NEWS

Artwork gets new life on unused billboards

Kate Snyder
Reporter

ZANESVILLE – A few weeks ago, there were four unused billboards owned by Kessler Sign Co. up around Zanesville and the surrounding area.

Bob Kessler, president of the company, decided to fill them with art.

Michael Seiler works in his Zanesville studio. Seiler is one of four artists whose work has been adorning billboards throughout the city.

Four artists — Michael Seiler, Jana Pryor, Yan Sun and Debbie Lutz Beckert — were chosen from an original pool of 10 to showcase their work on the billboards. The signs feature paintings and photography, captioned by both the artist's name and the phrase "Art Matters."

Because art does matter, Kessler said.

Kessler said he got the idea during a national seminar for the outdoor advertising industry when he saw an organization doing something similar in Great Britain.

Rather than reaching out to large art organizations, such as art museums in Chicago or New York, to fill the space, Kessler thought there were more than enough local artists that could be featured.

"We have fine artwork here," he said.

He didn't choose the artists. A separate committee of people from the art community asked several artists to submit pieces, and then judges selected the top four.

The billboards are important in two ways, Kessler said: They showcase work by local artists, and they can help inspire artists who are not as well-known in the area. There are people out there who are painting in their homes but never show their work to anyone — seeing the billboards could change that.

"I think it'll get other folks excited about art," he said. "(They) may come out of the basement into the public, and that's good."

Seiler said he was happy to have his work on display but was even more excited about the call to attention on art in general.

"What's really important is the statement that's there more than my artwork," he said. "When (it) says, 'Art Matters,' that's really important."

Art has the ability to affect culture, Seiler said, and even if it can't change the world, it can change people. Those who paint or play music or even just attend galleries or concerts can come away with a richer experience than if they hadn't.

And for those who don't or can't go to art showings or events, Seiler said, he is in favor of bringing art to the city, in the form of murals. Or billboards.

Pryor, a photographer and employee of The Times Recorder, said it was weird to see her work up on a billboard. She was excited to be accepted, though, especially because there were so many good artists who submitted their work.

"It's good to show all the different kinds of art," she said. "We all have our own style and our own twist on what art is."

The billboards have been showing the art for about two months, and Kessler said he thought they would probably stay up for several more months. If the project gets a good reaction from the community, Kessler said, he would like to do it again next year, featuring different artists.

Sun was excited and grateful to the community for this chance to show his work in a place that people don't expect to find art.

"I think this is a very good activity," he said.

The event is a good opportunity both for artists to show their work and for people to view the art, he said.

Beckert, co-owner of Fringe Salon, couldn't believe when her work was chosen, and she didn't even know when the billboards went up until her friend texted her a photo.

"It's totally overwhelming," she said.

Advertising art on billboards might seem unconventional, but Beckert said it could be a good way to get people to think about how art really is everywhere.

"It's all around us," she said. "Everything that you see, someone designed."

When Beckert finally made it down to see the billboard herself, she said, it looked perfect.

"It looked just like the sun was shining on it, just like I intended," she said.

ksnyder2@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com

740-450-6752

Twitter: @KL_Snyder