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6 GREENSBORO HALL Building community for Ringling’s first-year students.
SPRING 2021
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HOW TO SHIFT
JIM DEAN
The 2020-21 Trustee Scholars share their secrets.
An indelible legacy.
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HONORING INTERIOR DESIGN
SPOTLIGHT ON: HUMAN CONNECTION
A look back at the program’s accomplishments and evolution through the years.
How Human Resources and Health Services keep campus connected.
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REAL + READY: PATRIOT PLAZA
REAL + READY: ONE HEART
Ringling College Film students help to bring an important local landmark to life.
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Students at the Design Center promote unity through diversity.
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(RE)IMAGINING RINGLING COLLEGE
ZERO TO SIXTY Meet five recent grads who kickstarted their careers within sixty days of graduation.
How Ringling College coped with COVID-19 and what we learned along the way.
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2700: THAT GLAM HYBRID LIFE
LEADING WITH CREATIVITY AND COMMITMENT
A day in the life of a non-traditional student and mother of five.
Yoleidy Rosario-Hernandez, Director of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion.
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CIRCA: ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
THE UNSUNG HEROES OF RINGLING COLLEGE
Meet two amazing grads – learn about their journey to success and what advice they have.
44 REAL + READY: NEWTOWN ALIVE A collaborative project that celebrates Sarasota’s Black community.
Learn about key employees who help keep the wheels turning on campus.
48 THE ART OF GIVING 52 ALUMNI NEWS + NOTES ON THE COVER This issue of CONTXT highlights the new Greensboro Residence Hall. Cover by Ryan Gamma
CONTXT IS ONLINE! Read expanded stories and stay up-to-date on new hires, awards, and news at Ringling College all year!
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Portrait by Matthew Holler ’11
Reflecting on Ringling’s Resilience There is no question that calendar year 2020 challenged us. It challenged us as individuals and as an institution. It challenged us in ways we could never have foreseen. Yet, as you will see from the following pages, Ringling College of Art and Design came together and met those challenges head-on so that we could continue to deliver the excellence in instruction, services, programs, and infrastructure support that makes Ringling College so exceptional. In this issue of CONTXT, you will read about the incredible people at Ringling College whose contributions allowed us to successfully navigate these unimaginable circumstances. They not only kept our College community safe, but also continued to achieve amazing things. In the stories that follow, you will read about our brand new, beautiful first-year residence hall and the students who love living there. You will learn about the incredible accomplishments from featured alumni–and even some stories of love that blossomed here at Ringling. You will hear about
Larry R. Thompson PRESIDENT, RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN
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the impact our donors have when they are able to meld their philanthropic spirits with their appreciation for creative passions. And you will learn about the wonderful local and national community projects on which our students have had the opportunity to work. Every day, I am so grateful that I get to work alongside such dedicated, talented, and creative people. I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your continued support and generous contributions to Ringling College of Art and Design. Whether you have attended one of our virtual events, supported student scholarships, volunteered your time as a mentor, visited the Sarasota Art Museum, or pursued your interests through our Continuing Studies (Studio + Digital Arts or Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) programs, it is because of all of you that we are able to continue advancing our vision of becoming the pre-eminent art and design college in the world. I hope that you enjoy learning about all we have achieved this year, and are as inspired by our Ringling College community as I am.
The new Greensboro Residence Hall. Photo by Ryan Gamma. CONTXT | SPRING 2021
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Building community for first-year students BY PATRICIA PETE ’15 | PHOTOGRAPHY BY RYAN GAMMA
It’s a Friday night, well after 10:00 PM at Ringling College of Art and Design. It’s usually around this time that I remind myself that I’m not eighteen anymore and that a relatively early bedtime will be beneficial for me. So, I turn off the television and head for the lights. That’s when I hear it: Laughter, cheering, new friendships forming. During a typical year, this sound is quite common, especially in a residence hall for first-year students, but this year it sounds an awful lot like hope and perseverance. Of course, like any responsible, professional staff member who lives on campus would do, I peek out into the lounge of Ringling’s newest residence hall to make sure that the students having a good time are doing so safely. They are more than adequately distanced; every single one is wearing a mask; and their attention is focused on one of the big-screen televisions located in the building. The Lego Movie. Classic.
These students are fine—better than fine. They are thriving together and doing exactly what those of us in Residence Life and Student Life want more than anything else—they are creating community through meaningful interactions and activities. This group is doing exactly that while housed in the brand new Greensboro Hall, a residence for first-year students.
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I’m sure that when ground broke for the construction of the new residence hall, there was likely a plan for some sort of pomp and circumstance, a way to truly celebrate that our residence halls are joining the academics in being on the cutting-edge of creativity and design. Instead, Greensboro Hall was introduced to the community in a more gradual, quiet way. The move-in process in September 2020 was less hectic than in years past, which offered new students and their parents the opportunity to take in the facilities and truly become excited for the coming semester. From the giant “Welcome” chalkboard outside the elevators to the colorful themes on each floor, everything about Greensboro Hall provides an experience like none other. The Resident Assistants within the building worked diligently to continue delivering on the promise of a Greensboro Hall living experience, foreshadowed by its residents’ first forays into the building. In one semester alone, there have been programs focused on the importance of self-care and mental health, a costume runway competition in which all two hundred residents had the opportunity to participate, and the redecoration of one of the floors to resemble a scene from the Pixar film, Cars.
“I worry about where I will live next year,” Sehui Kim, a first-year international student told me with a laugh. “Everything has just been so great. Greensboro Hall is really fantastic. I don’t want to go next year!” Senior student Tamara Marshall, a resident assistant for the fifth floor, absolutely loves living in the new hall. “I don’t really have expectations when I wander into things, so I didn’t know what to expect, but I was shocked! I love the study rooms and comfy couches. The design is really good.” She went on to express that not only were the suites designed with creatives in mind, but also young adults. “The apartment style layout gives residents a better sense of independence. The building is also very trendy, which resonates well with the younger students. Everyone also loves the bathrooms! They’re huge!” While having a new building has certainly helped boost morale among students, first-year students especially, I do believe it has been the Ringling spirit and hard work of students, professional staff, and faculty that have contributed to and assisted in creating a truly innovative space for these developing artists and designers. Greensboro Hall is just one more asset contributing to the amazing future ahead for Ringling College of Art and Design.
Students enjoy the indoor and outdoor common spaces designed for recreation, study, and collaboration.
