In the Long Run
Whether you're training for a marathon or just trying to get in your10,000th step, the story of these "Queen Bees" will inspire you to keep going.
As many around the Tristate – and the world – prepare for the Flying Pig Marathon, “Pigs on the Run,” talks to longtime runners and supporters about their experiences.
A photo on the Queen Bee Facebook page of four friends linking arms as they crossed the finish line prompted an email from one of the women in that picture. Listen to their story of friendship, of perseverance, of tragedy and triumph.
Coming of Age
Zaire Sims, from Meals on Wheels Southwest Ohio & Northern Kentucky, has been chosen for ASA Rise, a national fellowship for the next generation of leadership from the American Society on Aging.
– by Skip Tate
Being a teenager is tough. The hormones. The physical and emotional changes. The peer pressure and drama of high school. Good grief. It’s stressful just thinking about it. Just ask Zaire Sims. She knows. She went through the struggles just like everyone else, but with an added challenge weighing her down. A big challenge.
Her family was homeless.
Throughout most of her four years at Western Hills University High School in Cincinnati, her family bounced around, finding shelter where they could. Sometimes they stayed with friends. Sometimes they stayed in a hotel room. Zaire ended up moving in with an aunt during her senior year just for a little bit of stability.
While the weight would crush most people, Zaire somehow survived.
“High school was a pretty bad time for me,” she says. “Although I may not have realized it at the time, I was learning resilience, that no matter what happens things will eventually get better. I also learned that you can literally have nothing and still serve others.”
Buoyed by an inner knack for perseverance and a wide range of knowledge gained from hard life lessons, she applied for a scholarship to The Ohio State University through its Young Scholars Program. The program helps propel first-generation college students with a high financial need by giving them coaching, mentoring and advising support, as well as other tools and resources. She thrived in the environment, graduating in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in social work and the honor of being the program’s inaugural Outstanding Senior Award winner.
“That program changed my life,” she says. “It changed my trajectory.”
It’s a trajectory that eventually led her to Meals on Wheels Southwest Ohio & Northern Kentucky, where she began as a representative payee social worker and is now a building coordinator at Hillcrest Elderly, a senior apartment community in Roselawn where she oversees the activities, programs and support of the community’s 205 residents.
One program, a special Lunch & Learn session at the Delores H. Bland Senior Day Center set for Monday, Feb. 28 focuses on Black History Month. During the event, seniors are invited to talk about their own history and experience, to pass on cherished traditions and to show they are part of history.
Sims’s trajectory also helped her land a national fellowship in the American Society of Aging’s Rise Program.
The Rise Program is a launching pad for the next generation of aging leadership, according to the ASA’s website, whose goal is to create a pool of leaders who are Black, Indigenous or People of Color who can improve the policies and programs at the local, state and national levels, thereby improving the well-being across an increasingly diverse aging population. For Zaire, the ASA program will “allow me to work toward my ultimate goal of providing older adults with an optimal quality of life and promoting a positive perception of aging.”
More than 120 people applied for the fellowship nationally. Zaire was one of only 30 who were selected.
“This is a big, big deal,” says Cheryl Bolender, senior manager of case management services who oversees the social work team and first hired Zaire as an intern. “When I saw the program application, I immediately thought of her. She’s just a perfect fit. When she came to us, her experience was mostly with children who were living with severe with mental illnesses, but she embraced working with seniors. And her having worked with other age groups has really brought a lot to the table and impacted the way we deal with seniors.”
The Rise Program is 20 weeks long, requiring daily work, two-hour meetings each week and attending the national ASA conference on aging in New Orleans in April.
“When Cheryl talked to me about it, it definitely seemed like something I would be interested in,” Zaire says. “She has always believed in me, and because of her I was able to find my passion of helping seniors.”
Her passion for seniors actually has its roots in those difficult days of her youth. Her grandfather had schizophrenia, and she got to witness the unfortunate and unkind ways he was treated.
“But I would always run into his social workers,” she says, “and I was able to see that no matter what someone was going through, you can treat people with respect.”
As a student at OSU, she secured an internship with the Ohio State University Department of Social Change at the Isabell Ridgeway Care Center, which was a nursing home, where she got to see another difficult aspect of senior living: social isolation.
“I saw that outside handful of people, most of the residents there didn’t have anyone to sit and talk with them,” she says.
After working a year in Columbus, she moved back to Cincinnati with the intent of earning a master’s degree in social work at the University of Cincinnati. While earning her MSW during the day, she spent her nights working in the neural behavior unit at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, which was for children on the autistic spectrum.
