Screen Test

Glamour and fun ruled the red carpet at Film Cincinnati’s Backlot fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 29.

Guests did not disappoint, picking up the pre-Halloween vibes and going all in on the “Hollywood Glam” theme for the event, held at Waypoint Aviation.

Along with food from Funky’s Catering, music from Fixx Band, and green screen and 360-camera stations, the evening also honored film producer Sarah Green, who received Film Cincinnati’s Founder's Award.

Brewing up history

Hands down, this tour in OTR where we learned about Cincinnati’s brewing history was easily at the top of our “Coolest things we’ve done in Cincy this year” list.

Dark side of brewing

Is the name of the tour we took! You’ll walk a little over a mile through OTR, past historic breweries.

Brewing Heritage Trail staff are incredibly knowledgeable as they take you through Cincinnati’s brewing history, sharing stories of those who left their mark here through beer.

The last two stops on your tour are some of the coolest!

tOUR AN ABANDONED THEATER

We won’t give it all away but this was one of our favorite parts of the tour.

Next, you’ll walk underneath the historic Jackson Brewery, into its former brewing tunnels.

Check out the gallery below and our Cincinnati People show for all the fun we fun we had.

For more info, click here: https://brewingheritagetrail.org/

What's Cooking

Cincinnati steak-lovers, we’ve got good news and we’ve got bad news.

The bad news is Jeff Ruby’s eponymous downtown steakhouse closed on Sunday.

The good news is a new, bigger, and somehow even more glamorous, steakhouse opens across from Fountain Square on Saturday.

Sleeping Beauty

Like the Roaring Twenties, the days to see Unlocking an Art Deco Bedroom by Joseph Urban at the Cincinnati Art Museum are fleeting.

The lavish bedroom designed by Austrian-born architect Joseph Urban for 17-year-old Elaine Wormser closes Sunday, Oct. 2.

About the Architect

Joseph Urban (1872–1933) was a prolific illustrator, scenic designer, and architect who trained in fin-de-siècle Vienna. During this period, many Viennese artists, including Urban, rejected historical precedents and embraced a new modern art. In 1911, he relocated to the United States to become the art director of the Boston Opera. He quickly became one of the most revered set designers of the early twentieth century and worked tirelessly across a range of media, from film to architecture, to create and promote a fresh style that reflected the times.

Some of Urban’s most notable projects include set designs for the Metropolitan Opera, the Ziegfeld Follies, and Hollywood films; the first American gallery to showcase work by artists of the famed Wiener Werkstatte (Vienna Workshop); the building and interiors for The New School in New York; the color direction for the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair; interiors for Marjorie Merriweather Post’s Palm Beach estate, Mar-a-Lago; and the roof garden of Cincinnati’s Hotel Gibson (demolished in 1977).

More about the exhibition.

More than 90 years after its completion, the Wormser Bedroom’s furnishings have been fully conserved and displayed to reflect their state as originally installed in Chicago’s Drake Tower and photographed in 1930.

“It is thrilling to present this bedroom for the first time in our galleries, with new scholarship and display approaches,” notes Amy Miller Dehan, the exhibition’s curator and Cincinnati Art Museum’s curator of decorative arts and design.

When Elaine Wormser Reis moved to Cincinnati in 1936, she brought nearly all of her bedroom with her—including the custom wall-to-wall carpet. The room’s elements, donated to the Cincinnati Art Museum by Elaine Wormser Reis in 1973, form the largest collection of Urban-designed furnishings held by a public institution. 

One of Urban’s final commissions, the Wormser Bedroom features a daring combination of colors and patterns, black glass walls and a reflective silvered ceiling. The interior embodies the distinct modern design vocabulary that Urban developed and employed throughout his career, highlighting his talent as a colorist, his flair for the dramatic, and his skillful blend of Viennese artistic influences with the prevailing modern style now known as Art Deco.

“For decades, our understanding of the room was based on black-and-white photographs which fail to present Urban’s virtuosic combinations of color, pattern, and finish,” says Dehan. “The process of reconstructing the room has been a revelation. This exhibition reveals Urban’s boundless talent and contributions to the development of American Modernism as well as the bold messaging that women like Elaine Wormser projected when choosing the avant-garde style over backward-looking historical fashions.”

In addition to the bedroom, the exhibition features drawings, paintings, costumes, and related furnishings drawn from many American collections. A full-color illustrated book and an interactive website provide further context, including reflections on the experiences of the caretakers and unnamed craftspeople who are an integral part of the Wormser Bedroom story. Behind-the-scenes investigations and processes necessary to reintroduce the room to the public are also highlighted.

young, scrappy, and hungry

They were not throwing away their shot!

At last weekend’s Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, the cast of HAMILTON did a very different kind of dance.

Check out this BTS video from the Rich Walburg World's Largest Chicken Dance!

The cast members were thrilled to participate in this Zinzinnati tradition, in front of 70,000 strong on Saturday night

HAMILTON continues through Oct. 2 as part of Broadway in Cincinnati at the Aronoff Center.

Top of the Park(s)

For movies, it’s the Academy Awards.  For music, it’s the Grammy’s.  For amusement parks? It’s the Golden Ticket Awards that took place recently in San Antonio, Texas. 

