Local veteran to participate in Ohio Veterans Art Exhibition

Michael Wise, the executive director of Arts Center of Newcomerstown, has achieved another milestone in his career as his photograph, “The U.S. Capitol: Architecturally Speaking,” secured a spot at the 2023 Ohio Veterans Art Exhibition in Columbus.

A panel of judges selected Wise’s 18.5-by-22.5-inch framed giclee print on canvas for inclusion in the exhibition, which will be held in the first-floor lobby area outside the OAC Riffe Gallery at the Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts in Columbus.

The Ohio Veterans Art Exhibition, open to all active duty and veteran artists across the state, serves as a platform for showcasing their artistic prowess in a public setting. An expert panel of jurors reviewed all submissions and selected only 37 works for inclusion.

The exhibition is scheduled to run from Monday, Oct. 23 through Friday, Dec. 8.

Wise’s piece is being offered for sale at a price of $125. Should the artwork find a buyer, all proceeds will be dedicated to supporting the children’s programs at ARTSNCT in Newcomerstown.

Wise, a Marine Corps veteran, returned to his hometown of Newcomerstown after more than 40 years, following a career that included serving as a musician in the U.S. Marine Corps and working as a human resources manager for a chain of luxury boutique hotels. Wise also co-founded Almond Didier, a venture specializing in graphic arts, photography and website development.

Wise’s passion for photography was ignited during his childhood in Newcomerstown when his aunt Doris gifted him an old Kodak Brownie camera. Over time this lifelong hobby evolved into a professional career that began in 2000. His portfolio includes exclusive photo shoots with notable personalities such as Margaret Cho and Richard Gephardt. His work has been in internationally acclaimed publications such as The Washington Post, The New York Times and The London Times, in addition to being featured on public and network television.

Wise’s talents extend beyond photography, as his paintings have been showcased on PBS Television in New Orleans, where he co-founded Ariodante Gallery. His series of four photographs capturing the events of Sept. 11, 2001, titled “9/11,” has earned a permanent place in the New York Public Library’s collection after a two-year tour in the Sept. 11 Photo Project.

When asked to sum up his photography, Wise often quotes American photographer and writer Diane Arbus, who said, “I really believe there are things nobody would see if I didn’t photograph them.”

Among his various professional and artistic pursuits, Wise has been recognized as a freelance photographer, a member of the National Press Photographers Association, a member of the Society of Sport and Event Photographers and a photographic editor/photographer for Window Media LLC. He also has served as a staff photographer for Sports Club/LA at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Washington, D.C. and has held the position of past officer at the Data Processing Management Association in Washington, D.C.

Additionally, he co-founded Ariodante Gallery in New Orleans and WorldWideGallery in Washington, D.C. For 11 consecutive years, Wise participated as an artist and was an honoree at Art for Life in Washington, D.C.