By Hailey Stangebye

Photos by Trey Barkett

On Valentines Day, our documentary, “My Great Day in Harlem” returned to the Gateway Film Center as part of a special screening for nearly 200 kids from Columbus City Schools. After the film, Mayor Andrew Ginther addressed the theatre. Then, the audience engaged in a thoughtful Q&A session with the stars of the documentary.

This screening, orchestrated by the Columbus Department of Neighborhoods, was so much more than a movie. It was an opportunity for young minds to be inspired by local legends. These students spoke with relatable role models who created an honest dialogue about achieving their aspirations.

The goal was to show by example that Columbus fosters a level of creative excellence that welcomes all forms of expression.

“Art is so important because it gives us a chance to share our experiences, our walks and our journeys. It also gives us a chance to expose ourselves to things different than us. Things that maybe we wouldn’t necessarily have as much in common with,” Ginther said. “I hope that you’ve had a great morning being able to enjoy and reflect on ‘My Great Day in Harlem.’ It is art and culture and the incredible artists in our community that help make our community so special. And I hope that your opportunity to see and hear from some of the great artists in our community is a way to celebrate what makes Columbus so exceptional.”

When students were given the chance to ask questions of the artists and the film makers, hands shot up in the air. Below, are just a few of those questions and their respective answers.

Q: For Jay Swifa, what was your hardest time as a musician?

A: “That a great question. Probably around your age is when I got serious. I was lucky enough to have parents who were in the arts. My mother is a dancer and my dad is also a musician. One thing I will urge everybody here to do — I don’t know if everybody is interested in making music — but there were always people around me who made music. And I would bug everybody, like, ‘Teach me how to make beats. Teach me how to rap.’ So, this was at age 11 or age 12. I’ve had many bumps and bruises in my music career. One of my hardest times was when I was in a very popular group and we actually broke up. I had to figure out what I was trying to do with myself before I started to make music again. Once I figured out my goals and where I wanted to go in my mind and talked to people around me, it started to become more clear. It’s always good to talk to people when you go through your rough spots, your down times. Don’t be afraid to talk to anybody. I opened myself up, which let me make better music.”

Q: For Samara Tillman, when did you feel like you were going to get really serious with fashion?

A: “I was in 6th grade, and I wanted to be a part of our — we couldn’t call it a cheer team — but I called it a ‘spirit team.’ And my mother was always about presentation. Every time she went out of the house she was very well put together. So, from there, she was like, ‘If you’re going to do this, then you’re going to do it right.’ So I was like, ‘Well I’m going to go ahead and design our spirit team outfits.’ So I designed it, and she made it. It got a very good response from teachers and all that. So I was like, ‘Oh, maybe I’m on to something.’ Then, in 9th grade, I always wanted to be different. So I asked my mom to make me an outfit for my first day of high school. That got a good response. So it was really when I was 11 when I knew that I had a gift for it. I didn’t really learn the art of sewing until I got to college, and I was making outfits for my college friends — crazy, fur, feathers, denim. They wore it because they love me. So pick your friends wisely. Pick those who encourage you to keep creating.”

Q: For Tripp Fontane, what inspired you to start rapping?

A: “It wasn’t a rapper. I don’t know if you all are old enough to have heard of him, but I actually started rapping because of ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic.’ Rap is actually not what made me fall in love with music. My dad who is like 66, so I fell in love with funk music and soul music. He’s a musician also. So I always gravitated toward live instrumentation, as opposed to rap. But, at like 7, he came out with three songs in a row and they were all hits. He came out with ‘Eat It,’ ‘I’m Fat’ and ‘Amish Paradise.’ And the music that he made was a funny version of a real song. And that inspired me to pick up a pen. I was like, ‘Bro, he’s taking my favorite songs and making funnier songs from it. I feel like I can do that.’ So, at 7 years old, I started writing music because of ‘Weird Al.'”

Q: For Lori Linsey, have you ever wanted to quit dancing?

