Cincinnati Reds’ 150th season is upon us — and so are Opening Day shenanigans. Hot dogs smothered in mustard and ketchup. Specialty brews. Cracker Jacks. Quirky mascots. The famed parade. Parties that take over rooftops and others that claim entire city blocks.
Add another tradition to the list: an art show. Across the river in Covington, BLDG will host their sixth annual collaborative exhibition, 199c — named after the official Pantone color of the Reds. The show will feature more than 50 artists from Cincinnati and beyond celebrating the Queen City’s fave ball club.
“Within the design community, there’s a tight-knit connection with baseball, specifically the Reds,” says Jarrod Becker, BLDG artistic director. “The history and the pageantry of the Reds are all things that designers hover around. They love the color, the design and the quirky little history that comes out of baseball — be it nicknames or just the camaraderie.”
And so much of baseball — like art, design and illustration — is about storytelling, he says, which is wrapped up in vivid characters and moments in history.
“Its a real connection to our past, the people, the players and how we play, and the pageantry that is wrapped around that process,” he says.
Some of those faces include hall-of-famer Pete Rose and Frank Robinson, the latter of whom is heralded as one of the greatest players in Reds history, having played for the team from 1956-1965. Robinson died in early February; because of the timing, Robinson was often a point of focus for Becker in organizing the show.
199c, which runs through April 12, seeks to bring the greater community into the culture surrounding the Reds. But the exhibition also acts as a celebration of the niche between artists and their love of baseball by showcasing hand-selected original works inspired by the team.
Taking a cue from The Sandlot, BLDG also upgraded their alleyway into a makeshift outfield where guests can try their hand at wiffle ball. On the horizon, Faile’s Around the Corner mural serves as the alley’s backdrop. According to a press release, the party will also include music, a head-to-head video game competition and beer from Platform Beer Company.
As Becker says: “We’re here to celebrate together.”
199c opens at BLDG (30 W. Pike St., Covington) March 29 from 6-11 p.m. and will run through April 12. For more info: bldgrefuge.com.
