Chillicothe — The Pump House Center for the Arts started their year with their annual high school show…packed as usual on opening night. The “Best of Ross County” filled the free public art gallery with art, students, and family on February 5th, 2026.
See snapshots of the art and activity below, along with a video of Pump House director John Payne announcing the winners.
I managed to interview only one award winner, Natalie Depew, with her Best of Show. We had a long chat on her assembly art, as well as a painting, as she represents the large Unioto contingent in the show.
Depew said her winning piece “All of a Sudden Everybody’s Getting Serious” was intended to be controversial. She said she worked on making the table and chair, and assembling the music videos and popular culture items, since August.
Depew said she challenged herself in many ways with a large painting from the movie “Brokeback Mountain.” The high school senior said said she will be going into engineering. Hear from her in the below interview video.
The show was again sponsored by Jim Butt’s foundation in honor of his son James Bryant “Beans” Butt, a high schooler who loved art but died by suicide. Hear Jim explain his effort below.
The Pump House is open 1 to 4 Sunday, is closed Monday, but opens at 11am Tuesday through Saturday. The free public art gallery has a Facebook page and website.
