of America and the Playwrights’ Center in Minneapolis.
Marcus arrives at a transformational moment in Playhouse history, as the company begins construction on its $49.5 million theatre complex. The new 539-seat mainstage, Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre, includes new rehearsal rooms, costume shop and backstage areas. It will expand what can be done on stage with state-of-the art theatre technology and joins the previously renovated Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre to create a fully modernized Playhouse for generations to come.
“I am thrilled to join the Playhouse and to support Blake, the Board, and the staff of this nationally regarded institution as we bring live performances back to the community and create a beautiful new home for the future,” says Marcus. “It is not every day that one has the opportunity to engage with an organization that has been so well-managed for so many years. Together, we will build on the Playhouse’s many successes and continue to grow in the years to come.”
Fight of the Bumblebee
With beehives being installed at the Cincinnati Art Museum, Carrie Driehaus, co-founder at Queen City Pollinator Project, talks about saving bees for the health of our community and the planet.
Sylvana Ross, Carrie Driehaus, and Jenny O’Donnell of Queen City Pollinator Project
Spring is an especially glorious time in the Ohio Valley. Lush green grass, gorgeous flowers, and blossoming trees make every venture outside a feast for the senses.
Now imagine spring without the blossoms.
“Approximately 80 percent of flowering plants on earth rely on pollinators for reproduction,” says Carrie Driehaus, one of the founders of the Queen City Pollinator Project (QCPP).
“But honeybee keepers see annual losses of about 40% of their colonies. Native pollinators on the endangered species list and humans are largely responsible,” she says.
Adopt A Bee
From May 3 to 31, you can adopt a bee at the Cincinnati Art Museum for a $5 or $10 donation.
Each donation provides an opportunity to name one of the 60,000 bees who will reside in the museum’s two hives. Additional contests will allow the public to vote for names of the queen bees. All funds raised will support the museum’s community wellness initiatives.
Visit www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org/bees for more information.
Seeing a need for more education, Driehaus, along with Jenny O’Donnell and Sylvana Ross, developed the QCPP. The trio of friends is working to unite the city around pollinator support and protection and provide education and resources to conserve pollinator diversity. QCPP uses honeybee hives as a model for education, while focusing on native pollinators in our efforts for conservation.
The Cincinnati Art Museum’s focus on community wellness makes it an excellent partner for QCPP. This month two new beehives are being installed on museum grounds. Since pollinators are a vital part of a balanced ecosystem, bringing in honeybees can help the health of the entire community.
“Urban spaces provide a unique opportunity to support pollinators, as well as create educational opportunities for all involved,” says Driehaus. “We are sure everyone who sees the bees will be ‘pollen’ in love.”
The Women’s Committee of the Cincinnati Art Museum is the hive sponsor and the program is supported by the museum’s Green Team made up of museum staff members.
The hives will be in the pollinator garden on the west side of the building. Additional hives may be added in the future. These “friendly” bees which rarely sting can travel up to three miles from their hive, so the museum’s bees may be seen all over the city.
In future years, sweet success with the program might mean the museum bees produce honey to use and sell. This could mean future Terrace Café recipes highlighting honey and some jars to purchase in the Museum Shop. Community programs will be developed, and opportunities to educate and inspire with bees from artworks in the museum’s permanent collection are underway.
–Tricia Suit
About Queen City Pollinator Project (QCPP)
QCPP challenges businesses in Greater Cincinnati to become community leaders in environmental sustainability and challenges every citizen to take action to protect and support pollinators in their own yards. Learn more at queencitypollinatorproject.org.
Silence Is Golden
Founded in 1835, the Mercantile Library has always adapted to changing times. By embracing virtual readings and book clubs, John Faherty, executive director of this Walnut Street mainstay, has seen the library's community grow.
While being surrounded by books during a pandemic seems like a great idea, being a library where people come in to borrow those books is less than ideal.
In 2020, the Mercantile Library transformed how it brought together its vibrant community of readers, taking lively book discussions and dynamic author online. This once staid institution has a found a way to maintain its strong circle of book lovers while expanding the idea of what that community could be.
John Faherty has been the director of the Mercantile Library for the past six years. During that time membership grew to its largest since the Civil War. With free events ranging from member-led book discussions to musical performances, the Mercantile was a congenial stop for people who love music, history, Cincinnati, and, of course, literature.
Faherty clearly relishes the job. In front of the old numbered volumes of books that line the shelves in his office is a huge frame with several photos possibly taken at the Mill Creek in the 1920s that has mysteriously just appeared. Giant wooden windows open, with binoculars on the sill to watch peregrines, it is the opposite of the sleek modern work space.
In conversation Faherty ricochets between talking about what 2020 was like, his latest favorite Mercantile event, and what the future of the library holds. He is quick to credit the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the Mercantile staff to adapt established programs, experiment with new ones, and reinvent what it means to bring readers together.
Mercantile Librarians: Chris Messick, Al Lloyd, Hillary Copsey, John Faherty, Jasmine Griffin, Cedric Rose, and Amy Hunter. © 2019 AES Photography
“People watched TV, they cooked, and they read books,” Faherty says. “Even though we were closed, we had to find a way to be there for them.”
Initially, Hillary Copsey, the Mercantile’s book advisor, missed the simple camaraderie of talking to her co-workers about what they were reading. That grew into discovering new ways to have those conversations.
In those early days of isolation, the librarians found people were gravitating toward comfort reads, revisiting old favorites. The Mercantile experimented with Facebook discussions as way to engage members and fans. While that ultimately wasn’t the best method – they found people didn’t “listen” so much as think about what to type next – they developed other ways to deepen those conversations.
“We found that people were grateful for community,” says Hillary Copsey, the Mercantile’s book advisor. “People were alone in their houses and they wanted to talk about books.”
The Mercantile’s calendar, always crowded, somehow was even more packed in the past year. A few years ago, the Mercantile made all but a few of its programs and events free.
“That was a game changer for us,” Faherty says. This approach diversified their audience, increased accessibility to programs, and made it easier to deal with pandemic-related changes.
Having the unlimited space of the internet allowed the librarians to try new things. Some of those worked and some will be re-worked. Though not all of the new genre discussions – romance, fantasy, YA, etc. – were full, they did reinforce one belief. Each talk was led by a genre enthusiast, and even when sparsely attended, people were excited to be around people who cared about the same things.
Since 2016, the Mercantile has held a discussion group that tackles Big Books–think War and Peace, The Count of Monte Cristo, and now Anna Karenina. These 800- to 900-page tomes are classics that even the most devoted reader would find intimidating. But during the pandemic the Big Books discussion got too big.
The group grew to 60 people.
To facilitate better interaction, the group was split in half. Moving forward, it’s not hard to imagine keeping the discussion to two distinct group, having one one in-person and one online.
