Local Artists Featured At City Hall Thanks to One Employee’s Efforts

By Meggan Fallon
Public Information Intern

Bare, stark white walls are not what you see when you enter Gahanna City Hall. Instead, visitors are met with a surprising amount of pictures and pieces of art that are livening up the halls, and soon these walls will get another art “face-lift,” as they do every month.

Katey Powell, a Gahanna Division of Police employee, began updating the City Hall’s art in July of 2011. Since then, visitors of Gahanna City Hall have seen elementary kid’s art, local photographer’s pieces and, in August, dogs!

“We have a lot of room to exhibit all the pieces, and I love being approached by artists,” said Powell. 



Powell says that she likes to showcase local artists within City Hall. In fact, you might see some pieces from Gahanna Lincoln High School graduates who have approached Powell and had their art showcased on the walls. A local photographer will also have dog portraits showcased in City Hall in August, in addition to City Hall Administration’s own animal pictures.

“I’m open for anything,” Powell said. “I’m constantly looking for art or artists when I’m around town, especially at restaurants that display local art. I’m just thrilled I got to be a part of this!”

Powell likes to mix up the pieces and have fun with it, when she has multiple contributors, such as with the dogs.  However, when there is just one artist showcasing pieces she likes to let them arrange their work anyway they see fit.

“An artist knows the way they want to their art to be shown and I don’t want to intrude on their vision,” Powell said.

In November Powell will turn to the City Hall staff to once again help out in hopes of showcasing veterans and their families on the walls of City Hall.­­

“I think it’s important to acknowledge everything veterans have done for us,” Powell said. “And when people come to City Hall, I think they will appreciate the photos hanging on the walls.”

The next time you visit City Hall, make sure to stop and look at of all the wonderful local art that is hanging on the walls.

If you have any suggestions for art or would like to showcase some of your work, contact City Hall at (614)342-4000.

Gahanna, meet your neighbors (Part I)

By Angela Payne

I love meeting new people; some may even call me a social butterfly. So I was ecstatic when the thought crossed my mind to get out and talk to residents about why Gahanna is their city of choice. Gahanna-ites, meet Amanda and Tamara!

City Welcomes ‘Guest Bloggers’, Invites Others To Submit Stories

It all started when Angela Payne reached out to the City of Gahanna's Public Information Manager Brian Hoyt with a simple idea; would the City be interested in a resident being a guest blogger. After meeting, Payne and Hoyt thought it would be a unique idea to publish blog posts about what she and her family do in Gahanna and why they love living here.

Soon after Payne’s first submission, ‘Summer, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways’, was posted, another resident contacted Hoyt and offered to do the same. 

"Although many employees of the City live here, nobody can tell the story of Gahanna better than residents who live here and people who work here," Hoyt said.

The City of Gahanna's blog was started in 2010 to provide an informal outlet to share information, stories and photos about Gahanna. The addition of guest bloggers only serves to expand that mission.

"Angela told us that her family moved to Gahanna last year and that she loves to write," Hoyt said. "She thought it would be fun to share some stories and photos of the activities and events her family enjoys in Gahanna."

So the City has decided to ask more residents and members of the business community to contribute to the City's blog.

Residents and those who work, play, visit or worship in Gahanna are invited to submit stories and/or photos of what they do in Gahanna. Articles can be as short or as long as writers want them to be.

"It's a pretty simple idea... Tell us a story and let us share it with everyone," Hoyt said.

Those interested are asked to submit their blog post or photography to information@gahanna.gov and to include their name, contact information and a short description about themselves.  Submissions that are selected will be published at www.blogspot.com/CityofGahanna as well as on Facebook and Twitter.