By Lindsay Nichols

In the Ancient Greek world, the Agora was the city’s meeting place - a place where artists, inventors, merchants, leaders and citizens could all intermingle to share ideas and products.

The Columbus-based group of artists known as The Couchfire Collective is bringing that idea back to life by linking it to an exhibit of local artists. This modern-day Agora includes artists, musicians, supporters and appreciators. The show includes the artwork of literally anyone who wants to participate. Couchfire member Emily Cable notes that everyone from 2-year-olds to OSU art professors have featured their work at Agora events and that this emphasis on diversity is one of the organization's best aspects. The ability to link the Columbus community to the Columbus art scene is certainly one of the greatest accomplishments of the Agora show, especially when one considers the show’s rather humble beginnings only a few years ago.

The Couchfire Collective was officially created in July of 2006. Originally, the members banded together because they wanted to share common studio space in the Junctionview Studios in Grandview. They then decided to exhibit their work together, and the evening they chose also happened to be an open studio night for the rest of the Junctionview artists. The Couchfire members were expecting a good-sized but rather modest crowd and were quite surprised - and excited - that 800 people showed up.

Since then, the numbers have only increased. The second Agora event more than doubled to 2,000 patrons. For the upcoming Agora show in April, The Couchfire Collective is planning for around 4,000 attendees.

Couchfire members are quick to point out that Agora is not strictly a Couchfire event. Rather, says member Adam Brouillette, Agora is its own entity and is presented by The Couchfire Collective.

And each Agora itself is rather distinctive. The show, notes Brouillette, becomes something different each time after trial and error ideas. A fair amount of the exhibited art comes from the artists at the studios, but a large part is also composed of self-submitted pieces. The application for submitting artwork is online and also available through The Couchfire Collective’s listservs.

The Agora shows can be an incredibly immersive experience, with the combination of artwork, music and live performers. Notes member Anne Holman, “There’s really no way you can get to everything in one night.” The Couchfire Collective’s solution to this has been to break up Agora into two nights. This coming Agora will be Couchfire’s fourth, and will be held on April 18 and April 19.

The event on Friday, April 18 will be the Preview Party. It’s a little more low-key and is also ticketed so that people interested in purchasing some of the art can do so with fewer distractions. One of the Couchfire’s goals for this Agora, notes member Jen Adrion, is to improve the art sale aspect of the show. Agora’s main event is held the night after on Saturday, April 19, and includes a full-out art show/ concert/ performance.

At the last Agora, there were nearly 350 artists and a total of 600 works. The event also included 15 bands, a fashion show, two circuses, a silent auction and a pumpkin carving contest. For the upcoming Agora in April, three live performers acting as mermaids are scheduled to perform. Furthermore, almost every kind of music from guitar to DJ to drummers have been there.

One band that is a particular favorite of the Couchfire Collective members is called “Yuck Falls,” that literally plays items from an old barn; they dump it out, arrange it and play it. Another musical act was a bit more of a technological presentation: a DJ mixed Bhangra and dance music to film clips of Bollywood films and photos of India.

Agora is truly an event for everyone with every artistic taste. For only a $2 donation at the door, and a long range of open hours, the event is accessible and popular. The Agora is non-alcoholic and opens its doors early for families, but then stays open late and is situated next to restaurants and bars for the date, college-student, or nightlife crowd. For more information about Agora and for continual updates, including its upcoming April event, visit www.agoracolumbus.com.