Three of the most recognizable sculptures along Columbus’ Scioto Mile are deer by artist Terry Allen.
The first can be seen on the Rich Street Bridge, another on the steps outside COSI, the third lying in the grass on the steps behind COSI.
Installed in 2015, they are just three of more than 1,200 pieces of art on display throughout central Ohio, according to Jami Goldstein, vice president of marketing for the Greater Columbus Arts Council.
Now there’s a new way to check out art around the Columbus area. In 2019, the Greater Columbus Arts Council published an online art database, which shows where all the public art is located in the area. Moreover, he added another feature on top of that.
With the Art Walks app, which can be found on the Apple or Google Play stores, people can take self-guided art tours in their neighborhood or around the city’s historic sites like the Scioto Riverfront. , where deer are included. It’s a welcome addition to the city’s focus on showcasing public art and getting people out in the right way.
“We want to encourage people to go out and explore public art in their community,” Goldstein said.
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The Art Trip application was officially announced on July 20, but it is the culmination of efforts since 2019.
The creation of a public database is the start of a new effort to increase public awareness in the city. After two years of research, the city was able to publish this information to integrate the technology not only in the city, but in central Ohio.
“We want people to see that we have public art,” Goldstein said. “It’s fair to say we’ve created public art in our communities.”
The Art Walks app takes artwork from that database and puts it in the hands of those who walk and look at the art.
There are three self-guided tours, one in the Short North that begins with the mural of “Mother Ghana” by Edmund Boating at 1288 N. High St. river bank.
But it’s more than just traveling and seeing art. With the app, you can go on a tour using the mobile GPS app. At each station, the app has information that will give you more information about the artwork.
On the riverfront tour, at the visitor painting area at Battle Riverfront Park, you can read the plaque text from your phone. At the “Flowing Kiss” statue at the end of the riverside tour, you can read the history of the sculpture on the app.
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And there’s more to come to the app. Goldstein hopes to add more soon, possibly one in Franklinton in time for Franklinton’s August Friday.
She’s also hoping for version 3.0 next year, but before that, she wants people to enjoy the first part of the tech journey and give feedback.
“I hope people will come out and give us their opinion. What do you want, hate, what would make it more useful for you?” Goldstein said. “In the meantime, I hope they enjoy the research.”
Cameron Teague Robinson CTeagueRob@gannett.com; Twitter: @cj_teague;
