Oct
06
President’s Reception for the Helm’s Trust

PrezReceptionHelms

It was an evening of recognition and celebration at the Presidents Reception on Friday, September 25th when 50 friends of the Art Academy gathered for refreshments, commaradarie and a chance to mingle with some of our student, faculty and alumnae artists. Remarks were shared by Dick Friedman, Chairman of the AAC Board of Trustees; John Sullivan, AAC  President; Len Weakley Jr. Director of the The William G. and Mary Jane Helms Charitable Foundation. Derek Alderfer and Katelyn Wolary, both recipients of a Helms Trust Award, talked about their art and their student experience at the Art Academy of Cincinnati.

Derek Alderfer is a freelance illustrator from Fairfield, OH who graduated from the Art Academy of Cincinnati’s BFA program in 2015. He considers himself an aspiring children’s book illustrator who works as a painter using mostly traditional media. “I was so humbled to have gotten 2nd place in 2015’s Helms Trust Award competition. I’d never entered my work in a show that granted awards, especially against my own friends and peers. I very fondly look back on having hung my work next to theirs, and winning among some of them. In the end I was proud of everyone who entered. The judge’s decision showed me that my newest work was truly unique and worth pursuing, and since then I’ve continued pushing myself to make my best work.”

Katelyn Wolary commented, “It’s an honorable award, with a history of great artists and work selected.  I’m very happy to be in my school’s collection, and feel very grateful for the opportunities I’ve received so far in my time at AAC.  I have reinvested the award money back into my education, which is a great feeling!”

 

Oct
04
Student Spotlight: Alyah Shoulders

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Alyah Shoulders is a Junior, and her major is Illustration with an emphasis in sculpture at the Art Academy of Cincinnati (AAC).  She is a Cincinnati native, who graduated from Colerain High School and currently lives in the Colerain community. Alyah is a shy and quiet young woman with dynamic visions of becoming one the best female animators of all time.  She is a huge fan of Disney animated films, Snow White and Beauty and the Beast, are among her favorites.

When the time came to select a school, she ultimately selected the AAC due to the fact she immediately noticed the faculty and staff were kind and willing to help her in anyway.  After her portfolio review and during a tour of the building with the admissions team, she was introduced to Professor Ken Henson.  He took her sketch book and presented an impromptu critique of her work. She was a bit overwhelmed, but immediately knew AAC is the place for her.

According to Alyah, “If you are willing to make the sacrifice and work hard, you can make your dreams come true.”  The Art Academy is a great place for people like her to thrive.  Despite her shyness, she has been able to meet like-minded classmates, who are fated to be life-long friends.  “If you need help raising your hand in class, there is someone there to help push your hand even higher.  I know this from personal experience. If you see someone who needs art supplies, you share your art supplies.  It’s that simple.  Everyone here helps one another.”

Her involvement as a focused student is pointing her in the right direction to fulfill her ambitions. She’s made the commitment to work hard and take in every lesson or opportunity to hone her craft.  We have no doubt we will witness Alyah Shoulders blossom into a world-class animator.

 

Oct
04
President’s Reception for the Helm’s Trust

katewolery

It was an evening of recognition and celebration at the Presidents Reception on Friday, September 25th when 50 friends of the Art Academy gathered for refreshments, camaraderie and a chance to mingle with some of our student, faculty and alumnae artists. Remarks were shared by Dick Friedman, Chairman of the AAC Board of Trustees; John Sullivan, AAC President; Len Weakley Jr. Director of the The William G. and Mary Jane Helms Charitable Foundation. Derek Alderfer and Katelyn Wolary, both recipients of a Helms Trust Award, talked about their art and their student experience at the Art Academy of Cincinnati.

Derek Alderfer is a freelance illustrator from Fairfield, OH who graduated from the Art Academy of Cincinnati’s BFA program in 2015. He considers himself an aspiring children’s book illustrator who works as a painter using mostly traditional media. “I was so humbled to have gotten 2nd place in 2015’s Helms Trust Award competition. I’d never entered my work in a show that granted awards, especially against my own friends and peers. I very fondly look back on having hung my work next to theirs, and winning among some of them. In the end I was proud of everyone who entered. The judge’s decision showed me that my newest work was truly unique and worth pursuing, and since then I’ve continued pushing myself to make my best work.”

Katelyn Wolary commented, “It’s an honorable award, with a history of great artists and work selected.  I’m very happy to be in my school’s collection, and feel very grateful for the opportunities I’ve received so far in my time at AAC.  I have reinvested the award money back into my education, which is a great feeling!”

