Public art abounds in the Short North Arts District, as showcased in its many beloved murals. Soon, art-adorned-facade fanatics can delight in even more public art with the installation of the Harlem Renaissance 100th Anniversary mural series.

Though the Harlem Renaissance began in New York in 1918, Columbus was among major cities that took part in creating, elevating, and showcasing the work of African American artists. As part of “I, Too Sing America: The Harlem Renaissance At 100,” a city-wide celebration of the Columbus Black arts community, the Short North Arts District will debut a brand new mural series at the August 2018 Gallery Hop.

In collaboration with 10 Short North Arts District galleries, I, Too, Sing America: The Harlem Renaissance at 100 Mural Series features works by established and emerging Black Columbus artists, including Antoinette Savage, Debbie Jackson, Edmund Boateng, Omar Shaheed, Terry Norman, Annie Chrissy Burley, Cameron Granger, April
Sunami, Richard Duarte Brown, Malcolm J, Bee1ne, and Marshall Shorts. These artists will also be displaying their works and giving talks in the galleries during Hop, and live performances by performing artists will occur all along High Street.

Stop by Gallery Hop in the Short North Arts District on Saturday, August 4 from 4:00pm – 10:00pm to participate in this memorable, art-filled celebration of the Harlem Renaissance’s 100th Anniversary.

ABOUT THE I, TOO, SING AMERICA MURALS

Anime Omission (Composite)
Annie Chrissy Burley
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
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
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.

 

 

 

Urn, Or Another Way To Say I Love You (video still) 2017
Cameron Granger
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
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
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
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
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.