Classnotes, March 2013

We do our best to get most of the news you submit to us onto the CCAD News Blog, but because 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 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 December, January, and February!

Tim Rietenbach ’77, Joel Gundlach ’86, David Burghy ’89, and Danielle Julian Norton ’99 showed their work in a CCAD faculty exhibition at Columbus’ Cultural Arts Center. Read more here.

Jamie Berger ’78 curated PUSH Print, a book on contemporary printmaking published by Lark Crafts. Read more here.

Paul Emory ’78, Ellen O’Connell Bazzoli ’83, Alex Conrad MFA ’12, Nicole Crock MFA ’12, and Virginia Kistler MFA ’12 showed their work in the Ohio Art League Curated Exhibition, presented at the Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery. Read more here.

Richard Cowdrey ’81 illustrated the re-released children’s book The Legend of the Candy Cane. Read more here.

Joel Gundlach ’86 designed new starting blocks for New Albany High School’s natatorium. Read more here.

Ed Valentine ’91 and Michael Stillion ’02 had exhibitions at Linda Warren Projects in Chicago. Read more here.

Julie Abijanac ’92 had her piece Disease Mapping selected for the Fiberart International 2013 exhibition. Read more here.

Anthony Weiler ’94, Annie Weihrauch ’03, Hazel Tarr ’07, and Maggy O’Reilly VanOrder ’09 are participants in CCAD’s MindMarket Incubator. Read more here.

Benjamin Lane ’96 is now a story artist at Disney Feature Animation Studio in Burbank, CA.

Daniel King ’00 was featured in Temporary Art Review discussing his artistic career and inspiration. Read more here.

Anne Holman ’02 had a busy winter full of exhibitions and art sales. Read more here.

Mariana Smith ’02 showed work in exhibitions from the East Coast to the West Coast. Read more here.  She also had her piece Untitled (After Tarkousky Stalker) in the 34th Bradley International Print and Drawing Exhibition, hosted by Bradley University, Peoria, IL. Read more here.

Brian Williams ’03 had an illustration featured in ARTnews. Read more here.

Lea Gray ’04 and Eric Jefferson ’04 were featured in Alive!, a weekly magazine that covers events and culture in Columbus, OH. Read more on Gray here and Jefferson here.

Sean Conner ’05, Nate Reese ’05, Chris Meister ’06, Andrew Mark ’07, Scott Ulliman ’10, and Chavilah Bennett ’12 took home Columbus Society of Communicating Arts (CSCA) Creative Best Awards for their work with S77, a motion graphics company in Columbus, OH. Read more here.

Joaquin Baldwin ’06 was a juror for the 40^th Annual Annie Awards. Read more here.

Andrew Ina ’06 received a Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) Individual Art Fellowship in Media Arts this year. Read more here.

Boryana Rusenova Ina ’06 was in two group exhibitions in Michigan. Read more here.

Brent Payne ’06 was included in two juried exhibitions in Ohio. Read more here. He was also had work in an exhibition hosted by Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, TX. Read more here.

Michelle Dick ’08 is now working as an interior designer with Organized Home Remodeling, in Columbus, OH.

Brian Uhl ’08 had a solo exhibition at Static Age Gallery in Cincinnati. Read more here.

Steve Hubbard ’10 worked on animations for the movie Life of Pi. Read more here.

John Malta ’10 had his third illustration published in The New York Times. Read more here.

Kerry Kunze ’11 showed work in a group exhibition at Mount Vernon University. Read more here.

Alex Conrad MFA ’12, Nicole Crock MFA ’12, Leah Fisher ’12, and Crystal Tursich MFA ’12 had work included in the 13^th annual ImageOhio exhibition organized by Roy G Biv Gallery. Read more here.

Amanda Rouse MFA ’12 had a busy exhibition schedule including three juried and two group exhibitions. Read more here.

“The Legend of the Candy Cane” cover, illustrated by Richard Cowdrey

Alumnus Richard Cowdrey (CCAD 1981) illustrated the re-released children’s book The Legend of the Candy Cane.

Written by Lori Walburg, the book was originally released 15 years ago and talks about the Christian symbolism behind the popular candy cane. Its publisher, Zonderkidz, decided to re-release it with updated illustrations by Cowdrey.

“The setting is more turn of the century, and the colors are bright and engaging,” said Walburg in an online article. “In addition, most of the illustrations feature a cat, a dog, and a mouse; so many small children will enjoy finding their furry friends in each spread.”

Cowdrey is known for his children’s book illustrations, including the New York Times #1 bestseller Bad Dog, Marley! He has worked with top publishers including Scholastic, Harper Collins, McGraw Hill, Penguin, and more.

Classnotes, December 2012 Issue

We do our best to get most of the news you submit to us onto the CCAD News Blog, but because 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 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 September, October, and November 2012.

Aminah Robinson ’60 was inducted into the city of Columbus’ Hall of Fame. Read more here.

Aminah Robinson ’60 and Linda Fowler ’74 participated in the Ohio Craft Museum’s exhibition Columbus Collects Fine Crafts. Read more here.

Joan Hall ’74 had a solo exhibition at Bruno David Gallery in St. Louis, MO. Read more here.

CV Mansoor ’77 exhibited work at the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati. Read more here.

Dean Mitchell ’80 had an exhibition with Cutter & Cutter Fine Art in St. Augustine, FL. The exhibition also featured an article written by Walter King ’81. Read more here.

Salli Swindell ’81, co-creater of They Draw & Cook, had her illustrated cookbook reviewed in Gastronomic magazine. Read more here.

Jenny Vogt ’81 exhibited her series The Nature of Birds at the Village Hall Gallery of Arts in Bartlett, IL. Read more here.

Helen Hoffelt ’82, Rachel Girard Reisert ’02, Lian Dziura ’12, Cosby Lindquist ’12, and Crystal Tursich ’12 participated in a monthlong photography event in Cincinnati, OH. Read more here.

Kurt Fondriest ’85 was part of a group exhibition at the Life Force Arts Center in Chicago, IL. Read more here.

Hiroshi Hayakawa ’85 was featured in the fifth annual edition of the magazine Diffusion: Unconventional Photography. Read more here.

Lisa Horkin ’85, Susan Li  O’Connor ’96, Anne Holman ’02, Jennifer Deafenbough ’04, Joseph Lombardo ’06, Chris Harman ’12, and Jack Ramunni ’12 received Supply Grants from the Greater Columbus Arts Council. Read more here.

Christopher Madden ’87 works as a journeyman banknote engraver at the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Read more here.

Kirsten Bowen ’89, Clint Davidson ’00, Nikos Fyodor Rutkowski ’02, Daric Gill ’04, Lea Gray ’04, Adam Crum ’06, Christopher Tennant ’06, Joel Atkinson ’09, and Julia McCann ’11 participated in Urban Scrawl, an annual festival in the Franklinton neighborhood of Columbus. Read more here.

