Contxt 2019 by Ringling College

Spring 2019

4 CHEERS TO 20 YEARS Two decades under the leadership of Dr. Larry R. Thompson.

SPRING 2019

FOCUS ON FILM

A DAY AT THE MUSEUM

Our program is growing!

Take a walk-through of the new Museum Campus, opening later this year.

CIRCA

RINGLING COLLEGE AT A GLANCE

Our grads are amazing! Meet three of them, living the dream.

TRUSTEE SCHOLARS

A quick snapshot of who we are and what makes us great.

MAKING WAVES

THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT!

Get behind the scenes of our most prestigious honor, the Trustee Scholarship.

Meet our newest major: Entertainment Design.

LIVING LARGE

ZERO TO SIXTY

Take a tour of our newest residence hall, the Bridge Apartments.

Our graduates find jobs— and fast! Read about a few that went from student to superstar in just 60 days of graduation.

THE REAL MORGAN WOOLVERTON

A YEAR OF RECOGNITION It’s been quite a year of awards for our students, graduates, faculty, and staff!

Meet the new head of the VR program.

PREPARING STUDENTS FOR A VIRTUAL FUTURE

OLLI The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute: We joined a national network of lifelong learners!

The VR Development major has been launched!

40 A STANDING OVATION FOR COLLABORATION

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AND THE AWARD GOES TO... REAL + READY THE ART OF GIVING ALUMNI NEWS + NOTES

We’ve partnered with Art Ovation Hotel.

ON THE COVER This issue of CONTXT highlights our brand new residential building: The Bridge Apartments. Photo by Ryan Gamma Photography

I AM INSPIRED. FOR TWENTY YEARS, I have had the privilege of calling myself the President of Ringling College of Art and Design. Each day of those two decades, we have moved forward, working together to shape our institution into the world’s preeminent art and design college. We are so close to achieving that preeminence that I can almost touch it. As you look through the pages of this magazine, you will see why. You will learn about our pioneering programs, such as Virtual Reality Development and Entertainment Design. You will see up-close and behind-the-scenes views of our newest facilities, the Ringling College Studio Labs complex and the Bridge Apartments. You will read about the amazing achievements of our award-winning students, alumni, faculty, and staff. These accolades, awards, and achievements demonstrate the far-reaching acknowledgement of the creative genius that happens here every day. Their real worth, however, is that they showcase the impact of what we do here at Ringling College. They tell us that we are reaching our goal of preeminence. They remind us that what we do—nurturing creativity—truly matters worldwide. At Ringling College, we teach our students to develop their creativity to its fullest potential, to apply it to create what never existed before, and to solve problems in the process. We are pioneering new ways of thinking at the place where technology meets art and design. We are preparing our students to be the leaders of tomorrow, the leaders of The Creative Age. What is The Creative Age? It is the era that I believe is now upon us. It is an era in which the expansion of Artificial Intelligence will render the left-brain skills we have come to rely upon insufficient. The leaders of this age will be those who can leverage their creativity and apply whatever technology may be needed to devise new solutions to tomorrow’s challenges. This need for a new set of skills to advance in the future is why institutions that foster creativity, like Ringling College, matter to the world. If there is one thing I want you to remember from this magazine, it would be this: The Ringling College community—Ringling College’s students, faculty, staff, supporters, and friends like you—matters. This community matters because it is preparing students for a future in which the most valuable employees will be those who possess the one skill that cannot be automated: Creativity. Every day I get to work with the very best talent, of today and of tomorrow. I have the privilege of sharing the successes of our students, alumni, faculty, and staff far and wide. I get to see in our students what the future can hold, and it is AMAZING. Now you know what inspires me. I believe it will inspire you too. As you read through this issue of CONTXT, I hope that you will be moved to embrace or reconnect with your own creativity, to join us in preparing tomorrow’s leaders, or to journey along with us as we move ever closer to achieving our vision of preeminence.

So delve in. And get inspired.

Dr. Larry R. Thompson PRESIDENT OF RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN

Portrait by Matthew Holler ’11

CHEERS TO

Portrait by Matthew Holler ’11

“We aren’t happy to be one of the best. We want to be the preeminent college of art and design.” These are words every member of the Ringling College of Art and Design community has heard since Dr. Larry R. Thompson stepped into the role of President twenty years ago. In recent years, his affirmation has been modified to reflect that, while our goal remains, “we are on a very, very fast track to get there.”

And we are. Follow our 20-year pathway to preeminence under the leadership of Dr. Thompson, punctuated by milestones such as boundary-pushing new majors, record-breaking enrollment, and more than a couple of firsts for the region. It has been a wild and winding road to excellence, and it is all due to the tireless work of our growing faculty and staff and the man with the vision that leads straight to the top.

19 9 9

Dr. Larry R. Thompson has arrived—and campus will never be the same. 2003

2 0 07 Pretty big year for us!

We launched three new majors: Film, Advertising Design, and Game Art. A new name deserves a new logo! This year we introduced the iconic golden rectangle into our logo, which houses an ever-changing combination of colors and variables and represents the many voices and identities that comprise the Ringling College community.

The IT department finds a new home in the new Ann + Alfred Goldstein Center.

2005 Heck YEA! The Youth Experiencing Arts Program partners with us to bring Ringling students into middle schools around Sarasota and infuse art into the classroom.

We partnered with the Sarasota Museum of Art! Together, we will repurpose the historic Sarasota High School to house a world-class contemporary art museum and offer continuing education.

2006

2008 Who will manage all these creatives?

Enter the new Business of Art + Design major and minor—the world’s first business program at an art school.

The Ulla Searing Student Center (our first 5-story building) opens its doors to house Student Life, Computer Animation, and student housing.

Ringling College turns 75 years young. We acquired the Shell Gas Station adjacent to the College at North Tamiami Trail and Martin Luther King Jr. Way where we created a Sculpture Garden and room for additional parking.

Ringling School of Art and Design? Nope, we’re now Ringling College of Art + Design.

In an act of extraordinary generosity, Dr. Richard + Barbara Basch give us their famed glass collection featuring artists such as Dale Chihuly and Lino Tagliapietra.

Keating Center gets a makeover, bringing the first floor back to the historical roots of the building to house the Office of the President and the Office for Advancement. CONTXT | SPRING 2019

2009

2 010

We partnered with Semkhor Productions to start the Ringling College Studio Labs.

Ann + Alfred Goldstein Residence Hall opens! It is a new home for student housing, Mail Services, and the Fishbowl.

2 012

Salud! A healthy campus means healthy students, so we partnered with Sarasota Memorial Hospital to provide health services for students on campus. We also opened the new Health Services building with space for the Peterson Counseling Center and medical care.

2 014

Want to purchase the work of our students, faculty, or grads? So did we, which is why we started Madeby Gallery.

Sarasota County awarded us a $1.75 million grant toward building the postproduction facility.

We partnered with PINC (People, Innovation, Nature, and Creativity) Sarasota to bring a day of crazy cool creative speakers to the city once a year.

2 011 Our motto is official. We trademarked “Shattering the Myth of the Starving Artist!”

The Academic Center opens, bringing with it 5 floors of classrooms, the Richard + Barbara Basch Gallery, the Willis Smith Galleries, the Harold + Ronald Kendall Atrium, the Design Center, and the Morganroth Auditorium.

We launched the Collaboratory in partnership with The Patterson Foundation!

For a College that never stops, it just made sense to add Motion Design as a new major. We joined the ranks of 91 esteemed colleges admitted to the Davis United World College Scholarship Program.

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The Collaboratory is an initiative that provides creative, experiential learning opportunities to all of its students.

2 015 We completed some major projects this year: renovating the Christ-Janer building to include a new gallery and completing the repurposing of the West Marine building (acquired by us in 2010) into the North Studios, creating 50 studios for Illustration and Fine Arts seniors and storage for the Film program.

The first year we implemented the Collaboratory Commitment, guaranteeing all students the chance to work with real-world clients on realworld projects before graduation.

Keating Center is renovated again to create offices for Academic Affairs.

2 016

2 018

We welcome our newest majors, Creative Writing and Visual Studies.

We. Are. VR. Yep, we have launched the world’s first BFA program in Virtual Reality.

We turned 85!

The Board of Trustees names the Academic Center the Larry R. Thompson Academic Center in honor of the man with the plan. Introduced the Cross College Alliance, a consortium with New College of Florida; State College of Florida; University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee; Ringling College of Art and Design; and Florida State University, through The Ringling Museum, that enhances our collective learning and teaching experiences with support from local foundations.

We headed to South Korea for our first Accepted Student Day in Seoul! !

We just received the largest gift in our history from Drs. Joel and Gail Morganroth $15 million.

Artmaking at its finest! The Richard + Barbara Basch Visual Arts Center opens with new spaces for printmaking, glassblowing, woodworking, letterpress, and more!

The Bridge Apartments, our gorgeous, new residence hall, has opened for third- and fourth-year students.

Work is completed on the Ringling College Studio Labs soundstage and post-production facility. The Film program has a new home in one soundstage while the other and the postproduction studio will invite commercial and academic work.

2 017

Goodbye and thank you to the residence halls Appleton, Harmon, and Idelson, which have been removed to make way for a new, larger hall opening fall 2020. Record enrollment hit! We are now 1550 students strong at the Gala on December 7.

2 019

Entertainment Design will become our newest BFA program in the fall. We will be opening the doors to the Sarasota Museum of Art!

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT LARRY R. THOMPSON, FOR YOUR 20 YEARS OF TIRELESS, SPIRITED LEADERSHIP! The library of the future is now open! Welcome to the LEED-certified Alfred R. Goldstein Library. The Lifelong Learning Academy and Pierian Spring Academy joined us to offer continuing education for all ages. CONTXT | SPRING 2019

LIVING LARGE AT THE BRIDGE APARTMENTS BY RYAN G. VAN CLEAVE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY RYAN GAMMA PHOTOGRAPHY

Not thirty seconds into my tour of the new Ringling College Bridge Apartments, I announced, “I want to live here.” And I wasn’t exactly joking. Dorms—as I recall them from my college years back in the Jurassic era—were concrete boxes that housed two army surplus beds, a pair of desks (circa WWI or perhaps the War of 1812), and two claustrophobic 18-year-old roommates. The Bridge Apartments is clearly the antidote to that antiquated living situation. Just ask Sydney Anderson, a junior Creative Writing major who serves as the first-floor RA there. “The kitchen is the first thing that makes people go WOW!” she notes. “As soon as you walk in, you’re greeted by an open kitchen that simply flows into the living room area. The bedrooms have long windows that allow so much sunlight to stream in. Overall, it’s lovely and all the little details—the light fixtures over the island in the kitchen to the backsplashes in the kitchen and bathroom—make me feel like I’m in a chic New York apartment.”

“Ringling College has enjoyed growing enrollment over the past few years, necessitating the need for additional campus housing. Everyone wants to live in the new Bridge Apartments the moment they see them, but housed there are third- and fourth-year students,” reports Dr. Tammy Walsh, Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students. “One of its most popular features outside of the beautiful apartments and inviting common indoor and outdoor spaces? The laundry room!” Sure, it’s great to have sparklingnew machines lined up wall-to-wall, but what really puts a smile on student faces is that they’re free to use. FREE! Anderson laughs about it, saying, “I have friends offer to come visit me all the time, and when they get here, they’ve dragged along a bag of dirty laundry.”

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Photos by Ryan Gamma Photography

The building is pending LEED v4-certification and mostly made up of two- and four-person apartment-style units that feature a shared living and kitchen space, private/single bedrooms, and semi-private bathrooms. All told, its 77,000 square feet of space houses 181 students, with common areas aplenty. One of the touches that I’m a big fan of is the glass area outside each dorm door that serves as a whiteboard. (It’s possible I might’ve stalled my tour to doodle a few penguin bikers on them with Expo markers. I confess!) One of the most unique features is the bike room, which has metal racks to hang up 56 bikes for those who don’t want to store bikes in the outdoor racks. Another terrific element is the project lounge which has a monster-sized TV, a variety of seating areas and tables (all with outlets to plug in whatever students need), and space to just hang with friends between classes. There’s even a spray booth and a sink with a stainlesssteel top (just in case a project gets messy). The construction was completed in a 12-month whirlwind by Willis Smith Construction with architecture by Ayers Saint Gross and interior design by Ayers Saint Gross and Ringling College’s interior designer, Lauren Hanson. One of the challenges they had was adjusting the plan to preserve two existing grand trees on South Riverside Drive, which meant sort of wrapping the building around three sides of those trees (the view of them from the top floor is stunning). The building’s form also creates a magnificent courtyard space that celebrates Whitaker Bayou and has a cool, curvy, meandering bridge that flows back toward campus.

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The inside of the Bridge Apartments features a captivating stair designed by alum Lenna Dahlquist (Graphic & Interactive Communication, ’08), and each floor has a clear color identity expressed through the interior finishes, the shades of the glass marker boards, and the lounge graphics. In short, it’s beautiful. But that’s not really why I want to live there. It’s because the big TV screens in the lounges of all three floors are often plugged into Xboxes and Playstations. “There’s a lot of gaming that goes on in the wee hours,” admits Anderson. With that much serious gamer competition, I could easily prove that I’m the best Mario Kart player ever to walk the earth. Plus the hip lounge seating IS pretty comfy, I have to say. Hanson notes that the design concept was a boutique hotel, and that they actively sought to pay homage to the heavilywooded, tropical area. “You see a lot of abstracted leaf elements and green throughout,” she says, “that’s often inspired by the palm fronds and existing vegetation.” The end result is perhaps best summed up by Anderson, who shrugs and says, “I LOVE it here.” Even if all her student pals bring laundry when they visit. Ryan G. Van Cleave is the author of 20 books as well as a writing coach and amateur papaya grower. He also runs the Creative Writing major at Ringling College of Art and Design.

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0–60

ZERO TO SIXTY

HELLO FROM HASBRO

3D Designer HASBRO

Lauren can’t say enough great things about working for Hasbro. She was first attracted to the company by the brands it works with, such as Star Wars. After working there for nearly a year, she now has a laundry list of even more reasons to love it. Unlike game or animation studios, Hasbro offers her the opportunity to sculpt and to focus on her art, instead of on the technical aspects of animating. She always has projects going and juggles a full schedule, and she loves it for the experience it gives her: different types of sculpting. “There are always opportunities for learning new skills here, and that keeps me motivated,” she says. She doesn’t do it alone—she works closely with her team, which has a friendly, open-door approach to communication. “Hasbro is really open,” she says.

Lauren Dellapa

GRADUATED: MAY 2018 HIRED: JUNE 2018 Lauren chose Ringling College because the students she met were the most confident about finding a job after graduation. And she’s happy she did; as a student, she learned from the Illustration instructors to approach her assignments as work for her professional portfolio, and she was encouraged to work with her faculty to connect to the industry. “Octavio Perez was a really good teacher, and I went to him for help. He had run a workshop for Hasbro, too.” Lauren credits her peers, instructors, and the Center for Career Services for helping her find her position at Hasbro. She advises current students to take advantage of the resources they have at Ringling College and to “make sure you have a plan for how you want to nail down a job and start that plan early. This way you know what you have to do and have the time to do it.”

MAJOR: ILLUSTRATION

DREAM BIG AT DREAMWORKS Shreeya strongly believes in finding what you love to do and going after it. Her love for animation, art, and film drove her to Ringling College where she would spend her next four years engulfed in passion.

CG Modeler DREAMWORKS ANIMATION

Shreeya Shetye MAJOR: VISUAL STUDIES

CONTXT | SPRING 2019

During her college years, Shreeya became exposed to the entire pipeline of animation. She was fascinated with all the different parts it took to make an animated film. Shreeya eventually found her passion for 3D Modeling and decided to focus on it. She wanted to create characters and environments on screen people could relate to. “It was what I wanted to do. And that’s really powerful,” she explains. “In school, my passion drove me to work a 1000% like crazy. I worked 24/7, not even sleeping sometimes, but I just loved it. I loved what I was doing.” Her hard work eventually paid off. As she was nearing graduation, she got a call from DreamWorks Animation. They told her she would be working on

GRADUATED: MAY 2018 HIRED: JUNE 2018 Trolls 2 (2020). All those hours in the labs were finally worth it. Her dreams of entering the animation industry were finally a reality. Shreeya now lives in Los Angeles where she works at DreamWorks Animation. She loves the company and its culture. “It’s like going to a resort every day and meeting so many friendly people. It’s unreal.” She also loves the city. “LA is my dream. I always wanted to be in LA,” she says excitedly. She and several of her classmates from Ringling College have built a very close-knit community there. They all support and root for each other through everything. When asked about her experience in launching her career, Shreeya has one thing to say, “Go for what you love at full force. Remember why you are working so hard, and if you just keep going, you can go anywhere you want. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!”

Ringling students don’t mess around—they are dedicated to living their dreams as professional artists and designers from the moment they step on campus to the day they graduate.

And they go above and beyond to attain it by connecting with recruiters, attending presentations and portfolio reviews, working with our Center for Career Services (a resource for our graduates for life!), landing internships, giving back to the community through volunteerism, and participating in actual client work through our Collaboratory Commitment programs. After all of that work, who wants to wait? Well, many of our graduates don’t have to. Here is just a handful of the 2018 alumni who made the leap from student to professional within 60 days of graduation.

CREATIVITY UNLEASHED AT NAUGHTY DOG Peyton is always immersing himself in information and expanding his mindset — and he loves the responsibility that comes with making art. “I am making video games and art for a living, which is pretty hard to beat,” he shares. Peyton works at Naughty Dog, where he collaborates with his lead and coworkers to apply his ideas and vision to a greater vision or project. His favorite thing about the job is inserting a story, a history, and a feeling into an environment without a character present and making it believable as “a place or location that you feel immersed in and can walk around in as the player.”

