STATEHOUSE NEWS

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UPDATE: See the large-scale final painting here.

Watch some of the recorded Jan. 24 events on OhioChannel.org.



(Columbus, Ohio) –The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board and Capitol Square Foundation will unveil the 9-foot by 12-foot painting, “Ohioans in Space” by artist Bill Hinsch at the Ohio Statehouse on Wednesday, January 24 at 8:30 p.m. in the Rotunda. The painting features John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, Jim Lovell, Judith Resnik and Gene Kranz, and recognizes the accomplishments of Ohioans in space travel and exploration. Names of the 25 astronauts born in Ohio and others will be listed on a permanent plaque near the painting.

On January 24, the celebrations include a student program, panel discussions, poster signing, a ticketed dinner and the unveiling. Events begin at 11:00 a.m. in the Atrium, where there will be student programs in partnership with COSI and other Ohio science centers from all over Ohio. Ohio astronauts will also be in attendance, participating in experiments and meeting the students.

Two panel discussions are open to the public in the Senate Finance Room. At 2:00 p.m., a discussion about Aviation and Aerospace will be moderated by Dr. Frederic Bertley, President & CEO of COSI. The panel includes former astronauts Michael Good, Carl Walz and Don Thomas, and also Representative Adam Holmes; Dr. John Horack, Neil Armstrong Chair at the John Glenn College, The Ohio State University; Amanda Wright Lane, relative of the Wright brothers; and Casey Swails, NASA Deputy Associate Administrator.

A panel discussion about Art and its Lasting Impact on Ohio will be moderated by Nannette Maciejunes, Former Executive Director, Columbus Museum of Art at 3:30 p.m. The public will hear from the artist of “Ohioans in Space,” Bill Hinsch, as well as Dayna Jalkanen, Deputy Director of Museum and Education, Ohio Statehouse; Rebekah Beaulieu, President CEO, Taft Museum of Art; Dr. Hyacinth Paul, Artist in Residence, Trotwood Schools, Dayton; and Jim Keny, Keny Galleries, Columbus.

All the events will be livestreamed by The Ohio Channel.

The Statehouse Museum Shop will have unique merchandise including patches, challenge coins, lapel pins, COSI activity kits, t-shirts, and books on space. Artist Bill Hinsch will be available from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to sign prints of the painting.

For those interested in attending the dinner and receptions at 5:30 p.m., tickets are available on the Capitol Square Foundation website. Proceeds will fund the painting and future art projects at the Ohio Statehouse. There will be remarks from Governor DeWine; Casey Swails, NASA Deputy Associate Administrator; and family members of Ohio astronauts. Nonticketed members of the press will have seats available to observe the proceedings.

The painting will be unveiled in the Ohio Statehouse Rotunda at 8:30 p.m. “Ohioans in Space” is the first commissioned large-scale painting to be installed permanently in the Ohio Statehouse in 66 years.

Artist Biography: Bill Hinsch is a lifelong artist from Hicksville, Ohio. Throughout his illustrious career, Bill also pursued his passion for portrait painting. He has created numerous works of art that hang in the Air Force Museum in Dayton and the Pentagon, depicting aviation heroes of the United States through the US Air Force Art program. Bill's dedication to his craft remains strong, and he paints daily in his studio in Perrysburg. In addition to his portrait work, he continues to create Learning Maps, where he has worked with some of the world's largest and most prestigious corporations to illustrate their strategies in a compelling, easy-to-understand format.

Reporters who are interested in interviewing the artist or other participants may contact Charles Moses, President, Capitol Square Foundation.
Contacts:
Charles Moses
Capitol Square Foundation
614-221-5825 ¦ csf@assnoffices.com ¦ ohcapitolsquarefoundation.org
cell phone 614-832-5823

Laura Battocletti
Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board
614-752-9777 ¦ laura.battocletti@ohiostatehouse.org ¦ ohiostatehouse.org

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