Aminah Robinson, photo courtesy of Lian Dziura (CCAD 2012)

Alumna Aminah Robinson (CCAD 1960) was inducted recently into the city of Columbus’ Hall of Fame by Mayor Michael B. Coleman.

Robinson combines traditional art materials with found objects and everyday materials such as buttons, cloth, leather, twigs, shells, and music box workings to create two-and three-dimensional works of art.

She has exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the United States and has received numerous awards and grants from arts organizations. In 2002, the Columbus Museum of Art organized a retrospective exhibition of her work that traveled throughout the country. In 2004, Robinson was awarded a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship, commonly referred to as genius grants.

Her work can be found in many private collections and in museums including the Columbus Museum of Art, the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Tacoma Art Museum, and the Newark Museum.

Robinson is now one of 50 Columbus Hall of Fame inductees, to view the full list, click here.

The show is in honor of Columbus’ bicentennial and features work acquired by collectors living in the city. More than 80 objects from 19 collections present a broad sampling of contemporary American craft.

The exhibition will be on view Sept. 9–Oct. 28, with an opening reception Sept. 8, 1–4 p.m.

Aminah Robinson

At age 71, Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson’s advice to students and other artists is simple—though perhaps surprising, given the apparently effortless visual generosity of her work. “Just never give up,” she says. “Work very hard. It can be difficult, but even with the storms, and the sun, and the rain, the work continues. Even when no one understands you for years. It is not a career. It is not something to make money with. It’s about endearing one’s community with the light God has given you.”

And endear her community she has. Robinson is nationally acclaimed for her profound artistry, her storytelling abilities, her deep understanding of history, and her utter conviction regarding how individuals and institutions are interwoven in communities. But in her hometown of Columbus, she is beloved—and the feeling is mutual. “I grew up in a community, so the connection has always been there,” she says. “So much was given to me through the others in my family and community, and the institutions in Columbus. The reason why I am able to continue is because of that.”

Born in Columbus in 1940, Robinson grew up certain that she would be an artist. Her artistic development began at the age of three under her father’s guidance. In 1955, she began taking Saturday Morning Art Classes at CCAD (then the Columbus Art School), then formally enrolled as an undergraduate in 1957. She recalls, “I grew up with tradition, and the elders in my family made sure I received it. Then, in art school, that’s when it became art. I connected the two, and they just blended automatically.” She was given an honorary master’s degree in 1991 by then-President Joseph V. Canzani.

She attributes her renowned work ethic to her time at CCAD. “As a first- and second-year student, [you]  carried 14 classes per semester. Fourteen classes! You had to work. Drawing, figure drawing, anatomy. It was law. I loved it.” These days, she rises at 4:00 a.m. to drink coffee and work on loosely painted studies, which she calls her “morning exercises.” At about 6:00 a.m. she turns to her more intensive bodies of work, continuing until 10:00 or 11:00 p.m., when she “rests.” (She never says “sleeps.”)

One of Robinson’s signature forms is the RagGonNon, which she began making while a second-year student at CCAD. RagGonNons are complex works, based in fabric but incorporating many other media, which continue to evolve over years, sometimes even decades. She describes them by saying, “It is community. It is work that comes out of a community, and it belongs to the community. That’s why it’s going to go on into the future.” One of the RagGonNons that she continues to develop (see photo) is so large that she says she has never seen the whole thing at one time. She unfolds portions to view while she creates, but it is layer upon layer of both history and hope.

In 2004, Robinson was (in her words) stunned to receive a MacArthur Fellowship, a no-strings-attached $500,000 award commonly known as the “genius grant.” The MacArthur Foundation described her work as “Homeric in content, quantity, and scale.”

Since then, her time has been very much in demand—but her lifelong discipline still serves her well. “At my age, I just say ‘no’ in a very nice way,” she says. “But before, I had to figure out different things, because nothing came between the work and me. It was [and] it is all I have to give to our future. I just feel it’s that important. There are so many bodies of work that I’ve produced since I was three, and it’s still ongoing. Hopefully it will inspire somebody, be helpful to young people, and give some hope to our future. That’s what I do.”

Media Studies alumnus Nick Burkard worked on feature film Puss in Boots

Classnotes

We do our best to get most of the news you submit to us onto the CCAD News Blog, but since there are more than 10,000 of you making news all over the world, not everything can make it into the blog. We’re glad to have another venue where we can share everything with you—this newsletter’s classnotes.

You, too, can submit classnotes via the easy-to-use form on the alumni landing page. We only post career-related successes, awards, exhibitions, and publications, but we’d also love to know when you move, get married, or have children—just use that same form.

