Monday, April 28, 2014

Ohio Wesleyan Hosts Quilt Display

 Ohio Wesleyan University's Richard M. Ross Art Museum
will blanket its gallery walls with art quilts from around the United
States and abroad from May 23 through July 3 when it hosts a juried show
in conjunction with the 25th annual Quilt Surface Design Symposium in
Columbus.

"We've got 66 works by 37 artists from 16 states, Israel, and Australia,"
said Tammy Wallace, first assistant at the Ross Art Museum and curator of
the upcoming "Quilted Surface" exhibit. "(The quilts) range from
super-realistic representational, to abstract, to humorous, to poignant 
including some well-known artists and artists showing for the very first
time."

Susan Shie of Wooster, Ohio, is one of the experienced artists whose work
will be exhibited. A painter, art quilter, and workshop teacher, Shie
received the Quilt National "Best in Show" Award in 1987. She since has
earned two National Endowment for the Arts' Individual Artist grants and
numerous Ohio Arts Council grants.

Wallace said the exhibit is being held as part of the 25th anniversary
celebration of the Quilt Surface Design Symposium, which will be held in
four sessions running from May 26 through June 8 at Columbus College of
Art & Design, 60 Cleveland Ave., Columbus.

Ohio Wesleyan¹s Ross Art Museum will be open for the "Quilted Surface"
exhibit Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and
Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. The museum is handicap-accessible and
admission is always free. Call (740) 368-3606 or visit
http://ross.owu.edu for more information.

For more information about the Quilt Surface Design Symposium, visit

Denison University Creates Portraits of Flint Ridge Residents


This semester, students in the “Drawing the Portrait” class at Denison University had a special opportunity to move beyond simple portraiture and get to know their subject. Residents of Flint Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center were recruited to participate in the class by talking with students a few times, as well as sitting for their portrait. The portraits will be unveiled to the residents in an exhibition titled “Parallels,” on Monday, April 28, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at a reception at Flint Ridge (1450 West Main Street, Newark). The reception is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Ron Abram at 740-587-6355 or Michele Doran at 740-587-8557, or visit Denison.edu.
                                                                               
Abram, associate professor of studio art and instructor of the class, wanted the class to evolve beyond the usual class about portraiture. He reached out to the John W. Alford Center for Service Learning at Denison to ask for their help in locating a facility where residents would appreciate conversation in addition to the opportunity to have their portrait drawn.

Doran, associate director of the Alford Center, contacted the Flint Ridge facility and received an enthusiastic yes.

“Students were able to meet with the residents two or three times and talk with them at length while creating their portrait,” said Doran, associate director of the John W. Alford Center for Service Learning.

The students will share the portraits of the residents for the first time at Monday’s reception. “Our students really embraced the opportunity to get to know their subjects,” said Abram. “And they’re very much looking forward to sharing their portraits with the residents. Even though they met just a few times, they definitely connected.”

The program is sponsored by the Spectrum Series: Real Utopias: From Dreams to Practice.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Ohio Wesleyan's Museum Joins M.A.P.


 Since it opened its doors in 2002, Ohio Wesleyan University’s Richard M. Ross Art Museum has been a local and regional destination for art lovers.

Now, Justin Kronewetter, museum director, is taking the first steps toward putting the facility on the national MAP. The museum, 60 S. Sandusky St., Delaware, recently took the Pledge of Excellence of the American Alliance of Museums and has begun completion of the alliance’s Museum Assessment Program (MAP).

“MAP is a two-part program,” said Kronewetter, M.F.A., including a highly detailed self-study workbook to be completed over four months and an onsite review by an alliance expert.

“The onsite visit will include interviews with a broad constituency and result in a written report that identifies our strengths and opportunities,” Kronewetter said. “This is an initial step on the road to achieving accreditation for the museum by the American Alliance of Museums.”

The alliance, located in Washington, D.C., works to strengthen the nation’s museum community by developing standards and best practices, by providing resources and career development, and by advocating for museums to thrive. The alliance currently supports 21,000 museums, individuals, and companies across the country.

Kronewetter said the Ross Art Museum’s Board of Advisors supports working with the alliance as it prepares for the facility’s future. When the Board meets April 26, it will help with the preparation by beginning to review and refresh the museum’s strategic plan and mission statement.

Kronewetter said he is pleased by how far the museum has come since it opened 12 years ago and wants to ensure a roadmap exists for its future after he retires and passes the baton to his successor.

“The goal of the museum has always been to create opportunities to educate people about art and to create reasons to visit the museum to view new exhibits and attend special events,” Kronewetter said, noting its opening receptions, artist talks, first Thursday celebrations, and more. “We have worked to become woven into the fabric of the university and now want to enhance our reach within the academic and museum communities beyond OWU.”

The museum’s outreach efforts already are bearing fruit. Kronewetter and first assistant Tammy Wallace learned recently the facility would receive the 2014 Outstanding Achievement Award from the Ohio Designer Craftsmen (ODC) organization.

