ddawkins3434 Art, Place

COVID-19 Break: Downtown Columbus Property Damage turned to Art: Ohio Theatre

Location:  Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State Street, Columbus, OH 43216

People have been protesting for days in downtown Columbus, Ohio after white police officer (Derek Gauvin), knelt on George Floyd’s neck while he was handcuffed with his hands behind his back while lying face down on the street for almost 9 minutes. As a result, he died.

Some protestors damaged storefronts and looted during the citywide curfew. As a result, many businesses boarded up with plywood.  The Ohio Theatre was one of those buildings.

The Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) and the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) partnered to hire artists to paint murals on the plywood covering the windows.

COVID-19 Break: Downtown Columbus Damage Property turned to Art: Ohio Theatre, #artunitescbus
COVID-19 Break: Downtown Columbus Damage Property turned to Art: Ohio Theatre, #artunitescbus
COVID-19 Break: Downtown Columbus Damage Property turned to Art: Ohio Theatre, #artunitescbus
COVID-19 Break: Downtown Columbus Damage Property turned to Art: Ohio Theatre, #artunitescbus
COVID-19 Break: Downtown Columbus Damage Property turned to Art: Ohio Theatre, #artunitescbus
COVID-19 Break: Downtown Columbus Damage Property turned to Art: Ohio Theatre, #artunitescbus
COVID-19 Break: Downtown Columbus Damage Property turned to Art: Ohio Theatre, #artunitescbus
COVID-19 Break: Downtown Columbus Damage Property turned to Art: Ohio Theatre, #artunitescbus
COVID-19 Break: Downtown Columbus Damage Property turned to Art: Ohio Theatre, #artunitescbus
COVID-19 Break: Downtown Columbus Damage Property turned to Art: Ohio Theatre, #artunitescbus
COVID-19 Break: Downtown Columbus Damage Property turned to Art: Ohio Theatre, #artunitescbus
COVID-19 Break: Downtown Columbus Damage Property turned to Art: Ohio Theatre, #artunitescbus
COVID-19 Break: Downtown Columbus Damage Property turned to Art: Ohio Theatre, #artunitescbus
COVID-19 Break: Downtown Columbus Damage Property turned to Art: Ohio Theatre, #artunitescbus
COVID-19 Break: Downtown Columbus Damage Property turned to Art: Ohio Theatre, #artunitescbus
COVID-19 Break: Downtown Columbus Damage Property turned to Art: Ohio Theatre, #artunitescbus
COVID-19 Break: Downtown Columbus Damage Property turned to Art: Ohio Theatre, #artunitescbus
COVID-19 Break: Downtown Columbus Damage Property turned to Art: Ohio Theatre, #artunitescbus
COVID-19 Break: Downtown Columbus Damage Property turned to Art: Ohio Theatre, #artunitescbus
COVID-19 Break: Downtown Columbus Damage Property turned to Art: Ohio Theatre, #artunitescbus

I love the splash of color! I love that CAPA and CGAC partnered to commission artists to paint the murals covering the windows. In my opinion, it looks much better than seeing plywood all over downtown. It also allows residents and visitors to be exposed to and appreciate some of the talent of the artists who live in the area.