The "Juneteenth" show at the Pump House Center for the Arts in Chillicothe, Ohio, opened on Thursday, featuring pastel artwork by Carlos Walker on the first floor under the theme "What If: Walk a Mile in Our Shoes." The Mezzanine Gallery displayed Juneteenth-themed works by local artists Damianne Fischer, Tony Keaton, Krystian Jones, Steven Riggs, Angie Terry, and Bev Reiley. Show coordinator Angela Young introduced the artists, and Walker spoke about his 13-year prison sentence for drug dealing, now dealing art instead. The show runs through the end of the month.
This exhibition matters because it highlights the Juneteenth holiday through local visual art, giving a platform to formerly incarcerated artist Carlos Walker and emerging young artists like Krystian Jones. It demonstrates how community art spaces can foster dialogue around racial history, redemption, and creative expression, while also supporting local talent and cultural events in Chillicothe.