Each spring, the Ashland University Coburn Gallery hosts the Senior Art Exhibition that features the capstone experience for graduating art majors.
Bringing together artwork made by graduating seniors in the Department of Art, the 2017 Senior Art Exhibition will open on Thursday, March 30, and Thursday, April 20, with opening receptions from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on both dates in 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 p.m. at the April 20 reception.
“While the 2017 Senior Art Exhibition provides the capstone experience for graduating art 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 March 30 to May 6, include graphic design, digital art, painting, ceramics, sculpture and printmaking. Those participating include: Senior Art Exhibition 1 artists - Emily Minns, Anastasia Russo and Emily Didion; and Senior Art Exhibition II artists - Ahmed Bondagjy, Abigail Nye, Dana Reed, Alicia Jones, Isaac Waterman and Kailah Saunders.
Alicia Jones, from Bellevue, Ohio, will graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Art (Painting Concentration), a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Art History. Jones attended Bellevue High School where she graduated with an Honors Diploma. She is the daughter of Florence and Jeffery Jones. At Ashland she is a member of Art club, Knitting club and President of Psychology Club. Her honors include being inducted into Psi Chi Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa and receiving Outstanding Sophomore and Junior of the Year for the Art Department. She has been a part of three Student Juror Shows and has displayed her work twice at the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (URCA). She is extremely thankful for the opportunities of studying abroad with AU in Germany in 2015 and for the art department trips to New Year City and Chicago to view famous works. After graduation, Jones plans to receive her master in clinical health counseling to become an art therapist.
Emily Didion, daughter of Ken and Tammy Didion, is from Sandusky, Ohio, and is a graduate of Perkins High School. She will be graduating this May from Ashland University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Marketing and a Bachelor's of Arts in Commercial Art with a concentration in Graphic Design. She has worked for Residence Life both as a Resident’s Assistant and as the Resident’s Life Intern. Didion is a member of the Alpha Phi Fraternity and has sat on the Executive Council as well as held countless other leadership positions within her chapter. She also has helped create AU's very first Day of Giving and has helped market the event the last two years and create its founding logo and overall brand. After graduation, Didion plans to combine both areas of study in marketing and design to work in business branding and advertising.
Abigail Nye, the daughter of Daniel and Wendy Nye, lives on their family farm in Utica, Ohio. Nye is a transfer student from Ohio State University and has studied for her bachelor's in art education. She transferred to Ashland University in 20I5 and studied painting extensively through her college career and is also a sculptor. Most of her works are paintings that have been constructed into sculptures. She has been invited to participate in Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity symposium at Ashland University twice with her paintings. She has also won the Best of Show award with her Waterhouse’s Mermaiddrawing during the Student Juried Show in 2016. Although art is her strong suit, teaching is her passion. She has been very blessed to have grown up with family and friends who have supported her dreams to be a teacher. She hopes to return to the country to teach in a rural school system, but will proudly teach where ever God places her.
Dana Reed, daughter of Beth and Tim Reed, originally hails from Plymouth, Ohio, and graduated from Plymouth High School. She will be graduating with a bachelor’s degree in both Art Education and Fine Arts, concentrating in printmaking. While attending AU, she has been a participant in the Art Club and has received several awards, including the Printmaking Award, during the Juried Student Shows. She intends to stay in the mid-Ohio area, where she hopes to teach art. She sincerely believes in the pertinence of art in schools and hopes to implement an individualized, creatively and critically-minded, student-first approach to teaching art in her classroom.
Kailah Sanders from Columbus, Ohio, is a senior at Ashland University graduating May 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Commercial Art with a concentration in Graphic Design and a minor in Marketing. She is the daughter of Willis and Sandy Sanders and will be their first child to graduate from college and to receive a degree. During her time at Ashland University she was able to display work in the Student Juried Exhibition, serve as a campus leader: Resident Assistant, Co- Founder of two diversity groups: Black Student Alliance (BSA) and Women of Excellence (WOE), and a Student Ambassador. Also, while her time at Ashland, Sanders was able to get two graphic design internships with Gong Gong Communications and Champion Pump, and along with numerous freelance opportunities. After graduation, Sanders is looking to pursue a career in Graphic Design in either Columbus or Chicago where she can expand on her digital art and graphic design skills and experiences.
Emily Minns is the daughter of Tina and Greg Minns. She is from Brunswick, Ohio, graduating from Brunswick High School. She will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Art Education, with a concentration in painting. While at Ashland University, she participated in activities such as Art club and the Quidditch team, of which she was president. She intends to teach art in Ohio at the middle school level. She hopes to inspire in young people a love of art, and encourage them to continue learning about and creating art through her teaching.
Isaac Waterman, from Rittman, Ohio, will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Commercial Art-Graphic Design. Waterman graduated from Rittman High School in Rittman, Ohio, and is the son of Jullie Adams and Joe Waterman. Waterman is pursuing a career in graphic design and is a member of the Ashland University Art Club. Along with the Senior Exhibition, he also has submitted work to the Juried Student Exhibition and the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Symposium at Ashland University.
Anastasia (Stasia) Russo is from Pittsburgh, Pa. She will graduate as a commercial art major with a bachelor of science and a concentration in interior design. Her favorite styles include contemporary, modern, Scandinavian, and industrial. After graduation, Russo plans to move out to Phoenix, Ariz., and pursue a career as an interior designer in residential design.
A Saudi Arabian citizen, Ahmed Bondagjy, is living in Ashland Ohio and he is the son of Hussain and Sana. Originally art was a challenge until it became passion and resulted in him embracing life to the happiest level. He will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Commercial Art-Graphic Design and Fine Arts. He received a scholarship from the government of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and he is interested in art as it is a way of making an idea to come alive.
