The Dairy Barn will kick off the new year of 2015 with a gala to celebrate the nonprofit's history and in anticipation of art exhibits set to premiere throughout the next few months.
New Year’s Eve will bring not only a celebration of the arrival of 2015 for the Dairy Barn Arts Center, but also an anniversary.
The nonprofit is hosting a New Year’s Eve gala Wednesday evening where attendees will celebrate the art center’s 101st anniversary. The gala, set from 8 pm. to 1 a.m., will feature live music from the Athens band Wingnuts and catering from Purple Chopstix, which will include a variety of food for all guests – from hors d’oeuvres to samosas.
The Dairy Barn was originally a dairy operation purchased by the Athens Asylum in 1914, according to the organization's website. Now the building serves as a cultural hub for the Athens area and hosts a variety of art exhibitions. Although the event will serve to commemorate the Dairy Barn’s extensive history, it is also meant to attract the community to future events.
“We’re really excited about Athens Voices, which is our first exhibit for 2015,” said Jane Forrest Redfern, executive director of the Dairy Barn. “This upcoming show, which is opening January 16, features 48 artists from eight different Athens counties.”
Art AWOL, which stands for Absent without Leave, is another art exhibit set to premiere in 2015. Unlike other exhibits, Art AWOL will be displayed throughout the barn, up the stairs, the elevators and even in people’s offices, Redfern said.
For Art AWOL, the Dairy Barn is currently looking for any kind of art – graphic design, digital art, photography and more. The exhibit costs ten dollars to enter.
As the Dairy Barn prepares itself for a new year, those at the art center hope more will take advantage of its resources and appreciate the art created by the locals.
“We would love to see an increase in visits by OU students as well as all members of the community,” Redfern said.
She added that new open studio spaces on Saturdays provide an outlet for those interested in art in various mediums from painting to ceramics.
“(It) gives people an opportunity to learn from each other,” she said.
@cathyhlu
cl484013@ohio.edu
