Get Back
Memories from Paul McCartney’s life inspired “Liverpool Oratorio,” which makes its world stage premiere at Cincinnati Opera July 18–27.
Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio
July 18, 20 and 25, 7:30 p.m.
July 21 and 27, 3 p.m.
Music Hall, 1241 Elm St.
Info and tickets at www.cincinnatiopera.org.
Memories from Paul McCartney’s life in Liverpool, England, inspire this story of growing up and finding your way. Evans Mirageas, the Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director of Cincinnati Opera, offers insight into the first fully staged production of the piece.
Beginning with Latin text that means “not for ourselves, but for the whole world were we born,” Liverpool Oratorio explores formative moments, relationships, and the responsibilities we accept. The world-premiere stage adaptation of McCartney’s acclaimed 1991 work for orchestra, chorus, and soloists includes the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Ballet, and Cincinnati Boychoir.
Will McCartney be there? Join the community-wide effort to #GetPaulToMusicHall by sharing a video tribute to Sir Paul and posting it on social media using the hashtag.
Rise Up
Using their personal stories interwoven with music and dance, the cast of “label•less“ offers a heartfelt show at Playhouse in the Park, through July 19.
label•less
Presented by Lachey Arts
Playhouse in the Park
962 Mt. Adams Circle,
Through July 19
After a cross-country tour and stint on Broadway, , “label•less,” a musical from Lachey Arts, culminates its six-year journey on stage at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.
The musical began as a local acting class exercise has become a national phenomenon – and a vehicle to start difficult conversations about race, sexuality, mental health and more. Using contemporary music, powerful choreography and personal stories to spread a message of heart, humanity, and hope, the “label•less” cast of 17-27 year olds draws attention to the struggles facing all of us while offering hope of a better, more accepting tomorrow.
Founders of Lachey Arts, Drew and Lea Lachey understand the impact music and dance can have on someone’s life. Through Lachey Arts, in Pleasant Ridge, they offer classes for students to hone their skills by learning from working artists.
But they are also creating a space for young artists to follow their hearts, including creating “label•less,” a musical journey toward acceptance.
Truth to Power
ArtsWave's fourth annual “Truth and Innovation Artist Showcase" supports the work of local BIPOC artists with exhibitions throughout the region.
As part of their fourth annual “Truth & Innovation Artist Showcase” happening this weekend, ArtsWave highlights new works by 22 of the region’s leading Black and Brown artists.
Friday, July 12
Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St.
Saturday, July 13
Clifton Cultural Arts Center, 3412 Clifton Ave,
Sunday, July 14
The Carnegie, 1028 Scott Blvd.. Covington
The projects reflect not only the African American experience, but the experiences of other often-underrepresented groups and cultural traditions throughout modern American life. Programs during the weekend feature visual art, painting, sculpture, musical composition, film, theater, dance, multidisciplinary works and more.
The Black and Brown Artist Program is also a key component of ArtsWave’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access plan, “Lifting as We Learn,” in which ArtsWave is intentionally increasing resources for Black and Brown arts throughout the region.
“With the continued growth of these investments, ArtsWave has established one of the largest annual grant programs dedicated to Black and Brown artists and cultural organizations in the Cincinnati region,” says Alecia Kintner, ArtsWave president and CEO.
This year’s artists are creating projects across genres focusing on the modern BIPOC experience and, within that context, exploring the meaning of “Truth” and “Innovation.” Each artist has also incorporated some form of community collaboration, ensuring we can all play a role in innovating toward a more just and equitable future for the Cincinnati region.
A new mural in Woodlawn by Brandon Hawkins, “Where Honor is Due,” explores the under-told stories of BIPOC military personnel who served proudly but are often under-recognized as they don’t fit the cultural ‘mold’ of a soldier in our modern culture. Another example of the showcase shining light on stories usually left in the dark is from Anupama Mirle, presenting “DOR” a theatrical, classical Indian dance performance about a young, ‘unmarriable’ widow with a five-year-old daughter who decides to leave India for the United States.
All of the projects were selected by ArtsWave’s panel of community stakeholders in a competitive process for funding last fall. Out of 71 proposals, the most ever, the 22 awardees were determined to best capture the idea of “truth and innovation,” and together received a total of $212,500 to finance their projects.
The showcase is part of ArtsWave’s Black and Brown Artist Program, which has funded 90 artist projects and distributed $950,000 in grants over the past four years.
In addition to working capital, ArtsWave’s program helps artists develop valuable business and entrepreneurial skills. This year’s artists received professional development courses conducted through Wave Pool’s “Driving Lessons” program, as well as networking and progress meetings with ArtsWave staff and consultants
These projects advance overarching goals of ArtsWave’s Blueprint for Collective Action by bridging cultural divides, promoting understanding and empathy, deepening residents' roots, and improving neighborhoods.
Look Beyond
Take a break from the everyday with art with current exhibitions at Cincinnati Art Museum, Contemporary Arts Cener, and Taft Museum of Art.
One of the first items on many travel agendas is to hit up a museum when you get into a new city. But don’t have to wait for your next trip to the Met or the Getty to see incredible art.
The current exhibitions at Cincinnati’s major art museums offer a look at some of the best artists of the past, present, and future, giving you the chance to learn more about the world around you and the opportunity to step away from the everyday.
At the Cincinnati Art Museum, The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century opens this Thursday, June 28.
The exhibition showcases more than 90 works of art by some of today’s most important and celebrated artists—such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Roberto Lugo, Carrie Mae Weems, William Cordova, Hassan Hajjaj, Hank Willis Thomas—and fashion brands, with looks from Cross Colours and Vivienne Westwood
The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century
Cincinnati Art Museum
June 28–Sept. 29
Free for Members. Save $2 when purchasing tickets online. Adult tickets: $12 in-person, $10 online. Seniors, college students and children 6–17 years: $8 in person, $6 online. Children 5 years & under: Free
The Culture examine’s hip hop's influence on contemporary society through the last two decades.
Jason Rawls, EdD, assistant professor of hip hop at The Ohio State University, is the on site-curator. Dr. Rawls leads the team that is creating a hip hop studies program in its School of Music and Department of African American & African Studies.
“Grandmaster Caz said, ‘Hip Hop didn’t invent anything. It reinvented everything,’” says Dr. Rawls. “This is what we can share with visitors, this idea of hip hop mentality—using the resources at hand in an innovative way and how this can inform art and culture.”