“There were some days I would only get two or three hours of sleep,” she says. “Bang (the energy drink) was my best friend.”
As a graduate student, she was continually drawn to the issue of social isolation among seniors that she witnessed as an undergraduate.
“Study after study shows that social isolation increases abuse, exploitation and neglect,” she says. “It was difficult enough, and now COVID has brought social isolation to the forefront. It’s further isolating seniors.”
Which is why she works hard at creating activities and events for the seniors at Hillcrest, whether it’s bingo or ice cream socials or bringing in a food truck. As she knows all-too-well, there’s nothing that anyone can do about their past, but that doesn’t mean you can’t impact their present—or with the help of the ASA Rise Program—change their future.
“There were times I was sure I was not going to make it, when I had self-doubt,” she says. “But I worked hard to get where I am, and my goal is to be and do better. I want to develop skills to help more people.”
Bolender smiles at Zaire’s convictions and determination.
“I keep telling her that when I retire I will be able to say I knew her when.”
Super Charged
The Bengals weren't the only ones representing Cincinnati in Los Angeles last week. Find out more about the other organizations that worked to make our city proud.
Along with the AFC Champion Bengals and thousands of their fans, Cincinnati business leaders traveled to Los Angeles.
In the Cincinnati Media Center, these leaders sat down with ESPN’s Jordan Cornette to discuss how the city’s strengths and passions go way beyond the football field.
Cincy Culture
Cincinnati arts and culture leaders – Alecia Kintner (CEO, ArtsWave), Kristen Schlotman (Executive Director, Film Cincinnati), and Billy Thomas (Founder, Cincy Nice) – discussed what makes the city such a special place for artists, filmmakers, and musicians.
Video by Shae Combs
Cincy Business
Cincinnati business leaders Julie Calvert, CEO of Visit Cincy, and Kimm Lauterbach, President & CEO of the Regional Economic Development Initiative, discussed the economic impact of the Bengals on the city and how Fortune 500 and start-ups find success in the city.
Video by Shae Combs
Cincy Travel
Julie Calvert (President and CEO of Visit Cincy) and Adam Burke (President & CEO of Los Angeles Tourism) talked about the importance of tourism, for both business and leisure travelers.
Video by Shae Combs
Cincy Cares
In Los Angeles for the Super Bowl, Jennifer Steele (CEO of the Meals on Wheels of Southwest OH & Northern KY) and Vanessa Rosales (Director of Corporate Affairs, Kroger) discussed the innovations solutions they are developing to address senior hunger in the community.
Video by Shae Combs
Leading Edge
Marcus Margurem, interim director of the Contemporary Arts Center, is guiding the organization during a major exhibition focused on art in the Midwest and the development of the new Creativity Center.
Marcus Margerum joined the Contemporary Arts Center in March 2021, in the newly created position of deputy director and chief business officer. When executive director Raphaela Platow stepped down in July 2021, Margerum was named interim director.
During that time, the CAC has launched The Regional, the first major multi-museum survey dedicated to contemporary artists based in the Midwest, and embarked on a landmark campaign to redesign the sixth floor of its building and open a new Creativity Center. The new Center will be an environmentally conscious hub for creative learning, will amplify the CAC’s commitment to fostering innovation and curiosity in audiences of all ages
You've Got a Friend
Friends and colleagues remember Rich Walburg, a cheerleader for Cincinnati throughout his life.
Your friend is your friend. You don’t really think about how your friend is with other people. To you, he’s funny and kind and supportive, commiserating about a mutual annoyance and quick to praise a very specific talent you have.
Giving Back
To honor his legacy, his life’s work, and his alma mater, the Richard Walburg Media Scholarship at the University of Cincinnati has been established.
You can donate to the scholarship at foundation.uc.edu/ccmscholarship. Please put “Richard Walburg” in the memo line.
One day you find out he makes everyone feel that way.
And it makes him an even better friend.
Those of us who worked with Rich found him to be talented, smart, completely unflappable, and effortlessly good at his job. We were also fortunate to call him a friend.
When Rich passed away last week, the out-pouring of love and support from his friends and former colleagues made those sad days more bearable for us at Game Day.
“Rich was Cincinnati’s cheerleader for most of his career. From programming The Big One, 700 WLW, (I loved the way Rich said his W’s) to programming the World’s Largest Chicken Dance, his clever ways will always remain with me. We were so lucky to have Rich join us at Game Day for a few years ago. I miss Rich as a trusted colleague and, more importantly as a great friend,” says Jackie Reau, CEO of Game Day.