Now, without further ado, your classnotes from June 2011 – August 2011.

Jerry W. McDaniel (CCAD, Illustration, 1957) opened an art gallery and created a process video. Read more here.

Ming Fay (CCAD, Industrial Design, 1965) marked his 20-year anniversary displaying at Butters Gallery with his exhibit Full Circle.

James Markle (CCAD, Industrial Design, 1970) presented a speech about his environmental photography at the Tahoe Art League. Read more here.

Ron Miller (CCAD, Illustration, 1970) illustrates a French youth science magazine. Read more here.

Jamie Berger (CCAD 1975-1978) was featured in a HOW magazine article detailing the rebranding and success of their printing company. Read more here.

Jon Hair (CCAD,  Advertising & Graphic Design, 1976-1978) was featured in North Carolina’s Our State magazine. Read more here.

Kate Rivers (CCAD, Fine Arts, 1977) had an exhibition in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Read more here.

Michele Householder Funk (CCAD, Illustration, 1978) has released her children’s book, The Adventures of Pete and Max and the Lost Sock. Read more here.

David Groff (CCAD, Illustration, 1979) had illustrations featured in a healthcare calendar.

Matthew Kaser (CCAD, Industrial Design, 1984) and his design firm, Kaser Design, were recently awarded another interpretive planning and design job in Texas. The newest project is the historic site Presidio de San Sabá, in Menard, Texas.

Kurt Fondriest (CCAD, Fine Arts, 1985) was included in the annual Misericordia Home group show, which was visited by more than 1,400 guests. Read more here.

Jeff Preston (CCAD, Illustration, 1985) is featured in the DVD Masters of Art: Markers with Jeff Preston. Read more here.

Edward Buchanan (CCAD, Fashion Design, 1988-1991) had his designs  featured in the spring 2011 issue of France’s Blast magazine. Read more here.

Paul Hamilton (CCAD, Illustration, 1988) received the Phil Desind Award, given annually by the Butler Institute of American Art to an outstanding representational work. Read more here.

Scott Musgrove (CCAD, Illustration, 1989) launched an online show and nearly sold out in only three weeks. Read more here.

Tracy Hayes (CCAD 1990) recently moved her design firm SKUBA Designs to a new location on New Orleans’s popular Magazine Street. Read more here.

Peter Wachtel’s (CCAD, Industrial Design, 1990) invention, STAKE, is available for presale on Quirky. Read more here.

Wendy Emrey’s (CCAD, Advertising & Graphic Design, 1991) long career influenced a new pursuit. Read more here.

Julie Abijanac (CCAD, Fine Arts, 1992) has been accepted into the Studios of Key West Artist in Residency Program for the summer 2012. Read more here.

Samantha Bennett (CCAD, Fine Arts, 1995-1999) appeared on an episode of Everyday People on TLC’s NY Ink. Find out more here.

Hiroshi Hayakawa (CCAD, Photography, 1995) showed his kinetic sculptures in a Columbus gallery. Read more here.

Susan Li O’Connor (CCAD, Fine Arts, 1996) was one of three artists featured in an exhibition at the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Carnegie Gallery. Read more here.

Sara Adrian (CCAD, Fine Arts, 1998) presented in September at FLASH!, an art show in Columbus.

Several CCAD alumni received awards at the opening of this year’s fine arts exhibition at the Ohio State Fair, including Andrew Ina (CCAD, Fine Arts, 2006), Corey Aumiller (CCAD, Media Studies, 2006), Amanda H. Cook (CCAD, Illustration, 1999), Eric Homan (CCAD, Media Studies, 1998), Brandon Antczak (CCAD, Fine Arts, 2007), and Adam Brouillette (CCAD, Fine Arts, 2002) . Find out more here.

Justin Shady (CCAD, Media Studies, 1998) interviewed Michael Altman (CCAD, Media Studies, 2000) in OC Weekly. Read more here.

Danielle Julian-Norton (CCAD, Fine Arts, 1999), a co-founder of Suite 42,  had an open-studio exhibition in Dresden, Germany. Read more here.

Michael Marucco (CCAD, Advertising & Graphic Design, 1999) has been promoted at Limited Brands, Inc., to senior art director of internet content for Victoria’s Secret Direct.

Damian Ward (CCAD, Illustration, 1999) illustrated a book written by Oscar-nominated writers. Read more here.

Anthony M. Nesossis (CCAD, Advertising & Graphic Design, 2000) recently completed a rebrand of various materials for the Educational Council. Read more here.

Brent Woodard (CCAD, Illustration, 2000) helped with a global anti-drug message. Read more and see the image here.

Paul Tepper (CCAD, Illustration, 2001) was recently featured on the cover of Columbus Alive! Read more here.

