Ohio Designer Craftsmen’s Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to Charlotte Gordon, artistic director of the Southern Ohio Museum and Cultural Center, for advancing the field of fine craft, as well as engaging and educating the public about the field. She accepted her award during the openingreception of “Best of 2025,” Sunday, May 4, 2025.
In 2015, Gordon and husband Mark Chepp moved to Portsmouth to take on co-director positions at the Southern Ohio Museum, and “immediately fell in love with the area,” Gordon noted. Situated in the Appalachian region, “it’s unique. It has its own sense of aesthetics in visual arts and music.” As artistic director, Gordon is responsible for the temporary exhibitions that rotate through the museum, including the biennial “Cream of the Crop,” a juried show open to artists living within 85 miles of Portsmouth. “Our constituency includes Kentucky and West Virginia,” she explained. “A lot of these people didn’t consider themselves artists—they weren’t encouraged and validated. We have spent our time validating a lot of the local voices here and giving them as much support as we could.”
Gordon also oversees a permanent collection of over 25,000 objects, including silver, decorative arts, the late Dorothy Gill Barnes’ artwork, and numerous Native American artifacts that attracts visitors from all over the country. Programming includes summer camps for kids, adult art classes, a concert series, poetry readings, and a recent grant to start a film series.
Currently, Gordon and Chepp are leading a multimillion-dollar construction project at the museum. They’ve purchased the building next door and are in the process of renovating both it and the original building. This expansion will allow them to display more items from the permanent collection in one building while the other will focus on temporary exhibitions.
“I’m really proud of this project,” Gordon stated. “It will impact so many people. Admission will continue to be free, removing barriers to see and connect with art. We are growing a community base and facilitating conversations that wouldn’t happen otherwise. We realize the potential of this museum in making an impact on this small town.”
“Best of 2025” Exhibition Details
The Ohio Craft Museum
May 4–July 5, 2025
Visitor Hours:
Monday–Friday, 10:00 am–5:00 pm
Saturday, 11:00 am–4:00 pm
Admission and parking are free.
August 28–October 23, 2025
About Ohio Designer Craftsmen & The Ohio Craft Museum
Established in 1963, Ohio Designer Craftsmen engages and enriches the community through high-quality exhibitions and education programs and supports and promotes the professional development of fine craft artists. The organization owns and operates the Ohio Craft Museum in the Grandview Heights area and has organized Winterfair in Columbus for nearly 50 years. Ongoing funding is provided by the Ohio Arts Council, Greater Columbus Arts Council and the Columbus Foundation.
Press Contact
Nichole Redinger
Marketing & Volunteer Coordinator
Ohio Designer Craftsmen
[email protected]