The world being what it is, with no direct way to channel their grief, Facebook became the place to share memories of Rich, offer support to those who will miss him, and tell favorite stories about his exploits.
This is just a snapshot of the organizations, the people, and the city who are all better for having known Rich Walburg.
4 MORE: DORA
The Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area opened at The Banks in March, just in time for Opening Day. Tracy Schwegmann shares her impressions on the inaugural year.
As part of our year-end issue, we are revisiting Cincinnati People interviews from 2021.
We checked in with Tracy Schwegman, marketing director/property manager at The Banks, about the DORA district.
The original interview from March is below.
What’s been the biggest surprise to you in 2021?
The overwhelming success of DORA. We will easily surpass distribution of 1million DORA cups by our 1st Anniversary. We knew a DORA district at The Banks would be popular, but did not anticipate that it would be SO successful out of the gate.
What’s changed since we last spoke?
The DORA and pedestrian Plaza have opened up new opportunities to bring people together, and new ways to think about engagement and activation at The Banks.
What have you learned about Cincinnati?
The immediate response to DORA reaffirmed the notion that people really do crave connectedness, shared experiences, and social interaction. It was important to rekindle that coming out of COVID.
What are you most looking forward to in 2022?
The continued collaboration and synergy among the various Banks stakeholders. The Banks is a continually evolving neighborhood with great partners who work together to make big things possible. Onward to 2022!
After 18 months of hard work–and in the middle of a global pandemic–the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area at The Banks is now open! Tracy Schwegmann, The Banks' marketing director/property manager, tells how DORA is the light at the end of the tunnel for the businesses and the community.
4 MORE: Summerfair
After a year away, Summerfair returned to Coney Island. Jayne Utter tells us what it was like to be back and how programs for 2022 are already well underway.
As part of our year-end issue, we are revisiting Cincinnati People stories from throughout 2021.
We checked in with Jayne Utter, the managing director of Summerfair about the return of the in-person arts festival.
The original interview from May is below.
What’s been the biggest surprise to you in 2021?
The best, biggest surprise was how huge the response to Summerfair 2021 was. We had one of the largest crowds in years. Most every artist had record sales. The food court was booming. Everyone was courteous and respectful of personal space.
The worst biggest surprise was/is how slow our return to normalcy has been. Slowly we are building up confidence to get back to our old ways. And, yes, artists are applying for the 2022 event.
What’s changed since we last spoke?
I am back working at our office and gallery space. I think we all learned how to connect via the internet and social media. Some of our exhibitions had to go virtual and they worked so well our plan is to do both virtual and in-person versions.
The one thing that didn’t change for us was we were still able to be true to our mission. We distributed over $80,000 to the arts in Greater Cincinnati, which we do each year.
What did you learn about Cincinnati?
Cincinnati is an art-loving community. We love our one of a kind art to wear, display, enjoy and give to others. Our artists were truly missed. Gosh, we were truly missed. Plus the fact that we are a non-profit that gives back to the arts community draws a lot of interest. Through our our annual three-day fair, we have given back to our local artists for 54 years!
What are you looking forward to most in 2022?
Getting all of our awards and exhibitions back on track and in person. At this time, we are a little backed up with some that were postponed. January and February of 2022 are booked solid with our Emerging Artists Exhibition (college-art students) and Summerfair Select (a tri-annual exhibition for working artists who have received our AIA awards). We will also vote in our Summerfair 2022 Poster winner! It will debut April 7 at Highgrain Brewing Co. in Silverton.
And personally, I want to take a vacation and get back out in the world!
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. Summerfair returns to Coney Island for its 54th year June 4, 5 and 6 with 274 juried artists set to exhibit.
Jayne Utter talks with Betsy Ross about all of the great art visitors will experience.
4 MORE: Cincinnati Opera
Though Cincinnati Opera looked a little different this year, Evans Mirageas was thrilled to have live performances. See his reflection on the past season and what's ahead.
As part of our year-end issue, we are revisiting Cincinnati People stories from throughout 2021.
We checked in with Evans Mirageas, the Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director of Cincinnati Opera, about the 2021 season held at Summit Park.
The original interview from June is below.
What’s been the biggest surprise to you in 2021?
This summer, since we were still concerned about performing indoors, we built an opera house in the middle of Blue Ash’s Summit Park. And not only did we build it (thanks to a Herculean effort by the Opera’s staff, stagehands, and partners), but crowds came and filled the Great Lawn for every performance. And we were able to showcase some of the finest singers working today! It was an experience I’ll never forget.
What’s changed since we last spoke?
While we have not returned to the old “normal,” it is exhilarating to be back among my colleagues face to face (with masks, of course) in our beloved Music Hall, planning for a summer season indoors (!) in 2022.