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GETTING STARTED
Ringling College leverages creativity to tackle the Coronavirus pandemic By Gayle Guynup | Illustrations by Don Brandes
On March 13, 2020, spiraling numbers of COVID-19 cases in Florida and across the country led Ringling College of Art and Design to do the unimaginable. The campus of the prestigious college was closed, and, for reasons of health and safety, everybody who could be sent home, was sent home. With spring break extended by a week, faculty and staff had two weeks to figure out how to successfully navigate the remainder of the spring semester, which officially ended May 5 — two weeks to transition from in-person to remote instruction. The administration quickly decided that everyone who was not considered essential personnel (with jobs that could only be done on campus) would work remotely to reduce density on the campus. Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students Dr. Tammy Walsh remembers that “in the beginning, there was so much that was unknown. We had to wrap our heads around so many things with no time to spare. It became very apparent that our first goal was to finish out the spring semester in a safe manner, and get as many students home as we possibly could.” Once the spring semester was behind them — including a virtual graduation celebration and Best of Ringling event celebrating student achievement — faculty and staff then turned to a new mission: To resume in-person delivery of classes and services in the fall, in what might — or might not be — a COVID-impacted environment. There were three months, June through August, in which to pull everything together, as the fall semester was scheduled to start on September 7, two weeks later than usual.
The first step, after sending all faculty and staff members home with Zoom accounts, laptops, and the other tools and guidance necessary to support remote work– which had never before been a work model used at the College–was the establishment of a Recovery Coordination Team supported by six area-specific subgroups. Those groups were Academic Delivery, which included Institutional Technology (IT), led by Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Peter McAllister; Student Experience and Enrollment Management, and Community Outreach, both led by Tammy Walsh; Risk Management and Safety, led by Director of Public Safety Don Strom; Finance and Human Resources, led by Vice President for Finance and Administration Dr. Tracy Wagner; and Communications, headed by Special Assistant to the President Raelyn Lincoln. According to Tracy Wagner, when students, faculty, and staff were sent home in March, the assumption was that by fall things should be pretty much back to normal. “But as we got further into early summer, it became apparent that the virus was not going to go away quickly. Everything was not going to be fine, at least not for the foreseeable future,” she said. “Ringling College of Art and Design has always been an institution that places a high value on the learning that happens in between the formal lessons,” explained Dr. Larry R. Thompson, president of Ringling College of Art and Design. “These informal interactions among students, faculty, and staff, the organic collaborations that occur when students get together with each other, and the community that emerges from all of those experiences has long been a hallmark of a Ringling College education. In planning for a fall semester impacted by COVID, my charge to the Recovery Coordination Team was to figure out if and how we could safely bring the students, who were comfortable being here, back to campus while continuing to serve all of our students with excellence and distinction,” Thompson said.
“That goal meant finding creative ways to recreate that community our students experience at Ringling, regardless of where and how they were learning.” The Recovery Coordination Team subgroups began their work with one basic question in mind: If we had students on campus, would the basic safety protocols – wearing face coverings, physical distancing, reducing density, and hand-sanitizing– keep everyone safe?
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According to Peter McAllister, “One of the first tasks was to assess the teaching spaces and make the necessary changes needed to support appropriate physical distancing. Once we understood the impact of taking seats out of instructional spaces, we could then figure out how to ensure we could serve all of our students.” Toward that goal, one of the first decisions made was to move the liberal arts program to remote instruction. Those courses were already poised to be delivered in a virtual format while keeping the quality of learning experience at a high level. That move opened classrooms to be used for additional teaching space in the majors to help ensure physical distancing. Tammy Walsh, meanwhile, was tasked with ensuring that this residential campus would be safe for the students living and dining here. Knowing that they would have 800 students living on campus in the fall, Walsh said they took a variety of steps to reduce student density in spaces on campus. Fortunately, there was a brand-new residence hall that was opening in the fall that added 270 beds to the Ringling College footprint. The College also rented a facility off-campus to further increase housing capacity. “That helped us immensely as we also had to be prepared to potentially take spaces off-line to be used for isolation and quarantine, should it become necessary,” she explained. “Additionally, most seating was removed from within our dining facilities, a large tent was installed on Scott Plaza for outdoor dining, and mobile ordering was introduced to help manage dining density during meal times.” The College learned early on that it would have to do something to support its international students who, because of circumstances outside of their control, would not be able to travel to the United States. Therefore, one of the earliest plans involved offering the remote learning option for international students. “By mid-summer, we realized we were going to need to offer that same flexibility to all of our students,” Wagner said. Working diligently throughout the entire summer, department heads, program directors/coordinators, and faculty determined the five best delivery modalities for optimal learning experiences. The Recovery Coordination Team recommended to President Thompson that these five instructional methods be offered to all students for the fall semester.
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS • In-person: Classes meet in-person as usual. Classes could utilize two rooms to spread students out in order to achieve physical distancing. • In-person with remote teaching: Class meets in person as usual, with the instructor in another location, appearing on-screen. Opportunities for students to occasionally connect in person with faculty would occur. • Hybrid: Class has an assigned room and the instruction will take place with a combination of in-person meetings and online sessions. • Remote (liberal arts): Classes meet virtually only. Both synchronous format and asynchronous deliveries are possible. No room would be assigned. • Remote (studio): Classes meets primarily virtually and may have several in-person meetings scheduled as needed. No room would be assigned.
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PLAN, AND PLAN AGAIN “For me, if you were going to boil this whole situation down to one word, it would be flexibility,” said Tracy Wagner. “We had to do a lot of planning, while being aware that information was constantly coming in that would likely make it necessary for us to adjust our plans. We based our plans on what we knew one day, knowing that it might change the next. And it often did,” Wagner said. “Everybody came to the table, not just in their institutional roles, but in their role as the parent of a college student or the parent of a child who works in a grocery store or the parent of school-aged children themselves dealing with remote learning. We brought our whole selves to the table,” Wagner explained. “What would it be like if we’re creating a situation where I am exposing my family or my elderly mother to the virus? What would it be like if we’re asking people to work remotely with children at home and no access to child care? We really tried to get everyone to think about their decisions from multiple points of view. I think that was really helpful. A lot of us would stop and say, ‘OK, that makes sense. But when I think about it as a mom, or some other role, here’s how I would feel.’” Wagner notes that they also were not shy about scanning the landscape to see what other colleges were doing that was working and not working. “There was no playbook for how we were going to do this. One thing we learned was that when other colleges had decided to offer choices, it really seemed to lower the temperature and the anxiety. It became more of a partnership. We weren’t just delivering a solution. We were asking parents to be part of the solution.” “All of the decisions we were making were two-fold,” Wagner said. “There were the factual reasons we were doing things, and then there was the emotional response to those reasons. It wasn’t just about creating safety. It was making people feel safe and valued, as well,” she said.