Environmental Texture Artist NAUGHTY DOG

Peyton Varney MAJOR: GAME ART

Peyton was not always a Game Art major at Ringling College. When he first set foot on campus, he was enrolled in Computer Animation. He enjoyed animating and bringing life to a character but found that he enjoyed creating the world and environment around them even more. When he saw that he could achieve that with the Game Art program, he decided to switch.

DRIVEN TO SUCCESS AT DELOITTE At the age of seven, Nada knew she wanted to go to Ringling College. As she grew older, her career aspirations changed but her dream school stayed a constant. So, when it came time, she enrolled at Ringling College as a Business of Art and Design major where she learned to think creatively and strengthen her skills as a strategist.

Associate Strategist HEAT/DELOITTE DIGITAL

Nada Khan

For Nada, making sure she has job opportunities has always been a priority; “I am a foreign citizen and I want people to understand why I chose to study business at an art school. At Ringling College, I put myself out there, made connections, got internships, and tried my best to work in teams. Fortunately, I found the right team that embraced my creative approach to business and appreciated my education greatly.”

Stories written by Clonia Charite, a thirdyear Film student with a minor in Business of Art and Design at Ringling College.

GRADUATED: MAY 2018 HIRED: JUNE 2018

Surrounded by talented people with a ton of experience, he enjoys the constant learning and sharing of knowledge with his colleagues at Naughty Dog. Peyton gives credit for his success in finding a job he loves to his peers, professors, and Center for Career Services, which helped him with his social skills. “Nearly everyone can learn the technical skills of a program or a way of doing something, but what really sets you apart is your artistic skills, having a trained eye, and the sensibility to create something unique,” says Peyton. He believes the key to success is in pushing himself as much as he can to learn and improve his skills, being friendly with the people around him, and sharing what he has learned to help others grow as well. Peyton plans on staying with Naughty Dog for a while because in his own words, “I always want to be in a place where I am learning, and Naughty Dog offers a lot of that, while also giving me the opportunity to be a part of and create some of the most impactful stories and titles.”

GRADUATED: MAY 2018 HIRED: JUNE 2018 This team was the Ringling College National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) team, and Nada’s role was as a presenter. This opportunity enabled her to connect with one of the judges, who was the Head of AI Advertising at Deloitte Digital. This judge referred Nada for a strategy internship at the company following the NSAC 2018 Competition. And the rest is history. All Nada had left to say to Ringling students was, “Join NSAC. It changed my life and it can change yours for the better.” The culture of Heat/Deloitte Digital keeps Nada going because the team is incredibly invested in her personal development and she never feels alone. She always has someone to seek advice from, a mentor, and she is consistently cultivating friendships. “This incentivizes me beyond the challenging work we do. It feels as though I have a sense of belonging.”

MAJOR: BUSINESS OF ART & DESIGN

CONTXT | SPRING 2019

FOCU S ON F ILM A MAJOR E XPAN SION BY VIVIAN OWEN

It takes a village to bring a dream as large as The Ringling College Studio Labs to life! Photo by Cliff Roles Photography

IT’S NO SECRET... THE FILM DEPARTMENT AT RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN IS ON A DYNAMIC, UPWARD TRAJECTORY. IN THE SPRING OF 2017, Ringling College and Semkhor Productions opened Film Soundstages A and B on the east side of campus off Dr. Martin Luther King Way. These were the first two of three production facilities in the Ringling College Studio Labs complex, supporting both academic and commercial productions.

THAT SAME YEAR, Film Department Head Brad Battersby was awarded Variety’s “Mentor of the Year” for his experimental, real-world approach to teaching film outside the four walls of a classroom.

IN MAY 2018, Film opened up two tracks of study in the areas of Narrative and Branded Entertainment. IN AUGUST 2018, the Film department took the #15 spot on The Hollywood Reporter’s list of Top 25 American Film Schools. AND FINALLY, ON NOVEMBER 28, 2018, Ringling College and Semkhor Productions announced the opening of the third and final facility in the Ringling College Studio Labs complex, the post-production studio.

THIS NEW 11,000-SQUARE-FOOT POST-PRODUCTION FACILITY HOUSES:

• three 2,000-square-foot soundstages • a sizeable, 40-person screening and mixing room • a Foley stage for creating sound effects • multiple AVID and Mac Pro edit bays • a picture edit suite • a color correction theater • offices and common spaces

Acclaimed director Roman Coppola was integral to the design of the facility, expressing a vision for all spaces to be heavily networked. Live audio and video can be broadcast from the room where it’s being recorded to another room where it can be mixed, providing seamless functionality. The complex has been designed to attract creative talent not only from the film and television industries, but also those who are developing breakthrough content for the digital age – brands, online storytellers, e-commerce, and virtual reality productions. Stretching the length of a city block and spanning 36,000 square feet in total, these three buildings now comprise the largest film and visual entertainment facility on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Ready Player One and The Avengers screenwriter Zak Penn attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony as part of the Studio Labs program, which brings Hollywood industry professionals on campus to work with the students. Penn also hosted a screenwriting master class and a Q&A with students and faculty on one of two previously opened soundstages. “Completing the post-production facility is the third jewel in our triple-content crown,” says Ringling College President Dr. Larry R. Thompson. “This is the culmination of our plan to attract commercial production and economic development to Sarasota while providing career-making experiences for our students, opportunities to retain talent and graduates in the Sarasota area, and state-of-theart facilities for the long-term growth of both the regional economy and our academic programs.”

Opposite: The main entrance to The Ringling College Studio Labs. Photo by Ryan Gamma.

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Rich Schineller, who coordinates opportunities between Ringling College and Semkhor Productions, says, “The post-production facility will soon be filled with talent. From local professional editors and color correctors, to Hollywood notables like Justin Long and Beau Bridges. And of course, they’ll all be working side-by-side with the students.” Semkhor Founder and CEO David Shapiro is excited about the potential to bring projects from all over the world into the region. “With the space just opening, we’ve already had one client shooting in Studios A and D for a national apparel brand, had two Walgreens commercials done in post, and inquiries are coming in at a furious rate.” When asked how the new facility will help advance the Film curriculum, Department Head Brad Battersby said, “We already have a full curriculum in post-production, including hands-on intensive classes in editing, sound design, and advanced editing in our post-production and thesis classes. The new facility will give the students most interested in a career in post-production an opportunity to work directly with professionals to expand those skills.” These types of collaborations between students and professionals are at the heart of Ringling College’s Collaboratory Commitment – a promise that every student will have the opportunity to take on professional client work during their studies as an undergraduate. Hands-on projects where students crew on film productions that make their way to Netflix, Apple, and Amazon add major credibility to a student’s résumé and provide invaluable networking opportunities. When asked what all these developments mean for the future of the Film program, Battersby concluded, “They’re more bricks on the College’s path toward preeminence.”

Vivian Owen has over 15 years of experience as a copywriter and blogger. She’s also the lead facilitator within the Film: Branded Entertainment emphasis at Ringling College.

Top: Film students at work in the Foley Studio, creating and recording sound. Bottom: Sibling team Christian and Justin Long discuss their project in the color editing bay. Photos by Rich Schineller

CONTXT | SPRING 2019

THE LOW-DOWN ON AN UP-AND-COMING TRACK

BRANDED ENTERTAINMENT Vivian Owen, former Advertising Design faculty, now Lead Facilitator of the Film: Branded Entertainment emphasis, fills us in on this exciting new program.

WHAT IS BRANDED ENTERTAINMENT? First, let’s talk about what it’s not. It’s not about creating thirty-second commercials. We’re living in a world where many people avoid TV advertising at all costs. Those who still have traditional cable are using DVRs to timeshift viewing and fast-forward through commercials, while “cord-cutters” and “cord-nevers” have scrapped cable altogether in favor of ad-free, streaming services like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Prime Video. With this shift, many brands realize interruptive commercial breaks have lost their power as an effective way to communicate with their audiences.

SO, WHAT WILL THE BRANDED ENTERTAINMENT TRACK FOCUS ON? Brand films that put story first. Students will develop two to four minute videos for brands that are creative, innovative, and engaging. They’re not designed to interrupt entertainment by pushing a product, but to BE the entertainment. It’s content you want to see and share, instead of skip.

CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME EXAMPLES?

WHAT WILL STUDENTS LEARN IN THE BRANDED ENTERTAINMENT TRACK? Film at Ringling College is all about story. Story first. So, of course, story structure, plotting, and character development are huge parts of this track. Students will also learn branding, strategic thinking, and all aspects of film production.

WHAT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN BRANDED ENTERTAINMENT CAN STUDENTS LOOK FORWARD TO? It’s amazing how much the lines have blurred between the film and advertising industries. Clients and advertising agencies are hiring screenwriters and directors on staff because they understand how crucial a brand’s story is to developing relationships with their consumers. Production companies like Hungry Man and Anonymous Content continue to put out some of the best brand films in the industry each year. And digital publishers like Buzzfeed, The Onion, and Funny or Die all have branded content divisions. There will be no shortage of opportunities for talented, hard-working students who understand the business of branding and the art of storytelling.

It’s everything from the Always Like a Girl social experiment that aimed to reverse the negative connotations of the phrase into an anthem of empowerment for young women to Intel and Toshiba’s web series, The Beauty Inside. This is a heartbreaking tale of a man who wakes up every day in a different body, despite remaining the same person on the inside. They’re videos people seek out. They spark conversations. They give brands deeper meaning and connect with people on a human level.

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S A R A S O TA M U S E U M O F A R T

2019 IS OUR YEAR! By Anne-Marie Russell, Executive Director of the Sarasota Museum of Art

Building a new museum—from first conception to ribboncutting—often takes decades. But that’s a fine investment of time for an institution that will be around for centuries, serving your great-grandchildren’s great-grandchildren. Museums are marked by a concept of permanence. Unlike businesses, projects, and alternative art spaces, museums are built with the intention of being around forever, housing and stewarding humankind’s greatest achievements and highest aesthetic aspirations. The design and construction of an institution of this caliber is also complex, as art museums are categorized as “high performance” buildings from an environmental conditioning standpoint. But good design in a high performance building, if done right, won’t be visible to the visiting public. What you’ll experience from the visitor perspective is a seamless flow of interactive and generative experiences that will entice repeat visits. Art museums today, like libraries, are no longer simply repositories to house and exhibit works of art; they are dynamic social hubs, or “third spaces” in the language of urban planning (first and second being home and work). Art museums are exciting community centers of activity where friends and family can come together to experience art in all its guises—film, performance, installation, sculpture, painting—but also to play, learn, shop, and eat!

CONTXT | SPRING 2019

IMAGINE A TYPICAL VISIT TO THE RINGLING COLLEGE MUSEUM CAMPUS You enter the sculpture courtyard and find art installations, people sitting at the outdoor café enjoying coffee or lunch, kids playing, and people sitting on the steps discussing an interesting OLLI lifelong learning class that just ended. You enter into the new lobby through the newly K/R-designed east façade, echoing the industrial “factory for learning” history of the M. Leo Elliott 1926 historic Sarasota High School and encounter site-specific wall murals on your way to the reception desk. There you will find informational material about the wide range of interesting things the Ringling College universe has to offer: travel trips, courses, PreCollege, lifelong learning, culinary events, films, etc. You purchase your ticket to see the Museum exhibitions (or, better yet, you become a Museum member and your admission is free!) You head upstairs to see the new exhibitions. After you’ve toured nearly 10,000 square feet of art, you take a break on the second floor loggia, catching some fresh air and watching the bustling activity on the plaza below. Then you head to the third floor for the final 5,000-square-feet of exhibition space and marvel at the site-specific installation in the Tower Gallery. The exhibitions have been so interesting, you’re keen to learn more, so you head down the hall to the library/reading room and spend some time in a comfy chair browsing art books. Having found a book you’re particularly interested in, you venture further downstairs once again to the shop and discover a host of interesting books, periodicals, jewelry, design items, and fun items for kids—all related to the mission and vision of the Museum. Next stop, you’re drawn to the site-specific installation in the fully restored historic lobby en route out the historic entrance to the Great Lawn. There you’ll find sculpture, art installations, and maybe even catch a performance or a movement class—tai-chi, yoga, dance—in full swing.

Renderings by Keenen/Riley Architects

The Ringling College Museum Campus and the Sarasota Museum of Art will provide endless opportunities for you and your crew— we can’t wait to welcome you in December 2019!

You’ll meander down the serpentine path to the entrance and, having worked up an appetite, you will head toward the Museum café and enjoy lunch with friends and family, reminiscing about all of the interesting things you encountered at the Museum and making plans for your next visit—or artist’s talk or art travel tour or ceramics class, or… ...oh, the possibilities!

CONTXT | SPRING 2019

“HOW DO WE USE VIRTUAL REALITY TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE?” Virtual Reality Development and Game Art Interim Department Head Morgan Woolverton wonders. “Virtual Reality is trying to solve problems in the real world. That’s where I see a lot of opportunity.” For those still firmly ensconced in real reality, virtual reality, or VR, is a computer-generated, immersive environment that allows users to experience a simulated version of an external situation or context, complete with sensory cues, especially those of vision and sound. The new VR Development major teaches students how to create these virtual environments, and Woolverton is excited for the challenge. “The opportunity to be interim head of the VR program reaffirms my decision to come to Ringling in the first place,” he says.

He first encountered virtual reality six years ago as a senior world artist at Monolith Productions. A colleague brought in a VR kit and Woolverton was among several others invited to play. “I fell to the ground,” he says. “I couldn’t believe what I had seen. I was blown away. My wheels were turning. What could I do with this?” A lot, it turns out. Woolverton, a fine artist by training, uses VR in his projects. “I’m really interested in what people throw away, like an archaeologist,” he says, “so I collect little things I find and use them to build thumb-high cities you can stand in. I use a photogrammetry technique to capture that. To me that’s a great statement about the culture we live in and what we leave behind. To use VR to put somebody in that experience and talk about those social concerns seems pretty effective.” Woolverton is attracted to installation pieces like those of contemporary artists Gary Hill and Tony Oursler, as well as the work of VR artist, Goro Fujita. “Goro Fujita uses VR to draw in a 3D space,” he explains. “The work he’s producing is being shaped by the VR language in a really interesting and compelling way. I think you’ll see more people doing that, so the experience will become more of an extension of what the medium offers and users will adapt additional refinements to the tools.”

Prior to his video game industry career, Woolverton lived in New York, working at the Guggenheim installing artwork, while painting and printmaking during his off hours. He attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts for high school, did undergraduate work at Hampshire College, then earned his MFA in Fine Art at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. His credentials include stints as an environmental artist at the Nancy Drew Franchise, senior artist at Snowblind Studios, and environmental artist at 343 Industries, where he worked on Halo 5. When asked about the future of VR, Woolverton describes an array of applications. “It’s already happening: medical training, architecture, sports, news media, retail. You could use VR to train welders to work on underwater oil rigs. VR is already being used to help trauma victims; people suffering burns are using VR distraction therapy by being projected to a faraway place. We recently met with the Occupational Therapy team at Sarasota Memorial to discuss how VR could help people recover from strokes or severe injuries, and with Moffitt Cancer Center to help cancer patients.” Woolverton emphasizes the importance of teaching students teamwork and collaboration. He collaborates with Jim McCampbell in Computer Animation, Jeff Bleitz in Graphic Design, Ed Cheetham in Motion Design, and Martin Murphy in Game Art, leveraging their expertise and what they understand about the end user to make a powerful and meaningful experience, and to create purpose in art. Woolverton wants students to know that “it takes a village to create a new major and they’re in good hands.” He adds, “It’s important to me that students find their creativity and their voice, but that they also look back on this as a time when they forged some of their best friendships. In Game Art and now in VR Development, we’re always working as hard as we can to get students to understand that if we work together we’re going to get a lot more done. If you get into the mindset of celebrating other people’s successes, your work just starts blossoming so much faster. I’ve seen that shift happen time and time again. That generous spirit is definitely what Ringling College is about and it makes for amazing art, irrespective of the medium.”

Nicole Caron coordinates the First-Year Writing Program at Ringling College.

PHOTO BY MATTHEW HOLLER ’11 ART BY ILLUSTRATION STUDENT JAMIE GREEN ’20 CONTXT | SPRING 2019

It’s been a winning year for Ringling College of Art and Design. Just look at the rankings and awards earned by our students, graduates, faculty, and staff. It’s no wonder we think our folks are pretty great. But don’t take our word for it – see what others are saying about us!

COMPUTER ANIMATION #1 COLLEGE FOR COMPUTER ANIMATION

COMPUTER ANIMATION RANKS #1

Animation Magazine

College Magazine

ILLUSTRATION ILLUSTRATION PROGRAM RANKED #8 IN THE WORLD The Rookies

ILLUSTRATION PROGRAM RANKED #2 Animation Career Review 2019

GAME ART GAME ART RANKED BEST IN THE US AND #3 IN THE WORLD The Rookies

GRAPHIC DESIGN & MOTION DESIGN TOP DESIGN SCHOOL Graphic Design USA

MOTION DESIGN

FILM

MOTION DESIGN RANKED #3 IN THE WORLD

FILM PROGRAM RANKED #15 IN THE US

The Rookies

The Hollywood Reporter

Computer Animation swept the Animation category at the 39th Annual College Television Awards taking first, second, and third place nominations

STUDENT LIFE WINS THE AMERICORPS VISTA MEMBER AWARD Florida Campus Compact (FLCC)

ENGAGED CAMPUS OF THE YEAR in the Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida category

2ND PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AWARD

Florida Campus Compact (FLCC)

Computer Animation grad wins Student Academy Award— the 14th for the major

Two GRAPHIC DESIGN students were named 2019 “Students to Watch” by Graphic Design USA

FINE ARTS student wins 2018 Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award

ONE OF THE BEST FILM SCHOOLS IN THE US TO BECOME AN AWARD-WINNING SHORT FILMMAKER Miniflix

Two Motion Design graduates win an Emmy for Counterpart

Florida Campus Compact (FLCC)

53 Suncoast ADDY Awards won by Advertising, Graphic, and Motion Design students, faculty, and staff

Head of Computer Animation Department Jim McCampbell among

TOP ENTERTAINMENT EDUCATORS OF 2018 FINE ARTS student selected to participate in the International Biennale SIART at the National Museum of Art

Variety

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse wins Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, Golden Globe, and BAFTA Award 15 Computer Animation and Game Art grads worked on this film

Motion Design students win first, second, and third places in the 24-Hour International Animation Challenge

“KING OF SHORT ANIMATED FILMS” Communications Strategies wins 2 Case Awards, 4 ADDYs, and 3 Graphic Design USA Awards

Miniflix

Design Center wins 7 Case Awards 5 HOW International Design Merit Awards, and 13 ADDYs

CONTXT | SPRING 2019 23

CIRCA

Emmy award winners Jake Ferguson and Kiyoon Nam.