Christopher Cole ’89 became the Senior VP/Creative Director for the Sprint wireless at Leo Burnett-Chicago.

Richard Mills ’89 participated in the Ashes to Art Project, an art auction benefiting volunteer fire departments in Colorado that were affected by wildfires in 2012. Read more here.

Kaname Takada ’89 and Julie Abijanac ’92 received awards for their work exhibited in the Zanesville Museum of Art’s 68^th Annual Ohio Show. Read more here.

Kurt Lightner  ’93 participated in the group exhibition Assembly 2012 at Edward Thorp Gallery in New York City. Read more here.

David Breaux ’94 had a busy year, working on productions including Terra Nova, Hunger Games, Tron: Legacy, and Iron Man 2. Read more here.

Phil Hastings ’94 is the recipient of a New York Foundation for the Arts Artist Fellowship in Film and Video. Read more here.

Jason Goad ’96 created a pair of limited edition sunglasses for Anarchy Eyewear. Read more here.

Susan Li O’Connor ’96 is part of a group exhibition at Steinhilber Art Gallery in Madison, WI. Read more here.

Susan Li O’Connor ’96 and Mariana Smith ’02 were selected for GCAC’s Dresden Residency Program. Read more here.

John Urbano ’96 received two VMAs for the music video he directed for the band One Direction. Read more here.

Kate Labmeier ’02 and Michael Stillion ’02 exhibited their work at Marshall University’s Birke Art Gallery. Read more here.

Nikos Fyodor Rutkowski ’02 and Corey Aumiller ’06 placed in the Columbus Arts Pop-Up Project (CAP-UP). Read more here.

Nikos Fyodor Rutkowski ’02 created and installed a volcano wall at a tiki bar in Columbus, OH. Read more here.

Mariana Smith ’02 exhibited her work at Swing Space Gallery at Ohio State University; read more here. She also had an exhibition at Hammond Harkins Galleries in Columbus, OH; read more here.

Brian Williams ’03 was featured in Map Magazine, an arts and culture magazine based in Australia. Read more here.

Shannon Bonatakis ’04 had a solo exhibition, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, at Rivet, a designer toy and fine art gallery in the Short North, Columbus’ arts district. Read more here.

Manjari Sharma ’04 showed her work in a group exhibition, Social Order: Photographs from Iran, India, and Afghanistan in Seattle, WA. Read more here.

Holly Koskinen ’05 won an American Graphic Design Award. Read more here.

Joseph Lombardo ’06 has a solo exhibition at Art Access Gallery in Bexley, OH through Jan. 9. Read more here.

Michelle Dick ’08 is now working as an art teacher with After-School All-Stars, an after-school program for students in Columbus City Schools.

Evens Joseph ’09 was a featured artist in Juxtapoz magazine. Read more here.

Krista Peterson ’09 received a full-tuition scholarship to DePaul University for graduate study in the field of Human Computer Interaction. Read more here.

Kartika Mediani ’10 had work in the graphic novel One Drop. Read more here.

Amanda C. VanDenberg ’10 showed work in a group exhibition at the Little Art Gallery in North Canton, OH. Read more here.

Elena Harvey Collins ’12 had her video When They’re Gone, They’re Gone in an exhibition at Roy G Biv gallery in Columbus, OH. Read more here.

Nathan Gorgen ’12 and Elena Harvey Collins ’12 participated in Shifting Margins, a group exhibition put on by OFF Space in San Francisco. Read more here.

Jessica Miera ’12 is a concept artist for Animation Hero, an independent animation studio located in Columbus, OH. She is also working part time as an assistant film editor at HotBed Media LLC in Bexley, OH.

Ring designed by alumna Anne Holman

Fine Arts alumna and adjunct faculty Anne Holman (CCAD 2002) has a busy winter schedule full of exhibitions and art sales.

Holman’s jewelry is included in the Columbus Museum of Art’s Trade-O-Mat exhibition through Jan. 6.

The exhibition features a constantly changing showcase of local artists’ work. Museum visitors can fill out a card listing what they would trade for an item in the show (think other artwork, recipes, lawn mowing services, etc.). When the artist’s work is switched out of the show, the artist collects the requests and gets in touch with a selected trader.

Holman will also be participating in the Buyers Market of American Craft, Feb. 16–18 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. This is a wholesale show exclusively for merchandise made in America. It is designed to help artists expand and establish their studio businesses, build their brands, and grow as entrepreneurs.

Holman recently participated in the 12th annual One of a Kind Show and Sale Chicago®, Dec. 6–9 at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. This was her third time participating in the Chicago event that showcases the work of more than 600 U.S. artists.

Cover of the illustrated cookbook “They Draw & Cook,” co-created by alumna Salli Swindell

The illustrated cookbook They Draw & Cook, co-created by Fashion Design alumna Salli Swindell (CCAD 1981) and her brother Nate Padavick, was reviewed in Gastronomic, a magazine that discusses food and culture.

The idea for They Draw & Cook originated from Swindell and Padavick’s website, which is a platform for artists to submit their illustrated recipes ranging from simple family traditions to more complex and elaborate dishes. They then decided to publish a cookbook featuring 107 of the website’s illustrated recipes.

The review of the cookbook appeared in the fall 2012 issue of Gastronomic.

“Here is a cookbook that Andy Warhol would have enjoyed,” the reviewer Stefanie S. Jandl said. “The presentation of the recipes is as diverse as the dishes; they are witty and whimsical, serious and sophisticated, and sometimes deeply personal.”

Read the full review here.

The cookbook is available through retailers such as amazon and Barnes & Noble for purchase.

Fellow Illustration alumnus and CCAD Professor Walter King (CCAD 1981) has written an essay that will be used in the exhibition materials—”Dean Mitchell: Easy in His Own Skin” explores Mitchell’s artistic career and the continued friendship between the two alumni. The essay first appeared on absolutearts.com, an online art community.

Mitchell is best known for his watercolor figurative works, landscapes, and still lifes. He has been featured in numerous publications, including the New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, American Artist, Artist Magazine, Fine Art International, and Art News. His art can be found in corporate and museum collections across the country.

Arts in Bartlett is a nonprofit organization whose main goal is to increase access to the arts in the community by hosting an array of events and exhibitions.

2011 AAE recipient Nathan Greno (right), accepting award from Denny Griffith (left)

Sixteen distinguished Columbus College of Art & Design alumni have been nominated for the 2012 Joseph V. Canzani Alumni Award for Excellence (AAE). Nominees range from a fashion knitting queen to a Pixar storyboard artist and an art therapy director to an internationally recognized fine artist.

