Where’s the Art in Yellow Springs?

Sometimes visitors to Yellow Springs ask, “Where’s the Art?  I heard this was an art town but there aren’t rows of galleries like other art towns I’ve visited.”

Here’s my answer “the whole town is a gallery.”  Art is everywhere in Yellow Springs, you sit on it – the mosaic benches and the painted daisy benches.  You lean against it- the knit and felt covered benches.  You can touch it on the poles in the knit graffiti.

Visit the public restrooms in the Train Station and look up.  It’s a Loo with a view! Local artists started the Chamber Pot Gallery 4 years ago.

Walk behind Xenia Ave. in Keith’s Alley and see the ever-changing murals. You might catch an artist painting one.

You drive past murals and sculptures on Xenia Ave. and Dayton St. coming into town.

We sneak art in everywhere.  Going for a walk in the glen?  Stop in for a map in the Glen Helen Building and bingo! someone has hung a new art show in the atrium.

Hungry? Get a bite to eat at the Winds Café or the Sunrise Café and you are surrounded with a beautiful art show that changes every month.

Going to listen to the live band at the Wine Tasting at The Emporium?  Whose show is on the walls tonight?   Love the   Pizza at Ha Ha’s?  Check out this month’s featured artist.   On Corry St., Williams Eatery has a couple of regular artists who keep their walls filled with color and wonderful scenes of the Glen.

If you go to see an art film at The Little Art Theater there’s a visual art show hung in the lobby. That’s a double art whammy.

This past month, at the Corner Cone, you could get a scoop of ice cream and depending on the day listen to live music, watch the 10 Minute Play Festival or explore the Art Phone Booth.

Then there are the galleries- Herndon Gallery on the Antioch Campus, Would you, Could you In A Frame on Corry St., the Yellow Springs Arts Council Gallery on Xenia Ave and the new kid on the block- Art Happens in Kings Yard.   Plus there are 2 long established artist co-ops, Yellow Springs Pottery and the Village Artisans.   Or go see the John Bryan Community Pottery with its magnificent ceramic mural on one side and it’s painted penguins on the other side of the door.  It is right behind the John Bryan Building at 100 Dayton St..  Inside ceramic artists are working at the wheels and firing the kilns day and night.

Many Fridays, you can find free art pieces left around town by the Jafagirls.

O.K. there’s much  more but I think I will end with a challenge mystery.  Can you find these art pieces?  They are outside, in plain view, in downtown Yellow Springs.

1. The Giant Nose- including nose hair

2. A Lion’s Head

3. A Vampire Bunny

4. The small, white Art Box that changes what’s inside from time to time.

5. The mural on a ceiling.

For useful links on upcoming art events visit the Yellow Springs Chamber of Commerce

A public art map is available at Yellow Springs Arts Blog