And Cincinnati’s own Kings Island took home one of 2022’s top honors – Park of the Year for its 50th Anniversary Celebration season, according to Kings Island’s Director of Communications, Chad Showalter.

Recently, the amusement park’s rides were recognized as some of the best, including The Beast, Mystic Timbers, Orion and Diamondback.

Here’s a look at the park’s honors for this year:

Top Honor: 2022 Park of the Year

Amusement Today, the organizers of the Golden Ticket Awards” said that Kings Island received the ‘Park of the Year’ award “Because of (the park’s) important history and its perfect celebration of it.”

World Class

In addition to offering more than 100 world-class rides, shows and attractions, Kings Island offers a series of special outdoor events each and every year.

More Kings Island Recognition:

In addition to Park of the Year, Kings Island in the following categories:

Ice Dreams

You know you’ve made this face while enjoying the seasonal fav, Blue Ice Cream. YUM!

#2 Best New Show – “Fun, Fireworks, and Fifty Nighttime Spectacular”

#2 Best Kids Area in the World – Planet Snoopy provides families with top kids rides and attractions during their visit to Kings Island.

#4 Best New Show – “Phantom Theater Encore”

#4 Best Guest Experience (up from #5 last year)

Racing for the Win

The Red and Blue racers are a classic, guest favorite.

#5 Best Wooden Rollercoaster – The Beast (One of only two roller coasters that have been on every top 10 list Amusement Today has published)

#6 Best Wooden Rollercoaster – Mystic Timbers (The coaster debuted at #11 in 2017)

Golden Anniversary

“It's moments like these that make me so proud of my park.”

– Chad Showalter, director of communications

#17 Best Steel Coaster – Diamondback Earlier this year, Grace Timmons from Seymour, Indiana became Diamondbacks 20 millionth rider. 

#20 Best Steel Coaster – Orion USA TODAY’s Best New Amusement Park Attraction in 2020 

“It's moments like these that make me so proud of my park, Showalter adds. “This weekend, at the annual international Golden Ticket Awards ceremony in San Antonio, Texas, Amusement Today awarded the Golden Ticket Award for Park of the Year to Kings Island.”

50 years of fun

The park celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022, with special events, honoring memories, fun and traditions.

The park is in the midst of getting ready for Halloween Haunt, opening on Friday, Sept. 23.

Keep an eye out as we take you inside the park and share the spooky and scary happenings!

For more info, click here!

Amusement Today’s annual Golden Ticket Awards are the amusement industry’s top recognition with amusement park owners and managers, ride manufacturers and other industry officials. One a year they gather to salute the industry’s top parks. Winners are selected by hundreds of well-traveled amusement park enthusiasts, who vote from all corners of the world. 

Clear as a Bell

The Bell Charitable Foundation today named four organizations that have been selected to receive the Foundation’s inaugural round of grants that total $150,000.

altafiber, which formerly did business as Cincinnati Bell in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, launched the BCF earlier this year. The BCF’s mission is to support organizations in its operating territories that are driving Economic & Social Mobility, Technology, Environmental Sustainability, and Health & Wellbeing initiatives.

The BCF awarded the following organizations with grants at a special luncheon at the 1819 Innovation Hub at the University of Cincinnati.

Robyn Winkler from Visionaries + Voices

Dr. Roger Burns, Per Scholas

Ryan Mooney-Bullock from Green Umbrella

1N5 and altafiber

• In the Economic & Social Mobility pillar, BCF funded Visionaries and Voices. V+V focuses on art education for people with disabilities. V+V works with these artists to develop and leverage their skills into careers. The BCF grant funds will expand this arts program to impact more lives and spread the word about its work in communities that lack art education. This is a great example of meshing important education and job opportunities for the artists, with spreading artistic energy and appreciation around the city.

•  In the Technology Pillar, BCF funded Per Scholas. Per Scholas provides IT training for unemployed or underemployed citizens at no cost. Individuals who qualify for Per Scholas' services may choose from any number of different IT courses. All course options include soft skills training, including how to interview well and develop financial budgeting skills.

• In the Environmental Sustainability pillar, BCF funded Green Umbrella. This sustainability alliance is home to the Cincinnati 2030 District, which focuses on working with companies to decrease their carbon emissions in different ways. Companies that are part of the District focus on reducing their utility use, improving building efficiency, and helping green their employees’ commutes. Green Umbrella’s work includes many other areas of sustainability and climate action as well, including policy advocacy, planting community orchards, equitable access to outdoor learning for kids, building food system resilience, and connecting bike trails and paths around the city to encourage access to greenspace and biking as transportation.

• In the Health and Wellbeing pillar, BCF funded 1N5, which focuses on mental health education and suicide prevention for students K-12 and in college. The organization’s model uses a rigorous evidence-based framework to normalize mental health and break down barriers that prevent youth from seeking help. Because 50% of mental illness originates before the age of 14, and 75% appears before the age of 24, 1N5 works in schools to make meaningful change. Mental health education helps to break stigmas and is especially important in this post-pandemic climate.

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 To learn more about the Bell Charitable Foundation’s work visit www.BellFDN.org.

