Wexner Center’s Lively Fall Season Announced

The Wexner Center’s eclectic fall season features performing artists from England, Ireland, Brazil, New York, and elsewhere, including co-commissioned work; films from Turkey, France, Taiwan, and beyond; the sixth annual Zoom: Family Film Fest; and the first U.S. retrospective of the work of influential artist Luc Tuymans.

New this year: Double Take, lunchtime gallery talks pairing two Ohio State scholars from divergent fields, and Super Sunday—the first one is November 1—where patrons can explore the art on view through an afternoon of activities related to the exhibition (also featuring free admission).

Notes Wexner Center Director Sherri Geldin, “As always, the Wexner Center brings a remarkable array of artists and events to Columbus, all of which promise stimulating—and surprisingly affordable—experiences for audiences of all ages. Whether you seek cultural enrichment, entertainment, education or escape, you’re bound to find it here. Without traveling far and wide, local and regional visitors have easy access to what’s happening now in the global art world.”

Tickets to performing arts events are on sale starting today to members and to the general public beginning September 1 (wexarts.org or 614 292-3535).

A few highlights include:

• An exhibition of more than 70 paintings by Luc Tuymans, considered one of the most significant European painters of his generation, in an exhibition on view at the Wex September 17–January 3 before embarking on a tour. The artist will engage in a conversation with art scholar T.J. Clark November 10.

• In theater: The return of Wex favorites SITI Company (September 30–October 4) in the show Who Do You Think You Are, co-commissioned by the Wex; the local debut of Druid Ireland’s The Walworth Farce (October 16–17); and theater festival award powerhouse Tim Crouch, who will perform his work England (November 17-18) in the Luc Tuymans galleries for a unique theatrical experience.

• Dance from Canada’s Kidd Pivot (September 29), led by former William Forsythe dancer Crystal Pite, and Brazil’s Grupo de Rua (January 10), led by rising talent Bruno Beltrão, who infuses contemporary dance with elements of hip hop.

• A solo show by cellist Erik Friedlander, who projects images by his father (famed photographer Lee Friedlander) in his show Block Ice and Propane, co-commissioned by the Wex. This autumn also brings return visits from The Tiger Lillies, Wilco, Andrew Bird, and The Books.

• An wide-ranging mix of films from the UCLA Film & Television Archive in the Festival of Preservation in October; a visit by filmmaker Marie Losier; a program of silents with live music by Columbus’s Derek DiCenzo; the acclaimed Afghan Star, a look at Afghanistan’s version of American Idol; and the ever-popular Zoom: Family Film Festival December 3–6, including the Adventures of Price Achmed from 1936, one of the first animations ever made— and the return of the cereal and pajama party for the little ones.