Now and Forever
As the landmark building celebrates its 20th anniversary, we check in with Christina Vassallo, executive director of the Contemporary Arts Center.
2023 Annual Gala: 20 Years at the Center
Saturday, Oct. 7, 5 – 10 p.m.
Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St.
Keynote Speakers: Christina Vassallo & Charles Desmarais
Presentation Honoring the Rosenthal Family
Entertainment, benefit auction & exhibition viewing
10 p.m.| Official Gala Afterparty presented by Lightborne featuring immersive installations, a dance party, & cash bar
Click for tickets at more information.
Founded as a place to see “the art of the last five minutes,” the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) has brought cutting edge art works to Cincinnati for more than 80 years.
That perspective also applies to the CAC’s landmark Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art, which opened in 2003. The building was the first U.S. museum designed by a woman and architect Zaha Hadid’s first completed building in the U.S.
This weekend, the CAC celebrates the 20th anniversary of its landmark building.
Along with the gala, the CAC marks the occasion with A Permanent Nostalgia for Departure: A Rehearsal on Legacy with Zaha Hadid, a group exhibition that examines legacy through a collection of new commissions by an international roster of artists that proposes a take on Hadid’s practice and the CAC building itself. The exhibition, guest curated by Maite Borjabad López-Pastor, is on view through Jan. 28, 2024.
The exhibition also brings a selection of paintings and ephemera by Zaha Hadid that depict the unique aesthetic regime the architect created. These selections highlight the early stages of Hadid’s process, bringing back a vocabulary that preserves full potentiality to keep expanding.
On the Square
The Hyde Park Square Art Show is this Sunday! Janet Smith, one of the organizers, gives us the rundown on the largest one-day art show in Greater Cincinnati. You'll find fine artists from throughout the region and across the country exhibiting and selling their work along beautiful Hyde Park Square.
This Sunday, Oct. , the Hyde Park Square Art Show, brings nearly 200 artists to Edwards Road and Erie Avenue.
Launched in 1966, the Hyde Park Square Art Show has grown from the vision of two Hyde Park residents into a community-wide event that supports the arts and arts education throughout the year. Janet Smith, one of the show’s organizers, offers insights into this year’s shows.
One of Cincinnati’s oldest and most well-respected art shows, features more than 200 fine artists from throughout Greater Cincinnati and across the country, exhibiting and selling works in a wide variety of mediums, including painting, photography, glass, jewelry, wood, fiber/leather, and ceramics.The art show draws more than 3,000 attendees each year.
Wall-to-Wall
Paint the town red (and pink, blue, and green) at Art Off the Walls, ArtWorks’ fall fundraiser at TQL Stadium, on Sept. 30.
Love Cincinnati’s murals? Then you need to be at this event!
Art Off the Walls: Kick It in the West End
Saturday, Sept. 30, 6 – 10 p.m.
The First Financial Club at TQL Stadium
1501 Central Parkway
Get tickets at www.artworkscincinnati.org. Tickets will be available at the door.
ArtWorks, Cincinnati’s regional leader in public art is hosting an event “to embrace art for all” at Art Off the Walls: Kick It in the West End.
This celebration of creativity will support ArtWorks’ monumental murals, the artists who make them possible, and its mission to create community-based public art that provides career opportunities for artists of all ages.
This year marks the second annual fundraising event with the “Art Off the Walls” theme. Each year, Art Off the Walls celebrates a new neighborhood where ArtWorks and community partners have made a significant investment in public art and job creation. Following last year’s “Let’s Get Campy” event in Camp Washington, the 2023 event will give guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich history and excitement of the historic West End.
“This neighborhood has been a source of inspiration for numerous citizens and artists across the region,” ArtWorks officials say.
Additionally, they say ArtWorks has produced more than 10 large-scale public murals in the West End. The enduring legacies of West End legends Ezzard Charles and Mamie Smith come alive through captivating ArtWorks murals. Ezzard Charles: The Cincinnati Cobra, designed by Jason Snell made its debut in OTR in 2015. Similarly, the Dreaming Blues mural, featuring the iconic Mamie Smith, was the result of Julia Bottoms’ artistic vision.
The ArtWorks murals and public art across the West End will play a significant role in shaping the essence of the evening to create an unforgettable art event.
“Your support of this event helps our city come to life,” said Kim Hoeting, event chair, along with her husband, Mike Hoeting.
“ArtWorks creates opportunities for talented artists and apprentices throughout our region, connecting up-and-coming artists with seasoned creatives to produce one-of-a-kind pieces for all to enjoy. We love that the citywide murals are not only beautiful to look at, but tell important stories about life, history and principles we should all strive to live by,” Hoeting said.
Building Blocks
The Contemporary Arts Center marks the 20th anniversary of its landmark building with the exhibition A Permanent Nostalgia for Departure.
Cincinnati has a wealth of historic buildings, with architectural styles that track the history of the city, from Gilded Age mansions to Art Deco marvels and Modernist structures. But when the the Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art opened in 2003, it created a sensation around the world, hailed by The New York Times as "the most important American building to be completed since the end of the cold war.”
This year, as the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) celebrates the 20th anniversary of its Zaha Hadid-designed building, the CAC marks the occasion with A Permanent Nostalgia for Departure: A Rehearsal on Legacy with Zaha Hadid, a group exhibition that examines legacy through a collection of new commissions by an international roster of artists that proposes a take on Hadid’s practice and the CAC building itself.
The exhibition, guest curated by Maite Borjabad López-Pastor, opens Friday, Sept. 22.
“Zaha Hadid’s iconic design of our building is a symbol of innovation and creativity, and it embodies our mission as an incubator for creative expression in the Cincinnati community and beyond,” said Executive Director of the CAC, Christina Vassallo. “It only seems fitting to celebrate Hadid’s visionary work as an artist by asking a new generation of artists to reflect and respond to the impact she made throughout her life and how her ideas continue to live on and inspire us all.”
Through site-specific and all new commissioned works, the exhibition reflects upon the ideas of distance in time, history, cultural background, and landscapes, and how a legacy can become a passageway for these ideas. Ranging in a diverse set of media that crosses sculpture, installation, textiles, sound, video, or performance and with multiple cultural backgrounds and practices, participating artists include Rand Abdul Jabbar (b. Baghdad, 1990, currently lives and works in Abu Dhabi), Khyam Allami (b. Damascus, 1981, currently lives and works in Berlin), Emii Alrai (b. Blackpool, 1993, currently lives and works in Leeds), Hera Büyüktaşcıyan (b. Istanbul, 1984), Andrea Canepa (b. Lima, 1980, currently lives and works in Berlin), Dima Srouji (b. Nazareth, 1990, currently lives and works in London) and Hamed Bukhamseen (b. Kuwait City, 1991) and Ali Ismail Karimi (b. Manama, 1989) as founders of Civil Architecture Studio.
