UPPER ARLINGTON Community Commitment at Concourse

UA gallery features Columbus gallery artists and elementary school students

By Tessa Dufresne

Marcia Evans Gallery

Contemporary original art pieces from the Short North’s Marcia Evans Gallery will brighten Upper Arlington’s Concourse Gallery in January.

Concourse Gallery is partnering with Marcia Evans Gallery to exhibit the creations of local, regional and national artists such as Trevor Boyle, John Donnelly, Michael Halliday, Karen LaValley, Barbara Mink, Annette Poitau and Linda Wesner.

“It is a great opportunity for art to get in front of a different audience in Upper Arlington and for the people of Upper Arlington to see different art,” says Lynette Santoro-Au, arts manager for the City of Upper Arlington.

The Marcia Evans Gallery is a unique space in the Short North showcasing new artists alongside seasoned ones, with styles ranging from landscapes to modern art.

The exhibit at Concourse Gallery will be a show of twodimensional, mostly abstract pieces. It runs Jan. 5-27, with a public reception from 5-7 p.m. Jan. 12. The reception includes ArtSpeak, a formal opportunity for guests to hear featured artists explain their processes, and time for casual talk with the artists and Marcia Evans, the gallery’s namesake.

Elementary Schools

Upper Arlington elementary schools’ student artists will show off their hard work at Concourse Gallery Feb. 1-24.

Students whose works will be featured hail from Barrington, Greensview, St. Agatha Catholic, St. Andrew, Tremont, Wellington, Wickliffe and Windermere elementary schools.

Barrington Elementary School art teachers Gwen Davis and Lou Tiberi say they believe art education is vital for the curriculum and the community because its core skills are key in the 21st Century global world.

Each school will contribute between 20 and 35 pieces, depending on the size of the school, totaling more than 180 student works.

“(The exhibit) gives a chance for students to excel in different ways, other than academics or athletics,” says Loraine Severance, an art teacher at Greensview Elementary School. “This is an opportunity for students with different learning styles to get recognition.”

Santoro-Au says students tell her years after their art was shown at the gallery that they will always remember the experience.

“I like the partnership,” says Santoro-Au. “It provides an established, professional setting for the students’ work and it shows the creativity happening at our schools.”

Concourse Gallery is located at 3600 Tremont Rd., Upper Arlington. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 to 5 p.m. For more information, contact Concourse Gallery at 614-5835310 or visit www.uaoh.net.

Tessa Dufresne is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at laurand@pubgroupltd.com.