Nikos Rutowkski, (CCAD, Fine Arts, 2002) helped coordinate Franklinton’s Go West Festival, which featured work by several CCAD Alumni. Read more here.

Michelle Rozic (CCAD, Fine Arts, 2003) was appointed the new assistant professor of art at California State University, Northridge.

Cat Sheridan (CCAD, Fine Arts, 2003) was featured in a Wexner Center blog for her volunteer efforts. Read more here.

Michael Carney (CCAD, Media Studies, 2004) and John Malta (CCAD, Illustration, 2010) were both in the NY Times in August. Read more here.

Jen Chapman (CCAD, Advertising & Graphic Design, 2004) will be featured in HOW magazine in the fall of 2011 for her company Redsnapper Baby & Toddler. Read more here.

The alumni music trio of Beth Murphy (CCAD, Fine Arts, 2004), Adam Elliot (CCAD, Fine Arts, 2004), and Jared Phillips (CCAD, Fine Arts, 2004) performed at the Wexner Center and were featured in the Columbus Dispatch. Read more here.

Manjari Sharma’s (CCAD, Media Studies, 2004) latest project was featured on an NPR blog. Read more here.

Gabe Shultz (CCAD, Advertising & Graphic Design, 2004) created an experimental multimedia project and music album samples from the music of rock band Steely Dan. Read more here.

Elizabeth Weissbrod (CCAD, Illustration, 2004) was one of the featured artists in the June 2011 Hopkins Medicine magazine article “Illustrators of the Century.” Read more here.

Brian Scott Campbell (CCAD, Fine Arts, 2005) was invited to Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina as a visiting artist in September and will also be an artist in residence this fall at the McColl Center for Visual Arts in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Steven Weinzierl (CCAD, Media Studies, 2005) has been named Favorite Color’s new creative director. Read more here.

Molly Burke (CCAD, Fine Arts, 2006) recently participated in a Cleveland West Art League (CWAL) exhibition with Cleveland painter Julie Morgan. Read more  here.

Andrew Ina’s (CCAD, Fine Arts, 2006) exhibition New Frontier was recently reviewed in the Columbus Dispatch. Read more here.

Melissa (Hofelzer) Spencer (CCAD, Media Studies, 2006) designed an exhibition invite and an interactive website. Read more here.

Seven alumni, including Nate Burns (CCAD, Illustration, 2010), Travis Czekalski (CCAD, Media Studies, 2010), Julie Hall (CCAD, Fine Arts, 2010) Katie Herbst (CCAD, Media Studies, 2010), Michael Lovett (CCAD, Fine Arts 2011), Alex Moore (CCAD, Fine Arts 2011), and Kevin Smalley (CCAD, Media Studies, 2006-08) teamed up to present Fringed: A Fashionably Fine Art Exhibition in Columbus. Read more here.

Nick Burkard, (CCAD, Media Studies, 2007) Dreamworks effects animator, detailed the work he did on the upcoming film Puss in Boots. Read more here.

Michelle Dick (CCAD, Fine Arts, 2008) had her first trunk show hosted by a Columbus boutique. Read more here.

Ashley K. Alexander (CCAD, Fine Arts, 2009) published her first novel. Read more here.

Cory Cantelupe (CCAD, Illustration, 2009) is currently doing work as a freelance sculptor for Hasbro, Inc.

Navy Seaman Jessica M. Pettinger (CCAD, Interior Design, 2009) recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois.

Emily Spear (CCAD, Illustration, 2009) is finishing her first year as an associate product designer for Hasbro Inc.

Ian Horn (CCAD, Fine Arts, 2010) has found success with a new NYC business. Read more here.

Mallory McClellan (CCAD, Fine Arts, 2010) was featured in Columbus Alive! for the sculpture she built for Harrison Park in Columbus. Read more here.

Kartika Mediani (CCAD, Animation, 2010) was one of 40 college students across the country to receive a summer internship with the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation. Read more here.

Ross Caliendo (CCAD, Fine Arts, 2011) was featured in a weekly Cincinnati newspaper for his participation in an exhibition. Read more here.

Jen Hutson (CCAD, Fine Arts, 2011) has been accepted into the St. Petersburg Clay Company’s Artist in Residence Program for the 2011-2012 term.

Angela Mancuso (CCAD, Advertising & Graphic Design, 2011) was appointed as the newest art director at Peebles Creative Group. Read more on their blog.

Amy McQuillin (CCAD, Advertising & Graphic Design, 2011) was hired as the Upper Arlington’s Cultural Arts Division’s intern.