FACULTY DRIVEN BY SUCCESS Academic Affairs leadership was responsible for empowering faculty to deliver outstanding student experiences. One of the major goals as planning continued was that there be the same high-quality standards of instruction no matter which modality students chose. “Giving students these choices enabled faculty to optimize their teaching to achieve the desired competencies and student learning outcomes,” McAllister said. “We – Academic Affairs and IT, led by Dr. Mahmoud Pegah – partnered closely together to support faculty as they prepared for the fall,” he said. “This collaboration helped us feel ready as we came into September,” he added. A big question for the team was how students would be able to access the College’s incredible computing power to do their work, particularly in programs like Computer Animation, Motion Design, Game Art, and Virtual Reality that rely so heavily on the institution’s cutting-edge technology. IT Director Mahmoud Pegah and his team came up with a solution that enabled students to remotely access the high-powered computers in the labs to use their capabilities and software to do their projects. This approach was incredibly unique, providing a remote learning experience unlike any other. One challenge to overcome was a learning curve – not just for the students as they learned to access the vast resources the College was now offering remotely and figure out how to handle a remote classroom, but for the faculty. “The IT Department came up with some very innovative solutions that involved new technology tools for faculty to utilize. These new tools required some learning on the faculty’s part, so they would be able to engage with the students right away when they returned,” McAllister said. “Our faculty is stellar. Those teaching remotely really embraced this change, making sure the quality of our programs would not be diminished.” Keeping students, staff, and faculty safe was all about care and preparations, according to McAllister. “We had the physical campus, classrooms, studios, and labs all prepared for physical distancing. A lot of hand-sanitizer stations and signage went up. We had remote learning options available for those students and families who felt that selection best suited their needs during this time. It was all about the details and thinking things through from different points of view. It really was a team effort,” he said.
PARENTAL CONCERNS Dealing with family and parental concerns was one area shared by every department. Moving into the summer months, Florida had become an epicenter of the virus. Students from all over the country and the world, along with their families, were concerned about whether it would be safe to be in Sarasota for classes. “Faculty and staff were in constant contact with parents and families, keeping them aware of our plans,” McAllister said. “The secret to our success was deciding to give students and families options. We listed all of our courses on our website by method of delivery so parents and students could sit down together and make informed decisions,” he said. “It helped them feel like part of the process.” “We kept parents and family members informed about what we were doing every step of the way through multiple Zoom meetings, social media, emails, and our website. Our communication tools included a lot of personal emails, a lot of information available through the website, but it was mainly through Zoom meetings that we were able to give parents the opportunity to express their concerns one-on-one – even if it was through a computer screen,” Walsh said. Ultimately, 600 students ended up opting for the remote learning option for the fall semester, while 1,000 students (200 commuter and 800 student residents) ended up returning to campus.
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A NEW WAY OF DOING THINGS The overriding concern for each and every department was how to open in the fall while keeping students, faculty, and staff healthy and safe. Department heads and program directors/coordinators gave credit to the Ringling College IT Department for its contribution to the plan’s success. “The remote access that they set up is unlike what most distance-learning is like, especially with the software tools that our artists use,” Wagner said. “They worked really hard to re-create the experience of being in one of Ringling’s high-tech labs while sitting at home. We were also able to use this technology for our on-campus students, as we all felt that it was really important to not give our students a reason to congregate, which is what they would typically do in the labs. IT set up terminals in all of the residence halls and even in the apartment housing so that students could use the larger monitors and have remote access into the labs literally 24/7,” she said. Tammy Walsh’s main concerns were how students would live safely on campus, eat on campus, attend classes, and socialize safely. What would student life even look like? “One of the first tasks we undertook,” Walsh said, “was taking many areas of student life from in-person to virtual in a very short time frame. Programs transitioned to this new format included advising appointments, student activities, student government, leadership development, wellness programming, diversity and inclusion types of programming, career services, meetings with recruiters, counseling and other support services, and the list goes on and on.”
THE PROMISE One of the most critical decisions made over the course of the summer was how to get the students to buy in to all of the new protocols that would have to be in place to make the plan work. “We were concerned about how we were going to manage student behavior with respect to the safety protocols,” said Wagner. “Of course, if you are approaching it from the viewpoint of control, you have lost the game already. So, even the selection of words became so important. What words would make students feel like part of the process, like they were a crucial piece to the overall health and safety of the entire campus community?” The word they finally decided upon was “promise.” “On the front end, we did so much work to educate the students and let them know what our expectations were going to be. Every student returning to campus signed the Ringling College Safe Community Standards Promise,” said Walsh. “And I have to say, the students were phenomenal. We had only three positive student cases during the fall semester. The students want to be here, and they don’t want anything to interrupt their education,” she said. Wagner agreed. “To me, what has been most heartening has been how well our students have complied with all of our protocols. It’s been amazing,” Wagner said. “I remember leaving here on the weekends or in the evenings, and students would be in small groups, all wearing their face coverings. They kept their promise,” she said. “They followed the guidelines,” McAllister added. “Not only did they agree to do it, they wore their face coverings all day, every day; they stayed six feet apart, and they all washed and sanitized their hands. They took it seriously, and made the plan work,” he said.
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There was also the question of community engagement. “We are, at heart, an in-person campus. We want prospective students and family members to come and see the campus. We have so many events where we interface with the public – our Galleries, the Sarasota Art Museum, and other special events. We had to decide how we would modify those opportunities for public engagement, and if we could do so without jeopardizing the safety of the campus community,” Walsh added. Although there were a few students still residing on campus over the summer (those who could not safely travel home), the campus was basically closed to the public, except for extremely limited special exceptions. The in-person tours of prospective students and their families were replaced by scheduling multiple Zoom sessions, and reworking the online campus tour. Accepted Student Day was moved to an incredibly successful virtual event. The College found that prospective students who may not have typically attended this event under normal circumstances were able to participate, increasing overall attendance significantly. As a result, the event will likely continue to have a virtual component even after in-person events can resume. Community events went virtual, as well, such as the College’s annual Evening at the Avant-Garde. Here too the College saw incredible response to the live-streamed event, so much so that it too will likely retain some virtual element in the future. The College’s Galleries and Sarasota Art Museum, both of which had closed for in-person visitation (although the Sarasota Art Museum reopened to the public in October 2020 and the Galleries are now open on a limited, by-appointment basis), also offered online and virtual events, keeping the community engaged with Ringling while also providing some much-needed opportunity for connection during this time of physical distancing from friends and family.