What did you learn about Cincinnati?
If you build it, opera fans will come (with apologies to Field of Dreams!). We were blown away by the enthusiasm and support the community offered us in this most unconventional year.
What are you looking forward to most in 2022?
I can’t wait to welcome back our audience and artists to Music Hall this summer and to hear those first notes—that burst of energy and youthful joy that is the beginning of our season-opening production La Bohème, played by the amazing Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
You never know where a road trip will lead you. For Evans Mirageas, the Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director at Cincinnati Opera, a visit to Cincinnati instilled a lifelong passion for summer opera.
4 MORE: Gene Kritsky
We explored what's bugging Dr. Gene Kritsky in May before Brood X made their historic return. He gives us this thoughts on this year's cicadas and what's coming next.
As part of our year-end issue, we are revisiting Cincinnati People stories from throughout 2021.
We checked in with Dr. Gene Kritsky, dean of behavioral and natural sciences at Mt. St. Joseph university, and is widely regarded as the go-to expert on periodic cicadas.
The original interview from May is below.
What’s been the biggest surprise to you in 2021?
While the emergence of Brood X was expected, there were some notable surprises. In particular, the events of June 8 – 11 in Maryland. June 8 was the day that cicadas were flying in large numbers in the Washington DC area, and they flew into the auxiliary power unit of President Biden’s press plane that it was grounded.
There were so many flying cicadas that they were detected on weather radar, and over the next two days later millions of dead cicadas were washing up on the beach at Herring Bay.
That was a first.
What’s changed since we last spoke?
I had to work out how to map over half a million cicada photographs. That required that I had to learn to use new software. That turned out to be quite enjoyable.
What did you learn about Cincinnati?
You have to love Greater Cincinnati. I received well over 100,000 photos from my neighbors! We really do go bug crazy when the cicadas emerge. I know many people do not enjoy them as much as my wife, Jessee, and I do; but there are also many other do really get into the cicada scene.
What are you looking forward to most in 2022?
2022 is going to be not a hectic as 2021. There are no periodical cicada broods expected in 2022 and 2023. That will give us time to analyze the 2021 emergence. The next cicada emergence will be in 2024 in Illinois where two different broods will emerge together. That only happens once every 221 years, so we are already preparing for that emergence.
Southwest Ohio will next see periodical cicadas in 2025.
Internationally renowned cicada expert, and admitted “frustrated historian,” Dr. Gene Kritsky shares the when, where, and how of the upcoming Brood X emergence. He also hints that though cicadas may not always be great for trees they could be a bit of a good luck charm for the Reds.
Want to hear more from Dr. Kritsky? Check out his new podcast with WVXU, Brood X.
4 More: Monuments Men
Paintings, Politics and the Monuments Men: The Berlin Masterpieces in America opened in July with a powerful local connection. Peter Jonathan Bell talks about what that history can teach us.
As part of our year-end issue, we are revisiting Cincinnati People interviews from 2021.
We checked in with Peter Jonathan Bell curator of European Paintings, Sculpture and Drawings, Cincinnati Art Museum since we last spoke with him about the exhibition Politics and the Monuments Men: The Berlin Masterpieces in America
The original interview from July is below.
WHAT’S BEEN THE BIGGEST SURPRISE TO YOU IN 2021?
I’ve been bowled over by the strength of response, throughout this second year of the pandemic, to everything the museum does—from neighbors engaging with Art Climb, to visitors flocking to see our exhibitions and spend time in the galleries, to donors stepping up to support new acquisitions and campus improvements—I feel in this year, more than ever, the power of art and just how much that can mean for our community.
WHAT’S CHANGED SINCE WE LAST SPOKE?
Paintings Politics and the Monuments Men, the exhibition we talked about, closed in October, and so my focus has shifted from the immediacy of engaging with folks in and around that exhibition to plans for the future—exhibitions, publications, gallery updates, and conservation treatments—some projects that will bear fruit early in the new year, others that will come to life three or four years down the road.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT CINCINNATI?
Our community really responded to the show. I heard from someone who vividly remembers visiting the Berlin Masterpieces exhibition in Washington DC in 1948; I met the nephew of another Monuments Man who had worked alongside Walter Farmer protecting art in Europe; I was able to speak about the exhibition with military service members working right now to preserve cultural heritage around the world. It drove home for me that people in this city and region are rich in experiences and invested in understanding and sharing history and bringing its lessons forward to today.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2022?
