Celebrate Art in Worthington

The arts are everywhere in Worthington! You can celebrate it this month with studio visits, festivals, and all sorts of artistic activities around the city.

An Art-Centric Worthington First Wednesdays (June 5)

The theme for June’s Worthington First Wednesdays is “Celebrate Art.” The evening’s activities will have you celebrating local artists, engaging in fun arts activities, and gearing up for the Worthington Arts Festival the following week. Visit the district from 5-8 p.m. on June 5 for a load of fun activities, like live music from Mark Rhodes in the Dewey’s plaza, plus kid’s arts and crafts. You can also get to know eight plein air artists from High Road Gallery, watch a ceramic artist at work, see illustrator and Worthington resident Rafael Rosado, and encounter the team from Worthington Community Theatre.

New Sculpture at the Old Worthington Library

You may have noticed the new installations along the High Street-facing side of the Old Worthington Library. The lawn has been transformed into a small plaza with natural pathways, native Ohio plants, and benches. Now you can rest in the shade with a good book. While you’re there, snap a selfie with Ricky the raccoon, Winston the owl and Asparagus the fox, the subjects of Reading With Friends, a bronze sculpture created by artist Mike Tizzano. He was inspired by characters from the library’s summer reading programs, and created it on-site over several months in the library’s lobby!

Worthington Arts Festival (June 14-15)

Summer is festival season, and on June 14 and 15, the Worthington Arts Festival returns for the 27th year! Laid out on the McConnell Arts Center lawn, the 2019 festival has lined up more than 150 artists from across the country, all set to showcase paintings, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, glass, mixed media work, and so much more. The Festival is rounded out with a collection of local food trucks, plus activities for all ages. You can get a special preview of the artists’ work at the Opening Night Picnic on Friday, June 14. Get tickets to it here. Want to be a part of the art? Festivals like this rely on the help of volunteers; sign up to volunteer here!

High Road Gallery & Studios

High Road Gallery is a hidden in plain sight on High Street and East Stafford. Headquartered in the historic Buttles-Pinney-Brown House, a 200-year-old structure across from the Old Worthington Library, High Road provides studio and gallery space to local artists. At any given time, roughly a dozen artists work out of the studios, creating everything from sculpture to figurines to painting. You can see the stunning artwork and meet the skilled creators during regular gallery exhibitions throughout the year. The studios are open to the public from noon to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and other hours by appointment. (Hint: they make a perfect stop after the Farmer’s Market!)