The Upper Arlington Cultural Arts Division is pleased to announce work by the Couchfire Collective on view through Art in Work Spaces from January through March, 2008. Art in Works Spaces, a creative art partnership program with Upper Arlington businesses, is on view at the Caspian II building, 3518 Riverside Drive.

The Couchfire Collective is a group of thirteen emerging artists who share a common drive to progress as individual artists, develop as a collective and to raise the profile of Columbus' creative community. Their mission is to provide artists and art patrons with diverse opportunities to make connections and become active participants in the local arts scene. These enthusiastic artists work to promote awareness of the artistic community as an essential component of civic development. The Couchfire Collective artists included in this exhibition are the following: Adam Brouillette, Emily Cable, Adam Crum, Andrew Ina, Michael Litzau, Mike Reed and Sarah Weinstock.

The group formed in 2006 in coming together to share common space in Junctionview Studios, located in Grandview Heights, expanding with more members and more art opportunities for the community's participation. During the fall of 2006 the group successfully created Agora, a community art event that continues to grow, Couchfire members are planning for Agora IV for April 18 &19, 2008. Visit the website: www.thecouchfire.org to learn more about the Couchfire Collective.

A long-range goal of the Cultural Arts Commission is to increase the accessibility of the arts for the community. An art-lending program, Arts in Work Spaces, gives artists another opportunity for displaying their work, increasing the visibility of the Cultural Arts Commission within the City of UA, and fostering an appreciation for the arts among businesses and their clients. For more information about participating in the Arts in Work Spaces program and/or purchasing art contact the Cultural Arts Division. To learn more, please visit the Cultural Arts Division web section at www.ua-ohio.net, under Parks, Recreation and Leisure or call 614-583-5310.