The nominees are Bryan Ballinger ( CCAD 1990), Charlotte Belland (CCAD 1997), Samantha Bennett (CCAD 1995–1999), Sean Blanton (CCAD 2011), Roy Doty (CCAD 1942), Nicky Epstein (CCAD 1974), Michael Flechtner (CCAD 1981), Scott Hull (CCAD 1977), Matthew Kaser (CCAD 1984), Jon Hair (CCAD 1976–1978), Catherine Hyland Moon (CCAD 1978), Paitoon Ratan (CCAD 1993), William D. Ray (CCAD 1992–1994), Benjamin Roseland (CCAD 2005), Dan Scanlon (CCAD 1998), and Charles Wilkin (CCAD 1992). Read the nominee bios here.

The AAE will be presented on Saturday, Oct. 13, during Family Weekend & Homecoming. This event is part of an entire weekend of events for the whole CCAD family, including alumni, students, parents, faculty, and staff.

Each year CCAD accepts nominations for AAE as a way to acknowledge not only the success and contributions of one very deserving graduate, but also the impact CCAD alumni have all over the world. Alumni are currently voting on the finalists, after which a committee will review the nominees and choose the recipient. To learn more about the nomination and voting process, click here.

CCAD alumni pictured in front of the Disney Animation Studios

Disney Animation has created beloved movies such as Tangled, Winnie the Pooh, and Bolt, and CCAD alumni have worked on story boarding, sketching, and programming for all of these hit features. We got a chance to talk to seven of our graduates about what it’s like to work with CCAD peers in this creative environment.

Meet Director Nathan Greno (Illustration 1993–1996), Story Artist Ben Lane (Illustration 1996), Character Designer Chris Oatley (Illustration 2001), Story Artist Ryan Green (Media Studies 2003), Story Artist Fawn Veerasunthorn (Media Studies 2005), CG Layout Artist Joaquin Baldwin (Media Studies 2006), and Stereoscopic Artist Trainee Darren Simpson (Media Studies 2011).

Q)  What is it like to work with other CCAD alumni?

Nathan Greno (NG): For me, it’s always a pleasure to be working with CCAD alumni. CCAD teaches a strong work ethic and a strong work ethic, gets the job done on time.

Ben Lane (BL): It’s a bit like old soldiers who can share war stories of late nights, rubylith, and scars from dull X-Acto blades. We grumble about the young punks who have it so easy these days with them computers, unseasonably warm winters, and the ability to tote their entire portfolio on miniscule flash drives. In all seriousness, it’s nice to have a common background with people, especially when starting a new job in LA. It’s comforting to know there are people who have been in the same trenches.

Chris Oatley (CO): The CCAD alumni who have made it to Disney are top talent. Ryan Green and Fawn Veerasunthorn are not only some of my best friends at the studio, but they are also some of the most talented people I know. It’s ridiculous and inspiring.

Ryan Green (RG): I feel that we have a bond, not just because we came from the same school, but because the animation jobs we wanted were unfortunately in a city other than Columbus. We all had to venture away from home, a little naive of the rules of the LA animation industry. Some of us had more roundabout career paths than others, but in the end, we kept learning and making connections until we were finally invited into the Disney family. By the nature of our school’s distance from LA, every CCAD animation student who wants to work for Disney will have to deal with a similar journey, and I think all alumni are aware and empathetic to that fact.

Fawn Veerasunthorn (FV): Most of the people I work with went to school in southern California, so I feel this instant bond whenever I meet another CCAD alum working at Disney or other studios. It is a small group of us, but a strong one. Even if we’re from various majors, we all fought through the same tough foundation year that allowed us to be where we are today.

Joaquin Baldwin (JB): Because we are all in different departments, I don’t really work directly with any other CCAD alumni. It’s great to know that they are around in the same studio.

Darren Simpson (DS): It’s exciting knowing that there are people in the same building that graduated from the same college. I have a friend here in particular that graduated the same year as me, and we were roommates freshman year. To eventually reconnect in a professional environment is very nice.

Q)  Why do you think Disney Animation has a lot of CCAD alumni?

NG: CCAD focuses on teaching the fundamentals. Every artist that works at the Disney Animation Studios need a strong fundamental structure to succeed. It’s been over a decade since I attended classes at CCAD, but what I learned there I use every day. The technology will change over the years, but the fundamentals stay the same.

BL: CCAD has a great program. Any artist could benefit from the foundation year alone. I think Disney recognizes that quality in the students and sees the school as a good source to draw its future employees.

CO: Disney Animation is still all about strong drawing and painting. If you submit a portfolio to Disney, people will go nuts for beautiful life drawings or plein air paintings. A high value is placed on classical art skill because it’s an inextricable part of the Disney legacy, regardless of the pervasive obsession with [Computer Graphics].

RG: Disney artists who come from CCAD embody the school’s foundation program. These individuals have found strength in their drawing, painting, or design skills and deliver high-quality craftsmanship on the job.

FV: CCAD focuses so much on the strong foundation in drawing, color, and design. Those are very important skills to have regardless of the department you’re working for. Not many schools emphasize them. Technology will always be changing, but the principles you learned from color concept classes will always be relevant in your career.

JB: I have no clue! I think it’s all due to random chance, depending mostly on the amount of available positions. Our studio has been hiring a lot of new people lately.

DS: There are a lot of passionate artists from CCAD doing many great things. I feel that having a desire to be in your respective profession will get you anywhere you want to be.

Q)  Any advice for current students or fellow alumni who want to become involved with Disney?

NG: It takes a lot of hard work to become an artist at the Disney Animation Studios. It’s not easy to get in the door, but it’s a goal worth fighting for. At Disney it’s possible to create films that will be loved worldwide. Tangled is a film I will be proud of for the rest of my life. Our animated films inspire toys, theme park rides, and attractions. It’s an amazing place to work. Aim high and never stop fighting for your goals.

BL: Many people who work in the animation industry, including some of Disney’s best artists, have websites, post on twitter, and regularly blog. Google search these guys and study their work, read what they have to say, contact them (if their contact info is readily available), and get their opinion of your work. The only caveat I would add is that they may not respond—these guys are busy. If you don’t hear anything, don’t get discouraged, but don’t become a pest, either. Also, start a website, or a blog or anything accessible via the internet. It doesn’t entirely replace having a portfolio, but it comes in handy when getting opinions of your work.

CO: Do great work and be great to work with. Every investment of time, money, and energy that you make as a professional artist should be in service of one or both of these goals. So the next time you start to get overwhelmed or depressed, just ask yourself:  Is this (time, energy, emotional, financial) investment helping me to focus on one of the two principles for success in the industry?

RG: Get personally involved with artists who do what you want to do. Be proactive. Use the internet to your advantage. If you want to be a Disney story artist, find a current Disney story artist’s website, study his/her work, and email him/her questions about what it takes to get into that specific position. Show your work and ask for a brutally honest critique. If that professional feels you’re not quite up to par yet, then make new samples and get a new critique in a few months. Ultimately, keep communicating with professionals and don’t stop making new art.