“We found this web of community developed,” Copsey says. One attendee reconnected with a high school friend and a former teacher via an online group. The virtual discussion also allowed members who had taken refuge out of town to still be a part of Mercantile events or invite far-flung family or friends to join discussions.
While going online allowed more people to discover the Mercantile and participate in programs, staying online may be a way to keep that momentum going. Whether people are on vacation, don’t want to bother with driving and parking, or are more comfortable staying home, everyone still has an opportunity for connection and community.
One event that isn’t free is the Niehoff Lecture, the Mercantile’s annual fundraiser. This signature event, begun in 1986, celebrates the most respected contemporary writers, and includes Margaret Atwood, Julia Child, Seamus Heaney, Zadie Smith, and Bob Woodward among its alumni. Erik Larson was tapped to be the 2020 speaker.
But all of that changed and the event was reinvented as Half-Baked: A Virtual Gala. While the evening was still a benefit for the Mercantile it also helped local restaurants. Guests received “half-baked” meals from Abigail Street, Jean-Robert’s Table, Salazar, Sotto/Domo, or Via Vite, finished them at home, then followed an online link to a conversation between Faherty and Curtis Sittenfeld as the guest. Dress was black tie or pajamas, or some combination.
“As a fundraiser, while we got half the pie, the pie was bigger,” Faherty says. “And it made us feel like part of the community.”
“Despite people at being home, it still managed to feel like a party,” he says.
Having a 10,000 year lease at its Walnut Street location and a generous endowment, allowed the Mercantile flexibility during pandemic. Though membership numbers have dropped in the past year, Faherty isn’t worried.
“People renew when they visit,” Faherty says. “And we know they want to come back.”
–Tricia Suit
Find out more about the Mercantile Library at mercantilelibrary.com.
Book Your Next Trip
Steph Cooper, Collection Development Librarian from the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, suggests a few books to help you plan for your adventure when you're ready to travel plus give you some inspiration before you take off.
From taking a road trip to planning your next international adventure, books are a great way to both do your research and find some inspiration.
The Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library has an extensive travel section of traditional and ebooks. Steph Cooper, the Collection Development Librarian, assembled a terrific list so you can imagine a getaway when you feel ready to get away.
50 States, 5,000 Ideas
Joseph R. Yogerst
https://cinlib.org/2ObMEUu
So maybe international travel is exceptionally difficult right now, but how lucky are we in America to have such a vast array of places to visit right here. If you need some inspiration picking your next vacation destination, this book has more than enough to offer.
See You at the Campground
Stephanie Puglisi
https://cinlib.org/3ubn7ds
Camping is more popular than ever, and for good reason. It’s suitable for newbies, pros, all types of budgets, and can offer the best relaxation in the world and also some of the best adrenaline producing experiences. Puglisi and her husband bought a pop-up camper and hit the road with their young twins. It had a massive positive effect on their lives and inspired more outdoor adventures. They compiled this fun list of hacks and tips that inspire family bonding and exploration.
#wanderlust: The World's 500 Most Unforgettable Travel Destinations
Sabina Trojanova
https://cinlib.org/31Gv0eN
Interested in some of the trendier destinations out there? Hoping for the perfect Insta photo? Then this one’s for you. Geared toward Gen Zers and Millennials, this book has tips, tricks, and destination ideas for any budget.
Love is an Ex-country
Randa Jarrar
https://cinlib.org/39vLM4I
Road trips are one of the simple joys of life, but what about driving across America as a queer, Muslim, proudly fat, Arab America? Jarrar shares tales of her journey from California to Connecticut. Even though she encounters some truly nasty people along the way, she encouragingly finds her joy.
Four Lost Cities
Annalee Newitz
https://cinlib.org/2PpA8kU
Newitz’s travelogue is a bit different, considering none of the cities she visits still exist as they once were. Are these ancient civilizations given enough credit for their contributions to the strides in societal evolution? What can be learned from the archaeologists who study them? Anyone who likes to travel in search of gaining a greater understanding of history just may get inspired by this adventure.
Fodor's Guide to Safe and Healthy Travel: Practical Tips and Information for the Age of COVID-19 and Other Pandemics
Fodor's Travel Guides, WebMD
https://cinlib.org/31zPDt4
(eBook-only, available from the library)
Travel certainly is a different experience than it used to be, and it likely will be different for a while. So how do we travel safely? Experts from the medical field and the travel field, teamed up and compiled advice on how to keep us moving about.
– Steph Cooper
Home Field Advantage
Jeff Berding, president and GM of FC Cincinnati, was named board chair, at the the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau Annual Meeting. He will be joined by seven other first-time board members as the CVB works to move the region forward.
After a difficult year in which the travel industry ground to a halt, the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is looking ahead with a new slate of regional leaders and advocates to serve on its board of directors.
“Over the past several years, we’ve made a concerted effort to restructure our Board of Directors with influential decision-makers and game-changers,” said CVB President & CEO Julie Calvert. “We’ve built a proactive group of well-connected advocates who are all committed to elevating our hospitality industry and amplifying the strategic vision of the CVB.”
CVB membership elected a ballot of new and returning board directors. That includes the naming of Jeff Berding as Board Chair. Berding is President and GM of Major League Soccer team FC Cincinnati and a former executive with the Cincinnati Bengals. He was also elected to three terms on Cincinnati City Council. Berding replaces Mario San Marco, who served as CVB Board Chair since 2018.
The CVB’s new officers are:
Jeff Berding, FC Cincinnati, Chair
Agnes Godwin Hall, Macy’s, Vice Chair
Paul Silva, Eagle Realty Group, Secretary-Treasurer
The CVB’s new At-Large Directors are:
Jeff Berding
Alecia Kintner, President & CEO, ArtsWave
Akiva Freeman, Office, Manufacturing & Logistics Manager, Kroger
New Designated Directors are:
Adam Gelter, Executive Vice President, Development at 3CDC
Bobby Spann, Vice President, External Affairs for the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Joe Pinto, General Manager, Hyatt Regency Cincinnati
Brendon Cull, Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber
And Renewing Directors are:
Mike Conway, Chairman & Chief Portfolio Officer for Winegardner & Hammons Hotel Group
Eric Kearney, President & CEO, African American Chamber of Commerce
Karen Forgus, Senior Vice President of Business Operations, Cincinnati Reds
Tim Zeis from the Greater Cincinnati Sports Corp.
“We’ve also created a Board that is representative of our diverse base of members and stakeholders,” said Calvert. “I’m grateful for the leaders who have stepped up during this critical recovery time for the CVB and our hospitality industry.”
