Cincinnati Reds and Fitton Center collaborate on unique baseball experience

Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame & Museum and the Fitton Center for Creative Arts have partnered to bring “Road Trip” to the Fitton Center. The baseball-themed exhibition runs through Friday, April 5.

“We have the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame & Museum coming to Hamilton, Ohio for an art exhibition … They are bringing baseball art, sport-inspired art and art painted by former major-league players, so it is true art show, not just a memorabilia show, and it’s a great way for guests to engage with the Cincinnati Reds,” said Ian MacKenzie-Thurley, executive director of the Fitton Center.

“I have a 1990 Championship bat hung in my office at the Fitton Center and a picture of Crosley Field, so I’m a huge Reds fan,” he said.

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“Road Trip,” curated by Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame & Museum, features artworks from the museum collection and from the HOF network of artist fans. The show will also include sports-themed paintings and abstract glass pieces by artists from Hamilton’s InsideOut Studio.

“The exhibition represents a wide variety of artists and artistic treatments all focusing on some aspect of Reds baseball. It’s a pretty eclectic mix not only of styles, but artists,” said Chris Eckes of the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame & Museum and curator of “Road Trip.”

He said, “We have everything from one of the limited edition silk-screens that was produced back in 1985 from Andy Warhol’s original Pete Rose painting. The one that will be included in the exhibit is one of the limited edition of 50 that was signed by Andy Warhol.”

Original sketches by LeRoy Neiman and Reds signature moments from Bill Purdom, as well as works from local artists like Chris Felix and Tony Lipps will be featured in the exhibit.

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As streamers by guests artists from the community are pitched over time, they will layer and overlap, transforming the structure of columns and beams into a huge outdoor weaving/work of art. Fitton Center visitors can continue to add to the outdoor weaving throughout the run of the “Road Trip” exhibition.

“We are truly excited to host a fabulous collection of baseball-themed art and create opportunities for the community to enjoy art and sports together in activities that emphasize teamwork,” said Cathy Mayhugh, director of exhibitions at the Fitton Center.


HOW TO GO

What: "Road Trip"

When: The exhibition will run from Saturday, Feb. 2 through Friday, April 5. A free, opening reception will be held on Saturday, Feb. 2 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Where: Fitton Center for Creative Arts, 101 S. Monument Ave., Hamilton

Hours: Exhibitions will be open during regular gallery hours. Hours are Monday through Thursday, noon to 7 p.m.; Fridays, noon to 5 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Galleries are also open during weekend performance events.

Admission: Free and open to the public.

More info: www.fittoncenter.org or call (513) 863-8873

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