FV: The internet has opened up a new world full of great references to study. I’d recommend for students to look up artist’s blogs that are currently working in the industry, and don’t be shy to ask for their advice. Lastly, keep on practicing and never be discouraged by rejections.

JB: Definitely try for the talent development program. I would say it’s even better than being hired regularly, because they train you, give you tons of free classes, have you meet other departments and great people, and they pay you for it all. It’s also easier to get in since they expect you to prove yourself once in, rather than depend entirely on previous work experience like most of the other standard positions.

DS: It’s not required, but it helps living close to the studios. I think being around the studios and creative people fuels creativity further. Also, be persistent when trying to achieve a goal, and be open minded. You will never know which skill of yours will eventually get your foot in the door—It took me by surprise.

Q)  Why do you love your job/working in a creative environment?

NG: I can’t imagine not working in a creative environment. I don’t have an easy job, but I have a very rewarding one. I can’t imagine doing anything else in the world. I’ve been at Disney Animation for 16 years. There’s no other place I’d rather work.

BL: I love working with like-minded people. It’s amazing to be surrounded by so many artists who are passionate about animation, telling stories, and creating entertainment. The caliber of talent at Disney is humbling, and I can’t help but be inspired to be a better artist.

CO: I make a living from my imagination. It’s what I was born to do, so the privilege to do that 24/7 is overwhelmingly awesome. I’m also a people person. Some folks are made to go off into the woods, live life in a log cabin and paint lakes—that’s not me. I am made to collaborate, encourage, challenge, argue, etc. So to be released to just be myself in an environment where I can learn from and be challenged by everyone…well, it’s a dream come true.

RG: Animation is a collaborative medium, especially at a studio like Disney. For me, doing my art amongst creative peers is not only inspiring and informative, but in a racehorse kind of way, keeps me focused on being the best I can be, offering the best solutions for our films.

FV: Disney Animation has a long line of legacy and knowledge that has been passed along from one generation to the next. I learn so much from my colleagues each day, and they inspire me to be better at my craft.

JB: I feel like I can provide a lot of creative input into the films we are making. There is a hierarchy here, but it doesn’t mean that only the directors and producers have a say on it all. I tend to be very vocal and push new ideas. I feel that if I was just creating the shots that I was assigned to without questioning them, I’d get bored very quickly.

DS: I love it because I get to be creative. In any creative environment with passionate people, you will get sucked up in a whirlwind of creative magic—and it feels great.

Q) What past experiences do you share and remember from being a student at CCAD? How has this impacted your professional career?

NG: CCAD really taught me the importance of getting the job done on time and putting the most into everything I do. I learned work ethic and skills at CCAD that I apply every day at the studio. Without CCAD, my artistic toolbox would be empty. I owe a lot to all of my instructors at CCAD. I worked hard while I was in Columbus, and my reward has been a successful career at the Disney Animation Studios.

BL: I had to explore a few different directions in art before settling on animation. CCAD exposed me to many different artistic paths and helped me discover where I wanted to go. Specifically, Ron Saks’ class on storyboarding opened my eyes to an exciting new world that I had never considered before.

CO: When I was at CCAD, the animation industry was getting turned upside-down by the likes of Woody, Buzz, and Shrek. Meaning, CG [Computer Graphics] was changing everything and art schools everywhere were trying to figure it out. The internet wasn’t really “The Internet” yet, so information moved more slowly. My teachers at CCAD knew something that has been proven true in my life over and over and over, that regardless of what changes are happening in any area of commercial art, the art part should always be your main focus. CCAD taught me to set unreachable high standards for myself and to focus on drawing and painting above all else. It took me six years to break into the industry, but ever since then I haven’t had a single day without work. I owe a great deal of that consistent success to CCAD. CCAD is unlike many art schools in that they don’t chase software trends. They focus on drawing, painting, color, composition, etc. That’s the important stuff. That’s the stuff that will get you through the long haul.

RG: Around my junior year, the Media Studies department invited Dr. Stuart Sumida, a paleontologist and animal locomotion expert, to give an intensive seminar at our school. In his “You Are What You Eat” presentation, he broke down and defined the differences between herbivores and carnivores and how their anatomy affects their movement and behavior. Fast forward to my current Disney project, a movie involving a fictitious animal. In what started as a casual conversation with my director about this animal’s movement, I was eventually asked to create a presentation for the team that would clarify how this animal would move and what features needed to be changed so the character would be more believable to the audience.

FV: During my junior year at CCAD, I took Mr. Tardino’s illustration class, despite being a Media Studies major. I learned so much about character development and story, that I went back and took it again the next semester. The knowledge I gained then has been very helpful to me as a story artist today.

JB: I remember a lot of cheap ramen. I remember freezing my butt off. I remember cleaning the ceramics lab as a student worker, and growing clay stalactites in my nostrils. I also remember picking the hard teachers on purpose so I’d be pushed harder, and always trying to do a bit more than what any assignment asked for. I think that CCAD was as much about learning art concepts and skills as it was about learning to be self dependent and self driven. In a creative work environment they look for people that can handle the tools well, but that are also able to take initiative and improve the tool set and quality of the work.

DS: Foundation year. We all have our own experiences and memories from foundation year, but it was a huge stepping stone for me. I learned a lot about so much, and I still have a lot of learning and growing to do. I’m always trying to better myself and discover/learn new ideas, techniques, etc.

Check out our alums’ websites for more information:
Ben Lane
Chis Oatley
Ryan Green and Fawn Veerasunthorn have Bluefoot Studios
Joaquin Baldwin
Darren Simpson

Richard Cowdrey’s illustration for the children’s book “Searching for the You We Adore”

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 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 March, April, and May 2012.

Eileen Mueller Neill ’65 had an exhibition, Imaginaries, at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside’s Fine Arts Gallery. Read more here.

Richard Cowdrey ’81 illustrated Searching for the You We Adore, written by Valerie Westfall. Read more here.

Janet Sopp-Sims ’85 was a finalist in the 2012 Hunting Art Prize. Read more here.

Anthony Baker ’86 presented at a conference about the importance of art in the classroom. Read more here.

Creative Arts of Women (CAW) members Helma Groot ’89, Roxanne Smith-Mansell ’87, Kristin Morris ’94–’02, Mary Ann Crago ’95, and Cat Sheridan ’03 were in a group exhibition honoring Women’s History Month. Read more here.

Richard Hughes ’88–’95 was chosen to create a poster for the eighth annual Art Affair on the Square in Urbana, OH. Read more here.

Don Slobodien ’88 earned first place in the Art at the Arnold competition. Read more here.

Chris Cosnowski ‘92 had a solo exhibition at Lyons Wier Gallery in New York City. Read more here.

Daniel Hopper ’94 had a chandelier chosen to be displayed in Coup d’Etat, a design showroom in San Francisco.

