Photo from last year’s Family Weekend & Homecoming

Classes are in full swing and the temperature is starting to drop, which can only mean one thing…. Family Weekend & Homecoming is almost here.

This will be the second year that the popular events are combined into one spectacular, action-packed weekend; this year on Oct. 12 and 13.

Last year during and after the event we shared hundreds of photos with our friends on Facebook via our Columbus College of Art & Design page and our CCAD Alumni page.

People tagged and liked the pictures, allowing everyone online to participate. So, what better way to get excited for this year’s event then look back at last year’s photos and comments?

A few that warmed our cold hearts:

“Totally enjoyed the Family Weekend & Homecoming thing—great job,” said alumnus James Walter Elston. “So good to be back at CCAD.”

Alumna Lisa Hetzer said, “we had a great time at the Homecoming/Family/Alumni weekend! Kudos to everyone involved with the planning, great job. What a wonderful surprise to see my favorite teacher, Billie Ingram, being honored at the alumni reception!”

Attendees were excited about the carnival on the quad, the comedy performance, and the homecoming reception, but some were also just as excited for the food.

“Joy Waking up starving and making overdone eggs isn’t fun, heading down to the market to get some good food,” current student Starla Hay said on a post announcing breakfast was beginning.

Sharing photos allowed the people who were there to reminisce (even while the event was still going on), but our hyperactive posting and tweeting meant that those who weren’t able to make the trip to campus got to enjoy it vicariously (at least that’s what we hope).

Alumna Amy Marie Book commented, “I wish I could have gone…miss my CCAD days bad…they were rough while there, but now looking back they were the best years for being myself.”

“I think if I visit now I will get lost,” alumna Sylvia Olmos stated on a picture of the campus. “Campus looks a lot different from 1986 when I started.”

Olmos is right; campus has changed a lot (just another reason to come back). But for those who are worried about getting lost, throughout the day there will be guided tours, so no need to worry.

Those who were watching our posts throughout the day were also a little perplexed by who we were exactly.

Student Alejandro Bellizzi commented that he thought our Faceboook page was alive—“I like this because I don’t understand who you are. It’s as if CCAD is alive and once you are an alumnus/a, you can talk to it like it’s a person. What are you? Are you some kind of art school ghost spirit?”

No, we are not an “art school spirit,” but wouldn’t that be cool? Walking through walls and just appearing places? …We digress. Like last year, Lacey Luce and I (Katlin McNally) will be wandering the streets tweeting and posting—and we think you should too! Seriously, do we have to do everything?

But, anyway, we like Bellizzi’s thinking. We are here to bring the “spirit” of CCAD to you (but not in a creepy poltergeist way)—whether you are among our alumni, a student, a family member, faculty, or staff—we are all CCAD family and on Oct. 12 and 13, everyone is coming together to celebrate. This is something you will not want to miss!

To check out a full listing of events planned for the weekend, please go to our event page. Also, look at photos from last year on our Facebook photo albums here and here.

From left to right: Mike Lorenz, Sean Svendsen, Sherry Jones, Chris Daniels, Todd Mendoza, Mark Mnich, Harlan Peden, Rob Green, and Kiel Mohrman

If you visit Priority Designs in Columbus you will likely run into some CCAD alumni, whether in the engineering studio, the prototype shop, browsing through fabrics in the materials library, or playing racquetball on the court they have in their lunchroom.

Priority Designs is a leading industrial design consultant and product development firm that works with companies such as Adidas, Mead, Lowe’s, TaylorMade, and more. We talked with several CCAD alumni employed there to ask what it’s like to work not only in a creative environment, but also alongside fellow CCAD alumni.