Each artist takes a Hadid tenet or structure as inspiration, and reimagines and explores its concepts through different media and approaches ranging from disciplinary architectural revisions to personal stories and encounters.
The commissioned works include
Deriving from a childhood photograph of Zaha Hadid, a cascading form made of carpet by Hera Büyüktaşcıyan weaves connections with the artist’s own childhood through resurfacing waves of urban traces on uncanny foundations. While the piece flows across the “Urban Carpet,” a key element of the CAC’s building that Zaha intended to be a seamless connection between the museum and the street it sits on, it reimagines the idea of the ground as an accumulation of time and memory;
A textile work by Andrea Canepa in which the artist wraps the gallery spaces of the building and subverts its geometry, creating a perceptual visual game that challenges a unique understanding of the space. As in Zaha’s paintings, lines, surfaces, and volumes stop existing in their corresponding logics of one dimension, two dimensions, and three dimensions, and start to merge, breaking the logics of perception and representation;
A photography and rammed earth sculptural installation by Rand Abdul Jabbar takes a point of departure from Hadid's graduation project, Malevich’s Tektonik (1977), treating it as Zaha’s foundational intellectual offering, like a manifesto. Malevich’s Tektonik provides an opportunity to build on a cycle of referential gestures, tracing the emergence of the concept of a tektonik through its origins and exploring it as a proposition for a series of elemental units which gesture at the act of building from the earth itself, bringing into the galleries Cincinnati’s soil;
A spatial sound installation by Khyam Allami that is generated from the architectural proportions and divisions of the CAC building. Khyam’s installation renders visible not only the sonic nature of the space but also the organizational logic from which the building is drafted;
A video and sculptural installation by Dima Srouji that examines three cities that connect through Zaha’s life: Baghdad, Beirut, and Cincinnati. This points out how the constant state of displacement that Zaha has referenced as somehow liberating, is undoubtedly simultaneously a state of dismemberment;
A restaging of Hadid’s exhibition design for a Russian avant-garde art constructivist show at the Guggenheim serves Civil Architecture (Ali Karimi and Hamed Bukhamseen) as a backdrop to speculate how a retrospective would look like if Zaha Hadid would to be discussed within the lineage of Iraqi architects Mohamed Makiya and Rifat Chadirji;
A fully immersive installation by Emii Alrai that points out how Zaha Hadid talks about the ability of the CAC to carve strange aggregate spaces by nesting one thing inside another. In such a way, Alrai’s installation fully reconfigures the space, its materiality, and the ritual path across it, using the gallery space almost as an archeological dig.
“Each of the new commissioned works by the contributing artists is an exercise to mobilize knowledge that departs from Zaha Hadid and evolves towards the unknown of the provocation. These works resist the idea of a retrospective or monographic traditional exhibition, and with it a monolithic narrative on the architect’s practice,” said Borjabad.
As the curator highlights, this multi-layered exhibition challenges what legacy means and examines the possibilities of actively engaging with the outcome of a creative action. A drawing, a painting, a building, a text, or an idea—once emancipated from the author—opens up a constantly evolving range of questions, meanings, and concepts that continue to generate an ecosystem of knowledge. This exhibition is a take on architectural legacy that transcends a monolithic approach and uses Hadid’s architectural thinking as a source of knowledge that can be activated, transferred, and evolved.
The exhibition also brings a selection of paintings and ephemera by Zaha Hadid that depict the unique aesthetic regime the architect created. These selections highlight the early stages of Hadid’s process, bringing back a vocabulary that preserves full potentiality to keep expanding.
Go with the Flow
ArtsWave introduces the Flow Pass, a cross-venue subscription series for unique, Black-centered arts events throughout the year.
Flow Pass subscribers enjoy five all-inclusive nights of theater, dance and art plus popular Flow Social parties.
Cost: $185, subscribers receive $50 off their second pass when they bring a friend.
More information at artswave.org/flow.
Enjoying a variety of arts experiences all year long just got easier –and more economical – thanks to ArtsWave.
With the new Flow Pass, subscribers will have access to five unique, Black-centered events during the the 2023-2024 season of Flow, An African American Arts Experience. Orders placed before Sept. 30 receive a limited-edition print of “Acts of Holding Dance,” by BLINK 2022 artist Wendi Yu with Elementz.
“Our opportunity is to continue building an audience who appreciates the various expressions of Black art,” said Flow’s Co-Chair Mel Gravely. “In the end, we hope to cultivate a culturally curious and racially diverse audience that will create a level of demand that enables more and more Black artists to sustain, thrive and inspire. An audience that is ready and willing to connect with rhythm, vibe and yes, the flow of Black artists that may have been unfamiliar to them.”
The inaugural season of the Flow Pass, presented by Fifth Third Bank, kicks off Oct. 20 at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s new Rouse Theater. Following the Flow Social pre-show reception, subscribers will enjoy premium seating at “Clyde’s,” a dramedy about a group of people recently released from prison who find redemption and purpose through the art of sandwich-making. The show is written by two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning African American playwright Lynn Nottage and directed by Timothy Douglas.
From Feb. 8 through 10, 2024, Flow Pass subscribers will enjoy exclusive access to “African American Modernism” at the Taft Museum of Art, which features more than 60 dynamic and vivid works of art created in African during the 1950s and ‘60s, which challenge the assumptions of the time about African arts being isolated to a “primitive past.” The exhibition will be preceded by a choice of cocktails or brunch, depending on the date chosen, before experiencing the exhibition.
Flow Pass subscribers will enjoy August Wilson’s “How I Learned What I Learned” at Ensemble Theater on Feb. 16 and 17. This autobiographical tour-de-force charts Wilson’s journey of self-discovery and what it means to be a Black Artist in America. The production is directed by well-known local theater artist Torie Wiggins. A Flow Social will be held before the performance.
On April 5, Flow Pass subscribers will celebrate at Lempicka by Jeff Ruby with a pre-concert dinner-by-the-bite and champagne toast, followed by Cincinnati Ballet’s “Mercurial Landscapes” at the Aronoff Center. The mixed-bill program features four dynamic contemporary works and includes new choreography by Rena Butler of New York’s Gibney Dance Company, with costumes by Cincinnati’s own designer-for-the-stars and recipient of a 2023 ArtsWave Black & Brown Artist Commission, Asha Ama Daniels.
The final Flow Pass event of the season is an exclusive, inspiring conversation with conceptual artist Charles Gaines on his monumental project, ‘The American Manifest’ coming to Cincinnati in the spring. The project, called one of the most consequential works of public art of the century, consists of “Moving Chains,” a massive outdoor art installation; a second installation of “Roots” coming to the Cincinnati Art Museum; and an original musical composition, “Manifestos Four,” to be performed by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
Flow, An African American Arts Experience began in 2020 as a quarterly performance series featuring renowned Black artists and ensembles from around the country and close to home, working in various disciplines. The series is presented by ArtsWave, the region’s engine for the arts, with support from area businesses, foundations and individuals and with guidance from a steering committee comprised of representatives from the region’s top corporations.
