The Ohio Art Corridor

He’s a welder by trade, but David Griesmyer has always had an eye for art. Ever since he was a child, the Zanesville native and owner of DG Welding in Malta has expressed his creativity through pen and ink, acrylic paints and metal sculpture.

So after moving back to southeast Ohio from Florida in 2013, he began to see the more than 300 miles of roadway stretching from Zanesville to Portsmouth and Circleville to Marietta as a blank canvas. Last fall, with the help of his sister-in-law Rebekah Griesmyer, the artist founded The Ohio Art Corridor, an outdoor gallery showcasing works by local artists that complement the beauty of Ohio’s Appalachian region.

“We want people to come explore the nature and history this portion of our state has to offer,” Griesmyer says. “We also want the area to grow and prosper economically and increase civic pride.”

In October, the first installation, Griesmyer’s “School of Fish,” consisting of a trio of three steel fish measuring 30 feet high and 75 feet long, was unveiled along state Route 376 in McConnelsville.

“The Muskingum River is a popular spot to fish,” Griesmyer says. “We’re hoping the artwork will celebrate what the area is known for, including the animals that make their home here.”

To date, eight works are part of The Ohio Art Corridor, ranging from murals celebrating Circleville’s history to a Human Rights Garden created by students in Portsmouth. This summer, three new sculptures will debut in Roseville, Zanesville and Marietta.

“I am so glad to see so many people wanting to be a part of this,” Griesmyer says. “We’re making something for southeastern Ohio which is putting us on the map — and raising us up.” 

For more information about The Ohio Art Corridor, visit theohioartcorridor.org.