See the Artists of High Road Gallery in Local Businesses
Worthington is home to many great artists, and there are several venues to showcase their work, including High Road Gallery & Studios.
Located in an historic home across from the Old Worthington Library, High Road features a dozen studios where artists work together. They also host regular public exhibitions, demonstrations, and more special events.
You can also spy the work from High Road Gallery artists out in the community! A few different Worthington businesses host the artists’ work, which helps beautify the businesses while introducing the artists to new audiences. We chatted with three artists involved with the program: Raygan Barrett, Kelly Reichart, and Nicky Robie. Learn more about the process, then visit these Worthington businesses to see their work!
Artist: Raygan Barrett
Business: Penn & Beech
Nick: How did this partnership come about?
Raygan: The idea came about from visiting some of the businesses in Worthington and seeing that there was empty wall space in many of them. High Road Gallery is always looking for new ways to be part of the community and let people know what we are about.
I try to attend the Worthington Merchant Partnership meetings as much as possible, and I brought my idea to Beth; she was receptive and encouraged me to bring it up to the businesses at the next meeting.
Nick: Did High Road reach out to area businesses?
Raygan: Yes. Initially, I brought up my idea in the meeting and Beth helped me reach out to the businesses afterward via email. Once I had a few businesses interested, I created a sign-up sheet and our 12 resident artists can commit to show their work in three-month slots.
Nick: What work of yours are being displayed at Penn & Beech?
Raygan: I have five works displayed there currently: Mindset, Walk in the Garden, Jupiter, Morning Bloom, Green Moth.
Nick: How was it working with the business?
Raygan: They were very helpful and excited about the arrangement. They had been looking for artwork for their space for a long time but couldn’t find anything. They also liked the idea of the art rotating. They looked at some of my works and suggested colors they thought would look nice in the space.
Nick: Anything else you want to share about the process?
Raygan: We’d like to grow the program to include more Worthington businesses — it’s really a win-win for everyone.
Artist: Kelly Reichart
Business: Mrs. Goodman’s
Nick: What works of yours are being displayed?
Kelly: I have four pieces on display from an older series called “fellowship + solitude.”
Nick: How was it working with the business? Did you suggest certain pieces or did they request anything?
Kelly: They were extremely friendly and easy going. They didn’t request anything in particular, but I assured them I would try to choose pieces that fit in with their general look/brand.
Nick: Anything else you want to share about the process?
Kelly: So far I think it’s a great opportunity for High Road to gain more visibility, and for people to be more aware of the local artist community in general.
Artist: Nicky Robie
Business: Howard Hannah
Nick: What works of yours are being displayed?
Nicky: I have several pieces at Howard Hannah, and it was a pleasure to work with them. The pieces I have are all fairly big and Matt was very accommodating in placing them in various spaces around the offices.
Nick: What works of yours are being displayed?
Nicky: These are the works that are being displayed there currently: Lone Flower, Eye of The Storm, Sunset, Icescape, Color Explosion, Field of Flowers, Wild Ocean, Blue Vase, Strange Bird, Full Bloom.
The biggest one, Field of Flowers, is displayed in the back window, facing outward. Color Explosion and Wild Ocean are in the lobby, Eye of the Storm is in the front window, and several of the smaller pieces are in the real estate agents' office windows, also facing outward.
Nick: How was it working with the business?
Nicky: I am very pleased with the way the pieces are displayed, and the warm welcome I received from Matt and the other people working there. I had no idea they could display so many pieces of art, so I just took several pieces thinking they would make a choice when I got there, but in reality, they could hang all of them and could probably take more!
Nick: Anything else you want to share about the process?
Nicky: I just want to add I am very appreciative of Worthington businesses’ willingness to hang art from local artists and I hope more businesses will in the future. Kudos to Howard Hannah for being enthusiastic and willing to give us a chance!