According to the Columbus-based organization, the Ross Art Museum was chosen for award in recognition of its “record of superior exhibitions of fine craft, including many that have featured work by [ODC] members, as well as those of the Quilt Surface Design Symposium.” The Outstanding Achievement Award is the highest honor bestowed by the ODC.

Wallace will accept the award on behalf of the museum at a May 4 celebration and exhibit opening at the Ohio Craft Museum. She also is working to prepare for an upcoming exhibit of art quilts tied to this year’s 25th annual Quilt Surface Design Symposium. The Ross Art Museum exhibit, set for May 23 through July 3, will feature 55 works by 31 artists from 16 states and Israel. Hours for the special summer exhibition will be Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

In addition, Kronewetter and OWU student Catie Beach, a sophomore and fine arts major from Columbus, will help to educate middle-school and high-school students about career opportunities related to fine arts, museums, and gallery management when they are filmed May 20 for a multimedia project produced by Western Reserve Public Media. The project will be available to the 92 public school districts and 111 nonpublic schools in eight Northeast Ohio counties served by Kent-based Western Reserve Public Media.

Learn more about Ohio Wesleyan’s Richard M. Ross Art Museum online at http://ross.owu.edu or on Facebook at keyword Ross Art Museum.

Friday, April 18, 2014

Otterbein University Announces Summer Art Schedule


Leslie H. and Ethyl Rose Miller Gallery
Art and Communication Building, 33 Collegeview Rd., Westerville, OH 43081
Gallery hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1-4 p.m. on Saturday and Sundays.
Closed on holidays. For information call (614) 823-1792.

May 23-June 20
Harmony of the Spirits
Artists: Rachel Aumundson and Samantha Tribble, participants in Otterbein’s Artist-in-Residence Program.
Reception: Saturday, May 24, 3-5 p.m.


Fisher Gallery
Roush Hall, 27 S. Grove St., Westerville, OH 43081
Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. Closed on holidays. For information call (614) 823-1792.

May 28-Aug. 15
Cyanotypes: Printing with Sunlight
Artist: David Stichweh, Professor Emeritus

Monday, April 14, 2014

Wittenberg University has New Exhibit


The Wittenberg University Department of Art presents its 2014 Senior Studio Major Exhibition in Koch Hall, with an opening celebration event scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 12.

The exhibition will display the year-long thesis work of Wittenberg’s studio art majors from Saturday, April 12, through Saturday, May 17. The artwork displayed in the exhibition represents the values and goals of the Art Department, varying in content, style and media.

The exhibited artwork includes works by ceramic concentration majors overseen by Associate Professor of Art and Department Chair Scott Dooley. Students who will be presenting are Jacob Kuntz, class of 2014 from Versailles, Ky., and Anna Strecker, class of 2014 from Cincinnati, Ohio.

Painting concentration majors overseen by Associate Professor of Art Edward Charney include
Angela Chen, class of 2014 from Shanghai, China, and Carly Sparrow, class of 2013 from Springfield, Ohio.

Photography concentration majors overseen by Assistant Professor of Art Daniel McInnis include Kate Causbie, class of 2014 from Edmonds, Wash.

The Ann Miller Gallery and Thompson Gallery are open weekdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and the exhibition is open to the public, free of charge

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

2014 EVAs Winner Announced!


(L-R) Professor Johnny Coleman, Brannon Rockwell-Charland, and President Todd Jones

Last night, at Ohio Dominican University, the AICUO Award for Excellence in the Visual Arts announced the 2014 Grand Award winner. Brannon Rockwell-Charland from Oberlin College took home the Grand Award last night as well as the prize of $2,500! One of her works will also be purchased by the AICUO to be hung for a year in the governors office before staying at the AICUO office.

Denison University artist, Hunter Hughes was awarded with the People's Choice Award last night as well. He received the most votes on our public on-line voting portion of the competition.

Be sure to check out Brannon, Hunter, and all the other finalists in the May Short North Gallery Hop! On May 3rd, here is where to find our artists:

Brannon Rockwell-Charland: Sharon Weiss Gallery, 20 E. Lincoln St.

Hunter Hughes: Marcia Evans Gallery, 8 E. Lincoln St.

Kayla Malone: Sherrie Gallerie, 694 N. High St.

Brittany Lang: pm gallery, 726 N. High St.

Chloe McEldowney: Grid Furnishings, 944 N. High St.

Jesse Helmers: Grid Furnishings, 944 N. High St.

Monday, April 7, 2014

Interview with 2014 Finalist Hunter Hughes





We asked all the finalists a few questions and this is what Denison University senior, Hunter Hughes had to say:

How have you grown as an artist since coming to college?
      Being a part of a collegiate art program has allowed me the opportunity to explore as an artist through meaningful instruction and support. Strengthening relationships in the department, I have been challenged to think of art, and of the process of art creation in a different light. Since the beginning, I have developed a different relationship to the work I create and to the processes for doing so. Reflecting back, I find this process to be extremely rewarding and encouraging to see the linkages through my development.