Family Style

Cincinnati has a new foodie corner in the works with the recent opening of  Royce, a “modern French brasserie” located on the corner of Fifth and Vine. The restaurant in the former Tiffany & Co. space features an al fresco seating option facing Fountain Square.

Later this fall, Royce’s new neighbor, Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse, will open its new flagship steakhouse. Via Vite, a long time Italian favorite sits across the street.

Royce is run by Nashville-based restaurateur Terry Raley, who opened the oyster bar and restaurant Pearlstar last fall. Raley named the restaurant after his grandfather, Royce, who taught him the simple pleasures of cured meats, fresh oysters, and sharing a warm laugh with loved ones.

Speaking of oysters, seafood fans will enjoy the “Le Bar a Fruits de Mer” with a variety of options from fresh oysters, poached shrimp, mussels and lobster. 

The caviar with fresh salt and vinegar chips is also a must-try with a glass of champagne.

Those who enjoy a bite at the bar will also find a new home at Royce with a smart and tempting cocktail menu.

Weekend brunch at Royce begins this weekend.

Royce employs a team service approach which is top notch.

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Reservations at resy.com. More information at www.royce-cincy.com.

Teeing Off

For the first time in more than 30 years, the top female golfers in the world are returning to Cincinnati. The Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G at Kenwood Country Club will be held Sept. 8–11.

The tournament serves as a platform to showcase Southwest Ohio to an international audience, drive tourism and awareness, create a positive charitable and economic impact to the community, build VIP relationships, and continue to grow women’s golf in the region.

You can be part of the action! Get your tickets today!

Good as Gold

Our own Betsy Ross has some new hardware to add to her collection.

On Saturday, Ross received the Silver Circle Award at the 58th Annual Ohio Valley Regional Emmy Award, honoring her more than 25 years in television news in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia.

From Indianapolis to ESPN, Ross has been a trailblazer.

A Light Touch

Earlier this week, BLINK announced the first wave of artists set to transform Cincinnati into the nation's largest immersive event this fall

The outdoor awe-inspiring event announced 14 international artists from 4 continents and 18 local artists/installations for large scale projection mapping, murals and interactive light sculptures throughout the urban core and into Covington, Oct. 13–16.

Shantell Martin

Shantell Martin is a visual artist, intuitive philosopher, cultural facilitator, teacher, choreographer, songwriter, performer, and more. From fashion and celebrity collaborations to adjunct professor positions at MIT Media Lab, NYU Tisch ITP, Columbia University’s Brown Institute, and choreographing a ballet at the Boston Ballet, Shantell’s LINE constantly evolves. Creating new connections between fine art, education, design, philosophy, and technology, Shantell explores themes such as intersectionality, identity, and play.

Case Maclaim

A German urban artist native to Frankfurt, Andres Von Chrzanowski (a.k.a. CASE or CASE Maclaim) is a graffiti painter who relies on his highly developed talent to create pieces that combine brilliant photorealism with a strong note of surrealism. This artist primarily uses spray paint as this street art technique enables him to get the most out of his visuals and achieve the level of perfection his incredibly life-like graffiti possesses. One of Andres Von Chrzanowski’s most common pictorial motifs are the overlaying hands that symbolize unity and power. It should also be noted that CASE is a founding member of the renown East- Germany Maclaim Crew, a group that has been the urban expression’s photorealism pioneer for over two decades now.

Add Fuel

Add Fuel is Portuguese visual artist Diogo Machado. A former graphic designer, his artistic practice has been focused on reinterpreting and playing with the language of traditional tile design,and that of the Portuguese tin-glazed ceramic azulejo in particular.

Blending traditional and contemporary elements, his original vector-based designs and stencil-based street art reveal an impressive complexity and a masterful attention to detail. Based on a combination of tessellations that create balance from symmetrical repetitions and visual illusion techniques such as trompe-l’oeil, his multi-layered patterned compositions create a poetic rhythm that plays with the viewer’s perception and the possibilities of interpretation. He has been showcasing his work in both solo and group exhibitions since 2006, as well as participating in some of the world’s leading urban art events.

PichiAvo i

PichiAvo is Juan Antonio (Pichi, b. 1977) and Álvaro (Avo, b.1985), a duo of street artists from Valencia (Spain).

Recognised for their skill at creating connections between painting and sculpture in urban settings, they adopt a thoroughly innovative approach in their artistic fusions. A balanced combination of classical art and the most contemporary urban art can be identified in their work. From the outset PichiAvo shunned artistic individuality, joining forces to create an absolutely unique body of work using a conceptually urban idiom, both in the street and in the studio.

PichiAvo’s career has attained artistic recognition and popularity on an international scale, establishing them among the most prominent street artists on the current urban art scene.

Wendy Yu

Wendy Yu is an interdisciplinary artist who works at the intersections of dance and urban media art. Utilizing dance and computer systems, she designs interactive works and builds large-scale immersive experiences to public spaces. Elevating forms of dance such breakdancing, which has typically been segregated to the streets, to the contemporary abstract art landscape. Representing the athletes and histories of local dance communities by creating inspiration and awe amongst viewers of a wider and more diverse background.

This is Loop

Loop is a collaborative artistic partnership founded by Harriet Lumby and Alan Hayes.

