If you're a senior and an arts patron, the spring is a wonderful time to be living in Cincinnati. There are plenty of creative events in and around the Queen City in these early months of the year — especially for lovers of the visual arts.
Let's take a look at some of the special events and exhibits that could brighten your days as the weather warms up. Many of these happenings feature discounted admissions for seniors and some are even free, so they make for wonderful opportunities to get out and enjoy the city with friends, family and grandkids.
Ready to be inspired? Get your calendar and pencil ready!
EXHIBIT: "The Art of the Brick"
Now through May 1, Cincinnati Museum Center is hosting the final weeks of this traveling 3-D art exhibit, featuring over 100 works by contemporary artist Nathan Sawaya. Each sculpture is made entirely out of LEGO building bricks and presents the world of design in an entirely new light.
The Art of the Brick will tickle the fancy of LEGO-loving kids and adults alike. Admission is $17.50 for seniors and $12.50 for children. Open weekdays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
DEMONSTRATION: "Conservation on View: Zaragoza’s Retablo of St. Peter"
Have you ever wondered how art conservators clean and restore artworks to their original glory? Years of handling and display, exposure to air pollutants, and even harsh light can damage artworks and change their character. Now you can witness an ongoing restoration effort.
This month, the Cincinnati Art Museum's chief conservator, Serena Urry, is cleaning Spanish painter Zaragoza's 15th century painting, The Retablo of St. Peter. And the public is invited to watch as she brings the painting back to life.
Admission is free; however, parking is $4 (free parking is available for Art Museum members). The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. If Urry is not working on the painting during your visit, a video describing the conservation process will be running nearby.
EXHIBIT: "The Etching Revival from Daubigny to Twachtman"
Also at the Cincinnati Art Museum until May 8 is an exhibit of late 19th century etchings, including by French masters, James McNeill Whistler and Cincinnatians Mary Louise McLaughlin, Henry Farny and John Twachtman.
See above for admission, parking and hours.
EXHIBIT: "The Mini (Microcinema)"
Through April 23, the gallery at The Carnegie in Covington has been transformed into an experimental film theatre, with rotating short film screenings curated by C. Jacqueline Wood.
The gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday, noon – 5 p.m. Admission is free.
EXHIBIT: "Daubigny, Monet, Van Gogh: Impressions of a Landscape"
Have you ever wondered who Monet, Pissarro and Van Gogh looked to for mentorship and inspiration as they honed their aesthetic? This retrospective exhibit will introduce you to the overlooked French artist Charles Francois Daubigny, whose work was key to the later Impressionist masters' development.
The exhibit at the Taft Museum of Art, which runs through May 29, features 55 paintings by Daubigny and the other Impressionists mentioned above and will document and demonstrate Daubigny's influence upon them. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday.
On Sundays, admission is only $5 for adults and free for children 17 and under, so for a senior on a budget, that's the best day to go. (Otherwise, an adult admission is $15 and a youth admission is $10.)
FESTIVAL: Appalachian Festival
From May 6 to May 8, Coney Island hosts one of Cincinnati's most popular craft and culture events — Appalachian Festival — which began in 1971 as a crafts exhibition hosted by the Cincinnati Junior League.
Each year, the three-day event draws almost 50,000 visitors to experience Appalachian culture through music, artisans' displays and exhibits. This year, Appalachian Festival will feature 130 crafters, educational programs, three entertainment stages and a mountain life exhibit area.
Parking is $6 and admission for seniors is $4. Kids 4 – 11 are admitted for $2 and children ages 3 and under are admitted free.
ART FAIR: The Wyoming Art Show
May 15 marks the 31st annual installment of the Wyoming Art Show, featuring 125 juried artists and crafters displaying and selling their work in ceramic, fiber, glass, 2D graphic, jewelry, mixed media, painting, photography, sculpture and wood media.
In addition, there will be plenty of food stands, live music and free children's activities. The fair takes place at the intersection of Springfield Pike and Worthington Avenue, in the historic Cincinnati suburb of Wyoming. Admission and parking are free.
ART FAIR: Summerfair
Cincinnati's largest and best-known outdoor, juried art fair returns in late spring, from June 3 – 5, on the grounds of the Coney Island amusement park.
Over 300 art and fine craft exhibitors will be present and the fair will be held rain or shine. Daily admission is $10 (kids 12 and under are admitted free), or you can purchase online a multi-day pass for $15. Online ticket sales begin in May. Parking is included in the ticket price.