HEALTH AND SAFETY There was tremendous concern about student wellness for those who were going to be on campus in the fall. The semester was a long time, after all, to have very little in-person interaction. “We made repeated efforts to be sure that students knew how to reach staff for support, participate in the virtual programs and activities, and knew what to do if they felt ill,” Walsh explained. “We did approve some small events in the fall once we could do it safely, requiring face coverings and physical distancing,” Walsh said. For example, the College hosted some outdoor movie screenings and a Fall Fest that included various student organizations. “We are a creative institution after all,” she said, “and we put that creativity to work.” Still, with 800 residential students returning in the fall, the greatest challenges were still to come. Once they found ways to minimize the density on campus, they turned to other protocols that would have to be followed. Every student living or coming to campus was required to provide proof of a negative COVID test on arrival. “Then we did random testing every other week – of students, faculty, and staff,” Walsh explained. “We had lots of conversation about whether we should baseline test everybody, and whether we needed to do random testing and wastewater testing. Sometimes, we couldn’t say for sure that a certain method would actually reduce cases. The science just wasn’t there yet. But I kept saying that if we create layers of security, it will show people that we are committed to doing everything that we can,” Wagner said. The wastewater testing came about because several research colleges and universities were already doing it. The theory is that people sometimes shed virus before it is even detectable with a test. One thing the committee was really worried about is that this college-aged group tends to be more asymptomatic than other age groups. So, the question became: If students are not showing symptoms, and we were not testing 100 percent of them, how would we catch those asymptomatic cases? The wastewater testing seemed to be one way to do that. “A positive result would give us a clue as to where to look for the problem,” Wagner explained.
FUTURE PLANNING “We believe that things in the world are going to get better, and we are definitely going to see that as we move into 2021,” McAllister said. “We are prepared to offer several instructional modalities, although we hope we can move to increased face-to-face instruction as time goes by. We know that we may not be 100 percent face-to-face in the fall. But whatever the percentage, we will be prepared to support our students’ educational journeys, no matter what happens,” he said.
LESSONS LEARNED Asked what the institution has learned from this experience, Walsh said, “I know we have all learned resiliency, and our ability to manage what looks like an unmanageable situation. It really speaks to the strengths of our College community. Having our plan work as well as it did was dependent on everyone doing their part – the faculty, the staff, and the students, who really held up their end of the bargain,” she said. “We have a great team and it showed. It was simply a matter of everyone doing their part for the greater good.” “I think that helping to keep everyone focused and calm and believing that nothing was insurmountable was perhaps our biggest challenge,” Wagner said. “We knew it was a huge challenge, an unprecedented challenge, but we also knew that we had the talent and creativity to figure it all out. Now we know that we can leverage that creative power of the Ringling College community to overcome any obstacle.” “I could not be more grateful to all the people here at Ringling College – the faculty, staff, and students,” said Thompson. “But I especially want to recognize our leadership team. They innovated, created solutions to incredibly difficult problems, and worked tirelessly to provide a vibrant Ringling College experience for all of our students, wherever they happened to be in the world.” CONTXT | SPRING 2021
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Ringling students don’t mess around – they are dedicated to achieving their dreams as professional artists and designers from the moment they step on campus to the day they graduate.
Interviews + stories by Chelsea Garner-Ferris
And they go above and beyond to attain their goals by connecting with recruiters, attending presentations and portfolio reviews, working with our Center for Career Services (a resource available to our graduates for life!), landing internships, giving back to the community through volunteerism, and participating in real-world work with real-world clients through our Collaboratory Commitment programs. After all of that work, who wants to wait to jump into their chosen careers? Well, thanks to their own work and the opportunities they find here at Ringling College, many of our graduates don’t have to. Here are just a few of the 2020 alumni who made the leap from student to professional within 60 days of graduation. Scan to read full interviews
JUNIOR MOTION DESIGNER Make LLC, Minneapolis, MN
GRADUATED: MAY 2020 HIRED: JUNE 2020
MOTION DESIGN
Beatriz, or Bea, as she’s known to her family and friends, grew up in Lisbon, Portugal. She completed her first two years of high school there and was then accepted into the United World College (UWC) Robert Bosch College International Baccalaureate program in Freiburg, Germany. When she applied to colleges, Bea had the opportunity to apply to Ringling College of Art and Design as a UWC Davis Scholar.
Beatriz (Bea) Correia Lima
“When I arrived for my first year at Ringling, it was definitely a culture shock,” Bea recalls. “Everything was so much bigger coming from Europe!” The international community at Ringling helped her overcome her doubts. She started and joined several clubs and organizations, including the International Cultures Club, which focused on cultural education and integration through movie nights, open mics and coffee house events, and the yearly International Education Week fest. Bea was also very involved with the College’s television channel, ART Network.
JUNIOR ENVIRONMENT ARTIST Vicarious Visions-Activision, Albany, NY
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Now based in Minneapolis, Bea is currently concentrating on graphics and design for motion, mostly animating in 2D for the studio MAKE, LLC. She was recently awarded a grant to compose and perform an original piece of music, a passion project that has carried over from her senior thesis. You can stream her song, Amor Ingrato, on Spotify or any other streaming platform.
GRADUATED: MAY 2020 HIRED: JUNE 2020
Mary knew from a very early age that she wanted to study game art, but she struggled in the beginning to find the right school and the right program. It was during Ringling College of Art and Design’s Preview Day that she knew she had found the perfect fit. “Everyone on campus was so passionate, welcoming, and friendly,” remembers Mary. “The games that the students were creating were just amazing, and the campus was so bright and beautiful. I knew right then that I wanted to go there.”
Mary Dvorsky
Bea credits the Motion Design faculty for much of her professional success. She was encouraged to pursue projects that she was passionate about, even if they seemed daunting. “I have always been interested in many different things, so Motion Design was always the best fit for me. It allowed me to combine my love for music and art.” Her senior thesis project was focused around music; she composed and produced a Portuguese song and then recorded a music video. “Ringling taught me not only the art and design skills, but also the skills to be a professional and to have a strong work ethic—important traits that go beyond talent and technical skill,” she says.