Rooted in the origins of hip hop in the mid-1970s as a cultural expression of Black, Latinx, and Afro-Latinx youth, The Culture explores the transformation of contemporary art and material culture through the collision of hip hop, technology and the marketplace.
Moment in Time: A Legacy of Photographs / Works from the Bank of America Collection at the Taft Museum of Art, is rich in history, with the works having been shown internationally.
Moment in Time: A Legacy of Photographs / Works from the Bank of America Collection
Taft Museum of Art
Fifth Third and Sinton Galleries
Through Sept. 15
General admission is free for Taft members, military, youth (17 and under); $15 for adults; $12 for seniors. Non-members save by purchasing tickets online. Sundays and Mondays are Free!
Tickets at taftmuseum.org/Moment. .
The collection explores the breadth and depth of the camera’s ability to capture a moment in time. The exhibition encompasses photographs that date from the invention of the medium through the mid-20th century.
The first photographs astonished the public with their apparent ability to freeze time. Even today, in an age in which we are witnesses to an endless flow of images, we continue to be fascinated by the power of photography. Moment in Time features more than 100 photographs dating from the 1840s through the 1960s. The exhibition includes compelling masterworks by William Henry Fox Talbot, Julia Margaret Cameron, Timothy O’Sullivan, Alfred Stieglitz, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange, and Walker Evans.
Out of the social documentary photography of the 1930s and 1940s, new forms of photographic storytelling emerged, expanding the medium’s narrative potential. W. Eugene Smith pioneered the photo essay format for Life magazine, and highlighted the accomplishments of young artists like Charles Harbutt, who took a deeply personal approach to documentary photography. The photographers’ interests ranged from perfecting photography’s technical capabilities to documenting the formal beauty of nature to exposing the social realities of America.
For decades, the Contemporary Arts Center has provided work opportunities, both behind the scenes, in the galleries, and onstage, for artists from around the region.
After (Work) Hours,
Contemporary Arts Center
Through August 4
Admission to the CAC galleries is Free; Open Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Info at cincycac.org.
The current exhibition After (Work) Hours, celebrates the diverse depth of artistry across multiple CAC departments, including former and current CAC staff members, working within a variety of media including sculpture, painting, installation, illustration, photography, and video.
“The CAC has a remarkable history of being a lab for exploration of ourselves and the world around us through the creative process of artmaking,” said Christina Vassallo, CAC Alice and Harris Weston Executive Director. “We are fortunate to have been a part of the journey for so many staff artists and can’t wait to share with the community a peek into the talent that has filled our CAC team, past and present.”
The CAC is a hub for local artists to grow and allows individuals to express their creativity.
– Sydney Carter
Silly Love Songs
Cincinnati Opera's season includes classic faves like La Traviata and a world stage premiere of Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio.
La Traviata
June 27 and 28, 7:30 p.m.
June 30, 3 p.m.
Studio Session: Elliot Madore
Tuesday, July 2, 8 p.m.
Wilks Studio
Studio Session: Jessica Rivera
Thursday, July 11, 8 p.m.
Wilks Studio
Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio
July 18, 20, and 25, 7:30 p.m.
July 21 and 27, 3 p.m.
For tickets and information visit cincinnatiopera.org.
Opera offers romance in all its forms – tragic, comic, epic, and frivolous – set amid gorgeous voices, lush orchestrations, and stunning staging.
“What makes opera so special is that it is living, thriving, and ever evolving, and the same can be said for Cincinnati Opera itself,” says Evans Mirageas, the opera’s Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director. “Our mainstage repertoire for the 2024 season is emblematic of the diverse voices, captivating stories, and outstanding artistry we strive to elevate and celebrate. And we look forward to expanding the festival-going experience with surprising and evocative projects suited perfectly to the Wilks.”
Along with beloved classics like the season opener Don Giovanni and La Traviata later this month, the mainstage season includes the world stage premiere of Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio.
Free For All
Celebrate Juneteenth at the Block Party at The Banks on Saturday, and at the inaugural Juneteenth Jubilee as the Freedom Center on Wednesday.
Raising the Juneteenth Flag
City Hall, June 14 at 12 p.m.
Cincinnati Art Museum, June 15
Hamilton County Courthouse, June 18, 10 a.m.
Cincinnati’s Juneteenth tradition began in 1988 as a neighborhood festival in Kennedy Heights, more than three decades before it was declared a national holiday
This year, the celebration of freedom continues, with community events in Eden Park, The Banks, and for the first time, at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
Cincinnati Juneteenth Festival
Eden Park
Saturday, June 15 and
Sunday, June 16, 12–9 p.m.
juneteenthcincinnati.org
The family-friendly, free event features fun for all ages.
The Juneteenth Festival kicks off at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday with a parade of flags representing the African diaspora—the origins and forced destinations of Africans during the slave trade that lasted for more than 400 years. The festival continues through Saturday afternoon and evening with crafts, books, games, and horseback rides. More than 25 performances on two stages will be presented, reflecting the shared heritage within the African diaspora.
In 2005, Juneteenth Cincinnati revived June Fest, a concert series that served the African American community, from the late 1920s through the early 1950s, when African American performers and audiences were not welcome in Music Hall and other venues. The Juneteenth weekend ends on Sunday afternoon with the June Fest Father’s Day Concert, from 2 to 6 p.m., featuring a variety of inspirational music and praise dancing in Seasongood Pavilion.
Fifth Annual Juneteenth Block Party at The Banks
Freedom Way at The Banks
Saturday, June 15, 4–11 p.m.
paloozanoire.com
This marks the fifth year Paloozanoire has thrown the Juneteenth Block Party.
Celebrate the holiday and enjoy DJs, food trucks, and entertainment for the entire family. This event is free to the public and open to all ages.
Paloozanoire was founded in 2019 to focus on enriching the lives of people of color throughout the Midwest in the areas of creativity, corporate leadership, and entrepreneurship. Along with the Juneteenth Block Party Experience, the organization’s works on the annual Black & Brown Faces Art Exhibition.
Publishers throughout the North responded to a demand for copies of Lincoln’s proclamation and produced numerous decorative versions, including this engraving by R. A. Dimmick in 1864.
