Student artists transform Short North construction

Seven talented student artists at Columbus College of Art & Design created a series of artworks that will cover over 400 barricades used to provide safe walking paths as construction ensues in the Short North Arts District starting Feb. 5.

The work is part of the ArtPaths program in partnership with the Short North Alliance and is just one of the ways the neighborhood will be transformed by temporary public art throughout 2018.

Called Waldo Short North, the student art depicts community inclusivity and community experiences in a style reminiscent of the popular children's book series, Where’s Waldo? The barriers will move virtually daily, so the 23 artworks were created so that no matter how the barriers are shifted or configured, the artwork will tell a cohesive story.

The project is an example of how CCAD students learn to tell today’s stories through art and design — and how art and design can change culture and commerce.

“We were really excited to create art that reminds the public of the vibrant and vivid spirit of the Short North Arts District,” said Alma Kim, a sophomore Animation student who helped lead the ArtPaths project. “It was a big project that took about three months and provided us with great real-world experience. We learned how to overcome challenges, like visually telling a story on barricades that are below eye level and merging the visions of multiple artists.”

Read more about the project here, and check out coverage in The Columbus Dispatch, on 10TV, and in The Lantern.