Urban Scrawl murals set for auction again At a glance
The summertime artistic spectacle known as Urban Scrawl will again pay off for the Franklinton community when many of the 8-foot murals created in August during the two-day event are sold.
On Saturday, the Franklinton Arts District will host its third annual fundraising auction of selected pieces.
Dubbed “Art for Franklinton,” the benefit “offers the artists from Urban Scrawl a chance to interact with people who support the revitalization of Franklinton year-round and who are interested in supporting the arts community in the neighborhood,” said Adam Herman, president of the arts district, which organizes Urban Scrawl and the auction.
“This event is also a lot less formal than many other arts auctions, and it really fits the spirit of the neighborhood.”
The auction, open to the public, will take place at the Columbus Idea Foundry, with former Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman serving as emcee.
The fundraiser “Art for Franklinton,” featuring auctions of murals created in August during Urban Scrawl, will take place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday at the Columbus Idea Foundry, 421 W. State St. For tickets, $35, visit www.franklintonarts district.com.
A three-member jury chose a dozen murals for a live auction and 30 others for a silent auction, said Jim Sweeney, the event chairman and an arts-district member.
“It’s excellent work that ought to be treated as excellent work and sold as such,” he said.
Among the liveauction offerings will be “The Scream,” by Youngstown-born artist Kirsten Bowen.
“I feel like a big mouth screaming at you is an attentiongetter,” said Bowen, 50, who lives in New York and Columbus. “It does seem to intuitively reflect some of the women’s issues that are going on.”
A mural of the LeVeque Tower by East Side resident David Gentilini depicts the iconic building from the point of view of the nearby Rhodes Tower.
“All things considered, I’m pretty happy with how it came out,” said Gentilini, 41.
A third of the money raised, Herman said, benefits the George Bellows Grant Program, established by the district in 2015 to support individual artists, art-education programs and public-art projects.
Previous grant recipients include Kat Francis (to paint a mural at Broad Street and Dakota Avenue) and the Franklinton Preparatory Academy (to launch a steel-drum band).
The remaining proceeds, Herman said, cover the costs of Urban Scrawl — a 10-year-old event held in the parking lot at 400 W. Rich St. — and some artsdistrict operations.
The first two auctions each raised $25,000.
Also this year, the district will introduce an award named for Coleman — a supporter of Franklinton during his time as mayor — to recognize someone who has made a significant contribution to the area’s art scene.