Visit www.cincyusa.com for more. 2021 Annual Meeting and 2020 Annual Report are posted at www.cincyusa.com/2021meeting
Simply the Best
Opening Day will look a little different this year, but the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum is ready to “Root the Reds Home” with a new exhibition highlighting the origins of pennants and their evolution over the years.
While the city gets ready for Opening Day–traditionally a day for skipping work, watching a truly one-of-a-kind parade, and cheering on our beloved Reds to victory 47% of the time–in this strange time, we are all looking forward to a new baseball season.
“I’m looking forward to seeing fans in and around the ballpark wearing their favorite Reds gear and feeling connected to one of the great traditions that brings the community together,” says Rick Walls, executive director of the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. “The great tradition that is Opening Day in Cincinnati brings excitement and hope to the region that this could be the year that the hometown Reds bring home a championship.”
With each championship comes a new pennant. The concept of a baseball team winning a pennant is well known to sports fans. But what exactly is a “pennant” and when did baseball teams decide to start chasing them? What were the first pennants made from and in what sport did they make their debut?
Root the Reds Home presented by Dinsmore is a new exhibition of Reds souvenir pennants and stadium banners highlighting the origins of pennants and their evolution over the years. This exhibition also highlights the origins of pennants and their evolution over the years.
“It’s hard to choose a favorite pennant, but the one from 1919, the year the Reds won their first World Championship, stands out to me – for its significance, the wool material, and the fact that it is the oldest pennant we possess,” says Walls.
You can see the 1919 pennant along with more than 200 historic Reds pennants from the team’s championship seasons plus other banners from memorable events such as the 1988 All-Star Game in Cincinnati and the Reds’ tour of Japan in 1978.
“Fans will recognize some of the pennants perhaps from their own personal collections, maybe hanging on the wall in the basement or tucked away in storage somewhere,” says Walls. “They’ll be surprised by the number of pennants on display, which is nearly every pennant ever made related to the Reds, and the fact that the large championship banners hanging from the ceiling are the actual banners that hung at Riverfront Stadium.
“If you have a pennant that isn’t on display, we’d love to hear about it!” says Walls.
–Tricia Suit
Building on Success
With the new 2046 Commission , Eric H. Kearney, president and CEO of the African American Chamber, and a team of 15 leaders will explore innovative ways to strengthen the foundations of Black businesses in the region, positioning them to thrive for the next 25 years.
The Board of the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) announced the formation and the co-chairs of the new 2046 Commission. The 2046 Commission, named to highlight the next 25 years of progress for Black Businesses in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region, will explore innovative ways to strengthen the foundation of current Black businesses while preparing the ecosystem to be competitive and welcoming to the next generation of Black entrepreneurs. The Commission will consist of 15 regional leaders from the economic, financial, purchasing and investing sectors, as well as policy makers.
“The African American Chamber is celebrating its 25th anniversary,” said Eric H. Kearney, AACC president and CEO. “The 2046 Commission has been formed to make certain our businesses and our ecosystem are strategically positioned to thrive for the next 25 years.”
The 2046 Commission was formed as the result of a groundbreaking study in partnership with the UC Economics Center. The study shows the Greater Cincinnati Black businesses included in the analysis support more than $1.4 billion of operations expenditures and are responsible for directly employing 8,680 people with $540 million in earnings throughout the Cincinnati Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
“As we continue to build on the legacy of our founders, it is our responsibility to position Black businesses as a conduit to foster innovation, analyze and develop new policies for economic equity and promote the abilities of Black-owned businesses to compete in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Region and beyond. We will do this by working with the right individuals and top organizations to develop recommendations and comprehensive regional alignment,” added Jason Dunn, AACC Board chair and co-chair of the 2046 Commission.
The inaugural co-chairs of the 2046 Commission are
Stacey Browning is managing director at CincyTech, an Ohio-based venture capital firm making seed-stage investments in digital and life sciences companies with ties to the Cincinnati region. She serves as a Board member of the Health Collaborative, is a co-founder of Cincinnati’s Flying Pig Marathon, Committee of 200 member, a YWCA Career Woman of Achievement and received The Circuit’s 2019 Technology Visionary Award. Additionally, she sits on the Board of Directors for Al. Neyer LLC and is a Board Advisor for InfoTrust. Stacey lives in Madeira with her husband, Chris, and two children.
Jason Dunn is the group vice president, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau , Co- Chair of The Events Industry Council’s Global Equity Taskforce and Immediate past chairman of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals. He has served as chair of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority, chair of Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce, and chair of the Cincinnati Police Foundation. He is a graduate of Leadership Cincinnati Class 39 and the Urban League’s African American Leadership Development Program Class 20. Jason lives in Bond Hill with his wife, Tiffany, and their two children.
Larissa England is the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion partner for The E.W. Scripps Company and is responsible for managing, developing, and implementing EDI strategies. She also serves as vice chair on the board of directors for the African American Chamber of Commerce. She earned a B.S. in Agribusiness and Applied Economics from The Ohio State University and is a native of Youngstown, Ohio. Larissa lives in West Chester with her husband, Justin, and their two children.
John A. Moore is the president of Moore Air, a second generation, minority-owned heating ventilation and air conditioning service provider serving Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Air Conditioning Contractors of Ohio, African American Chamber of Commerce, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Main Street Ventures. He is the past president of the Air Conditioning Contractors of Greater Cincinnati and past Board chairman of the African American Chamber of Commerce. John lives in Springdale with his wife, La Costa, and their two children.
Well and Good
From a relaxing pedicure to soothing facials and calming candles, Cincinnati area retailers &Sundries, Grace & Grit Spa, Handzy Shop & Studio, and Spruce Nail Salon offer great ways to take care of yourself no matter how stressful things get.
It’s been a long, cold, COVID winter but with Spring (and a vaccine) in the air, it’s time to start looking ahead. As we all emerge from our collective cocoon, you might find that your nails, your skin, and most importantly, your nerves could use a little TLC. Lucky for you, a number of Cincinnati retailers are prepared to help you relax, refresh, and recharge.
Crystal Grace, owner of Grace and Grit Spa, 6712 Montgomery Road
“Self-care is health care,” says Crystal Grace, owner of Grace and Grit Spa (www.graceandgritskin.com). “We don’t view (our services) as a indulgence for a birthday or anniversary. We want people to take the time to slow down and destress to maintain their wellness.”
At Handzy Shop and Studio (handzyshopstudio.com) , with two locations in downtown and Covington, you’ll find a section devoted to self-care.
Opened in 2016 by best friends Suzy Hinnefeld and Brittney Braemer, Handzy carries women’s clothing, lifestyle accessories, paper goods, gifts, plus their own line of greeting cards they design in-house.
Maybe you want to create a tranquil home environment with a eucalyptus soy candle, which burns cleanly and slowly. Or give yourself a quick pick-me-up with a soothing orange blossom lip balm or indulge in a relaxing soak with coconut milk bath bomb.