Mary says she always knew that Ringling could offer what other schools simply couldn’t — those golden opportunities with top industry recruiters and employers. In her senior year, Mary and her thesis partner were selected to represent Ringling College at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) Intel University Games 2020 competition, placing third with their fantasy adventure game, Ozias. After that she was contacted by Epic Games, and then encouraged to enter The Rookies competition, where Ozias was recognized as a finalist for Game of the Year.
Because of those unique opportunities that Ringling offers, and because she took full advantage of them, Mary had a full-time position secured in April 2020. A recruiter from Sledgehammer (a division of Activision) came to campus and met with Game Art students. He sent her portfolio out to other Activision studios and the rest was history. “That had always been my goal—to get a job right after graduation. So to have secured one before was just incredible.” Now Mary has weekly meetings with her team, collaborating and giving each other feedback. She concentrates on set dressing, modeling, bug fixes, and making sure the overall 3D environments look seamless. If she could give advice to current students, or to her younger, firstyear self, it would be: “Work smarter, not harder. Get lots of sleep and don’t lose sight of why you’re at Ringling. The whole environment is built for you to thrive—your teachers, your peers, the community— they want you to succeed, but you have to work hard. Always have fun with what you’re doing and it will turn out great.”
ASSOCIATE VISUAL DESIGNER Sharecare Reality Lab, Sarasota, FL
GRADUATED: MAY 2020 HIRED: MAY 2020
ILLUSTRATION
Sophia is currently working at Sarasota’s Sharecare Reality Lab, a job she absolutely loves, and she credits Ringling College of Art and Design and its supportive campus community for helping her get there so fast. “I had never really thought about pursuing art schools until then,” Sophia admits, “but seeing all of the amazing work the students were doing and the connections they had really grabbed my attention.”
Sophia Kim
Initially, Sophia came to Ringling as a Computer Animation major. In her sophomore year, wanting to branch out in her practice and explore different mediums, she switched to Illustration, picking up a Visual Development minor in her third year. Working with the Illustration faculty, she built a strong foundation and diverse portfolio. “All of the faculty were invaluable, and Iliya Mirochnik was particularly instrumental in helping me understand and interpret the human figure.” Working at Sharecare, Sophia utilizes all of her skill sets and then some. She works as part of a team to create medically accurate anatomy, physiology, disease, and treatment simulations in 3D,
JUNIOR 2D ANIMATOR
MOTION DESIGN
BUCK, Los Angeles, CA
Zac Miller
She would tell current students to always surround themselves with hardworking and dedicated contemporaries. “I think people tend to underestimate the power of learning from others,” she adds. “It can give you a fresh perspective and it’s so inspiring to see what others are interested in. Always stay curious and open to new things!”
GRADUATED: MAY 2020 HIRED: MAY 2020 During his senior year, he was offered a full-time, paid position at Gentleman Scholar. At the same time, he was offered an internship at BUCK, one of the top motion design studios in the industry.
Eventually, Zac found his way to Ringling College of Art and Design’s Preview Day on campus, and then attended PreCollege over the summer. There he learned about the Motion Design department and how the major would allow him to combine all of the things he loved about animation and film. He only applied to one school: Ringling College.
“It was a really hard, scary decision to make, but, in the end, I knew it had to be BUCK,” he recalls. “It was my dream studio but it meant leaving behind a talented team, great friends, and memories at GS.” It turned out to be the right decision. A few short months after interning with them, BUCK offered him a fulltime position as a junior 2D animator.
“Every year, I was exposed to something new. It was always challenging, but so crucial to learn all of the different skills and programs,” Zac says. Those skills paid off and he was recruited for an internship at Dash studios in Raleigh, NC his sophomore year. In his junior year, he interned with Gentleman Scholar (GS), an L.A.-based studio. “I absolutely fell in love with L.A. and knew I wanted to be back out there when I graduated,” Zac said.
When Zac looks back at his experience at Ringling, he says it’s important not to close yourself off. “As a motion designer,” he says, “it’s so important not to self-impose your own limits. The foundations I learned at Ringling still help me to this day. Once you know how to animate a character, you can animate anything!”
DreamWorks TV, Glendale, CA
GRADUATED: MAY 2020 HIRED: JUNE 2020
Ariel is currently living her dream, working as a storyboard artist for DreamWorks Television. When it came time to apply to college, she was concentrating more on traditional, 2D-based animation programs. It was her mom who convinced her to apply to Ringling College of Art and Design.
COMPUTER ANIMATION
She says the community at Sharecare reminds her of the community at Ringling—supportive, collaborative, and fun! “All of my peers helped me tremendously,” she says. “You spend so much time together, in the labs and on campus, the environment fosters and fuels creativity and talent in so many ways.”
“Before Ringling, I was never really into art,” Zac says. He was into video games though, and eventually he and a few friends started their own YouTube channel, making videos about the editing process and creating short films.
STORYBOARD ARTIST
“I really appreciated the Computer Animation program,” she says. “As a student, you learn the entire process starting with observational drawing and traditional animation. Then they take you through the entire 3D animation pipeline, which really prepares you for entering the industry.”
Ariel Song
which can also be viewed in virtual reality. Medical illustrations, concept art, graphic, and UI/UX design are just some of the areas to which she contributes. “I had never even thought of combining medicine and art, but now I am so grateful and humbled to use what I learned at Ringling to help doctors and patients all over the world.”
Ariel worked with Ringling’s Center for Career Services to develop her portfolio, practice her interviewing skills, and learn how to network. Shortly after she graduated, “an industry contact told me about an opening they [DreamWorks] had and he recommended me,” Ariel recalls. “The recruiter approached me and that was it!”
Ariel works as part of a team to create the visual representations of an initial script for a particular story or an episode. Typically, she will start to draw scenes out as thumbnails, which are then turned into rough boards. Those boards are then pitched, feedback is taken into account, and eventually the story boards go into editorial and production. “It’s a very heavy workload, but I love it,” she says. “I like having the opportunity to collaborate with my team, but also being able to maintain a certain amount of autonomy and self-direction in my job.” Ariel approaches her professional role similarly to how she worked at Ringling. She says that maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle is critical for her mind and her focus. “It’s a really intense program at Ringling, but I always knew I was in the right place—I love all of the different parts of animation and being able to communicate stories through art and then bringing them to life.”
