Gordon Keith Originals
Gordon E. Keith Originals
Biography
Gordon E. Keith
Artist and Designer
From Captain Kangaroo to Rome, Italy.
Gordon Keith has made his mark in the world. This artist is well versed, in many different fields, from painting and sculpture to design of all kinds. He studied under Alice Schille of Columbus, Ohio and the late Chester Nichodemes, a sculptor. He served honorably in World War II in the 1621 st model making detachment where he was attached to the 5th army and made invasion models for Italy and Southern France. And work along side of Conger Metcalf another great painter for four years during the war effort.
In 1948 after the war, Gordon started his own store fixture and design company in boston called Gordon Keith Originals, Later move to Indian lake with his sister and did plaster castings before going back to his home town (Columbus Ohio) and setting up shop, In his hay day he had a company with store in the front call Gordon Keith’s Red Barn. Many that remember the barn will remember a giant rooster by the road side and when driving down into the complex seeing a fiberglass horse and cart outside the front door, A horse head above the entrance. This was the place to buy small nick nacks like glitter, ribbon and trinkets to grandma’s porch were one could get a bit to eat or a cold soda while enjoying a country setting. A second store on Wall St next to Lazarus and even one in side the Union Company. He created the Yankee Candle risers, Macy’s 1st foor cosmetics tables risers, Henry Bendel pink chandeliers Juicy Couture Carts
And the Macy’s, Waterford Crystal millennium collection, and over 300 hundred other major department stores coast to coast and abroad.
For over 65 years Keith has designed and installed major displays in eight different countries. From Talking Tree for Lazarus 6th floor for Christmas, Including the television show Captain Kangaroo and Lucy’s Toy Shop props to the Electric Company and the Union Company. From Downtown Christmas parades and Fourth of July parades to the State Auto Nativity Scene that at one time graced our State Capital building. The lighted trees in the windows of the German Village Tower and the doll cases at 180 West Broad street were also two very notable projects. Gordon Keith is a life time member of COSI for creating and building the Street of Yesterday Year in the old COSI location, On west Broad St. Complete with hoof prints in the cement to the five cent theater and penny candy store.
If you think Mr. Keith was one to rest while on vacation, think again. Gordon traveled to Tiki Gardens in Indian Rocks Beach where he visited life-long friends Frank and Jo Byars and designed a theme park that millions toured each year complete with Tiki Gods, fire torches and a Polynesian flavor. He went to Liberty parks and designed the hound dog plush animal for their theme park that is located in Tennessee, hometown to Elvis. Long term friend, Congressman Chalmers P. Wylie had Gordon do all of his campaign headquarters, from the Statue of Liberty of his TV spots. Keith also designed the famous 12 panel fiberglass screens that still ride the train to this day and voice over for the freedom train when it was here in 1976 depicting Betty Ross to landing on the moon. Gordon has helped with and contributed to special interest groups including Pilot Dogs Inc., the Symphony Ball, ARC, and the Candy Cane Ball. Gordon’s latest venture was selling 95 of his original paintings to the Le Veque tower for there renovations in 2012
Gordon’s art and sculptures have been exhibited in museums and galleries nationwide and are in many permanent collections. Some noteworthy exhibitions occurred at the French Art Colony, in Gallipolis, Ohio, the Licking County Arts Center, Middletown Ohio, and the Schumacher Gallery, in Columbus, Ohio, Springfield Art Gallery. Gordon’s work is also included in a private collection included in the Cincinnati Union Train Terminal in Cincinnati, Ohio. Gordon worked with Steve Silken and created all the hanging train art that graced all of the hallways of the building as well as many of the store designs which still remain today.
His works have been shown at the Art Expo in New York, Columbus Museum of Fine Arts, Grant Medical Center, Springfield Museum, Southern Hotel art gallery, and the Columbus City Hall where he has sold many original pieces of work.
Hand painted murals by Gordon Keith span from Tampa FL, Hilton Hotels all the way to Algiers, Africa, Malaga, Spain, Naples, Caserta, and Rome Italy. Several of his paintings are at the Tokyo Art Gallery, Tokyo, Japan and Brenan, University Granville.
If there is such a thing as a renaissance man of the century --- this is he. Look what God has given him to create with his heart, mind and talent.