Flow supports and promotes professional, evocative African American artists. The goal for the series is to attract a highly diverse, culturally adventurous audience and create a shared and elevated appreciation for artists of color. Flow complements and expands the region’s existing inventory of multicultural experiences offered by local arts organizations. ArtsWave President & CEO Alecia Kintner explains, “The new Flow Pass is first-of-its-kind in the region, bringing a core audience together to enjoy Black-centered arts created and presented by local and national partners.”
Walking Tall
Little Amal, a puppet on a trip across America, brings her message of hope to Cincinnati.
Cincinnati prides itself as a city of immigrants, celebrating its diverse communities and their rich histories with festivals, music, and art.
These elements combine for a special visit next week from Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl who has traveled across 13 countries meeting more than a million people and watched by tens of millions more online. Her story celebrates the rich stories of refugees, immigrants, and displaced people, and the communities that welcome them
The Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra (CCO) in partnership with Cincinnati Compass and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, is bringing Little Amal to downtown Cincinnati on Friday, Sept. 22 from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Upcoming Workshops with Little Ama
Cincinnati Hamilton County Public Library
Saturday, Sept. 16 | 12:30-2 p.m.
Price Hill Branch, 970 Purcell Ave,
The program will consist of a story time and then a Zine making workshop led by Zinecinnati. The story is by Rojina Rai, “I Choose to be Courageous”. Rojina is one of Dr. Kate Currie’s students from Aiken who participated in the Illustrated Memoirs Project which are stories written and illustrated by young local refugees about their journeys here. Ren from Zinecinnati will choose one or two words or themes from Rojina’s story and lead teens and tweens in a Zine making workshop.
Ignite Peace/Immigrant and Refugee Law Center
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 6:30-8 p.m
Forest Chapel United Methodist Church
680 W. Sharon Road
Seeking Safety in Cincinnati. There is much to learn and understand about how immigration issues uniquely affect our community. Participants will learn the basics of how the U.S. immigration system works, hear about our asylum system and how it affects real people who now live in the Cincinnati area, and play an interactive board game simulating the immigrant experience.
Baker Hunt Arts & Cultural Center
Wednesday, Sept. 20, 5:30-6:30 p.m. or 6:45-7:45 p.m.
Baker Hunt, 20 Greenup St, Covington
Join Baker Hunt for a puppet making workshop to welcome Little Amal! People walking with Little Amal are encouraged to bring a companion for her, so they immediately thought of Sheppy! Sheppy was the companion to Baker Hunt’s founder Margaretta Baker Hunt. Receive step-by-step instructions on making this adorable dog puppet, or enjoy their puppet making station.
Ignite Peace/Immigrant and Refugee Law Center
Thursday, Sept. 21, 6:30-8 p.m.
Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church
103 William Howard Taft Road
Seeking Safety in Cincinnati. There is much to learn and understand about how immigration issues uniquely affect our community. Participants will learn the basics of how the U.S. immigration system works, hear about our asylum system and how it affects real people who now live in the Cincinnati area, and play an interactive board game simulating the immigrant experience
This fall, Little Amal is making a journey of 6,000 miles across the United States in one of the largest free public festivals ever created – from Boston to San Diego, 35 towns and cities and more than 1,000 artists and arts organizations will create 100+ events to welcome her. Amal Walks Across America is produced by The Walk Productions in association with Handspring Puppet Company.
“Migration is key to human history. Cincinnati's location on the Ohio River was a symbol of hope, safety, and freedom for enslaved persons in the 19th century,” says CCO Associate Conductor Daniel Parsley. “Following Amal’s journey across the Ohio River, the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra (CCO) will present a concert of hope for Amal.”
The concert will also feature Little Miami Select Choirs, Northern Kentucky University Choirs, and Thomas More University Choral Activities. The Well is commissioning local composer Sonia Morales-Matos to write a new piece for the occasion.
A number of artistic partners are hosting workshops leading up to the event, including ArtsWave, The Carnegie, Cincinnati Arts Association, Cincinnati Hamilton County Public Library, Contemporary Arts Center, Findlay Market, Hellmann Creative Center, ish, Kennedy Heights Art Center, Learning Through Art, Inc., and Wave Pool.
“Cincinnati continues to shine as a nationwide leader in the arts as evidenced by the vast number of partners engaged in this community-wide project,” says CCO Executive Director Evan Gidley. “Hosting Little Amal is an honor, and we are proud to serve as a leader in the music industry when it comes to using our artform to have a direct, positive impact on members of our community.”
To celebrate The Well’s partnership with the CCO and the arrival of Little Amal (which means hope in Arabic), The Well commissioned composer Sonia Morales-Matos to spend time with area refugee and immigrant families this summer in order to weave their hopes, dreams and resilience into a new three-minute piece of music. This new work will premiere the week preceding Little Amal's arrival as a listening experience for the more than 50,000 youth who participate in The Well’s “Mindful Music Moments” as well as a gift to Little Amal.
Swing Time
Make a trip back in time at Cincinnati Museum Center's1940s Day! See classic cars, enjoy music of the era, join a costume contest, and learn about the important role Union Terminal, and Cincinnati, played in American history. It will be the living end!
*extreme old-timey announcer voice*
“Travel back to those thrilling days of yesteryear…learn a little something about your city…your country…and maybe yourself…”
1940s Day
Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
Saturday, August 26, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Schedule
10 a.m.: Fortune cookie making demonstration
10 – 11:30 a.m.: Kenner Toys display and discussion
10 a.m. – noon: Ezzard Charles history program
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Vintage newsreels
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.: History of vintage radio shows with Curator of Photographs, Prints & Media
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Vintage radio display with Curator of History Objects and Fine Art
11 a.m.: Costume contest
11 a.m.: Broadcast to the Past stage show
11:45 a.m.: Queen City Sisters performance
Noon: Tri-State Warbirds Flyover (weather-permitting)
Noon – 1:30 p.m.: Victory Garden poster activity
12:30 p.m.: Daniel Bennett & The Dirty Shirleys performance
1 p.m.: Dr. Al Miller’s story, Holocaust survivor
1 p.m.: Broadcast to the Past stage show
1:30 p.m.: Al & Mary’s “Sentimental Journey” – Popular songs of WWII
2:30 p.m.": Dolores Raye Sings performance
2:30 p.m. : A-Marika Dance Company performance
3 – 5 p.m.:1940s Day-themed art activity
3 p.m.: 1940s Dance Party
3:30 p.m.: Jazz Renaissance performance
Visit cincymuseum.org/1940sday for more information.
Cincinnati Museum Center’s 1940s Day returns this Saturday, Aug. 26 at historic Union Terminal, with its art deco architecture creating the perfect setting!
