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    GCAC Presents: An inside look at the Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center of Worthington

    As a theatre artist, I don’t typically associate myself with visual art like sculpture or painting. I have never been very good artistically with my hands, so drawing and painting were never really my interest. But art fascinates and amazes me in every way; it draws me in and has a strong hold on my life’s experiences. Having been surrounded by art since I was a child, whether music, theatre, or visits to the Toledo Museum of Art, my perspective is as broad as the Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center of Worthington (MAC).

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    My new day-to-day activities at the MAC are as varied as the paintings hanging on the walls. From such things as sitting in board meetings or house managing a show in the Bronwynn Theatre, to merely observing an oil painting class outside my “office” or walking through the hallway galleries, I’ve realized the art is only one part of a complex puzzle called the MAC.

    Visitors in the gallery.

    It made sense to come intern for the MAC because of its already growing reputation, and above all: its mission. The McConnell’s mission is to change lives and make memories through creative arts experiences. It is about the art, yes; the ability to bring art, both visual and performance, from around the world and within our own backyard, to a place in Central Ohio most people wouldn’t expect it. It’s about the cultural importance and the mission to make art into a memorable experience for everyone. But it’s also about the support of the community for a building like the MAC and a mission for the arts as refreshingly simple as the MAC has.

    Wandering the building, I get to revisit the exhibit Art Interprets Alzheimer’s, a series of photographs and sculptures by George Roby and Herbert Ascherman, Jr. I think of the previous exhibits that I have personally seen come and go from the space, how accessible and adaptable the art at the MAC has been, and what the future holds for the Center. And the truth of the matter is that an organization such as this only survives through the partnerships it forms within the community. It flourishes when people believe in what art can bring to a child’s life, touching and changing the experience of all viewers, whether they accept or expect it. With its feet on the ground and its eyes to the sky, the McConnell Arts Center has a bright future ahead, but just as many challenges.

    MAC Events Coming Soon:
    Color the Hills: Saturday, June 30th, 4 p.m to 9 p.m.
    Olentangy Valley Center (Hill’s Market)
    7860 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, OH 43235
    The businesses of Olentangy Valley Center (anchored by The Hills Market, The Rusty Bucket and Howard Brooks Interiors) present an evening of art, live music and food as they collaborate with The Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center of Worthington. The Hills of the Olentangy become a backdrop to the artwork of the distinguished art instructors and students of the McConnell Arts Center, whose work will be displayed and available for sale at this free community event.

    Visit the Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center of Worthington at 777 Evening Street, Worthington, OH 43085, and on the web.

    GCAC Presents is a bi-weekly column brought to you by the Greater Columbus Arts Council – supporting art and advancing culture in Columbus – in partnership with the Columbus Arts Marketing Association, a professional development and networking association of arts marketers. Each column will be written by a different local arts organization to give you an insiders look at the arts in Columbus.

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    Zachary Alexander
    Zachary Alexander
    Zachary Alexander is a Senior BA Theatre Major at Otterbein University in Westerville, OH, and is an Executive Staff Intern at the Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center of Worthington.
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