National Museum of American History, gift of Ralph E. Becker
Juneteenth Jubilee
The Freedom Center
Wednesday, June 19,
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
freedomcenter.org/juneteenthjubilee2024
The inaugural Juneteenth Jubilee at the Freedom Center is a free, daylong festival celebrating true independence with live music, programming, community vendors and food trucks. Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Orlando Brown, Jr., will be the event’s featured guest, delivering a motivational speech followed by a photo and autograph session.
Enjoy extended hours and free admission to the Freedom Center, thanks to support from the Fifth Third Foundation, with drop-in programming and mini tours for guests of all ages.
The celebration will culminate in a “second line” style march to the banks to the Ohio River, the symbolic River Jordan over which thousands of enslaved people crossed into freedom on the Underground Railroad.
Living Memory
As the world commemorates the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center at Cincinnati Museum Centers brings history home with local stories from WWII.
Around the world, the 80th anniversary of D-Day is being marked today with solemn ceremonies, heartfelt speeches, and poignant remembrances of those who fought and died during the historic landing that changed the world.
Showing June 6, 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.
Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theater
Narrated by Tom Brokaw and blending animation, CGI and stunning live-action images, D-Day: Normandy 1944 pays tribute to the those who made history 80 years ago on and around the beaches of Normandy. Exploring history, military strategy, science, technology and human values, audiences of all ages, including new generations, will discover from a new perspective how this landing changed the world.
Closer to home, you can relive the stories of local WWII veterans, and Cincinnati’s place in the war’s history, at Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. Through the work of The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center, visitors can experience stories of courage, perseverance, loss, redemption, and new life, as told by local Holocaust survivors.
Founded by local Holocaust survivors and grounded in their commitment to education that inspires action, the Holocaust & Humanity Center is dedicated to providing transformative learning experiences that touch hearts and change minds, on this historic anniversary and every day.
Bold Strokes
The Contemporary Arts Center unveils bold strategic plan and offers a preview of its upcoming exhibition season.
At last week’s State of the CAC program, leaders of the Contemporary Arts Center debuted a new strategic plan to guide the institution in the decades to come.
“We were really thinking about our greatest assets, what’s happening in the world around us and in the field of contemporary art, and we decided that we really need to express what our purpose is,” said Christina Vassallo, the CAC Alice and Harris Weston Executive Director. “And our purpose is to build empathy.”
The strategic plan, facilitated by the DeVos Institute of Arts Management, was developed over the course of nine months,t with input from a Strategic Planning Committee that considered the lived experiences and observations of board members, staff members, and key stakeholders. The CAC followed a framework to develop six major objectives, which are mission-driven and reflect a focus on ensuring the institution can continue to operate at the highest level possible for its next 85 years.
Using these newly outlined objectives (see video) as a basis, the CAC's developed a new mission statement: “The CAC is a lab for understanding ourselves, others, and the world around us through the experience and creation of all contemporary art forms.”
Also at the meeting, Curator Theresa Bembnister offered a preview of the CAC's 2004-25 exhibition season which will highlight community partnerships, illustrate the artistic process, and better connect visitors to the CAC's space.
The season opens with two exhibitions in partnership with FotoFocus, curated by FotoFocus Artistic Director and Curator Kevin Moore.
Chip Thomas and The Painted Desert Project (opening Sept. 6), by photographer, activist, and physician Chip Thomas (known as jetsonorama), combines photography and street art to celebrate Navajo culture and draws attention to the negative effects of capitalism. Thomas has lived among the Navajo people since the late 1980s. Subjective Evidence (opening Sept. 27) is the first American survey of German photographer Barbara Probst. The exhibition features Exposure series of images of multiple views of a single scene, shot using a radio-controlled system.
In October, the CAC teams with SOFTlab, a design studio based in New York City led by Michael Szivos. for an installation in the Kaplan Lobby will hang from the ceiling and will be visible through the lobby windows.
Beginning in January, the CAC, in partnership with The Phillips Collection, presents the first comprehensive museum exhibition artist, activist, and educator, Vivian Browne. Vivian Browne My Kind of Protest consists of approximately 60 paintings, prints, and works on paper spanning the artist’s 30-year career, along with ephemera. In April 2025, the CAC partners with MOCA in Cleveland for “Only in Ohio,” featuring the work of artists across the state. The season ends with an exhibition by Brooklyn-based figurative painter Marcus Leslie Singleton, Marcus Leslie Singleton: New Steps.
In alignment with the new strategic plan objectives, the CAC will refine the educational and participatory programming offered. Shawnee Turner, director of interpretation and visitor experience, discussed how events will be a combination of CAC-originating initiatives as well as events developed by other institutions, continuing a commitment to local, regional, and national partnerships. The CAC will focus on all arts disciplines, including film, performance, music, movement, and other non-visual forms of contemporary art.
“We are also talking about all forms of contemporary art, not just the visual arts,” Vassallo says. “There are so many different components to the CAC building, (and) we can showcase all forms of emerging arts, all kinds of artistic experiences.”
Making Good
Find artists from around the country at Summerfair Cincinnati this weekend! The annual art fair returns to Coney Island, opening Friday and running through Sunday, with art, music, and food.
Summerfair Cincinnati
Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Ave.
Friday, May 31, 12 – 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 1, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday, June 2, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
One-day tickets are $10, with children 12 and under admitted free. Multi-day tickets are $15.
Tickets for one day or multi-day admission available at summerfair.org.
Whether you’re buying a necklace, picking up some new art for your living room, or looking for a sculpture for your garden, your support of Summerfair Cincinnati helps artists and arts organizations all year long in our community.
During its history, Summerfair has given more than $2 million to the regional arts community. Proceeds from Summerfair Cincinnati, anon-profit arts organization, provide award, scholarship and exhibit opportunities to a variety of emerging and individual artists as well as and regional small arts organizations.
Now in its 57th year, Summerfair returns to Coney Island this weekend, with more than 300 artists, plus music and “gourmet arts” – one-of-a-kind food options!
Music at Summerfair
Saturday, June 1
12 p.m. Eric Wurzelbacher & Noah Wotherspoon
1 p.m. Boutique
2 p.m. 3 Micks
3 p.m. Faux Frenchmen
4 p.m Tracy Walker
5 p.m. Wild Carrot
6 p.m. Woodnote
Sunday, June 2
11 a.m. Farm Report
12 p.m. The Amador Sisters
1 p.m. Ricky Nye
2 p.m. Chris Collier
3 p.m. Heather Roush Duo
4 p.m. The Cheryl & Shorty Show
The artists at Summerfair represent 12 categories: photography, painting, drawing/printmaking, wood, metal, sculpture, glass, ceramics, fibers, leather, jewelry and 2D/3D mixed media.
