Art in the making
Scrawl event will showcase artists working in real time
Scrawl – formerly known as Urban Scrawl – returns to Franklinton this year with more artists at work and more room for them to do that work. h The 15th annual event, which will take place Aug. 28-29, will be spreading out this year. h “We’re moving from behind 400 W. Rich into the front, into the general 400 Square area,” said Johnny Riddle, executive director of the Franklinton Arts District, which organizes the event. h The event was virtual last year because of the pandemic, and organizers are eager to get back to normal.
“In 2020, we went virtual by providing the artists with smaller panels to create mini murals in their studios, homes and backyards.”
Interviews with the artists were livestreamed as they “talked about the inspiration” for their murals, Riddle said.
At the heart of this year’s event is the opportunity for visitors to watch art created before their eyes. Fifty-four artists – eight of whom will be working in teams of two – will spend two days creating 50 murals on four-by-eight-foot birch wood panels.
“They create these large-scale pieces of art right in front of the crowd, they get to engage with the audience, the guests get to ask them questions,” Riddle said.
Where formerly the artists have worked elbow to elbow, they will have a little more breathing room this year. They will also have a chance to step away from the action temporarily.
“We’re making an artists’ retreat, where they can get away from the sun, go under a misting fan, get some snacks and just enjoy the festival,” Riddle said.
The artists will also have the chance, for the first time this year, to sell some of their work.
Artists’ works available for purchase
“We have a brand-new element this year called ‘Show and Sell,’ where we’re giving the participating artists the opportunity to submit two pieces of work that we will display and sell, and 100% of the proceeds will go back to them,” Riddle said.
The artists involved were all chosen by a jury panel, including local artist Lisa Mclymont, Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery Director Cat Sheridan and Glass Axis Executive Director Melody Reed.
Participants include Columbusbased artist Marcus Billingsley, 26, who was also selected to design the poster for this year’s Scrawl.
“I wanted the poster to tell the story of young Black kids today,” he said. “I had to think about my youth, which wasn’t that long ago, being a young Black child in Cleveland. I reference artwork that I saw in Cleveland when I was growing up, including a sculpture downtown by Marshall Fredericks.”
Billingsley, who graduated from the Columbus College of Art & Design in 2017, got involved in Scrawl in 2019.
“Several of the artists that I was following at the time participated in Scrawl. They were all sharing it on social media, and I was like, this is where I have to be,” he said.
Murals have since become an important part of his artistic life. He just completed a large-scale work at Madlab, 227 N. 3rd St.
But there’s something special about creating a mural in front of an audience.
“It bring up lots of emotions,” he said. “I’m not without my insecurities, so it can be very pressuring. But it’s also invigorating. I tend to make things that elicit positive feelings – which I’m thankful for! So most of the time it’s really fun.”
Destiny of the murals
What will become of the works once they are are finished?
“Forty of those panels will go to auction in the spring at our charity fundraiser, and the proceeds will go to create need-based and project-based grants for organizations and artists in Franklinton and beyond. And the remaining 10 go out to the community to serve as a beautifier, something that we can add to the landscape of the district,” Riddle said.
Besides the art work, the festival includes a vendor marketplace, booths for community organizations, a bike valet and the unveiling of two permanent murals.
“The audience is getting bigger every year,” Riddle said. “I feel like there’s more excitement about it this year than
ever before. People really want to have that experience again.”
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