05/23/2022
Meet Kelley Daniel, who has lived in Old Hilliard for 37 years. Married to her high school sweetheart for 40 years, they have three adult children all of whom attended Hilliard City Schools. They also have 4 beautiful grandchildren. Spending time with her grandchildren, creating art, and traveling more in the future are Kelley’s passions in life.
Kelley has been the Chair of the Hilliard Public Arts Commission since it was created by Hilliard City Council 4 years ago. “After painting a sunflower mural on my garage in 2009 which was denied because there wasn’t any language prohibiting murals in Hilliard, I promoted and encouraged City Council to create a public art code and commission to allow public art in Hilliard.” Kelley’s sunflower mural was reported on a number of media avenues including several Ohio newspapers, USA Today, as well as 3 major TV stations. There was even a song written about it by a Columbus Dispatch writer. With this attention, many people drove by to see the mural, which in turn brought business to local restaurants.
“Since the public art code has been established my mural is uncovered and we now have 2 murals painted and another one in progress. The first mural was created by an art teacher and students of Hilliard City Schools which can be viewed on the Hilliard Civic & Cultural Arts building, the second mural is a historic mural located on Otie’s Tavern and Grill facing The Crooked Can patio. The third mural is dedicated to performing arts which is located on the south wall of the Hilliard Civic & Cultural Arts building in Old Hilliard.” Kelley also shares that in January, the commission will be sponsoring “a call to artists with a sunflower theme consisting of covering 7 traffic signal boxes along Cemetery Rd and one in Old Hilliard.”
Other than being very active with the Hilliard P***c Arts Commission, Kelley has been a home birth Certified Professional Midwife, with a non-profit organization called Center for Humane Options in Childbirth Experiences for 36 years. “I support the belief that pregnancy and birth are a normal life process. I help women empower and educate themselves, so that they can have the kind of birth that will support family bonding.” Kelley has attended over 1000 births, and is now attending births of moms whose birth she attended in the 80s.
She also volunteers for The Hilliard Arts Council, through setting up the Gallery in the Lobby, as well as teaching art with the Summer Children Art Program. Kelley presently has 20 acrylic abstract pours that she will be showing in said gallery in the Spring.
Creating art, sewing, gardening, and traveling are her hobbies and some things she lives by are the words and ideas to “Love your family, be kind to others, laugh, dream and listening to music is therapeutic.” Kelley feels public art is important because “it gives us some identity and makes people aware of our history. It improves quality of life and builds community.”
Hilliard Public Arts Commission
Hilliard Arts Council
Hilliard Civic and Cultural Arts Center
CHOICE - Center for Humane Options in Childbirth Experiences