Natalie Depew with her best of show "All of a Sudden Everybody's Getting Serious"
Chillicothe's 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.
Part of the crowd at the Pump House.
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, and more in his interview from last year.
At that time, he said his foundation was helping to promote the statewide 988 emergency number for suicide and mental health. Jim said they are working on a website and Facebook page for their foundation, but they also have a suicide prevention coalition through Paint Valley Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services.
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.
Find the article on the Scioto Post.
Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for the Scioto Post and iHeart Media Southern Ohio. For stories or questions, contact Kevin Coleman or the iHeart Southern Ohio Newsroom.
Payne announces the winners, and those present line up.
Unioto senior Depew explains “All of a Sudden Everybody’s Getting Serious” and a painting.
Jim’s foundation in honor of son James Bryant “Beans” Butt.