Diversity

As we celebrate Black History Month this month, we recognize the contributions of the many outstanding black students who have attended Columbus College of Art & Design, including the late Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson, a heralded artist who combined traditional art materials with found objects and everyday items such as buttons, cloth, and music box innards to create 2D and 3D works.

Corey Favor (Illustration, 2003) and Marshall Shorts (Industrial Design, 2006) were hard at work in the professional world when they were struck by something: There were few, if any creative people of color at the professional conferences they were attending. “We visited several conferences and we were kind of like the only ones there — we thought that was kind of odd,” said Favor.

It’s there, in stark black and white: A mural on CCAD’s Administration Building reading “Black Lives Matter,” created by members of the college’s Black Student Leadership Association, with the assistance of students from the Queer Alliance and Empowering Females on Campus.

We fly our pride flags 24/7/365 in Columbus, and we don’t tolerate haters. The annual Pride Parade draws half a million people to the Short North every June for a giant, rainbow-colored party. We even have a favorite drag queen (love you, Nina!) who’s one of the city’s biggest celebs. Don’t sit on the sidelines! We’ve rounded up seven ways for you to get to know Columbus’ awesome, active LGBT community any time of year.

The painter and assemblage artist Aaron Fowler uses unexpected materials to craft poignant messages in Aaron Fowler: Tough Love, an exhibition currently on view at Beeler Gallery.