2O16 G R A D UATE

JAKE FERGUSON MOTI O N D ES I G N M A JOR

CONTXT | SPRING 2019

Stills from award-winning main title sequence for Counterpart.

2O18 G R ADUATE

KIYOON NAM MO TIO N DE SIGN MA J O R

IT’ S W R ITTEN IN THE S TA R S By Ryan G. Van Cleave

The list of Ringling College of Art and Design alumni who’ve made us proud continues to grow. Academy Award winners (Brandon Oldenburg and Patrick Osborne). A YouTube star (Nick Pitera). A makeup entrepreneur (Michelle Phan). A TV personality (David Bromstad). And now we can add another two Emmy winners to that list. For their main title design for Counterpart, a science fiction thriller TV show on the Starz channel, Motion Design grads Kiyoon Nam (’18) and Jake Ferguson (’16) each won an Emmy at the 70th Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremony in September 2018. Nam shares the details about that amazing accomplishment as well as Ringling College’s role in his success.

How did Ringling College’s Motion Design program prepare you for your work on Counterpart? KN

The Motion Design department really thickened my skin and prepared me to put in the long hours necessary to succeed with a big project. All of the late nights working on class assignments and projects at Ringling College really carry over—there will be times where you have to stay just as late at work to deliver something the next day.

Describe the experience of receiving an Emmy. Amazing. They held it at the Microsoft Theater, which is a massive venue. It was an out-of-body experience walking next to celebrities on the red carpet and having telescopic lenses pointed at your face. We really weren’t expecting to win because we were nominated along with so many other talented artists and directors, and we were the only nominees for the Starz network that night. I don’t clearly remember walking up to and standing on the stage because I had such adrenaline-fueled tunnel vision after hearing us get called. But the afterparty was a really grandiose and expensive event—I remember that!

What type of research was needed in order to create the main title design for Counterpart? In terms of visuals, Karin—one of the creative directors here at Imaginary Forces—wanted us to focus on the architectural aspect of the show and its setting, which aesthetically is a late 80s to late 90s Berlin with Brutalist architecture. A lot of research went into what kind of landmarks would be in or around the events of the show as well. The visual research really lent itself to the conceptual research—the geometric, concrete structures of Berlin really opened us up to playing with the idea of duality and separated, compartmentalized realities. The showrunners sent us work-in-progress cuts of a few episodes as well as some props from the actual set to use as assets or reference, which helped us a ton.

If you had to summarize the most important thing that you’ve learned from your work on Counterpart, what would it be? Learning to accept changes to something you’re attached to. Many times during the project, the client asked us to change certain shots or add things or trim some time from the overall edit. The title was such a passion project for everyone involved that it was hard at times, but with Karin directing and the badass team of artists I was a part of, all of the changes only made Counterpart better.

What’s the most important thing that people should know or understand about Motion Design? 90% of the real-world jobs you work on as a motion designer aren’t flashy or grandiose, but they’re important and worthy of your best efforts. Here’s another thing. At Ringling College, you’re so used to making meaningful and conceptual art and being in total control over your own project. But once you become a professional, you have to relinquish some control over your own art whether it’s for the client or the creative director. Some might find that to be a challenging adjustment.

Any tips for current Motion Design students? Apply for an internship—it doesn’t matter what city or studio. Don’t be picky. There are so many processes and workflows, project types, hierarchies, and other things that Ringling College simply cannot teach or show you them all. However, the survival and adaptation skills you learn at college will help. Plus your success in this industry can be heavily influenced by people you meet, so find an internship and meet professionals. You never know what they could offer you and what you could offer them!

What’s next for you? I hope to become an art director here at Imaginary Forces. I’ve been putting in the long days and many, many weekends toward securing that goal. I really like this company and the people I work with. I plan to climb the ladder here and continue to work on meaningful, beautiful projects.

CONTXT | SPRING 2019 25

CIRCA

Above: Portrait of Keith Nielsen by Elan Photography.

Right, top to bottom: A still from a yet-to-be-named holiday film; A still from The Real Stephen Blatt, starring Justin Long; A theatrical production of A Christmas Carol, the musical; A theatrical production of Phantom.

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KEITH NIELSEN B U SI N E S S O F ART A N D D E S I G N M A JOR

CONTXT | SPRING 2019

D R E SSE D FOR SUCCES S

By Kate Schwartz

In just three years as a professional costume designer, Keith Nielsen has built a rich and incredibly diverse design portfolio in theatre, television, and film. After graduating from Ringling College in 2015 with a BA in Business of Art and Design (BOAD), the New York-based freelancer has taken the industry by storm, bringing his signature bold creativity and passion to everything he takes on. Perhaps best known for his work on Mozart in the Jungle, The Real Stephen Blatt, and Quantico, Nielsen just wrapped his first feature film as Lead Designer. The untitled Christmas movie starring Barbara Eden, Denise Richards, and Pat Muldoon will be in theatres next holiday season.

What drew you to costume design?

What’s the best part of your career?

Costume is visual storytelling. It’s not about looking cute. It’s about the why, and what each detail says about the character. Say you’re doing a movie about a 45-year-old alcoholic. I’m more interested in the first 44 years of that life than what the script shows at year 45. I want to know how that person got there, and really focus on the character’s development relative to how that reflects in the wardrobe.

Some actors like the costume designer to be with them when they dress for a scene, especially for characters with extravagant hair and makeup. The best part is that moment when they get dressed, stand in front of the mirror, and take their first breath as their character. It’s a magical thing and such a privilege to be in the room for that.

What’s been your favorite job so far? How did you get your first break in the industry? Tony Stopperan from Ringling College connected me with Roman Coppola as a result of the partnership between Semkhor Productions and the College. A couple months after graduation, I started working as an intern on Mozart in the Jungle. The following season I came back as Production Assistant and the next season became Costume Coordinator. It really just snowballed from there.

Ringling College’s BOAD major puts an emphasis on collaborations with industrial partners. Did this model help to prepare you for life after graduation? A thousand percent. I worked with Hasbro, Microsoft Game Studios, Cirque du Soleil, and Tervis Tumbler. We learned to do it all—entrepreneurship, project management, research and development, strategy, pitch, and creative execution.

Your work seems to strike a balance between painterly precision and visual risk-taking. Tell me about your creative process. It starts with the script. Then I go to the table read with the cast, director, and producer, find the common thread and build on it. I’m obscenely crazy about researching and use the prompts in the script as a launching point. All my decisions are made with intention.

Working on Yeston & Kopit’s Phantom was incredible. The story and the setting really allude to grandeur, so it was a question of how can I make it more fabulous. The theatre flew me to Boca Raton to pull costumes for the show from a massive collection of original Broadway costumes. I spent three weeks digging through a 45,000-square-foot warehouse to hand select every shirt, vest, dress, petticoat, and accessory to make over 200 costumes. There was not one detail unnoticed.

What’s next for you? I’ll actually be interviewing today with a theatre company based in California, and I’m in conversation with a Hallmark-affiliated production company about a possible movie. I’m also talking with my regional theatre producer about the Gloria Estefan musical, On Your Feet, which I’d love to do because it would be a good precursor to my ultimate dream in life of designing for a Madonna concert.

Any words of advice for aspiring creatives? Say yes to everything. You never know where things could lead. You could say yes to a project that might tank, but during shooting you might meet this great producer who calls you in ten years for a feature film. I designed a film in upstate New York and it was only a 10-minute proof of concept, but now, a year and a half later, it’s being made into a pilot. So yeah, I made $5 and spent two days in the middle of nowhere, but now I have a pilot on the horizon. Life is short and we only regret the things we don’t do.

What’s your work environment like? I pack my kit bag and go. I’ve filmed in the rain and cold in an old stone building with no plumbing, heat, or electric, and I’ve worked in New York studios with massive soundstages, where anything you need is just a phone call away and you have the luxury of endless money and labor.

Kate Schwartz is a former media and public relations copywriter who has been freelancing for over a decade. She develops content for businesses, schools, and non-profits across the United States.

CONTXT | SPRING 2019

CIRCA

Visual Development work by Brittany Shively included Uncle Aaron’s turntables, web shooters, pumpkin bombs, and Brooklyn brownstones.

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BRITTANY SHIVELY G A ME A R T A ND DE S I GN M A J OR

CONTXT | SPRING 2019

INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE WITH BRIT TANY SHIVELY What does it mean to be a superhero? Decades of comics, TV shows, and movies will tell you some are born with special powers, others with the money and dedication to protect the vulnerable. For many, a transformative experience alters their genetic makeup, gifting them with super-human abilities. Since the introduction of the first popular superhero in the 1940s, children have pored over beat-up comic books and now webcomics, longing for the day their hand too would get bitten by a radioactive spider, or maybe they’d stumble into a stray gamma ray or two. But what if it were easier? If it didn’t have to be left to chance?

By Stephanie Lederer

They can, according to the latest addition to the Marvel Universe, Sony Pictures Animation’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which hit the theaters in December and quickly seized a Golden Globe, an Academy Award, and the hearts of millions of viewers. Ringling College of Art and Design sat down with graduate Brittany Shively (Game Art & Design, ’16) who worked as a 3D Visual Development Artist on the Sony Pictures Animation team that brought this feature-length animation to life. She had a lot to say about the experience working with her amazing team, and how this movie redefined animation and the entire superhero genre.

What if anyone could be a superhero?

The movie was spectacular! Let me just say, congratulations. Did you ever imagine you’d be working on a Spider-Man movie?

You started working with Sony right after graduation. Can you tell me a bit about how you started your career there?

No, I didn’t! You see them growing up, and they’re such a big part of your life...you’d never think you would have the chance to work on something like this. I played Spider-Man on my Sega Genesis and read the comics with my brother. That’s where I met Miles Morales in 2011. And to have the opportunity to work on his story for Marvel... well, it’s been unbelievable.

I reached out like crazy in school. I was always working with Ringling College Career Services and my teachers touching up my résumé, learning how to write proper cover letters, and asking questions about interview etiquette. My junior year, I had an interview with Sony Imageworks in Vancouver, and they directed me to the animation office in Los Angeles. The following year, I had an interview with the person who is now my boss, Todd Pilger. He, Spider-Verse’s Production Designer Justin Thompson, and Marcelo Vignali have been my mentors since I started at Sony. I have learned so much from them.

Tell me a bit about your role on the film. I started as a Visual Development artist creating props and environment designs for about six months. I designed weapons, like web shooters, pumpkin bombs, transforming plasma beam guns, and Uncle Aaron’s turntables. I also worked on environments, like Miles’ neighborhood and its Brooklyn brownstones. Then I worked on previsualization and early layout, which is like computer storyboarding. We take 2D storyboards and transfer them to 3D, so we can really see what works. It’s often the first time we get to see the environment in 3D. It’s very cool.

So we can see your work in the neighborhood shots. What informed your environment design? A few things—I actually have family in New York, so I am a little familiar. However, our directors went to Brooklyn and came back with a ton of reference photos. Not to mention lots of Google Maps Street Views. The coolest thing for me was laying out the neighborhood. My coworker had done a lot of the design work for the brownstones, and I made them modular and mixed them up so they all look different. I handled a lot of the details that made the environment: the trees along the streets, the basketball court, and how to lay out the streets themselves. These details really bring it all together.

How long did you work on the film? I read that, due to the unique animation style, animators would produce one second of animation per week! One year, almost exactly. This is just one of the reasons I am so invested. Our team put our hearts and souls into this film, and we are so excited. This is also the first movie I have worked on to come out.

You were actually a Game Art and Design major at Ringling College...did you always plan to work in film? I have always been open to both. I have a love for animation and video games, and I am happy doing either. My passion is really for environment design, and at Sony, I found that I love animation and the freedom they give us here. It’s amazing.

Many aspiring animators may think they could never have the opportunity to work on a major film like Spider-Man. What would you tell them? I always hoped to work some place like this. But there is a voice in your head that tells you, “There are so many people trying to do this. There is so much competition. How could I break in?” I can only share what I did, which is work hard, take breaks, and be healthy. At Ringling College, we were taught to compare our work to that of the professionals, not to other students. So look at the best of the best work, and ask yourself how yours stacks up. And what do you need to get it there? But remember, take care of yourself—be healthy, sleep, and eat. And whatever you do, never give up.

The film, while funny, entertaining, and beautifully animated, has a real, concrete message for viewers: You too can be a hero. You just have to put on the mask. Can you tell me a little about what this means to you? A lot of people are under the impression that one person can’t make a difference. That one voice is too small. This movie says that you are enough. You just have to get out there and do the right thing, even if you fail along the way. Work hard and you can help make the world a better place. — And she’s right. Sometimes we feel small—just one person in a universe of billions (or perhaps more!). What difference can we make without super-blood coursing through our veins? It would be tragic to write an entire article about Spider-Man without reminding you, reader, that “with great power comes great responsibility.” The trick is remembering that that power is already yours—you just need to step up and put on the mask.

Stephanie Lederer is the Editorial + PR Manager for Ringling College and Editor of CONTXT magazine.

CONTXT | SPRING 2019 29

GIVING FOUNDED 1931

RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN

1561

DEGREE-SEEKING STUDENTS

179

FACULTY MEMBERS

AT A GLANCE

11:1

STUDENT TO FACULTY RATIO

100

RECRUITERS PER YEAR

17%

ON-CAMPUS GALLERIES

MA JORS

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

M I N O RS

BUSINESS OF ART & DESIGN *

GRAPHIC DESIGN

ART HISTORY

COMPUTER ANIMATION

ILLUSTRATION

BUSINESS OF ART & DESIGN

CREATIVE WRITING

MOTION DESIGN

CREATIVE WRITING

ENTERTAINMENT DESIGN

PHOTOGRAPHY & IMAGING

FINE ARTS

FILM

VISUAL STUDIES *

PHOTOGRAPHY & IMAGING

FINE ARTS

VIRTUAL REALITY DEVELOPMENT

REALISTIC PAINTING

GAME ART

*BA Degrees. All others are BFA.

VISUAL DEVELOPMENT

5 RIES • 8 COUN ITO T R R

43 STATES &

OUR STUDENT BODY HAILS FROM

N D.C. • 4 GTO CO IN SH

• ES RI

NWEALTHS & TE MO M

MORE THAN

90%

students receive some form of financial assistance

100

15,000

S E RV I C E H O U R S given annually to the local community—an in-kind value of over $200,000!

75 %

LIV

OF S T UDENT

E ON

CAMP

AC C REDITATION S

WO R KS HO PS, E V E NTS, A N D NO N - CR E D IT CO URSES

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges [SACSCOC] National Association of Schools of Art and Design [NASAD]

offered through the School of Continuing Studies and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College (OLLI)

First Professional Degree Level by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation [CIDA]

30 CONTXT | SPRING 2019

Why Give? For over 88 years, Ringling College of Art and Design has prepared generations of creative leaders to shape the world around us. Today, more than 90% of our students rely on scholarships or financial assistance. Because of the support from alumni and friends of Ringling College, we are able to increase the number of scholarships available year after year—and the impact doesn’t stop there. The generosity of our donors across the country elevates our institution by supporting industry-leading academics and continued education, providing students with cuttingedge tools and technology, creating top-notch facilities, and introducing Sarasota’s first contemporary art museum. You can make a gift to support Ringling College by returning the enclosed envelope, visiting our website at www.ringling.edu/giving, or giving us a call at 941.309.4733.

OFFICE FOR ADVANCEMENT

VIRTUALLY LIMITLESS PREPARING STUDENTS FOR A VIRTUAL FUTURE BY RACHEL DROUIN | PHOTO BY ELAN PHOTOGRAPHY

In fall 2018, Ringling College of Art and Design welcomed the inaugural class for its new Virtual Reality Development Bachelor of Fine Arts program. The program is the first Fine Arts degree of its kind in the world. “My parents have no idea what virtual reality is,” says Troy Xia, one of the 14 students in the new major, “but they are very curious about it and support me. It is a very new field.” The 19-year-old freshman says there are not many places to try virtual reality where he is from in China.

Woolverton says students will also get an understanding of ergonomics — how high a table is or how an object interacts with other objects. “In VR, the primary goal is how does it feel—how do you comfortably move someone through an experience?” Woolverton says. In the end, Woolverton explains, students will create a full body and mind experience that is meaningful, positive, and germane to the goals of the project. “There are ideas on what VR can do, and some of those will be exceeded.”

The College will be at the research forefront of the innovative field, and things are just gearing up with the first courses in the program underway. The quality of research in the program will need to be “next level,” explains Interim Department Head Morgan Woolverton, who oversees the VR program. “A good VR experience has to be rooted in good research for it to be effective,” he says. “We may rely more on the resources of Alfred R. Goldstein Library and its staff to help set up research structures for the students to be better organized.”

Students will need to give themselves the space to think big. Woolverton will be encouraging students so that they feel empowered. “My job is to show them the door and their job is to step through and discover what is on the other side,” he says. For students who have something unique they want to say, portray, or experiment with, the VR medium has amazing capacity to make that happen.