Meet Model Maker Rob Green (Illustration 1997), Senior Industrial Designer Michael Lorenz (Industrial Design 1991), Industrial Designer/Prototypist Todd Mendoza  (Industrial Design 2008), Senior Designer/Director Business Development Mark Mnich (Industrial Design 1997), Industrial Designer/Model Maker Kiel Mohrman (Industrial Design 2009), Senior Industrial Designer Harlan Peden (Industrial Design 2004), and Senior Industrial Designer/Insights & Brand Director Sean Svendsen (Industrial Design 1992).

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

Rob Green (RG): It’s strangely similar to the group projects we participated in during school. CCAD put an emphasis on group projects while I was there. It is how most projects are done in the workplace; multiple people are involved in the process of taking a project from idea to final deliverable. Knowing how to work in a group setting, being able to set egos aside to complete a task, and the ability to pull your own weight are abilities I have noticed in other CCAD grads.

Michael Lorenz (ML): One characteristic that stands out, in my experience, is the ability of CCAD alumni to communicate visually, through rapid sketching and other techniques, with confidence. Early in the design process when concepts are generated through sketching, whether digitally or [with] pen and paper, it should be clear what the intent of function and form are. Also, [CCAD grads have] a tendency to push the envelope in terms of material, form, color, mechanism, etc., and really get the details nailed down, which is revealing of a fine arts background.

Todd Mendoza (TM): We’re all family here. Working with CCAD alumni is really is no different than working with other industrial designers or mechanical engineers. We all come from various backgrounds that complement each other’s skills.

Mark Mnich (MM): Of course we often know many of the same people and, depending on our age, can sometimes recall the same instructors. We respect each other knowing that we’ve gone through the same grind and pulled those all-nighters. Eventually, we discover that most designers have a lot in common, no matter where they went to school.

Kiel Mohrman (KM): It’s great! Alumni are easy to work with and the projects always run smoothly. I’m guessing that what we learned at CCAD contributes to this.

Harlan Peden (HP): It definitely makes for a fun environment. Sharing our stories, ideas, and experiences from CCAD adds to our creative environment.

Sean Svendsen (SS): CCAD alumni are great to work with—CCAD grads are highly creative and generally have amazing artistic skills.

Q) Why do you think Priority Designs has a lot of CCAD alumni?

RG: With several other design schools close by, I doubt that proximity plays a large role in the decision. I would have to say that the students that are hired at Priority are the standouts in their class. When coming out of school, the strength of one’s portfolio and the internships that are under your belt are two key factors for getting hired, and a positive attitude always helps.

ML: Just a guess, but there is an emphasis on versatility at Priority Designs in terms of product category, material application, and level of mechanical complexity that creates a working environment that is suitable for a designer that is multifaceted in skill set, or at least multifaceted in interests.

TM: We’re a local company, minutes away from campus. Not to mention the talent that arises from basic foundation studies to extensive studio classes, all directly related to that specific career field.

MM: Proximity certainly has a hand in it, but we try to stay engaged with [CCAD] students by hosting tours of our office, reviewing portfolios, critiquing projects, etc. This interaction helps us identify the top students, so when it’s time to hire we know who to call.

KM: The hard work ethic and skills acquired at CCAD have a lot to do with it. When you’re done with the program, and if you’ve applied yourself, you’ll have a decent skill set to work with.

HP: For starters, Priority Design is located in Columbus. PD over the years has also been available to CCAD for critiques, in studio workshops, and assists with senior theses. This involvement allows for students to have an early exposure to PD, as well as helps develop a rapport that can lend itself to opening up future job opportunities.

SS:  I’ve found that CCAD alumni have higher visual communication skills than [those from] many other schools. Because of CCAD’s focus on fundamental art skills development, students get a deep grounding in fine arts. I find them generally better at sketching and 3D form sensitivity, which I think makes designs more emotionally compelling.

Q) Any advice for current students or fellow alumni who want to become involved with a company like Priority Designs?

RG: Make your portfolio as strong as possible. Feel free to contact any potential employer for portfolio reviews prior to graduating. Learn what they are looking for, because that will be applicable to most companies you will be applying to. Take the suggestions given to you and attempt to work them into your portfolio; it will usually improve the quality of your presentation. It also never hurts to get involved in portfolio competitions and win awards before you graduate; prospective employers look at those activities.