Sep
09
CPS Selects Art Academy of Cincinnati to Partner on Art Integration

AAC+CPS

The Art Academy of Cincinnati will administer new artistic programming at Chase Elementary and Woodford Paideia Academy as part of the CPS My Tomorrow Vision 20/20 plan.

 “CPS is pleased to partner with the Art Academy of Cincinnati to enhance and expand arts integration in these two elementary schools.  We value their history and tradition of providing exceptional artistic training to students of all ages,” says Dr. Isidore Rudnick.

Rudnick led this artistic initiative through My Tomorrow, a multifaceted program that is rolling out and expanding throughout Cincinnati Public Schools.  “The Arts & Culture Programs at Chase and Woodford Paideia focus on educating the whole child through a broad range of academic and artistic opportunities including field study days at The Art Academy.”

 A driving force behind the CPS My Tomorrow program is preparing students for life by developing the 21st century skills required for success in virtually every profession.  These skills are rooted in critical and creative-thinking abilities. Visual arts disciplines foster these important skills as students combine and apply artistic and intellectual disciplines to imagine, create, realize, and refine new solutions in conventional and innovative ways. The Arts & Culture Program features an integrated and dynamic curriculum that includes residencies with some of Cincinnati’s most respected artists, world culture studies, and music and dance classes. 

 “For nearly 25 years, the Art Academy has supported and strengthened local elementary, junior high and high schools with in-the-classroom art classes, after-school art programs, summertime art camps, and programs offered throughout Greater Cincinnati, throughout the entire year.  To solidify this relationship with a contract signifies that both parties recognize the ongoing value of intentional art integration to enhance the student learning experience,” says John Sullivan, president of Art Academy of Cincinnati.

 

Mar
13
Beloved Minumental Exhibition Celebrates 29 Years

Genius comes in all shapes and sizes, but at the annual AAC Minumental Exhibition, no masterpiece can exceed two inches in any direction. That’s what makes it one of the best and most beloved shows among AAC students, faculty and alums year after year.

This past February, the AAC Alumni Committee hosted the 29th Annual Minumental Show at the student-run Exposure13 Gallery in Over-the-Rhine. Hundreds of art lovers attended the exhibition, and more than 200 pieces were sold netting nearly $2000 in sales. For many students, this show presents the opportunity to make that “first sale” as an artist. It also provides exposure and recognition for the impressive work created by our AAC community at large.

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Feb
26
Q&A with Wilder Winner Elyse Johnson

Artists draw inspiration from many places including the environment that surrounds them. The opportunity for a change of scenery can prove especially valuable. At the Art Academy of Cincinnati the Stephen H. Wilder Traveling Scholarship provides just that, affording art students of all disciplines the chance to explore the world around them as fuel for their creative expression.

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Feb
01
The Art Academy of Love

There are many things students would expect to gain during their time at the Art Academy of Cincinnati: knowledge, perspective, inspiration, life-long friends, a degree. But a surprising number of alumni also leave with something else — the love of their lives.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that over the 147-year history of the AAC, hundreds of couples have found their other half while attending the Art Academy. Even one of the AAC’s most distinguished alumni, Charley Harper, met his wife, Edie Harper, at the Art Academy, “in the same class, in the same row.”

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Jan
19
“Make Me Up,” Work by AAC Senior The’Shima Craver

“Inspired” is the word that might best describe The’Shima Craver’s work. The Senior Art Academy of Cincinnati Illustration major has been using her art to explore social issues in the world around her.

Through her combination of poetry and visual art, Craver confronts tough subjects by drawing on her own struggles while grappling with various issues.

“As an attempt to influence others to be more comfortable with their self, I have been exposing myself and or struggles through my work,” Craver wrote in her artist statement.

Recently, her work has evolved, pairing her powerful poetry with video pieces that help illustrate her words. Check out a brief Q&A with Craver below to learn more about her experience at the Art Academy of Cincinnati.

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Jan
07
AAC Alumnae Bring Beanbags to a Park Near You

Picture this: Giant. Beanbags. You read that right. This is the vision of Art Academy of Cincinnati grads, Amy Scarpello and Abby Cornelius. And thanks to grant from People’s Liberty, a philanthropic lab devoted to accelerating the positive transformation of Greater Cincinnati, soon they’ll be coming to a city park, a bike path or even the lobby of government building near you.

Plop! a project dreamed up by Scarpello and Cornelius, is designed to create engagement and bring an element of whimsy to the city’s public spaces. We recently caught up with Scarpello to chat with her about the project and what life has been like since graduating from AAC.

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