What started as a small art fair’s salute to the opening of Cincinnati’s Playhouse in the Park has grown into one of the oldest continuous art fairs in the country, drawing more than 20,000 art enthusiasts to see and purchase the works of artists from across the United States.
Summerfair consistently ranks in the Top 25 among U.S. Fine Art and Design Shows, provides support for individual artists and small arts organizations through scholarships, awards and exhibitions. The art fair is listed in the Top 25 America’s Best Art Fairs and one of the top five Best Midwest Art Fairs by Art Fair Calendar.com.
A Little Out There
Cincinnati Fringe Festival begins May 31, with cutting edge performances from local and national creators.
May 31st–June 15th
The Cincinnati Fringe Festival is produced by Know Theatre of Cincinnati, with performances in venues throughout OTR.
Tickets and info at cincyfringe.com.
Fringe fanatics, lovers of the unorthodox, unfamiliar and unprecedented, are you ready for Cincinnati Fringe Festival?
Of course you are.
Cincy Fringe is a 14-day celebration of theatre, art, music, film, dance, and everything between. Produced by Know Theatre of Cincinnati, Cincy Fringe began in 2004 and has grown to be one of the largest performing arts festival in Ohio.
This year’s edition features 170 performances of theatre productions, art galleries, screenings, concerts, workshops, classes, and nightly parties.
Know Theatre is HQ and is also a venue for performances, with a dozen other spaces in OTR serving as pop-ups throughout the festival.
Cincy Fringe, like ther Fringe Festivals around the world, exists to give opportunities to artists — especially independent artists — to present their work. The freedom artists have to create whatever they want makes Fringes a popular destination for more experimental or unusual productions. Cincy Fringe, specifically, has grown into an exceptional opportunity for Fringe circuit artists to present brand new or in-progress works, as our low upfront costs make it a low risk, financially, and our immensely supportive core of Fringe fanatics try and see as many productions as possible.
Artists at Work
The Contemporary Arts Center staff and crew showcase their works in the galleries when the new exhibition After (Work) Hours opens Friday, May. 17.
After(Work) Hours
Opening reception Friday, May 17. 6–8 p.m.
Contemporary Arts Center
44 E. Sixth St.
Register online!
Exhibition features works by
Patricia Andreadis
Nytaya Babbitt
Erica Bailey
Scottie Bellissemo
Emanuel Brannon II
Clay Brown
Kendall Bruns
Kimora Bulter
Ellina Chetverikova
Zachary Copfer
Kara Daniel
Sea Dax
Adrienne Dixon
Erica Fitzgerald
Mary Flinker
Cierra Fogle
Claire Frank
Hailey Fulford
Asa Featherstone, IV
Sarah Day Featherstone
Karla Batres Gilvin
Cody Goodin
Richie Gould
Allison Grant with Karsten Lund
Andew Hahn
Tyler Hamilton
Sophia Hamilton
Sammie Jane Hardewig
Sam Hecht
Curtis Johnson
Jay B. Kalagayan with Dylan Speeg
Stephanie Kang
Emily Kim
Kish, Da Poet
Katie Labmeier
Ryan Nichole Leary
Alison Leckrone (STRAWN)
Rachel Linnemann
Lindsay McCarty
Jess Miller
Lexi Musselman
L.D. Nehls
Hannah Parrett
Jamie Payne
Isadis J. Alcántara Rivera
Sarah Rodriguez
Rebecca Roman-Sutton
Cody Schriever
Aspen Que Stein
Lizz Stringfield
Breanna Tanksley
Technique2012
Sara Torgison
Laura Valls
Brandon Wagner
Michael Weber
Loraine Wible
Dai Williams
Kristin Zanos
The Contemporary Arts Center has long been a hub for local artists and has acted as a catalyst for creativity throughout the region.
For decades, the CAC has provided work opportunities, both behind the scenes, in the galleries, and onstage, for artists from around the region.
“The CAC has a remarkable history of being a lab for exploration of ourselves and the world around us through the creative process of artmaking,” said Christina Vassallo, CAC Alice and Harris Weston Executive Director. “We are fortunate to have been a part of the journey for so many staff artists and can’t wait to share with the community a peek into the talent that has filled our CAC team, past and present.”
The talented CAC staff, both past and present, have created the visual art for the exhibition After (Work) Hours.
The opening reception includes a DJ set by former staff member Ben Lehman. Food will be available for purchase from Kabobske food truck, which is operated by Andy’s Mediterranean Grill. Following the opening, guests and CAC members are invited to attend the official afterparty hosted by Alice OTR, where a portion of sales of the “Gemini Season” cocktail will be donated to CAC.
After (Work) Hours celebrates the diverse depth of artistry across multiple CAC departments, since the 2003 opening of the Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art. This exhibition features more than 50 artists working within a variety of media including sculpture, painting, installation, illustration, photography, and video
Telling Her Story
Pulitzer Prize-winner Julia Wolfe steps in as the inaugural May Festival director with the world premiere of her composition, All that breathes.
2024 May Festival Event Schedule
The Creation
Friday, May 17, 7:30 p.m.
Franz Joseph HAYDN The Creation
Anthems
Saturday, May 18, 2024 | 7:30 p.m.
Julia WOLFE All that breathes (World Premiere, May Festival Commission)
David LANG the national anthems
Julia WOLFE Pretty
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Dona nobis pacem
Voices of the Earth
Thursday, May 23, 2024 | 7:30 p.m.
Program:
Michael GORDON Natural History
Julia WOLFE Anthracite Fields
Her Story
Saturday, May 25, 2024 | 7:30 p.m.
Program:
Julia WOLFE Her Story
Gabriel FAURÉ Requiem
Subscription ticket packages for the 2024 May Festival and Bob’s Big Sing: A May Festival Reunion are available at mayfestival.com.
Following a monumental 150th anniversary celebration and as part of its vision to become the most exciting force in the choral world, the Cincinnati May Festival introduces Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Julia Wolfe as May Festival’s inaugural Festival Director.