A: As a matter of fact, I did quit dancing. My story is this. I started dancing when I was about 3 or 4 years old. I started off with ballet. By the time I got to middle school I was doing more tap and jazz. And I actually overheard someone make a comment about me that was not very nice. I did not even know this person. But what I did, at a young age and without knowing, is I took that person’s opinion of me and I made it my own. That person said that I shouldn’t be on stage, that nobody wants to see me, I don’t look the part. All of these really really negative things. And I stopped dancing at that point in time. I am so grateful that I’ve come beyond that. I started dancing again, and it’s something that I absolutely love. Any other dancer can say that when you dance nothing else matters. Nothing else matters. I feel free when I dance. I feel beautiful when I dance. I feel that I am as close to God as I can be on this earth when I dance. Nothing else matters when I move. So, if you are a dancer and you love dance and you have that similar feeling, then you cannot stop. I don’t care if you’re just dancing in your bedroom in front of your mirror. Do not stop dancing.”

Q: For Percy King, what is your advice for a young creative?

A: “I think, for me, what I always tell people is to get out and explore the world around you. Expose yourself to as much as possible. Expose yourself to as many musical forms as possible. As many artistic forms as possible. As many books as possible. Because you may not like everything that you see, but you might find the one thing that you’re passionate about. Or you might combine two things and create your own lane and become passionate about that. I think one of the things that I used to be intimidated by when it came to famous musicians and artists was that these people were like gods. They were bigger than life. They had some magical talent where they just didn’t care what they did — they went into the studio at 2 or 3 in the morning because they had great work ethic. And they do, and I give them credit for it. But what I also always tell people is that, once you find something that you’re passionate about, the amount of time that you put into it doesn’t matter. You’ll go in at 2 or 3 in the morning because you want to. You don’t even have to make yourself do it. So when you look at successful people, and you look at the amount of time they put in, and you see all these books that say ‘the seven laws of success’ or ‘get rich this way,’ remember that, at the end of the day, those people found something that they were passionate about. And that’s what they did. So that’s my advice.”

Out of all of the phenomenal questions and answers, one theme remained consistent: get stared now, and get started here. With the technology and resources available in Columbus today, there’s no reason to wait to pursue your passion.

“What we really want you to know is that this is all within your grasp,” Marshall Shorts, a creative and a core member of the Harlem Renaissance team, said. “You don’t have to go to Harlem to be an artist, or to make something happen for yourself. Whatever it is that you want to do, you can do that right here. And you have the ability. These folks weren’t old when they were making this art. Some of them were close to your age. So, keep that in mind as you express how you feel. Art was just their way of expressing what was going on around them. You have the opportunity to do that with what you do as well.”

By Hailey Stangebye

Photos courtesy of Bryant Anthony (Bee1ne)

For his contribution to The Gallery at the Gateway Film Center, Bryant Anthony (or Bee1ne) chose a piece that has a history with the Harlem Renaissance celebration in Columbus. It was on display during the Harlem Renaissance Experience at Gallery Hop in Aug. 2018.

The painting, “Beauty from Chaos,” is a collaboration between Bee1ne and Mr. Robot Geek. It speaks to the collaborative nature of this celebration, as well as the importance of love for self and others.

“It’s raw emotion in a freestyle piece, and it’s both of our styles put together,” Bryant says. “We felt that this piece was already essential to the Harlem Renaissance project after it was displayed at gallery hop. So we wanted to continue to have it on display, instead of having it sit in a studio. And we thought Gateway was the perfect place to continue to display this piece.”

“Beauty from Chaos” speaks to a motif throughout much of Bee1ne’s work, which is love. For Bryant, love is one of the most important components to the Harlem Renaissance.

“I realized that people of the Harlem Renaissance did it for themselves and nobody else. They showed each other love because they couldn’t get love from the outside world.”

“I realized that people of the Harlem Renaissance did it for themselves and nobody else,” Bryant says. “They showed each other love because they couldn’t get love from the outside world.”

“Beauty from Chaos” will be on display at The Gallery at the Gateway Film Center through February 2019.

