From rooftops to rainstorms, Exhibit Columbus opened with a bang.
Last weekend kicked off Exhibit Columbus — 13 new installations now live through Nov 30.
My journey started on Friday night when I forwent the elevator and hiked up five stories of parking garage stairs in a chamber of heat and humidity, next to none other than artist and designer
@Jonathan_Nesci , one of Exhibit Columbus’ founding figures. We were heading to the kickoff party on the garage’s rooftop where Joy Riding by Zachary Tate Porter / Office of Things was on full display. Its “Transformer-like” sound system, mimicking the clean lines of mid-century modern furniture, stood tall against the sky, blasting deep basslines that nodded to the joy of Black car culture. Porter himself was DJing, turning the piece into a living performance. For a moment, the garage felt less like infrastructure and more like a civic stage for music, design, and gathering, what a great use for a gigantic underutilized space with a great view of the city!
Saturday was a marathon of walking tours and notable site stops:
🔹 Accessing Nostalgia peeled open the Crump Theatre’s layered past.
🔹 Ellipsis carved a prairie mound and charred canopy for erased histories.
🔹 Inside Out by unfolded like a playful dollhouse of Columbus interiors.
🔹 The Steel Horsie stretched across the landscape with echoes of railroads and industry.
After a torrential downpour, the city turned into a street party. Music, design, and conversation spilled into the night—proof that Exhibit Columbus is not just design on display, but design lived, shared, and celebrated.
Accessing Nostalgia by
@adaptiveoperations (Charlie Vinz + team)
Ellipsis by
@ad_wo_architecture (Jen Wood & Emanuel Admassu)
Inside Out by
@chandlerahrens ,
@constancevale ,
@kelleymurphy_arch
The Steel Horsie by
@andrewfu ,
@aarongoldsteinarch ,
@aleksandr_mergold
Joy Riding by
@germane.Barnes (Germane Barnes) with sound and performance by
@zach_tate_porter
#ExhibitColumbus #YesAndColumbus
@Landmark.Columbus #ColumbusIndiana #DesignBiennial #PublicArt #ArchitectureDesign