Traveling! A big part of my professional remit, intellectual development and personal joy involves traveling to engage with art, which has been largely on hold during the COVID era. I am eager to resume regular travel within the country and to Europe in 2022.
The 2014 George Clooney explored a group of American and British men and women – museum curators, art historians, librarians, architects, even artists – responsible for preserving the artistic and cultural achievements of western civilization from the destruction of war and theft by the Nazis.
A number of those works are now on view at the Cincinnati Art Museum in the exhibition Politics and the Monuments Men: The Berlin Masterpieces in America. Peter Jonathan Bell, the Musuem’s curator of European paintings, sculpture and drawings, offers us an inside look at the exhibition and the stories behind preserving these masterpieces.
4 MORE: Borrowed Gems
With the Taft Museum of Art under renovation, many of its masterworks are on view at Cincinnati Museum Center. Deborah Emont Scott and Elizabeth Pierce offer a look to the future for both museums.
As part of our year-end issue, we are revisiting Cincinnati People interviews from 2021.
We checked in with Deborah Emont Scott, The Louise Taft Semple President/CEO of the Taft Museum of Art, and Elizabeth Pierce, CEO of Cincinnati Museum Center, who we spoke to about Borrowed Gems from the Taft Museum of Art, an exhibition of 47 works from the Taft currently on view at CMC.
The original interview about the exhibition from July is below.
Deborah Emont Scott, The Louise Taft Semple President/CEO
What’s been the biggest surprise to you in 2021?
The success of our museum’s mission and the love we receive by our community during these trying times have been heartwarming. It is truly because of our dedicated team and passionate partners like the Cincinnati Museum Center that the Taft Museum of Art’s historic house will thrive for another 200 years. Their advocacy and support were integral in keeping the Bicentennial Infrastructure Project moving forward as we sought a temporary home for nearly 40 works in our collection—amidst a pandemic.
What’s changed since we last spoke?
Our bicentennial exhibitions, In a New Light: Treasures from the Taft in our Fifth Third Gallery and Borrowed Gems from the Taft Museum of Art on loan to Cincinnati Museum Center, are now in their final months. This means we are approaching a new and exciting phase of the project, reinterpreting and reinstalling our historic house collection alongside the debut of the newly restored and preserved home. For example, some works have never had labels before—which will allow us to share more educational and artistic resources with the public—while some works have been restored after quite some time off view.
During this time, we have also diligently continued to raise funds for the Love This House campaign, which supports the Bicentennial Infrastructure Project. We are now 80% of the way to our goal of $12.7 million!
What did you learn about Cincinnati?
Cincinnati is a place where people care about its history and culture. Since both the Taft and the Cincinnati Museum Center are so interwoven into the fabric of the Queen City, visitors to both exhibitions have been able to find a part of themselves in our collection, its history, and the insight it continues to provide to 21st century audiences. Visitors will soon too be able to further experience this within the Taft historic house.
What are you most looking forward to in 2022?
As the Taft Museum of Art celebrates our 90th birthday this year, we are also elated to be in the final stretches of our Bicentennial Infrastructure Project! It has been a unique pleasure to share this experience with our city and I look forward to the grand reveal of the house, alongside our cinematic exhibition this June, Jane Austen: Fashion & Sensibility, our Light Up the Night Gala, and celebrating with community events—further exploring the living art and history this place holds.
Elizabeth Pierce, President and CEO
What’s been the biggest surprise to you in 2021?
The biggest surprise is that 2021 has felt more difficult in some ways than 2020.
What’s changed since we last spoke?
Since we talked in July about Borrowed Gems, the Holiday Trains have opened and we are welcoming lots of people back to Union Terminal. Visitors are loving the Ice Age Trail, which opened in July for the first time in five years. As a destination experience, we are continuing to adapt working hours and working styles appreciating the financial ups and protecting against the financial downs of our business.
What did you learn about Cincinnati?
This exhibition of the Taft’s Borrowed Gems gave me a greater understanding of Charles and Anna’s desire to inspire the artisans and makers in the community. And, working on other projects that are upcoming in 2022, we see the impact of inspiration. We have new experiences upcoming in the history museum focused on items and companies “made in Cincinnati” influenced by the creativity that Taft’s shared with our region.
What are you most looking forward to in 2022?
The schedule of really interesting projects we’ve been working on to debut in 2022. In April, Our Shared Story celebrating 200 years of Jewish settlement and impact in Cincinnati will be wonderful. There are so many aspects of Cincinnati tied to this bicentennial, I think people will really be surprised and delighted to make these connections. Starting in May , we’re celebrating “America’s Epic Treasures” with a great package of our 19th century American landscape art, paired with immersive paintings from Michael Scott and his Preternatural collection, paired with an incredible OMNIMAX voyage Into America’s Wild. Then, on Nov. 4, 2022, we’ll have our next party, Layers of Nature, when we’ll be joyfully eating, drinking, and dancing through the layers of Union Terminal as part of the celebration and installation of our permanent exhibit named for John and Judy Ruthven, Get Into Nature.
