Free Space is an ever-evolving microcinema and community resource lounge coproduced by everyone who visits it.

Located in the first gallery off the lower lobby, this multiuse space is intended to support the needs of the university and greater Columbus communities by offering timely short film programs, creative and practical tools, and an accommodating environment for conversation and connection.

This fall, Free Space featured daily film screenings in a series of three programs. The first, Film Activism: Cinetracts ’20 Expanded, spotlights works that investigate themes of political commentary and social justice by participants in the Wexner Center Artist Residency Award project Cinetracts ’20. The second series is curated by NO EVIL EYE, a radical microcinema cofounded by Columbus-based creatives Ingrid Raphael and Rooney Elmi; and the third by Ohio-born artist and filmmaker Cameron Granger. Running parallel to these programs was Community Reel, which invited local youth to submit their own short films for screening in the gallery and online.

This edition of Free Space closed November 20 due to COVID-19; watch for future iterations on wexarts.org. Like the fall 2020 edition, future Free Space programs may be available by reservation for class discussions and small group meetings and offer “office hours” organized by our Learning and Public Practice department where patrons are invited to bring homework questions, request assistance with a project, talk with us about Wex programming, or drop in just to say hi.

More about our fall exhibitions

Presented amid the most contested presidential election in American history and massive social upheaval surrounding the entwined public health issues of systemic racism and the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wexner Center’s fall exhibitions showcased work from a diverse group of artists examining the tenets of American democracy, representative structures, and modes of political discourse.

• Review: "Voting is timely topic of powerful Wexner Center for the Arts exhibition," Columbus Dispatch

Chairs, artwork, and worktables fill the gallery

Installation view of Free Space at the Wexner Center

Chairs, artwork, and worktables fill the gallery

Installation view of Free Space at the Wexner Center

Chairs, artwork, and worktables fill the gallery

Installation view of Free Space at the Wexner Center

Free Space is organized by the Wexner Center’s Lucy I. Zimmerman (Exhibitions); David Filipi, Jennifer Lange, Layla Muchnik-Benali, and Chris Stults (Film/Video); Dionne Custer Edwards, Jean Pitman, Alana Ryder, and Jo Snyder (Learning and Public Practice); and guest curators NO EVIL EYE (Rooney Elmi and Ingrid Raphael) and Cameron Granger. It is created in dialogue with numerous university partners and local artists and educators, including Tala Kanani, Bobby T. Luck, Claudia Owusu, and Jonna Twigg of the Learning and Public Practice Community Artist Residency group.

MADE POSSIBLE BY
Greater Columbus Arts Council
American Electric Power Foundation
The Columbus Foundation
Ohio Arts Council
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Huntington Bank
Nationwide Foundation

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
Kaufman Development
Cardinal Health Foundation

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Past Exhibitions

Free Space