"Community is much
more than belonging to something; it's about doing something together that makes belonging matter."
Brian Solis
Public Art Board
The Public Art Board is an advisory body composed of nine (9) members: two members of DAC staff, two members of City staff, and five community representatives. All selected community representatives reside in Dublin and are comprised of subject matter experts from the fields of contemporary public art, community engagement, municipal services and business interests.
2025/2026 Members:
Michael Hiatt’s career over the past 20 years has focused primarily in the landscape industry with experiences ranging from plant propagation to park design and construction.
Michael earned a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Art & Technology anda Masters of Landscape Architecture at The Ohio State University. For the past decade, Michael has been devotedto public service where he manages the development and maintenance of parks for the cities of Columbus and Dublin. Michael is currently a Landscape Architect for the City of Dublin Parks Department. Each day brings a different challenge and the variety of projects that keeps his work exciting. Michael finds it rewarding to be able to bring both fields of art and landscape together for the public to experience.
Merijn van der Heijden
Dublin Arts Council
Merijn serves as the Executive Director of the Dublin Arts Council. She is a seasoned arts administrator and curator with more than two decades of experience in visual arts leadership, curatorial practice and higher education.
Since 2017, she has served as Director of Urban Art Space and Hopkins Hall Gallery at The Ohio State University (OSU). During her tenure, she oversaw a period of administrative growth and deepening community engagement through partnerships with myriad community organizations and expanded digital programming. Prior to joining her leadership role at Urban Art Space, van der Heijden served as Deputy Director of Exhibitions and Curatorial Practice and as Assistant Dean and Director of the Arts and Sciences Honors Program at The Ohio State University. Van der Heijden holds a BFA from Akademie voor Beeldende Vorming (Academy of Fine Arts and Art Education) in Tilburg, Netherlands, and an MFA from OSU.
Merijn maintains a strong connection to arts organizations across Ohio through her volunteer service as a member and recent Chair of the Columbus Arts Commission and as a member of the Columbus Public Art Plan Steering Committee, in addition to frequent service as a juror and panelist for local and national exhibitions and festivals.
Shannon Crane
Arts Advocate & Community Volunteer
Shannon Crane is an Ohio native and proud graduate of The Ohio State University. A passionate supporter of creative expression, Shannon recently concluded a seven-year tenure on the board of the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC).
During Shannon's time on the board, she played a pivotal role in advancing opportunities for artists, art institutions, and projects across Ohio. Notable achievements under her leadership include the passage of the ticket fee initiative, which secured increased funding for artists and organizations in Central Ohio, as well as contributing to the growth of GCAC’s endowment and successfully navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Shannon’s commitment to the arts extends to her involvement with organizations such as The Columbus Museum of Art and CAPA. She has also served as a juror for the AminahRobinson Residency Program, supporting emerging artists and fostering community engagement. Additionally, shehas contributed as a grant reader, ensuring resources are effectively distributed to impactful projects. With a deep appreciation for public art and its transformative power, Shannon and her family have further demonstrated their commitment to the arts and social justice by commissioninga public sculpture titled ‘A Single Garment of Destiny ‘in downtown Columbus. The sculpture, located in the William Gladden Social Justice Park, serves as a powerful symbol of unity and equity, reflecting the values of the community it represents.
David S. Guion, PhD
Arts Advocate & Community Member
Dr. David Guion served as Executive Director of the Dublin Arts Council for 20 years. During his leadership he positioned the Dublin Arts Council as a thriving arts nonprofit and regional public art and arts education leader. His efforts resulted in expanding Dublin's Art in Public Places program to include more than 70 permanent, temporary and interactive public art projects today.
David currently serves on the Columbus Public Art Steering Committee, the City of Upper Arlington's Cultural Arts Commission and regularly consults on public art policy
and procedures for municipalities and arts administrators across the region. Dublin's Art in Public Places program has received regional, national and international attention as it sets the standard for best practices in public art administration.