Local tech company Bluemile, ranked in 2010 by Inc. Magazine as one of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies, is featuring artwork by CCAD alumni and faculty in its New Albany office as one way to introduce visitors and other programs to the college. Read more here.

In Memoriam
Edmund Kuehn, (CCAD, Fine Arts, 1938). Read more here.
Charles (Chip) Kirker III, (CCAD, Illustration, 1971). Obituary here.
Dan (Danny) J. Schroll, (CCAD, Fine Arts, 1973). Obituary here.
Gerome Alexander, (CCAD, Advertising & Graphic Design, 1982). Obituary here.
Teresa Williams, (CCAD, Illustration, 1988). Obituary here.
Kathryn A. Gough, (CCAD, 1990). Obituary here.
Lacey L. Pope, (CCAD, Industrial Design, 2002). Obituary here.
Christine Salisbury, (CCAD, Media Studies, 2005). Obituary here.

The nominees are Fine Arts alumni Roy Doty (CCAD 1942), Kate Rhoades (CCAD 2010) and Robert Tavani (CCAD 1985), Industrial Design alumnus Matthew Kaser (CCAD 1984), and associate alumni Nathan Greno (CCAD 1996) and Aminah Robinson (CCAD 1960). Read all the nominee bios here.

The AAE will be presented Saturday, Oct. 8 during the annual Homecoming celebration, which is part of an entire weekend of events for the whole CCAD family—alumni, students, parents, and faculty and staff. Family Weekend and Homecoming is Oct. 7–9, 2011.

In addition to acknowledging the success and contributions of one very deserving person, the award is one way for the college to highlight the impact CCAD alumni have all over the world.

CCAD alumni, students, faculty, and staff can vote on the nominee of their choice  via an online poll through Monday, Aug. 15. Bios on each recipient are available on CCAD’s website, as

well as details about the award and the nomination process.

Photo courtesy of Capital Style, photographed by Will Shilling.

“Columbus artist Aminah Robinson went from a single mother on welfare to a talent whose powerful work sells for thousands and is praised around the world. Yet she still lives frugally, works tirelessly and cares only about penetrating spirits.”

In the two sentences that begin her article, “The Soulful Sage,” Capital Style’s Kristy Eckert captures our attention and reminds us why Aminah Robinson (CCAD 1960) remains such a cherished member of the arts community. The hundreds of words that follow detail her triumph over adversity and rise to the top of the art world, making it that much more powerful. It’s one of those articles that makes us sit back and say, ‘Ah, yes, this is what CCAD grads do, and, man, do they do it well.’

And it appears CCAD remains close to Robinson’s heart as well. When talking about her time at CCAD, Robinson is quoted in the piece as saying, “”I loved it—absolutely loved it. That’s when it became art.”

We can’t capture everything that Eckert wrote in her article—this is one you’ve got to read in its entirety.

Robinson has exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the United States and she has received numerous awards and grants from arts organizations. In 2002, the Columbus Museum of Art organized a retrospective exhibition of her work that traveled throughout the country. In 2004, Robinson was awarded a  prestigious MacArthur Fellowship which is given to “talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction.”

Her work is in many private collections and in many museums including the Columbus Museum of Art, the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Tacoma Art Museum and the Newark Museum.

Want to learn more about Aminah Robinson? Check out her webpage.

CCAD Fashion Design work at Port Columbus

The Columbus Regional Airport Authority and Columbus College of Art & Design are partners in an eye-catching exhibit at Port Columbus airport where mannequins are dressed in the creations of fashion design students.

“I can’t think of a better way to expose Columbus visitors and the residents of Central Ohio to the amazing talents of the fashion design students at CCAD,” said Elaine Roberts, president and CEO of the Airport Authority. “The art program at Port Columbus, which now includes this innovative exhibit, enriches the experience of more than six million travelers who use the airport every year.”

“We’re grateful for this opportunity to showcase the work of our talented students” said CCAD President Denny Griffith. “Visitors to our region, as well as our own citizens, are often amazed to discover the power and influence of CCAD’s academic programs, which in so many ways shape our culture. Through this and other art initiatives hosted by the Airport Authority, one begins to grasp the depth and texture of our art and design communities in Central Ohio.”

Together with the new fashion design exhibit, the airport art program includes exhibit space that showcases work by members of the Ohio Arts League on a rotating basis and a student art exhibit featuring all grades in the Columbus City Schools system. The Airport Authority also works with the Columbus Museum of Art, which is currently displaying two reproductions of work by Aminah Robinson (CCAD  associate ’60). The rotating exhibits are in addition to permanent pieces, the centerpiece of which is Brushstrokes in Flight by Roy Lichtenstein.