Based in their Somerset studio they have established a reputation for creating large scale audio visual experiential installations. With a practice focussing on utilising reflections and illusion this has created a common theme throughout their visually impactful architectural style work.

Their playful sculptures often with a futuristic aesthetic invite audiences to be engulfed by, at times, intense and challenging choreographed audio visual journeys. Frequently working collaboratively with sound artists and musicians has helped to elevate their work allowing deeper exploration of ideas and concepts and enhancing the bond between audience members and the works themselves. They have a track record in creating both large scale site specific work as well touring installations and have successfully done this both in the UK and internationally.

Vince Fraser

Having worked in the creative industry as a professional digital illustrator for over twenty years, the progression to visual arts was a natural one. Fraser’s work has continued to evolve and he sees himself as a new breed of artist in the digital age, combining a variety of skills including film and motion. With a keen eye for detail, he is always experimenting in a playful way whilst pushing the boundaries from a visual aspect. Bridging the gap between fantasy and reality, Fraser’s mission is to inspire, educate, and empower positive images of the African diaspora. Previous client work includes Nike, MTV and Adobe, just to name a few, while Vince also gained the attention of various musicians like Erykah Badu, Outkast and Usher.

Michael Coppage

Michael Coppage is originally from Chicago and now resides in Cincinnati. He studied at Memphis College of Art and obtained a BFA degree with an emphasis in sculpture. He continued his education and obtained an MFA degree from Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts(PAFA) with an emphasis in sculpture and mixed media.

Jason Snell

My name is Jason Snell, I bring the creative thunder with more than 20 years of experience in professional design, illustration, motion, management and client services. I’m a creative – everything from artist, designer, musician, Cincinnati sports fan and father. I have worked with major brands including Amazon, ESPN, Heineken, Mountain Dew, Taco Bell and Virgin America. I have also built local partnerships with neighborhood icons like the Florence Y’alls (Minor League Baseball), Haile Foundation and Habitat Skateboards. My goal is to help my clients and partners creatively problem solve, increase awareness, and create wonderful work in our communities that inspire and excite.

Lightborne

Lightborne opened its doors in 1985 with one goal – to be the best film production house in Cincinnati. Today our goal is equally simple – to create jaw-dropping visual solutions. From TV commercials to social, digital, concerts, experiential, and XR – we believe in the art of storytelling and the need to engage our emotions. We thrive on collaboration with our clients, and the results speak for themselves – original, unexpected, and memorable work at the highest caliber.

Architects of Air

The luminarium’s pneumatic environment, in its organic purity, provides a utopian vessel to contain light’s radiant brilliance and subtle hues. Through labyrinthine tunnels and cavernous domes visitors move in a medium of saturated color, in a world apart from the normal and everyday, accompanied by a gentle sensory soundscape.It is a paradox that such a stimulating environment can also be so calming, comforting and many people find the luminarium a place for rest or contemplation.Visitors try to put their experience into words – comparing the experience to like walking through a stained glass window, a futuristic space station, or like being inside a gigantic strange breathing organic but comforting creature.No two visits to a structure are alike as the atmosphere inside alters according to changing weather and light outside. How the visitor responds to the luminarium modifies the experience for other visitors – each visitor becomes part of a living, inhabited sculpture that is the luminarium experience.

Mz. Icar

Mz. Icar is an anonymous art collective. We were established in 2018. Our members include an Illustrator, Photographer, Designer, Prop Stylist, Street Artist, and Collage Artist. We started this collective to create works that celebrate women, global blackness, and fun. We create narratives in the form of mixed-media street art and fine art that explore history and imagine the best case scenario future from the perspective of women and people of color.

DogFish Crew

The DogFish is a historic Burning Man Art Car or “Mutant Vehicle” that has participated in the storied desert based art and culture event for the last 23 years. While historically Reno, NV based, the car was recently handed down to a Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Designer, maker and long time Burner and has found it’s way to the Midwest for the first time. For those unfamiliar, Burning Man is a nearly two week long gathering in the Nevada desert during which tens of thousands of people from around the world come together to create a participative temporary metropolis” based around art, music and community in the Nevada Desert or “playa” as it’s called. TheDogFish Crew is hoping to bring a little piece of the Burning Man magic and wonder to Cincinnati for BLINK in 2022.

Jessica Wolf

I have been a creator of things for as long as I can remember. Focusing on printmaking and photography, I graduated from Murray State University in 2003. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art under my belt, I worked in the package design industry until I eventually branched off to dedicate my time to my own business, Paper Acorn, in 2009. While growing my paper crafting business, I have continued to create fine art, show my work in galleries, and create custom installations for private and corporate spaces in the Cincinnati area and beyond.

Mallory Feltz

Mallory Feltz is a visual artist originally from Dayton, Ohio who is interested in a wide variety of materials and has always enjoyed building things. She earned her BFA in Sculpture from the University of Cincinnati, Design Architecture Art & Planning, in 2006, and completed her MFA in Sculpture in 2009 at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA.

Lindz and Lamb

As their style evolves, Lindz and Lamb will continue to share their vibrant art, while building community with artists around the globe. Though they call Denver home, they make regular trips for customized mural installations. When they’re not painting, they run a printing and art consulting studio in Denver called Like Minded Productions.

