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Stephanie Rond – Spacewalkers

Inspired by the ‘spacewalkers’ that repair the Hubble telescope, Spacewalkers is a series of street art installations and indoor work that explore figures who exist in liminal spaces, spaces both human and otherworldly, spaces of creative possibility and personal peril. These figures tell a different story about the purpose of public art as well as the women and marginalized people who are too often excluded from participation as well as representation.
The series re-imagines what--and who--deserves to be made visible in public space.  Traditionally, monuments exist to reaffirm and reinforce power.  I believe it is important to consider not only who is represented and glorified by monumental art, but also who is not represented, who is perpetually absent, who is denied recognition.  I see the Spacewalkers series as anti-monumental, a series of artworks that resist--and, more importantly--rebuke the assumption that public space exists to exalt the already powerful.
Public space is deeply gendered. It is no accident that few female-identifying persons are depicted in monumental art and statuary in Columbus, and Spacewalkers is designed to challenge that.  I am especially curious about the way that women react to spaces that are not built for their flourishing and, in some cases, their very survival. My spacewalkers refuse their containment, protest their restriction, and defy efforts to subordinate them.
Finally, Spacewalkers is resistant to a primary goal of monumental art: the creation of a work that appears invulnerable, permanent, and transcendent of death.  I work with paper, which, by definition, is ephemeral and in outdoor spaces likely to fall away within the year.  I'm not looking to sustain illusions of a world without loss. I also work with stencil art, a technique that is often in contrast to the traditions of fine art and identified with the visual language of protest.  In this way, I invite new questions about the form of public art and its purpose, and create dynamic space for female voices to emerge in our city.

Dance and Sing with Miss Marlene! (MAC Family Series)

Experience the enchanting world of Miss Marlene, a cherished children's musician captivating Central Ohio families since 2003. Join us at the McConnell Arts Center for a family music concert filled with boundless energy, instant connections, and a repertoire of over 150 songs that blend traditional favorites with new gems.

With a dynamic setlist featuring sing-alongs like "Wheels On the Bus" and covers such as "We Are the Dinosaurs," Miss Marlene's concerts offer an interactive and joyful experience for children under 6 and their big people. Don't miss the chance to be part of this musical journey, where laughter, silliness, and cherished memories abound in a celebration of two decades of musical excellence in Central Ohio.

$5 – $15

(LLI Week 2) Gail Zugger – The Clarinet’s Development

In What to Listen For in Music, Aaron Copland states that an instrument finds its way into music by being invented, perfected and mastered. We’ll investigate the clarinet’s path from discovery in 1690 to today and how it works. What are the clarinet’s timbre qualities and how do composers utilize its unique voice in their works? Who are some influential composers that have written great music for the clarinetist? The exploration will include a performance of Thomas Zugger’s “Alaskan Images for Solo Clarinet” composed in 2006 following Gail and Thomas’s honeymoon trip to Alaska. It showcases 4 stops along our journey in Anchorage and Sewell. The performance will include pictures from our trip to reflect the music played.

$15

Praveen Kumar – Bharatnatyam with Live Orchestra (Dhvani)

P Praveen Kumar is one of India's leading exponents of the traditional Bharatanatyam dance form. He has received numerous awards and has performed at many national and international art festivals. He will present a traditional Margam performance with a talented orchestra.

Praveen Kumar - Dancer
Smt. Krupaa Lakshmi - vocals
Barghav Hariharan - vocals
Umesh Venkatesan - nattuvangam
Ethirajan Ramanujan - mridangam (drum)
Visveshwar N - Bamboo Flute

Paisha Thomas

Paisha Thomas is an American singer/songwriter who commands attention from the moment she takes the stage. Equally at home singing Soul, Gospel, R&B, she creates music about love, self-discovery, and the condition of the world.

Paisha released her first album in 2016, which drew immediate praise from critics and fans alike, and she frequently collaborates with Counterfeit Madison, Scott Woods (Holler & Streetlight Guild), and many others on a variety of engaging projects, including the ongoing “Say it Loud Columbus”, featuring compelling original protest music.

A descendant of the Randolph Freed People - a group of 383 freed slaves who traveled by foot from Roanoke, Virginia to their promised land in Ohio in 1846 only to be met by violent white mobs. Their land was seized and sold from under them – they scattered throughout Ohio. Paisha's music preserves not only her family history but sings to the current social and racial injustices in our country.

Paisha's performances seek to inform and inspire. To ask the question - When will we overcome? And present a call to action to the audience, bringing them into the movement.