Inside and outside the historic train station, visitors will be immersed you in a celebration of the music, fashion, cars and people of the era. 1940s Day includes live big band music, dancing, a classic car show, a costume contest and more.
For a building that played such an active role in the decade, 1940s Day is like a homecoming for the Art Deco icon. Union Terminal buzzed with activity as World War II created evermore traffic through the station. During the war, over three million American troops traveled through Union Terminal, nearly a fifth of the nation’s soldiers who served. To offer troops traveling from across the country the comforts of home, the nation’s first USO Troops-in-Transit lounged opened in Union Terminal in the space that is now the Rookwood Ice Cream Parlor. The lounge offered service to all troops, regardless of race, at a time when much of the country was still segregated.
Troops not only shipped off through Union Terminal, many also returned there to joyful reunions, including Holocaust survivors who began their new lives in Cincinnati. Partners from the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center will participate, offering perspective on a dark moment in humanity’s history and sharing those stories of hope, resilience, and revival.
“Union Terminal was built and opened in the 1930s but it really shined in the 1940s,” said Elizabeth Pierce, president & CEO of Cincinnati Museum Center. “Our annual 1940s Day event is an opportunity to relive those moments and those memories ingrained in these walls, to learn about this moment in history in a vibrant way and to enjoy a bit of Union Terminal’s younger days.”
Ready to Ride
Kings Island toExpand Award-Winning Kids’ Area with New Family Boomerang Coasterand Immersive Camp Snoopy Area in 2024MASON, OH–There will be more ways to playin 2024asKings Island expands its award-winning kids’ areawith the addition of a new adventure play space, Camp Snoopy, featuring the park's newest roller coaster,Snoopy’s SoapBoxRacers. It will be the amusement park's first family boomerang coaster, thatracesridersboth forward and backward on the same track.With the addition of Snoopy's SoapBox Racers, Kings Islandwill become the Kids Coaster Capital of the World, offering five different coaster experiences for future thrillseekers.Snoopy’s SoapBox Racers takes the classic fun of a soapbox racing derby to a whole new level as bothparents and kids climb aboardtheir favoritePeanuts-decoratedsoapbox coaster carand are hoistedup a 70-foot hillto the starting line. As Snoopy wavesthecheckered flag,riders will be released andlaunchedforwardonto atrackfull of exhilarating twists and turns, passing the camp lookout station, racing toward the finishlineup ahead. And,justasthey think they are about to cross it,the entire train of soapbox carswill rollbackward, traversing the same course, now in reverse!In addition to the new coaster,kids of all ages will have a chance to become full-fledgedmembersof theBeagle Scoutsat Camp Snoopy.Beagle Scout Acres,the official headquarters of the troop, will provide moreoutdoor summercamp funand activities.In this new shaded, nature-themedplay area, kids and their familieswill be able to exploreand play on their ownamongturfed mounds and grassy areas, filledwithcampingequipment to play in, climb over and through.Parents can sit back and relax and enjoy a snack while the kidstake part in hosted‘Camptivities’ledby the Peanuts gangthroughout the day. Eager Beagle Scouts canalsowork to earn merit badges for sharing, working together, trying new thingsandhelping someone in need.Construction on Camp Snoopy,includingthe coaster and Beagle Scout Acres,will begin this fall.
Live and Learn
Freedom Center has free admission Sunday for 5/3 Community Day.
2023 Fifth Third Community Days
Sept. 10*
Oct. 8*
Oct. 29
Nov.19
Dec. 3*
Dec. 31
*Dates adjusted due to Bengals home game.
Admission is FREE. Fifth Third Community Days are made possible through the generous support of the Fifth Third Foundation.
More at freedomcenter.org/53-community-days.
As a center for learning and inclusion, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center helps both shape and reflect our community. Its exhibitions and programs are designed to challenge and inspire audiences.
“Our Fifth Third Community Days can be transformative for our community,” says Woody Keown, Jr. president and CEO of the Freedom Center. “Museums have the power to shape and reflect their communities, making organizations like the Freedom Center community anchors and conveners of dialogue. The Freedom Center creates a collective heritage, a more complete history that unites our local and national community, and access to it equips a new generation of freedom seekers and advocates with the education and resources needed to make positive personal and collective impact. Our goal is to create more advocates for equity and bring about meaningful social justice change by inspiring future generations of freedom seekers.”
As part of this Sunday’s Community Day, ArtWorks is bringing their New Monuments Initiative to the Freedom Center. Through the Civic Arts Studio, guests are invited to share the ideas, values, or individuals that should be honored and remembered, through several creative activities and public dialogue.
The New Monuments initiative aims to reimagine and rebuild commemorative spaces that celebrate and affirm the historical contributions of the many diverse communities that make up the United States. Through this work, ArtWorks plans to host public dialogue and reflection and recenter voices, stories, and narratives to include those who have often been denied historical recognition to inform the creation of new monuments in Cincinnati.
Schedule
Artist Brent Billingsley
10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | Grand Hall, 2nd floor
Stop by and flex your creativity with local artist Brent Billingsley.
The Chicago Footwork Experience: Liberation Through Dance
1–3 p.m. | Harriet Tubman Theater
Dr. ShaDawn “Boobie” Battle of Xavier University and dancers Prince Jron and Christopher “MadDog” Thomas offer interactive demonstrations that share the history and liberatory potential of Chicago Footwork – specifically its relationship to housing injustice and the carceral state.
Note: Guests should enter at the Rosa Parks Street Entrance.
Information Table: College and Career Coaching, LLC
12–4 p.m. | 3rd floor
Meet Bernard “Coach B” Caldwell, owner of College and Career Coaching, LLC. Learn more about the tools and resources available for students to achieve their college or career goals.
Information Table: Epilepsy Alliance Ohio
12–4 p.m. | 3rd floor
Learn about Epilepsy Alliance Ohio, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting those impacted by epilepsy and providing direct services to optimize each person’s understanding of epilepsy.
ArtWorks' Civic Studio
12–4 p.m. | 3rd floor
ArtWorks' Civic Studio invites guests to engage with The New Monuments Initiative, through several creative activities.
They will be joined by Cincinnati Girls Rock Summer Camp, focused on focused on using creative arts as a vehicle for social change, and opportunities to build skills in instrumental music, vocals, songwriting, and visual arts for girls and gender-expansive youth ages 12-18.
Artist Brent Billingsley
10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | Grand Hall, 2nd floor
Stop by and flex your creativity with local artist Brent Billingsley.
Launched last year, Fifth Third Community Days are held on the fifth and third Sunday of each month, along with MLK Day and Juneteenth. By providing free access to their galleries, the Freedom Center is empowering a new generation of freedom seekers and advocates with the education and resources needed to make positive personal and collective impact.
Fifth Third Community Days are made possible through the generous support of the Fifth Third Foundation.