For more than 30 years, David has worked with nonprofit arts organizations and educational institutions in New York City, the Bay Area of California and Columbus, Ohio. He received an M.A. in Art Education from The Ohio State University (OSU) in 1988 and his Ph.D. in Art Education from OSU in 2008. He currently teaches graduate courses as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Arts Administration, Education and Policy at OSU and is a CreativeOhio Board member.
He has been recognized for his leadership as a Smart 50 awardee by Smart Business magazine in 2015 and has served as a panelist for the Ohio Arts Council, the Greater Columbus Arts Council and Culture Works in Dayton, Ohio. He is a committee member of the Collaborative for Arts Education in Ohio and has adjudicated numerous arts exhibitions for a variety of organizations throughout the region.
Ava Morgan
Dublin Arts Council
Dr. Ava Morgan serves as Director of Public Practice for Dublin Arts Council. In this role she manages Dublin's Art in Public Places program and facilitates opportunities for the community to engage with the creative practices of artists through direct participation in workshops, events, programs, artist residencies, commissions, and other emergent modalities.
Ava teaches graduate courses as an Adjunct Lecturer for Goucher College's MA in Arts Administration program. She received her PhD. in Arts Education from the Ohio State University, a MA in Arts Administration from Goucher College and a BA in Philosophy from Earlham College. While working on her doctorate, Ava served on the education team for Art & Resilience, a suite of gallery-based programs at the Wexner Center for the Arts. She also served as Executive Assistant for Ohio Humanities, the state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Kristin Helmick-Brunet
The Ohio State University
Kristin is Assistant Director, Foundation Relations at The Ohio State University, securing grants to support the university's research and academic priorities, specializing in the arts and humanities.
Formerly Curatorial Associate at The Wexner Center of the Arts, Columbus and Assistant Curator at The Museum of Modern Art, New York, the arts have been central to her career, and she has organized and executed over 25 exhibitions. Ms. Helmick-Brunet holds M.A. degrees in both Art History and French Language and Literature and enthusiastically supports art and culture in all its forms, in Dublin and beyond.
Kendel Blake
City of Dublin
Kendel Blake serves as the Assistant to the City Manager, supporting the City Manager’s Office with strategic initiatives, policy development, and community engagement.
Kendel plays a key role in coordinating projects, facilitating interdepartmental collaboration, and managing stakeholder relationships. Kendel holds a B.A. in Sports Administration from Otterbein University and an M.A. in Public Administration from Ohio University. She also serves on the Greater Columbus Sports Commission’s Emerging Leaders Board, where she helps advance regional sports initiatives and strengthen community engagement. With a deep commitment to public service, Kendel is passionate about enhancing residents’ quality of life through thoughtful policies and innovative programs.
Kristine Kinzer
Arts Advocate & Community Member
Kristine Kinzer is a generational Dublin resident with deep roots in the community. She is a lifelong supporter and creator of fine arts and crafts.
Kristine attended CCAD and received a BA in History of Art from The Ohio State University. She also earned a Master’s degree and works in Academia. Kristine recently served on a cross-departmental team that hosted a juried art exhibition on campus. Kristine loves the fine arts and regularly visits museums and craft shows. She also volunteers at the local and state level as she recognizes the importance of serving her communities.
Dawn Petrill
Artist & Instructor
Dawn Petrill is a 1995 graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art and received a MA from Wesleyan University (CT) in 2003. She began her artistic career as a freelance illustrator and art instructor.
Over 12 years ago, Dawn set up her fine art business, Art At Dawn LLC. She exhibits both locally and nationally, having received numerous awards for her work and 3 grants from the Greater Columbus Arts Council. She also teaches art classes at the Delaware, OH Arts Castle and adults of early onset dementia through the Central Ohio Alzheimer’s Association. Dawn is a member of the Dublin Area Art League, Ohio Art League, Collage of Women artists, and the National League of American Pen Women.