More interactivity and artists from across the Midwest make up this year’s OH+5 at the Dairy Barn Arts Center.
OH+5 is an exhibit that happens every two years and showcases artists from Ohio and the five bordering states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Three jurors selected 89 pieces to showcase from 75 different artists.
Courtney Kessel, exhibitions and events coordinator at The Dairy Barn, said the three jurors all come from different artistic backgrounds.
“We want the jurors to represent a wide variety of media,” Kessel said.
OH+5 is Kessel’s first exhibition with the Dairy Barn and a lot of her time was spent on the layout of the gallery, she said.
“I spent a lot of time making pieces go in communication with each other,” she said. “Every day I would untape the layout...it was a work in progress.”
There is more installation type work this year after Kessel had parameters for different types of media work, she said.
“When I was constructing the prospectus, which is the outline for artists to apply for the shows, there was a certain element of language that was missing,” Kessel said. “If it’s an all media show, why was there no language that says the specifications for videos?”
Kessel also started “In & Around the Barn” to coincide with the opening of OH+5. In & Around the Barn was Kessel’s idea to maximize the gallery space by placing pieces outside or displaying media pieces on the video monitors.
This year’s exhibit includes five installations and even more interactive pieces, including a television aimed at the ground that attendees will have to lie under to get the effect, said Jane Forrest Redfern, executive director of the barn.
“It’s not just a painting on the wall, but it has dimension to it,” Redfern said.
OH+5 allows the Dairy Barn to draw on the incredible artists in the region, Redfern said.
“One of the missions of the barn is to feature local artists, but this is our way of recognizing artists not just from Ohio but the surrounding states,” she said.
Athens is a hub for artists and a good place to be and this exhibit will demonstrate the incredible wealth of local and regional artists in the area, Redfern said.
“When people walk in they’ll see a mixed media show and they’ll be pleasantly surprised by the artistry in this area,” she said.
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If You Go:
What: OH+5 Ohio Border Exhibition
Where: The Dairy Barn
When: October 3-6, 8-15, 17-22, 23-27, 29 – Nov. 3, Nov. 6-12, 13-19, 20
Admission: General: $6; Seniors and Students: $4; Children under 12: Free