By Hailey Stangebye

Photos courtesy of Lisa M. Cliff

Lisa M. Cliff clearly remembers the first time she met the late Aminah Robinson.

It was at a gallery opening for one of Aminah’s shows. The prospect of speaking to Aminah made Lisa anxious, but she overcame her nerves and worked up the gumption to introduce herself. She said ‘hello’ to Aminah and gave her a postcard that featured some of her original artwork.

“She looked at it, and then asked me a few questions about what I do, and she said it was nice work. I didn’t want to take up too much of her time,” Lisa says. “But then, Aminah said, ‘Hey, come outside with me while I take a smoke.’”

The story still makes Lisa laugh. She was so worried about meeting her idol, but when she finally met Aminah, she found her to be so welcoming and generous that it was disarming. To this day, she can’t remember the specifics of their conversation outside the gallery — she was in too great a state of awe to recall specifics.

“What I do remember is her telling me to be myself and to do the things that brought me passion. We were outside the gallery for a while. To the point where someone came out and said, ‘Uh, Aminah, you have guests,’” Lisa laughs. “It was very cool.”

“What I do remember is her telling me to be myself and to do the things that brought me passion.”

Aminah is the inspiration for Lisa’s piece in The Gallery at the Gateway Film Center, which is called “Queen Mother, Creative Messenger, Ms. Aminah, Jewel of Columbus.” Lisa, a Columbus native and mixed-media artist, originally created the piece shortly after Aminah’s passing as part of a tribute show.

Lisa says that Aminah was a constant inspiration; she was an internationally-recognized artist who grew up just a few blocks from Lisa’s childhood home, and she made an effort to tell the story of that neighborhood — Poindexter Village.

“I thought to myself, that’s what I want to be able to do. I want to be able to remain true to myself and touch and inspire people by speaking truth to power through my work the way I have watched and admired Ms. Aminah so beautifully and effortlessly do in her wonderful life’s work,” Lisa says. “She truly was a creative mother to many.”

“I want to be able to remain true to myself and touch and inspire people by speaking truth to power through my work the way I have watched and admired Ms. Aminah so beautifully and effortlessly do in her wonderful life’s work. She truly was a creative mother to many.”

Lisa’s piece in the Gateway Gallery does just that. Her work is, at the same time, clearly inspired by Aminah, yet distinctly unique to Lisa. It was the perfect choice for a Harlem Renaissance show because it uplifts contemporary art, while paying tribute to the legends who made the cultural landscape in Columbus what it is today.

Lisa’s piece is on display at the Gateway Gallery through the end of February.

Lisa’s Work

By Hailey Stangebye

Photos courtesy of Gaye Reissland

When Gaye Reissland created art early in her career, she focused on achieving a beautiful aesthetic. Now, she strives for beauty imbued with a more meaningful message.

“I consider myself an art activist,” Gaye says. “Most of my artwork generally has something to do with social justice. Now that I’m a grandmother and on the other side of 50, I feel like I have an obligation to make a difference in the world.”

“Most of my artwork generally has something to do with social justice. Now that I’m a grandmother and on the other side of 50, I feel like I have an obligation to make a difference in the world.”

Before, Gaye says the people used to pass her work and make comments such as ‘Oh, that’s pretty.’ Now, she strives for art that makes the viewer pause and think, ‘Okay, this is beautiful. But, there’s also more to it.’

For the show in the The Gallery at the Gateway Film Center, Gaye chose a piece that she feels speaks to the essence of the Harlem Renaissance called “Wakanda Warrior Woman.” This Black Panther-inspired painting is also the perfect fit for a movie theatre setting.

“When I saw that movie, it really affected me in a positive way,” Gaye says. “At the movie premiere in Columbus, it reminded me of a time in the Harlem Renaissance where they highlighted black art and black writers. It was such a positive experience, and people were just bursting with pride. It reminded me of how they celebrated black art in the Harlem Renaissance.”

“It was such a positive experience, and people were just bursting with pride. It reminded me of how they celebrated black art in the Harlem Renaissance.”