Inspired by Wolfe’s body of work for chorus and orchestra, as well as decades-long collaborations with composers and performers across genres and media, the May Festival features the world premiere of All that breathes, a new choral fanfare that Wolfe composed especially for the Festival, alongside her compositions Her Story, Anthracite Fields and Pretty. The festival also has works by her longtime collaborators and Bang on a Can co-founders Michael Gordon and David Lang plus treasured works from the repertoire.
The May Festival Chorus (Robert Porco, director) and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (Louis Langrée, music director) will be conducted by Teddy Abrams, Stephanie Childress, François López-Ferrer and Robert Porco. Featured guests will include soprano Camilla Tilling, tenor Nicholas Phan, and ensembles Bang on a Can All-Stars, the Lorelei Ensemble (Beth Willer, artistic director), the Steiger Butte Singers of Chiloquin, Oregon and the May Festival Youth Chorus (Matthew Swanson, director).
“The May Festival has evolved through many changes and adjustments over 150 years into its current iteration, but one thing that has never wavered is its artistic excellence and commitment to the choral repertoire,” said May Festival Executive Director Steven Sunderman. “This new artistic model embraces our traditions and advances our vision. It combines acclaimed artists from all disciplines who are at the top of their craft with the talents of the May Festival Chorus and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra to create new and exciting experiences for all. This new artistic model will build upon the legacy and success of the May Festival, and we are thrilled that Julia Wolfe will join us as our first-ever Festival Director.”
The new artistic leadership model aims to invigorate all aspects of artistic planning and preparation through the close collaboration between two artistic leads: an annual Festival Director and the May Festival Director of Choruses.
In this newly created role, Wolfe draws upon decades of collaboration and interdisciplinary artistry to devise a program that exhibits the full breadth of the chorus as a musical medium. Through several contemporary works that highlight the chorus—including three vocal works of her own—Wolfe exposes common ground with the May Festival’s celebrated classical offerings, creating contrasts and unexpected synergies that resonate across centuries of musical history.
Julia Wolfe’s music is distinguished by an intense physicality and a relentless power that pushes performers to extremes and demands attention from the audience. She draws inspiration from folk, classical and rock genres, bringing a modern sensibility to each while simultaneously tearing down the walls between them.
Wolfe saw three major orchestra premieres in the 2022-23 season. Pretty was premiered in June 2023 by conductor Kirill Petrenko and the Berlin Philharmonic. Co-commissioned by the Berlin Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra and St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Pretty is a raucous celebration — embracing the grit of fiddling, the relentlessness of work rhythms, and inspired by the distortion and reverberation of rock and roll.
UnEarth, commissioned and premiered in June 2023 by the New York Philharmonic, is a large-scale work for orchestra, men’s chorus and children’s chorus that addresses the climate crisis. Performed in three movements, the 40-minute piece is realized with spatial staging and scenic design projected on a large circular screen.
Her Story, a 45-minute semi-staged work for orchestra and women’s chamber choir, received its world premiere in September 2022 with the Nashville Symphony, conductor Giancarlo Guerrero, the vocal ensemble Lorelei, and stage direction by Anne Kauffman. Co-commissioned by the Nashville Symphony, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony and National Symphony Orchestra, Her Story invokes the words of historical figures and the spirit of pivotal moments to pay tribute to the centuries of ongoing struggle for equal rights and representation for women in America.
In addition to receiving the 2015 Pulitzer Prize in Music, Wolfe was a 2016 MacArthur Fellow. She received the 2015 Herb Alpert Award in Music and was named Musical America’s 2019 Composer of the Year. Julia Wolfe is co-founder/co-artistic director of New York’s legendary music collective Bang on a Can, and she is Artistic Director of Music Composition at NYU Steinhardt.
Her music is published by Red Poppy Music and G. Ricordi & Co., New York (ASCAP) and is distributed worldwide by the Universal Music Publishing Group.
“I am thrilled to be working with the forward-looking May Festival Chorus and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra to bring powerful musical narratives to the historic May Festival,” said Festival Director Julia Wolfe. “Pairing new with old, the works resonate together across time and space to share the powerful vehicle of music—expressing who we were and who we are today.”
“I love Julia’s music. It is imaginative, interesting and eclectic,” said May Festival Director of Choruses Robert Porco. “I was particularly drawn to her piece Anthracite Fields, since my father worked in the steel mills for 41 years. The quotes within the piece drawn from people who worked in the coal mines resonated with me. Her music is fascinating and extraordinary, and I look forward to sharing it with everyone here in Cincinnati.”
Sunderman added, “Our vision here at the May Festival is to become the most exciting force in the choral world. Julia Wolfe is a prolific composer with a substantial body of work for full orchestra and chorus. Her music includes theatrical and multimedia elements that are integral to her works, and she expertly uses the artform to tell relevant stories on a variety of subjects. Julia’s achievements are unique, and as the May Festival lays the foundation for its next 150 years, Julia is the perfect person to serve as our inaugural Festival Director in this new model.”
Take Me to the River
America’s River Roots, coming to our shores Oct. 9-12, 2025, kicks off a celebration of America's 250th birthday with local music, cuisine and culture.
Oct. 9 to 12, 2025
A celebration of inland river cuisine, music and culture to kick off the America’s 250th birthday in 2026.
Visit AmericasRiverRoots.com to sign up for future announcements.
The road to America’s 250th birthday celebration rolls through Cincinnati.
Yesterday, organizers announced that America’s River Roots, a celebration of inland river cuisine, music and culture will bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to the banks of the Ohio River in Cincinnati, Covington and Newport from October 9 to 12, 2025. America’s River Roots will showcase the Ohio River and its vital role in our nation’s history while promoting cultural tourism in what promises to be a unique and memorable four days for the Cincy region.
“America's River Roots will focus attention on the Ohio River Valley region and its impact on the nation's growth and shaping of our diverse cultures,” said Rick Greiwe, event co-chair. “The event will deepen this awareness with roots music, river cuisine and cultural experiences along our world-class riverfront. Area residents will connect with our common roots and visitors will discover the heritage of America’s inland river culture.”