Jason Moore ’96 was named to Columbus Business First’s 40 under 40 2012 Honorees list. Read more here.

Danielle Julian Norton ’99 was in a group exhibition in New Jersey. Read more here.

Nicole Bruckman ’00 co-curated Cella Gallery’s exhibition Femme Fatale in North Hollywood. Read more here.

Irina Grebennik ’02 exhibited work in the  Orville J. Hanchey Gallery at Northwestern State University in the Inaugural 40 under 40 show.

Michael Bonardi ’04 had a solo exhibition in Columbus, OH. Read more here.

Eliza Kinkz ’04 premiered her film Chocolate Milk at the 2012 South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Film Conference and Festival. Read more here.

Michael Litzau ’04 was offered a two-week residency at Ragdale in Illinois. Read more here.

Steve Weinzierl ’05 became the creative director at Favorite Color in New York City.

Anna Porreca ’06 was hired as an apparel graphic designer for Victoria’s Secret Pink in New York City.

John O’Reilly ’07 had his first solo exhibition at RH Gallery in New York City. Read more here.

These are Things, founded by Jen Adrion ’08 and Omar Noory ’08, was featured in two trade publications (read more here) and was used as a case study for a New York Times bestselling author’s book (read more here).

Ashley K. Alexander ’09 published her second novel, The Hanged Man’s Ghost. Read more here.

Annie Kocher ’09 was featured in Alive! Read more here.

Rachel Ridgley ’10 had her photography and personal story featured in Wolfdogs magazine. Read more here.

Mason Miller ’11 was hired as a graphic designer for Big Red Rooster, a multidimensional brand experience firm.

Pallavi Sen ’11 was awarded the Lifchez/Stronach nine-month, paid curatorial internship with the Antonio Ratti Textile Center of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Read more here.

Earrings created by Mark Burleigh

The CCAD Spring Art Sale is here again and not only are we getting excited, but our vendors are also waiting with anticipation to show off their hard work. On April 14, 2012 more than 100 students, alumni, faculty & staff will sell their work in the Loann Crane Center for Design on April 14, 2012.

The sale provides an excellent way for visitors to purchase unique artwork produced by the talent at CCAD. An array of items can be found including jewelry, paintings, ceramics, glass, scarves, clothing, prints, homemade cards, and much more. CCAD artists and designers prep for the sale weeks in advance and are already set to go.

Mark Burleigh, assistant professor and Advertising & Graphic Design alumnus, will be selling silver and metal jewelry including earrings, brooches, pendants, and bracelets.

“This will be my second time participating in the CCAD Art Sale, and I am excited not only to sell my work, but also to show students and faculty a new side of me,” Burleigh said.

"Tuk," an illustration by Isuri Hewage

Burleigh has been working with silver for the past 30 years. He began after attending a Revolutionary War reenactment and talking to a silversmith there who sparked his interest. Burleigh regularly works with antique  hand-hammered silver and beads that were used for trade in the early 19th century.

“I will take a 200-year-old trade bead and wrap it in silver to create a bracelet,” Burleigh said.  “I like mixing these separate eras and worlds. I think it is important to have a piece that tells a story.”

CCAD Illustration senior Isuri Merenchi Hewage will be selling prints of her illustrations at the sale. This is her third art sale, and she has gotten the routine down pat.

“I think vendors get a lot of good exposure by selling work at the sale,” Hewage said. “I like seeing what artwork other artists have brought, and I get the chance to meet new people who are interested in art, just like I am.”

The CCAD Spring Art Sale begins at 9 a.m. with first choice admission ($50) and general admission ($5) beginning at 10:30 a.m. Click here for more information on the sale.

First-place winner for TDAC, Evan Thomas' illustration "Past Spa"

Studio SSS, founder of the popular websites They Draw and Travel (TDAT) and They Draw and Cook (TDAC) recently announced the winners of their CCAD student competition for Illustration majors.

TDAT and TDAC were created by a brother/sister design team of Fashion Design alumna Salli Swindell (CCAD 1981) and Nate Padavick.

Swindell came to CCAD in February 2012 to lecture as part of the Visiting Artists Series. While here, she announced a competition. Students were encouraged to enter their illustrations into one or both of the sites; the top three designs would receive a cash prize.

First-place winner for TDAT, Emily Lockwood's illustration "A Climbers Guide: Red River Gorge, Kentucky"

“Not only is it a great exercise for people who enjoy drawing, but it is also a career opportunity, since we have had many professionals contact [our sites'] illustrators to do freelance work,” Swindell said during her visit.

The company received more than 70 entries for the contest and had an outside judge to choose three winners and three runners-ups. They Draw and Travel was judged by illustrator Steve Mack, who blogs regularly for Illustration Friday. Sophomore Emily Lockwood took first place, junior Jesus Walle took second, and junior Cody Hanes took third. The three runner-ups were sophomore Andrew Pena, freshman Sichong Xie, and junior Melissa Hiat.

They Cook and Draw was judged by the CEO of Flourish Agency, Inc., Christopher Ferranti, and his team. First place went to junior Evan Thomas, second place went to senior Isuri Merenchi Hewage, and third place went to senior Monica Cronin. Runner-ups were included sophomores Samuel Veirs, Alesha Williams, and Sherlann Lewandowski.

Artists from around the world have submitted their illustrated recipes and/or maps to the TDAC and TDAT sites. After receiving hundreds of submissions, the design team published their first cookbook last year, which includes illustrations from artists around the world.

They Draw and Travel winning entries can be viewed here and They Draw and Cook entries here.

Cowdrey's illustration for "Searching for the You We Adore"

Alumnus Richard Cowdrey (CCAD 1981) illustrated the recently published book Searching for the You We Adore, written by Valerie Westfall.

The children’s book celebrates parents’ love  as they search the world for a child they dream of adopting. The illustrations represent the love of the parents as a red ribbon traveling the world. The reader will see anything from pandas in Asia to polar bears in Antarctica covering the pages.

The Illustration alumnus is known for his children’s book illustrations, including the New York Times #1 bestseller Bad Dog, Marley! He has worked with top publishers including Scholastic, Inc., Harper Collins, McGraw Hill, Penguin, and more.

AOI poster created by junior Wes Talbott

CCAD’s annual Art of Illustration (AOI) exhibition opens March 3 at Rivet Gallery in Columbus’ Short North arts district.

The student-produced exhibition is in its 15^th year and is part of a collegewide illustration competition that is juried by local professional illustrators.

The exhibition, which used to be shown on CCAD’s campus, moved to Rivet Gallery last year. The exhibition will once again debut during Gallery Hop, a first-Saturday-of-every-month event in the Short North.

“We wanted to showcase the best illustrative work created by students of CCAD and give them a chance to have their work exhibited in a gallery off campus,” said Brianne Schulze, a student organizer of AOI. “This is our second year working with Laura Kuenzli at Rivet Gallery, and she has been a big help to us throughout the entire process and in giving the exhibited artists an opportunity to sell their work.”