Never Go Out of Style
Get the look at Art of Fashion at Behringer Crawford Museum
The Art of Fashion: Fay Applegarth Maddux
Closes Aug 20
Behringer-Crawford Museum
1600 Montague Road-Devou Park, Covington
Open: Tuesday-Saturday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday: 1–5 p.m.
Admission is free for BCM members, $9 for adults, $8 for seniors 60+ and $5 for children. Parking is free.
If the cooler temps and back-to-school shopping have you in the mood for Fall fashion, plan a trip to the Behringer-Crawford Museum to explore the work of a Northern Kentucky fashionista.
The Art of Fashion: Fay Applegarth Maddux features one-of-a-kind illustrations by the artist, used to advertise clothing and accessories in local newspapers from 1945 to 1965.
The elaborate drawings in The Art of Fashion were used for Reeds of Hyde Park, McAlpin's, Mabley & Carew, Pogue's, Shillito's, Tall Fashions, Macperth Sportswear, and more local shops. The works are more than advertisements, demonstrating Maddux’s excellent eye and talent for storytelling that gave her work a quality that engaged the viewer and made her a favorite of advertisers.
Working from her home into the late hours of the night, Maddux pursued her art, despite the demands of motherhood, home management, and a cultural environment of women not earning their own wages.
The Art of Fashion also includes dresses, coats, hats and haute couture from the era. Exhibition closes Sunday, Aug. 20.
Step Outside
Don't miss the CMF Outdoor Museum in Washington Park from ArtsWave.
This year’s Cincinnati Music Festival (CMF) honored the 50th anniversary of hip hop. That theme carried over into the CMF Outdoor Museum, with works inspired by “For All Life’s Beats: A Celebration of 50 Years of Hip-Hop,” on display in Washington Park through Aug. 10.
The CMF Outdoor Museum kicked off on Friday, July 14 in Washington Park, with artists creating works, drawing inspiration from the culture and music of hip-hop. Nine of the ten artists are new to exhibiting in the museum, and includes regional artists and work by those from from Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus and Dayton.
The artists created their artwork live in the park capturing the legacy of 50 years of hip-hop. The finished works are currently on display in Washington Park and will be moved to a seasonal location at Court Street Plaza, through partnership with 3CDC.
Learn more about the participating artists at artswave.org/cmf.. The CMF Outdoor Museum is sponsored by P&G, Kroger, and ArtsWave.
Honor Roll
BLINK Oasis by Chroma Projects recognized by the CODAawards.
BLINK is an incredible achievement for the region, but some of the works in the 2022 light and art festival have garnered international acclaim.
CODAworx, which recognizes the 100 most successful projects that integrate commissioned art into an interior, architectural or public space with its CODAawards, selected “BLINK OASIS” among its honorees.
Described as a “remarkable space (that) offers exciting installations such as a mural + projection mapping,” we featured the artists, Matt Dayler and Danny Gamble, in October 2022.
The project was also eligible for a People’s Choice Award, with the winners announced next month. But they are already winners in our book!
Down to Earth
New exhibition opens from Amelia Key and ArtWorks apprentices at V2 Gallery.
If You Go
Matter Matters Opening
Friday, July 28, 5–7 p.m.
ArtWorks V2 Gallery
929 E McMillan St.
Artist talk at 5:30 p.m.
Registration requested but not required.
Exhibition continues through Sept. 15.
Hundreds of colorful straws assembled into an abstract arrangement. Fifty pool noodles arranged on a wall to create a dynamic sculpture. Artist Amelia Key elevates and transforms ordinary objects into beautiful creations by composing collections of everyday ephemera into artworks.
“My work delves into themes of transformation, potential, and wonder,” Key said. “I am fascinated by the interplay between chaos and order, our innate desire for control, the pursuit of resolution, and the tendency to overcomplicate our thoughts.”
Over the last month, ArtWorks has welcomed this innovative artist and a group of artists, ages 16 – 24, into the gallery as part of its master class program that gives learning artists a chance to study the materials and methods of professional artists to inform the creation of their own unique works of art. The works are available for sale during the exhibition, with proceeds going directly to the artists.
Key and the group of artists worked hard to create a meaningful dialogue about plastic, waste, the environment, and the intricate relationship between materials and concepts. Materials used in the works on view came from a variety of sources, including the Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub, LaSoupe, SIGHT Eyecare and Eyewear in Wyoming, and individual donations.
“As I navigate the world and seek a sense of belonging, I explore connections and relationships between disparate objects – both literal and aesthetic,” Key says. “Through the exploration of color and repetition, these objects transcend their original purpose, transforming the mundane into something magical.”
Key hails from Dothan, Alabama, and holds a B.A. in art from Belhaven University. Her artistic journey has taken her across the Southeast, exhibiting her work in prestigious venues such as the Arkansas Arts Center (now the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts) in Little Rock, the Wiregrass Museum of Art in Dothan for the 2018 Wiregrass Biennial, and the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson for the 2019 Mississippi Invitational. Key's passion for her craft led her to pursue graduate studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, where she received a TAMU-CC Sage Fellowship and was selected as one of the Mid-South Sculpture Alliance's 2022 Dianne Komminsk Scholarship recipients. She created a captivating public art installation featuring 16 suspended sculptures for the TAMU-CC Performing Arts Center. Currently, Amelia is preparing to complete her MFA at the University of Oklahoma in Fall 2023.
The ArtWorks V² Gallery focuses on emerging artists. Inspired by ArtWorks’ apprentice program, learning artists have the chance to take part in a master class program to study the tools and techniques of lead artists and create their own individual works of art to exhibit. This gallery is made possible through the generosity of V², also known as Vandell Verdona, a collaboration between longtime ArtWorks supporters Sara and Michelle Vance Waddell and Ron Houck and David Nebel.
Say It Loud
The Deele, James Brown, Philippé Wynne, and Louise Shropshire join the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame on Saturday.
What began as an idea just two years ago, the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame officially opens this Saturday at noon.
Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame
Grand Opening & 2023 Induction Ceremony
Saturday, July 22, 12 p.m.
Next to the Andrew J Brady Center
25 Race St.
The 2023 Induction Ceremony honors
The Deele
James Brown
Philippé Wynne
Louise Shropshire
With a special celebration performance by The Ohio Players.
In April 2021, Hamilton County Commissioner Alicia Reece introduced the idea, calling for a way to celebrate the legacy and untold stories of music artists, songwriters, producers, and musicians from Cincinnati, Hamilton County, and Southwest Ohio. That July, the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners agreed to create an international state-of-the-art, outdoor interactive permanent tourism attraction and exciting music corridor on the banks of the Ohio River.
“From a gravel lot covered with rocks to becoming one of the greatest world-renowned outdoor Black music tourism attractions is historic,” said Reece. “Through the interactive elements and use of the latest technology, we will connect our rich black music legacy as inspiration to the generations of future music legends to come.”
Finding Connection
ArtsWave presents their annual showcase by the region’s leading Black and Brown artists.