These are all long-time projects coming to fruition and will make this community smile in many ways. Lots of great community partnerships and projects that celebrate history, science, art, curiosity, and more!
Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC) is partnering with the Taft Museum of Art to care for nearly 50 artworks during the restoration of the Taft’s 200-year-old historic house. These works will be showcased at CMC in the featured exhibition Borrowed Gems from the Taft Museum of Art. Borrowed Gems opens Friday.
Borrowed Gems showcases the collection of Charles Phelps Taft and Anna Sinton Taft, displaying work from masters including Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, Charles François Daubigny, J. M. W. Turner and Thomas Gainsborough, in addition to decorative arts featuring Qing dynasty Chinese ceramics and 18th-century watches. The exhibition continues the reinterpretation of the Taft’s permanent collection, covering a broad range of eras, cultures and art forms and the Taft’s More to the Story interpretive texts, providing audiences a more diverse understanding of history. Select works are also highlighted with Closer Look labels to engage families and children with self-guided learning prompts.
Organized by subject matter, Borrowed Gems shows the full range of paintings collected by the Tafts. The couple enjoyed collecting portraits, scenes from daily life and landscapes that could also serve as educational models for artists working in Cincinnati who would look at, and even copy, works by masters of the past. Highlighted portraits in the exhibition include British works such as Thomas Gainsborough’s portrait of Maria, Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh and Joshua Reynolds’ Mrs. Stephen Payne-Gallwey and Her Son Charles. These works continue to offer insights today, providing context into the stories behind the faces seen in the paintings. The portraits are accompanied by 18th-century European watches made of gold and precious gems, bought by the Tafts to inspire Cincinnati’s watchmaking industry. Rather than precision timepieces, these watches are miniature works of art that demonstrated their owners’ fascination with technology. Each watch in Borrowed Gems required the hand of many skilled artisans, from goldsmiths to enamelers to the makers of the movement.
Borrowed Gems also features paintings and porcelains made by Chinese, Dutch, English and French artists of the 18th and 19th centuries portraying people, illustrating narratives and depicting scenes from daily life. The varied cultures and time periods represented in the collection point to the universal impulse to examine relationships and tell stories. Exhibition features include Jean-Francois Millet’s Mother and Child, Anton Mauve’s Cattle Grazing and Adriaen van Ostade’s Interior of an Inn with Three Men and a Boy, which share scenes of people at work, tender family moments and playful vignettes of childhood. Works from the Taft’s collection featured in Borrowed Gems also showcase Chinese vases that illustrate action-filled narratives from Chinese history and literature such as the Vase with the Battle of Kunyang.
Landscapes in the exhibition feature vistas of the French, Dutch and English countryside by painters including J. M. W. Turner’s The Trout Stream and multiple works by Camille Corot. These paintings likely provided respite to the Tafts as they lived in the heart of downtown surrounded by newly built factories. A selection of landscape-inspired Chinese porcelains with designs derived by nature such as the Vase with Lotus Flowers is also on display in the exhibition. During their lifetimes, the Tafts invited artists to see the works from their collections in their home, hoping to encourage creativity in the arts and even inspiring Rookwood Pottery artists with their more than 200 pieces of Chinese ceramics.
Borrowed Gems from the Taft Museum of Art is open through February 21, 2022 in the John A. Ruthven Gallery and the William L. Mallory Sr. Gallery at Cincinnati Museum Center. Admission is free.
4 MORE: Bibi
Bibi and Fiona have seen some major changes since May, as we check in with them about the BIG difference in their lives and how things look for the future.
As part of our year-end issue, we are revisiting Cincinnati People interviews from 2021.
We checked in with Bibi, via Wendy Rice, senior keeper at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.
The original interview from May is below.
WHAT’S BEEN THE BIGGEST SURPRISE TO YOU IN 2021?
From Bibi’s perspective, I would say the addition of a 4,100-pound male hippo has by far been the biggest surprise of 2021!
Obviously there’s no way for us to share our plans or intentions to the animals in our care, so the addition of new individuals is always a surprise for them! We’ve been so lucky that Tucker has been a perfect gentleman and has made the introduction process very easy. It was really scary for our team because Fiona is a little on the smaller side and Tucker ended up being MUCH larger than our previous male hippo (Fiona’s father), Henry, so we were definitely concerned about how well they would get along and whether or not Fiona would be able to hold her own during the sparring and rough-housing that is always part of establishing a new social grouping. But fortunately, Tucker has been great with both of our girls!