Students will be defining their vision in the state-of-the-art, newly-renovated Virtual Reality Development Wow Space, located on the second floor of the Verman Kimbrough Building. The space is designed with student collaboration in mind, offering three large “explorer spaces,” where students can demonstrate and view their projects. Projects will range in scale from a seated experience to a 12-by-12 foot room.

“Art can change the way people think,” says Dr. Larry R. Thompson, President of Ringling College, “and graduates of the Virtual Reality Development major will be able to use VR in all of its various forms to create empathy, educate, and entertain.”

RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT NOW Ringling College was in a unique position to foster the creative energy behind the burgeoning field that’s predicted to change the way we approach everything from tourism to medical advancements. While there are existing virtual reality-based programs that have a heavy focus on the technology, this fine arts curriculum focuses on the content and production sides. Having the “real-time rendering” technology, as well as the knowledge base in place in the Game Art program, Ringling College was poised to be at the forefront of offering an education in virtual reality development. “We’re the most technologically-advanced art college, so we had the capacity to embrace virtual reality,” says Dr. Thompson. President Thompson likens the College’s position to when the BFA in Computer Animation was developed just before the first Toy Story movie came out. “This major, I believe, is as revolutionary as Computer Animation was in the 90s,” says Dr. Thompson. “When [Computer Animation Department Head] Jim McCampbell proposed the idea for the creation of this new major, he had the insight to begin developing the curriculum.”

“FAR BEYOND” McCampbell, who helped create the new curriculum for the program, said he has been keeping an eye on innovations in VR since he saw the first Oculus Rift headset being demoed at the Game Developers Conference in 2013. “I looked at how we could integrate it into Game Art first since you have to use a game engine (UE4 in our case) to make true VR.” Realizing the tremendous breadth of possible applications for the medium, McCampbell says he proposed it as a separate major so that students who may have no interest in working in games could learn to create a virtual reality experience. “It comes down to the difference in using VR as a tool and VR as a medium,” he says. “VR as a medium is when the technology is used as an actual end experience. We need people who design and create those experiences. Yes, it can be used as a gaming experience, but there is a breadth of usage that goes far beyond that. And really most of the usages haven’t even been discovered yet.” Dr. Thompson recalls with a grin the anxiety he felt during his first taste of virtual reality. “I was on a plank, 20 stories high and moving trying to get this cat,” he says. “I remember feeling like I was going to fall.” However, on a more serious note, he acknowledges that in addition to the entertainment world, virtual reality has the capacity to be a major social benefit, especially with regard to the medical field. “In talking with [representatives from] Moffitt Cancer Center and Sarasota Memorial Hospital, there is a huge interest in what VR might be able to do for them, how it can help patients understand what is happening inside their body, and then explaining what it is that the physicians will be doing as they treat the patient.”

The new program’s promising potential is what in part inspired a $15 million gift from Ringling College Trustee Dr. Joel Morganroth, an academic cardiologist and founder of a global company that evaluates risks in clinical trials, and his wife, Dr. Gail Morrison Morganroth, a nephrologist and medical school administrator at the Perlman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Morganroth says that he believes virtual reality’s primary value will be as an educational tool providing a picture experience instead of “1,000 words.” If a cardiac trainee stood inside of a heart and could see exactly how the valves and the muscle work together versus reading about it, he says, it would clearly show the value of VR. “If I want to teach people how the heart works because there might be a diseased heart valve, think about how easy it is to stand in the middle of the heart and see what is happening,” he says. “VR is a huge advancement in the educational process.” He hopes their gift—the largest donation in the College’s 88-year history, which in part helped launch the new VR program—will inspire others to give and assist in providing resources for Ringling College to become preeminent.

Rachel Drouin works as the Accreditation and Research Assistant at Ringling College.

Being an OLLI school means more than just having that stamp of approval. It means Ringling College received a grant from the Osher Foundation to keep improving and offering the joy of discovery and learning without the need for grades. If certain goals that demonstrate the potential for success and sustainability are met, the Foundation may offer as much as $1 million endowment to further support those efforts. “They want you to succeed,” says Janna Overstreet, Director of OLLI at Ringling College. “They help you put together the initial application, and all along the way, they keep asking, ‘What else do you need?’ and ‘How can we help?’”

OLLI students join a curious and creative community and enjoy courses, workshops, lectures, screenings, and demos in 100s of topics. PHOTOS BY KAREN ARANGO

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute AT RINGLING COLLEGE BY RYAN G. VAN CLEAVE

Twenty years ago, a passionate grassroots effort in Sarasota led to the launch of the Lifelong Learning Academy (LLA). In 2015, the LLA merged with Ringling College of Art and Design as part of President Larry R. Thompson’s plan to increase the College’s adult learning opportunities. To that end, the new-and-always-improving program has recently been accepted as an OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) program by The Bernard Osher Foundation.

Ringling College now joins the ranks of colleges and universities such as American University, Florida State, Johns Hopkins, as well as all of the Ivy Leagues and Big 10 schools in earning the OLLI designation. The message is clear—like these other schools, we have a quality lifelong learning program that’s designed to deliver affordable educational opportunities for adults 50 and older for the pure joy of learning.

One of the key indicators of success is institutional support, and the new Museum Campus—the future home of the School of Continuing Studies department including OLLI, which has been temporarily located at Temple Beth Sholom for many years—demonstrates the commitment the College has to OLLI. Most Continuing Education courses will begin being held in the classrooms, studio art spaces, and digital classroom at the Museum Campus in fall 2019. Overstreet says that “About 80% of all OLLI offerings will be at the Museum Campus, but we’ll continue with our satellite sites— that’s one of our mission points. We partner with entities throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties to bring services to the residents. For example, we partner with LWR Schroeder Manatee and State College of Florida in Lakewood Ranch, Point Pleasant in Bradenton, Community Center of Anna Maria Island, the Sarasota Yacht Club, and many others.” At the forefront of Ringling College’s OLLI program’s push for success is Mona Callies, the new Assistant Vice President of Continuing Studies. “When I arrived just under a year ago,” she explains, “the School of Continuing Studies was three separate entities. We’re working hard to build synergy to become one school where all of our programming will be seamless to the adult students in our community.” That idea of community is vital to Callies’ and Overstreet’s vision. The goal of enriching the lives of residents in our area doesn’t just happen with classroom education—it’s also about having a commitment to socialization and engagement, which studies show can be equally as important as the educational dynamic. “That’s what sets us apart from other lifelong learning programs,” Overstreet explains. Yet the educational offerings remain the biggest draw for most. By the second week of registration this past winter session, 1800 seats were taken and wait lists for certain classes were growing. Courses such as British History are always a hit, as are short story and great books discussion groups. “There’s a lot of excitement about the new ceramic studio at the Museum Campus, too,” notes Callies, “as well as the traditional art classes we offer in watercolor, acrylic, and mixed media.” One thing is clear—the future is bright for Continuing Studies at Ringling College thanks to the assistance of the Osher Foundation, the strong and sizable team of volunteers, and Dr. Thompson’s clear commitment to our ever-expanding community of lifelong learners. For more information on the OLLI program at Ringling College, please visit www.olliatringlingcollege.org CONTXT | SPRING 2019 35

MAKING WAVES AT R I N G L I N G C O L L E G E

BY ANDRES PAZ ’16 | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHEW HOLLER ’11 | DESIGN ELEMENTS BY LESLIE CAROL ’19

I’ve had the privilege of participating in the Trustee Scholar Awards for the past four years. However, this year was unlike previous years, because in past years the event took place at the Sarasota Hyatt Regency Hotel; but this year, the ceremony came home. For the first time ever, the Trustee Scholar Awards took place on campus—at the Ringling College Studio Labs. The Trustee Scholar Awards dinner is a night for faculty, staff, the Ringling College Board of Trustees, families, supporters, and students to gather to celebrate the best of the best students from every major, and from the Office of Student Life. Faculty from each major select two extraordinary students as candidates. Candidates then produce a pitch video that is reviewed by the Board Selection Committee. From there, one student is chosen from each department; however, in very rare cases, two candidates from a major are chosen because the committee just can’t decide. This year, for example, the Illustration major was represented by two Trustee Scholars, Dion MBD and Teju Abiola. The Scholars receive a $5,000 scholarship, the title of student ambassador, and the honor of representing their major at the Trustee Scholar Awards in November. Although I have filmed various projects at the soundstage, I was mesmerized by the transformation of the space. Countless faculty members and student leaders worked together to transform Soundstage A and bring this year’s theme, Wavemakers, to life. Speaking to the theme, Ringling College prepares its students not just to ride the waves of creativity within their fields, but to make waves that transcend and connect industries. That’s what Wavemakers is about: what Ringling College and its students accomplish together that transcends our campus and region. This kind of collaboration can be seen in the development of the theme itself, which took a village. Wavemakers was conceived by members of the President’s Office, the Office for Advancement, Communication Strategies, and the Design Center. The Design Center worked with this year’s Trustee Scholar for Graphic Design, Leslie Carol, to produce the print materials for the event, while the Communications Strategies team created the motion graphics displayed at the dinner. Students from the ART Network got footage of the Trustee Scholars photoshoot, the faculty and staff who nominated the students, and the event itself. It was truly all hands on deck.

On the road to the Trustee Scholar Awards, I had the privilege of working behind the scenes with this year’s Scholars and the Communications Strategies team. Together, we produced a series of videos to help prospective students build their portfolios, including a video to showcase the evolution of a student’s portfolio from application to Ringling College through their senior year. The development of the Trustee Scholars’ work is a terrific representation of the progress a student can make through hard work, commitment, and a great education. On a personal note, I had the opportunity to document the evolution of a close friend’s portfolio. When I was a senior in Motion Design, I mentored one of this year’s Trustee Scholars, Abril Rojas. This is the last year that her major, Advertising Design, will be represented at the event, and Abril, or as faculty member Vivian Owen called her, “The Last Unicorn,” is the perfect candidate to demonstrate how Advertising Design evolved over the years to keep up with the ever-changing trends. As video has slowly become an integral method for advertising, the major had shifted to incorporate Video Production as well— something Abril was well versed in thanks to her involvement with the ART Network. A new major was represented at the event this year, Creative Writing. And in the coming years, we will see what the newest majors—Visual Studies, Virtual Reality Development, and Entertainment Design—will bring to the Trustee Scholar Awards and to the College’s ever-expanding goal to debunk the myth of the starving artist. After working with this year’s Scholars, I have no doubt that the theme was truly reflective of their class. Wavemakers is a bold word that describes the desire to challenge the status quo and to create something unique, causing ripples that will be felt across the world. I, for one, am very excited to see how each of these Scholars will make their mark in their workplace and take the world by storm.

Andres Paz is a 2016 Motion Design graduate from Ringling College who works with the Ringling College Communications Strategies team.

GERICEL DE LOS SANTOS

DION MBD

DARRIEN LAND

HARRY GRAY

PAUL DETLING

INTERIOR DESIGN

I L L U S T R AT I O N

FILM

GAME ART

MOTION DESIGN

BRIANNA FAITH RIVERS

LESLIE ADELAIDE CAROL

TEJU ABIOLA

ALVA CHRISTO YOSHE WIJAYA

ERIA KOZU

FINE ARTS

GRAPHIC DESIGN

I L L U S T R AT I O N

PHOTOGRAPHY & IMAGING

BUSINESS OF ART & DESIGN

OCTAVIA C. SAENZ

KEGAN JONES

ABRIL ROJAS MONTOYA

IMO ROLFE

C R E AT I V E W R I T I N G

STUDENT LIFE

ADVERTISING DESIGN

C O M P U T E R A N I M AT I O N

CONTXT | SPRING 2019

• THEME PARKS • MUSEUMS & EXHIBITS • HOTELS & RESORTS

That’s Entertainment! Four new majors in three years. No sooner do we deliver Virtual Reality Development than the College dishes up Entertainment Design, a major that prepares students to design environments and experiences for places like theme parks and museums, retail establishments, zoos, and restaurants. If you go out in the world at all, chances are good you’ve experienced a themed environment.

CONTXT | SPRING 2019

• RETAIL STORES • SPECIAL EVENTS • ZOOS & ATTRACTIONS

• VISITOR CENTERS • RESTAURANTS • THEATRICAL SETS

BY NICOLE CARON

A long history of interest from Admissions, coupled with heavy recruiting from nearby Walt Disney Imagineering and Universal in Orlando, command central for the entertainment industry after Los Angeles, spurred the development of Entertainment Design. These companies look for students with specific skill sets in graphic and interior design and illustration, then fill in the skill gaps with onthe-job training and experience. “Dozens of entertainment-related companies around Orlando have been doing this,” says Jamie DeRuyter, inaugural faculty member in Entertainment Design. “We’re creating a practice-ready artist/designer to go right into these companies. We’re bridging the skillset of artist and designer, blending an illustrator with a designer and a game artist. Our goal is to let high school students know that this is an actual job. At Preview Day, students were saying, “Oh wow, this is actually a thing? I could do that? I love that!” We have to show them it’s a career path.”

DeRuyter’s contacts with these companies, along with leadership from art history and design full-time faculty member Chelsea Bruner, helped fast-track development of the major when the two task force leaders, along with other faculty, held intensive meetings with company representatives to put together a curriculum and create a proposal. “The students even organized their own Themed Entertainment Association student chapter before the major existed, so the interest is there,” Bruner notes. Entertainment Design will have several curriculum tracks, the first one offered to be Themed Environments. Students will study lighting, 3D modeling, 3D prototyping, CAD drawing, and material properties. And that’s just for starters. “Artists and designers are going to be conceptual and technical,” DeRuyter observes. “The industry will incorporate more high tech design tools into their creative processes, and they’ll pre-visualize design ideas. As soon as they have an idea, they’ll 3D model it then use virtual reality to ride and fly it, before they commit to real drawing and measurements. It’s basically a tidal wave of high tech study, another reason I think this major is going to be so relevant. Our curriculum will have all of that.” The emphasis will be on collaboration across majors and partnerships with industry. “We’re partnering with Entertainment Design Corporation in LA. They designed the Nicki Minaj, Cher, and Barbra Streisand world tours; they designed the Fremont Street experience in Vegas. At this point, with all the pre-visualization tools we have, plus real-world engineering skills, the imagination is let loose. Things like the opening ceremony to the Olympics will just get bigger and wilder,” DeRuyter explains, excitement jumping in his voice. “I think Entertainment Design aligns with what we say about ourselves at Ringling: we are rethinking art and design,” Bruner adds. “We are really starting with industry partnerships and have framed the curriculum from conversations with them. We got really awesome feedback from these companies and know there is a pipeline directly from us to them because we’ll create what they would expect from a recent graduate in Entertainment Design.” Bruner goes on to explain that people are more inclined to spend their money on experiences over products these days. “Wrapping products with experiences to sell the brand is an economy driver—big picture, this is only going to become more pervasive. So much of our shopping, dining, tourism, and buying has become all about the experience. The bar has been set and people expect it.” There are also opportunities for Entertainment Design to solve world problems. The focus will be on the user and user-centered design, and courses such as Design Thinking I and II that address those ends through the methodology of design thinking and problem-solving. Bruner and DeRuyter also see potential for collaboration with other majors and opportunities created through the Collaboratory. “There’s a great sense of community where everyone is interested in what everyone else is doing,” DeRuyter observes. “That leads to a lot of mutual respect and admiration.” And that’s what makes a great entertainment designer—the ability to collaborate and create experiences informed by multiple perspectives for the thousands of users who will interact with them. This is no small task, but our students are up for the challenge.

Images by Wrenhouse Design, Scott Wren alumnus ’97, and provided courtesy of ©Universal Creative, ©Loews Hotels, ©Wrenhouse Design.

The Cabana Bay Beach Resort at Universal Orlando Resort is a retro-themed resort and visitor experience designed and brought to life by Ringling College graduate Scott Wren. The process, which can be viewed above and will be taught in the new Entertainment Design major, involved design, visualization, and realization of a unique, user-driven, and themed experience.

CONTXT | SPRING 2019 39

PA R TN E R I N G WI TH S ARAS OTA’ S N EW CR EAT I V E H OT E L BY M EGAN G R E E N B E RG | P H OTOS BY E LAN P H OTO G R A P H Y

Join forces. Be in cahoots. Lend a hand. Make a deal. Idioms aside, the point is: incredible things can be achieved when two forces combine to create one powerful team. It’s called synergy, and it can impact the entire world. Sure, many solo acts have shaped history, but partnerships can create an entirely new culture. Proctor & Gamble, Lennon and McCartney, Laverne and Shirley, and even good ol’ PB&J prove it may be time for knowledge to take a bow as collaboration is clearly king. Last year, Ringling College of Art and Design continued its ongoing legacy of community collaboration by partnering with Art Ovation Hotel to form engaging, artistic experiences for guests. The luxury boutique hotel prides itself on being ‘Exactly like nothing else,’ prompting an exciting challenge for Ringling College students, faculty, and alumni to conceive, design, and manage curated offerings throughout the organization, including everything from events and sculptures to non-tangibles, such as marketing and data research. It may seem rather obvious to combine the works from an art college with the offerings of an art hotel and, well, that’s because it is. Together, both enterprises have the opportunity to show visitors just how high Sarasota is setting the bar for all things art-related. Jeff Schwartz, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Undergraduate Studies at Ringling College, spearheaded both the community partnership and Art Ovation’s first exhibit, LEGACY. He utilized the Ringling College Collaboratory’s ability to bring together businesses and students for real-world experiential learning collaborations. LEGACY, An Exhibit by Ringling College of Art and Design Faculty and Alumni, was on display when the hotel opened its doors in early 2018. “It’s exciting to bring twelve artists and fifty works by dedicated professors and successful alumni to the community. It’s been a great journey,” says Schwartz. As a part of Project Sketchbook, students drew and designed individual specialty pieces on the first page of leather-bound sketchbooks, each ultimately placed in one of Art Ovation’s 162 rooms for the purpose of inspiring guests to draw, write, or doodle in its accompanying pages. This created an invisible thread from guest to guest and from guest to Ringling College. One of the most notable, and valuable, aspects of this partnership, however, is the influence of Ringling College’s Business of Art and Design Major (BOAD). “Last year, students in the BOAD program toured the hotel while it was under construction,” says Kathleen Sobr, BOAD’s Department Head. “Over the spring semester, students worked with the hotel’s Cultural Curator, Lisa DiFranza, to develop concepts for interactive guest experiences and in-house event programming,” she says. “Now, one year later, we have a fresh group of students eager to collaborate on a new project for Art Ovation. This time, they will be diving even deeper to develop rich insights about Sarasota’s diverse population of travelers, young professionals, and retirees,” she says, adding “Experiential learning projects like these help close the theory-practice gap for our students and are a vital part of our curriculum.” DiFranza agrees, “It’s quite incredible to see how BOAD is integrated into the ways we are thinking about our programming and marketing and the influence the students bring into how we include the community and visitors.”

