Exhibit Columbus Symposium to highlight design conversations, site visits, and keynote events
The curatorial theme, Yes And, encourages collaboration in the creation of the city's ongoing performance.
Columbus, Indiana — Exhibit Columbus announces the details for its fifth symposium to explore the theme, Yes And, and to introduce the 12 participant teams to Columbus and connect with the curatorial partners. This unique two-day event invites attendees to explore the modern design legacy of Columbus, Indiana, and for participants to consider how they might add to the multiple and overlapping lives of buildings and spaces. The 2024 Symposium will be one of the most significant gatherings of contemporary artists, architects, and thinkers in the country and will take place in downtown Columbus. It features keynote conversations with participants and University of Michigan professor Julia McMorrough, as well as an improv and stand-up comedy showcase on Thursday night. All events are free and open to the public with a suggested donation.
“With so many city leaders across the country exploring how they can make meaningful additions to their city centers with art and architecture, Exhibit Columbus offers a clear window into the process and does it in an American city with a remarkable design legacy,” said Richard McCoy, the Executive Director of Landmark Columbus Foundation, the organization that produces Exhibit Columbus. “We’re thrilled to offer this experience for free and encourage attendees from many backgrounds to experience this gathering of some of the most inspiring artists, designers, and architects working today.”
Moving across venues and sites in downtown Columbus, the Symposium will feature opportunities to connect (conversations) and explore (site visits) with the four J. Irwin and Xenia S. Miller Prize Recipients. There will be panel discussions with the six University Design Research Fellowship teams with curators Could Be Design and Preservation Futures; the High School Design Team students with educators Darin Johnson, Spencer Steenblik, and Davida Harden; and Communication Designers with Landmark Columbus Foundation’s Jamie Goldsborough.
Both days will feature special guests exploring the curatorial theme, Yes And. Originating in improv theater, Yes And is a technique for affirming and building upon an idea to create a shared narrative. Thursday evening at The Commons will be a comedy showcase featuring an improv performance by dancer Lauren Curry and conductor Isaac Selya, followed by stand-up performances by Rashika Jaipuriar and Mat Alano-Martin, and headlined by Kelly Collette. Friday morning at The Crump Theatre will feature keynote speaker Julia McMorrough, architect and educator at the University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, whose work explores narratives in architecture. The curatorial partners created Yes And as a participatory call to work from existing material to shape positive change and to use this same approach to civic and city-building.
“We’re very excited to have organized this symposium to bring a fresh perspective to art and architecture through storytelling, play, and comedy!” said the seven curatorial partners, Could Be Design (Architects, Chicago and Urbana-Champaign, Illinois), Mila Lipinski (Architectural Associate, Jackson, Mississippi), Rasul Mowatt (Writer and Educator, Raleigh, North Carolina), Preservation Futures (Preservationists, Architect, and Historian, Chicago, Illinois), Too Black (Artist and Poet, Indianapolis, Indiana). “We couldn’t be more proud to make this world-class content free and available for everyone. It will be a great two days in Columbus as the fifth cycle further explores the city’s modern design legacy!”
J. Irwin and Xenia S. Miller Prize Recipients
Adaptive Operations (Chicago, Illinois) Site: The Crump Theatre
AD—WO (New York, New York) Site: The Former Irwin Block Building
Studio Barnes (Miami, Florida) Site: Jackson Street Parking Garage
Studio Cooke John (New York, New York) Site: First Christian Church
University Design Research Fellowship
Chandler Ahrens, Constance Vale, and Kelley Van Dyck Murphy (St. Louis, Missouri) Washington University in St. Louis College of Architecture Sam Fox School
Sarah Aziz (Albuquerque, New Mexico) University of New Mexico School of Architecture and Planning
Akima Brackeen (Chicago, Illinois) University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Architecture
Andrew Fu (Brooklyn, New York), Aaron Goldstein (Berkley, California), Aleksandr Mergold (Ithaca, New York), New Jersey Institute of Technology Hillier College of Architecture and Design
Michael Jefferson and Suzanne Lettieri (Ithaca, New York) Cornell University School of Architecture
Cèsar Lopez (Charlottesville, Virginia) University of Virginia School of Architecture, Jess Myers (New York City, New York) Columbia University GSAPP, Amelyn Ng (Providence, Rhode Island) Rhode Island School of Design, Germán Pallares-Avitia (Syracuse, New York) Syracuse University School of Architecture
Communication Design
Sing-Sing (Los Angeles, California)
2024 Symposium, Yes And, Schedule Details
Day One: Thursday, October 24
9 am, The Commons
Keynote Conversation: Meet the Miller Prize Recipients, with an introduction by curators Rasul Mowatt and Too Black
10:30 am, start at The Commons
YES AND REPLAYING
Meet Studio Barnes, with an introduction by curatorial partners Could be Design, then a Site Visit to the Jackson Street Parking Garage
1:30 am, The Commons
YES AND DESIGN RESEARCH
Meet University Design Research Fellows, with a conversation moderated by curators Could Be Design and Preservation Futures
3:30 pm, start at The Commons
YES AND RECOVERING
Meet AD—WO, with an introduction by curators Rasul Mowatt and Too Black, then a Site Visit to the Former Irwin Block Building
5:15 pm, The Commons
Reception featuring a cash bar by Upland Brewing Co. and light snacks by Fresh Fork Catering
5:45 pm, The Commons
YES AND COMEDY
A unique performance by Lauren Curry and Isaac Selya, and then a comedy showcase with Rashika Jaipuriar and Mat Alano-Martin, and headlined by Kelly Collette
2024 Symposium, Yes And, Schedule Details
Day Two: Friday, October 25
9 am, The Crump Theatre
Keynote Lecture by Julia McMorrough, with an introduction by curators Rasul Mowatt and Zack Morrison
10 am, The Crump Theatre
YES AND RESTAGING
Meet Adaptive Operations, with an introduction by curators Preservation Futures, then a Site Visit to the Crump Theatre
12:30 pm, First Christian Church Fellowship Hall
YES AND STUDENTS
Panel discussion with curator Mila Lipinski, the High School Design Team, team coordinator Spencer Steenblik, and BCSC C4 teacher Darin Johnson, and special conversation with BCSC Stem coordinator Davida Harden
2 pm, First Christian Church Fellowship Hall
YES AND STORYTELLING
Meet Communication Designers Sing-Sing, a panel discussion with Adi Goodrich and Sean Pecknold and Landmark Columbus Foundation Creative Director Jamie Goldsborough
3 pm, First Christian Church sunken courtyard
YES AND REFLECTING
Meet Studio Cooke John, with an introduction by curator Mila Lipinski, then a Site Visit to the First Christian Church sunken courtyard
Media Contact
Jamie Goldsborough
jamie@landmarkcolumbus.org
About Exhibit Columbus
Exhibit Columbus is a program of Landmark Columbus Foundation and an exploration of community, architecture, art, and design that activates the modern legacy of Columbus, Indiana. It creates a cycle of programming that uses this context to convene conversations around innovative ideas and commissions site-responsive installations in a free, public exhibition. exhibitcolumbus.org