WHAT’S CHANGED SINCE WE LAST SPOKE?
Similarly, the addition of Tucker has been the biggest change in Bibi’s life and her role as mother to Fiona. It can be really hard for the keeper staff to interpret the intentions and motivations of our animals, but we can’t help but wonder if Bibi feels like she needs to protect Fiona from Tucker. Tucker hasn’t acted aggressively or anything, but Bibi has always seemed to understand that Fiona is smaller and younger and should be interacted with in a very specific and age-appropriate way. Bibi was so good at both coaching and refereeing Fiona and Henry’s interactions so we anticipated that she would probably do the same with Tucker and Fiona, but that hasn’t necessarily been the case. We suspect that because Fiona is much older now, Bibi doesn’t feel like she needs to intervene much (if at all) in their socializations, and for the most part, she’s been letting the two of them establish their own dynamic without much interference.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT CINCINNATI?
Our Cincinnati community continues to be as amazing, loving and supportive as ever! Tucker has been fully embraced with open arms and it’s been really cool to watch our guests have “wow” moments with him! Tucker isn’t comfortable participating in the feedings that happen at our Behind-The-Scenes area on habitat, so during those moments he’s usually checking out the guests thru the windows…he’ll stand on his back feet in the deep end and push his front feet and face against the window and that puts him at eye level with our guests. Kids absolutely LOVE it! He’s really developing his own fan base and quickly becoming a favorite for many guests!
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2022?
I would guess that our hippos are looking forward to having their social hierarchy all sorted out in 2022 and gaining familiarity and comfort with each other. The process is taking as long as it needs to and we’re moving at a slow but steady pace with the hopes of establishing a happy and stable bloat of 3. We also look forward to many more of our guests (across the country and internationally) returning to visit us again after the long absences that were made necessary by covid. All in all, the future is looking bright for our Cincy Zoo hippos!
Holiday Spirits
Choosing wine for holiday parties or family dinners? Find expert advice and a great selection at Hart & Cru. Kevin Hart guides you through crowd-pleasing favorites to serve and delicious gifts options to delight.
Kevin Hart is an experienced sommelier and dedicated student of the vine. Working at some of the best restaurants in the city, he developed his palate for pairing food and wine. He has now turned his attention to wine full time with the opening of Hart & Cru.
Hart & Cru is at 1206 Broadway in Pendleton. Find more information at hartandcru.com.
Christmastime Is Here
Norm Lewis, the Tony-nominated star who has become synonymous with Christmas in New York, bring the greatest Christmas songs and Broadway showstoppers to Cincinnati as part of Flow, an African American Arts Experience presented by ArtsWave.
Christmas isn’t Christmas in New York without Norm Lewis. His annual holiday shows – filled with Christmas classics and Broadway standards – are as much a tradition as ice skating at Rockefeller Center and seeing the Rockettes.
He brings his special holiday concert experience to Cincinnati on Dec. 3 and 4, with “Norm Lewis: Naughty and Nice,” at the Aronoff Center, part of Flow, an African American Arts Experience presented by ArtsWave. Find tickets at artswave.org/norm.
Giving Thanks
For the past 15 years, Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment has given back on Thanksgiving, showing their appreciation to first responders the best way they know how, with delicious food and warm hospitality.
Approximately 100 turkeys were dropped off to Anderson Township Fire & Rescue personnel by the Jeff Ruby family, owners and operators of Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment.
Assistant Chief Bob Herrlinger received the turkeys at the Fire & Rescue station, 7954 Beechmont Avenue today at 12:30 p.m.
Turkeys were also dropped off to first responders in Columbus and Nashville last week. Since 2015, Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment has provided more than 3,000 turkeys to first responders and their families.
Adventure Is Out There
Elizabeth Pierce, CEO of Cincinnati Museum Center, gives us a behind-the-scenes look at The Science Behind Pixar, which opened Friday. The interactive exhibition showcases the boundless limits of STEM, imagination and curiosity, thrilling guests as they come face-to-face with popular characters, including Buzz Lightyear, Dory, Mike and Sulley, Edna Mode and WALL•E.
If You Go
The Science Behind Pixar is open through April 24, 2022. Tickets are available at cincymuseum.org/pixar.
TICKETS:
Adult $19.50
Child $15.50
Senior $15.50
CMC Member Adult $13.50
CMC Member Child $9.50
The Science Behind Pixar is supported locally by Anne Drackett Thomas.