This year the show is organized by four Illustration students: seniors Lexie Holliday and Brianne Schulze, and juniors Andrew Thompson and Wes Talbott. Advisors are Professors Stewart McKissick (CCAD 1979) and Walter King (CCAD 1981) and Chair of Illustration Chris Payne.

Left to right: Chris Seaman, Jeff Carlisle, Lora Innes, Chris Payne, Adam Watkins, and Maxe Smith

The panel of judges included alumni Lora Innes (CCAD 2002, Media Studies), Chris Seaman (CCAD 2000, Illustration), Adam Watkins (CCAD 2004, Illustration), Maxe Smith (CCAD 2009, Illustration), and Jeff Carlisle (CCAD 1997, Illustration). They evaluated 190 submissions, narrowing the pool down to 41 accepted illustrations for the show.

Awards will be given for first, second, and third place. Six pieces were also chosen as  judges’ picks and will receive awards. The show is sponsored by Chipotle, Starbucks, r designs & printing, Noodles and Co., Dick Blick Art Materials, Kroger, and Giant Eagle.

Art of Illustration will open March 3 at Rivet Gallery, 1200 N. High St., with a reception from 7–10 p.m., during which awards will be given. The show will run through March 28, 2012.

Family Weekend & Homecoming October 7 & 8

One festive weekend, one big blow out, and one fabulous Homecoming committee to welcome alumni back to campus.

Chances are you already know the committee members, but allow us to introduce them.  (And please, RSVP to let them know you’ll be on campus Oct. 7-8.)

Illustration alumna Estella Hickman is a 1972 graduate.

A second Illustration alumna, Evangelia Philippidis, is an active member of the class of 1981. In addition to her Homecoming contributions, she is pitching in to assist with the 1974 class reunion.

Marcia Tabler majored in Advertising & Graphic Design, graduating in 1974.

Another Advertising & Graphic Design alum is Jeff Stahler, class of 1977.

The committee member with the shortest “alum” status is David E. Merz III, a 2011 Advertising & Graphic Design graduate now living in Chicago.

Even though Merz has only been away for a few months, he wants to see for himself if anything has changed on campus (besides the new students!) and he hopes to catch up with several professors to ask questions he has been wondering about since being “in the real world.”

“At Homecoming I’m most looking forward to seeing my friends from school. I’ve missed staying up late with my Mighty All-Nighter friends. I’ve been getting the word out about the event so I can see as many of them as possible during the short weekend,” Merz said

“It’ll be great to see my friends who have also graduated, but I’m excited to see those friends I left behind who are still burning the midnight oil at CCAD, especially those working in Design Group,” he said.

Merz said he received a few messages on the first day of the semester from friends who miss hanging out with him on the quad or at the Market, and he confesses to missing CCAD’s main dining facility. “Looking back, it was a great deal for getting food,” he said.

As an underclassman, Merz was involved with Student Government. He plans to check out what the new officers have in mind to enhance the college experience for current students.

Merz said he’s curious to see who the alumni award winner will be and what he will “have to do someday to be considered for such an award!”

“I wish I could be back for an entire week instead of just a couple of days. I miss Columbus and all the great people there. The people are the best!”

Stahler moved back to Columbus a few years ago, so he is no stranger to campus. “It’s exciting when it’s filled with alumni who have built this campus into a growing, progressive, smart, contemporary school with a still-strong foundation program,” he said.

Stahler commented on the changes to the annual gathering. “I look forward to the new fall Homecoming. Traditionally, the spring graduation on the heels of the annual fashion show makes for a busy campus and not much time to catch up with college friends.”

Facebook has brought Stahler closer to alumni, but he said “seeing someone in person and catching up with them is always a good time.”

When Tabler heard that CCAD was combining Homecoming and Family Weekend she decided it was time for a class reunion.

“Although it has (ha ha!) been only 37 years, not the big 40—the power of all this coming together felt right. So, the class of ’74 is plowing forward with the reunion as well as a few surprises!” she said.

Read more about the class of 1974 reunion.

Alumni tell us why they love the Alumni Facebook page.

When we created the CCAD Alumni page on Facebook, all we asked was that you “like” us. What we didn’t anticipate was that you would love us.

In the few months it’s been up, the Alumni Facebook page has connected more than 1,000 alumni—you have shared everything from the best advice you ever received to the smell that always reminds you of CCAD. You’re sharing job openings and news; you’re searching for old friends and connecting with new ones. And now you’re telling us why you love the page.

From Walter King (CCAD 1981)
“For me, this site does double duty. As an alumnus, it’s where I access old photos, new information, and keep in touch with old friends. As a professor, it helps me stay in touch with all of the students I’ve taught over the past 25 years. It’s our CCAD alumni meeting place, and (since it’s already on Facebook) I can stay in touch with old friends all in one place with only one password to remember. Perfect!”

From Lisa Watson (CCAD 1991)
“The Alumni Facebook page is not only informative, but a motivating reminder of the past. All CCAD alumni hoped to make money with our talents. Reading of the success of friends and current students is good for the soul. It’s like social media stimulation for those rainy days in life!”

From Lauren Davis (CCAD 2009)
“There are certain things about social media I hate, and the main thing is the negativity (bullying, drama, games, etc.) that can stem from social media outlets. On the other hand, though, there are many things that social media is good for, one of which is connecting with fellow artists in your community or from our alma mater.

CCAD’s Alumni page on Facebook is a great example of this. My best friend (a fellow CCADer) recommended it to me, and it is amazing all of the people who do frequent the page. My favorite thing about it is being able to hear the stories, or see pictures of other people’s experiences at CCAD.

I know I haven’t been out of school long, but, like many people in my field, I work a lot just to be ‘living the dream,’ which I’m okay with, but it doesn’t leave time for going out and connecting with others. So I feel this page definitely helps me to see what is going on in the CCAD art world and with fellow artists in general. For instance, I would have never known that a fellow CCAD alumnus [Michael Carney (CCAD 2004)] is actually the one who designed the Brothers album artwork for the Black Keys. In all honesty…that is amazing.”

Want to get in on the fun? “Like” us today.

The class of 1981 reunited in May.

Each year, several CCAD classes reunite to remember their time here, see where their careers have taken them, and visit the place they once called home. This July and October, we welcome back the classes of 1974, 1998, and 1999. Here are the specifics.

Classes of 1998 & 1999 Reunion
Date:  July 16, 2011
Location: Canzani Center Multi-Purpose Room and Auditorium—60 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus.
Want more information? Click here.

Class of 1974 Reunion
Date: October 8-9, 2011 (during Family Weekend and Homecoming, October 7-9)
Location and Details: Still being determined, but we know that it is on campus and that it will be completely awesome (and that you’ll want to come … seriously).

