Senior Art Awards Announced

The 2016 Senior Art Exhibition awards were presented by Daniel McDonald, chair of the art department, on Thursday April 7 at the Coburn Art Gallery opening reception.

Hannah Thome was selected as the senior art award recipient by the AU art department faculty. Hannah’s artworks use art forms traditionally associated with woman’s work to emphasize the gap that still exists in the hierarchy of the fine arts. I am responding to the idea of women as “inferior” artists. Such art forms that can sometimes be considered “lower” include domestic crafts such as needlepoint, quilting, embroidery and decorative painting. By including forms of art that were sometimes the only appropriate expressive outlet for women Hannah is proving that a higher view of these skills should be the norm.  Hannah Thome is receiving a B.S. in Art Education, concentrating in Printmaking/Mixed Media and a minor in Art History and is from Amherst, Ohio. Hannah has been accepted into Ohio University’s history of art graduate program and has also applied to their museum studies program.

Kaylin Henry was awarded honorable mention for her senior art exhibition. Kaylin’s fine art pieces revolve around previous toxic people in her life and because of their prejudicial commentary, it resulted in questioning or doubting one’s of being and ego. In a way to counter the criticisms of others that affected the perception of herself, Kaylin uses self portraiture as a remedy to assist in the transition towards self acceptance by making herself the prime focus of the image. Kaylin’s graphic design style is polished, modern, and mechanical aesthetic to communicate an idea or brand creatively in a professional setting that will resonate with her clients and viewers. Geometric shapes and patterns are often composed to convey cohesion, solidity, and vitality within Kaylin’s designs to give each of the pieces their own presence since these elements also reflect the designer’s personality.

Kaylin is receiving a B.S. in Commercial Art- Graphic Design and Minor in Art History, and is from Circleville, Ohio. Kaylin recently accepted a graphic design internship position with Bendon Publishing International in Ashland.

Both Hannah and Kaylin will be participating in the Ashland University College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creativity Activity symposium on Tuesday April 12, 2016.

The Senior Art Exhibition runs from April 7-May 14, 2016.