Through eight interactive areas, The Science Behind Pixar empowers guests to imagine the STEM concepts behind Pixar’s films by shining a lamp on eight of the steps in the filmmaking process – modeling, rigging, surfaces, sets and cameras, animation, simulation, lighting and rendering. The exhibition delivers an unparalleled view of the production pipeline used by Pixar’s artists and computer scientists, featuring more than 50 interactive elements.
Films and characters represented in the exhibition include Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Finding Nemo, Finding Dory, Brave, The Incredibles, Up, WALL•E, Monsters, Inc., Cars, Luca and more.
To better understand the science and math that goes into creating the worlds and characters of Pixar’s films, guests will hear first-hand from members of the studios’ production teams. You will also be invited to experience different roles within the production pipeline through screen-based activities and physical interactive elements.
Some of the activities included in the exhibition:
Discover how camera placement and angles created a bug’s-eye view in A Bug’s Life
Create a digital sculpture from an artist’s sketch
Use lights to solve challenges similar to ones faced by Pixar in creating underwater scenes in Finding Nemo
See how models are given a virtual skeleton that enables animators to pose them
Build a robot inspired by those in WALL•E
Try your hand at stop-motion animation of a jumping lamp and watch a short film of what you produced
See and touch scale models of many of Pixar’s beloved characters (except Mike and Sulley. We don’t want a code 2319).
Just Desserts
Kat Steiner, chief philanthroply officer at Meals on Wheels Southwest OH & Northern KY, shares the details on how you can make life sweeter for area seniors, and treat your family to delicious pies for Thanksgiving. Any way you slice it, Bust A Crust! is a great idea.
Pick up a pie. Help a senior!
Meals on Wheels of Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky is offering a selection of pumpkin, pecan, apple, and sweet potato pies donated by local bakeries and restaurants.
This year’s Bust A Crust! also includes a hometown legend – Frisch’s Pumpkin Pie! The featured celebrity pie is from Chef Jean-Francois Flechet from Taste of Belgium. His Apricot White Chocolate Pie is inspired by Belgian baking.
To order Thanksgiving pies, or donate to Meals on Wheels, visit bustacrust.org.
Park Life
Great Parks manages more than 17,600 acres of greenspace, including more than 25 miles of river frontage, and has more than 78 miles of trails across Hamilton County. With a Comprehensive Master Plan to expand trails, develop more programming, increase accessibility, and even more improvements within the already popular parks system, CEO Todd Palmeter is guiding Great Parks into the future.
Todd Palmeter, CEO of Great Parks, talks about what the future holds for the largest and most diverse inventories of parks, natures preserves and conservation areas in the state.
Find out more about Great Parks Forever fund raiser on Oct. 15
Shining Star
Britney Ruby Miller has faced many obstacles in her life—extreme challenges to her faith, her family, her marriage, and her business. In her new book, 5-Star Life: The Faithful Fight to Overcome Obstacles and Pursue Excellence she reflects on striving for excellence on her personal journey and she shares insights gained while working to attain a 5-star life.
“My family has always strived for five-star reviews from our critics. It’s how we know if we’re maintaining the standard of excellence we’re committed to. It’s our legacy. If I were to review and rate my life, I would have to give it five stars. Not because it’s been perfect but because of what my God did with the imperfections. I wouldn’t change the terrible, horrible, awful parts because I’ve learned that victory and miracles are real.”
—Britney Ruby Miller
The CEO of Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment, the vivacious, excellence-driven Britney Ruby Miller, is the daughter of the celebrated restauranteur who founded the company, and she is immensely proud to be leading the company to even new heights.
Her book is available locally at Joseph-Beth Booksellers. Find out more at www.britrubymiller.com/books,
A Walk in the Park
The largest one-day art show in Greater Cincinnati returns on Sunday, Oct. 3! After a hiatus in 2020 due to the pandemic, the Hyde Park Square Art Show features more than 200 artists representing media from painting to sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, photography, multimedia and more. Get a preview of this long-standing event from organizer Janet Smith.
The Hyde Park Square Art Show will return on Sunday, Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Hyde Park Square at Edwards Road and Erie Ave.
The largest one-day art show in Greater Cincinnati features more than 200 artists representing media from painting to sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, photography, multimedia and more. Most of the exhibitors featured at the Hyde Park Square Art Show are local artists.
The show features artists working in all media including painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, jewelry, fiber, crafts and multi-media. For more information about the Hyde Park Square Art Show, visit hydeparksquare.org.