I, Too, Sing America: The Harlem Renaissance at 100 Short North Temporary Mural Series

The Short North Alliance and 10 partner galleries and art institutions, with the support of the the Greater Columbus Arts Council, present the fifth rendition of the highly popular Short North Temporary Mural Series titled I, Too, Sing America: The Harlem Renaissance at 100. This year’s series is in partnership with Columbus-based marketing agency Warhol & WALL ST.

This iteration builds upon the popular Six in the Short North (2017-present), BLANKS SPACES (2015-2017), Viewpoints: Murals by Young Professional Working Artists (2013-15), and 10x10x10 (2012-13) mural series.

The murals are installed on the exterior brick facades of 12 buildings along High Street in the Short North Arts District. They consist of high resolution images of art works that are printed on vinyl and heat-adhered to buildings. The process results in a work of art that looks painted on the building.

The Short North Mural Series has become one of the most anticipated and celebrated projects in the Short North Arts District. Representing an incredible community-wide collaboration among the district’s art galleries and many of our community’s leading arts institutions, this set of murals focus on an individual author’s feelings about their city.

Navigate the murals and the art of the Short North in person using the Short North Arts District Art Trail mobile app.

See the full Gallery & Art Guide Here

I, TOO, SING AMERICA MURALS

Anime Omission (Composite)
Annie Chrissy Burley – @art_chrissy
Hammond Harkins Gallery
Installed at 1020 N. High St

About the artwork:
Anime Omission (Composite) dives into themes of role playing and animation not commonly attributed to the “Big Black Woman” archetype. The fictional character’s pose and role play is based on the character Ayanami Rei from the animated series “Neon Genesis Evangelion,” created and directed by Hideaki Anno, while the background is a collage of films depicting black women in various media.

Fleaux Child
Richard Duarte Brown – @artwithduarte
Sean Christopher Gallery Ohio
Installed at 1359 N. High St

About the artwork:
Fleaux Child depicts Louis Othello Berry, a Columbus Ohio poet, dancer, and Transit Arts alumni. The artist painted Louis, aka Fleaux Child, performing live at the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus with Transit Arts.   

 

 

Richard Pryor. Medium: Charcoal.
Terry Norman – @tnorm10
Marcia Evans Gallery
Installed at 685 N. High St

About the artwork:
Norman was inspired by Richard Pryor’s ability to use humor across all racial backgrounds to address controversial issues in the 1970s. Norman used charcoal to capture the true essence of Pryor’s face. This image is owned and copyright by:  Jennifer Lee Pryor and Indigo, Inc.  Worldwide Rights  Retained.  Approval is given to Terry Norman to duplicate and display the copyright image for this mural exhibit.

 

Urn, Or Another Way To Say I Love You (video still) 2017
Cameron Granger – @realtayediggs
Pizzuti Collection
Installed at 777 N. Wall St

About the artwork:
“I love you, I love you, I love you, I need you, where are you?” Urn, Or Another Way To Say I Love You is about the space, or more specifically, the distance between “I” and “you” that Granger’s “love” tried to cover, and how the space grows the more she tries and keep others from them.

 

Lady in the Window, 2018 (Two angles shown​)
Omar Shaheed
Brandt-Roberts Galleries
Installed at 642 N. High St

About the artwork:
The urban inspired Lady in the Window features Shaheed’s interpretations of city dwellings and the people that inhabit them.

 

 

BREAKING LOOSE
Edmund Boateng – @kboateng_street
Sharon Weiss Gallery
Installed at 1288 N. High St

About the artwork:
BREAKING LOOSE is a self-portrait depicting breaking away from industry boundaries, stereotypes, and obstacles that have held back Boateng, freeing him to be the creative, open-minded artist he has grown to become.

 

 

The Exodusters
Antoinette Savage
Lindsay Gallery
Installed at 921 N. High St

About the artwork:
Savage’s sculptures are made with wire arms and legs that bend and loop with unnatural grace, that are then wrapped in the bright colors of African fabrics.

 

 

Dviza, 2017
April Sunami – @ajsunami
Sherrie Gallerie
Installed at 772 N. High St

About the artwork:
Sunami deliberately creates images of strong, spiritual women as a means of proclaiming her personal identity and providing a different lens for the social perception of black women.

 

 

Bogolan Queen
Debbie Jackson – @debbiesadornments
Studios on High Gallery
Installed at 790 N. High St

About the artwork:
Bogolan Queen was inspired by Jackson’s love of African fabrics, colors, textures, and reflective symbolism. “Bogolanfini” is another name for Mud Cloth, made by the people of Mali. Jackson imitated the cloth and adorned the woman’s hair to represent a majestic crown.

 

Goodale Fountain
Malcolm J (Kevin Malcolm Jones)
Installed at 15 E. Second Ave

About the artwork:
Malcolm J, a Short North fixture for close to two decades, used his his keen observational skills to capture neighborhood scenes like Goodale Fountain.

 

 

 

Spread more Love
Bee1ne – @bee1ne_
Installed at 1033 N. High St

About the artwork:
Spread more Love is an ongoing campaign to ignite positivity and social awareness. With so much injustice, inequality, and hatred flowing around, we need something more uplifting and positive to counteract it. Love at its basic form is to at least be kind and respectful.

 

 

I, Too, Am Columbus
Marshall Shorts
Installed at 858 N. High St

About the artwork:
I, Too, Am Columbus  is an ode to the Jazz Age, Modernism, and Art Deco style of Aaron Douglas who rose to prominence during the Harlem Renaissance. The story is centered in the digital illustration around Columbus but pulls inspiration from some Douglas’ work which focuses on the African Diaspora.

 

 

THIS PROJECT MADE POSSIBLE WITH SUPPORT FROM