By Nick Hartmann

Columbus’ eventful history regarding circus entertainment has lost some attention throughout the past century, but from Feb. 4 through April 21, The Ohio Art Council’s Riffe Gallery will display its Sawdust to Spectacle: Under the Big Top in Small Town America exhibit recognizing the city’s past involvement.

Sticking with its dedication to local arts, the Riffe Gallery’s exhibit explores the birth and eventual decline of the traveling circus throughout small-town America, primarily within the Midwest, including popular Central Ohio locations.

Portsmouth native Clarence Carter, along with other Ohio artists, will be featured alongside vintage event posters, photographs and toys from various public and private collections.

Thirteen dioramas, constructed by Sonny King, the son of a lion tamer, will also be included, recreating traditional scenes such as high wire acts and circus dressing rooms.

Sawdust to Spectacle is a traveling event produced by the Southern Ohio Museum in Portsmouth. Portsmouth had been producing circus performers for years and, according to Riffe Gallery Director Mary Gray, Southern Ohio Museum director and Sawdust to Spectacle exhibit curator Sara Johnson had a private collection of vintage circus imagery of her own, sparking inspiration for the touring event.

Johnson will lead a guided tour of the exhibit on Feb. 24 from noon to 1 p.m. Gray, who has already experienced the exhibit in Portsmouth, states that the crowd favorite and arguably the most attracting works are Sonny King’s dioramas, or stage models of several circus themes.

Gray also enjoys the numerous vintage circus paintings in the exhibit, with scenes from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s.

“I think this show will bring pleasure to young and old, especially to those who have attended previous circus events such as the Ringling Brothers," Gray says.

The Verne Riffe Center for the Government and Arts' Riffe is located at 77 S. High St. The Gallery is free and open to the public Tuesdays through Sundays, opening at 10 a.m. during the week and noon on the weekends.

There will be a Family Day Workshop, headed by local artist Helma Groot, on Feb. 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. Visit www.riffegallery.org for more event information.