CREATIVE CULTURE

BY ANN FAZZINI

ASK CINCY ARTISTS

With inspiration around every corner, artists of all mediums and backgrounds have found a creative haven in the Cincinnati region.

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ANNIE RUTH: CARLA OSWLEY, JAMES BILLITER: MELISSA DOSS PHOTOGRAPHY 2022

Meet Annie Ruth

Annie Ruth is a visual artist and poet. She was born and raised in Cincinnati and returned to raise her own children in the city.

What’s your vision for your work?

I’ve been described as a Renaissance woman and I think that’s accurate. I am interested in artistic rebirth and being a bridge that connects generations. How would you describe Cincy’s arts scene?

It’s growing, developing and becoming more equitable and inclusive. There has been a surge of younger artists, and veteran artists are taking on more of a mentoring/teaching role. What changes have you noticed in and around Cincy?

The city has created more targeted grants for a range of cultural representation in the arts. Art centers are also popping up more in non-traditional places like schools and community centers. What are your favorite Cincy haunts?

Elephant Walk is owned by a husband-and-wife team serving up fantastic Ethiopian and Indian food. The Cincinnati Arts Association also offers an arts and healing program that merges working artists and musicians with healthcare providers, like the VA and hospice care.

Meet James Billiter

Cincinnati native James Billiter is a graphic artist, illustrator and typographer.

How would you describe your work?

I like to merge design with traditional printmaking and explore hand-done methods of producing graphic art. Where do you find inspiration?

I love the well-rounded nature of the arts and culture scene in Cincinnati. I can go to great museums, operas, ballets and symphonies, enjoy great dining and travel just a short distance to the woods to hike.

Where are your favorite spots in town?

Riverwalk is a great place to see both sides of the river and Cincinnati, Newport and Covington. I’m also loving the Wave Pool gallery in Camp Washington. What do you define as Cincy style?

There is still a quaint hometown charm to the city and it has a nice pace — it’s not too slow and not too fast.

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IF ... THEN

STYLE BY ANN FAZZINI

Find inspiration at arts institutions and creative spots around the region. visitcincy.com

IF music touches your soul, THEN…

treat your ears to a concert at Cincinnati Music Hall, home to the Cincinnati Opera and Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. The beautiful Victorian Gothic venue is also a National Historic Landmark.

PHOTOGRAPHY, CINCINNATI BALLET: HIROMI PLATT, TAFT MUSEUM OF ART: TAFT MUSEUM OF ART CHILDREN’S MUSEUM: MARIA DEHNE, CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK: MIKKI SCHAFFNER

CINCINNATI MUSIC HALL: LOUIS RIDEOUT, CINCINNATI ART MUSEUM: CINCINNATI ART MUSEUM, 2022

IF you’re inspired by visual arts, THEN …

pay a visit to the Cincinnati Art Museum (TOP RIGHT), home to more than 67,000 works that span some 6,000 years. Give yourself an extra challenge by taking on the Art Climb, a stairway that leads to a beautiful view of the city.

IF you love to learn, THEN …

spend a day at the Cincinnati Museum Center, a revamped Art Deco train station that’s home to Cincinnati’s Museum of Natural History & Science, Children’s Museum (RIGHT), History Library & Archives and OMNIMAX Theater. Check out rotating, themed exhibits and films throughout the year.

IF you’re a fan of live theater, THEN …

catch a performance at the Cincinnati Playhouse

in the Park (BOTTOM RIGHT). This year’s performance calendar includes “Steel Magnolias” and the onewoman show, “Becoming Dr. Ruth.”

IF dance moves you, THEN …

grab tickets to a Cincinnati Ballet performance. This year’s family-friendly shows include dance interpretations of “Cinderella” and “Snow White,” and May’s Bold Moves Festival features an immersive experience with six rotating performances.

IF you’re a history buff, THEN…

explore the Taft Museum of Art as the newly renovated historic building celebrates its 200th birthday. The collection includes Chinese porcelains, 19th-century American masterworks and decorative arts from Europe. Coming in June, “Jane Austen: Fashion & Sensibility” exhibits elaborate costumes from popular movies and TV.

In 2021, USA Today named the Cincinnati area the second-best city for street art in the U.S. That’s due in part to the nearly 200 colorful public murals found around town. Here are just a few notable ones to check out. BY ANN FAZZINI

CITY OF COLOR

Little Sure Shot by artist Nicole Trimble celebrates the legendary sharpshooter Annie Oakley in the neighborhood where she lived as a child. Artist Jenny Ustick’s Mr. Dynamite honors the Hardest Working Man in Show Business James Brown, who recorded many early hits at Cincinnati’s King Records.

Ezzard Charles: The Cincinnati Cobra

is artist Jason Snell’s homage to the two-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer, jazz musician and beloved local hero. Designed by legendary caricaturist and area resident C.F. Payne, The Singing Mural depicts some of the Queen City’s most famous faces united in song. The Newport on the Levee Healthcare Heroes mural, completed in 2021 by local studio BLDG, honors those who have dedicated their lives to helping patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

A Tribute to Newport

is a collaboration from local arts organizations that pays homage to people, places and things that shaped the river city of Newport. Artist Eduardo Kobra’s Armstrong features an out-ofthis-world tribute to Ohio native and first man on the moon Neil Armstrong.

TO NEWPORT: J. MILES WOLF, BLINK: MACKENZIE FRANK CINCINNATI TOY HERITAGE: STEPHANIE PARK, ARMSTRONG, TRIBUTE

The Covington Vision

collection of murals, created through the collaboration of eight local artists, takes an artistic look at different interpretations of “energy.” Artist Jonathan Queen’s

Cincinnati Toy Heritage

tributes Kenner Toys, founded in the city in 1947, and some of their most famous toys including the Easy-Bake Oven and Care Bears. A collaboration from local arts organizations,

Northern Kentucky

Panorama visually travels across the Covington cityscape — from city sights to wide-open farmlands.

IT UP LIGHT

BLINK is a truly unique (and illuminating) event that brings interactive light sculptures, projection mapping displays, and live music and entertainment across 30 city blocks in Cincinnati and Covington. Check out art as you’ve never seen it before during this free event, October 13–16.