During the Ringling College Illustration show at Art Ovation, The Doo-Shots provided musical accompaniment with Illustration Department Head Scott Gordley on the saxophone.

A myriad of engagements, exhibitions, and interactive events are regularly featured and on rotation at the hotel. Currently, the Creative Writing Program is hosting a ‘Meet the Author’ drop-in event in the lobby as part of its Visiting Writers Forum. The Illustration Department recently utilized Art Ovation’s Artists’ Studio to celebrate the Ringling College Illustration Department’s iconic comic book, Meanwhile, showcasing both the graphic novel and the artists. “Our goal is to expose students and the public to working writers and their blueprints for success. We’re aiming to shatter the myth of the starving writer,” says Creative Writing faculty, Rick Dakan. Demonstrations, internships, and exhibition opportunities are continually in motion between the College and the hotel. “It may be a Ringling College event,” says DiFranza, “but it still activates that lobby space and creates a fun event for our guests.” Meaning, even if the spotlight is on Ringling College, Art Ovation appreciates being on the stage. Proving, yet again, that collaboration reigns supreme.

Megan Greenberg is a freelance writer, coordinator for the Ringling College Collaboratory, and Director for PINC Sarasota.

CONTXT | SPRING 2019

AND THE AWARD GOES TO… By Stephanie Lederer

2018 was a banner year for the already-awardwinning Ringling College Computer Animation major. Heralded as the best in the world by 3D World Magazine and consistently listed among the top animation programs by Animation Magazine and Animation Career Review, the 27-year-old, boundary-breaking major just received three more accolades: • #1 ANIMATION SCHOOL BY ANIMATION MAGAZINE • #1 ANIMATION SCHOOL BY COLLEGE MAGAZINE • ONE OF THE “BEST SCHOOLS IN THE U.S. TO BECOME AN AWARD-WINNING FILMMAKER” BY MINIFLIX

#1 is #1, and that’s pretty clear. But how are schools selected for the honor of being one of the “Best Schools in the U.S. to Become An Award-Winning Filmmaker”? The answer is simple: The Student Academy Awards. For the unfamiliar, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences introduced the Student Academy Awards in 1972 “to support and encourage excellence in filmmaking at the collegiate level.” It is one of the top honors a film student can earn, and many go on to receive professional Oscar nominations. And it is competitive. This year, at the 45th Student Academy Awards, winners were selected from a total of 1,582 entries from 278 domestic and 122 international colleges and universities. These entries were whittled down to just seven finalists voted upon by a record number of Academy members. Four of those seven finalists were recent graduates of Ringling College.

But that’s not all. Winners are notified they have won an award, and, in keeping with the suspense of the professional Academy Awards, they don’t know which award they will be taking home. Students fly out to Beverly Hills in the fall to attend the Student Academy Awards Ceremony and receive their medal in front of their families, faculty, staff, peers, and industry professionals. Ringling College Computer Animation frequently claims top rankings and was bestowed the title of “the king of short animated films” by Miniflix. And with 14 student winners since 1998, the title is well-deserved. Jim McCampbell, Head of the Computer Animation department and one of Variety’s “2018 Entertainment Educators of the Year,” explains, “Winning a Student Academy Award is a huge boost to a recent graduate’s career. Not only does it gain them notoriety and attention, it also confirms their growth as a filmmaker to the public on an enormous scale. But most of all... it gets their film in a spotlight where it can bring the joy of the art form to countless thousands.” While the winning films vary in topic and message, one thing is certain: Ringling College students, graduates, and faculty have a lot to be proud of.

201 8

“ReGifted” by Eaza Shukla

2017

REGIFTED

“In A Heartbeat” by Beth David and Esteban Bravo

DEPARTURE OF LOVE

2016

“The Wishgranter” by Kal Athannassov, John McDonald, and Echo Wu

201 3

IN A HEARTBEAT

“Dia De Los Muertos” by Lindsey St. Pierre, Ashley Graham, and Kate Reynolds

THE VISIONARY

201 3

“Peck Pocketed” by Kevin Herron

201 2

THE WISHGRANTER

“My Little Friend” by Eric Prah

A LEG UP

201 1

“Defective Detective” by Avner Geller, and Stevie Lewis

2010

“Departure of Love” by Jennifer Bors DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

THE DANCING THIEF

20 0 8

“The Visionary” by Evan Mayfield

20 0 7

“A Leg Up” by Bevin Carnes PECK POCKETED

20 0 6

THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT

“The Dancing Thief” by Meng Vue

20 0 5

“Things That Go Bump in the Night” by Josh Beveridge MY LITTLE FRIEND

20 02

PASSING MOMENTS

“Passing Moments” by Don Phillips, Jr.

19 98

“Jataka” by Peter Choe, Jeff Baker, Neal Nellans, Dominick Cecere, and James Hill

DEFECTIVE DETECTIVE

JATAKA

CONTXT | SPRING 2019 43

R+R

YOU CAN’T GET A JOB WITHOUT EXPERIENCE. BUT YOU CAN’T GET EXPERIENCE WITHOUT A JOB. The paradox is as old as the dawn of higher education and as relevant today as it was then. So, we thought we would do something about it. Five years ago, Ringling College of Art and Design introduced the “Ringling College Collaboratory Commitment*,” a guarantee that every student will have the opportunity to take on actual client work during their time at the College. Students get connected with businesses via a number of channels:

+ ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT PROJECTS + ART NETWORK + CAREER SERVICES INTERNSHIPS + THE COLLABORATORY + DESIGN CENTER + SERVICE-LEARNING + VOLUNTEERISM + STUDENT LIFE + THE RINGLING COLLEGE STUDIO LABS This section presents a handful of these projects, with an in-depth look at the specific challenge presented, the process, and the results. Notice, you won’t read about our students making copies or running out for coffee. They’re building experience, portfolios, and the confidence to break out of the catch-22 and into the career of their dreams.

*The Collaboratory is an initiative developed by Ringling College in partnership with The Patterson Foundation that provides creative, experiential learning opportunities to all of its students.

44 CONTXT | SPRING 2019

ART NETWORK DOCUMENTARY CLASS:

A LESSON IN ULTRA-IMMERSIVE LEARNING

Stills from On the Wings of Performance.

BY LISA MOODY | PHOTO BY RICH SCHINELLER

THE CHALLENGE. In just 15 weeks, students with varying degrees of production experience had to work together to produce a one-hour, broadcastready documentary. My challenge as instructor of an elective course was to respect the students’ time and energy, as I’m highly aware of the workload in their majors. I wanted them to learn so much in a short amount of time, while also keeping everything we do limited to class time. This was most challenging for the shoot schedule, because it meant students had to coordinate all of their subjects to be filmed the one day a week that the class met. The ultimate prize, if the film was good enough, was an actual airing on television.

THE PROCESS. Nine students signed up for the spring ’18 class. They came from majors including Visual Studies, Business of Art and Design, and Motion Design. First we studied the basics of documentary production, then met with our broadcast partners at ABC7/WWSB to learn their requirements and gain insight into how broadcast television operates. Students then brainstormed topic ideas in groups and developed their pitch for ABC7 network executives. From the pitches presented, the network chose the topic “How mentorship changes lives in performing arts.” Broadcast television still operates through an advertising model, which means we had to produce the show to their exact “clock,” or time requirements. We divided the segments among the students and each was responsible for producing, directing, and editing a segment, with the challenge of making the documentary look cohesive. This is a tall order for highly seasoned professionals, and the students devised creative solutions to ensure consistency throughout the production, graphics, music, and show flow. They assigned crew roles using their classmates, so at some point everyone had to operate cameras, record audio, act as a script supervisor, etc. We hired an outside lighting director, and enlisted ART Network’s Production Manager, Marquee Doyle, to mentor students on set. We were the first class to utilize the new Studio Labs Soundstage A. And it was a joy.

THE RESULTS. In 15 weeks, these students learned every aspect of documentary production. They worked with network executives, pushed through the challenges, and saw the rewards this level of collaboration can bring. They also saw the challenges. For our premiere, there were many things that went wrong, by no fault of the students, and five minutes before the documentary was to premiere in an auditorium full of family, friends, College administrators, donors, trustees, and network executives, I had to let the students know it was not ready to be viewed. Instead, I asked them to introduce their individual segments, which we showed unfinished before opening the floor for questions. It doesn’t get more “real-world” than this. They rose to the occasion and handled themselves professionally, with more confidence than I’ve seen in industry professionals. In my own 22-year career in television, I have never experienced something so stressful, yet it resulted in the proudest student moment in my nine years at Ringling College of Art and Design. In the end, ABC asked for a year-long license to run the documentary, On the Wings of Performance. It has aired twice as a primetime broadcast, and also shows on its OTT streaming platform. It was recently entered in the Sarasota Film Festival. My students have said that this class is one of the most intense experiences they’ve had at Ringling College. I’m not surprised. I mean, who does this? Yet they say the level of hands-on, real-world experience they got and the skills they developed are more than worth it. I understand that, because as a director/producer, there is no greater reward than seeing your work air on television. Beyond that, these students will graduate with an actual network broadcast credit which is something not a lot of college students can say.

Lisa Moody is an Emmy-award winning writer and executive producer. For Ringling College, she serves as Interim Director for Communication Strategies, Director of the All Ringling Television Network (ART Network), and adjunct faculty.

CONTXT | SPRING 2019 45

R+R THE PROCESS. Visiting students were challenged to approach specific sites and themes in each city through their subjective cultural and artistic perspectives and exhibit the results within a week. At its core, the overarching premise of Mapping a Site was to imbue cultural exchange. Students learned about the areas they were going to represent with their art, while assuring an intense collaborative experience given the compressed time frame of the assignments and exhibition. Environmental Art Professor Markku Hakuri of Aalto University defined Mapping a Site as being “focused on developing methods for understanding the complexity of the environments that surround us and are created by us. This workshop examines sites beyond their visual and aesthetic qualities and investigates the multiplicity of contexts that create a site.” The innovative exchange program launched in 2012/2013 with Historic Neighborhoods as its inaugural theme. Faculty and students from Ringling College, Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland, and Sint Lucas School of Arts and the Royal Academy in Antwerp, Belgium collaborated in Sarasota and Antwerp. Participant expertise spanned multiple artistic disciplines, including photography, fine art, motion design, and graphic design.

Antwerp, Belgium

Sarasota, Florida

Mapping a Site 2012-2013 Aalto student participant Salla Salin expressed her experience cogently, saying that “the intensive one-week process of mapping various layers of the chosen sites and sharing these perceptions within our group of international participants, as well as with the people of the respective cities, seemed to highlight not only certain specificities of the sites, but also themes of perspective and identity on a personal level.” The 2013-2014 Mapping a Site: In and Out of Context program focused on Traces of Post-Colonialism; 2014-2015 on Spectacle; 2015-2016 on Waterways; 2016-2017 on Architecture and Memory; and 2017-2018 on Food and Ritual.

THE RESULTS.

MAPPING A SITE —

IN AND OUT OF CONTEXT

Over the six years of the project, students created “maps” of the two cities of Sarasota and Antwerp through the collective sensibilities of young artists and designers. The results took the form of still images, paintings, time-based work, sculpture, installations, and performance.

BY RICH SCHINELLER | PHOTOS COURTESY OF THOMAS CARABASI

THE CHALLENGE. About ten years ago, Ringling College Photography and Imaging Department Head Thomas Carabasi participated in a traditional faculty and student exchange with Sint Lucas School of the Arts in Antwerp, Belgium and discovered that conflicting academic calendars and logistical issues were making it clear that a different format might facilitate a better experience for all involved. In Carabasi’s words, “Our challenge was to create an immersive and collaborative international art student exchange model focused upon the importance of art as experience and cultural context.” Mapping a Site—In and Out of Context came together in 2012 when Tom and Kurt Vanbelleghem of the Sint Lucas School of the Arts finalized their plans for creating a truly engaging exchange experience for students and faculty. The program was designed to take place annually over the course of six years. Each year, participating students in Antwerp and Sarasota would undertake a seven- to ten-day intensive workshop abroad, with Ringling College students visiting Antwerp and Sint Lucas students visiting Sarasota. Students would visit specific sites in their new city and capture them in their medium of choice, from photography to fine arts and more, keeping that year’s specific theme in mind. The goal, in addition to providing students the opportunity to work collectively outside of the classroom, was to create a “map” of their artistic responses that spoke about each city by the end of the six-year partnership. 46 CONTXT | SPRING 2019

In the words of Philip Heylan, former vice-mayor of Antwerp, “The importance of art is that it has the potential to inspire people and expand their vision and awareness of society. The Mapping a Site – In and Out of Context project brought young artists and designers together from two cities with very different cultural heritages and gave them the opportunity to experience the many lessons of difference. This experience gave the participants a chance to grow as both artists and human beings and demonstrated my belief that, ultimately, we are united by our diversity.” Mapping a Site – In and Out of Context represented the spirit of students from very different cultural contexts working together to explore both the expressive and descriptive possibilities of collaboration and mutual respect. The results, along with the experience earned, is a very unique tale of two cities. Rich Schineller is a communications and imaging advisor for Ringling College.

Stills from Detling’s Vote Together animated GIF.

He then sketched out rough storyboards for the message each animated GIF would relay. Once the characters and stories were laid out, each GIF took approximately 5-7 hours to create. In these mini-stories, ranging from 4 seconds to 15 seconds in length, the lovable little guys showcase the interactions and details every voter experiences, from the hard decision-making process to proudly claiming the coveted “I Voted” sticker. They remind the viewers to “Get Out and Vote,” “Your Vote Counts,” “Vote Together,” and “Participation is a Celebration.”

DEMOCRACY IN MOTION BY STEPHANIE LEDERER

THE CHALLENGE. Students can choose to get involved with client work through a number of programs at Ringling College of Art and Design, but many get this first-hand experience in the classroom. In the fourth-year Motion Design Senior Thesis course, students select a project from over 50 client briefs. This means 50+ ways to work on client-based projects, build their portfolios, and gain an understanding of the professional expectations of the industry. In the fall 2018 semester, one student, Paul Detling (also the 2018 Trustee Scholar for Motion Design), chose to work on the Civic Nation’s Vote Together campaign, which aims to “change the culture of voting and increase participating by making democracy an opportunity for community celebration.” From a motion design perspective, the brief asked for four short, looping, animations (GIFS) that would be shared via the Civic Nation social media channels. The project had two end goals: to inspire others to vote in the upcoming 2018 midterm elections and to increase traffic to the Vote Together website, where interested parties could find information about the program, FAQs, and resources for how to get involved. Detling was intrigued. “I chose this project because I have an interest in politics,” he shares. “When I read the brief, I had an immediate idea of what I could do in this space. Couple that with the fact that I like to animate GIFs that loop, with no start or end, and it was an instant fit.” A great fit it certainly was, but he had just two short weeks to bring it to life.

THE PROCESS. Over the course of the next two weeks, Detling got to work, starting with sketches to develop the look and feel of the story. He tried several approaches, landing on a character-based approach to connect with people and broaden his options for storytelling. He refined his characters to what you see today: an anthropomorphized red circle and a blue circle. Simple, yet highly effective and relatable.

Detling also took the current political climate into consideration, taking care to represent viewers from both sides of the aisle, hence red and blue characters, and deliver messages with universal appeal. “This was really about delivering something everyone could enjoy, as well as serving as a reminder of the importance of voting,” says Detling. “The GIFs were supposed to appeal to everyone.” But the artwork wasn’t created alone—like any designer, Detling was tasked to work within the parameters of the Vote Together brand and to meet the high standards of Ed Cheetham, the Head of the Department of Motion Design at Ringling College, and his faculty. Cheetham expounds, “In our department, we provide an opportunity for all the motion design students to use their motion design skills to raise awareness of important social issues, and ultimately use their creative powers for good. Having the Department of Motion Design engage with Civic Nation provides a tangible pathway for students to get involved, take action, and help make a positive difference in the world.” He continues, “I was very excited to see Paul select the voting awareness project. I knew that his creativity, coupled with his love of stop motion animation, would make for a charming and memorable reminder to get out and vote.”

THE RESULTS. “These are awesome! Thank you so much for all your hard work. Great job.” JESSICA BLAIR – CIVIC NATION

“…these are beyond cool.” CASSIE WILKINSON – LOYALKASPAR

Needless to say, the client was pleased. The animated GIFs were used by Civic Nation on its Instagram and Twitter accounts. “It’s great to see something I had a part in actually be used,” Detling says. But more than that, it was an opportunity for Detling to work with clients to deliver a product that meets their needs, supports their brand, and pushes their message forward. Not to mention, it was also a valuable addition to his portfolio as a professional motion designer.