Gordon E. Keith Originals
Biography
Gordon E. Keith
Artist and Designer
From Captain Kangaroo to Rome, Italy.
Gordon Keith has made his mark in the world. This artist is well versed, in many different fields, from painting and sculpture to design of all kinds. He studied under Alice Schille of Columbus, Ohio and the late Chester Nichodemes, a sculptor. He served honorably in World War II in the 1621 st model making detachment where he was attached to the 5th army and made invasion models for Italy and Southern France. And work along side of Conger Metcalf another great painter for four years during the war effort.
In 1948 after the war, Gordon started his own store fixture and design company in boston called Gordon Keith Originals, Later move to Indian lake with his sister and did plaster castings before going back to his home town (Columbus Ohio) and setting up shop, In his hay day he had a company with store in the front call Gordon Keith’s Red Barn. Many that remember the barn will remember a giant rooster by the road side and when driving down into the complex seeing a fiberglass horse and cart outside the front door, A horse head above the entrance. This was the place to buy small nick nacks like glitter, ribbon and trinkets to grandma’s porch were one could get a bit to eat or a cold soda while enjoying a country setting. A second store on Wall St next to Lazarus and even one in side the Union Company. He created the Yankee Candle risers, Macy’s 1st foor cosmetics tables risers, Henry Bendel pink chandeliers Juicy Couture Carts
And the Macy’s, Waterford Crystal millennium collection, and over 300 hundred other major department stores coast to coast and abroad.
For over 65 years Keith has designed and installed major displays in eight different countries. From Talking Tree for Lazarus 6th floor for Christmas, Including the television show Captain Kangaroo and Lucy’s Toy Shop props to the Electric Company and the Union Company. From Downtown Christmas parades and Fourth of July parades to the State Auto Nativity Scene that at one time graced our State Capital building. The lighted trees in the windows of the German Village Tower and the doll cases at 180 West Broad street were also two very notable projects. Gordon Keith is a life time member of COSI for creating and building the Street of Yesterday Year in the old COSI location, On west Broad St. Complete with hoof prints in the cement to the five cent theater and penny candy store.
If you think Mr. Keith was one to rest while on vacation, think again. Gordon traveled to Tiki Gardens in Indian Rocks Beach where he visited life-long friends Frank and Jo Byars and designed a theme park that millions toured each year complete with Tiki Gods, fire torches and a Polynesian flavor. He went to Liberty parks and designed the hound dog plush animal for their theme park that is located in Tennessee, hometown to Elvis. Long term friend, Congressman Chalmers P. Wylie had Gordon do all of his campaign headquarters, from the Statue of Liberty of his TV spots. Keith also designed the famous 12 panel fiberglass screens that still ride the train to this day and voice over for the freedom train when it was here in 1976 depicting Betty Ross to landing on the moon. Gordon has helped with and contributed to special interest groups including Pilot Dogs Inc., the Symphony Ball, ARC, and the Candy Cane Ball. Gordon’s latest venture was selling 95 of his original paintings to the Le Veque tower for there renovations in 2012
Gordon’s art and sculptures have been exhibited in museums and galleries nationwide and are in many permanent collections. Some noteworthy exhibitions occurred at the French Art Colony, in Gallipolis, Ohio, the Licking County Arts Center, Middletown Ohio, and the Schumacher Gallery, in Columbus, Ohio, Springfield Art Gallery. Gordon’s work is also included in a private collection included in the Cincinnati Union Train Terminal in Cincinnati, Ohio. Gordon worked with Steve Silken and created all the hanging train art that graced all of the hallways of the building as well as many of the store designs which still remain today.
His works have been shown at the Art Expo in New York, Columbus Museum of Fine Arts, Grant Medical Center, Springfield Museum, Southern Hotel art gallery, and the Columbus City Hall where he has sold many original pieces of work.
Hand painted murals by Gordon Keith span from Tampa FL, Hilton Hotels all the way to Algiers, Africa, Malaga, Spain, Naples, Caserta, and Rome Italy. Several of his paintings are at the Tokyo Art Gallery, Tokyo, Japan and Brenan, University Granville.
If there is such a thing as a renaissance man of the century --- this is he. Look what God has given him to create with his heart, mind and talent.