ML: When I was in college I had the benefit of being in a class where there was competitiveness, but also a willingness to share and critique each others’ ideas. I think that having a sharing attitude and not being afraid to critique and be critiqued while in school pays off big in professional life.

TM: Networking is key. While in school it’s important to meet and keep in touch with as many people in the industry as possible. Timing is everything, just as much as having a strong portfolio that accentuates your skill sets. We hire people not only for what they do, but who they are.

MM: Extend yourself beyond the requirements of the assignment. Like most employers, we’re looking for skills, passion, and commitment. We want people who are willing to keep asking questions and continue pushing themselves and those around them. You have to be highly adaptable; our world can change with a phone call.

KM: Don’t be afraid to reach out to [an employer] and show them your best work; if the quality is there then there is no problem getting matched up with a company like Priority Designs.

HP: Take an active role in visiting/touring or even having a portfolio review with local design firms. The design community is a close-knit group and having exposure and a line of communication open with any design firm can go a long way in helping a student find their first job.

SS: Work at making your portfolio visually impactful. We get tons of portfolios sent to us, and most of them don’t stick in our minds—they all look the same. You need to be distinctive, but in a way that is still appropriate. Use fewer words, and instead tell your story with simple compelling visuals. We see so many portfolios with tons of text and diagrams trying to tell a complicated story about the innovations they’ve created. The sad reality is when we get portfolios sent to us, they literally get about 10 seconds to catch our attention. If you didn’t instantly grab us with amazing visuals that tell a simple story, we move on. The marketplace of real products is the same. Consumers only give products on the shelf the same 10 seconds. Your portfolio is your shot to prove you know how to design successful products that can sell. If you want a great job out of school, your portfolio better be amazing.

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

RG: What I like the most about my work environment is that we are rarely doing the same thing twice. There are projects that you are not as excited about, but that is always tempered by interesting and sometimes exciting projects that do come along. Plus, learning new skills is something that is always encouraged. It helps everyone when you can add a new skill set to the company’s bag of tricks.

ML: For me, the variety of experiences and challenges are fulfilling; there are always things to learn about technology, how things work, and human nature. And in a creative environment people tend to be optimistic and willing to share ideas. And of course, getting those projects that really improve life for others is what you tend to appreciate the most.

TM: I love being able to use my creativity to solve complex problems that arise in every product or project we work on. I also love that it’s different every day at Priority Designs. Since we’re a consultancy, we’d be working on appliances for Electrolux one day and then Nike golf clubs the next. We’ve fabricated concept bicycles, designed firearms, and engineered medical equipment. You really don’t know what client or what type of product you’ll be working on when you come into the studio on Monday morning.

MM: After 15 years, I can still make the claim that every day is different. It’s hard to imagine another job or career that can make that claim.

KM: I get to work on different projects every day; work never gets boring. I could be working on a project the size of a fork-lift one day and as small as surgical devices the next. Anything from prototyping to ideation, we do on a daily basis, so it stays super fresh.

HP: It’s fun, creative, goofy, exciting, and always different each day. Creative minds in a collective group can get crazy. Each day is a whole new task, and a whole new set of constraints, and a whole new objective. Projects can go from the most complex to the most simple and to-the-point. It’s great to have that uncertainty of what you are getting your hands into each day—it adds to the excitement. And having a group of people who you can bounce ideas off and work with to come to a common final result is extremely gratifying.

SS: I love the diversity of projects that we get at Priority Designs. It’s a fast-paced environment where we never know what we will be working on next. I can be designing golf clubs in our studio one week and the next week be conducting insight research on industrial equipment at the world’s largest copper mine in Utah. (That really happened.) The size and experience of our firm allows us to enjoy ever more challenging projects from the world’s most recognizable brands.

