150 miles of unique art
Sunday drives are the perfect time to explore the Ohio Art Corridor in Southeastern Ohio. There are more than 150 miles of road to follow at a leisurely pace so you can enjoy the unique local art. It’s like a drive-thru art gallery.
This public art trail contains everything from murals to oversized sculptures as it winds through the Appalachian region. It’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Ohio Art Corridor is more than150 miles long. The other large outdoor gallery is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and is 70 miles in length.
David and Rebekah Griesmyer are the masterminds behind the Ohio Art Corridor. David created School of Fish, the first piece of sculpture made just for the art trail. The fish swim through the air along the Muskingum River in McConnelsville across from the fairgrounds. Each fish measures 15 to 20 feet in length.
Griesmyer’s sister-in-law, Rebekah, is the director of this non-profit organization. Their idea was to provide access to culture, art, and educational experiences along a trail that would boost tourism in small towns and areas often overlooked.
At this time, the trail winds through Circleville, Lancaster, Athens, Portsmouth, McConnellsville and Zanesville. The list continues to grow daily as new pieces are added. These micro parks reflect the local history and beauty of that particular area.
Ten large murals by Eric Henn can be found in downtown Circleville. One celebrates the bicentennial of Circleville while another depicts the many activities involved with the annual Pumpkin Festival, which has been celebrated for more than 100 years.
In Lancaster, Ric Leichliter has sculpted several metal vultures in the branches of a tree in the Flight of the Hawk sculpture park on Highway 33. Turkeys are scattered across the field. The main feature is a 42-foot metal hawk with a wingspan of 14 feet. It’s even lit up at night.
Portsmouth has a 2,200-foot floodwall, which is covered with murals by Robert Dafford. It tells the history of Portsmouth during the last two centuries.
A recent addition in McConnelsville is Locks of Love created by David Griesmyer. Two large metal hearts are meant to have locks of love put on them just like the bridge in Paris, France. While the hearts have only been in place for a short time, locks are beginning to accumulate.
Zanesville features Alan Cottrill’s bronze works in a sidewalk display outside his studio with a Native American atop his building to give recognition to his heritage. In Zane’s Landing Park, there are other bronze statues as well as murals that have recently been added.
The Ohio Art Corridor is working with welding and art programs throughout Southeastern Ohio to teach the skills needed to create jobs. Interns are invited to help with creating the giant art sculptures along the corridor. They are hoping to partner with local schools in the future to involve students in designing the sculptures.
If you have an art piece you would like included on the trail, it has to meet certain criteria. The pieces must be outdoors and free to view. Standalone sculptures must be of a generous size. If the artwork is smaller than 12 feet, there must be a collection of three or more sculptures in one location, and, finally, the pieces must be accessible to everyone.
Surrounded by parks, tables, and benches, the Ohio Art Corridor will be a place for generations to gather for years to come. If you enjoy art you are certain to find this an enjoyable trail to explore.
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