About 100 pieces of artwork created by Westerville City Schools students will be on display throughout Uptown Westerville as part of the 2025 Westerville Art Hop Saturday, April 26.

Now in its sixth year, the Art Hop showcases art in various forms including visual art, live dance, theatrical performances, fine art and gallery open houses, pop-up public art demonstrations and live music by singer-songwriters.

The student artwork displays are a new element to this year’s Art Hop.

“We recognized an opportunity to give young artists a platform to share their work publicly, which not only enriches the event but also strengthens our connection with local schools and families,” Uptown Westerville Executive Director Lynn Aventino said.

“It also serves as a meaningful space for students whose work may not be accepted into more formal or juried exhibitions—allowing them to still experience the joy of having their art displayed as part of a celebrated citywide event. Every piece contributes to the vibrancy of the Art Hop, and we’re proud to highlight the creativity and expression of all young artists in our community.”

Hawthorne Elementary art teacher Liz Bash, Genoa Middle School art teacher Juls Rathje and Westerville Central High School art teacher Jen Kiko worked with peers across the District to collect student art pieces – both 2D and 3D — for display in about 20 Uptown shops.

The selected artworks are unique, feature bright, spring colors and best represent the District’s students and art classrooms.

“This is a special opportunity for our students because it’s the entire community, not just the school community at Art Hop,” Rathje said. “To know that their artwork will be on display with other professional artists at a time when the entire community is invited to come and celebrate the arts, it’s a gift.”

Students’ art pieces will be on display in Uptown starting Saturday, April 26 and will remain up through May 3.

Students share stories behind their Art Hop artworks

As part of an art assignment at Genoa Middle School, eighth-grader Wren Keplinger had to create a piece that showcased the hues, tints, tones and shades of a color wheel.

She was fascinated by eyes and how they represent vision as well as insight. So she sketched an eye where the iris spanned a spectrum of colors.

“There’s more to an eye, especially seeing physical and nonphysical things, seeing colors and light,” she said. “I thought it was an interesting concept to be focused on the inner parts of the eye rather than the outer parts.”

The piece will be among 100 student artworks on display throughout Uptown Westerville as part of the 2025 Westerville Art Hop on April 26.

The annual Art Hop showcases art in various forms including visual art, live dance, theatrical performances, fine art and gallery open houses, pop-up public art demonstrations and live music by singer-songwriters. For the first time, art pieces created by WCSD students have been added to the event.

“I wasn’t expecting anything like that,” said Andie Frazier, a junior at Westerville Central High School. “It’s really sweet that my sculpture can be displayed and enjoyed. I enjoyed building it.”

The Flying Fox, Frazier’s first project in her Ceramics 2 class, was selected as one of the 3D pieces for display.

As part of the assignment, Frazier had to create a story about a themed animal and design a piece that accompanied it. Her sculpture features a fox with feathers and wings attempting to fly from a snare wrapped around a leg. As part of the story, the fox didn’t like to fly but after getting caught in a trap, it was forced to learn how in order to escape its situation.

“I was thinking about how people in high school sometimes have resources that everyone else is using and chooses not to use them,” she said. “I thought about how I’d like to take the hard routes instead of taking the short cuts that would make things easier for me. I need to learn how to use resources available to me before something happens.”

Frazier dedicated weeks to the piece, sculpting individual pieces for the teeth and feathers, reattaching the tail several times and adding texture to every component.

“I spent so much time worrying over every little piece,” she said. “In my mind, no one was ever going to see it. But now that I know after I put all of that effort, people can enjoy it and see it, that means a lot to me.”

Hawthorne Elementary art teacher Liz Bash, Genoa Middle School art teacher Juls Rathje and Westerville Central High School art teacher Jen Kiko worked with peers across the District to collect student art pieces – both 2D and 3D — for display in about 20 Uptown shops.

The selected artworks are unique, feature bright, spring colors and best represent the District’s students and art classrooms.

Haley Norris and Juniper Hatt — two fifth-graders at Hawthorne — collaborated on the drawing that will be featured at the Art Hop. The two have partnered together on previous projects in art class where Norris sketches the base of a drawing and Hatt adds color to the piece.

Their latest project features a girl they’ve named Loralei in her winter clothes with a spring backdrop. They said the piece was inspired by the changing of seasons from winter to spring.

“We’re tired of the cold weather,” Hatt said.

Another selected artwork — created by Genoa eighth-grader Cory Baker — features a smiling girl holding a bouquet of flowers. The girl and her dress are sketched in blue while the flowers feature a spectrum of colors.

“Most of the drawings I keep to myself or for an animated series I could possibly post somewhere,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting this to be a part of the Art Hop… It feels really good because I’ve been working on art forever. I’m really excited.”

Luna Gillogly, a first-grader at Annehurst Elementary, was excited to learn her landscape drawing will be on display. As part of a lesson on positions, Gillogly had to draw objects that represent the foreground, middle ground and background. Her drawing features a house, a tree, a picnic blanket, a pond with fishes, a mountain range and skydiver.

