7 works to see in the Ohio State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition
The biggest art exhibit in the state is back in full force at the Ohio State Fair.
The 2023 Fine Arts Exhibition includes more than 360 art works by more than 280 artists – professionals and amateurs from throughout Ohio – on view in the Cox Fine Arts Center at the south end of the fairgrounds.
An abundance of paintings, drawings, sculptures, mixed media works, ceramics, photographs and more surprise, delight and amaze viewers with their subject matter, mediums and artistry. Last year, the first fair after the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 23,600 people visited the Fine Arts Exhibit. At least that many are expected this year.
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Works not to miss
Some of the outstanding works among the more than 40 award winners named by artists and exhibit jurors Arron Foster, Denise Bookwalter and Eliana Calle Saari include:
“Wonderlust” by Evie Zimmer, of Cuyahoga County – a big, gorgeous circular painting of mauve and rose-colored blossoms, Best of Show, professional.
“Fading” by Susannah Harris, of Franklin County – a three-dimensional, orange and white cut-paper sculpture; Juror’s Choice Award, professional.
“Requiem for Homero” by Craig Fisher, of Lucas County – a moody, colored mezzotint showing a deceased body in a bed of greenery; Second Best of Show, professional.
“Preparing for the Day” by Christine Depiro-Abbott, of Franklin County – a dark-toned, silkscreen interior scene reflecting the chaos of daily life; Juror’s Choice Award, professional.
“Mullein-Verbascum thaspus” by Kathy McGhee, of Franklin County – an intricate, up-close silkscreen of green-toned flora; Third Best of Show, professional.
“Golden Eagles” by Rachel Mentzer, of Lorain County – a skeletal tree populated by black birds against an orange field created in the difficult medium of collagraph Chine-colle, Best of Show, amateur.
“Bolt” by Jeff Jackson, of Erie County – a sculpted dog ingeniously created out of hundreds of nuts and bolts; an Ohio Arts Council Award, amateur.
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Chalk-drawing competition
Sunday through Wednesday, Columbus artist Stephanie Rond will juror something that’s become a tradition at the exhibit, a live chalk-drawing competition outside the Cox Fine Arts Center. Rain dates are Aug. 1-2.
Great big historical murals
On the south wall of the Fine Arts Center, viewers can’t miss the enormous historical murals of Ohioans Ulysses S. Grant and Buffalo soldier and Brigadier General Charles Young, painted last year by the Ohio barn painter, Scott Hagan. The murals are just one more example of the rich artistic talent found in Ohio and an on display at the fair. Nearly 500 artists entered 1,370 works for this year’s fair. The 361 works selected are remarkably diverse and truly worth seeing.
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At a glance
The 2023 Ohio State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition continues through Aug. 6 in the Cox Fine Arts Center, Ohio Expo Center, I-71 and 17th Avenue. For fair hours and admission prices, go to ohiostatefair.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 2023 Fine Arts Exhibition featured at Ohio State Fair