Class of 1981
The class of 1981 reunited in May to reconnect, reminisce, and honor classmate Cindy Baun Blanchard. Click here to check out the pictures from their reunion.

The poster for the Ohio Rugby Sevens Invitational Tournament was designed by CCAD alumnus Bob Sloan.

Alumnus Robert Sloan (CCAD 1981) designed the posters for the upcoming rugby invitational and fundraiser, The Ohio Rugby Sevens Invitational Tournament. The event will be held May 28, 9 a.m., at the Mechanicsburg High School Stadium to honor the life of Terry Larrimer.

Coordinated by Sloan’s brother-in-law, the event features eight rugby teams participating for the chance to win the Larrimer Cup. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Columbus Foundation where a scholarship has been established in Terry’s name.

“I wanted to give the poster a graphic sensibility that was popular during the 1960s—heavy type and little graphics—since much of the memorabilia at the tournament will be photos of Terry and his teammates from that era,” said Sloan. “I didn’t want my graphics to compete with the photos.”

Larrimer was a prominent Columbus attorney who lost his battle to cancer three years ago. From 1968-1990, he was a member of the rugby teams of Princeton University, University of Michigan, Sud Americano in Washington DC, The Ohio State University, and the Scioto Valley Rugby Football Club.

Learn more about Larrimer on the Rugby America website.

Funds raised during the reunion will be donated to the CCAD scholarship fund in memory of Cindy Baun Blanchard.

The class of 1981 is an active bunch—they maintain a Facebook page, a blog, and a series of YouTube videos memorializing their time as CCAD students. So, it comes as no surprise that they’re 30-year reunion is scheduled to last three days, include a contribution to the CCAD scholarship fund, and trips to their favorite on- and off-campus spots.

The group kicks off their 30+/- year reunion (yes, the classes of 1980 and 1982 are also invited) Thursday, May 12, with a pre-reunion reunion at Plank’s Café. On Friday, May 13, they’re contributing to all the excitement on campus with their formal reunion, a visit to the 132^nd Student Exhibition, and an appearance at the Senior Party—to welcome in the new alumni, of course! The festivities continue Saturday with a campus tour by fellow 1981 alumnus and faculty member Walter King.

Money raised during the reunion event will be given to the CCAD scholarship fund in memory of classmate Cindy Baun Blanchard. “I learned a couple of months ago that she had passed away in September 2007 of breast cancer,” wrote class of 1981 blog manager Cindy Ross upon launching the blog in 2008. “She is the main reason I’d like to try and reconnect with you all…it’s been way too long.” Since its inception, the blog has chronicled the journeys of 1981 graduates around the globe and during mini-reunions in various cities nationwide.

Follow all the excitement on the group’s blog or their Facebook page. And for more information about the events creating a buzz on campus, visit our events page.

Alumnus Dean Mitchell (CCAD '80) exhibited at the Canton Museum of Art in Canton, OH.

One of the big changes we’ve made recently is to take Alumni Classnotes out of IMAGE magazine and bring them to you on our CCAD News Blog. We do our best to make sure most of the news our alumni submit to us ends up there, but since there are more than 10,000 of you making news all over the world, it’s a tough job to keep up with it all. Ultimately, not everything can make it into CCAD News. What doesn’t, ends up here.

We’ve also changed how you can submit classnotes. Now when news happens, let us know 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 July-December 2010.

Career successes and awards
KATHLEEN (RIVERS) LANDES ’77 is a July 2010 artist in residence at the Santa Fe Art Institute, Santa Fe NM.

JON HAIR ’79 was recently honored by the city of Shanghai for his artistic contribution to the city’s efforts to revitalize its downtown theater district. In addition, his contemporary sculpture “Lucky 8” was commissioned by the city of Beijing and the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee and is now permanently installed at the Beijing International Sculpture Park.

JIM WEITZEL ’79 recently launched a new website and completed a steel sculpture for the grounds of Cooperris, a community based mental health program in western NC.

MATTHEW KASER ’84 received a multi-year Interpretive Design contract from the Texas Historical Commission for two historical sites. M. Kaser & Associates, Inc., was also awarded a contract with the US Army Corp of Engineers to design and produce an indoor and outdoor interpretive program at the Port Allen Navigation Lock in West Baton Rouge Parish LA.

KURT FONDRIEST ’85 had a selection of poetry published in the Winter 2010 issue of the Expressive Art Therapy Journal.

SANDRA (KESSLER) KAMINSKI ’93 recently accepted a position at the Pittsburgh Project located in Pittsburgh PA as visual arts instructor. Check out our blog for more information on Sandra.

ALYCIA (PARKER) YATES ’99 recently received her teaching license in Art Education from Ohio State University and is working toward her Master’s degree.

DAVID CROSLAND ’00 was selected as one of the winners in ArtSlant’s sixth juried Showcase of 2010 for his collaborative art piece “Booty & The Beast.” David also illustrated Yo Gabba Gabba! Comic Anthology. Find out more here.

MARIANO SANTILLAN ’00 had his comic book Seven Citadels released as a mobile comic by Robot Comics for iPhones, iPads and Droid devices.

KRISTI VALIANT ’00 has illustrated the recently published picture books The Goodbye Cancer Garden, Do You Love Me More?, Oliver’s First Christmas, and Dancing Dreams. She has also recently become the Regional Advisor of the Indiana region of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

ELIZABETH WEISSBROD ’04 received a MA in Medical Illustration from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in May 2010. She now works for the Corbin Company as a medical illustrator/animator at the Uniformed Service University of the Health Sciences – Simulation Center in Bethesda MD.

STEVEN WEINZIERL ’05 recently completed projects for Nickelodeon, MTV, Discovery, and HBO through his Art Directing position at Click 3X. He also worked on Rihanna’s “Rude Boy” music video.

ALEXANDER KWAPIS ’06 recently accepted a position as Creative Director at Fusion Packaging, located in Dallas TX.

HAZEL TARR ’07 assisted with Shadowbox’s first three-week Summer Intern Bootcamp, Sketch Comedy Fest, and collaborative, “Seven Deadly Sins.”

MICHELLE DICK ’08 created custom hair accessories for the Vera Wang trunk show in July 2009. Her company, Mimi’s Closet, sells items at Big Rock Little Rooster in Columbus’s Short North.

EDEN (HUTCHINSON) WHITSETT ’08 currently owns and operates a tattoo and body piercing shop in Marion OH called Bettie’s Body Shop: Custom Tattoos and Body Piercing.

NICHOLAS CAVALIER ’09 accepted an editor position at Cramer-Krasselt in Chicago IL.

BARBARA BENAS ’10 is part of the official selection of artists featured on Cartoon Brew TV’s first annual Student Animation Festival, with her short Always, Only, Ever. The festival features work by emerging talents from around the world. The film has also been accepted into the Animation Block Party at Rooftop Films in Brooklyn NY. The Animation Block Party is New York City’s premiere animation film festival.