Graffmapping

Art is constantly changing, nowadays there are many graffiti artists that are now designers and they are now a mixture between traditional graffiti,graphic design, industrial design, robotics, architecture, street art and everything that is to come in the future. As technology develops every year in all aspects, you can also see it in the world of mural arts. Our passion is to experiment with new ideas through this long process of research that has no end. This year, Graffmapping will integrate projection mapping onto an existing iconic mural, Cincinnati Toy Heritage, an ArtWorks Mural, designed by local artist Jonathan Queen.

Antaless Visual Design

Antaless Visual Design was born in 2013, and is the result of the artistic and professional evolution of its CEO, Alessio Cassaro. With strong technical competences in the audio-visual field (gained in over 15 years of experience), numerous international awards and a boundless passion for the visual arts, Alessio is today the creative director of the studio. Under his careful guidance, a team of professionals, with multidisciplinary production skills, collaborates synergistically to create innovative, immersive, and mind-blowing multimedia experiences. Specialized in architectural mapping, Alessio has rewritten the geometries and volumes of some of the world’s architectural heritage, and has painted imaginative worlds in support of multimedia shows, concerts, festivals, theatrical performances, commercial and institutional events.

NeSpoon

Situated somewhere between street art, pottery, paintings, sculpture and jewelry, NeSpoon is a Polish street artist. On a mission to embroider the world, she enriches the already diverse urban art with her own unique brand of lace art. By using intricate doily patterns, the artist beautifies abandoned and unadorned spaces in unlikely urban jungles, transforming them into stunning works of art. Her process is based on an almost forgotten tradition of doily making, but NeSpoon has managed to take this humble domestic trait, successfully apply it in the streets (and on a much larger scale), giving the practice new possibilities, and new life. From lace murals and etched images to 3D lace installations perfectly attached to everyday things and intricate filigree in walls, trees or cracks in the sidewalks, she often provides harsh cityscapes with a new softness. Always working with respect for the spot and the local context, NeSpoon finds her inspiration in the local textile traditions. By choosing an art form associated with women, she celebrates its femininity and harmony it creates.

MASARY Studios

MASARY Studios is an interdisciplinary artist collective reconsidering environments through site-specific installations using sound, light, interactivity, and performance. Based in Boston, the studio’s practice includes live percussion performance, electronic music and production, facade projection-mapped video, artistic research, technology and materials fabrication, and the expansive use of animation. The studio is artist-owned and managed and was founded in 2015.

Sonny Day

Sonny Day is one half of WYBK. Their work is a conversation between two individuals played out in color, shape, texture and drawing from their shared influences – comic books, skateboarding, music and film. Sonny and Biddy worked and exhibited individually when they met in 2001. They began combining their talents in 2006, creating screen-printed posters for Popfrenzy tours on their living room floor, and have been working as a team ever since. Today they work for clients big and small around the world.

OGE CreativeGroup

OGE CreativeGroup / OGE Group / OGE Architects specialize in architecture, urban and branding projects with highly creative, inspiring character. In 3 words: “Creative – Young – Workaholics”. It is the mixture and the cross interference of different projects and tasks which keep OGE’s work fresh and always pushed to the limits.

All our projects are about emotions. A design or a project that doesn’t trigger emotions or challenges perception is hardly noteworthy nor successful. The relation between customers and/or visitors to our projects are essential for their success: they should be lovable, surprising, challenging, intriguing, social, inspiring, amazing, colorful, remarkable, distinguishable … and outstanding from the rest.t

Sean Van Praag

With over a decade experience as a freelance animator, designer, and director, Sean has had the opportunity to work all over the country at some of the top studios and clients in the industry. His work includes direction, illustration, 2D and 3D animation, storyboarding, VFX, and concept development. His projects have been quite diverse, consisting of commercials, projection art, stage visuals, explainer videos, film titles, and music videos. He’s been a featured artist, having created projection wall art for both Blink Fest and Digital Graffiti.

Thanks to new technology, communities of artists have been able to reach new audiences, but rarely–particularly in recent years–do they get to take that connection IRL. The emerging and rapidly growing world of artistic possibilities is thrilling, but the true magic lies in the crossover between digital and physical. That very space is where BLINK, Illuminated by ArtsWave, lives - bringing people from all over the world to Cincinnati and allowing them to experience truly immersive art amidst the cityscape. The nation’s largest light, art, and projection mapping experience, returns to Cincinnati for the first time since 2019 at the perfect time, bringing with it transcendent works across mediums. 

Exciting fans and drawing in new attendees, the immersive art experience releases the first round of participating artists, proving the almost unbelievable amount of sheer talent and dedication poised to flood the Cincinnati streets. Iconic visual artist Shantell Martin brings her signature black and white style enriched by her background as an intuitive philosopher and cultural facilitator, perfectly aligning her with the event’s mission. Star muralist Case Maclaim transports a strong visual message of movement and unity through overlays of hands in different positions, depicting not just physical movement but also political and societal action. 