In response to ongoing police violence in 2020, Paisha organized a collective of musicians to perform at protests around central Ohio – Say it Loud Columbus. The performers not only appeared on street corners, at vigils and in front of the Statehouse, they also recorded and released an album of original songs – Music for the Movement Vol.1.

Paisha uses music to educate, heal and unite. Her songs capture both the struggle and pride of being Black in America.
Paisha Thomas and the Soul Strings Band guide the audience on a music history journey of Black people’s contributions to Americana music.

$30

(LLI Week 3) Sandra K-Horn – Undercover: Becoming Street Smart in Central Ohio

Sandra K-Horn’s book, Undercover: Becoming Street Smart in Central Ohio, is the chilling biography of two undercover officers' journeys from rookie cop to undercover officer. Mike Powell and Shawn Bain started their careers in the lower echelon of the Franklin County Sheriff's Department. They worked their way from beat cop to undercover drug enforcement. Powell commanded a nine-county bust operation that included a motorcycle gang and a web of traffickers and led to breaking up a conspiracy of Cuban Nationals. He assisted in bringing to justice individuals contributing to the operation of the Mexican Cartel that worked a network between New York, Columbus, Houston, Miami, and Los Angeles.

K-Horn will discuss Undercover and the five years during which she interviewed Powell and Bain to amass information for her book. She will be joined by Sargent Mike Powell (ret), who will answer questions about his time in the Franklin County Sheriff's Department and his work with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

$15

Stephanie Rond – Spacewalkers (Guided Gallery Tour)

Join exhibiting artist, Stephanie Rond, in an informative and in-depth tour of her exhibition, Spacewalkers, at the McConnell Arts Center. This will be an opportunity for patrons to be in conversation with the artist about the work as they tour the exhibition.

Edmar Castañeda (Cultural Connections)

Upon arriving in the United States in 1994, Colombian-born Edmar Castañeda has made a name for himself as the preeminent jazz harp virtuoso. Castañeda brings forth a brilliance that beautifully merges the jazz tradition with a diverse set of styles and genres while bringing unbridled attention to a somewhat unfamiliar instrument: the harp. Singlehandedly, Castañeda has cemented the harp’s place in jazz with innovative technique and heartfelt creativity from a wealth of formidable collaborations with music titans such as Wynyton Marsalis, Bela Fleck, John Scofield, Ricki Lee Jones, Hiromi, Pedrito Martinez, Marcus Miller, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Ivan Lins, The Yellowjackets, Paco De Lucia, and Paquito D’Rivera....

$10 – $30

(LLI Week 4) Brent Davis & Rich Baker – On & On: The History of Bluegrass Music in Columbus

For decades, Central Ohio was a popular destination for Appalachian residents searching for good paying jobs. Arriving from Kentucky, Tennessee, and the Virginias, they brought not only their families but also their love of mountain string music. After working all week in the factories on Columbus's southside, they would relax with food, drink, camaraderie, and the music they loved from back in the hills of home. Join Brent Davis and Rich Baker as they discuss how this traditional American music helped shape the culture of Columbus.

(LLI Week 5) Todd Kleismit – Celebrating Ohio at the Nation’s 250th

2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Along with the National Semiquincentennial Commission established by Congress, each state has been charged with forming a commission to design a celebration that reflects its unique character and contributions to the nation over the last 250+ years. The America 250-Ohio Commission is leading Ohio's efforts to commemorate this significant milestone and is rolling out numerous programs, activities, and events now through 2026. Programs include the 4th Grade History Pass, Trails & Tales statewide driving tours, America 250-Ohio Communities, Ohio Goes to the Movies, monthly celebration themes for 2026, and many more! Come learn how you, your community, employer, neighborhood, and family can get involved.

$15

Jim & Susie Malcolm

For the past 30 years and more, Jim Malcolm has been the ultimate Scots troubadour, taking the traditional songs of Scotland and his own prizewinning compositions to all corners of the UK and around almost every state in the USA. His voice is one of the finest in Scotland, and his mellifluous guitar playing is the perfect accompaniment. He plays mouthorgan to a standard you’ll rarely hear. In recent years his wife Susie has flown the empty nest to join him in concert. An award-winning traditional singer herself, Susie sings songs from the North East of Scotland and has a penchant for ancient ballads. They have three CDs as a duo and together they offer a concert of harmonies and humour - tales from the road, the riverside and from the home front, and are not to be missed.

$10 – $30
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