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

RG: The ability to work with deadlines and under pressure are two experiences that I will never forget from my time at CCAD. Short-timeline projects, especially in a group setting, were emphasized while I was there. Working at a consultancy, those skills are used over and over to deliver projects to our clients in a timely fashion. We always try to over-deliver our services to keep our clients coming back and telling others about Priority Designs.

ML: Honestly, what I remember the most is the exhaustion and sometimes despair of trying to get everything done well and on time. Also, being in a group of students that shared and critiqued out of a spirit of competitiveness, but also good will is something I remember. As trite as it may sound, these are the kind of experiences that prepare you for the real world.

TM: All-nighters. You may tend to think that once you’re in the “real world” they don’t exist anymore, but they do, at least they do here, anyway. Far too often we have large corporate clients with ridiculous lead times, and the bottom line is they have to get done. Unlike school, though, you can obviously not miss a deadline.

MM: Many of the design assignments at CCAD left some latitude for interpretation. Being resourceful and planning your work was critical to performing well. That holds true outside the classroom; not every client comes in with a clearly identified development path. You have to adapt to the situation, utilize your skills (and those of your co-workers), and follow through with passion and commitment.

KM: The hands-on experience was great. Being able to try everything or anything I wanted to do really helped me figure out the direction I wanted to go when I graduated.

HP: All-nighters, staying in the studio burning the midnight oil trying to get work done for a critique the next morning. It is still so true in the real world. There are times when it’s “all hands on deck.” Clients in the real world can sometimes have an unrealistic deadline that you have to meet; that’s when you buckle down, cancel any plans, and work till it’s done.

SS: I met some wonderful students when I was at CCAD. I still work with several of those people today. These relationships allowed me to find a great job at a great studio and have helped me build a great career.

Classnotes, September 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 June, July, and August 2012.

John Schaffner ’60 and J. Luray Schaffner ’62 both exhibited their work at the Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center in Solomons, MD. Read more here.

Elena Osterwalder ’76 showed work in Celebrating UA, an exhibition at the Concourse Gallery in Upper Arlington, OH. Read more here.

Joe Howard ’72 had his piece Stone, Steel and Wood chosen for the permanent Western Art Collection of the Pearce Museum at Navarro College in Corsicana, TX. Read more here.

Jeff Stahler ’77 was interviewed in The Illustrator’s Market. Read more here.

Tim Bowers ’79 illustrated Dinosaur Pet, which climbed the best-seller lists. Read more here.

David Groff ’79 received gold and bronze awards in the 29^th annual Aster Awards for his illustrations in a hospital calendar.

Marty Husted ’79, Mark Thomas ’90, and Heather Nibert ’12 are each participating in a public arts project in Columbus, OH. Read more here.

Laura Sanders ’88, Sarah Fairchild ’94, Chris Rankin ’94, Adam Brouillette ’02,  Anne Holman ’02, Lauren Mudd ’04,  and Boryana Rusenova Ina ’06, participated in Art for the Environment, a silent auction benefiting the Ohio Environmental Council. Read more here.

Kaname Takada ’89, William Shearrow ’97,  and Michael Bonardi ’04 are featured in a group exhibition at the  Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum in Coshocton, OH. Read more here.

Peter Wachtel ’90 is now selling his product STAKE, an all-in-one BBQ tool, via Quirky, Target, Fab, and ThinkGeek. Read more here.

James Alicea ’92 organized a fundraiser for the victims of the 2011 tsunami and earthquake in Japan, involving artists from Japan and New York. Read more here.

Laurie Brown ’94 showed her work in a group exhibition at the Mansion at Strathmore in Bethesda, MD. Read more here.

Chad Hunt ’94 spent time training with a U.S. Special Operations Command team, and his resulting photographs were featured in an issue of Popular Mechanics. Read more here.

Chris Rankin ’94 exhibited his work in two Columbus, OH, venues this summer. Read more here.

