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Filmmaker helps shine spotlight on local artists Thursday, June 21, 2001 Ryan Trares Dispatch Staff Reporter For professional artists, gaining exposure for their work can be the most difficult part of their job. A local filmmaker may have found a way to help. Christopher Anderson, adjunct professor in the Communication Skills Department at Columbus State Community College, has assembled a video series on area artists, highlighting their techniques and the challenges of careers in art. "It really is a great way for artists to get exposure as to what they do," he said. "People don't see what goes into it. This allows them to catch a glimpse." Anderson began the Artists in Residence series in March, after running into a friend in Florida. After filming the friend, a potter, at work, Anderson spent the 1,000-mile drive back to Columbus pondering the possibilities. "The process flowed so well, but I wished he would have talked about the difficulty of moving from art school to retail," Anderson said. Back in Columbus, he decided to develop a series of videos, showing artists not only creating but talking about the art world. Anderson has completed seven videos and is developing more. "The folks that have chosen to make their livelihood in the arts are a rare breed and need to be documented," he said. Artists, too, want people to understand what they do. "The tapes help to demystify the notion of an artist," said Eric Marlow, a jeweler who teaches at the Columbus Cultural Arts Center. "It shows that they're people like everyone else who create art for a living." "A lot of art gets overlooked, ignored, and there's not always a lot of exposure," said Paul Volker, a painter who operates the Web site columbusart.com. "This will make people aware that the arts are a real thing, not just around one weekend a year." The videos have an educational application. "They're good for the school setting because they show what it is really like to be an artist," Marlow said. Videos are available at Grandview Heights Public Library. Other libraries -- including Bexley Public Library, Worthington Public Library and Columbus Metropolitan Library -- are considering them. "These videos are important because they fill a need in a sense of community, with Ohio artists and here in Columbus," said Vita Marinello, audio-visual manager for the Grandview Heights library. At the Columbus Arts Festival this month, Anderson talked to about two dozen artists from outside the area. As his series grows, he has lofty goals. "I envision a library of 250 to 300 titles," he said. He also said he hopes to spotlight musicians and other performers. "I want to blur the lines between artist and artisan, and explore a whole range of experimentation," he said. rtrares@dispatch.com