A celebration of music and visual art will take center stage this month as the CMF Outdoor Museum returns to Washington Park with six new works inspired by iconic Black musicians.
The annual outdoor exhibition – now in its sixth year – officially opens Friday, July 18, with a live painting event from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Over-the-Rhine site. Artists will create their pieces in real time as part of a public kickoff that coincides with the park’s Friday Flow concert series. It’s the latest installment in the “Road to CMF” events leading up to the Cincinnati Music Festival, July 24-26.
This year’s exhibition, “Rhythm & Renaissance: A Visual Celebration of Legends,” explores generational creativity, pairing six established artists with emerging apprentices. Each duo will honor a legendary performer while showcasing their own creative bond through large-scale works of public art.
Featured teams and their musical inspirations include:
- Javarri Lewis with Jace Lewis, inspired by Frankie Beverly
- April Sunami with Nine Wells, inspired by Angie Stone
- Erin Smith with Zipporah Arrington-Bey, inspired by Roberta Flack
- Hannah “Jonesy” Jones with Sarah Hunter, inspired by Aretha Franklin
- Gift Mayambi with Romain Mayambi, inspired by Tina Turner
- See Drye (Christian Dryer) with Julian Sorrells, inspired by Fred White of Earth, Wind & Fire
During the July 18 kickoff, artists will set up along the walkway behind the Main Stage green space, allowing Friday Flow audiences to engage with the creative process throughout the evening. The Levert Experience will headline that night’s free concert beginning at 7 p.m.
After the event, completed artworks will remain on display in Washington Park for several weeks before moving to nearby Court Street for an extended exhibition run.
The CMF Outdoor Museum is a collaborative effort between Procter & Gamble, ArtsWave and the Cincinnati/Dayton division of Kroger. Artist funding comes from contributions to the 2025 ArtsWave Community Campaign, which raised support from more than 20,000 donors. AGAR is curating the installation in partnership with a team of local artists.
Both the exhibition and kickoff event are free and open to the public.
Discover more from Movers & Makers
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.