Blog

If you live in the Midwest the last weekend of January will lure you to Columbus, OH, where you will find the Art Studio Clearance Sale, sponsored the the well-regarded Ohio Designer Craftsmen. I've always wanted to go shop there and see this show especially since during the 80's and 90's, etc., we did many excellent art fairs with this organization at the Ohio State Fairgrounds, home of Winterfair, held on the first weekend of December.

It is nearly a four hour drive, but the need to know made me, and my friend Barb Burkhardt, set out in a snowstorm, even though early that morning she had dumped her car into a ditch. We left that car in the hands of her husband and the towing company and headed for the Indiana Toll Road. The need to attend an art fair is a strong motivation in our lives.

Luckily the weather lifted quickly and we made it to the Fairgrounds with ease. We met Sharon Kokot, director of the organization, at the door. The parking lot was full and people were carrying packages out the door. A good sign.

It was a nice building, unfortunately I didn't check out the load in and load out logistics (sorry Nels and Geoff), but no one complained to me and I saw lots of people I knew: Pat Bolgar, Lois Bosworth, Linda Chamberlain, Alice Ham, Mary Johnston, Peter Katke, Jeremy Keller, Michael Kifer, Kathy LeSeuer, Tom Michael, Bob Reiberg, Todd Richter, David Ross, Mark Schlabaugh, Becka Strachan and Stacy Hanlin Rohr.

They had food available to keep people in the building, but no bells and whistles, as you'd expect from a clearance sale.

Thanks for the good deal Mark!

Interested in a few more details? Here are a few quickie interviews with AFI members Linda Chamberlain, Stacy Hamlin Rohr and Mary Johnston:

If you are spending the evening in Columbus this is a great town for eating. We had a fabulous dinner at Marcella's Ristaurante in the Short North area on High Street: delicious martinis and their specialty authentic Italian dishes and wines.

The next day we headed downtown to visit the Columbus Arts Museum. There was an amazing crowd of people on a winter Sunday. Someone is doing excellent marketing. The museum had a Caravaggio exhibit and a very cool selection of modern art. Saw a Wegman that was jaw dropping.

Nearby we visited the home of James Thurber. This is where he wrote the "Secret Life of Walter Mitty."

Cool trip to Columbus and just the thing to cure a little winter cabin fever. Right - on the way home another snowstorm. C'est la vie.