Mike Wolanin | The Republic People dance under Exhibit Columbus installation InterOculus during Exhibit Columbus’ Rock the Block party on the opening weekend of Exhibit Columbus in Columbus, Ind., Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023.
Exhibit Columbus architectural exhibition leaders have announced the schedule for the upcoming J. Irwin and Xenia S. Miller Prize Conversations — a series of public conversations that will connect this cycle’s Miller Prize recipients with a community curator, and an international expert familiar with their work in a dialogue at or near the site of their installation in the 2023 event “Public by Design.”
The Miller Prize recipients are the four centerpieces of the free exhibition that runs through Nov. 26 in downtown Columbus.
These special conversations will serve as a platform where creative vision, community engagement, and design expertise converge to explore the profound impact each installation creates here in Columbus and its significance for a wider audience.
This conversations will occur at four locations in downtown Columbus beginning Sept. 19 and will be free and open to the public. The series is made possible through the support of Duke Energy through a competitive grant process from the Duke Energy Foundation.
“We are very excited to announce this series of events, which continues to expand on themes of Public by Design to make meaningful connections with people and the public spaces they share,” said Richard McCoy, executive director of Landmark Columbus Foundation, the organization responsible for producing Exhibit Columbus. “The whole team and community highly anticipate this series and the opportunity to pair experts in the field with each Miller Prize Recipient.
“Each will connect around the values of inclusivity, care, and generosity.”
The Miller Prize Conversations will give the public an opportunity to learn more about the design process, vision, and approach to community engagement of the four firms that created site-responsive installations for the 2023 Exhibition: Tatiana Bilbao ESTUDIO, Practice for Architecture and Urbanism | PAU, PORT, and Studio Zewde. Each conversation will also feature a community curator.
The curators are four local leaders collaborating with the participants to ensure that their installations reflect the values and aspirations of the Columbus community and host partner.
An international expert, renowned scholar, or practitioner has been selected as someone who is familiar with the work of the Miller Prize recipients and can offer insights and perspectives on their contributions to the field of architecture and design.
The Miller Prize conversations “serve as a platform for many communities to become connected around the values of inclusivity, care, and generosity,” according to organizers.
“The Duke Energy Foundation loved Landmark Columbus Foundation’s goals to foster creativity,” said Kylie Foster, government and community relations manager for Duke Energy. “The arts have the power to inspire individuals, unite people, and transform spaces, and we are excited to play a small part in making this event successful.”
The schedule
—5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 19: First Christian Church
- Tatiana Bilbao (Tatiana Bilbao ESTUDIO)
- Jennifer Dunlop Fletcher (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art)
- Jason Hatton (Bartholomew County Public Library)
— 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 28 near InterOculus which is at Fourth and Washington streets.
- Vishaan Chakrabarti (Practice for Architecture and Urbanism)
- Lee Bey (Chicago Sun-Times)
- Dave Hayward (City of Columbus)
— 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 26, Mill Race Center.
- Christopher Marcinkoski and Andrew Moddrell (PORT)
- Thaisa Way (Harvard Graduate School of Design)
- Dan Mustard (Mill Race Center)
— 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 10, The Commons.
Sara Zewde (Studio Zewde)
- Landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh
- Columbus native and former community leader Will Miller
- Mark Jones (Columbus Parks and Recreation)
The schedule
- 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 19: First Christian Church
Tatiana Bilbao (Tatiana Bilbao ESTUDIO)
Jennifer Dunlop Fletcher (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art)
Jason Hatton (Bartholomew County Public Library)
- 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 28 near InterOculus which is at Fourth and Washington streets.
Vishaan Chakrabarti (Practice for Architecture and Urbanism)
Lee Bey (Chicago Sun-Times)
Dave Hayward (City of Columbus)
- 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 26, Mill Race Center.
Christopher Marcinkoski and Andrew Moddrell (PORT)
Thaisa Way (Harvard Graduate School of Design)
Dan Mustard (Mill Race Center)
- 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 10, The Commons.
Sara Zewde (Studio Zewde)
Landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh
Columbus native and former community leader Will Miller
Mark Jones (Columbus Parks and Recreation)