“I hope they think it’s a beautiful painting made by a first-grader,” she said.

Students’ art pieces will be on display in Uptown starting with the Art Hop from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 26, and will remain up through May 3.

Eric Dearth, owner of Andy’s Frame Setting, collected the student work from the art teachers to trim and mount the pieces for free, providing foam core and hardware. Westerville Public Library Youth Services Manager Annamarie Carlson coordinated library staff and teen library volunteers to help produce buttons for the student artists to wear on the day of the event. Uptown Westerville Inc. provided the materials for both projects.

The above was authored by Charlie Boss, Westerville City School District Community Engagement Coordinator.

More at the Hop

An incredible celebration of art in all forms will be on display across Uptown during the Westerville Art Hop, from noon-4 p.m. Saturday, April 26. Just a few more details on some fun activities and the full day’s schedule follow:

DORA-themed drinks

Several Uptown restaurants and pubs will offer Art Hop Featured DORA drinks during the event Saturday. Included will be:

• High Bank Distillery – End of Anxiety, with Whiskey War, Buffalo Trace, aperol, averna, demerara, citrus.
• Good Vibes Winery – State Street Sangria. Fruity and Fun, perfect to enjoy while you stroll around Uptown.

Historical Tours

To commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the installation of the iconic Uptown Westerville marquee on the State Theater building, the Westerville Historical Society will present a program spotlighting the history of the movie and live entertainment theaters in Westerville.

FULL SCHEDULE

— THROUGHOUT THE DAY —

Professional Artists and Student Art Displays

— throughout Uptown (location map available in Uptown stores)

Westerville Symphony – A Bridgerton Affair

— at The Blue Turtle Tea & Spice Co., 13 East Main St.

Professional Chalk Artist Creations

— at Hanby School, 56 S. State St.

The Westerville Library outreach, Balloon Artist Philip Palmer and Illustrator Alexander LeVasseur (trading card and bookmark creation activities)

— in Rotary Park, next to Columbus Running Company, 50 N. State St.

Formal visual art exhibitions

Experience special spring exhibits and live artist demonstrations at two of Uptown’s premier creative spaces.

David Myers Art Studio & Gallery, 7 W. Main St., and Daylight Artist Collective, 9 E. College Ave. — where local artists will showcase their process and work in immersive, gallery settings. The exhibit, “The Art of the Story” will be on display at David Myers and the juried exhibition, “Intertwined,” will be featured at Daylight.

Performing Artists

— At Generations Performing Arts Center, 11 W. College Ave.:

• Generations Dancers will teach choreography to Better When I’m Dancin’ by Megan Trainor, at 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.; and
• Good Medicine Productions will present the short play/improv 10 Silly Acts in 20 Silly Minutes at 1, 2 and 3 p.m.

Singer/Songwriters:

• 12:15pm – Matthew Morgan, at Jimmy V’s Grill and Pub, 1 S. State St.
• 1:30pm – Elia Giuliani, at Good Vibes Winery, 2 S. State St.
• 3 p.m. – Jamie Ravine and Heather Evans, at Fattey Beer Co., 79 S. State St.
• 7-9:30 p.m. – Lil’ Red & The Rooster, at Java Central Cafe and Roaster, 20 S. State St., Suite B

And More!

• Historical Walking Tour — The Historical Theaters of Uptown Westerville — at 1 and 3 p.m., beginning at Los Altos Mexican Bar & Grill, 8 N. State St. The tours will be led by members of the Westerville Historical Society, and comes from the WHS March program that commemorated the 75th anniversary of the installation of the iconic Uptown Westerville marquee on the State Theater building.
• Indie Bookstore Day at Birdie Books (74C N. State St.) Enjoy extended hours (9 a.m.-8 p.m.) and spin to win prizes and discounts
• Check out the creations of 20 members of the Community Artists of Westerville on display at Java Central Cafe and Roaster, 20 S. State St., Suite B.

Additional coverage

For more detailed information, check out this former preview coverage from Uptown Inc.’s In & About Uptown blog:

• Art Hop will flood Uptown with creativity; Singer-songwriters profiled
• Find visual artist showcases at the 2025 Westerville Art Hop, in Uptown galleries and shops
• Performing artists will bring dance, acting and classical music to 2025 Art Hop

Donate to support the Arts Uptown!

The Westerville Art Hop is an Uptown Westerville Inc. event, presented by Nationwide Children’s Hospital and sponsored by Edward Jones/Tim Bullock Financial Advisor, with support from Salaita Orthodontics.

Please show your support of the arts in Westerville and help UWI stage showcase local artists of all genres – with events like the Westerville Art Hop – through making a small donation!

Scan the accompanying QR code to contribute any donation amount, and make a difference at the Art Hop! Your donation fuels creativity and strengthens our community!

Uptown Westerville Inc. is a recognized 501(c)(3) organization, your contribution may be tax deductible. Please consult your tax advisor for further details.