Nationally-recognized and emerging artists will perform on multiple stages on both sides of the river. Tall stacks riverboat cruises and river culture will be highlighted through the River Cities EXPO. A River Roots Gospel Revival and education programs will put a spotlight on The Freedom Journey and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Cuisine attractions will include celebrity chef presentations, bourbon and craft beer tastings, multicultural food vendors, and regional food artisans.
Exciting additional details, including nationally-recognized musicians, visiting celebrity chefs, participating riverboats, and the first date of cruise tickets and merchandise sales, will be announced in the coming months.
America’s River Roots has been endorsed as an official event of the Ohio Commission for the U.S. Semiquincentennial or America 250-Ohio, and is working with the U.S. America 250 Commission, established by Congress, to secure designation as a national signature event.
First Financial Bank is the title sponsor of America’s River Roots.
“At First Financial, we’re proud to be an early supporter of America’s River Roots in celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary,” said Archie Brown, president and CEO. “We exist to be a positive influence to help our communities thrive, and this celebration will deliver incredible benefits throughout our community. America’s River Roots will be the perfect opportunity to showcase the talent, food and culture that makes Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky so unique.”
In addition to First Financial Bank as the title sponsor, America’s River Roots announced six corporate leaders as event presenters and they include: altafiber, Cintas, Kroger, TQL and Western & Southern Financial Group along with the alliance of Northern Kentucky companies, OneNKY.
America’s River Roots is anticipated to attract hundreds of thousands of people to the riverfront, including many from outside the region, while delivering an economic impact in the tens of millions of dollars.
On the Lookout
BLINK, the largest public art, light and projection mapping spectacle in the country, will be biger than ever this year! Artists wil return to Covington and expand into Newport for the very first time. Find out more about the new experiences, which are being made possible with support from meetNKY.
The lights will be much brighter this year, as BLINK moves into Newport for the first time!
BLINK, Illuminated by ArtsWave, is the nation’s largest public art, light and projection mapping spectacle, The added festival experiences in Newport and Covington are made possible by a generous investment from meetNKY, Northern Kentucky's official tourism and convention services bureau.
“BLINK is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to showcase the Cincy Region's creativity, drive for inclusion and ability to create unique tourism experiences,” said Julie Kirkpatrick, president and CEO of meetNKY. “Through this investment, we are making this a truly regional event, which will help further illuminate the uniqueness and unbridled spirit of the Northern Kentucky communities.”
During this biennial event, BLINK draws artists and attention from across the globe, and entertained an estimated 2.1 million attendees from 29 states. For this year’s festival, held Oct. 17–20, BLINK will create a connection for those attendees between these two iconic Kentucky river cities.
“Increasing BLINK’s footprint into Newport is about more than the location,” said Justin Brookhart, executive eirector of BLINK. “Northern Kentucky artists are also part of this expansion, and we are eager to see how they take on these new creative opportunities.
BLINK draws artists and attention from across the globe, and in 2022, an estimated 2.1 million attendees from 29 states experienced the biennial event.
“BLINK drives cultural vibrancy in our region, and we are proud that region is expanding,” said Brendon Cull, president and CEO of Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. “Creating connection among attendees, creators, artists – and now, cities – is what BLINK is all about.”
Attendees will experience new projection mapping displays at Newport on the Levee, and other locations in Newport, including a unique installation near MegaCorp Pavilion and the Fourth Street Bridge, just steps from Covington.
Covington’s BLINK experience will include favorite spots like Hotel Covington, and will also move further east to better connect to Newport, creating a more immersive and continuous experience for attendees.
New this year in Covington will also be a Laser Bridge display near the Roebling Suspension Bridge. This new installation will incorporate the latest in laser light technology to cast a one-hundred foot wide array of light stretching from Covington Landing to Sawyer Point on Cincinnati's riverfront.
Another hallmark of BLINK is its monumental fiscal impact, with $126 million direct economic impact for the Cincinnati region. The 2022 edition featured 71 total artists – 18 international, 21 U.S.-based, and 32 local – establishing BLINK as truly universal, exposing people to art from around the world and the magic of Cincinnati.
Learn more at blinkcincinnati.com.
Seeing Things
Summerfair Cincinnati reveals its 2024 commemorative poster tonight at HighGrain Brewing, with a speical beer and music from The Faux Frenchmen.
Summerfair Cincinnati
Coney Island
Friday, May 31 – Sunday, June 2.
One-day ($10) and multi-day tickets ($15) tickets available. Children 12 and under admitted free. For information and tickets, visit summerfair.org.
The Summerfair poster has been a prized collectible for more than four decades.
“As Summerfair grew, after its start in 1968, members determined the need for more structure,” says Jayne Utter, Summerfair’s managing director. “In 1977 the first formal poster competition was held. Since then you can see the visual trends of the times. Our posters and T-shirts have become collector’s items!”
The commemorative poster for this year’s Summerfair Cincinnati will be officially revealed during a special celebration on Thursday, April 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the HighGrain Brewery and Kitchen, 6860 Plainfield Road. The festivities also include music from the Faux Frenchmen, who are performing at Summerfair this year.
This year’s poster was created by Anne Shannon, a Cincinnati-based graphic designer with more than 25 years of experience. She enjoys new challenges and collaborating with other professionals, bringing order, light, and creativity to her work.
She will be at HighGrain Thursday, signing copies of the commemorative poster.
“At the poster reveal (Shannon) will be there to explain how she came up with the design,” says Utter. “You’ll be able to purchase the poster, large or small, and have Anne personalize and sign a copy for only $10, a $20 value.”
Shannon has created work for Summerfair in the past, designing the 2020 poster.
“It’s a lot more fun being able to participate in the events in person,” Shannon says. “We did what we could in 2020, but I’m really excited for the upcoming poster reveal party and Summerfair weekend itself. I’ll be there signing posters, too!”
The new beer from HighGrain, Lime Lager, has notes of citrus in a light and refreshing brew. The can features elements of the poster designed by Shannon. The beer will be available on tap and in cans at HighGrain, as well as served at Summerfair.
“It’s one thing to see the poster in our usual areas – billboards, merchandise, social media – but now we get to see it on a fabulous can of liquid libation!” Utter says. “Our bright and beautiful design is on a 16-ounce can. It will be available at our event, as well as HighGrain and all the usual outlets that sell their beers.”
