Clintonville-based nonprofit group “ALTernative” will kick off the Columbus bicentennial in 2012 with “Good Design in Hard Times,” an exhibition that showcases four potential projects to improve various Columbus neighborhoods.

The exhibition will be on view Jan. 10 to Feb. 4 at the Ohio State University Urban Arts Space and then move to Clintonville's Whetstone library for display in mid-February.

ALTernative was co-founded by architect-designer couple Tim Lai and Eliza Ho. Its purpose, according to Ho, is to “promote purposeful design that benefits Clintonville and other Columbus neighborhoods.”

One of the featured projects imagines a transformation of a long-abandoned theater building through the use of a creative mural.

The vacant property, on Hudson Street, has been boarded up for two decades and its exteriors have suffered from graffiti.

The exhibit will include one-to-one scale mockups, models and photomontages to engage audience of all ages. Additionally, gallery talks and public forums will be organized to further the discussion between design, economy and community.

OSU Urban Arts Space is at 50 W. Town St., Suite 130, in the Historic Lazarus Building. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is free.

For information, visit http:// uas.osu.edu/exhibition/gooddesign-hardtimes.