Art of the Matter
Cincinnati’s artistic heartbeat gets a powerful pulse this summer as ArtsWave presents the fifth annual Truth and Innovation Artist Showcase on Saturday, July 19, at the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC). From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., attendees will witness the debut of powerful performances, cinematic premieres, and thought-provoking visual art — all from 26 of the region’s most compelling Black and Brown creators. This free, public celebration represents not just a creative milestone but a community-wide call to listen, reflect, and take part in shaping a more inclusive future.
A Day of Premieres, Performances, and Purpose
ArtsWave’s one-day live event includes six performances, four short films, and a visual art exhibition that remains open through September 7 at CAC. It’s a curated mix of disciplines that underscores the complexity and richness of the BIPOC experience — from sculpture to spoken word, from interpretive dance to documentary film.
Among the standout performances:
Gabriel Martinez Rubio presents “HOME”, a contemporary dance meditation on the ever-shifting notion of belonging — a work that leans into movement to convey memory, identity, and cultural fluidity.
Ingrid Woode unveils “Cakewalk,” a documentary chronicling the overlooked story of Geneva Woode, a Cincinnati-born Black piano prodigy who broke classical music’s racial barriers. The film not only shines a light on Geneva’s virtuosity but also explores themes of generational artistry and perseverance.
Other films, musical pieces, and theatrical explorations throughout the day further reflect the artists' diverse creative approaches to the showcase’s core themes: Truth and Innovation.
Art with a Mission: Community-Centered Creations
What distinguishes this showcase is its emphasis on collaborative creation. Each artist was challenged to involve community voices and perspectives in the development of their projects. The result is art that doesn’t speak at the audience, but with it.
Take for example:
Brandon Hawkins’ mural series “Out of the Shadows”, which celebrates members of Cincinnati’s Black autism community. With this piece, Hawkins directly addresses the systemic invisibility of neurodivergent individuals of color and uses public art as a tool for representation and empathy.
Emily Hanako Momohara’s “Grounded”, which uplifts the layered immigration stories of Asian American and Pacific Islander women. Through multimedia installations and oral histories, her work brings dignity and permanence to families whose narratives are too often overlooked.
These projects, and others featured in the showcase, align with ArtsWave’s broader Blueprint for Collective Action — a framework that leverages the arts to build understanding across differences, strengthen neighborhoods, and enhance the region’s social fabric.
Funding Innovation, Advancing Equity
The Truth and Innovation Artist Showcase is a signature event within ArtsWave’s Black and Brown Artist Program, which began in 2020 in response to the racial justice movement. In just five years, the program has supported 116 artist-led projects and distributed over $1.1 million in grant funding.
This year’s showcase alone represents $222,000 in direct grants to local creators, chosen through a competitive process led by a diverse panel of community stakeholders. These grants are made possible thanks to support from the City of Cincinnati, Duke Energy, Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and ArtsWave Campaign donors — a powerful coalition backing a more representative and equitable arts landscape.
Beyond financial support, ArtsWave also offers entrepreneurial development workshops, helping artists not only refine their craft but build sustainable careers. This investment in both creative output and infrastructure reflects ArtsWave’s dual commitment to expression and empowerment.
Building Belonging through the Arts
ArtsWave President and CEO Alecia Kintner summed up the showcase’s significance:
“This year’s cohort of artists represents some of the best of Cincinnati’s creative spirit. Their projects will not only push artistic boundaries but also spark crucial conversations about identity, equity, and our shared human experience.”
This vision is realized in every installation, every performance, and every connection made on July 19 and beyond. The visual art exhibition at the CAC, open through early September, invites deeper reflection on the works and the issues they explore.
Visit, Witness, Participate
The Contemporary Arts Center, located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati, will serve as both venue and partner in this collaborative celebration. With free admission, easy access to public transportation, and extended viewing through the summer, the Truth and Innovation Artist Showcase offers an accessible and vital entry point for audiences of all backgrounds to engage with the transformative power of the arts.
Whether you are drawn by a performance, captivated by a sculpture, or moved by a story, you’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for the talent and truth emerging from Cincinnati’s Black and Brown artistic communities.
For a full schedule of events and artist profiles, visit: artswave.org/truth