Pump House director John Payne
Ross County and the Art Region — With the departure of “The Hills” and the opening of “Escape Routes,” Chillicothe’s Pump House art gallery is moving towards the “Holiday Gift Show”…and the retirement of its director.
September’s annual “The Hills” competition in the Pump House Center for the Arts, drawing artists from a 75-mile radius, has been dismantled, but I have a reminiscence of it and an interview with second place winner Sophia Glarza below. John K. Victor’s one-man show opened on October 1st, and I have a glimpse of his show, also below.
Victor is offering a demonstration of his style this Sunday: “I’m going to share my techniques to developing an oil painting. This will be my approach for plein air paintings or studio paintings. The importance of prioritizing and rhythm.” He’s also offering three musical performances at the Pump House. Find those events on the Pump House Facebook page.
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And then the annual “Holiday Gift Show” will open earlier, on November 19th, to allow for longer Christmas shopping. (Anyone can rent a table to sell arts and crafts for the duration.) It will end on Christmas eve, and the Pump House will take its annual winter vacation in January.
Director John Payne says he will retire at the end of the year…but will stick around until his successor is found.
And, visiting barn artist Rober Kroeger will return on October 22nd for a talk on his subject.
Hear Payne and artist Sophia Glarza in their own words below, and see a tease of Victor’s show in his opening event.
The Pump House is open 1 to 4 Sunday, closed Monday, but opens at 11am Tuesday through Saturday. The free public art gallery has a Facebook page and website.
Payne explains Pump House shows, the annual “Holiday Gift Show,” and mentions his retirement.
The second-place winner in September’s competition explains her work.
“The Hills” competition in Chillicothe’s Pump House Center for the Arts on September 3rd, 2026.
The list of winners
The judge’s statement
In the gift shop
Glimpses of Victor’s one-man show “Escape Routes” during the opening.
On display in the entrance lobby.