Dedicated to the history and future of the city, world-class artists are poised to celebrate its unique culture. Portuguese visual artist and illustrator AddFuel is incorporating elements influenced by 140+ year old The Rookwood Pottery Company, ensuring the past is well represented deftly toeing the line between representing his own heritage and representing the rich history of the city itself. Artist Wendy Yu brings a collaborative effort of projection and dance, thanks to a partnership with Cincy-based Hip Hop Cultural Arts Center Elementz. Afro-surrealist visual artist Vince Fraser also explores the collaborative possibilities, working with Underworld Black Arts Festival and Napoleon Maddox to tell the history of Little Africa with a large-scale projection installation. 

The region’s own artistic talent is front and center, with BLINK exhibiting their work on a massive scale. Michael Coppage is extending his BLACK BOX project with a large-scale projection installation. Local artist Jason Snell is incorporating projection mapping onto the ArtWorks Mural, Ezzard Charles: The Cincinnati Cobra that Jason also designed. Local production powerhouse Lightborne takes on the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) for the third year, in a projection display that is sure to wow. Local favorites DogFish Crew, Jessica Wolf, and Mallory Feltz will also be bringing the Cincy vibe. Linz & Lamb, the art duo with one member hailing from Cincy bring their incredible romantic connection to each piece they collaborate on, incorporating a love of the city as well.

BLINK is not limited to the streets of the city, but rather committed to truly integrating with the city itself, which includes installations at historical and architecturally significant buildings. Among a sea of innovations, the upcoming work at The American Building in OTR, Mother of God Church in Covington, KY, and Memorial Hall stand out. The American Building project will be the work of Sean Van Praag, a wonderful returning projection artist. The latter two will be completed by Antaless Visual Designs, the Italian projection company led by CEO Alessio Cassaro. In addition to incorporating historical Cincinnati architecture, BLINK will also integrate projection mapping onto an existing iconic mural, Cincinnati Toy Heritage, an ArtWorks Mural, designed by local artist Jonathan Queen, and projection mapped by international video-mapping artist, Graffmapping.

That’s not the only international contribution announced so far. This is Loop, the incredible UK-based large-scale multidisciplinary creations team, brings their PULSE installation to BLINK making this the first USA premiere of PULSE. Previously exhibited as TOROID, BLINK is honored to host their US premiere as PULSE on the heels of a successful installation in Las Vegas. OGE Design Group, the international art collective from Israel, is working with parade partners ish to bring their “Together” installation to the BLINK audience. Spanish team Pichiavo is bringing their widely recognized prowess in connecting paintings to sculpture in urban settings, further integrating the 2D and 3D aspects among the city. 

The collaborative spirit is strong throughout the artist lineup and resulting event, with a particular focus on encouraging young artists. In order to accomplish this, MASARY Studios and the aforementioned Shantell Martin will both separately be working with youth artists through ArtWorks. 

The sheer excitement doesn’t stop with fan-favorite Architects of Air returning for the third time with a brand new installation experience for Cincinnati. Mz Icar brings the awe-inspiring 20-foot sculpture “The Full Set,” which is sure to be a show-stopper. Sonny Day–one half of WBYK–will be participating and creating some exclusive BLINK merch. And Female lace-inspired artist Nespoon and Devious round out the announcement so far. 

School Days

We say it every year, but it’s hard to believe school will be back in session soon.

If you need a little help gathering school supplies, Northern Kentucky Harvest is here to help. The non-profit has more than 1,000 backpacks containing paper, pens and pencils, and other grade-appropriate school supplies to give out to K-12 students.

Register now! Sign up by July 31 to be eligible to receive supplies the weekend of Aug. 13 and 14.

Now in its 22nd year, Harvest has distributed about 16,000 backpacks, with more than half of recipients each year from Covington.

This event is presented annually by Northern Kentucky Harvest in collaboration with Be Concerned and the Brighton Center. Frisch’s, Harvest’s original partner in the event, will again participate by providing gift certificates for a free kid’s meal in each backpack.

Let's Get Real

If You Go

Four performances of “label•less” will be held at the American Sign Museum (1330 Monmouth Ave.) on
Wednesday, Aug. 10, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 11, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 12, 8 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 14, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $30 per person. To purchase tickets, please visit lacheyarts.com.

Reality TV returns to Cincinnati!

The making of “label•less” from Lachey Arts will be the subject of a new docu-series in collaboration with Brave Berlin and TVACOM.

“We are over the moon to host such an extraordinary collaboration of talent in Cincinnati,” said Kristen Schlotman, executive director of Film Cincinnati. “Drew and Lea could film this production all over the world and their commitment and love for this city has never been more palpable.”

“label•less” is a musical stage play that combines popular music, spoken word, moving visuals and powerful choreography. Led by a talented young cast, “label•less” tells their stories of love, compassion and how they defy the labels they have experienced in their lifetimes. It’s an incredibly powerful show that people of all ages can embrace and experience together. With a diverse cast of 16-26-year-olds, this show tackles current social issues that this generation faces; everything from bullying to mental health to homophobia to racism. Find out more about “label•less” in this interview with Lea and Drew Lachey.

A musical journey toward acceptance, focusing on the issues that affect our society, and lending a voice to the youth who are inheriting a world they didn't create and giving us all permission to live, love and truly be "label•less.”

Presents of Mind

Everyone loves to get presents on their birthday, and seniors are no exception!

