Artists at Ohio University and throughout the Athens area now have a new venue to showcase their talents. Lacuna, 197 W. State St., is a newly launched art gallery and music venue.
Chris Perisho, one of Lacuna's founders, said he and others felt the need for another art venue in Athens. The word lacuna means missing piece.
Myself and a handful of other people just thought it was a good idea
and we ran with it Perisho said.
Perisho is in the process of completing applications for nonprofit status for the art cooperative, which is staffed completely by volunteers.
Lacuna's staff comprises a group of about five or six people who have worked for three months to clean the building and raise money, said Liz Pahl, an art administration graduate student.
We still need to get nonprofit status for building maintenance and supplies Pahl said. It's not completely established yet
but people have been really excited about it.
Pahl said Lacuna was a draw for her not only because of the art but also because she is in a band, Nanny Jones, and hopes to create another place to share music.
Lacuna is an art gallery
but also we're trying to expand it to a music venue
too
as well as an art gallery
Pahl said.
If Lacuna is given nonprofit status, Pahl said they also hope to incorporate arts education for local youth.
We really hope to create a bunch of programs for youth in the area
she said. We really want to involve the community.
Lacuna is not used just for themed art showings. The space also can be used by bands for rehearsal and for shows, for classes and seminars, or nearly anything that has its basis in any kind of art, Perisho said.
One event Lacuna has featured is Art v. Sound, where 20 to 30 artists display their work and DJs spin tunes, said Billy Steinman, who schedules the art showings for the gallery.
It's DJs and art all going on at the same time
he said. It's sort of like an art opening
and the whole time there's music playing
