#New2OhioUnion

The Ohio Union had a very exciting summer! While most students were off on summer break, the Union was host to many events, both large and small. This summer our building hustled and bustled with meetings, conferences and even a few weddings. The Ohio Union made national news when Ohio Governor John Kasich announced his presidential candidacy in our very own Great Hall.

While all these events were going on, the Ohio Union team was hard at work making changes and updates before the start of the new school year. There were numerous cosmetic updates throughout the building, like refinishing the floors, replacing old credenza counter tops and installing some new doors. We also had updates to the audiovisual equipment and packages we offer with room reservations. These updates will make booking and using audiovisual tools for your meeting space much easier. Another recent addition is a new piece of artwork added to our Great Hall. The piece is called “Dotting the I” and was made by an alumnus of Ohio State, Brian Riegel.  It is a large script Ohio made from musical instruments, including a sousaphone for the O. Riegel’s piece will be here on display throughout the regular football season for you to take your picture with it. So if you have ever dreamed of dotting the I, now is your chance!

PIcture of script Ohio sculpture made out of instruments

 

With all of these updates, the Ohio Union is ready to welcome back students with arms raised in a building-wide “OH-!”

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Right Above Your Nose

"Circus Acrobats"

Did you know there are Circus Acrobats performing right under the Ohio Union’s ceiling? The sculpture, named Circus Acrobats, is composed of two figures soaring above the Great Hall.  Circus Acrobats was created in 1988 by world famous artist George Segal and was cast in bronze before being painted white.  The work is a permanent gift to The Ohio State University from the George and Helen Segal Foundation.

The George and Helen Segal Foundation’s interest in Ohio State started at a 2013 exhibition where photographs of Segal at work were displayed.  The exhibition was of Donald Lokuta, an Ohio State alumnus who achieved his phD in 1975.

George didn’t know he wanted to be an artist at first but as he moved through life into adulthood, he found his true passion was in art.  (It’s never too late to find your passion, Buckeyes! Don’t rush it.) By 1958 he had begun experimenting in sculpture, and just two years later he had a one man show to his name featuring several of his works.  Segal’s most famous works are cast life-size figures that are set into just the right settings.  The placement of these figures plays a huge role into how the artwork is perceived and is part of why many of Segal’s works are so special.  This certainly holds true in the Ohio Union. Click the photo below if you wish to see photos of the installation process in the Ohio Union.

"Workers install "Circus Acrobats", a sculpture by world-renowned artist George Segal in the Great Hall of the Ohio Union at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015. (Sam Greene/Ohio State University Office of Student Life)"

Workers install “Circus Acrobats”, a sculpture by world-renowned artist George Segal in the Great Hall of the Ohio Union at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015. (Sam Greene/Ohio State University Office of Student Life)

Circus Acrobats adds to an already impressive collection of artwork in the Ohio Union building.  If you’re like us and can’t get enough of the Ohio Union’s newest edition, we have the perfect deal for you.  Take your best photo of the Circus Acrobats and upload it to Instagram using the hashtag #OSUarts for a chance to win $10 BuckID cash.  The contest begins 1/26 and ends 2/1 with Student Life’s Dr. J selecting the winner.

We hope you enjoy the Instagram Photo Challenge and if you love the Ohio Union’s artwork, please tell us your favorite piece in the comments!

"Circus Acrobats"