AU Senior Art + Design Exhibition now LIVE

The Ashland University Coburn Gallery will again host the Senior Art + Design Exhibition, though the COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated moving the show to an online format. 

The exhibition, featuring artworks created by graduating seniors in the Department of Art and Design, will open April 30 via the Gallery’s Facebook page.  Links to virtual exhibitions- https://youtu.be/-ZhN6gUVcs8   & https://youtu.be/iTSHaX76mGM

“While the 2020 Senior Art + Design Exhibition provides the capstone experience for graduating art and design majors, it represents more than just students’ studio art experiences,” said Coburn Gallery director Cynthia Petry. “For these students of the liberal arts, the exhibition is the culmination of their undergraduate careers at Ashland University.”

This year’s virtual exhibition will run through May 9 and includes graphic design, illustration, printmaking, digital art, painting and video.

Senior Art + Design Exhibiting artists include Halle Sanford, Michael Wolfrum, Rachel Brooks, Allie Hamilton, Robby Young, Graydon Flynn, Jackson Bay and Sophi Cudworth.

• Sanford, of Caldwell, will graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Art with a concentration in Painting, a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and a minor in Art History. She is a 2016 graduate of Caldwell High School and is the daughter of Jeffrey and Lisa Sanford. During her four years at AU, she has been a member of Art Club and also exhibited work at three student juried shows. Sanford served as the graphic design intern at Chandler Systems in Ashland during the summer of 2019. Upon graduation in May, she plans to find a job in the field of graphic Design. 

• Wolfrum, from Defiance, will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Commercial Art with a concentration in Graphic Design and minors in Computer Science and Web Technology.  He is the son of Heather and Patrick Wolfrum and a graduate of Ayersville High School. During his time at Ashland, Wolfrum was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, AU Art Club, Interfraternity Council, College Democrats, Order of Omega Greek Honorary, AU GIVS and the St. Jude Executive Board.  He has won awards for his involvement in Fraternity and Sorority Life as well as his own chapter at a national level for his time as chapter president and vice president of the Interfraternity Council.  Wolfrum has had internships at both 5 B’s Embroidery and Screen Print and the Kappa Sigma Fraternity Headquarters and continues to serve on the Communications Commission for Kappa Sigma at the international level, helping with various graphic design and branding needs.  He hopes to secure a graphic design position in either the Hampton Roads, Virginia or Detroit areas.  

• Brooks, from Coolville, is the daughter of Robert and Katrina Brooks and a graduate of Eastern Local High School in Reedsville.  She will be graduating with a  Bachelor of Fine Arts focused in Digital Art and a minor in Creative Writing.  She is a member of Art Club and Symphonic Band and was a member of marching band.  Brooks hopes to work as an animator and illustrator after graduation.
• Hamilton is from St. Clairsville and will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art with a concentration in Printmaking and a minor in Art History. During her time at Ashland, she has been a member of the Art Club and a sister of Theta Phi Alpha Fraternity. She was elected to executive positions within each organization and served as secretary for Theta Phi Alpha and as secretary and president of Art Club. She has exhibited in the Juried Student Art + Design Exhibition twice and has worked as an assistant at the Coburn Gallery the past two years. After graduation, Hamilton plans to attend graduate school to earn a master’s degree in museum studies or art history.
• Young, from Ashland, is the son of Scott and Jackie Young.  He transferred to AU his junior year from Wittenberg University to be a part of AU’s art and business programs and will be graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Commercial Art with a concentration in Graphic Design and a minor in Marketing.  While attending AU, Young was a member of AU Art Club and a part of The Melting Pot and The Well.  He had summer internships at Seacoast Church in Charleston, South Carolina and as a graphic designer for AU.  After graduation, Young plans to find a job in the graphic design field in either Columbus or Charleston. 

• Graydon Flynn of Medina will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Commercial Art with a concentration in Graphic Design and a minor in Computer Science. While at AU, Flynn was a member of Art Club, Board Game Club and Eagles For Pride. He also had an internship at the Coburn Art Gallery and has helped promote the gallery through design. Flynn plans to continue exploring similar opportunities after graduation in May. 

• Sophi Cudworth of Kent is the daughter of Sue and Greg Cudworth. She is graduating from Ashland with a Bachelor of Arts in both Digital Media Production and Commercial Art: Video Production Concentration. While attending AU, Cudworth was part of the collegiate volleyball team and earned the GLIAC all academic excellence award (2017-2019) and first-  (2019) and second- (2018) team All-GLIAC honors. Her academic honors include Dean’s List, Honors Convocation Award for art in both 2018 and 2019 and the JDM upcoming award in 2018. Cudworth plans to go to Seattle for the summer while pursuing freelance work in digital media. 

• Bay is from Powell and will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Commercial Art with a focus in graphic design. He has had an internship at Good Deed Entertainment, an independent film studio, and upon graduation will seek similar opportunities, as well as those focused on branding and other graphic design fields.