Summerfair is a combination of more than 300 fine artists and craftspeople from across the country exhibiting and selling works ranging from ceramics and sculptures to painting and photography. Along with the annual fair, Summerfair is dedicated to supporting young artists, individual artists, and community-based arts organizations through awards, scholarships, and exhibitions.
“Our region has an amazing and well-supported arts community,” says Shannon. “I think it’s something special about Cincinnati, and Summerfair is a big part of that. SummerFair weekend is pure joy! For me, it’s about opportunity, connection, and encouragement to pursue your creative passions.”
Food for Thought
This year's Taft Museum of Art Duncanson Artist-in-Residence, Chef Tunde Wey, sees food as a starting point to bring people together. Through a series of events both at the Taft and in public spaces, Wey hopes to create conversation and community.
This year’s Duncanson Artist-in-Residence at the Taft Museum of Art is internationally renowned culinary artist and writer Tunde Wey.
A Nigerian immigrant artist, writer, and chef, Wey works at the intersection of food and the political economy. He uses art, media, food, and dining spaces to confront disparities in material conditions and attempts interventions to address these socially constructed inequalities.
Duncanson Artist-in-Residence Events
Documentary Screening | Hard to Swallow
Esquire Theatre, 320 Ludlow Ave.
Saturday, April 20, 2:30–4:30 p.m.
Hard To Swallow is a poetic food series chronicling the life and perspective of Nigerian culinary artist and writer Tunde Wey. Essayistic and experimental, the series recounts Wey’s burgeoning career while building a critique of the social structures that disenfranchise Black people globally. In partnership with Cincinnati Black Pride, the screening will follow with a Q&A with Tunde Wey and co-creator Theo Schear.
This is a FREE event! Registration required.
Panel Discussion | Cincinnati Chefs
Findlay Market, 1801 Race St.
Sunday, April 21, 1–3 p.m.
(Part of the Findlay Kitchen Tasting Event,
10 a.m.–4 p.m.)
Enjoy an afternoon of gastronomic exploration with Wey alongside Black chefs including Chef Jeff Harris (Nolia), Chef Gabi Odebode (AfroMeals), and Chef Mona Bronson-Fuqua (Je Nais Se Fuqua), with specializations from New Orleans cuisine to West African to food waste and food insecurity respectively.
This is a FREE event! Registration not required. Tastings may include a fee.
Immersive Experience | Privileged Dinner
WAITLIST ONLY
Saturday, April 27, 6–7 p.m.
Join Wey, in partnership with Wave Pool for an evening exploring issues of race, class, and justice using food as the medium—merging a social practice art project with social experimentation.
This is a FREE event! Tickets have sold out, Please contact education@taftmuseum.org to be added to the waitlist for this event.
Throughout his globe-spanning career, Wey’s work engages systems of power from the vantage point of the marginalized other, focusing particularly on how economics and finance impact the working-class Black community globally.
Wey’s work has been written about in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Vogue, GQ, and on NPR. His own writing has been featured in the Boston Globe, the Oxford American, the San Francisco Chronicle and on Bloomberg CityLab. He is a recipient of Tulane University’s Monroe Fellowship (2022) and a Ford Foundation JustFilms Grant (2019–2020). Wey was named a Time Magazine Next Generation Leader (2019) and was profiled in the New York Times feature, “16 Black Chefs Changing Food in America,” (July 16, 2019). He is currently working on a book of essays for MCD Books (a division of Farrar, Straus & Giroux).
Header image: Jonathan Peterson
Art Lessons
Think you about art? Prepare to learn even more about Cincinnati's art community with ArtsWave's web series, "Better Know Cincy's Arts."
How well do you know Cincinnati's arts?
No, really…
Whether you’re a longtime patron of the Cincinnati Opera or a drop-in student to dance classes at your neighborhood arts center, there’s always more to discover about our rich and varied arts community.
With a new web serices, ArtsWave, takes you behind the scenes of some of the more than 150+organizations, artists and projects that ArtsWave supports.
“Better Know Cincy’s Arts” riffs off of a “Colbert Report” segment, giving it fun – and artistic – twist. Check out a few webisodes and make sure to donate to ArtsWave’s annual campaign at artswave.org to support all of our arts. (Whether you know about them or not!)
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll
Time to get the band back together as ArtsWave's CincyJams raises monety – and a little h#ll – to support the arts in our community.
Registration is easy! Interested musicians should visit artswave.org/cincyjams and fill out the short form. Bands must consist of at least two employees or retirees from any given company and the sign-up window is open until April 19, 2024.
CincyJams is brought to you by Accenture, with sponsors, Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati, Cincinnati Music Festival presented by P&G, Gold Star, Cincinnati Enquirer and Radio One.
For more information on how to enter, go to artswave.org/cincyjams.
“It’s an excuse to be a rock star for a day.”
That’s how Bobby Gayol, the advertising director at Jake Sweeney Automotive, describes his experience with ArtsWave’s CincyJams.
Sounds like fun, right?
Following two successful years of standing-room-only shows at the Hard Rock Café, ArtsWave is looking for bands from local companies to compete in the third annual CincyJams, a workplace “battle of the bands.”
2023 CincyJams “best in show” winners Sugar Daddy, fro Jake Sweeney Automotive.
Gayol does admit he and his bandmates in Sugar Daddy had a slight advantage over the CincyJams bands.
“it’s kind of unfair,” he says. “A couple of us were professional musicians in an earlier life!”
But whether you’re learning a few songs for one night or in a longstanding group, CincyJams is looking for bands for the competition. With the deadline to sign up approaching on April 19, now is the time to get the band (back) together.
This year’s event is May 10 at 7 p.m. at the Hard Rock Café inside Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati. This year’s host will be The People’s Champ, 100.3’s DJ Don Juan Fasho, with judges including 96Rock’s Bridget England and Dean Kuroff from Accenture and lead singer in the local band Blue Otis.
“Not only did I have an amazing experience collaborating with coworkers on music but we also got to benefit local music and arts – which is the language that we all speak,” says Gayol. “ArtsWave has done an amazing job and promoting the arts in Cincinnati.”
Bands aren’t just competing for bragging rights, but for great prizes, too. Some of the benefits include performance slots at Cincinnati Music Festival, presented by P&G, and BLINK®, a recording session with Grammy-winner Ken Lewis, Beer for a Year, Gold Star for a Year courtesy of Gold Star, and more.