David Hartman ’95 is a supervising director for the show Transformers: Prime, which won a 2012 Daytime Emmy®. Read more here.

Jason Goad ’96 has partnered on projects for some big-name brands and projects, including Mattel’s Hot Wheels. Read more here.

John Urbano ’96 released a limited edition photography book and directed a music video for British pop band One Direction that has been nominated for an MTV Video Music Award. Read more here.

Nathaniel Galka ’98 had work in the exhibition The Birds and Bees. Read more here.

Mike Hein ’98 exhibited his work at Mulherin + Pollard gallery in New York City. Read more here.

Dan Scanlon ’98 was featured in the LA Times for his upcoming directorial debut on Pixar’s Monsters University. Read more here.

Michael Phillips ’99 was profiled in All4You, a contemporary culture magazine based in Croatia. Read more here.

Clint Davidson ’00 worked on a mural for a public park in Columbus, OH. Read more here.

Olga Ziemska ’00 installed a sculpture at the Columbus State Community College (CSCC) main library.  Read more here.

Adam Brouillette ’02, Nikos Fyodor Rutkowski ’02, and Corey Aumiller ’06 are participating in the Columbus Arts Pop-Up Project (CAP-UP), a public art project. Read more here.

Carl Bork ’03 exhibited his paintings at the Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center in Salida, CO. Read more here.

Sarah DeAngulo Hout ’04 worked on a mural that is now in the Columbus Metropolitan Library. Read more here.

Michael Lai ’04 presented as a special guest for the Columbus Society of Communicating Arts in Columbus, OH. Read more here

Jill Raymundo ’04 exhibited her work in the City Center Gallery of the OSU Urban Arts Space in Columbus, OH. Read more here.

Manjari Sharma ’04 was featured in the Huffington Post’s iPad issue for her photography project Darshan. Read more here.

Corey Aumiller ’06 worked on a video project featuring CCAD President Denny Griffith. Read more here.

Martina Nikova ’07 had a solo exhibition at the Ohio Art League in Columbus, OH. Read more here.

Greg Beck ’09 helped start Longstride, a creative marketing company in Columbus, OH, that was featured in a local business journal. Read more here.

John Malta ’10 received a grant from the Xeric Foundation to self-publish his comic book The Professor and the Paperboy. Read more here.

Kartika Mediani ’10 showed her film The Box at the 2012 Comic-Con’s San Diego International Children’s Film Festival in California. Read more here.

Kerry Kunze ’11 displayed her work at ZenClay Gallery in Morgantown, WV. Read more here.

Rachel Cass ’12 was featured in Easton Town Center’s 2012 directory after being awarded Easton’s Fashion Design Award. Read more here.

Kathryn Chamberlin ’12 became the graphic designer at Origo Branding Company in downtown Columbus, OH.

Alex Conrad ’12 showed his work in a national MFA competition. Read more here.

Brianne Schulze ’12 earned a goldsmithery apprenticeship at the Diamond Cellar in Columbus, OH. Read more here.

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.

John Jude Palencar’s illustration for the best-selling children’s novel “Eragon”

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 December 2011, January 2012, and February 2012.

Ron Miller ’70 created the illustrations for an iPad app Journey to the Exoplanets. Read more here.

Nicky Epstein ’74 has finished her 24^th book about knitting design. Read more here.

Tim Rietenbach ’77, Danielle Julian Norton ’99, Mariana Smith ’02, and Michael Litzau ’04 were among 10 CCAD-affiliated artists in a recent exhibition. Read more here.

Tim Rietenbach ’77 is a participating artist in FINDING TIME: Columbus Public Art 2012, a multi-artist public art project to celebrate the city of Columbus’ 200^th birthday. Read more here.

Kent Roberts ’77 had his work accepted in the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society’s Annual Show.

Wong Wo Bik ’77 was in the group exhibition Memory and Fiction at Blindspot Gallery in Hong Kong. Read more here.

