City Solutions: Northside ScareCoronas Walking Art Show By and For All
“It’s Northside – there are no real rules. Do whatever you want – feel free to express.”
Tina Gutierrez, co-instigator of the Northside ScareCorona Walking Art Show By and For All, with her ScareCorona. Photo: City Ombudsman
This week in City Solutions: how two Northside neighbors, Tina Gutierrez and Renee Micheo, galvanized their community by creating a walking art show named “Northside ScareCoronas Walking Art Show By and For All.”
“ScareCoronas” are a variation on scarecrows for the COVID-19 pandemic. There are currently more than 140 ScareCoronas in the yards of Northside residents. They are made from items Northsiders had around their houses, including costumes, masks, art supplies, household items, and even pill bottles. “Most art shows are for a specific demographic, but the ScareCorona art show is for everybody,” Gutierrez said. The ScareCoronas are folky, per Gutierrez, with some made by children and some made by seasoned artists.
Tina Gutierrez is a photographer and musician, who also owned a bridal shop. Renee Micheo was the principal dancer for the Cincinnati Ballet Company. Gutierrez said that she and Micheo both love the arts and are both instigators. Every Halloween, they work to have the scariest Halloween decorations. A few weeks ago, she was feeling horrible about the COVID-19 situation and texted Micheo to suggest they put up their Halloween decorations. She said, “Why don’t we do something unique to this situation?” They started tossing around ideas and thought scarecrows would be fitting and incorporated the crow, which is symbolic of plague.
Gutierrez and Micheo created a Facebook event to spread the word. The call invited neighbors to, “Create your own ScareCorona. A variation on the classic scarecrow. Let's get medieval and scare that virus away. Using materials and clothing from around the house, construct a silly, scary, or whatever you are feeling figure. You can even make chair-coronas.” There are no specific guidelines required to make and display a ScareCorona. Gutierrez emphasized, “It’s Northside – there are no real rules. Do whatever you want – feel free to express.”
Gutierrez and Micheo had help from Reggie Kuhns, described as a seasoned neighborhood activist and artist, who stepped in to make a Google map of the ScareCoronas.
The map will be helpful if you take a trip to Northside to view the ScareCoronas, which readers should definitely do. They are equal parts celebratory, inventive, and defiant. Some are humorous and some hauntingly beautiful, as fits the time and the topic. The addresses of the participating households can be found on the Google map and the Facebook page.
Gutierrez, “...would love to see other neighborhoods do it if it feels like a good fit for them. It’s been a lot of fun.” Gutierrez hopes people will come to see the ScareCoronas and encourages everyone to order takeout from neighborhood restaurants if you make a trip to Northside to view the ScareCoronas.
Below is a gallery of ScareCorona photographs taken by Leo Koikov. Thanks to Koikov for letting City Ombudsman post his gorgeous photographs. There are more photos by Koikov and others on the event Facebook page.
Have you been to see the ScareCoronas? Do you have a favorite? Would you start a ScareCoronas project in your neighborhood? Comment below and include pictures, if you would like.
ScareCoronas Facebook page here
ScareCoronas map here
Why stop reading now? You might also like:
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Issue #3: Case of the Sloshy Beer Vault
Read Friday Ombudsman with Northside residents:
Fred Neurohr — Traffic calming in Northside and a beef with Izzi’s
Rachel Hastings — Case study in crime reduction in Covington and that Cincinnati question
Geralyn Sparough What neighborhood felt like home for this Californian and how she weaves this City together
Be the next Friday Ombudsman by clicking the Be the Friday Ombudsman button on the home page and send your answers. Everyone has something to contribute!