In the early morning hours yesterday (Thursday, March 24), a break-in occurred at our new gallery location for the ArtWorks V² Gallery within Cincinnati Scholar House at 929 E McMillan Street.
If you’re unfamiliar with the ArtWorks V² Gallery, our team prides itself in celebrating local artists through the gallery program’s mentorship model. Professional artists, curators, and art collectors teach selected emerging Youth Artists for a themed gallery show.
Today, March 25, we are slated to re-open our gallery for 2022 in a new space with a brand new exhibit. John Lanzador has served as the lead teaching artist-in-residence. He’s a phenomenal artist and educator who took four young aspiring artists under his wing for several weeks; sharing his craft. We’re saddened to say that four original pieces by John have been stolen. Four intricate pieces that he spent hours upon hour creating by hand. Four pieces he wanted to share with the community to enjoy, including the youth of our program and Scholar House students and their children.
The titles of the works of art are individually, Temperance, Justice, Prudence and Fortitude, and collectively, The 4 Cardinal Virtues. ArtWorks is working with authorities to hopefully bring John’s art home. We ask that if you see something, say something. We hope to express these 4 virtues throughout this experience and that others do too. The physical and psychological safety of our community is a priority and we will do everything we can to secure that.
Our celebration of art and community will continue regardless today in the heart of Walnut Hills. We invite you to join us from 4pm-7pm. The original artwork is no longer there, but John has proven resilient and provided more works for the exhibition. Hear from John and the Youth, Anisha Rai, Dianna’Ja Sanders-Tate, Phoenix Brumm and Brynn Connelly at 5:30pm.
About ArtWorks
ArtWorks is an award-winning Greater Cincinnati nonprofit that transforms people and places through investments in creativity. The organization collaborates with community organizations and residents, businesses, governments, foundations and nonprofits to build creative works of art that bolster the region’s global reputation as an arts destination. ArtWorks employs professional artists who inspire and mentor diverse teams of youth, ages 14-21, helping them build 21st century career-readiness skills. These teams have completed more than 14,000 public and private art projects in its 25 years, including more than 200 permanent outdoor murals.