The third annual Truth & Healing visual art exhibition at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center’s Skirball Gallery, features works by recipients of ArtsWave’s Black and Brown Artist Program.
This year’s showcase focuses on the themes of healing, rebirth and reconnecting. Projects explore and respond to current issues of equity in health and race, and examine the path from historic inequalities to a more just future.
Included in the exhibition are:
“AGAPE” by Asha Ama – “AGAPE” is a couture collection of men’s and womenswear, exploring gender fluidity and Black people’s intentional separation in relation to our unique ability to possess agape love. The world has strategically broken down our connection to our own identity and each other, and yet, Black people still find ways to dream, find each other and love, it’s in our blood. We are the survivors of those that chose to survive and our entire existence is made from pure, selfless love. What happens when we fulfill the prophecy and fall in love with each other again?
Hands Behind Your Back! by Michael Coppage – “The 12 Commandments” series is a play on words using the 10 commandments and “12,” a slang term from rap culture meaning “police.” Directly in conflict with commandments like “thou shalt not kill” and “thou shalt not bear false witness,” police have historically used their power to demonize, arrest, maim and kill Black people. This sculpture highlights how even compliance with these commands can end in death. This project is not meant to demonize police but to highlight the assertion of power over Black bodies and the systemic issues that arise as a result.
TOGETHERNESS by Julia O. Bianco – The tent is made with canvas dropcloth, cyanotyped and further intervened by the artist. Part of the cyanotype work was made using organic matter collected in Burnet Woods. Inside the tent, a series of uneven handmade cushions invoke the idea of gathering around a fire. In the center of the tent, stacks of poems written collectively during the “Walking the Winter” sessions can be found. Writing prompts allow visitors to reflect on what it means to be and to make in community. “Togetherness” is a work meant to be inhabited and interacted with, a space for healing, rest and reflection created with collaboration from Robin Klebau, Jennifer Beach, Derek Beach, Madelyn McArthur and Curtis Graves. Inspired by time spent collectively during the winter months, Bianco creates a form of shelter that invokes the feeling of the winter in the woods, as well as the feeling of a safe space to simply be with others.
I’m Still Listening by Brent Billingsley – A continuation of the “I’m Listening” project showcasing police/community engagement, this final product is a line of hand-designed, costume-painted, artistically-rendered garments created by high school students. With content arising from a series of facilitated discussions with students, teachers and police, the creation of these T-shirts empowered youth through creativity, design, relationship building, self-esteem, continuity of care, artistic drainage of emotions, focus and fun.
Murmurations by Michael Thompson – Murmurations”explores the mesmerizing group movement of thousands of starlings as they flock in intricate and undulating patterns during their congregate flight, as well as the power of collective action to protect and progress our communities. The work draws parallels between natural and human systems, recognizing and marveling at the strength and beauty achieved when working for the common good. The project aims to emphasize interconnectedness, resilience and the transformative potential of collaboration by inviting contemplation of our efforts toward justice and dignity. The painting serves as a testament to the collective capacity of voices, actions and aspirations working toward a shared vision.
ArtsWave’s Black and Brown Artist Program supports Black and Brown artists in the Cincinnati region who interpret the themes of our times. It is one way that ArtsWave works to increase the sustainability of organizations and artists that focus on the preservation and advancement of Black arts and culture.
ArtsWave’s partnership with the City of Cincinnati, Duke Energy, Macy’s, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Fifth Third Bank and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center make the program possible.
The Truth & Healing visual art exhibition runs through Sept. 10, at the Freedom Center. Find more information at guide.artswave.org/event/artswaves-truth-healing-visual-art-exhibition
Your Song
Lachey Arts brings label•less, a musical journey toward acceptance filled with popular music, dance, and the personal stories of its young cast, to Playhouse in the Park this week.
Playhouse in the Park
Moe & Jack’s Place - The Rouse Theatre
962 Mount Adams Circle
Through July 16
Encouraging everyone to “Walk” a mile in someone else’s shoes. Using popular music, dance and personal stories, this powerful cast draws attention to the struggles facing us while offering hope of a better, more accepting tomorrow.
Get tickets.
Encouraging everyone to “Walk” a mile in someone else’s shoes. Using popular music, dance and personal stories, label•less’ powerful cast draws attention to the struggles facing us while offering hope of a better, more accepting tomorrow.
The show is underway at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and you have a few more days to catch the performances!
Developed by Lachey Arts, (Yes, that Lachey!), the program, centered on inclusion, equality, and love returns this year for another fantastic run.
Artistic directors, Drew and Lea Lachey formed Lachey Arts, which hosts camps and classes for local talent. Additionally, Lachey Arts offers workshops, private lessons, choreography and consultations.
Staff consists of working professionals with Broadway, film and television experience.
label•less now in its sixth season, brings much of that young talent center stage at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.
The show kicked off July 8 to audience raves. Check out a sneak peek below!
Artistic directors, Drew and Lea Lachey formed Lachey Arts, which hosts camps and classes for local talent. Additionally, Lachey Arts offers workshops, private lessons, choreography and consultations.
Credit: Angie Lipscomb
Staff consists of working professionals with Broadway, film and television experience.
label•less now in its sixth season, brings much of that young talent center stage at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.
Holding True
In celebration of Juneteenth, ArtsWave, the engine for the region’s arts, announced the availability of its next round of funding to support African American arts organizations.
In celebration of Juneteenth, this week ArtsWave announced the availability of its next round of $100,000 in funding to support African American arts organizations, as well as plans for its third annual artist showcase, part of the Black and Brown Artist Program.
“With these investments — thanks to donors and partners — ArtsWave has established the two largest annual grant programs dedicated to Black and Brown artists and cultural organizations in the Cincinnati region,” said Alecia Kintner, ArtsWave president and CEO.
Black and Brown Artist Program Funding
Applications for this funding round will be accepted through July 28, with early submission feedback available through July 14 for first-time applicants.
ArtsWave will host two free, online grant writing workshops will be provided as an additional resource tool on Thursday, June 29 and Thursday, July 6, noon to 1 p.m.
More information is available at artswave.org/apply. Recipients will be announced in late August.
The third annual “Truth & Healing Artist Showcase” of new works by 18 of the region’s leading Black and Brown artists will be held at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center on July 14–16 and July 30, with the visual art exhibition in place through Sept. 10.
This year’s showcase is focused on the themes of healing, rebirth and reconnecting. Projects will explore and build upon the current artistic commentary of health and race and connect it with historical events and visions of a more equitable future. The projects not only represent the African American experience, but also the experiences of those with Mexican, Lebanese, Somali, Argentinian, Zimbabwean, Guatemalan and Indigenous heritage. Artists collaborated with community members and other partners in their projects, so that the larger public could participate in the process of healing, including reconnection and rebirth heritage.
