Each spring, the Ashland University Coburn Gallery hosts the Senior Art and Design Exhibition that features the capstone experience for graduating art majors.
Bringing together artwork made by graduating seniors in the Department of Art and Design, the 2022 Senior Art and Design Exhibition will open on Tuesday, April 26th, with an opening reception from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Coburn Art Gallery located in the Center for the Arts on the Ashland University campus. The senior art awards will be announced at 5:00 p.m. at the April 23rd reception.
“While the 2022 Senior Art Exhibition provides the capstone experience for graduating art and design majors, it represents more than just students’ studio art experiences,” said Cynthia Petry, director of the Coburn Gallery. “For these students of the liberal arts, the exhibition is the culmination of their undergraduate careers at Ashland University.”
This year’s exhibitions, which will run from April 26th through May 7th, include graphic design, illustration, digital art, painting, and ceramics.
Senior Art Exhibition II artists - Kailyn Ritenour, Joel Steiner, Lennard Zarndt, Michael Krohn, Nathan Langdon, Joellen Artz, Sammie Carey and Rachel Filichia
Joellen Artz will graduate in May of 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Art Education with a concentration in Ceramics. She is the daughter of Jack and Johanna Badertscher and wife of Austin Artz. She came to Ashland from Apple Creek, Ohio after a year of voluntary service in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. While at the University, Joellen worked for the Recreational Center as a Facility Manager, and has started her own small pottery business. She was also a part of the Christian Ministry, The Well, and currently attends and serves at Park Street Brethren Church. After graduation, Joellen will work at Vines Bakery here in Ashland. She also plans to keep creating pottery and hopes to find opportunities to teach in it as well!
Nathan Langdon will graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art, with a concentration in Digital Art. He will also graduate with a second Bachelor’s degree in Digital Media Production. He is the son of Dawn and Dave Langdon from Ashland, Ohio. He graduated from Ashland High School, afterwards immediately beginning his college education. During his time at AU Nathan has served as the Video & Graphics producer for the AUTV 20 television station, as well as the Graphic Designer for the AU Men’s Basketball team. He was also an intern at Good Deed Entertainment where he was a marketing assistant and visual effects artist creating promotional video content for their social media. Nathan plans on graduating in the Fall of 2022, and afterwards jumping into a design-oriented career.
Rachel Filichia will graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Art Education with a concentration in painting. She is from Reynoldsburg, Ohio, and is the daughter of Rob and Joan Filichia. During her time at Ashland University, Rachel has been involved in multiple clubs on campus, including the sorority Delta Zeta and Art Club. During her final semester at Ashland University, Rachel completed her student teaching in the Groveport Madison district and taught at both the elementary and high school. After graduation, Rachel plans on securing a teaching job in the Columbus area.
Samantha Carey will graduate with a bachelor’s degree of art education with a concentration in printmaking and minor in psychology in May of 2022. She is the daughter of Jon and Mary Kay Carey. She grew up in Howard, Ohio but now lives in Mansfield, Ohio. During her time at Ashland University, she became co-president of the art club; a member of an international honor society of psychology, Psi Chi; and a member of a leadership honor society, Omicron Delta Kappa. She has exhibited in the Juried Student Art Show numerous times as well as in a digital exhibition through Wasmer Gallery at Ursuline College. During her final semester at Ashland University, she completed her student teaching at Wooster City Schools. She is hopeful to find a job teaching art in the north central Ohio for the upcoming school year.
Kailyn Ritenour will graduate in May of 2022 with a Bachelor of Fine Art with a concentration in Graphic Design, and a minor in Marketing. She is the daughter of Ronald and Jennifer Ritenour from Sullivan, OH. She graduated as Salutatorian from Mapleton High School and also graduated from the Ashland County West-Holmes Career Center in June of 2018. She began her college career at North Central State College (NCSC) were she completed her Associate’s Degree and then transferred to Ashland University (AU) for two more years to get a Bachelor’s degree. When she was attending NSCS, she worked as an intern with the Institutional Advancement (Marketing) team and earned the “Student of the Year'' award. Now at AU, she has competed in many marketing-based competitions including the Business Pitch Competition hosted by Ignite with Light and earned first place in the AU Business Idea Competition. She is also a member of the AU Marketing Club. This year, Kailyn entered three artworks in the AU 2022 Juried Student Show. In addition to her studies, she works part-time as a Marketing Specialist for a local business, Beyond Measure Market, does freelance Graphic Design work, and actively attends the Church of God in Medina, Ohio. Upon graduation, she hopes to use her skills and degree to continue her work at Beyond Measure Market, create her own Graphic Design business, become proficient in computer coding, become more active in church activites and become involved in suicide prevention causes.
Michael Krohn will graduate in August of 2022 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Commercial Art and a concentration in Graphic Design, with a minor in Marketing. He is the son of Kenneth and Rachelle Spurlock from Wilmington, Oh. He graduated from Clinton-Massie High School in June of 2017. During Michael’s time at Ashland University, he was a part of the group Ideal and the Esports team at Ashland. Following his graduation from Ashland University Michael plans to find work either for Fastenal in his hometown or work as a freelance Graphic Designer.
Joel Steiner will graduate in December of 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design. He is the son of Samuel and Karen Steiner. He came to Ashland from Orrville, Ohio, after taking a few years off from high school to work on himself and an eleven-month missions’ trip. While at Ashland University, Joel has been a member of Ashland University Art Club and participated in the 2020 juried student Art Exhibition, taking the title of Best in Show, the 2022 juried student Art Exhibition Senior Art + Design Exhibition, and URCA. After graduation, Joel plans on securing a job in Graphic Design in Columbus, Ohio.
Lennard Zarndt, son of Daniel and Theresa Zarndt, is from Griffith, Indiana. Zarndt graduated from Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond, Indiana, and will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Commercial Art with a concentration in Graphic Design and a minor in Studio Art in May 2022. During Zarndt’s time at Ashland University he was a member of the Art Club all throughout his tenure and was also a member of the American sign language club during his freshman and sophomore years. In his senior year, Zarndt was an intern for the Coburn Art Gallery on campus where he provided design and marketing for the gallery with graphics, posters and social media. Following Zarndt’s graduation from Ashland University he hopes to secure a graphic design position in the Chicagoland Area while also pursuing other various interests outside of graphic design.
The Coburn Gallery is open from 10am-5pm Monday through Friday and 12pm-4pm on Saturday/ Sunday. Gallery admission is free and open to the public. For more information about the exhibition, call 419.289.5652 or visit us on Facebook
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