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shift /SHift/ verb move or cause to move from one place to another noun a slight change in position, direction, or tendency By Chelsea Garner-Ferris Portraits by Matthew Holler ’11
The distinction of Trustee Scholar is the highest honor awarded to students at Ringling College of Art and Design. Each year, two students from the junior class in each program and the Office of Student Life are nominated by their respective department heads for consideration for this designation. Each nominee submits a written statement and portfolio of work to the Board of Trustees Trustee Scholar Selection Committee for review. After lengthy, and often impassioned, discussion, the Committee selects the Trustee Scholar in each program and recommends them to the Board of Trustees. Scholars are nominated and selected based on the following criteria. • Exceptional creative talent, communi-cation skills, and distinction of mind;
On January 28, 2021, Ringling College honored the adaptable and determined group of artists and designers that comprise the 2020-21 Trustee Scholars with a hybrid event. Trustee Scholars and nominees were able to gather in-person with the appropriate safety protocols in the College’s large Soundstage A to celebrate their achievement. Meanwhile, families, loved ones, and College Trustees and supporters enjoyed the event virtually via live streaming. Board of Trustees Vice Chair Michael Klein opened the program, President Larry R. Thompson expressed his congratulations, and then each Trustee Scholar shared remarks about their journeys as artists and designers. While the event format had to shift, just like the class of students it honored, it remained a true celebration of the excellence these students embody. The 2020-21 Trustee Scholars are:
Ellie Winslow, Business of Art + Design Kristen Yuan, Computer Animation Zora Squish Pruitt, Creative Writing
• Contributions to the department, College, and/or community; and
Erika Jessen, Film
• Leadership, citizenship, and mentorship.
Alé Salamán, Fine Arts
The Class of 2021 has had to shift from its first year on campus when Hurricane Irma necessitated the closing of campus just a few weeks into the fall 2017 semester. Two years later, this resilient class found itself shifting again as it dealt with the impacts of a global pandemic that changed nearly everything about its collegiate experience.
Zhengyu Ye, Game Art Beatriz Patarata, Graphic Design Petar Pirizovic, Graphic Design Brooke Brogan, Illustration Stefanie Voinea, Interior Design
Congratulations to all! Each Scholar has a distinct and individual interpretation of what it means to “shift.” Zhengyu Ye sees it as a positive: “The world is changing rapidly and change creates opportunities. Being able to shift is the key to seizing those opportunities.” “Adaptation to the world,” according to Brooke Brogan, “will keep one’s head above water as well as one’s hand clasped with another.” In his address, Joseph Woods, a non-traditional student who seized his college opportunity later in life, said that simply being at Ringling for him was like, “shifting out of reality and into a dream.” Ellie Winslow confirmed, “Whether we admit it or not, the only constant in our life is change, and it’s about time we embrace that. We don’t give up… we just shift.” And so they have. These students are strong. They are resilient and determined. They are shifters–adaptable, flexible, able to think on their feet to meet any challenge. The world as we know it is not fixed, but in a constant state of transformation. These remarkable students have proven time and again that they can shift to achieve their goals. They are ready to take on the future–no matter what obstacles or changes they encounter along the way.
Joseph Woods, Motion Design Gabrielle Scianna, Photography + Imaging Leila DeMarchi, Visual Studies Arianna McAniff, Student Life
Scan to watch our scholars give their speeches at the Trustee Scholar award ceremony.
ELLIE WINSLOW
KRISTEN YUAN
ZORA SQUISH PRUITT
ERIKA JESSEN
ALÉ SALAMÁN
Business of Art and Design
Computer Animation
Creative Writing
Film
Fine Arts
ZHENGYU YE
BEATRIZ PATARATA
PETAR PIRIZOVIC
BROOKE BROGAN
STEFANIE VOINEA
Game Art
Graphic Design
Graphic Design
Illustration
Interior Design
JOSEPH WOODS
GABRIELLE SCIANNA
LEILA DEMARCHI
ARIANNA MCANIFF
Motion Design
Photography and Imaging
Visual Studies
Student Life
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JIM DEAN AN INDELIBLE LEGACY AT RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN By Gayle Guynup Portrait by Matthew Holler ’11
1985 – February 1, 1985 Dean begins his career at the College as director of community relations 1987 – he became director of admissions 2006 – in addition to serving as director of admissions, he also became interim director of marketing and communications 2009 – Dean was appointed dean of admissions and executive director of marketing and communications 2013 – he returned to his role as dean of admissions full-time 2020 – Dean announced his retirement from Ringling College
There is no denying that Jim Dean changed the face of Ringling College of Art and Design during his 35-year career, building not only its overall student body numbers, but also the College’s international student population. In his first year in admissions, Ringling College had 189 applicants, compared to 2,844 this past fall – a more than 1,400 percent increase. In that same year, there was only one international student from Thailand, whereas today, Ringling College has more than 287 students from 55 countries.
The College, in those days, bore almost no resemblance to the Ringling College of Art and Design you see today. As Dean said, “There was a lot of work to be done if we wanted what was then Ringling School of Art and Design to grow into a world-class institution.” One of the most important changes in those early days, Dean said, was accreditation. “Once we were accredited, we could play in the same league as the big boys in the world of art and design – Pratt, Parsons, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and so many more.” “Back in those days, admissions was largely about who you were seen with. Be invisible and you got nobody. Be seen and you would get some people. Be seen with the right people and you would get more and more of the right kind of student,” Dean explained.