John Jude Palencar ’80 illustrated the newest book in a best-selling children’s series, the Inheritance Cycle. Read more here.

Michael Neno ’84, Andy Bennett ’94, and Ryan Brinkerhoff ’08 all worked on the fourth issue of a Columbus based comic book. Read more here.

Kurt Fondriest ’85 was featured in the film Operation Rhino, which received a Midwest/Chicago Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Read more here.

Inka Essenhigh ’91 had a solo exhibition at Tomio Koyama Gallery in Kyoto, Japan. Read more here.

Anita Miller ’91–’99 continues to tour her exhibition The Eyes of Freedom: the Lima Company Memorial. Read more here.

Nathan Greno ’93–’96 co-directed Disney’s animated short Tangled Ever After. Read more here.

David Breaux ’94 is a senior animator on the FOX television series Terra Nova, produced by Steven Spielberg. Read more here.

Sandy Kessler Kaminski ’93 had her piece Around 65 featured in Studio Visit magazine, vol. 14.

Ron Stasko ’93 had his work Liquid Color displayed in Tsunami, a Baton Rouge restaurant.

Kathleen ’94 and David Hartman ’95 both worked on the film John Dies at the End, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Read more here.

Samantha Bennett ’95–’99 had a solo exhibition, Scars, Portraits and Beyond, at Hayley Gallery in New Albany, OH. Read more here.

Michael Newton ’96 and Jeremy Sorrell ’04, exhibited their work at Rivet Gallery in downtown Columbus, OH. Read more here.

Laine Bachman ’97 had a solo exhibition, Birds of a Feather, which was reviewed by The Columbus Dispatch. Read more here.

Nicole Bruckman ’00 was in a group exhibition at WWA Gallery in Culver City, California. Read more here.

Michael Guinane ’00 showed his work at the Cultural Arts Center in Columbus, OH.

Adam Brouillette ’02 and Boryana Rusenova Ina ’00 were on the Best Local Artists list of 2011 in Columbus Underground. Read more here.

Anne Holman ’02 is featured in The New Artisans: Handmade Designs for Contemporary Living. Read more here.

Carl Bork ’03 had a solo exhibition at Tointon Gallery in Greeley, CO. Read more here.

Kenneth Hall ’04 had a solo exhibition at Parkland College Art Gallery in Champaign, Ill. Read more here.

Manjari Sharma ’04 was featured in The New York Times discussing her photography project Darshan. Read more here.

Melissa Spencer ’06 displayed her photography in Cleveland, OH at Sunny Side Up Gallery.

Maris Turner ’07 and Sara Renner ’08 opened a boutique in Ann Arbor. Read more here.

Genoveva Christoff ’09 was a finalist in the E! Live from the Red Carpet Design Contest and presented her work at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

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.

Fern Fawn by Laine Bachman

Alumna (CCAD 1997) Laine Bachman’s solo exhibition, Birds of a Feather, was featured in a review by The Columbus Dispatch.

The review described Bachman’s paintings as lying in “a realm amid fairy tales, mythology, and the everyday experiences of parenting.” The feature also explained that “the new series was also shaped by the curiosity of her 5-year-old daughter.”

“I’ve always played around with mythological creatures—mermaids, deer women, and stuff like that,” Bachman told the Dispatch.  “With this series, I really delved into that and played with different imagery I could get through it.”

The reviewer noted that each of the artist’s subjects have similar features. The women all have heart-shaped faces with a small mouth and large almond eyes. Bachman not only paints the main character, but also focuses closely on details throughout her entire painted scene.

“I like to point out things people might miss, all the small creatures in the world that keep our ecosystem going,” Bachman said. “They might be insignificant to some, but they’re really important; I try to honor all those little things.”

The exhibition was at Sherrie Gallerie in Columbus, OH. Read the full review here.