Handzy Shop & Studio has locations in Covington, 17 W. Pike St. and inn downtown Cincinnati, 324 W. Fourth St.
“Handzy is your happy place!” the owners say. “Our shop is filled with upbeat products we hope will make you smile. Whether it's a new outfit that makes you feel bold and confident or a soothing candle scent, we work to fill our shop with products to inspire you and make you feel good.”
Ready to take off your shoes and feel the warm grass under your feet, but embarrassed about state of your toes? Spruce Nail Shop (sprucenailshop.com) to the rescue! Offering the safest polishes, products, and practices, Spruce creates a warm, welcoming, and creative environment for pedicures, manicures, and skin care.
Spruce Nail Salon, 1818 Race St., Suite 101
“I think so often people associate a manicure or pedicure with only polish and nail art,” says Molly Reckman Nagle, owner. “While we obviously love getting to create one-of-a-kind designs with our clients, it really is the icing on top of the cake for us. The real benefit is about nail care and foot care. Neglect, especially of your feet, can lead to some serious health issues, so we want to be sure to look out for the wellbeing of each client who comes through our doors.”
Founded by Nagle in 2015, Spruce moved to their new location by Findlay Market last year.
“When we first re-opened June, I was concerned that we wouldn’t get many people coming in because nobody was going anywhere. But what I found was we ended up doing more nail art than ever, and many of our clients who have never done nail art were starting to partake,” Nagle says.
One of Nagle’s clients said that even though she wasn’t really going anywhere, and was working from home, she was trying to find some joy. Looking down at her hands and seeing a bright and fun manicure made her smile.
Likewise at Grace and Grit, clients returned as soon as the spa, which first opened in 2018, reopened after a two-month pandemic shut-down.
“Our customers rushed back — we didn’t have any kind of slowdown,” Graces says. “We created a space where they felt safe and they saw our services as part of how they stay healthy.”
In a time when people were forced to isolate themselves and maintain their distance from others, feeling connection with others became even more important.
“People don’t understand the healing power of touch,” Grace says. “We don’t think of what we do as pampering. It’s not a luxury, it’s wellness.”
Aromatherapy is another way to create a calming space. If you want to create a more pleasant at-home environment, &Sundries (andsundries.com) has a full array of handcrafted soapworks and homegoods made with good-for-you ingredients.
&Sundries, 2807 Woodburn Ave.
John Meyer started the company in 2018, with a clear and simple handmade process, making all of the bath and body goodies in the shop, so the products compliment one another. When paired with &Sundries shower tabs, those scents ranging from traditional lavender and eucalyptus to the more exotic citrus and cypress, can help you create a spa-like retreat.
“A four-pack of large cubes packed with essential oils release a dose of aromatherapy in the shower,” says Meyer. “The wetter they get, the faster they fizz, to release awakening peppermint or soothing lemongrass and eucalyptus in the shower.”
As the old saying goes, you can’t fill from an empty cup. All of these local self-care gurus agree that it’s important to take care of yourself while you’re busy meeting all of your work, school, and home obligations.
“For many of our clients, Spruce was their only outing for a while, and still is,” says Nagle. “I think it’s about finding the small moments and breaks, and taking time for yourself to do something that makes you smile.”
The owners of Handzy offer that well-being looks different for everyone. “A new planner and pen could create well-being for someone working toward getting organized while a bath bomb, soap, and candle set might do the same for someone focusing on simple self-care rituals.”
Whether you take a few minutes a day to journal or add a massage to your regular health care routine are ways to not only ease your stress but maintain your mental and also physical health.
“We opened our store two months before the pandemic shut us down,” says Meyer. “It was crazy and living in the moment is hectic, but I try to at least once a week look back and focus on the accomplishments that I’ve made this year.”
“We need our vessels to be full,” Grace says. “We demonstrate to our children they should put themselves last, but we need to re-tell that story. Not only so we can be healthy and but so we can create a healthier society.”
So don’t feel guilty about picking up that candle or scheduling a little “me-time” for a facial or manicure.
“Self-care is preventive care for our mental health,” says Grace
–Tricia Suit
Moving Ahead
Dress for Success Cincinnati, an organization devoted to empowering women, has plans for a new location and has just launched its first funding initiative, TransformHER. See how the campaign will assist with the relocation, enhance programs to support its clients, and ensure sustainability for the future.
On International Women’s Day, Dress for Success Cincinnati, an organization devoted to empowering women, announced plans for a new location and the launch of their $1.2 million TransformHER Campaign.
After a thorough and thoughtful search, Dress for Success decided to move to Norwood in June 2021. The new location will give the organization the opportunity to have its offices, styling boutique, clothing donation center, and resale boutique, Portaluca, together on one floor—instead of being spread out on multiple floors as is the case in their old location.
“While we were not eager to leave our current location and its favorable lease—especially during the pandemic,” says Lisa Nolan, executive director, “Our building was sold, and we had no choice.”
Dress for Success is renowned for providing interview attire to women returning to or entering the workforce. The organization’s work also includes a wide variety of workforce development programs that offer a lifetime of career support to women in the community.
To help raise funds for the relocation, Dress for Success has launched the TransformHER Campaign—the first funding campaign in its 22-year history. The goal is to raise $1.2 million of which the organization has so far raised $650,000. These funds are needed to relocate the organization to its new home, further develop programs to support its clients and ensure sustainability for the future.
The TransformHER Campaign icludes three parts
Moving to a large location that allows for cohesive programming and strategic growth
Setting up a Fund for the Future which can only be distributed at the Board of Directors' discretion for new opportunities, programs, and important growth
Building fundraising capacity by establishing a Major Gifts program and recruiting a development director
The three-pronged approach provides the foundation necessary to further help women out of poverty and achieve economic independence.
To learn more about the TransformHER campaign or to make a donation in support of the campaign, go to dfscincy.org/transformher.
Streaming Cincinnati
Sitting at home looking for something to watch? How about having your own Cincinnati movie marathon? From George Clooney and Robert Redford to Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett, the stars have made Cincinnati a leading motion picture destination.
Sitting at home looking for something to watch? How about having your own Cincinnati movie marathon? Cincinnati is once again voted as one of the top 10 destinations for movie makers, and this list proves it. From George Clooney and Robert Redford to Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett, the stars have made Cincinnati a leading motion picture destination.
“Times like these are about community,” said Kristen Schlotman, Film Cincinnati executive director. “Film Cincinnati and Game Day generated a list of movies shot in Cincinnati as both a way to escape, and find community.”
You can find a number of them streaming on digital right now. Here’s a list of the “made in Cincinnati” movies you can find streaming right now.
