Lovelight Records and Art is an Eclectic Cultural Shop in Clintonville

Mike Davis is a self-taught, multimedia artist and graphic designer, immersed in art via clothing, paintings, trinkets and more. Luke Haines grew up with a mother who was a painter, “hanging out in galleries mostly in Portugal,” but is more musically oriented, thanks to 30 years of collecting records and DJing. Both love sharing their passions of art and music with other people so much that they decided to open an art and record shop together. In early November, Lovelight Records and Art was born, embodying art, culture and community in eclectic Clintonville. 

Tell me about your art shop. What inventory is housed there, and why is it important for you to support local vendors?  Davis: Lovelight is the brick-and-mortar home base for Parking Lot Art, my brand. I show my original pieces gallery-style and offer all my merchandise in a market/retail style. I’ve got everything from hand-drawn originals and hand-painted flat-brims to backpacks, coffee mugs and stickers. 

Supporting local vendors is a way for us to show love for the community that we live in, to raise people up who have incredible passion and skill in whatever they create and give them an opportunity to be seen in a retail setting. 

What makes your hats, sweatshirts, records, etc. so special?  Haines: I go for a highly curated approach to the record side of things. We have a fair number of classics that you would expect to find in any store, but there are also a lot of rarities that you don't see every day. I love it when I can get someone hooked on an artist that they have never heard of before. Often purchasing a record from me comes complete with an anecdote or some weird factual tidbit. 

What are your plans for 2024?  Davis: A collaboration with Pop-Up Pickers Club is something we’re looking forward to in the spring. [We will have] monthly vendor markets featuring local makers, vendors, food and music. One of the things I really enjoy about that scene is the people and the community—the incredible talent, creativity and passion that people express when they feel they are in a safe place to do so. I want Lovelight to be one of those safe places.

You also mentioned you may open the space in the back for meditation classes, sound baths and "whatever the community needs." Can you elaborate?  Haines: For me, it's yet another way to involve more people through records, art and culture.  

Davis: We have access to some amazing people with amazing talent, and I’d like to be able to use this space as a venue to bring those people together and give them an opportunity to share their passions. Meditation classes, sound baths, painting classes and individual gallery-style shows are just a few of the things that we have in the works. 

Lovelight Records and Art is located at 4540 Indianola Ave. in Clintonville.  

This story is from the March 2024 issue of Columbus Monthly.