ZAAP Names Kathy German, Chad Kettlewell as June Artists of the Month

ZANESVILLE, Ohio — This month’s ZAAP Artists of the Month are Kathy German, a fluid artist, and Chad Kettlewell, a photographer.

While both German and Kettlewell create individual works, they frequently collaborate, drawing inspiration from each other’s art.

“I admired his work so much that I asked him to jump in here with me and see if we could collaborate,” German said.

Their partnership and collaboration are a central focus to this month’s showcase.

“I’m very excited to be Artist of the Month, especially with Chad, and I hope that people will come and connect to our art and love it as much as we do,” German said.

“There’s a lot of art in here, a lot going on and a lot to see. We tried to bring a variety. We have our pairs, but we also have a good range of work here,” Kettlewell added.

Both artists will be featured at the upcoming First Friday Art Walk. But that’s not all happening this month, ZAAP is also hosting its annual Foot by Foot auction. It’s not just a celebration of art; it’s a chance to mingle, connect with the creative community and enjoy charcuterie served in mugs.

“You don’t have to be a member; you don’t even have to be an artist. If you want to come by to pick up a free canvas, paint something on it and bring it back, anybody’s welcome to do it. This year, our theme was inspired by nature, so you’re going to see a lot of nature-themed paintings,” ZAAP Director Shelby Spilker said.

This year marks one of ZAAP’s biggest yet, with more than 83 entries submitted. The First Friday opening will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., with the closing event set for June 28 during the same hours. The final event begins at 7:30 p.m.