Artists were selected by ArtsWave’s panel of community stakeholders in a competitive process for funding last fall. Out of 48 proposals, the artists chosen were determined to best capture the idea of “truth and healing,” and each received $10,000 to execute their project. In addition to financial support for the creation of new art works, the program helps artists develop valuable business and entrepreneurial skills. This year’s artists received professional development courses conducted by Wave Pool, plus monthly networking and progress meetings with ArtsWave staff.
This year’s showcase features visual art — fashion design, painting and sculpture — along with video documentaries, musical composition, film and podcasts. There are also original musical compositions, theater, dance and multidisciplinary works.
The showcase is part of ArtsWave’s Black and Brown Artist Program which has funded 67 artists of color with $742,108 in grants over the past three years. This program is supported by the City of Cincinnati, Macy’s, Duke Energy, Fifth Third Bank, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
ArtsWave’s African American arts grants program, known as “the Circle’s African American Arts Grants Program,” is designed to strengthen the capacity for arts presenting, producing, programming and instruction at organizations led by or predominantly serving Black communities in the Cincinnati region. This program is one of the ways that ArtsWave works to increase the sustainability of organizations that focus on the preservation and advancement of Black arts and culture. Eligible organizations will have a mission related to the African American experience and a majority (51%+) of annual expenditures dedicated to arts and cultural activities.
Spirit of Freedom
This weekend's celebrations for Juneteenth include music and poetry in the commununity and a festival in Eden Park.
Nearly two years after President Abraham Lincoln emancipated enslaved Africans in America, Union troops arrived in Texas with news of freedom on June 19, 1865. More than 250,000 African Americans embraced freedom by executive decree in what became known as Juneteenth or Freedom Day.
In 2021, Juneteenth was officially recognized as a federal holiday, providing the opportunity for all Americans to better understand the evolution of our nation and its people, celebrating African American resilience and achievement, and preserving the history of Freedom Day.
The Juneteenth Cincinnati organization has produced an annual Juneteenth Festival in the city since 1988. The festival began at Daniel Drake Park in Kennedy Heights and in the early 1990s moved to Eden Park, in partnership with the Cincinnati Parks.
Juneteenth flag-raising ceremonies will be held on Friday, June 16 at the Hamilton County Courthouse and Cincinnati City Hall, kicking off a weekend of celebration.
Along with a two-day festival in Eden Park, other celebrations will be held over the weekend, leading up to Monday’s holiday.
Cincinnati’s 36th Annual Juneteenth Festival
Saturday, June 17, 12–9 p.m.
Eden Park, 950 Eden Park Drive
juneteenthcincinnati.org
The festival’s diverse, family-friendly, and free activities include traditional storytelling and games in supervised children’s area. Other programs include health screenings, historical re-enactors, and the inaugural Juneteenth Chess Tournament from ChessTime, a new Cincinnati chess club.
With two stages, the day’s entertainment includes music, dance, and poetry performers. Food truck and vendors include Fullman’s Treats, We Do BBQ, Southern Bell, Sundae Skool Bus, and more.
The celebration continues on Sunday, with June Fest: A Father’s Day Concert from 2–6 p.m., featuring a variety of inspirational spiritual music and praise dancing in Seasongood Pavilion.
4th Annual Paloozanoire Juneteenth Block Party
Saturday, June 17, 4–11 p.m.
Freedom Way at The Banks
More information
At this annual Juneteenth Block Party presented by Fifth Third Bank, everyone is invited to celebrate with good vibes and inclusivity.
The JBP is dedicated to the people –i ncluding families, creatives, entrepreneurs and those climbing the corporate ladder.
FREE, registration is required at the link above.
SpeakFreely: Juneteenth Evening at the Museum
Saturday, June 17, 6:30–10 p.m.
Tickets: $10 members, $20 non-members
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 E. Freedom Way
freedomcenter.org/voice/event/speakfreely/
For Juneteenth, the oldest celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, the Freedom Center has an evening with music, poetry, food and drink sponsored by Western & Southern Financial Group. Playing off the idea of a “speakeasy,” SpeakFreely takes guests back to an era of underground speakeasies that brought people from all backgrounds together in a social setting.
Experience music from Destiny L and Chasing Dreams, ranging from classics to current hits in jazz, R&B and blues. Through the rich history of these musical styles, guests can experience the social connection and artistic expression born in the speakeasy era. In addition to the performances, tickets include access to the museum galleries, light bites and a cash bar.
The evening is a way to celebrate freedom, honor history and create new memories in a spirit of unity and appreciation for the contributions of African-Americans.
Juneteenth Panel Discussion & Tasting Event
Saturday, June 17, 11 a.m.
Sunday, June 18, 5 p.m.
Findlay Market, 1801 Race St.
www.findlaymarket.org/marketevents/juneteenth
Juneteenth at the Market
Participating Merchants
A “Mother's Touch” Cakes – Gourmet Mini Cupcakes
A&D Ernest – Jollof rice (mild, medium/regular and spicy)
Bouchards – Fried Green Tomatoes
Chamaele – Honey Straws
Chico's Cheesecakes v Cheesecake brownies and cheesecake bites
Dat's Ole School Cookin’ – Spicy Cat Fish Bits and Miniature Cajun Corn on Cob or Peach Cobbler Pudding
Flash in the Pan – Corn & Edamame Salad
Flavors of the Isle – Jerk Chicken
Gramma Debbies Kitchen – Collard & Kale Greens with Onions and Smoked Turkey Legs, Paired with a Piece Cornbread.
Honey Child Artisan Pops – Mini Pop
Makers Bakers Co. – Grandmas Original Pound Cake or You Don’t Know Watermelon Salad
Miley Pooh Sweets – Peach Cobbler Cake Babies or Golden Oreo Pound Cake
NayNays – Choice of Jalapeño bread, Cheese and Garlic Bread or Monkey Bread
Head's Up Trading Co. – $1.50 off an item
Creative Candle – $1.50 off an item
Flash in the Pan – Corn & Edamame Salad
Juneteenth at the Market is a two-day event to celebrate and showcase the Black-owned businesses and community partners at Findlay Market.
The weekend will kick off on Saturday, June 17, with a discussion with community leaders and business owners to discuss the history and importance of the Juneteenth. Tickets are free, but reservations are requested. Kara Willis from The Mercantile Library will moderate.
The afternoon includes performances programmed by It’s Commonly Jazz! from Erwin Stuckey and his Omega Band (1–3 p.m.) and Paul Hawthorne & Company (4–6 p.m.)
On Sunday, a ticketed event features Black-owned businesses, with 100% of the ticket proceeds going back to those businesses. Attendees can redeem tickets for small bites at merchants and vendors, with each ticket good for one sample.
Enjoy music performances by Tracy Walker & Friends, Aprina Johnson, and Nick Jackson Speaks.
A limited number of tickets will be for sale on-site at 10 a.m. Pre-purchasing tickets is recommended! Juneteenth at Findlay Market is sponsored by SEI and Pope Financial Planning.
