By 1808Delaware
Ohio Wesleyan University is leaning into the quieter stretch of the year with a lineup that’s anything but sleepy. December brings student performances, winter skywatching, hands-on family fun, and three art exhibits that tackle our relationship with the planet. Most events are free, and each offers its own window into campus life as the semester winds down.
A Month That Opens With Music
8:00 PM, December 2
Sanborn Hall’s Jemison Auditorium
The month begins with a student recital in OWU’s music program. These recitals are usually a mix of majors, minors, and dedicated non-majors stepping into the spotlight with the sort of courage only finals week can summon. If you enjoy live performance in its most immediate form, this one is easy to recommend.
More information: owu.edu/PerformingArts
Watching the Night Sky, Weather Permitting
8:00 PM, December 5 and December 12
Perkins Observatory
December brings two Friday night skywatches at one of Central Ohio’s most dependable stargazing spots. What happens on any given night depends on the weather, but the possibilities include a planetarium program, an observatory tour, or time at the 32-inch Schottland Telescope. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 the day of the event. You’ll need to call to reserve a spot: (740) 363-1257.
Art That Confronts the Human Footprint
Richard M. Ross Art Museum
OWU’s Ross Museum has been spending the year examining environmental themes from different angles. December continues that thread with three exhibits that fit together more tightly than you might expect.
Sprawl: OWU Faculty Show
Through December 14
The Fine Arts faculty—Kristina Bogdanov, Frank Hobbs, and Jeff Nilan—share their newest work in ceramics, painting, photography, and mixed media. Faculty shows often reveal what artists are thinking about when no one is grading them, and this one is no exception.
Demarcations and Delineations
Through March 29, 2026
Michelle Stitzlein’s work starts with discarded industrial material and ends with imaginary landscapes that read like aerial maps of places you’ve never been but half-recognize. Her process gives new shape to what would otherwise be landfill.
Our Changing Landscape: Life in the Anthropocene
Through March 29, 2026
This exhibit supports OWU’s First Year Seminar program and brings together over 30 artists wrestling with climate realities. The tone isn’t simply apocalyptic; it covers harm, adaptation, and a sense that solutions start with imagination.
Note: The museum closes for winter break from December 15 through January 13, 2026.
A Quick Craft Stop Before the Parade
3:00 PM–5:00 PM, December 7
If you’re heading downtown for Main Street Delaware’s Christmas parade, the Ross Museum is offering a drop-in craft where kids can turn egg cartons into penguins. It’s simple, free, and open to all ages.
If You Go
Ross Art Museum
60 S. Sandusky St., Delaware
Open during the academic year:
• Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
• Thursday: 10:00 AM–8:00 PM
• Sunday: 1:00 PM–5:00 PM
Closed Mondays and Saturdays
More information: owu.edu/Ross or facebook.com/RossArtMuseum
Phone: (740) 368-3606
For the most current updates on all Ohio Wesleyan events: owu.edu/calendar
For Battling Bishop athletics: battlingbishops.comOhio Wesleyan’s December events include exhibits and family events at the Ross Art Museum, including ‘Demarcations and Delineations’ by Michelle Stitzlein. (Photo by Sajidul Islam ’29)