Each month, Meals on Wheels of Southwest OH & Northern KY assembles and delivers birthday boxes filled with hats and horns, cards and cakes to area seniors. This task is made much easier with the help of volunteers and local companies.

Last week RDI Corporation packed 240 birthday boxes for seniors, delivering them to MOW to be distributed throughout July.

MOW also makes an extra-special to-do for those turning 100!

Want to join the birthday party? Find out more at www.muchmorethanameal.org/sign-today.

Growth Economy

If You Go

Camp Washington Farmer’s Market
Every Thursday beginning July 7,   4–6 p.m.
Valley Park, 3220 Colerain Avenue

Find armers, bakers, crafters, and other vendors.

A new farmers market in Camp Washington Farmer’s Market launches July 7. Along with addressing the lack of food shopping options in the neighborhood, organizers are also hoping to provide a gateway for new farmers to enter the market, requiring only a weekly rather than seasonal commitment.

Two years after opening The Welcome (M)Art with the help of an Impact 100 grant, Wave Pool, in partnership with the Camp Washington Urban Revitalization Corporation (CWURC) is launching a farmers market to bring regular food access to Camp Washington. 

For many years, Camp Washington has been considered a food desert due to the lack of food resources in the neighborhood.

A number of neighborhood organizations have stepped up. Welcome Project offers free meals, Washington Church of Christ has a food pantry and the Free Fridge. But that has not solved the issue for residents who are unable to buy produce in the neighborhood.

The Camp Washington Farmer’s Market is a temporary solution to a long term issue. Those interested in participating as a farmer or vendor can contact Cal Cullen, Wave Pool executive director (cal@wavepoolgallery.org) or Sidney Nation, CWURC executive director (sidney@cwurc.org).

Wave Pool will host an art activity each week for kids and adults alike who’d like to flex their creativity and keep their hands busy while shopping. 

Funding for the Camp Washington Farmer’s Market provided by the American Heart Association and Hamilton County Nonprofit Relief Funds.

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Header image: Welcome Class, Chef Rose Che teaches a cooking class to kids at The Welcome Project

Camp Washington Farmers Market Flyer, logo by Julia Lipovsky, design by Thi Tran.

Creating Links

altafiber hosted its annual golf outing on June 27 at Coldstream Country Club, with the support of altafiber staff, volunteers and vendors. Adding to the day were appearances by several celebrities, including Byron Larkin, Wes Miller, Sean Miller and DerMarr Johnson.

Leigh Fox, CEO of altafiber welcomes the nearly 200 golfers who participated in the 2022 tournament

Todd Lewinski and Bob Spencer placed first in the 2022 tournament

Alicia Yund, Executive Director at First Tee – Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, with three youth members earned third place in the tournament

Leigh Fox, CEO of altafiber, talks with University of Cincinnati men’s basketball coach Wes Miller

With over 170 patrons in attendance, the golf outing and subsequent silent auction raised more than $100,000 for the Bell Charitable Foundation. The Foundation, which formally incorporated in 2020, funds projects and nonprofit organizations that work in the areas of economic & social mobility, environmental sustainability, technology and health and wellbeing.

The Foundation is overseen by the altafiber Social Impact team, led by Sr. Director of Social Impact, Michelle Hall.

“Supporting our community is integral to the fabric of altafiber, and proceeds generated from this golf outing will allow the Bell Charitable Foundation to issue more substantial grants to area nonprofits so they can continue making a deep and lasting impact,” said Leigh Fox, altafiber CEO.

The annual golf outing serves as the primary fundraising event for the Bell Charitable Foundation, and comes just ahead of the announcement of much anticipated inaugural grants from the Foundation.

Who Was That Masked Man?

Local fans of The Masked Singer enjoyed quite the surprise this week during the performance on Tuesday night at the Taft Theatre.

None other than FOX19′s Frank Marzullo was revealed as the “Boom Boom Box” when the national tour made a stop in Cincinnati.

Marzullo sang “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks, then was unmasked, but totally unfazed.

Scare Off the Competition

The world of esports may seem confusing, but don’t let it frighten you. Especially now that Cincinnati has its own team to root for.

Cincinnati Fear, the city’s fourth professional sports team, launched last year. Created by Game Day Communications, Cincinnati Fear brings together professional, collegiate and high school players to compete in tournaments and live events, including League of Legends and Super Smash Brothers.

Keep up on all things esports with “Eyes on the Fear,” a weekly show hosted by Lauren Artino about Cincinnati FEAR, with team interviews, results, and lifestyle around Cincinnati.

The team signed Stephen Schmidt as its first professional player. A University of Cincinnati graduate, Schmidt is currently ranked No. 1 in Ohio for Super Smash Brothers.

Cincinnati Fear also has also signed its first professional League of Legends team and coaching staff.

The five members of the first Cincinnati Fear competing in League of Legends are:

• Brady Holmich, “Sketchdreams,” from Amarillo, TX

• Thomas Ryan Thompson, “Plux,” from West Chester, PA

• John Gligoroski, “Blazze,” from Garfield, NJ

• William Benoit, “Trixter,” from Montreal, Canada

• Kishan Makati, “Dragoon,” from Tampa, FL

The team is led by Cincinnati Fear General Manager Tim David and coached by Jalen Key, “Julius,” from Seattle, WA and Chris Kemp, “Pookar,” from Yonkers, NY.