A Kind of Murder
Patrick Wilson and Jessica Biel star in this Hitchcockian noir based on a novel by Patricia Highsmith (The Talented Mr. Ripley, Carol). It's 1960 in Manhattan and Walter Stackhouse (Wilson) becomes obsessed with Marty Kimmel (Eddie Marsan), a man suspected of killing his wife. This brutal murder unlocks Walter's darkest fantasies – his desire to be free from his own wife. When she is found dead in suspicious circumstances the lines blur between innocence and intent.
📺 Available on Amazon Prime and iTunes
Carol
Academy Award® winner Cate Blanchett and Academy Award® nominee Rooney Mara star as two women in the 1950s from different backgrounds who find themselves in a life-changing love affair. Cincinnati doubles as midtown Manhattan and Todd Haynes directs.
📺 Available on Netflix and iTunes
Dark Waters
Inspired by a true Cincinnati story, an attorney (Mark Ruffalo) uncovers a dark secret connecting a growing number of unexplained deaths to one of the world’s largest corporations. Todd Haynes returns to Cincinnati to direct.
📺 Available on Hulu and Amazon Prime
Donnybrook
For struggling ex-Marine Earl, violent drug dealer Angus, and the haunted Delia, all roads lead to the Donnybrook: an illicit backwoods cage match where bare-knuckled fighters brawl for a shot at a $100,000 prize. Jamie Bell and Frank Grillo star.
📺 Available on Amazon Prime
Eight Men Out
John Cusack and Charlie Sheen are among the all-star cast for this 1988 drama based on the 1963 book Eight Men Out: The Black Sox and the 1919 World Series. The film is a dramatization of Major League Baseball's Black Sox Scandal, in which eight members of the Chicago White Sox conspired with gamblers to intentionally lose the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds.
📺 Available on Amazon Prime and iTunes
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile
Teen hunk Zac Efron slides seamlessly into the role of mass murderer Ted Bundy, with Lily Collins his unsuspecting (for most of the time) girlfriend. The Big Bang Theory’s Jim Parsons is chilling as the Florida prosecutor who brings Bundy to justice.
📺 Available on Netflix
Goat
After being assaulted, Brad Land (Ben Schnetzer) starts college ready to move on. His brother Brett (Nick Jonas) is in a fraternity that Brad wants to join, but Brett has concerns. While Brad pledges, each new humiliating event threatens to destroy their relationship.
📺 Available on Amazon Prime and iTunes
Gotti
John Travolta brings the true story of notorious mob leader John Gotti to the screen as head of one of the largest and most dangerous crime organizations in North America, the Gambino family. Travolta’s real-life wife, Kelly Preston, co-stars as Gotti’s wife.
📺 Available on Amazon Prime
Haunt (2019)
On Halloween, a group of friends visit an “extreme” haunted house that promises to feed their darkest fears. The night turns deadly as they realize that some terrors are real. From the writers of A Quiet Place, Katie Stevens, Will Brittain and Lauryn McClain star in this Northern Kentucky-shot feature.
📺 Available on Amazon Prime
Hillbilly Elegy
Glenn Close is still picking up award nods for her role in this made-from-a-book movie, based on J.D. Vance’s autobiography of growing up in Middletown.
📺 Available on Netflix
Lost in Yonkers
Neil Simon’s play hits the big screen as Richard Dreyfuss makes an early star turn in this feature where, in the summer of 1942, two young boys are sent to stay with their stern grandmother and their childlike aunt in Yonkers, New York.
📺 Available on Amazon Prime and iTunees
Marauders
One of many Bruce Willis movies shot in Cincinnati, Marauders follows an untraceable group of elite bank robbers who are chased by an FBI agent who uncovers a deeper conspiracy behind the robbery-homicides. Law & Order: Organized Crime star Christopher Meloni co-stars.
📺 Available on Netflix
Miles Ahead
Jazz legend Miles Davis and a music reporter embark on an adventure to recover a stolen tape of Davis’ latest compositions. Don Cheadle stars and directs.
📺 Available on Amazon Prime and Hulu
Milk Money
Frank Wheeler is only 12 years old but he’s determined to solve life’s biggest mystery, women! So he pools his piggy-bank money and heads for the big city. Ed Harris and Melanie Griffith star, Richard Benjamin directs.
📺 Available on Amazon Prime and iTunes
My Days of Mercy
After a female activist protesting the death penalty (Eliot Page) befriends a woman with opposing views (Kate Mara), they begin a passionate relationship that tests their beliefs and their values.
📺 Available on Amazon Prime and Hulu
Point Blank
Cincinnati native Johanna Byer is the producer behind this crime drama remake, and she brought the production back to her home town. The story centers on an emergency room nurse, Paul (Anthony Mackie), who saves the life of murder suspect Abe (Frank Grillo). However, Paul’s pregnant wife is kidnapped and in order to secure her release, he is ordered to help the murder suspect escape.
📺 Available on Netflix
Rain Man
Tom Cruise stars as an idealistic young wheeler-dealer whose life is changed forever when he discovers he has an autistic savant older brother (Dustin Hoffman) in a best actor Oscar®-winning performance.
📺 Available on Amazon Prime and Netflix
Seabiscuit
Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges and Chris Cooper star in this true story of three men—a jockey, a trainer and a businessman—and the racehorse who took the nation on the ride of a lifetime.
📺 Available on Amazon Prime and iTunes
Surviving Compton
This 2016 American biographical television drama film started life as “Girl From Compton” before changing titles for its Lifetime premiere. It is directed by Jackie Cooke and stars Rhyon Nicole Brown as Michel’e, Curtis Hamilton as Dre, and Jamie Kennedy as N.W.A.’s manager Jerry Heller. The film is based on the true story of R&B singer, Michel’e.
📺 Available on Amazon Prime
The Fits
A Sundance Film Festival favorite. While training at the gym, 11-year-old tomboy Toni becomes entranced with a dance troupe. As she struggles to fit in, she finds herself caught up in danger as the group begins to suffer from fainting spells and other violent seizures.
📺 Available on Amazon Prime and Hulu
The Ides of March
George Clooney returns to his home area to direct, write and star in the political thriller that rings eerily true to today’s headlines. An idealistic staffer for a new presidential candidate gets a crash course on dirty politics during his time on the campaign trail. When the movie came out in 2011, Clooney told The Hollywood Reporter the movie was inspired by his father Nick’s failed run for Kentucky’s 4th congressional seat.
📺 Available on Amazon Prime and iTunes
The Killing of a Sacred Deer
Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman star in this heart-stopping thriller about a surgeon whose family is terrorized by a depraved teenager determined to take revenge on the doctor for a fatal past mistake.