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R+R

CROSSLEY GALLERY: A STUDENT TAKEOVER BY MINNA GANNON ’20

THE PROJECT. Ringling College of Art and Design loves to give students hands-on projects to gain real-world experience. Every year, two Fine Arts students are chosen as Gallery Directors to curate shows in Crossley Gallery, allowing fellow students to showcase their own works. The students can submit any number of pieces as long as they fit the theme. In 2018-19, seniors Savannah Magnolia and Meagan Hindel chose the theme Macabre. As a number of the participants discovered, curating a gallery exhibition is a complex process where a multitude of works come together to create and hang an engaging show. Many who submitted their work in the Macabre show did so knowing what an invaluable experience the College was offering and would undoubtedly use it to bolster their résumés.

THE PROCESS. Challenges always crop up when putting together a professional-level gallery exhibition, and Macabre was no exception. Even seasoned professionals of the fine arts world still find certain aspects difficult to conquer. Joe Fig, Head of the Fine Arts Department, explained, “There will always be an artist who wants a few more days to finish a piece or is making last-minute changes and fighting a deadline. The key is communication.” Communication is integral between the artists, directors, and in this case, the faculty. To those who participated, they know the power of a deadline. It looms over them constantly as the driving force of the process. And before that ever-so-close deadline, students had to submit at least one piece to put in the show while exhibiting professionalism, dedication, and hard work. As for the student directors, they were given many tasks. One was to collect and look after the pieces from each student. But their biggest job was to curate them in an aesthetically pleasing manner in the professional, 1,200-square-foot gallery that equals a real-world gallery in any metropolitan art scene. They also acted as the go-between for the students and faculty to ensure everything went smoothly. For the faculty involved, they gave the students the tools and knowledge to put a show together, but mostly gave the students the ability to take full control. How’s that for experience?

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THE RESULTS. The most unique part of the process is what each individual artist took away from the exhibition. For some, like Fig, the outcome reveals a beautiful sense of community and professionalism. For students like Fine Arts senior Kiara Rodriguez, who hung her piece inspired by the series of killings committed by H.H. Holmes, it was a thrilling experience. “Having people view and critique my work without knowing who I am was exhilarating,” she said. “It made me so giddy, I couldn’t wait to be involved in more experiences like that. I think every artist should participate in a gallery showing at least once.” The Crossley’s purpose highlights Ringling College’s dedication to furthering each student’s level of professionalism and experience. No matter your department, stop by Crossley Gallery. Better yet, submit!

Minna Gannon is a third-year Creative Writing student at Ringling College.

Above: Students prepare the gallery for Senior Portfolio Night. Opposite: Various student shows through the years. Photos by Forrest MacDonald, and courtesy of the Ringling College Fine Arts Department.

GIVING

DEAR FRIENDS, As we celebrate Dr. Larry R. Thompson’s 20th year as President of Ringling College of Art and Design, this quote resonates with me:

“A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit.” –

D. ELTON TRUEBLOOD

– STACEY CORLEY, VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT Photo by Elan Photography

THE

ART of

GIVING

Two decades ago, Larry came to Ringling College with dreams and ideas of what the College could become. He created a vision of Ringling College becoming the preeminent art and design college in the world. He has talked endlessly about Ringling College being on a fast trajectory and of shattering the myth of the starving artist. For 20 years, he has inspired our faculty, staff, students, trustees, and friends to live that vision—not just to think about it or dream about it, but to do our part to make it a reality. A 2017 survey conducted by the American Council on Education showed that the average tenure for college leaders was only six-and-a-half years and continues to get shorter. Many college presidents move on to other institutions, never seeing the fruits of their labors or having the opportunity to sit under the shade of the trees they planted. Yet after 20 years, Larry’s passion for Ringling College is as strong as ever, and so is the energy he puts into it. Now, we are at a tipping point. We are beginning to see his vision become a reality. The collective results are more than any one of us could have imagined. The evolution and growth of Ringling College has been transformational. The accolades, accomplishments, and successes continue and are too numerous to count. Our students’ and faculty’s work is being recognized as the best in their respective fields. New trees were planted this year, as student enrollment set records and numerous, gorgeous new facilities opened their doors.

Donors are a big reason for Ringling College’s success. The incredible generosity and support Ringling College has received from friends like you has helped us realize the vision Larry set forth all those years ago. Your thoughtful gifts of time, energy, and financial resources have placed the College among the top art and design colleges in the world. We know it doesn’t end here. Ringling College’s impact is not just in Sarasota or Bradenton, not just throughout southwest Florida or across the state. Ringling College is impacting the world. How? It happens one design at a time, one artwork at a time, and through every creative thought our graduates and students bring to companies and communities. Your gifts create scholarships, creative learning spaces, cutting-edge academic programming, student life resources, community engagement spaces in our on-campus galleries, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College, the School of Continuing Studies, and the Sarasota Museum of Art. You are impacting the world. So as our Advancement team trims the branches and fertilizes the trees, we know that we may never sit under their shade. There’s no time for resting. There’s much work to be done. And, in many cases, the fruits of this labor will be seen far into the future. Garnering support and working with donors to ensure Ringling College and our students continue to bring creativity to the world, tomorrow and for generations to come, is an awesome and rewarding task. Thank you for your role in helping Ringling College impact the world.

+ With gratitude,

Stacey R. Corley, Vice President for Advancement

S H E RRY + TOM KOSK I The Time Bandits Theory BY SU BYRON | PHOTO BY MATTHEW HOLLER ’11

Sherry and Tom Koski believe in the power of education. They back it up with generous giving— throughout the community and at Ringling College. For the Koskis, giving and entrepreneurship are family traditions. Tom’s father, Bob Koski, co-founded Sun Hydraulics and grew the Sarasota-based business into a global phenomenon—but never forgot his roots. Since its earliest days, the firm empowered area nonprofits to do good work. It clearly made an impression on Tom.

distant future, everything that can be automated will be. Human creativity is the one thing that can’t be programmed. Now more than ever, we need to teach creativity to the next generation.” The Koskis believe in Thompson’s educational priorities and his emphasis on learning by doing. They put their money where their belief is—and have supported a range of programs at the College ever since. The Koskis set a fundraising record when they chaired “An Evening at the Avant-Garde” in 2017. They are strong backers of YEA (Youth Experiencing Art)—an integrative arts program unleashing creativity in Title I classrooms. And they have also given to a student professional development fund, which empowers hard-pressed graduating students to focus on their senior projects, without worrying about making ends meet. Working with Wendy Surkis, who led the effort, they moved heaven and earth to restore the Gothic splendor of the 1926 Sarasota High School building— and gave the Sarasota Museum of Art a future home in the process. Tom went to school in that building and is passionate about its preservation and led the effort to raise money from fellow graduates to name the auditorium for the alumni.

“Everything I know about giving back, I learned from my folks,” he says. “I’ve got big shoes to fill.” Sherry agrees, “Sarasota has been extremely good to us; it’s only natural that we give back.” Why is education at the top of their giving list?

These initiatives are all effective—both on campus and in the community. But the Koskis don’t define effectiveness in utilitarian terms.

“Because it changes lives,” says Tom. “To quote my two favorite bumper stickers: ‘There’s nothing wrong with this world that a good education can’t fix,’ and ‘Children may be a third of our population, but they’re 100% of our future’.”

“Arts education can definitely have a professional payoff,” says Tom. “But it means much more than getting a job. The deepest reward is fulfilling your human potential. The arts can do that like nothing else can.”

The Koskis support a host of educational initiatives that have one thing in common—they have measurable goals that they actually meet. What’s their secret? How do they know? “It comes down to the human factor,” says Sherry. “We form relationships, ask questions, and keep searching until we strike educational gold.” Tom explains. First, find the right people. Visionaries who dream big but also get things done. Next, find the right programs—ones that create real human connections and generate visible results. They found both at Ringling College. Starting with Dr. Larry R. Thompson. “We had a true meeting of the minds,” says Sherry. “We instantly saw eye to eye.” Their discussions were electric. Dr. Thompson shares their belief in education and their love of the arts. “There’s a push to reduce education to ‘STEM,’” says Tom. “Larry pushes back by adding an ‘A’ for arts and making it ‘STEAM.’ In the not-too-

“Yes, they can,” says Sherry. “It’s a kind of magic.” How does the magic happen? Tom answers with a theory. He calls it the “Time Bandits Theory,” in honor of Terry Gilliam’s movie. “We’ve all experienced those moments when time disappears,” he explains. “Time Bandits appear when you’re doing something creative. For me, it was music, but it’s different for everyone. I think that’s the key to education. Identify the Time Bandits for every student—the activity that makes time disappear—and we have an insight to their natural talents. If we then feed these talents, we increase our odds of creating successful adults.” “That happens every day at Ringling College,” says Sherry. “They’re experts at introducing talented young people to their own Time Bandits. We’re just happy to be part of the process.” Su Byron is a poet and freelance writer based in Sarasota.

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GIVING

L I N DA + DIC K DIC KINSO N Investing in the Future BY SU BYRON | PHOTO BY MATTHEW HOLLER ’11

Linda and Dick Dickinson have been pillars of the Sarasota community for decades. After making his mark as a photographer for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and the St. Petersburg Times, Dick launched his own independent studio in 1978. Along with his acclaimed commercial work, he also captures award-winning images of nature’s splendor. Linda moved here in 1975, and quickly built up a thriving real estate business. She’s also found a new passion in ceramics, with its vast array of challenges. Together, they’ve created the perfect balance between work, fun, art, home, and community. It’s a storybook life. But their story’s not all about themselves. For decades they’ve given back to the community, and Ringling College of Art and Design has been at the top of their giving list. Over the years, Dick has mentored—and hired—the College’s photography students. He has also empowered senior students with financial assistance. Linda became a Ringling College Trustee in 2008. She pours her heart and soul into the College’s work. Their support for Ringling College runs deep and crosses different aspects of campus life, scholarships, and programs. They’re also an integral part of the College’s recent transformation of the former Sarasota High School building into the new Sarasota Museum of Art. Along with providing teaching and exhibition space, this cuttingedge, contemporary art museum will be home to the Dick and Linda Dickinson Ceramics Studio. Like the Museum itself, this state-of-theart facility will be open to the entire community. Access to art and creativity matters to Linda and Dick. It’s why they support Ringling College. And it’s what gives Sarasota Museum of Art the home team advantage.

“As President Larry Thompson often points out, Ringling College has never had a football team,” Linda explains. “From his and our perspective, Sarasota Museum of Art will be that football team. It will become a major destination for people from around the country. It will also be a source of inspiration for the people who live here.” “We’re so happy to work with the Museum’s Executive Director Anne-Marie Russell,” adds Dick. “She thinks both globally and locally—a rare combination.” Why has Ringling College captured their hearts? You could say it’s all about the College’s mission. But the Dickinsons wouldn’t say that—it’s far too abstract. They think in human terms. As they see it, the College’s mission boils down to people. And their potential.

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“We’re moved by the students, instructors, and staff of the College,” Linda says. “The Ringling College team does a remarkable job of preparing students for the real world—and our tremendously talented graduates have helped put Sarasota on the global map. Their success is truly our success.” Dick agrees. “It’s all about investing in the future,” he says. “The students at Ringling College are the best and the brightest. They’re the creators and innovators of tomorrow, and what they learn today makes it possible. By giving to the students, we’re giving to the future— and that’s the wisest investment there is.”

N AT H AL IE MCCUL LO CH Close Encounters with Learning BY SU BYRON | PHOTO: OBSERVER MEDIA GROUP

Nathalie McCulloch loves libraries. And she puts that love into action. She was on the advisory committee for Sarasota’s reinvented Selby Public Library built in 1998 and ensured that Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ new master plan would incorporate a cutting-edge research library. McCulloch also helped spearhead support for Ringling College of Art and Design’s stunning Alfred R. Goldstein Library, which has become a dynamic hub for students, staff, and community members. Inside, you’ll even find a group study room with her name on it: “Nat’s Study.” Nostalgia isn’t her driving force. McCulloch knows that the technology-rich library of today is far different from the library of her childhood. She’ll remind you that, despite the transformations of the information revolution, one thing hasn’t changed. Libraries still serve a vital purpose. “Libraries have to adapt to the times,” she says. “The Alfred R. Goldstein Library has done exactly that in a wonderful way.” She describes the new library in lyrical terms. It’s an oasis of stateof-the-art learning. A discovery center for 21st-century knowledge seekers. A gateway to world-class digital collections and resources. Above all, it’s a constant work in progress. “Ringling College’s library is designed to meet the needs of the scholars of today and tomorrow,” she says. “As technology changes, the library changes with it. It’s a never-ending adventure.” She adds that technology is only a means to an end. Nurturing a community of learning is always the point. Like traditional libraries, the College’s library is a warm and inviting gathering space. “It’s a true sanctuary for mind and spirit,” she says. “Students connect on a human level there.” McCulloch smiles just thinking about it.

Nathalie McCulloch at a Ringling College event.

“THE INHERITANCE OF ART AND CIVILIZATION IS A FRAGILE, BEAUTIFUL TREASURE.” IN MEMORIAM January 2019 Interviewed January 2019

“Our library is a colorful place, a delightful place, and a welcoming place,” she says. “You want to be there.” McCulloch recently created the Nathalie McCulloch Endowed Library Fund at Ringling College. It will help build the College’s book collections, assist with the purchase of library materials, launch new programs, including an Artist in Residence program, and provide robust library services to students. McCulloch’s passion for giving is strong. And it’s always been a part of her. That passion was forged in her childhood home. It was further refined when she went away to the Brimmer and May School in Boston. “They taught us early,” she says. “We learned the principles of the spirit of volunteerism in our freshman year. It stayed with me.” McCulloch volunteered at the Boston Hospital as a student. Her philanthropy didn’t stop after graduation, marriage, and all the passages of life that followed. When McCulloch and her late husband John moved to Casey Key in 1976, she didn’t wait to continue her life of service. She immediately sought worthy organizations and events to lend her expertise and support. When she met Dr. Larry R. Thompson, she knew she had found the right place—and the right person leading it. “The inheritance of art and civilization is a fragile, beautiful treasure,” she says. “Larry is a brilliant visionary and, through his leadership, Ringling College is passing that treasure on to the next generation,” she says. “I’m so happy to be a part.”

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THE FIFTIES 1952 Ella Beth (McAdams) Ford (Fine Arts) exhibited some of her award-winning artwork spanning 50 years in Beth Ford: A Selective Retrospective, at the Polk Museum of Art (Lakeland, FL), from May-September 2018. Professor Emeritus of Florida Southern College and an award-winning artist, Beth is the author and illustrator of Room 4, a memoir of her early Mississippi years, published in 2018. ROOM4BETHFORD.COM

THE SIXTIES

1972 Theodore Morris (Commercial Design) was featured on WEDU-TV’s Arts Plus in July 2018 with his Florida Lost Tribes artwork, which honors Native Americans. Theodore exhibited a solo show at Ringling College’s MADEBY Gallery in January 2019. FLORIDALOSTTRIBES.COM

1976 Regan Dunnick (Fine Arts) exhibited a solo show, Why Yes, My Sketchbooks Are for Work and Pleasure, in Ringling College’s Selby Foundation Gallery from SeptemberOctober 2018. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reviewed the exhibition in “Regan Dunnick Fills His Sketchbooks with a Humorous Take on Life.” Proceeds from sale of the show’s work were donated to the American Cancer Society in memory of Regan’s spouse Debbie (Moore) Dunnick ’03.

1966 Wendell Minor (Commercial Design) was honored by the Norman Rockwell Museum with its Artist Lauriet Award, presented to him by author, client, and friend David McCullough in June 2018. Wendell Minor’s America was on view at the museum from April-October 2018. MINORART.COM

1968 Tom Leigh (Commercial Design) was profiled in The Ellsworth American’s, “Artist Tom Leigh and Ark Director Produce Children’s Book” in May 2018. Tom’s career in illustration from Hallmark through Sesame Street, to Nickelodeon and Disney was noted, in addition to his passion for animal welfare. Proceeds from the sale of Hope for Someday benefitted the Ark Animal Shelter in Cherryfield, ME.

THE SEVENTIES 1970 Pam (Beagle) Daresta (Fashion Design) had a solo exhibition, Orarius Ara, at Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association in Blue Ridge, GA, from January-February 2018. Paul Ladnier (Advertising Design, Graphic Design, and Illustration) exhibited in the group show, The Fine Line, at The Space Gallery, Jacksonville, FL in 2017. Paul retired Professor Emeritus from North Florida University in 2010 with an honorary eponymous student scholarship. Represented by Jacksonville’s South Light Galleries and CoRK Studios, Paul became a member of New York’s Salmagundi Club in 2017. Paul and his wife Jeannette reside in Jacksonville where he teaches and paints on commission. PAULLADNIER.COM

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THE EIGHTIES 1980 Brett LaGue (Graphic Design & Illustration) headlined a watercolor and wine workshop in October 2018 at Olin Hall Gallery at Roanoke College during Virginia Watercolor Society’s 39th Annual Exhibition. BRETTLAGUE.COM

1982 Brian Born (Graphic Design) joined Organic/Dallas in October 2018. Over the past 35 years in the advertising industry, Brian has been recognized in D&AD, CA, and One Show. He has been awarded multiple Best of Shows as well as being a judge for the American Advertising Federation. CARGOCOLLECTIVE.COM/BRIANBORN James Covington (Fine Arts) celebrated his 10th anniversary as Scenic Artist for Wolf Films (Law & Order SVU) in 2018. James has also worked as Camera Scenic on numerous films and shows including The Sopranos, and as Back-Drop Artist for stage productions worldwide. Eddie Ryan (Graphic Design) joined Ringling College as Digital Designer in January 2018. Prior to returning to Sarasota, Eddie worked for 32 years in Atlanta at a new, upstart cable channel called CNN, winning multiple awards for his outstanding motion design.

