Columbus Crossing Borders exhibit to open at the Museum of Art

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- A new exhibit is debuting at the Zanesville Museum of Art this weekend. Today the artist behind the project was in town as the installation of the project began.

The exhibit is a traveling art exhibit called the Columbus Crossing Borders Project. The exhibit features work by 34 artists who created pieces of work that crossed over into each others art. Laurie VanBalen is the director and creator of the project. She said the project focuses on the issues surrounding immigrants and refugees.

“The exhibit is here to promote critical thinking and compassion for refugees. It’s pulled together so many people from so many different sides of this issue. And it’s become much more than we ever thought it would be.”

VanBalen hopes the pieces of art will inspire “understanding, compassion, and support” about refugees. The artwork is accompanied by art in a different form to further explore the issues VanBalen wants to bring to light. She collaborated with a local filmmaker to bring the project to life.

“The actual project itself, like I said, is two pieces. It’s the exhibit and it’s the documentary film. But the documentary film is called ‘Breathe Free’ which is clearly a reference to the words that are at the base of the Statue of Liberty.”

The exhibit opens at the museum this Saturday at 1 p.m.. There will be a screening of the film “Breathe Free” at 2 p.m. and an in-gallery talk with project members at 3 p.m..