A unique, new 3,800 square-foot mural in Whitehall is complete, transforming the heart of the city, celebrating community pride and creating a lasting symbol of the power of partnership. At an open house on Tuesday, Goodwill Columbus, CASTO and the City of Whitehall unveiled the mural, located at 50 Robinwood Avenue near the historic Town and Country Shopping Center.
The event was attended by Goodwill Columbus CEO Ryan Burgess, CASTO Partner Don M. Casto III, mural artist Sarah Eberly, Goodwill Columbus Art Studio artists Christopher Cole, Larken JansonTidd, Andrea Kontras, Charlotte McGraw and Nicole Vance, plus City of Whitehall Mayor Michael T. Bivens.
“Great things happen when organizations come together around a shared vision,” said Mayor Bivens. “This mural represents the power of partnership and the commitment of Goodwill Columbus and CASTO to strengthening Whitehall. It transforms a public space into something inspiring and reminds us of what’s possible when we invest in our community.”
The mural is displayed on a newly open exterior wall of the building where the Goodwill Columbus Art Studio & Gallery, an innovative fine arts program for artists with developmental disabilities and other barriers, and a Goodwill Columbus retail space operate. The five artists from the Goodwill Columbus Art Studio (Christopher Cole, Larken Janson-Tidd, Andrea Kontras, Charlotte McGraw and Nicole Vance) met with artist Sarah Eberly to share their ideas for the mural.
“At Goodwill Columbus, we believe strong communities are built when people feel seen, valued and connected,” said Goodwill Columbus CEO Ryan Burgess. “This mural is a celebration of those ideals, bringing together art, partnership and community pride in a way that reflects the spirit of Whitehall. We’re grateful to work alongside CASTO and the City of Whitehall on a project that will inspire residents and visitors for years to come.”
The wall became a blank canvas following the demolition of adjacent commercial space. CASTO owns the property and approached Goodwill Columbus about the partnership.
“Whitehall is where our commercial portfolio began, giving it a lasting place in our company’s history,” said CASTO Partner Eric Leibowitz. “This mural represents a unique opportunity to celebrate CASTO’s continued partnership with Whitehall as well as our wonderful relationship with Goodwill Columbus and all the incredibly meaningful work their team does in communities across Central Ohio. We are grateful to the City of Whitehall, Sarah Eberly, Goodwill Columbus and its artists for partnering with us on this exciting project, particularly as our organization celebrates its 100th anniversary, as it highlights so many incredible benefits of community collaboration.”
Through the freedom of creativity, Goodwill Columbus Art Studio artists can build self-esteem, collaborate with professional artists, and experience a sense of personal accomplishment while having the opportunity to sell their work. The artists receive a 70 percent commission on their artwork, with the remaining 30 percent going back to the studio to help with supplies and programming. The opportunity to collaborate with professional artists is just one of the programs the Goodwill Art Studio & Gallery oeers participants.
“This is another opportunity for people with disabilities to get their art out to the public,” said Goodwill Art Studio & Gallery artist Charlotte McGraw. “When people see the mural, they will want to come into the studio to see everyone’s artwork.”
Video and photos from the open house are available at this Dropbox link with credit to Goodwill Columbus.
About Goodwill Columbus
Goodwill Columbus is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has served the Central Ohio community for nearly 85 years. With more than 1,000 employees, Goodwill Columbus is one of the region’s largest job providers, employing individuals with diverse backgrounds. Goodwill Columbus has 12 retail stores, a last-chance outlet, an ecommerce facility, 8 attended donation centers, 5 I/DD service locations, and free job training services at The South Front Street Job Training Center, The Jerry Hammond Center, The Reeb Center, and 14 Columbus Metropolitan Library locations. The organization is a proud member of Goodwill Industries International, a network of over 150 community-based organizations throughout the United States and Canada that sell donated goods to create job opportunities and training in local communities.