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Linda Baird, Development Writer
Jan 19, 2022
In 1970, Johanna and Ralph DeStefano moved to Columbus from the San Francisco Bay area for her new job as a professor of linguistics at Ohio State. Hungry for the arts and cultural experiences they’d had on the coasts, the DeStefanos were delighted when the Wex opened in 1989 and were among the institution’s earliest members. Since Ralph’s passing years ago, Johanna has continued to visit and contribute to the Wex. Recently, she renewed her commitment to the institution with a $10,000 gift, serving as a match for our 2021 year-end appeal campaign. We recently spoke with her about her memories of the Wex, what the center means to her, and why she supports it.
The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Tell us about Columbus when you moved here. What was the art scene like?
It was tremendous culture shock. We were interested in film. We were interested in art, and in the Philadelphia area [where the DeStefanos met and married], you could really, really get into that. When we came here, we could find basically no alternative cinema, no alternative art venues at the time. So when the Wexner Center opened, we joined right away.
And then we loved the building itself. I mean the first—what was it—“deconstructivist” architecture building in the country. But people in town were saying, “Oh what a monstrosity!” And [my response was], "Listen, this is going to put us on the map, because it is the first one, and it is here in Columbus, Ohio at Ohio State University, so get to like it!” We’re honored to have this here.
Can you share some memorable experiences from the Wex?
There was a filmmaker who did an amazing film or series of films on Little Richard [William Klein's The Little Richard Story]. Ralph and I were completely mesmerized by this. At the time he was so avant-garde. [Little Richard] was the perfect person do this with; he is a bit off the wall, certainly in those days.
And then I remember there was an Andy Warhol run of his films, and I can’t tell you—because Warhol set his camera for hours in one place—the hours we sat there, watching people sometimes flow by, sometimes not.
The Wex had these wonderful, wonderful series, and we’d go and we’d hear the person speak. And then we loved the exhibits. One I remember in particular was where red hats [by Ohio State Professor Todd Slaughter] floated from the ceiling, and they were huge and they were different shaped … almost as if clouds were inside the building, but strange colored and very distorted-looking clouds.
I heard Maya Lin speak in Mershon auditorium on the, what was it, 25th anniversary of her being an artist in residence? Absolutely a genius. Then Twyla Tharp was here. I went to her performance [with Baryshnikov]. And then [tap dancer] Savion Glover! Oh, my heavenly days.
Why do you choose to support the Wex as a donor?
Some of the artists the Wex has had in residence, or who've even come through for performances, are some of the best things I’ve heard and seen, and I wouldn’t have if they hadn’t been here. I consider it an absolute treasure, not just in Central Ohio, but nationally and internationally, and I believe we’ve got an incredible reputation. I’m so proud of the Wexner Center for the Arts. I’m just so proud.
Top of page: Todd Slaughter, Landscapehats (1994). Mixed media, 40’ x 250’ x 10’, commissioned for the Wexner Center for the Arts. Image courtesy of the artist.
