AJ Vanderelli is a longtime friend and advocate for Art Possible Ohio. She is also incredibly cool and kind and a formidable opponent in the Artist Wrestling League. Megan interviewed her as a part of our series of posts about Accessible Expressions Ohio.

Who are you/What do you do? 

Aj Vanderelli. I am an artist, arts facilitator and gallery owner of The Vanderelli Room.

What is your connection with Art Possible Ohio/Why did you agree to adjudicate this year’s exhibition? 

I’ve worked with the population for a majority of my life. Six years ago I began working with a young artist by Henry Hess. And at that point I met Erin Hoppe and then I began to work with VSA, installing exhibitions around central Ohio.

What is keeping you busy during this time of quarantine? 

I’ve been making small paintings from my couch and watching a lot of movies. Cooking and eating food with my partner. Beautifying my neighborhood with art!

Share a pic of yourself or a project you are working on!

I hosted a scavenger hunt/raffle a few weekend ago called “Message in a Bottle”

I encouraged others (And myself) to decorate 21 used bottles, we added positive notes with a raffle ticket and I placed them within a block of The Vanderelli Room. And the next evening I held a raffle on Facebook.

Here are some examples.