The League of Legends team is currently competing in the LCS Proving Grounds Circuit Qualifier (PGCQ), which is a North American amateur tournament to determine the teams that will play in the LCS Proving Grounds. The Quarterfinals will be held on June 14, with semifinals on June 16 and finals on June 20. You can watch the action on www.Twitch.tv/CincyFear.

Having a Ball

The whole world is watching, and Cincinnati is waiting.

The announcement for 2026 FIFA World Cup™ Host City is due June 16. Cincinnati remains on the short list to host the world’s largest and most watched sporting event.

Being named a host city means big business. The choice could create an economic windfall of nearly a half billion dollars for the Cincinnati region, according to a new economic impact study commissioned by the 2026 Cincy Local Organizing Committee. The study, conducted by the UC Economics Center, shows that hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup would bring a combined total economic impact of $449.4 million dollars and 3,087 jobs with wages of approximately $129.2 million in the Cincinnati MSA representing 15 surrounding counties in southwest Ohio, southeast Indiana and northern Kentucky. The study also finds that approximately $20 million in tax revenue will be created for state and local governments with $15.4 million resulting from sales tax revenue.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first time that the expanded field of 48 teams will play in the World Cup, with 80 total matches, making it the largest in FIFA World Cup history. Of the 16 cities on the list for potential host, 10 will be chosen from the United States with the remaining Host Cities from Mexico and Canada. The official announcement will be made on June 16, 5 p.m. ET via a live broadcast.

 "This report leaves no doubt that hosting FIFA World Cup matches will have an unprecedented economic impact on our region," said Gary Lindgren, president of the Cincinnati Business Committee and Cincinnati Regional Business Committee. “Serving as a host city will result in close to a half billion dollars in economic impact, thousands of new jobs and tens of millions in tax revenue for our states, counties and cities in our MSA. This is one of the key reasons why our regions business, civic and government leadership has rallied to whole-heartedly support this bid."

The study, which used a schedule of four matches hosted at Paul Brown Stadium as a reference since the 2026 schedule is not currently known, estimates that 267,384 fans will attend the four matches at Paul Brown Stadium. These visitors are expected to spend $305.20 per day for food, drink, retail, lodging and transportation over an average of four nights, resulting in an economic impact of $195.3 million dollars for Greater Cincinnati. Estimates show that Hamilton County will realize nearly $4 million in tax revenue while the state of Ohio will see nearly $7 million.

 “When companies are considering expansion, opening businesses or relocating headquarters; or entrepreneurs are looking for a place to land, we want them to think Cincinnati is the place to be for them,” said Kimm Lauterbach, president & CEO of REDI Cincinnati.

According to the study, the spending made by visitors to the Cincinnati region will generate substantial fiscal benefits for the Cincinnati MSA including the 15 surrounding counties as well as the states of Ohio, Indiana and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. More than $19 million in tax revenue is estimated as a result of visitor spending in Greater Cincinnati during FIFA World Cup in 2026.

Last week, FIFA announced they expect that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be watched by five billion people around the world, far surpassing the record 3.5 billion who tuned in to the 2018 edition in Russia. For reference, the Cincinnati Bengals appearance at the Super Bowl versus the Los Angeles Rams was watched by 112.3 million viewers, generated over 99 billion media impressions, and had an earned media value of more than $4.3 billion for the region.

“The success of sporting events for our region has been remarkable over the last year, from the Bearcats football team to the Super Bowl run by the Bengals,” said Julie Calvert, president & CEO of Visit Cincy. “Hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup would be equivalent to hosting 10 Super Bowls and would be another billion dollar marketing campaign for our city and region. The tens of thousands of visitors to our region coupled with the global TV audience would be another opportunity to showcase our region to the world.”

not throwing away my shot

 Wait for It

Hamilton will play the Aronoff Center from Sept. 6 – Oct. 2, Tuesday – Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m,., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m., Sundays at 1 and 6:30 p.m.

Tickets start at $59 and are available online at CincinnatiArts.org or by phone at 513.621.ARTS. For groups of 10 or more, contact the group sales department at 513.369.4363. Performance schedule, prices and cast are subject to change without notice.

For more information, please visit BroadwayInCincinnati.com.

Rise up! Single tickets for Hamilton will go on sale to the public on May 19 at 10 a.m. at CincinnatiArts.org, in person at the Aronoff Box Office, or by calling (513) 621-2787, for performances Sept. 6 – Oct. 2.

“It's tempting to get tickets any way you can,” says Hamilton producer Jeffrey Sellers. “There are many sites and people who are selling overpriced, and in some cases, fraudulent tickets. For the best seats, the best prices and to eliminate the risk of counterfeit tickets, all single ticket purchases for the Cincinnati engagement should be made through CincinnatiArts.org.”

There is a maximum purchase limit of nine tickets per account for the engagement. When tickets go on sale, prices range from $59 to $179 with a select number of premium tickets from $249.  There will be a lottery for 40 $10 seats for all performances. Details will be announced closer to the engagement.

 With book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, HAMILTON is based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography. It has won Tony®, Grammy®, and Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and an unprecedented special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors.