FIREXIT ANNEX

I’m not trying to brag, but I’ve been to lots of events that claim to be hip, young and new. It’s always the same thing: get a bunch of people who think they know it all, make sure they raise their voice just enough to be heard by the people around them (who are pretending not to pay attention), and get everyone dressed up in the latest trend. I wish I could say that Firexit is exempt from all that trash, but I can’t. And that’s because the wannabes have finally figured out that Firexit is an event where things are truly happening. Recently, Firexit re-launched itself with their new space, the Annex. It’s a storefront of sorts for the previously undergroundish Firexit collective. It is hoped that this new gallery-style spot will provide the collective with a more publicly recognizable space where people can go to see what’s currently on display. The first show at the Annex stayed true to Firexit’s history by having varied exhibits and performances. The headline feature was Germany’s Marcus Pop, who treated onlookers to a multimedia art/electronica experience. On the walls and in the corners, Firexit veteran Clint King displayed recent works, described as “hybrids of organic and synthetic elements.” The show in its entirety was a wild display of technology meeting nature. There was a miniature zephyr floating around that had a camera mounted on it. The signal was sent through a plant that then modulated it. Artist David Robert took credit for the piece. The Annex is located at 245 King Avenue (the old Byzantium) in Columbus, right next door to Dragonfly. If you’re interested in discovering what the young art subculture is up to, check it out.