What type of art do you look to for inspiration?
      Inspiration is a strange thing. Being a sculptor I, of course, find other sculptors to be of great influence and inspiration. In addition to this, I find the physical relationship of paintings to viewers, the incredible line variations in drawings, and the art of architecture to be just as important. Stepping away from traditional “art” I find inspiration in anything from buildings, engineering and boat building, to woodworking, and even philosophy.

How has participating in this competition helped you develop as a professional artist?
      I have found that through this competition I have been allowed the opportunity to step back from my work and view it through new eyes. Often an artist is so concentrated on the work they are doing and viewing it from the perspective of being the artist, that they forget to analyze how others might perceive the works. Furthermore, it has been a privilege to network with students from other schools, uniting together in appreciation of art. Community is an integral component to life, especially to art, and I am pleased with the opportunity afforded to me through this competition.

What are your plans after graduation with the arts?
      Art is something that is rooted deep within a person and is ever-present. Whether or not I continue creating art immediately after graduation isn’t as important as is constantly immersing myself with contemporary and classical art. 

Friday, April 4, 2014

Interview with 2014 Finalist Brannon Rockwell-Charland



How have you grown as an artist since coming to college?

I’ve learned a lot of art language--various processes and tools and media, which sounds minor but has been a big part of my learning experience. I’ve also started looking at a lot of other people’s art. Researching artists and their work has been great not only in terms of generating new ideas but in understanding my work in a historical context.  
I also underwent a huge change in the type of art that I did and what I called it. I got to college thinking of myself as a documentary photographer, and then I had this big existential art crisis where I became totally disillusioned with “documentary,” because what is documentary, really? There is so much power behind a camera that purports to be “purely documenting.” So I started working with other media--wood, hair, ink, fabric, found materials--and using myself as my own model when I took photos.  

What type of art do you look to for inspiration?

I find a lot of artistic, scholarly, and life inspiration in vernacular art--old family stories, traditional songs, legends, mythology, lost photographs, objects made by self-taught folks. Selkie, mermaid, and soucouyant legends, for example, have been huge influences in my work lately. Also, I recently read a book which catalogued excavated objects found in Carthage, Tunisia from when the Romans ruled which gave me a ton of ideas for new projects.  

How has participating in this competition helped you develop as a professional artist?

The whole process has been a great exercise in putting together a professional online application. Having to prepare a ten-project portfolio and write about my own work in a clear, concise way has been really helpful in terms of understanding and articulating my own work and how it functions. 


What are your plans after graduation with the arts?

In June I’ll be reading some of my written work at the Mixed Remixed Festival in LA, and then I’ll go to New York to intern with photographer Lyle Ashton Harris for the rest of the summer. Within the next 2 years, I hope to attend graduate school for Africana Studies and/or art. 

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Interview with 2014 Finalist Jesse Helmers


We asked all of the EVAs finalists a few questions and this is what University of Dayton's Jesse Helmers had to say:


How have you grown as an artist since coming to college? 
I would say I’ve grown considerably. Before I started on my BFA I had abandoned the arts entirely for no less than six years.


What type of art do you look to for inspiration?
I typically don’t look at other artists on purpose. I find that if I look at other artists too much my work begins to dull and retard.

How has participating in this competition helped you develop as a professional artist? Competition, be it here or somewhere else, is always a powerful driving tool for me.

What are your plans after graduation with the arts? 
I would tell you but then I would have to kill you. Murderous jokes aside, I had planned on grad school, but might end up going a different direction.

Interview with 2014 Finalist Brittany Lang


We asked all the EVAs finalists some questions and here's what Ohio Northern University's, Brittany Lang had to say:


How have you grown as an artist since coming to college?

            I have grown a lot since coming to college, especially as a designer. Originally, I came to Ohio Northern for Electrical Engineering and after a year I made the decision to switch to Graphic Design, which was a complete 180. Sure, I was creative in high school, but never really took the time to develop my skills, until I became a graphic design major. These past three years I have grown and blossomed and developed my craft. I am just beginning to understand and apply the techniques I have learned in school and am excited to see where I can go when I get some experience under my belt.

What type of art do you look to for inspiration?
            I look at all kinds of art for inspiration. Most of the time I get on Behance, Coroflot, or Dribbble and look at trends and designs that people have posted who have the same amount of experience as me or are even more experienced. In class we are always looking at well known designers such as Paula Scher and Michael Beruit for clean, tastefully done design that is famous and well known to help provide inspiration for certain projects.

How has participating in this competition helped you develop as a professional artist?
            Participating in this competition and seeing the reaction of my fellow students, professors, friends, and family, has given me a boost of confidence. I never really considered my work to be of award merit, and now that it is, it has made me proud of the work and what I have achieved since being in college. I have something to show for all my hard work and dedication towards graphic design.

What are your plans after graduation with the arts?
            I plan to work as a full-time graphic designer and eventually get my Master’s degree so I can become a professor of graphic design.