“Jim’s accomplishments during his tenure are innumerable,” said Dr. Larry Offering a four-year degree that included liberal R. Thompson, president of Ringling arts made a huge difference in terms of public College of Art and Design. “Quite perception, and it mattered to high school frankly, words cannot begin to express counselors, teachers, parents, and the students the immensity of my gratitude to Jim themselves – all of those that Dean would meet for all he has done to help Ringling with on his many travels. College reach the status it enjoys today, as one of the very top colleges of art “I traveled a lot (more than 80 countries in all) and design in the world.” during my time at Ringling College – and I would be gone for weeks and weeks at a time, Dean is originally from West Virginia, and some trips lasting 20 days or longer. I would attended West Virginia University, where he come home, do a lot of laundry, and leave again majored in landscape architecture before on the next trip,” he said. “If Dr. Christ-Janer or switching to fine arts (painting). After graduating, Dr. Thompson would see me on campus, they he taught for eight years at a private college in would stop and ask me what I was doing there.” West Virginia and absolutely loved it. “After my mother passed away, my sister and her husband In the 1980s and early ‘90s, Dean said, all that moved to Sarasota,” he said. “So, I was down here most people outside of our area knew about vacationing a lot. And you know what happened Sarasota was that it was the home of the circus. next - I fell in love with the place.” His sister, who “An art and design school was still a hard sell at worked for what is now Bank of America, had that point,” he said, adding that it took many some people she wanted her brother to meet. years before Ringling College began to develop its own stellar reputation. “Luckily for me, one of those people was Ringling School of Art and Design President, Dr. Arland Christ-Janer,” he said. “We hit it off right away,” Dean said. He was hired as director of community relations and that involved a six-month stint in the development office and six months in admissions. After two years, he had to choose, and he opted for admissions. Dean said he felt having worked with young people as a teacher, and knowing the language of art and design, admissions would be a better fit. “I liked energizing young people, and seeing their eyes open to possibilities,” he said.
Ringling’s star started getting brighter and brighter as the College began adding new degree programs. “There were plenty of fine arts schools and graphic design schools from which to choose, but when computers came along, that changed everything. Initially, our first computer program was called computer design, but it was the seed of what evolved into the Computer Animation program,” Dean said. “It was a real game changer for us.” Around this same time, Ringling was identified by the Walt Disney Company as a place where they could find talent in the illustration program. They would then train these illustrators to become Disney animators. “Once Ringling was attached to the name Disney, everything changed once again. Students wanted to come here,” he said. This also led to relationships with other major media companies, including Pixar, DreamWorks, and so many more.
Slowly, Ringling College began developing a national and an international reputation for excellence, and for being a stepping stone to a career in art and design. Ultimately, Dr. Thompson and Dean set a goal for Ringling College admissions: The school population should be 50 percent students from U.S. states and territories (excluding Florida), 25 percent students from Florida, and 25 percent students from countries from around the world. “When I first started, our student body was 89 percent Floridian, and one student from Thailand,” Dean said. So, Dean focused on making Ringling College a national force, by building the school’s coast-to-coast enrollment. He then expanded his travel from national to international, building that part of the student body. While he would sometimes travel with other schools, he had one hard and fast rule. “I would never travel in groups with other art and design schools. I didn’t think that Ringling should ever be presented as one of the pack,” he said. “It is a totally unique institution.” Dean said that he had the privilege of working with two remarkable leaders at Ringling College, Dr. Arland Christ-Janer and Dr. Larry Thompson. “They were very different, but I so appreciate both of them,” Dean said. “CJ laid the foundation from which the College grew, and then Larry and his team built the College into what you see today – an institution that continues to fly high.”
When asked what he is most proud of over his 35-year career, Dean said it goes beyond growing the numbers, though that is an immense source of pride. “I think the most rewarding thing is helping young people find their way to a career in which they will be happy, and seeing our campus grow from a little, tiny Florida school into an international force in art and design.” “I have also been fortunate to work with an incredible group of dedicated team members in admissions over the years,” he said, some of whom he worked closely with for nearly 30 years like Laurie Strothman, admissions’ administrative manager. “They too, deserve so much credit for the institution’s success.” Since retiring, Dean said “I’ve been on lockdown, like everybody else,” but I knew it was time for me to retire. If Ringling College needs me, they know I will always be there for them and am only a text or an email away.” In his spare time, he has resumed his former love of landscaping, gardening, and building, and spent the summer finding creative projects to work on at his summer home in New England. “I guess you could say I got back to my artistic roots,” he said. CONTXT | SPRING 2021
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MADE BY OUR STUDENTS: WRI TTEN BY
Creative Writing major Esty Loveing-Downes ’21 I L LU S TRATED BY
Illustration major Rachel Bivens ’21
In the summer of 2019, I enrolled in Ringling College of Art and Design’s Creative Writing program. People who found out I was starting college at age 42 scratched their heads. Didn’t I know I could write without going to college? Hadn’t I heard of online courses? Lots of people looked at me quizzically and asked, “What’re you going to do with that degree?”
Five o’clock AM every weekday, my alarm chimed. I let the dogs out and started the day’s first cup of coffee. My husband joined me, or else arrived home after an ER shift, showering outdoors first to decontaminate.
My plan to get a creative writing degree while parenting five kids between the ages of 7 and 17 was bananas, but it was right for me at the time. In the fall of 2019, my kids went to school all day, my husband worked in the ER, and I was free to chase my dream of becoming an author and educator. For decades, I’d listened enviously when people mentioned classes they’d taken in college; finally, it was my turn.
By 6 AM, all our kids were awake, too, looking for pancakes, or help packing lunches, or signatures on permission slips. At some point, I snuck away to dress and make sure my grays were all covered. Nothing like seeing yourself on camera for nine straight hours every weekday to make you conscious of those things. Some days, there was time for a walk on the treadmill. Other days, the Crock-Pot was set, or a casserole was assembled. Sometimes, it was a mad dash for forgotten backpacks and missing shoes.
“EVERYBODY JUST BE COOL,” I told my family that August. “If this is going to work, I need everyone to please sit tight for the next four years.” Seven months later, a week of Spring Break morphed into pandemic quarantine. Coronavirus had arrived in Sarasota. My kids came home and transitioned to remote learning, my own classes moved online, and life became decidedly uncool. The margins of time shrank. My kids logged onto iPads or computers, and I did, too, while my husband clocked in for shifts at the ER. We adopted a puppy, started TikTok accounts, and bought masks, just like everyone else. Over the summer break, I completed five more classes via remote instruction. And through the month of July, I worked as the Creative Writing teaching assistant in Ringling’s PreCollege program. As fall of 2020 approached, we had a family meeting and decided: Our kids would attend school in person and I would attend my 18 hours of Ringling courses remotely, in case everything went remote again. Thanks to Ringling’s delayed fall 2020 start date, I was able to situate all five kids in their respective schools two weeks before my own classes began. For me, four creative writing classes, a studio requirement, and an art history course meant four days of the week would find me seated at the computer.
By 8:15 AM, everyone had been dropped off in their respective places, and I arrived back home in time to make a second cup of coffee, log onto my computer, and launch Zoom.