Starting in back left corner: Jeong Woong Lee, Eunji Paek, Sun Young Park, President Griffith and wife Beth, Christopher Maslon, Jeong Hoon Tony Lee, Mose Jeung, Seo Yeon Hur, Kyung Rim Vicky Kim, Gaeul Oh, Jonathon Neeley, Seon Mi Bae, Min Young Alice Lee, and Eun Hae Bae.

During a recent trip to Asia, President Denny Griffith met with two decades of CCAD alumni in Seoul, Korea to catch up on life and remind the graduates of the pride CCAD has in them.

In attendance were student Jeong Woong Lee; Fashion Design alumnae Seo Yeon Hur (CCAD 2010) and Kyung Rim Vicky Kim (CCAD 2009); Illustration alumni Eun Hae Bae (CCAD 2004) and Eunji Paek (CCAD 2008); Interior Design alumni Sun Young Park (CCAD 2010), Yong Ah Shin (CCAD 2008), and Jeong Hoon Tony Lee (CCAD 2005); Media Studies alumna Min Young Alice Lee (CCAD 2005); Fine Arts alumnus Christopher Maslon (CCAD 1996); and Advertising and Graphic Design alumni Seon Mi Bae (CCAD 1997), Gaeul Oh (CCAD 2008) and Mose Jeung (CCAD 2004).

“It was great to find that most of the alumni with whom we met were working in their fields,” said International Admissions Officer Jonathon Neeley who joined President Griffith on his trip. “Hur and Kim both work in the fashion industry. Eun Hae Bae is currently pursuing her Ph.D. and teaches art to undergraduate students. Paek is a freelance illustrator and designer.

“Park, Shin, and  Jeong Hoon Tony Lee are working interior designers. Seon Mi Bae teaches children’s art classes at the Korean Church of Columbus. Oh and Jeung both work at advertising firms, and Jeung received his Master’s degree from Hongik University.

“Maslon is the first foreign elected official appointed to Daejeon Health and Sciences College board for the Executive Committee of Liberal Arts (ECLA). He has also published two books to assist Korean students with English language issues and study abroad advice.”

View more pictures from the gathering here.

Alumnus A. Greg Raymond worked with John Kacht to create this film about the process of creating a Conan O'Brien caricature.

Media Studies alumnus A. Greg Raymond (CCAD 1997) recently filmed and edited a documentary video for the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery featuring caricaturist John Kascht. Funny Bones: Anatomy of a Celebrity Caricature marked the National Portrait Gallery’s debut on Artbabble.org and was featured on Teamcoco.com.

“I promise you, upon watching this film, you will hear yourself say on more than one occasion, ‘Huh, I didn’t know that,’” wrote Raymond on his website. “I did, countless times while filming and editing this project. John’s narrative is delightful and insightful and he shares with you his unique observations on Conan’s background, the role he had in the history of The Tonight Show, and his savvy use of social media.”

Watch the video here.

Raymond’s video received many reviews on Conan O’Brien’s website, including, “I’ve been a caricaturist for 10 years, and this was definitely one of the best presentations on caricature I’ve ever viewed.” “This short was absolutely fascinating to watch 〜 beyond brilliant.” “This is pure awesome!” “Thanks for this film. Enlightening, and cool.”

Learn more about Raymond on his website.

Works by alumnus Justin Jason are on display through April 30.

Artworks by Media Studies alumnus Justin Jason (CCAD 1997) are being presented in Transcendent Divisions, an exhibition at Groveport Town Hall, open through the end of April.

Composed of 17 paintings by Jason, the show features intricate patterns in acrylic and watercolor which are transformed into images often seen in sacred geometry and nature.

On the show’s Facebook page, fellow Media Studies alumnus Eric F. Homan (CCAD 1998) said that the show’s opening made it “time for me to visit Groveport!”

Gallery hours are: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.–8 p.m. and Sunday 12–6 p.m. For more information and to send well-wished Jason’s way, visit the exhibitions Facebook event 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.