Gaye’s painting features one of the Wakanda warriors. She was drawn to this subject because she says she often chooses to feature people who wouldn’t normally be featured.

“I feature women of color, generally. Or older people with wrinkles. I love wrinkles, not so much on myself, but in my artwork,” Gaye says. “Wrinkles are a road map that show the story of what people have been through.”

One look at “Wakanda Warrior Woman,” and it’s clear that Gaye’s work captures the strength of women of color. The piece is beautiful, yet strikingly fierce.

“I’m really excited that we’ve celebrated the Harlem Renaissance this year. It has given artists of color in the Columbus area opportunities and venues that we probably wouldn’t have access to otherwise,” Gaye says. “So It’s been a wonderful experience, and hopefully it’s just the beginning, not the end.”

Gaye’s Work

By Hailey Stangebye

Photos courtesy of Shelbi Harris-Roseboro

A central theme throughout all of the pieces selected for our Gateway Gallery is identity. We told each artist to select a piece that represents themselves in one way or another.

For Shelbi Harris-Roseboro, or Shel10, her piece called “Face of my father” was the perfect fit. She says that “Face of my father” represents who she’s become as an artist over the years. It’s also notable; “Face of my father” has been shown in more than a dozen national and local shows since its creation in 2012.

“The piece shows my style,” Shelbi says. “Pointillism, colorful choices, things like that. I think it also represents my African roots, and there’s a spiritual connection for me with this piece. It’s just an all around piece that I thought would be good to represent me.”

“I think it also represents my African roots, and there’s a spiritual connection for me with this piece. It’s just an all around piece that I thought would be good to represent me.”

Shelbi is a Columbus native — “born and raised” — who currently works as a graphic designer, mixed-media artist, teacher and gallery director. She says that the Harlem Renaissance is a unique platform for this city.

“The cool thing about the Harlem Renaissance is that everybody gets to be themselves and be celebrated for who they are,” Shelbi says. “I enjoyed the show and all the pieces in it. I know and respect all of the people in it because everyone has their own lane, their own style and their own way of going about being an artist and a creative. I’m honored to be a part of it.”

“I enjoyed the show and all the pieces in it. I know and respect all of the people in it because everyone has their own lane, their own style and their own way of going about being an artist and a creative. I’m honored to be a part of it.”

Shelbi’s work will remain on display in the Gateway Gallery through February of 2019. Prints of her piece, “Face of my father,” are available upon request. Click here to learn more.

By Hailey Stangebye

Photos courtesy of Keian Hochradel

What’s the price for each piece?

200 bucks each, said Keian.

Most of these other pieces are listing for a lot more, said our curator. Are you sure?

But Keian was positive. He priced his two pieces in the Gateway Gallery with a great deal of intention. For Keian, price is less about what the highest bidder can afford, and more about making art available to everyone.

“I’m 23 years old and, no matter how much I like a painting, I can’t afford an $800 painting,” Keian says. “I do a lot of shows with people my age, and I want them to be able to afford it no matter their financial status. Everybody deserves to have art.”

“I do a lot of shows with people my age, and I want them to be able to afford it no matter their financial status. Everybody deserves to have art.”

Keian, a Columbus-based visual artist, contributed two pieces our show at the Gateway Gallery. The first is called “We are the bees, killing us kills you.” It features a bold, colorful, abstract bee in a style reminiscent of Harlem.

To Keian, bees are a lot like artists: under-appreciated, yet fundamental to life as we know it.

“Artists have a special impact, but it’s really kind of ignored. Everything that we see in this world is through the mind of an artist,” says Keian. “Bees and artists are similar because they’re very much needed, but it’s often unknown.”

“Everything that we see in this world is through the mind of an artist. Bees and artists are similar because they’re very much needed, but it’s often unknown.”

His second piece, “Oceanic funk, a wave that doesn’t end,” also relates to the perception of artists in a community. This wave represents artistic momentum, which can only grow with the support of the community as a whole.