📺 Available on Netflix and Amazon Prime
The Old Man and the Gun
In what he says is his final acting role, Robert Redford stars as a gentlemanly geriatric bank robber whose heists are rivaled only by his prison breaks. Sissy Spacek co-stars.
📺 Available on Amazon Prime
The Public
On the coldest night of the year, a Cincinnati librarian is caught between a group of homeless patrons staging a sit-in and a face-off with the local police and media. Emilio Estevez writes, directs and stars.
📺 Available on Amazon Prime and Peacock
Traffic
Michael Douglas, Benicio Del Toro and Catherine Zeta-Jones lead this Steven Soderbergh thriller. A conservative judge is appointed by the President to spearhead America's escalating war against drugs, only to discover that his teenage daughter is a crack addict. Ironically, while watching scenes from Traffic being shot at her house, a young Johanna Byer got the movie bug and eventually produced the aforementioned Point Blank here in Cincinnati.
📺 Available on iTunes and Peacock
Bock to the Future
Enjoy a few images from Bockfest 2019 while you raise a glass, from a safe distance, to Spring! (And maybe a baby goat if you’re lucky enough to find one.)
Bockfest, Cincinnati’s annual celebration of Spring, the area’s brewing heritage and bock beer, returns for its 29th year, March 5-7. While you can enjoy bock beer at home and in bars and breweries around the area, one thing you won’t have a chance to see is Cincinnati’s G.O.A.T. parade. Due to the ongoing pandemic, organizers did not feel that they could provide a safe environment for the parade, Bockfest Hall, Sausage Queen, and other events.
So enjoy a few images from Bockfest 2019 while you raise a glass, from a safe distance, to Spring! (And maybe a baby goat if you’re lucky enough to find one.)
Dinner and a Movie, Home Edition
With everything else based in our living rooms these days, including work and school, FotoFocus is offering the chance to enjoy the tried-and-true date night staple, dinner and a movie, at home instead.
By Betsy Ross
With everything else based in our living rooms these days, including work and school, FotoFocus is offering the chance to enjoy the tried-and-true date night staple, dinner and a movie, at home instead.
SECOND SCREENS: Foodie edition is FotoFocus’ celebration of cinema that supports and promotes local dining as well. “We were trying to think of an innovative, interesting way to virtually engage folks to watch movies in their own home but also provide an interactive element to make the experience more fun,” C. Jacqueline Wood, film curator at large for FotoFocus said.
SECOND SCREENS started in January of last year as a monthly in-person screening series but when stay-at-home orders came down, switched to a drive-in format for the summer. This latest ideation keeps the movie and adds the food element while supporting two areas hardest hit by the pandemic: The arts and restaurants.
Each month from now until May the FotoFocus film series combines a classic movie with a local chef who will discuss the natural symbiotic relationship of film and food and suggest pairings. February’s movie is Big Night, as Chef Primo (Tony Shalhoub) and businessman Secondo (Stanley Tucci), immigrant brothers from Italy, open their dream restaurant in New Jersey. The featured chef is Chrissy Antenucci from The Wheel.
March features Spirited Away, an animated feature where 10-year-old Chihiro (Rumi Hiiragi) and her parents (Takashi Naitô, Yasuko Sawaguchi) stumble upon a seemingly abandoned amusement park. After her mother and father are turned into giant pigs, Chihiro meets the mysterious Haku (Miyu Irino), who explains that the park is a resort for supernatural beings who need a break from their time spent in the earthly realm, and that she must work there to free herself and her parents. Kiki’s chef Hideki Harada offers the pairings.
In April, the classic Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is paired with Frances Kroner of Sleepy Bee Café who will bring (what else) chocolate, and May features the French classic Amélie, a fanciful comedy about a young woman who discretely orchestrates the lives of the people around her. Jean-Robert de Cavel of French Crust, Le Bar a Boeuf and Frenchie Fresh has a selection of French sauces and dressings to pair.
FotoFocus offers downloadable recipes from the partner chefs, and each month the featured restaurant will offer a takeout item that complements the film.
For information on the movies and chef pairings, visit https://www.fotofocus.org/film/2021/second-screens-foodie-edition.
Summerfair Cincinnati Announces Emerging Artists Winners
Summerfair Cincinnati announces its winners for its annual Emerging Artists awards.
By: Betsy Ross
Summerfair Cincinnati, named as one of the top 50 America’s Best Art Fairs and top five in the Midwest, announces its winners for its annual Emerging Artists awards.
Betsy Ross talks with first place winner Nytaya Babbitt
First place winner is Nytaya Babbitt, studying illustration at the Art Academy of Cincinnati. Second place is Alex Macon, a multidisciplinary artist studying Fine Arts at the University of Cincinnati. Third is Matthew Nichols from Xavier University, a multimedia artist pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double concentration in drawing and sculpture.
In addition, the winner of the Jerry Bollen Scholarship Award is Elizabeth Butler of Thomas More University. Elizabeth is a senior, majoring in theatre and art.
“This year was a true example of the amazing lineup of young artists this area produces each year,” said Jayne Utter, managing director of Summerfair. “My thanks to Terri Kern and Pat Olding who did an exceptional job of choosing our winners from the nominees.”
The artists who were nominated for the award, by school, include:
Miami University, Anna Skalicki, Emma Wiersma
Thomas More University, Elizabeth Butler, Michael Thompson
Mt. St. Joseph University, Carissa Palazzolo, Kenesha Fowler, Trevor Theuerling
Northern Kentucky University, Jake Zastrow, Kailey Maggard, Travis Sparks
University of Cincinnati DAAP, Alex Macon, David Unthank, Margaux Lim
Xavier University, Bridget Walsh, Kate Fitzgerald, Matthew Nichols
Art Academy of Cincinnati, Katerina Skadberg, Krista Sheneman, Nytaya Babbitt, Trenton Buck
You can see the nominees’ work on line at: http://summerfair.org/emerging-artists-2021/
Growing as a Marketer can be a Queen’s Gambit
Thanks to the soon to be Emmy nominated Netflix show, chess is receiving its geek moment in the sun, but the strategy of chess can help as you create your marketing and communications kingdom for 2021.
Courtesy of Netflix
The Queen’s Gambit is widely known for two reasons.
It’s one of the oldest and most commonly played openings in the game of chess.
It’s a critically- and fan-acclaimed limited run series on Netflix.
Thanks to the soon to be Emmy nominated Netflix show, chess is receiving its geek moment in the sun, wearing heavily applied zinc oxide and a Fruit of the Loom t-shirt in the pool. Time will tell if chess can join billion-dollar nerd industries like comic books and eSports, but the strategy of chess can help as you create your marketing and communications kingdom for 2021.