1983 Laura (Keatts) Avery (Fine Arts) joined the staff of the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens as Manager of Classes & Exhibits in April 2016. Ken Beberman (Illustration) exhibited in a solo show at the Heart of Delray Gallery in January 2019. BEBERMAN.COM

1985

1994

Jullie (Butts) Jones (Graphic Design) and her husband Dr. Rev. David F. Jones celebrated their 33rd anniversary in 2018. Jullie owns Oil on Canvas, specializing in 30 x 40 and larger canvas art, in Woodlands, TX. WOODLANDSARTLEAGUE.COM

Joseph Patrick Arnegger (Fine Arts) and his spouse Ashley welcomed their child Amelia in April 2018. JOSEPHARNEGGER.COM

Tom Chambers (Graphic Design) released Heart and Bones, a retrospective of his nine photomontage series, in October 2018, by Unicorn Publishing Group. Exhibitions in Chicago, Boston, Richmond, and Santa Fe surrounded Tom’s book signings and lectures. TOMCHAMBERSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

1986 Eric Hope (Illustration) launched Eric Hope Media in November 2018. After 15 years as a graphic artist with BB King Blues Club, Eric’s new venture is based in Long Island City, NY and specializes in graphic design, digital composition, and digital coloring for the music and entertainment industry. ERICHOPE.COM

1988 Missy Leigh Lynch (Illustration) released A Friend for Sidney, a heartwarming story of acceptance, in April 2018, by St. Clair Publishing. Missy was interviewed on WBIR-TV’s Live at Five at Four about her journey in authoring and illustrating this children’s book and its important message.

1989 Joe Fiorello (Fine Arts) was honored by Provincetown Art Association & Museum, America’s oldest continuous art colony, with its Award for Outstanding Volunteerism and Artistic Excellence at its PAAM Party in October 2018.

THE NINETIES 1990 Dave Hoffman (Graphic Design) relocated to Tokyo in June 2018 as Director, Creative Development for Walt Disney Imagineering Japan. He oversees the team and content being developed locally at the Tokyo Disney Resort. Dave began his career in graphic design and, in his 28 years at Walt Disney Imagineering, he has served as park Art Director and more recently, Creative Director for Disney Springs. Jeffery James (Graphic Design) celebrated his firm’s 15th anniversary in May 2018. Spire2 Communications, Inc. provides full-service marketing and communications for clients in the greater Chicagoland area. Jeffery and his spouse Clarinda reside in Naperville, IL with their five children. SPIRE2.COM

1991 Eric Binder (Illustration) is celebrating his 10th year owning and operating two locations of Ronny’s Pizza in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, with his spouse and three sons. Eric also teaches at International Design School at Georgian Technical University. RONNYSPIZZA.COM Michael Inman (Illustration) departed Warner Bros Animation in Burbank in July 2018 and joined Brown Bag Films in Manchester, England, in August 2018 as Supervising Art Director. Mike serves as key point of contact for the art department for the Manchester-based team and is an advocate for the studio art department at events. Mike also works closely with recruitment in hiring of key resources for the Art Department at BBF/Manchester, including advising on job descriptions, profile reviews, and interviewing. INMANART.COM

1993

David Sporn (Graphic Design) and wife Dana celebrated 20 years of marriage in June 2018. David teaches drawing and painting at Loara High School in Anaheim, CA.

1996 Jennifer (Arminio) Borresen (Illustration) was part of the 2018 EPPY Award winning team at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune as Design Editor for “One War. Two Races.” Suzanne (Martino) DuFour (Illustration) was elected President for the New Jersey Art Therapy Association, with her term commencing January 2019. In October 2017, she completed her 25 hour/3 day SoulCollage® Facilitator training. Sue currently works in private practice as an art therapist and art therapy supervisor for students and new professionals working to complete their ATR credentials. Sascha Wagner (Interior Design) was inducted into the International Interior Design Association College of Fellows in April 2018. Sascha is President & CEO of Huntsman Architectural Group in San Francisco. HUNTSMANAG.COM

1997 Octavio Perez (Illustration) exhibited a solo show, Octavio Perez – Illustrations at Ringling College’s Patricia Thompson Gallery from May-September 2018. Teaching full time at Ringling College since 2001, Octavio resides in Bradenton with his wife Suzanne and daughter Maya.

1998 Nicole Bartet Lofald (Illustration) launched Loopy Gear, a subsidiary of Bartet Studios, in 2017. Loopy Gear is sold all over the US and has distribution in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Germany, Saudia Arabia, and throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Nicole was awarded an MFA in Costume Design from the University of South Carolina and is now based in Littleton, Colorado. BARTETSTUDIOS.COM and LOOPYGEAR.COM Misty (Bell) Stiers (Illustration) released Witch, Please: A Memoir: Finding Magic in Modern Times in May 2018, published by Apollo Publishers. Misty’s 2018 book tour included major American city bookstores and universities as well as the Greater New Orleans and New York City Pagan Pride Festivals. Available in all major bookstores. MISTYBELLSTIERS.COM Maria Pavlou (Computer Animation) is co-founder & CEO of PIXEL Giants, in Nicosia, Cypress. Her production, Magic Molly, was exhibited at Cartoon Forum in Toulouse, France in September 2018.

1999 Daniel Bejar (Illustration) exhibited a solo show, Going Public at the Westchester Community College’s Fine Arts Gallery from September-October 2018. Addressing themes relevant to the U.S. fall 2018 election, the exhibition brought together work from three collections of his work: Rec-elections (2012-ongoing); RE-districting (2017) and Get Lost! (2009-2012). DANIELBEJAR.COM Maggie Davenport (Fine Arts) joined Premier Sotheby’s International Realty as a Sales Associate in the firm’s Lakewood Ranch, FL office in May 2018. MAGGIEDAVENPORT.COM

Frederick Weiss (Photography & Digital Imaging) celebrated his 5th year as Creative Director at Star2Star in Sarasota. Frederick is also the mind and voice behind the podcast Thunder Nerds, described as “a conversation with the people behind the technology, that love what they do… and do tech good.” THUNDERNERDS.IO

Dwight Rose (Fine Arts) exhibited a solo show, Far From Home, at the Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg, SC in September 2018. Dwight teaches at Greenville Center for the Creative Arts and Spartanburg Art Museum. DWIGHTROSE.COM

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THE AUGHTS 2000 Amy Beth Christenson (Illustration) is art director of Star Wars: Resistance, an animated series on the Disney Channel. For its premiere in October 2018, Amy Beth was featured in The Wichita Eagle. Amy Beth has worked with LucasArts and LucasFilm since graduation. Android Jones (Computer Animation) was featured in WIRED Magazine, “Creating Art in Virtual Reality—and Entering It” in March 2018. Android exhibited in the group show, No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man at the Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum from March 2018-January 2019, which was reviewed in The New York Times, “Will the Spirit of Burning Man Art Survive in Museums?”

Betsy Mitchell ’85 PAY I N G IT FO RWARD By Su Byron | Photo by Matthew Holler ’11

Quitting isn’t Betsy Mitchell’s style. Passion is. When something moves her heart, she goes the distance. Take art. Mitchell pursued this love at Ringling College of Art and Design, where she studied interior design and space planning from 1982 to 1985. As part of a diverse, creative community, she embarked on a shared adventure through the past, present, and future of visual expression. Heady stuff, and Mitchell loved every minute of it. But she also worked hard. To make ends meet, she got a part-time job. Scholarships weren’t easily available back then. After she graduated with a BFA, Mitchell pursued a successful career in interior design. When children entered the picture, she changed her focus to fundraising and development for nonprofits. Mitchell was equally successful in her new field. But she never forgot her first loves. Art, of course. And also physical competition. Mitchell was a born athlete—until a trampoline accident sidelined her at age 17. She risked losing her leg and people feared she’d never walk again. But she overcame the odds and didn’t stop there. In her 50s, she learned to row and went on to become one of America’s most accomplished para-rowers. A fire in her belly pushed Mitchell beyond the limits that others had set. She brings that same fire to her philanthropic work, along with her expertise in development. At Ringling College, she’s done a world of good. Mitchell created an endowed scholarship at the College, and also gives generous support to capital projects and programs, including the dazzling new Alfred R. Goldstein Library, and Continuing Studies’ PreCollege summer teen program. Mitchell also signed up to be a docent, introducing residents and visitors to the state-of-the-art campus. What creates her special connection to Ringling College? To Mitchell, it’s a way of passing the baton. Empowering the College’s next generation of students to pursue their first loves always makes her smile. “I love seeing students go forward to lead creative and fulfilling lives,” she says. “At some point in our lives, we’ve all been helped by others. Whenever possible, I want to make a difference in someone’s life. My family passed this basic principle on to me—and now it serves as an example to my children, too.”

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Susan Tooker (Illustration) relocated to the greater Orlando area in January 2018 to join Disney Parks Live Entertainment as full-time Costumer in the Character Costuming Department.

2001 Daniel Bemiss (Graphic & Interactive Communication) and Carly (Harrison) Bemiss ’02 (Interior Design) celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary in 2018. Residing in the New York City area with their two children, Emma and Jillian, the Bemisses are remodeling their 1950s home with a second floor for their expanding family. Daniel is celebrating his 4th year at Autel as its Global Marketing Director, managing global teams developing new electronics and automotive diagnostics and creating marketing strategies to support global sales regions. Michael Crabb (Fine Arts) and his partner Jennifer Locke opened Locke & Crabb Gallery in downtown Sarasota in May 2018. Featured in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, “New Gallery Opens Doors of Perception” in June 2018, Michael strives to showcase both “aesthetics and character.” Michael is founder of Working Title Publications, LLC. Lesley Flanigan (Fine Arts) presented new work for oscillators, subwoofers, and voice at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine as part of the Red Bull Music Festival New York in May 2018. LESLEYFLANIGAN.COM

2002 Robert Scott Gilbert (Computer Animation) and his spouse Laurie welcomed their first child Julia Kate in March 2018. Scott is Technical Artist at Tiburon in Orlando. Mike Wewerka (Illustration) exhibited The Vietnam Veteran Portrait Project at Railroad Square’s Southern Exposure Art Gallery, Tallahassee, FL in December 2018. Mike and Tess (Bailey) Wewerka ’09 (Illustration) reside in Tallahassee where Mike runs Mike Wewerka Photography. MIKEWEWERKA.COM

2003 Yael (Rotstein) Campbell (Graphic & Interactive Communication) and Matthew Campbell (Graphic & Interactive Communication) celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary in May 2018. They have two sons, Eitan and Etai. The Campbells own and operate Westcoast Printing in Venice, FL. Justin LaRocca Hansen (Illustration) released the third and final installment of his graphic novel trilogy Secondhand Heroes: The Last Battle, published by Penguin’s Dial Books for Young Readers in April 2018. JUSTINLAROCCAHANSEN.COM

Chalice Mitchell (Fine Arts) and Irene Garibay ’16 (Fine Arts) exhibited in the group show, Hope Will Never Be Silent at Pineapple Yoga Studio & Event Space as part of Sarasota’s Harvey Milk Festival in May 2018. CHALICEMITCHELL.COM

2004 Tobey Albright (Fine Arts) launched HOUR Studio in August 2017. HOUR is a graphic design studio specializing in print, web, and environments. Serving the greater Chicagoland area, HOUR Studio collaborates with artists, architects, and cultural institutions. HOUR.STUDIO Brittny (Ferrarini) Baugh (Graphic & Interactive Communication) celebrated her graphic design company’s 10th anniversary in 2018. REDesigns is a full-service graphic design firm specializing in corporate branding for print, web, and collateral marketing materials located in the Greater Orlando area. REDESIGNS.US

SEND IN YOUR NEWS We want to know what’s happening with you! Share with us and your fellow graduates in Alumni News & Notes. This section includes updates such as life milestones (marriages, babies, relocations, retirements, anniversaries), new jobs and promotions, news and media, accolades and awards, gallery and museum openings, publishing and screenings, etc. Whatever you’d like to share!

Email alumni@ringling.edu

Tristan Henry-Wilson (Illustration), his spouse Josephine Raimo, and daughter Vivian welcomed their second daughter Alessandra in July 2018. An awardwinning illustrator, Tristan joined ‘You Need A Budget’ as Motion Designer in 2017. THEWHITELEAF.COM

Michelle Rene (Illustration) released two novels in 2018: Hour Glass, which won Chanticleer Review’s “Best Book of the Year,” and her experimental novella, Tattoo, which received a starred review in Publisher’s Weekly and was listed in Foreword Reviews top eight sci-fi/fantasy books. MICHELLERENEAUTHOR.COM

2007 Corinne (Aiello) Tau (Illustration) married Haley Tau in June 2017. In 2018, Corinne celebrated her 10th year with Falcon’s Creative Group in Orlando, where she is their Graphic Design Manager.

Jenny (Greene) Medved (Illustration) had a solo exhibition, Indigenous People, Portraits of Heritage and Descent, in the Kellogg Gallery at ArtCenter Manatee from June-July 2018. JENNYMEDVED.COM

Meghan (Jones) Appelboim (Illustration) relocated to Tel Aviv in December 2016 where she is Senior Designer for AnyClip, a video advertising technology company. Meghan married Shay Appelboim in June 2017. MEGHANAPPELBOIM.COM

Jance Rubinchik (Computer Animation) was featured in Animation World Network, “How ILM Blended Practical and Digital Effects for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.” Jance is Animation Supervisor at Industrial Light & Magic in their London studio.

Erik Jones (Illustration) exhibited in Armor, his solo show at Jonathan LeVine Projects, Jersey City, NJ from January-February 2018. The gallery released a limited-edition print in mid-January. ERIKJONESART.COM

2005 Gerry Knall (Illustration) was awarded an MA in Secondary Education from Grand Canyon University in March 2017. In addition to his freelance corporate illustration work, Gerry teaches art at Thompson Middle School in North Grosvenordale, CT. Angela (Smallacombe) Rodriguez (Interior Design) and her interior design firm, Space as Art, were honored with three awards from the American Society of Interior Designers South Florida and West Florida chapters in September 2018. Lead designers on the projects honored also included Pablo Rodriguez ’01 (Illustration) and Sonika Fourie Dechow ’11 (Interior Design). SPACEASART.COM

2006 Andrea Cannistra (Graphic & Interactive Communication) joined Gooee as Product Designer in December 2018. ANDREACANNISTRA.COM Kriss Knapp (Fine Arts) collaborated with LA’s Happy Hour Agency in May 2018 to open Tablerock, a covert, experimental art-bar concept in Culver City, CA. The experience included specialty cocktails in hand thrown clay vessels and an original mural by Kriss. Kriss was also artist-in-residence at Werkartz DTLA 2018. KRISSKNAPP.COM

Adriane (Pavlick) Orion (Interior Design) Assoc. AIA, NCARB, NCIDQ was awarded a Masters of Architecture degree from the University of Florida in May 2014. Upon graduation Adriane and her spouse Justin moved to her hometown of Naples, FL where she started an architectural design practice and accepted a leadership position in her family’s real estate investment firm. Adriane joined Ringling College’s faculty in the Interior Design department in August 2018. ADRIANEORION.COM

2008 Nick Sipes (Interior Design) and his spouse Valerie welcomed their son in March 2016. Nick is Application Specialist for CADD Microsystems in Baltimore, MD.

2009 Lauren (Leffingwell) Albers and spouse Jake welcomed their first daughter Brynn in September 2018. Lauren is Production Supervisor at Walt Disney Feature Animation. Jeslyn Cantrell (Illustration) married Travis Sebold in September 2017. They reside on the Florida Panhandle where Jeslyn is a freelance illustrator. JESLYNKATE.COM

Brian Murphy (Computer Animation) celebrated his 10 year anniversary at Zynga Games in 2018. Initially UI Artist, Brian is their Lead UX Designer in San Francisco.

Sandra (Builes) Diaz (Illustration) founded Lucia & Co. as a fashion illustrator. She hosts various live sketching events for top fashion brands including CHANEL, Carolina Herrera, Diane Von Furstenberg, Saks Fifth Avenue, Marciano, and Bloomingdales. Sandra and her husband Jonathan have recently moved to Seattle where Sandra has accepted a new position as Visual Designer at Amazon.

