Interview with Bill Hinsch, Artist and Perrysburg Resident, about Ohioans in Space (painting) and Cradle of Astronauts (documentary)

Todays episode was inspired by Way Public Library, but the episode itself is an interview with Perrysburg Resident Bill Hinsch. Bill is an artist who recently painted a very large and important painting (12 feet wide X 9 feet tall) called Ohioans in Space. It features several Ohio-born astronauts. You’ll hear Bill talk about it during our interview. Not only do we discuss the work of art itself and where it is now located, but we also talk about Bill’s career as an artist and Cradle of Astronauts, a 25-minute documentary about how Ohioans in Space was made.

Thank you Stephanie Coil (Public Relations) at Way Library for setting up the interview with Bill Hinsch, providing backstory about the painting, and telling me about the Library’s screening of the documentary. I couldn’t have put this episode together without you. Thank you!

Way Public Library is hosting a FREE screening of Cradle of Astronauts (documentary) at Cinemark Movie Theater at Levis Commons Perrysburg on Wednesday, October 16th, 2024, at 7 PM. Bill Hinsch will be there talking about Ohioans in Space and answer questions. Click here to register before October 16, 2024 or call Way Public Library 419-874-3135, ext 119.

The Perrysburg Podcast is an informational podcast for prospective, new, and current Perrysburg, OH residents. We talk about what’s in Perrysburg and why people like to live here. The Perrysburg Podcast is hosted by Perrysburg resident Kim Newlove. This is a hobby podcast/service project. Kim Newlove does not work for Way Public Library, any government agency, Chamber of Commerce, or Convention and Visitors Bureau. Her opinions are her own.

Please share this episode with anyone you think might enjoy it. Thanks for listening today!

Bio - Bill Hinsch (Sept 2024)

A little-known artist, William Hinsch painted Ohioans in Space now displayed in the Ohio Statehouse rotunda. His evocative concepts have earned him a reputation as one of the most sought-after corporate artists internationally.

Hinsch’s aviation works are also displayed in prestigious locations such as the Pentagon and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson in Dayton, Ohio. He is also the co-inventor of the Learning Map, a tool that uses metaphorical visuals to illustrate a company’s strategy. His corporate art is included in the collections of hundreds of companies worldwide.

Hinsch’s approach to portraiture is unique in that he creates memorable visual stories for his subjects, reflecting their lives, self-concepts, and desires for their legacies. He has painted oil-on-canvas likenesses of many notable figures, including Warren Buffett, retired U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Merril A. McPeak, World War II fighter pilot Clarence “Bud” Anderson, the first U.S. Air Force astronaut General Joe Engle, comic artist Milton Caniff, music legends such as Billie Holiday, Ray Charles, Charlie “Bird” Parker, and Art Tatum, as well as entertainers like Johnny Carson. He has also painted private individuals, including CEOs, lawyers, business owners, and national heroes.

Hinsch’s notable work, Ohio Aviators, which was created collaboratively with Harley Copic for the Air Force Museum, depicts great Ohio Airmen. Commissioned in honor of the 100th Anniversary of Flight in 2003, it pays homage to Ohio, the birthplace of aviation, featuring the Wright Brothers at the center. In 2023, Hinsch was selected to paint Ohio’s astronauts for the Ohio Statehouse Rotunda in Columbus, Ohio. His concept includes portraits of Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, Jim Lovell, and Judith Resnik, illustrating their achievements as pioneers of space exploration.

Bill lives and works in Perrysburg, Ohio, with his wife, Carol, and their three children: Alex, Nicholas, and Emily. His studio is also located in Perrysburg.

Born in 1955 in Hicksville, Ohio, Hinsch grew up there.

Way Public Library Press Release for October 16, 2024 FREE documentary screening event

Ohioans in Space is a monumental 12x9 foot painting that proudly hangs in the Ohio Statehouse Rotunda. Perrysburg resident Bill Hinsch, who has garnered international acclaim, was commissioned to depict Ohio’s esteemed astronauts—Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, Jim Lovell, and Judith Resnick in this awe-inspiring mural. Unveiled at a grand gala event earlier this year, Bill’s vision captivates and illustrates the astronauts’ achievements as pioneers of space exploration.

Join us on October 16, 2024, at 7 pm at Cinemark Levis Commons for a free screening of the 25-minute documentary "Cradle of Astronauts." The film highlights many legendary astronauts from Ohio and Bill Hinsch’s journey to pay homage to four of the most distinguished in the annals of space exploration.

Following the screening Bill will discuss the intricate process behind his masterpiece, starting with the preliminary sketches and the rigorous selection process undertaken by the state to choose Bill as the artist. Gain insight into the challenges and triumphs encountered during the creation of the painting.

Bill will also share highlights of the grand gala event, where the painting was unveiled. The unforgettable evening was attended by the astronauts’ families, featured a satellite feed with Tom Hanks and Jim Lovell, and honored Toledoan Gene Kranz, who was present at age 93 to receive the tribute.

Conclude the night with a Q&A session, offering a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the making of this significant artwork and the documentary that follows the journey.

Reserve your spot today for this free event at waylibrary.info! It’s a program not to be missed!

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