As explained by Vidya Priya Rao, chess game pieces include a king (the brand you are charged with protecting), and a queen (the agile chief marketing officer who can move in many directions but needs a strategy before taking the leap). The bishops, rooks and knights are the many platforms from which we must choose. All move in unique ways, but all have limits as to how they best move. We all have knights we’d like to forget. And some we can’t remember.
No, the pawns are not your marketing team – and shame on you for thinking it. The pawns are the tools we use including white papers, websites, flyers, well-crafted emails and hand-written thank you notes. Played well, a pawn is of tremendous worth – just like your marketing team. Except for Bert. Can we leave him on furlough?
Knowing the rules and analyzing each move is only part of chess. It’s critical to also know yourself, your strengths and your weaknesses. By making the right moves, you can use your weaknesses to your advantage, luring your opponent into an area of the game where you are strongest.
Chess isn’t one big move. It’s a series of small steps on the way to checkmate. The same is true for your marketing plan. Calculated and tactical small moves can result in big wins.
As each chess player assesses next moves, there are rules - but the best players and marketers don’t necessarily consider the rules. Experience has woven best practices into their every thought and action so they can focus on the end game – results. In chess and business, you must continue to learn. You can trust that your competitors do.
Become a better player by surrounding yourself with the best (that’s what the Russians do). Network with the best, compete with the best, work for the best. Fill your marketing team with individuals who challenge you and who might someday replace you. Chess strategy also allows for the sacrifice of a game piece in order to make a winning move later in the game. Sometimes, you have to give up a pawn to protect the king.
Just like marketing, chess has players, winners, and losers. When you lose, learn from it so that you might win next time.
Chess also has draws. Draws are boring. Bert is boring. Don’t be like Bert.
Cincinnati Art Museum presents Frank Duveneck: American Master, the first comprehensive exhibition of the artist’s work in more than 30 years
The Cincinnati Art Museum will present a major re-evaluation of the work of Frank Duveneck, the most influential painter in Cincinnati history, from Dec. 18, 2020–March 28, 2021.
Image credit: Frank Duveneck (1848–1919), United States, He Lives by His Wits, 1878, oil on canvas, Collection of Gates Thornton Richards and Margaret Kyte Richards
The Cincinnati Art Museum will present a major re-evaluation of the work of Frank Duveneck, the most influential painter in Cincinnati history, from Dec. 18, 2020–March 28, 2021.
Through his brilliant and inspiring work as a painter and printmaker and as a charismatic teacher, Duveneck’s impact on the international art world of his time was substantial and enduring. More than 90 examples across media from the holdings of the museum, the leading repository of the Kentucky native’s work, and 35 pieces on loan from collections across the United States, will provide a fresh, in-depth look at this important artist.
Once Cincinnati’s most celebrated artist, Duveneck was born in Covington to Westphalian immigrants in 1848. He studied in Munich, Germany, where he became an influential teacher, and spent nearly two decades in Europe. His work reflected the impact not only of modern German art, as is widely acknowledged, but also French and Italian work. His paintings’ lack of finish and assertive brushwork parallel Impressionism, and his work as a printmaker positioned him centrally in the period’s etching revival.
A captivating educator of men and women, Duveneck counted John Henry Twachtman and Elizabeth Boott among his pupils and James Abbott McNeill Whistler among his collegial friends. Returning to the United States in 1888, Duveneck taught at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, where he became director of the faculty in 1905. As a mentor and esteemed advisor to collectors and the Cincinnati Art Museum staff, Duveneck’s impact on the Cincinnati art world remains unparalleled.
This is the first exhibition in 30 years to dive deep into Duveneck’s artistic development, his working methods, and the historical and social context of his subjects. Presenting abundant new research, the exhibition upends many common misconceptions and reveals the artist’s accomplishments across subjects and media, including oil paintings, drawings, watercolors, pastels, etchings, monotypes, and sculpture.
The paintings of streetwise kids and informal portraits for which he is renowned are accompanied by society portraits, Bavarian landscapes, Venetian harbor views, depictions of Italian city and country folk, renderings of the nude figure and more. A profusely illustrated catalogue published with D. Giles Ltd is available in the museum’s Gift Shop.
Dr. Julie Aronson, curator of American Paintings, Sculpture and Drawings at the Cincinnati Art Museum since 1999, has been working on the exhibition for several years.
“We are excited to celebrate Frank Duveneck with this exhibition that illuminates one of the unique strengths of the Cincinnati Art Museum’s collection: its deep concentration in the works of one of the towering figures of American art of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Side by side with our stunning Duveneck masterworks are key paintings on loan from across the country, presenting a fresh approach to the compelling story of one of our regional heroes. Duveneck’s bravura painting shines in this exhibition as never before!” said Aronson.
Duveneck: American Master was organized with the generous support of the Harold C. Schott Foundation. This exhibition is presented by Western & Southern and Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc., with additional support from the Wyeth Foundation for American Art, the Duveneck Association of the Cincinnati Art Museum, Mike and Sue West, and the Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation.
The exhibition will be on view in our Western & Southern galleries (G232 & G233). Tickets for the exhibition are free for members and will soon be available for purchase by the general public at the Cincinnati Art Museum front desk and online at cincinnatiartmuseum.org. Photography without flash is encouraged. On social media, use the hashtag #CAMDuveneck
Elsewhere in the museum, Duveneck will be celebrated with a free display, Grand Experiment in Italy: Etchings by Duveneck and His Students, from Dec. 5, 2020–April 4, 2021 (G213). Curated by Cincinnati Art Museum’s Curator of Prints Kristin Spangenberg, the special feature showcases 18 rare etchings by Duveneck and his students, including a trial proof of The Riva, a previously unrecorded early etching by the artist in 1880.
In addition, Duveneck’s art in the Cincinnati Wing has been freshly installed with More Duveneck! Paintings from the Vault, which presents 35 paintings by the artist from the museum’s renowned collection, hung salon-style in the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation Gallery (G110).
Cincinnati Art Museum reopens with fanfare thanks to Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra performance on June 20
The galleries of the Cincinnati Art Museum have sat silent for nearly 100 days. On June 20, with the trills of a trumpet, buzz of a bassoon and vibrations of a viola, a harmonious homecoming will be heralded outside of the building as visitors will once again be allowed back in.
The galleries of the Cincinnati Art Museum have sat silent for nearly 100 days. On June 20, with the trills of a trumpet, buzz of a bassoon and vibrations of a viola, a harmonious homecoming will be heralded outside of the building as visitors will once again be allowed back in.
The museum has been closed since March 14, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And although the museum provided online experiences and virtual content in the meantime, the chance to revisit the artwork in person is something to celebrate.
Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra (CCO) will ring in the museum’s reopening on Saturday, June 20 from 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. at the museum’s new Art Climb, at the corner of Gilbert Avenue and Eden Park Drive. Spanning a hill nearly as tall as Cincinnati’s Carew Tower, the Art Climb is the museum’s way to activate its grounds through casual and recreational art interactions outside the walls of the museum.