YBG Juneteenth Block Party Vendor Registration
Saturday, June 17, 2–6 p.m.
Ziegler Park, 1322 Sycamore St.
More information
The Young Black Genius (YBG) celebrate the history and culture of the African-American community, with a day of live performances, , games, music and more. Local food trucks and vendors will also be at the park.
The Cincinnati Young Entrepreneurs Market will be onsite with information on youth resources, including job opportunities, sports activities and leadership programs.
State of Affairs
Madness! Betrayal! Love! The Cincinnati Opera brings beloved classics and world premieres to the stage this summer. Evans Mirageas, the Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director, shares more about the upcoming season and the opera's plans for the future.
Cincinnati Opera begins its 103rd season on June 22 at Music Hall. We talk to Evans Mirageas, the Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director, about what to expect onstage and beyond this summer.
Lucia Di Lammermoor
Gaetano Donizetti
June 22 and 24, 7:30 p.m.
In this Victorian-era thriller set in the Scottish Highlands, an age-old family feud thwarts a couple’s secret love affair, with deadly consequences.
Learn More.
The Knock
Aleksandra Vrebalov and Deborah Brevoort
June 23 and 27, July 5and 7, 7:30 p.m.
July 2, 3 p.m.
What must be endured by the loved ones of those who serve? This intimate opera explores the dramatic stories of heroism at home as families await news of their spouses during conflict abroad. Performed in Wilks Studio at Music Hall.
Learn More.
The Barber of Seville
Gioachino Rossini
July 6 and 8, 7:30 p.m.
Supreme silliness ensues when Figaro, Seville’s most beloved barber, plays matchmaker for a lovelorn nobleman and a clever young heiress.
Learn More.
Studio Sessions
July 12 and 19, 8 p.m.
Get ready for two unforgettable nights of sound and splendor with our stars! Cincinnati Opera artists take to the cabaret stage in these intimate, candlelit performances at Music Hall’s Wilks Studio. Each 90-minute performance includes musical selections that span a variety of genres.
Learn more.
Madame Butterfly
Giacomo Puccini
July 22, 27 and 29, 7:30 p.m.
Puccini’s heartrending opera about a young Japanese girl and her tragic love affair with an American serviceman has been reimagined from a groundbreaking new point of view by an all-Japanese and Japanese American design team.
Learn More.
Making a Stand
Holocaust & Humanity Center hosts inaugural Upstander Weekend.
June 10, 2023: Upstander 5K, 8:30 a.m.
Cincinnati’s community of upstanders take over historic Union Terminal for our Upstander 5K, Family Day & Upstander Volunteer Expo. Kick off your morning with the Upstander 5K, which takes runners and walkers on a scenic route around historic Union Terminal and throughout the West End and Over-the-Rhine. Participants will also enjoy live music, family activities, breakfast, and pick-up pickleball games outside of Union Terminal.
June 10, 2023: Museum Family Day & Upstander Volunteer Expo, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Explore upstander activities and experiences throughout the Children’s Museum, Cincinnati History Museum, the Museum of Natural History and Science, and the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center. Browse our Upstander Volunteer Expo, where dozens of non-profit and mission-driven organizations will be available in the Rotunda to share volunteer opportunities and information with museum goers throughout the day. When you register for any Cincinnati Upstander Weekend event, you receive free admission to all museums.
June 11, 2023: Upstander Awards Featuring Katie Couric, 6 p.m.
The Upstander Awards recognize individuals in the region who use their character strengths to make a difference in the community. Enjoy a gala-style event in historic Union Terminal’s breath-taking rotunda with live music, art experiences, and a moving awards ceremony celebrating Cincinnati’s best and brightest upstanders. Award-winning journalist Katie Couric, founder of Katie Couric Media, will serve as this year’s celebrity master of ceremonies.
Tickets for all events are available at www.upstanderweekend.org.
“‘Upstanders’ were those who stood up to save Jewish lives during the Holocaust,” says Kara Driscoll, director of marketing and events at the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center. “Today we use the term to describe someone who uses their character strengths to a make a difference in the world.”
The Holocaust & Humanity Center is partnering with Cincinnati Museum Center to host the inaugural Cohen Family Cincinnati Upstander Weekend, an inspiring two days of events featuring family activities along with an awards ceremony headlined by Katie Couric at historic Union Terminal.
“We did a trial run last with the 5K,” says Driscoll, “and we felt it was a great way to engage the community.”
This year a number of activities are planned, along with the 5K. Saturday’s programs include music, activations from FC Cincinnati, pickleball, and a volunteer expo. Driscoll expects 40 different non-profits, all sharing information about how to get more involved in the community.
Admission to the Holocaust & Humanity Center will be free on Saturday, so people can learn more about the museum, which moved to Union Terminal in 2019.
“It’s the only Holocaust museum in the country that has a direct connection to history,” Driscoll says, as Holocaust survivors traveled through the train station as they made new lives in Cincinnati and beyond.
2023 Upstander Finalists
Out of hundreds of nominees, the finalists were selected for their outstanding contributions to the community.
Mason Bailey
Whitney Blackston
Evin Blomberg
Polly Camrey
Dr. Kate Carlier Currie
David “Tex” Cho
Carlton Collins
LeTecia Cunningham
Suzy DeYoung
Michele Berry Godsey
Brittani Gray
Alethia Finley
Joshua Kayes
Chloe Keil
Tanya Keskar
Jordan Klette-Cusher
Oliver Kroner
Sheryl Long
Imran Malik
Dominque Olbert
Kristin Shrimplin
Krystal Smalley
Scott Smith
Missy Spears
Cass Steiner
Kayelin Tiggs
Joseph Waldon and Abigail Groszkiewic
Learn more about the finalists.
Nominations for the 2024 Upstander Awards open Sunday, June 11.
The weekend concludes with the The Upstander Awards, which recognize individuals in the region who have worked to make a difference in the community. This gala event will celebrate Cincinnati’s upstanders, with an evening that includes powerful stories from Holocaust survivors.
“We want to inspire Cincinnatians with stories of everyday people in their community doing incredible work,” says Driscoll.
Community leaders Kick Lee, Amy Spiller, and Jaipal Singh will receive the 2023 Upstander Leader Awards. These individuals have used their leadership and character strengths to lift up Cincinnati through their work.
“At Cincinnati Museum Center, we know how important the role education has in creating more empathetic, compassionate, and confident people, poised to lead and stand up for their community. We’re proud to partner with the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center on Cincinnati Upstander Weekend as we inspire all Cincinnatians to learn about how they can stand up and make a difference in the world today,” said Elizabeth Pierce, president and CEO of Cincinnati Museum Center. “Whether you run the Upstander 5K or explore upstanders throughout our world-class museums across Union Terminal, we hope you’ll join us in creating a community of upstanders.”