BERNADETTE CARSTENSEN ’10 was selected as to receive a full-ride scholarship to attend IlluXcon 3 in Altoona PA in November 2010.

KARTIKA MEDIANI ’10 has been accepted into the Animation Block Party at Rooftop Films in Brooklyn NY with her film, “Breath.”

Exhibitions
BERNARD BEN PEARCE ’70 Trinidad’s National Musuem, Port of Spain, Trinidad.

KATHLEEN (RIVERS) LANDES ’77 Istvan Gallery, Oklahoma City OK.

WALTER KING ’81 Walter King: Midwest Dialog, Fort Hayes Shot Tower Gallery, Columbus OH.

DANIEL DAY ’86 Colosseum Fine Arts, La Jolla CA.

PAUL HAMILTON ’88 Paul Hamilton: Poetry of Place, Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, Lancaster OH.

CHRISTOPHER GASTON ’90 and DOUGLAS BLACK ’90 Three Roads to Mashiko, MIDORI, Mashiko, Japan.

SANDRA (KESSLER) KAMINSKI ’93 State of the Art, State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg PA.

JAMIE SNELL ’94 Star Wars Celebration V, Orange County Convention Center, Los Angeles CA.

ROBERT ENGLERT ’96 Edge of Art New York State Artists Series: Designed to Scale, Everson Art Museum, Syracuse NY.

ROXANNE HOLONITCH ’97 Core Fitness Studio, Columbus, OH.

JONATHON REESE ’98 and SALEM REESE ’08 The Reunion Show, Art Outreach Gallery, Youngstown OH.

JAMES BAKER ’02 Wild Thing, Roberts & Tilton, Culver City CA.

RYAN OREWILER ’04 The Language of Art, Carnegie Gallery at Columbus Metropolitan Main Library, Columbus OH.

MANJARI SHARMA ’04 Elements of Water, The Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins CO; PAANI, Richard Levy Galley, Albuquerque NM; SULTRY II, DUMBO, Brooklyn NY.

ANDREW STATTMILLER ’05, Mischief, Studio Gallery, San Francisco CA.

ANDREW INA ’06, BORYANA RUSENOVA INA ’06 Landing, Art Access Gallery, Columbus OH.

MICHELLE DICK ’08 ArtPrize 2010, Peaches Bed & Breakfast, Grand Rapids, MI.

MALLORY McCLELLAN ’10 Savage Gardens, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus OH.

EMILY RICKARD ’10 Material Collections, Wild Goose Creative, Columbus OH.

In the news
DEAN MITCHELL ’80 “Paintings by Dean Mitchell,” recave.com.

LAURA (PATTERSON) SANDERS ’88 CMH magazine.

MANJARI SHARMA ’04 Pdnedu magazine.

"Neon Celebrate!" designed by Michael Flechtner is slated for sale March 25.

Keep a close eye on your mail this year. Chances are, you’ll see the USPS’s first neon stamp, “Neon Celebrate!,” designed by CCAD alumnus Michael Flechtner (CCAD 1981).

Flechtner was hired to design the stamp after USPS Art Director Phil Jordan decided to use neon to depict the “Celebrate” theme. “Most neon is huge and stamps are so small,” said Jordan in an article on BeyondThePerf.com. “The mechanics would be a monumental challenge. Not everyone thought we could pull it off.”

A Fine Arts graduate, Flechtner was chosen for the project because of his experience with glass-blending for a neon sign shop. He worked there while completing his MFA in sculpture. According to the article, this background enabled him to create neon tubing that depicted three-dimensional objects instead of the two dimensional forms typically found in signage and other graphic neon displays.

“Neon Celebrate!” is being issued on March 25, 2011 as a Forever® stamp. Forever® stamps are always equal in value to the current first-class mail one-ounce rate.

Find out how Flechtner created the design at BeyondThePerf. Learn more about Flechtner on his website.

Kevin Buckland and Pertain Gillespie launched the "Art at the Arnold" competition in 2010.

Husband-and-wife design team Kevin Buckland (CCAD 1992) and Pertain Gillespie (1981) helped select the more than 50 artists for the second annual “Art at the Arnold” competition. During the March Arnold Sports Festival, CCAD President Denny Griffith will select the competition’s first, second, and third place winners.

Held March 4-6, the competition asks artists to create an original artwork inspired by the festival’s athletes during a two day studio session. On the final day of the event, President Griffith will select the winners. The event’s namesake, Arnold Schwarzenegger, will also honor his personal favorite with the Arnold’s Choice award.

Buckland and Gillespie worked with the Arnold Sports Festival for 11 years before launching the art competition in 2010. In a Columbus City Scene Magazine article, the pair said they launched the competition to help the festival make an investment in “the beauty of the physical form from an artist’s perspective.”

Buckland and Gillespie own Buckland Gillespie Design, specializing in design work for corporate clients and the publishing and entertainment industry. Learn more on their website.

The Arnold Sports Festival is the largest multi-sport event in the nation, boasting more than 170,000 attendants. The event runs March 3-6 at numerous Columbus venues. For more information, click here.

Assumption #1 by Walter King

Walter King, professor, Illustration, is participating in a December invitational exhibition in Ithaca, NY.

King’s art work will be at State of the Art Gallery beginning Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 through Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011. An artists reception is 5-8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 3 in the gallery.

The biennial exhibition features the work of 40 artists from throughout the United States and two from Sweden. Works include paintings—oil, acrylic, watercolor—mixed media, photography, prints and sculpture.

For more information on King (CCAD, ’81) go to his CCAD faculty bio and his website.

Story Line 2010 by Walter King

A 40-year retrospective exhibition of work by Walter King, professor, Illustration, is taking place at The Shot Tower Gallery on the campus of Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center, 546 Jack Gibbs Blvd., in Columbus, OH.

The exhibition Midwest Dialog, curated by Teresa Weidenbus, runs Aug. 23–Sept. 24, 2010. It includes works started in the ’70s as well as others not previously exhibited among nearly 150 paintings. The show also highlights the drawings, prints, photography, sculpture, illustration and graphic design as well as preparatory sketches and experimental videos of the CCAD alumnus (Illustration, ’81). Altogether, more than 250 works will fill the gallery, one of the largest and oldest working art galleries in Ohio. An artist’s reception will be 6–8 p.m. Sept. 2, 2010.

For more information go to http://www.absolutearts.com/walterking.

Cordoba Rain

Walter King, professor, Illustration (CCAD ’81), illustrated the cover of Blood at the Chelsea, an anthology of poetry published by Erbacce Press, Liverpool, England. The collection of poems, including six by King, is available online at Erbacce Press. Also, King recently had two watercolors from his Reprised Argentine series in 7 Landscape Painters at the Beverly Art Center in Chicago.