John Norton (Graphic & Interactive Communication) launched The Graphic Standard, a modern, multi-disciplinary studio specializing in highfidelity experience design and branding, based in Austin, TX in June 2017. THEGRAPHICSTANDARD.COM and JMNORTON.COM

Anastasia Garcia (Photography & Digital Imaging) had her photography featured in Harper’s Bazaar article, “How Model Ebonee Davis is Normalizing Being Abnormal,” in October 2018. ANASTASIAGARCIA.FORMAT.COM

Brooke Olivares (Illustration) and spouse Matteo Caloiaro ’07 (Illustration) welcomed daughter Sofia in January 2018. Matteo’s painting Aspettare received 2nd place in the Portrait Society of America’s Members Only Competition’s NonCommissioned Portrait category in December 2018. BROOKEOLIVARES.COM and

Brittany Zachos (Interior Design) returned to Sarasota to open Zachos Realty and Design Group, a combined interior design-real estate firm with her father and brother, in May 2018. In 2015-16, Brittany was Lead Designer for Property Brothers (HGTV). ZACHOSDESIGNGROUP.COM

Nicole Mauser (Fine Arts) exhibited in the group show Echoes & Interference at Notre Dame Center for Arts & Culture from April-June 2018. NICOLEMAUSER.COM

LUCIAAND.CO

CALOIARO.COM

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THE TWENTY-TENS 2010 Daniel B. Dias (Illustration) was awarded an MFA in Fine Art with a focus on Painting from the University of Delaware in June 2018. From 2010-2016, Daniel lived and worked in China. Daniel exhibited in Eight Emerging Artists at Steven Zevitas Gallery, Boston, from June-August 2018, and was featured in New American Paintings, Issue 135. Daniel’s studio is in Newark, DE. MRDANIELBD.TUMBLR.COM Will DiMondi (Graphic & Interactive Communication) joined Apple Inc. in Cupertino, CA as a Designer in September 2018. Jacob Neagle (Illustration) joined Inspiration Academy in Bradenton, as a full-time art instructor charged with building their visual arts program in August 2018. Jacob also paints on commission in Southwest Florida. JACOBJAMESNEAGLE.COM David Serna (Illustration) was awarded 2018 Lone Star Emmys for direction on “Discussion with Artist” and for production on “Univision 45 Harvey Uplift” in November 2018.

programs at the International Center of Photography in New York City in JanuaryMarch 2019. Also exhibiting were Karen Arango ’13, Bill Ellis ’14, Mariana Greif ’14, Kathryn Harrison ’15, Rachel Kuzma ’15, Angie Garcia ’16, Miles Goscha ’17, Charles Robbins ’18, Alyson Smyth ’18, and Rebecca Morrello ’19. Curated by Kathryn Harrison ’15, Signs From the Interior will also be on view at Ringling College’s Crossley Gallery in June-July 2019. ATHENATORRI.COM

2012 Pilar Garra (Illustration) had a solo exhibition, The Letter at The Greenpoint Gallery in Brooklyn, NY in November 2018. Proceeds of the sales of her work benefitted Wolf Conservation Center. Adam Hartlaub (Illustration) married Becky Penn in November 2017, and the couple resides in the Greater Philadelphia Metro area. After 4 years at Unique Industries, Adam joined PetroChoice as its Web Operations Technical Specialist, where he strategizes B2B e-commerce. ADAMFINE-INTERACTIVEDESIGN.COM Sean Pearson (Fine Arts), represented by SEASON Gallery, exhibited at the Seattle Art Fair 2018. Sean also participated in a 2-week residency in 2018 at Musashino Art University in Musabi, Tokyo where he studied traditional Japanese pottery.

2011

SEANROGERPEARSON.COM

Erica (Beall) Lynch (Illustration) married Christopher Lynch in September 2018. Erica recently celebrated her 7th anniversary with Kohl’s Department Stores as Graphic Designer.

2013

Athena Torri (Photography & Digital Imaging), represented by Deli Gallery, exhibited at Material Art Fair, Mexico City in February 2018. Athena also exhibited with ten fellow graduates of the Ringling College-International Center of Photography

Karen Arango (Photography & Digital Imaging) was honored with her short film, Families Together/Familias Unidas being selected for two festival screenings in April 2018: Through Women’s Eyes Film Festival and Sarasota Film Festival. KARENARANGO.COM

honorees were able to attend the ceremony in person: Jody Haneke (Graphic Design, ’95), Christian Sampson (Fine Arts, ’98), Ignacio Guajardo Unanue (Game Art, ’14), Keith Nielsen (Business of Art & Design, ’15), and May Todd (Film, ’15). Watching them accept their award reinforced the idea that Ringling College is shattering the myth of the starving artist.

Graduating with Honors By Sydney Anderson ’20 | Photo by Elan Photography The second annual Ringling College of Art and Design Alumni Wall of Honor was unveiled on January 17, 2019. Debuting last year, the Wall of Honor recognizes exceptional graduates in each major, as well as alumni leaders. Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Peter McAllister thanked the department heads before further explaining the importance of the Alumni Wall of Honor stating, “President Thompson, it is your vision for 20 years as president that enables us to celebrate this event today. Our alumni are living proof that preeminence is becoming a reality. To select our alumni, we asked each department head to choose individuals who have made a significant impact in their chosen field and exemplify the passion and excellence that are hallmarks of Ringling College.” As a current junior, it was an inspiration to see all of the amazing things our graduates have done and how they’ve used their degrees as a base to navigate their professional paths. Half of this year’s 58

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Keith Nielsen now works as a costume designer and credits Ringling College and the insights he gleaned from his peers, stating, “If someone gives me a prompt, that’s my starting point, not my ending point. I want to cross the finish line. My major was great and I loved it, but there were a lot of different things surrounding me. There are so many different majors with all of these different focuses that can support and help me in different ways.” It is easy to get lost in the tunnel of your major, but what makes these honorees so influential is their commitment to branch out of their majors and seize all the opportunities Ringling College offers. Jody Haneke now runs a software company. Haneke offered this piece of advice to current students: “Having a strong foundation in design is extremely important in the world I live in and it touches on so many aspects of software. One of the first things I learned very quickly was to do a lot of iterations. One of the first real lessons I learned was your first idea is typically already executed so you can throw it away.” Haneke is a reminder that design is at the heart of so many things. Those iterations that so many students dread are a part of the creative process and help us to become better artists. The Alumni Wall of Honor is located in the Keating Center. Stop by to see how much campus has changed and visit the Alumni Wall of Honor, designed by the Department Head of Graphic Design Jeff Bleitz. It is truly a motivation to continue to grow as an artist in the Ringling College community. Sydney Anderson is a third-year Creative Writing student at Ringling College.

Jessica Anne Cattle was awarded an MFA in Arts Leadership from Seattle University in May 2018. JESSICAANNE.NET

featured in The Buzz Magazine’s “Remember VHS Tapes?” in November 2018. Chris works as Lighting Artist for Alchemy Engine LLC, based in Houston.

Ted Gola (Digital Filmmaking) became LATAM Regional Product Lead for Google in January 2018. Ted has worked with Google in marketing solutions in South America for nearly 5 years, and is based in São Paulo, Brazil.

FILMFREEWAY.COM/CHRISPOWELL

Irene E. Rofail (Illustration) and Ferenc Beleznay (Photography & Imaging) married in June 2018.

Esther Love (Game Art & Design) departed Microsoft in Seattle in August 2018 to be Environment Artist with Cryptic Studios on the Magic: The Gathering team in Los Gatos, CA. ESTHERLOVE.COM

Brenna Thummler (Illustration) released her debut original graphic novel, Sheets through Lion Forge Comics in August 2018. Sheets was recognized with the 2018 First Legacy Comics Award for Best Graphic Novel. BRENNATHUMMLER.COM

Walter Matthews (Painting) was awarded an MFA in Painting from University of South Florida in May 2017. In addition to his studio work, Walter teaches painting at USF. WALTERERICMATTHEWS.COM

2016

2014

Luiza Alaniz (Computer Animation) was an animator on Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero, released in April 2018. Prior, she was an animator on Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, released in June 2017.

Alexis Copeland (Motion Design) relocated to Seattle in September 2017 and is Motion Visual Designer for Microsoft. ALEXISCOPELAND.ME

Kal Athannassov (Computer Animation) was promoted in summer 2017 to Lead Artist at Baobab Studios, Inc. Working in VR, Kal is based in Burbank, CA.

2015 Tony Ahedo (Film) directed Downpour in an amazing 30 days, thanks to a stellar cast and crew including Ringling College Film alumni Natasha Thornton ’14, Harrison Stagner ’15, Nick Lennon ’15, and Nichole Fernandez ’16. Downpour was selected for both the Sarasota Film Festival and the Sunscreen Film Festival (St. Petersburg, FL) in April 2018. Tony’s Lost in Romance won Best Escapism Film at the Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival in December 2018. Alec Armbruster (Film) brought to life Nathan and Sherri Pauls’ business in his short film, Take a Tour of Reedley, California’s Luffa Gardens. Noted by ABC’s “Secretly Awesome” in November 2018, the film went viral with over 16 million hits. ALEC.WORK

Erin Colleran (Illustration) was promoted in February 2018 to full-time Stitcher at Lisa McKinnon Designs, where she was part of the team stitching 16 outfits seen in the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, including the German pairs team that won the gold, Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot. Erin is based in the greater Los Angeles area. @MISSHAUNTMOUSE Molly Dean (Illustration) released I am Young in November 2018, published by Fantagraphics. Her book was named to The Washington Post “10 Best Graphic Novels of 2018” list. MEEDEAN.COM Ingeborg Flage (Photography & Imaging) has taken the artist’s name Iggy Smalls. She was named as Adobe Rising Stars of Photography list in August 2017, and was selected for the Photography of Humanity Museum’s Women Photographers Grant. Iggy’s work was screened at the Vogue Photo Festival in Milan, Italy in November 2018. She is based out of Barcelona, Spain. IGGYSMALLS.COM Kathryn Harrison (Photography & Imaging) was awarded an MFA in Photography from Yale University in June 2018, and received The Richard Benson Prize, Yale’s top award. Kathryn was also awarded the International Center of Photography’s Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation Fellowship for 2018-19, which included a $10,000 prize. Kathryn’s portrait of the novelist and screenwriter Gillian Flynn for The New York Times accompanied its article, “Gillian Flynn Peers Into the Dark Side of Femininity,” which was on the NYT’s “11 of Our Best Weekend Reads” in November 2018. Kathryn teaches photography at SUNY Purchase. KATHRYNEHARRISON.COM

Mindy Nguyen (Graphic & Interactive Communication) relocated to Los Angeles and joined Use All Five as Senior Designer in 2017. Anne Passchier (Illustration) joined Joann Fabrics as Textile Designer in July 2018. ANNEPASSCHIER.COM

Alex Pope (Motion Design) relocated to New York City in April 2018 to join Cheddar as Senior Snapchat Designer. AXPOPE.COM Chris Powell (Computer Animation) won Best Animation for his film, Novalis at the Oregon Independent Film Festival in September 2018. His film was in competition with Oscar nominated animated short, One Small Step. Chris was

KALATHANNASSOV.COM

Benjamin Bryant (Graphic & Interactive Communication) and spouse Danielle welcomed their first child Gunnar Michael in March 2018. Ben is the Director of User Experience at Flexshopper in Southeast Florida. BBRYANTS.COM Brianna Geoghegan (Motion Design) relocated to New York City in June 2016, where she is a Motion Designer at BET. BRIGEOGHEGAN.COM Ryan Robert Minford (Film) was awarded an MFA in Film Directing from ArtCenter College in August 2018. Ryan is currently finishing his first feature film, The Cry. He is also prepping his next film, a psychological thriller that will shoot in Los Angeles and Vancouver in 2019.

2017 Adam Dehus (Illustration) joined Ringling College as an Admissions Counselor in August 2018. Tierney (Nesbitt) Drach married Daniel Drach in May 2016. They reside in Los Angeles where Tierney is with the Directors Guild of America as Assistant Signatories Representative. Noah Hayes (Illustration) was part of the creative team (pencil and inks) for the 3rd volume of Goldie Vance with BOOM! Studios, which was nominated for a 2018 GLAAD Award for Outstanding Comic. Cole Kornell (Film) has earned additional acclaim with his film, Unending Love: Best Director from Los Angeles Independent Film Awards 2018; 2nd Best Romantic Drama Short from Indie Gathering International Film Festival 2018; and, Silver Lei from the Honolulu Film Awards 2018. Cole is working as a freelance director and filmmaker on commercials and has a card game in development. COLEKORNELL.COM

2018 Hayley Denham (Fine Arts) was featured in “Conversations with the Inspiring” by Voyage MIA Magazine in December 2018. HAYLEYDENHAM.COM Ethan Early (Photography & Imaging) relocated to New York City in December 2018 where he joined Trunk Archive/Great Bowery as Junior Creative Liaison. ETHANEARLYPHOTO.COM

Rosie Fortunado (Motion Design) and David Reyes (Motion Design) won Promax Gold Student Awards at the PromaxBDA annual conference in New York City in June 2018. Jordan Holm (Fine Arts) was selected for the International Sculpture Center’s 2018 Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award in July 2018. Jordan’s artwork was featured in the October 2018 issue of Sculpture Magazine. Brooke Routh (Game Art) was runner up for “Rookies of the Year-Virtual Reality” by The Rookies in June 2018. Peyton Varney (Game Art) was named “Rookie of the Year-Game Design” by The Rookies in June 2018.

CONTXT | SPRING 2019 59

IN MEMORIAM Muriel E. (Cheetham) Green ’43 Fine Arts February 21, 2016, Bellaire Bluffs, Florida

Mary Jane (Chittwood) Burtch ’64 Fine Arts April 21, 2016, Roanoke, Virginia

John Hardy ’47 Fine Arts October 10, 2014, New York, New York

Hon. Benjamin H. Smith, Jr. ’69 Commercial Design October 4, 2014, Waycross, Georgia

James “Jimmie Ray” Anders ’48 Fine Arts September 27, 2017, Springhill, Louisiana

Danny R. Robinson ’72 Interior Design April 22, 2018, Sarasota, Florida

Bettye (Chumley) Boyer ’50 Fine Arts August 30, 2017, Bradenton, Florida

David Lee Stokes ’73 Interior Design May 29, 2018, Sarasota, Florida

Bobbie Sue “Suzie” (Lenett) Boggs ’52 Fine Arts October 23, 2017, Powder Springs, Georgia

Susan E. Meyer ’76 Advertising Design October 24, 2018, Sarasota, Florida

Dorothy (Brewer) Benzian ’52 Fine Arts November 1, 2017, Springfield, Massachusetts

Joel Andrews ’82 Graphic Design & Illustration September 8, 2018, Westlake Village, California

Joyce (Greaves) Stewart ’53 Commercial Design August 24, 2018, Jackson, Mississippi

Dennis B. Drenguba ’83 Illustration December 11, 2016, Merritt Island, Florida

Richard Maurer ’54 Fine Arts October 15, 2017, Lewiston, Maine

Melanie (Eldred) Wildfong ’83 Illustration January 19, 2019, Sarasota, Florida

Nancy (Noble Dick) Maurer ’54 Commercial Art May 2017, St. Helena Island, South Carolina

Sanford (Sandy) Cohen ’88 Graphic Design April 2, 2018, Sarasota, Florida

Russell Brungard ’58 Interior Design December 6, 2016, Stafford, Virginia

William J. “Bill” Haas ’89 Illustration November 9, 2018, Kissimmee, Florida

Clyde “Walton” Luck ’63 Interior Design January 11, 2019, Asheville, North Carolina

Debbie (Moore) Dunnick ’03 Fine Arts July 9, 2018, Sarasota, Florida

William B. “Bill” Burtch ’64 Commercial Design February 8, 2015, Roanoke, Virginia

60 CONTXT | SPRING 2019

CONTXT is designed and produced in-house by the Ringling College Design Center. It is published by the Office of the President of Ringling College of Art and Design.

RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN

Board of Trustees Officers

The information presented in this issue of CONTXT is correct to the best of

Chair Ms. Jean Martin

our knowledge. We hope you will alert us to any inaccuracies. We apologize

Vice Chair Mr. George Miles

for any concern they may cause.

Secretary Ms. Rosemary Oberndorf Treasurer Mr. Michael Klein President Dr. Larry R. Thompson

Alumni, keep in touch! Update your contact information at www.ringling.edu/alumni and let us know what’s new in your life. You may also email us at alumni@ringling.edu.

Ringling College Senior Officers President Dr. Larry R. Thompson V.P. for Academic Affairs Dr. Peter A. McAllister Assoc. V.P. of Academic Affairs, Dean of Faculty Mr. David H. Jackson Assoc. V.P. of Academic Affairs, Dean of Undergraduate Studies Mr. Jeff Schwartz V.P. for Finance & Administration Ms. Tracy A. Wagner V.P. for Advancement Ms. Stacey Corley V.P. for Human & Organizational Development Ms. Christine Carnegie DeGeorge V.P. for Student Life & Dean of Students Dr. Tammy S. Walsh

CONTXT Team Publisher Dr. Larry R. Thompson Executive Editor Jim Dean Creative Director Jennifer Mumford Brady Editor Stephanie Lederer Designer /Art Director Laura Bucholtz ’04 Video ART Network Production Manager Karen Durocher Business Manager Laurie Strothman Writing Sydney Anderson ’20, Susan Borozan, Su Byron, Clonia Charite ’20, Nicole Caron, Stacey Corley, Rachel Drouin, Minna Gannon ’20, Megan Greenberg, Stephanie Lederer, Lisa Moody, Vivian Owen, Andres Paz ’16, Anne-Marie Russell, Rich Schineller, Kate Schwartz, Dr. Larry R. Thompson, Ryan G. Van Cleave Photography Elan Photography, Ryan Gamma, Matthew Holler ’11, Forrest MacDonald, Cliff Roles, Rich Schineller

If you want email updates and/or to discontinue receiving printed copies of CONTXT magazine, contact us at contxt@ringling.edu.

We encourage comments and questions about CONTXT CONTXT magazine Ringling College Design Center 2700 North Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34234 You may email us at contxt@ringling.edu or visit www.ringling.edu/contxt

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Illustration Jamie Green ’20

Production Notes Student Artwork on page 31 Clockwise, from top left: ‘Best Bao in Shanghai’

The inks, coatings, and varnishes used in this issue of CONTXT are

illustration by Dion MBD; Character Development by Aemilia Widodo;

formulated with significant amounts of bio-derived, renewable resources,

‘Boats & Books’ illustration by Natalie Andrewson; VR experience ‘Rust Bucket’ by

including vegetable oils such as linseed oil, resin-based on tall oil or gum

Teddy Mundy; Still from video ‘Full Dome’ by Matthew Wissing; Photography by

rosin, and alkyds derived from vegetable oils. The paper used in this issue of

Ingeborg Flage; Style frame by Dani Cash; Game art ‘As the Sun Sets’ by Jared

CONTXT is Endurance Silk. It is a sustainably produced paper that comes

Lewin; ‘Organic Peace Silk’ by Jordan Daher; UI/UX design for App ‘Odyssey’ by

from responsibly managed forests.

Alex Castiglia, Amalia Fredericksen and Mindy Nguyen; Still from film ‘Containment’, Producer: Sergio Serrano, Writer/Director: Austin Zveare, Director of Photography:

Printed by Manatee Printers, Inc., of Bradenton, FL.

Nicholas Dello Russo, Production Designer: Sean McGann

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