Along with Jake Sweeney Automotive, several other companies have already formed bands for Cincy Jams including SHP, P&G, The Christ Hospital Health Network, Great American Insurance and more.
Bands have three ways to win, two of which depend on audience participation. The “Fan-Funded” prize is awarded to the band that raises the most money before the end of the night. Bands will be raising money prior to the show and fans are encouraged to ‘give to vote’ for their favorite band, with all the proceeds supporting the 2024 ArtsWave Campaign. The “People’s Choice” award will be given to the band with the loudest audience response, which in prior years, has rivaled the noise from a jet engine. Finally, the judges will award the “Judges Pick” to the band they see as having the best performance of the evening.
“The crowd is great, with stadium-like applause,” says Gayol.
The free-admission event is designed to engage the community by bringing various companies together for an evening of great music while raising essential funds for the arts. The ArtsWave Campaign is at $9 million of its goal to make 2024 the largest local campaign for the arts in history and surpass $12.5 million. ArtsWave is the primary funder for local arts organizations throughout the 16 counties that make up the Cincinnati region, and the annual ArtsWave Campaign is the largest campaign of its kind in the nation. The campaign concludes on May 23.
“Do it for a good cause,” Gayol says. “It’s win / win!”
Make Believe Time
Artist Jayson Musson uses humor to explore and critique commonly studied works in “His History of Art,“ opening Friday at the CAC.
If You Go
Jayson Musson: His History of Art
Friday, April 5
7 p.m. – Opening Reception –Free
8 p.m. – Artist Talk – Free for Members, $10 for Non-Member
9 p.m. – Afterparty at Alice OTR – No Cover for CAC Members
The reception will feature a cash bar, light bites, and more! Register now!
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, as Jayson Musson: His History of Art opens Friday at the Contemporary Arts Center.
The exhibition, which premiered in the Fall at the Fabric Workshop and Museum (FWM) in Philadelphia centers around a new three-channel video series written, starred, and co-directed by Musson, who describes it as “a sitcom orbiting art history and all the fun to be had dancing on the minefield of the past.”
“Jayson’s wildly creative, multilayered, and often playful approach to the critique of art history comes at a time when the role of institutions and broader authorities of art and history are being reexamined,” says Christina Vassallo, the Alice & Harris Weston director of the CAC and the former executive director of FWM. “From costume making, puppetry, and sculpture to a fully-fledged film set, Jayson has built a fictional world that jumps off the pages of his scripts.”
Taking inspiration from the structure and tone of educational programs such as PBS children’s shows and nun-turned-art critic Sister Wendy Beckett, Musson conducts a satirical survey on art history, its relationship to the general public, and the ways in which popular art historical images impact our cultural consciousness.
In the sitcom-style video series, Musson—performing as “Jay”— endeavors to educate his skeptical puppet sidekick Ollie on the relevance of art. Jay and Ollie journey across a three-episode arc from prehistoric art through the present, encountering figures as varied as Pablo Picasso and a larger-than-life Venus of Willendorf along the way.
“Good humor always moves toward truth,” Musson explains. “This exposure of truth is what causes a joke to resonate with a listener and connect with their often-unspoken experiences and feelings. Jokes uncover, jokes expose, jokes bring into the light things which are oft-buried by individuals and a society. Comedy’s propensity to dig up skeletons and parade them in front of an audience with little regard for consequence or moral constraint is one of the main reasons it has been a useful tool in exposing inequality and grand social failings.”
After viewing the episodes on a large screen installed on the CAC’s fourth floor, visitors will encounter Jay’s living room set featuring his art collection—props from the production that play upon art historical icons—and the Ollie puppet. The experience culminates in a process lab that reveals to visitors how the production came together through the display of script material, set designs, props, and costumes. The exhibition will also be the first for the CAC’s partnership with Bloomberg Connects, a free app that hosts content for over 350 cultural institutions around the world. App users will have access to additional content related to the artistic process, and tools for greater accessibility, such as translation and ASL videos.
At The Letters
Do your baseball homework with book recs from Mercantile Library.
Mini-Merc
38 Fountain Square Plaza
The Mercantile Library has temporarily relocated its staff and some books to the Mini Merc in the Fifth Third Center on Fountain Square. Books are available for check-out, and discussion groups and literary events are currently being held in other locations.
The Mini-Merc is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If you’ve read all the stats, broken in your glove, and have your lucky shirt ready to go, the only other thing left to do for Opening Day is delve into a little baseball lore and history.
In the past, we checked in with our friends at the Mercantile Library to recommend a few books to perfect for baseball season. We asked Hillary Copsey, book advisor and baseball fan, for an update. She offers a selection of books you’ll enjoy, no matter what the hometown nine is doing on the field.
Why We Love Baseball and The Baseball 100
Joe Posnanski
These are great books to leave out on your coffee table during baseball season and read a snippet or two during commercial breaks or peruse on the Reds' off days to get your baseball fix.
Redleg Journal
Greg Rhodes, et al
Everything you need to know about the Cincinnati Reds since 1866.
Cincinnati’s 150-year Opening Day History
Randy Freking
As the subtitle says,
“The hoopla started with a parade.” Cincinnati’s relationship to baseball is special, and this history of our Opening Day celebrations shows that.
Shoeless Joe
WP Kinsella
This is the book on which Field of Dreams is based. We can’t honestly say the book is better, but it is worth a read, too. Nobody captures the magic of baseball better than Kinsella.
We Are The Ship
Kadir Nelson
This is a children’s book about the Negro Leagues that we think everyone should read. The pictures are gorgeous and the story of these athletes who overcame hatred, segregation, and low pay to play the game they loved is inspiring.
MVP Machine
Ben Lindbergh and Travis Sawchik
If you liked Moneyball by Michael Lewis, we recommend this as a follow-up. In a clear, engaging narrative, it looks at how the science of training optimizes players, and what that means for the game.
The Cactus League
Emily Nemens
This novel follows a variety of people through Spring Training. If you’re a baseball fan who enjoys people-watching as much as the game, this book is for you.
The Art of Fielding
Chad Harbach
We love this classic baseball-as-metaphor-for-life story. It’s equal parts touching and funny.
Evvie Drake Starts Over
Linda Holmes
Baseball and lobster and small town Maine. Holmes is an NPR pop culture critic who loves romcoms, and this is an homage to the ones she loves best.