At various landings among the 164 steps, a variety of CCO small ensembles will perform including three quartets (strings, brass and winds) and a trumpet duo. While safely social distancing, visitors are encouraged to start at the bottom of the Art Climb and enjoy brief musical works as they make their way up and down the steps. There will be two full rotations up and down the steps over an hour and a half.
Those who wish to visit the museum before or after the performance are asked to reserve tickets at: cincinnatiartmuseum.org/visit. The Cincinnati Art Museum is taking many precautions to ensure that visitors have a safe visit, including increased cleaning, use of hospital-grade air filtration, posted signs and new policies and procedures.
“We are so excited to have something to celebrate. And the partnership between the museum and the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra is something we can toot our horn about,” said Russell Ihrig, Cincinnati Art Museum’s Associate Director of Interpretive Programming.
Cincinnati Art Museum Reopening
Public Hours
Saturday, June 20 from 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sunday, June 21 from 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Starting June 25: Thursdays from 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Fridays through Sundays, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Member Hours
Thursday, June 18 from 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
Friday, June 19, from 11 a.m.–5 p.m.,
Every Saturday and Sunday from 10–11 a.m.
Is fake news a real thing? Ask WLWT’s Ashley Kirklen
Whatever questions you have about broadcasting, journalism or TV news, here’s your opportunity to get answers from WLWT anchor and reporter, Ashley Kirklen.
How are stories chosen for television newscasts?
Why is there so much sadness and violence in the news?
Is fake news a real thing?
Whatever questions you have about broadcasting, journalism or TV news, here’s your opportunity to get answers from WLWT anchor and reporter, Ashley Kirklen.
The Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce welcomes Ms. Kirklen for Meet the Press, Jan. 27, 7-8 p.m. at the Chamber headquarters, 2303 Gilbert Avenue, Cincinnati. The event is free and open to the public.
Ms. Kirklen is originally from Indiana and holds a degree in communications from Indiana University. Her career has taken her to Georgia, Michigan and of course, the Tri-State region. Miss Kirklen also serves on the board of Cincinnati’s chapter of National Association of Black Journalists.
Before becoming a journalist, Ms. Kirklen was an educator in Charlotte and South Korea. Why South Korea? Ask for yourself – or ask other questions including how to share your story in the news at Meet the Press, Jan. 27. Learn more here.
Sara Vance Waddell is an art evangelist, spreading the gospel about the underappreciated female artist
When Sara Vance Waddell shows visitors around her art gallery/home in Indian Hill, it’s easy to see the passion with which she collects, displays and yes, gives her own personal audio tour of her collection. Rotated twice a year, the paintings, sculpture, performance art pieces and the like all showcase her favorite subject: The female artist.
By Betsy Ross, Contributing Writer
Photos and Videos by Madison Schmidt
When Sara Vance Waddell shows visitors around her art gallery/home in Indian Hill, it’s easy to see the passion with which she collects, displays and yes, gives her own personal audio tour of her collection. Rotated twice a year, the paintings, sculpture, performance art pieces and the like all showcase her favorite subject: The female artist.
Her passion to promote creative women has now become a new initiative for The Carnegie Art Gallery in Covington, part fundraiser and part educational program, and given her new opportunities at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
But it’s a long way, literally and figuratively, to the New York art scene from Sara’s birthplace in Ripley, Ohio, a journey she never envisioned.
With the exception of a few John Ruthven paintings that her mother enjoyed collecting, Sara didn’t grow up with art or visiting museums.
It wasn’t until she was hired as a media buyer for the Cincinnati Art Museum some two decades ago that art became part of her life.
“Going to the museum for meetings and walking through the Great Hall, walking through galleries and seeing the art, it did something to me. I can’t explain it, it just happened. And at that point I decided to start being philanthropic, and made a donation to the museum in memory of my mom.”
The donation led to invitations on both the Art Museum board and the board of the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC).
Having never been exposed to contemporary art, Sara was drawn to the variety of subject matter: Politics, sexual orientation, gender identity, for example.
“I collect difficult work,” says Sara. “I don’t have too many pieces of work where you go: ‘That’s so beautiful.’ I hear the words, ‘it’s powerful, it’s riveting, it makes you think.’”
She had a connected and smart guide to help her navigate the contemporary arts scene when she began collecting in the late 1990s. Thom Collins, who served as the chief curator of the CAC when the Zaha Hadid building opened in its current location, began introducing Sara to artists in Cincinnati and New York. Collins is a leading American museum director and currently serves as the president of the prestigious Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia.
While there is no formal database or list of art collectors focusing on female artists, Sara hopes her collection will inspire other collectors.
Collectors are competitive. So what’s her biggest ‘get’ so far in the collection?
Sara will quickly answer: “Carolee Schneemann’s Interior Scroll.”
According to an essay on the artist’s career: “Forty years ago on August 29, 1975, the thirty-six-year-old artist Carolee Schneemann pulled a scroll from her vagina. The performance, titled “Interior Scroll,” is an essential moment in performance art history, and an important milestone in the artist’s provocative and influential oeuvre.”
And what doesn’t she have that she’d like?
“Perhaps a (German-born American sculptor) Eva Hesse piece.”
Sara is a rarity in the art world, in that her focus is on female artists.
Which brings us to The Carnegie and the female-centric programming Sara is helping launch.
The “Art of She” was launched last week to support The Carnegie Gallery, an idea conceived by the Carnegie’s Katie Brass after a visit to Sara’s gallery. For $500 a year, the donor and a guest will be invited to two events each year focused on female artistic expression, which could range from visual arts, culinary arts or the occasional cocktail art.
The first event hosted by Sara in her gallery welcomed 50 guests who enjoyed a food demonstration by Chef Renee Schuler of Eat Well Celebrations and Feasts and a cocktail demonstration by Molly Wellmann of Wellmann Brands.
Interested in joining? Email Katie Brass at kbrass@thecarnegie.com.
Sara’s arts world is about to expand to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, again, with a focus on women artists.
Cincinnati now shares Sara’s heart and art with New York where she and her wife, Michelle, have a second home.
She actively loans her art to museums and galleries for exhibitions. Curators started to take notice of Sara’s private collection. One curator from MOMA took particular notice and sent Sara a letter inviting her to join an acquisition committee called the Modern Women’s Art Fund, revived to help the museum acquire works of art by women for the MOMA.
It’s an opportunity for Sara to help curate the next generation of acquisitions for MoMA’s female artist collection, something she thinks museums can do better.
Note to museums from Sara: “If there are museums that are acquiring women artists, I’d love to know about it because I’d be right there.”