“A lot of people don’t realize how much support means to artists. I know a lot of people who have stopped creating just because they didn’t get the support they needed. And, when I say ‘support,’ I don’t even necessarily mean purchasing art,” Keian says. “Yeah, it’s wonderful when you purchase art. But, just coming to shows helps. Or, on social media, if you retweet or like a picture that can make an artists’ day. They’re like, ‘Wow, somebody likes what I put out into the world.’”

“Yeah, it’s wonderful when you purchase art. But, just coming to shows helps. Or, on social media, if you retweet or like a picture that can make an artists’ day. They’re like, ‘Wow, somebody likes what I put out into the world.’”

Keian, with the support of his community, continues to create art that’s accessible to all. His current medium of choice is alcohol ink, but he experiments with a wide variety of materials. To see his work in person, visit the Gateway Gallery at the Gateway Film Center.

By Hailey Stangebye

Photos courtesy of Wendy Kendrick

When asked to choose a piece for The Gallery at Gateway Film Center, Wendy Kendrick ultimately settled on “Nona.”

“Nona” is Latin for nine or ninth. It refers, specifically, to the ninth month of pregnancy. That’s significant because, for Wendy, this piece represents a time of delivery in her life. She originally created it as one of a 12-part series for an exhibit called “#[un]Defined Visible/Invisible Black Woman,” which opened in March of 2017 in Oakland, California.

Since then, that original exhibit has grown and traveled across the country. In November of 2017, the show opened right here in Columbus.

“I feel like I’m really at one of the best places I’ve been in my journey as an artist. A lot of the things that challenged me when I was young in the arts no longer challenge me. ‘Nona,’ as a piece, speaks to that deliverance. A time of delivery.”

“For me, it was a time of delivery, both in terms of my work and in terms of where I am as an artist,” Wendy says. “I feel like I’m really at one of the best places I’ve been in my journey as an artist. A lot of the things that challenged me when I was young in the arts no longer challenge me. ‘Nona,’ as a piece, speaks to that deliverance. A time of delivery.”

Wendy calls this style of artwork a “quilted portrait mask” because it’s highly influenced by the African masks that she’s studied over the course of her life.

Today, Wendy is a full-time mixed media and textile artist based in Columbus, where she’s resided for more than 25 years.

Wendy’s Work

Wendy’s work is on display through February at The Gallery at the Gateway Film Center.

By Hailey Stangebye

As a part of our citywide celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance in Columbus, we took five local, African American artists from Columbus to Harlem. On that journey, they exchanged ideas, made new connections and gained a deeper understanding of the Harlem Renaissance and its impact on our world today.

We captured each treasured moment from that trip to create a powerful documentary. On Friday, Nov. 30, at 6 p.m., the My Great Day in Harlem documentary will premiere at the Gateway Film Center.

This documentary is a multi-part series that follows the journey of each artist, all of whom are masters in their respective creative fields: Tripp Fontane (poet), Samara Tillman (fashion designer), Percy King (visual artist), Lori Lindsey(dancer) and Jay Swifa (musician). Each section of the documentary traces the journey of an individual artist and showcases their unique experience in Harlem.

“The screening of My Great Day in Harlem is more than a film; it’s an opportunity to connect with and support local, black artists. Each segment is inspiring, powerful and particularly important in modern Columbus,” says Chris Jones, COO at Warhol & WALL ST.

In addition to the screening, the event also features live performances and a Q&A session after the film. 

Performances (including hip hop carolers and more) begin at 6 p.m., the documentary begins at 7 p.m. and the Q&A session begins immediately after the screening.

Tickets are free, but you need a ticket! Come join us at the premiere! Register here.

This screening is made possible through the generosity of our sponsors: The Greater Columbus Arts Council, Lbrands, The City of Columbus – Andrew J. Ginther, Mayor, Nationwide, Franklin County – Where Government Works, Crane Group, Cardinal Health, Dispatch Media Group, Lamar Outdoor Advertising and Art Makes Columbus/Columbus Makes Art.