During class, cameras were on and classes functioned similarly to what I’d gotten used to during my classes on campus the previous year. Three of my classes were taught over Zoom, with all students meeting synchronously with the instructor. The other three were hybrid; the teacher and some students were together, physically distanced in a room on campus, while the rest of us participated remotely over Zoom. During those classes, our giant faces were projected onto a screen in the room where class was held, accompanied by our booming voices. The shared energy of students in one space was altered, but having experienced distanced learning in the spring, most of us were accustomed to the process. There is incredible value in being physically on campus. Although I didn’t have that experience, my fall semester was still a success.
I served on the masthead of Ringling College’s student-led journal, Shift: A Journal of Literary Oddities, as Interviewing Manager, and saw two of my own pieces published in journals, too. I maintained my momentum, earned 18 credit hours, and landed an internship with a literary agency in New York. And while my college experience looks different than I’d imagined, my family is thriving, and I am grateful for the chance to continue pursuing my dream.
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ASSOCIATE DEAN OF STUDENTS DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
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BY MARKELLA PARADISSIS-WAGNER ’22 | PORTRAIT BY KAREN ARANGO ’13
The Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) is a cornerstone of Ringling College of Art and Design – through the computer screen or in-person. As Associate Dean of Students and Director of the CDI, Yoleidy Rosario-Hernandez (ze/zir/zirs) experiments with creative approaches to diversity, equity, and inclusion work, especially during this unique year.
“How can we, as scholars and artists, take what we learn from one another and make conscious choices about how we interact with different communities to ensure we’re being inclusive and responsible stewards?” Rosario-Hernandez asks. The Reel Talk series is one way. In this series, the CDI shows a film then hosts an open, guided discussion on its themes and surrounding issues. This semester, the films, which included Kiki (2017), were played on Zoom and centered around race and identity. Another way is the CDI’s Queer Dialogue series, which allows participants to explore dating and self-love in a safe and supported environment. Going beyond Ringling College, the CDI addressed racial tension in the community with the InDialogue series, discussing the global impact of slavery and race within the context of COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter (BLM). The CDI also hosted a BLM support space on Zoom for students, faculty, and alumni of color to talk and find solidarity. This space later opened to allies. In addition to collaborating with New College’s Race, Power, and Politics speaker series, the CDI partnered with Rutgers University-Newark and New College to create Community Healing Spaces, which is still available online (sites. google.com/view/communityhealingspaces/ home). The institutions worked with artists across the U.S. to host numerous events around social issues, such as workshops on health and wellness; opportunities for dialogue on various issues; sessions to build skills in arts, parenting, and resiliency, among other areas; support for numerous groups; and COVID-19 resources.
This past semester’s dialogues laid the foundation for Spring 2021, which will examine societal issues in even more depth. The CDI will focus on global perspectives and develop additional professional development opportunities for faculty and staff. Rosario-Hernandez carries lessons from all zir previous experiences, including zir role as the director of the LGBTQ+ and Intercultural Resource Center at Rutgers University. Ze believes the CDI’s success is a collective endeavor of educators, staff, and students committed to the Center. “I really love the fact that I have students who are willing to experiment and try new things. My exposure to different types of programs and institutions has allowed me to guide our Center right now to see what’s working and what’s not so that we can continue to adapt,” RosarioHernandez explains. Ze recognizes the challenges of connecting with students in an online setting, such as Zoom fatigue. The CDI embraces online and safe, in-person outreach. For the Trans Day of Remembrance, the CDI placed candles and chalkboards across campus, memorializing the names of transgender victims, along with the option of attending an online event. Support, though, isn’t limited to a computer screen. Togetherness isn’t limited to one location. The CDI creates connections across campus and the globe, reflecting the resiliency of Ringling College students, faculty, and staff.
“Resiliency is an empowerment. It’s an ancestral connection. It’s walking on the shoulders of giants,” Rosario-Hernandez reflects. “When I hear the word resiliency, I think about the commitment to leaving this world a better place for my children and the legacies that they’re going to work on to build peace.”
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HONORING
INTERIOR DESIGN By Ryan Van Cleave
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Interior by alumnus Sascha Wagner ’96
The Interior Design major started at Ringling College of Art and Design in the 1930s, and, for decades, it was a robust piece of the College’s suite of academic programs. It is easy to see why — students who study interior design here do far more than just beautify interior residential spaces. They design the experiences inside hospitals and hotels as well as in offices, schools, and restaurants. They learn the essential components of sustainable design and work with innovative building materials and methods. They discover how to take designs to the next level in both real and virtual contexts through state-ofthe-art technology.
In short, through texture, form, light, and color, Ringling College Interior Design students transform empty spaces through design to make them come alive. Originally, this field of study at Ringling College began as Interior Decoration (1934-1948), and later became Interior Design (ID). ID was first accredited in 1986 under Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER), now the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), and has remained fully accredited since then. Times have changed and Ringling College is always evolving to meet the demand of incoming students and the creative economy. The Interior Design program will always be an important part of our history. The commitment to excellence from the Ringling College ID major is evident in the success of its alumni. To name just a few–Sascha Wagner (’96) is president/CEO of Huntsman Architectural Group; Christopher Roy McConnell (’95) is owner and creative director of Why Not Bespoke; and Chitra Patel (’13) is a project designer for Bisley North America.
Opposite: Residential design by Zerina Islamovic ’16 Hospitality design by Hannah Morris ’15 Yacht design by Nicholas Hixon ’10
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Success has been the norm for other graduates of the major as well. Ned Darr, for example, was in 1961 accepted to both Ringling– although back then it was Ringling School of Art and Design–and the Rhode Island School of Art & Design (RISD). “In the end,” he explains, “I chose Ringling because its teachings were firmly based in historical design. The 17th, 18th, and 19th-century French and English periods were stressed. The students all did watercolor renderings of rooms from various historical periods, learning the key details of each.” Back then, the ID courses were taught by Charles Nelson Bradley, a graduate of Ringling’s own Interior Design program, which was started years earlier by Bern Bullard. Darr adds that “this education was the backbone of my career in the profession, which endured for several decades. I am forever grateful for what I learned from 1961 through 1964.” Of course, he’s sad to see it go. “I have very fond memories of my time at Ringling. Not just from my studies, but because I found the love of my life there –Walton Luck, who was a year ahead of me in ID and graduated in ’63.” They started their own interior design business, Darr-Luck Associates, and were together as a couple for nearly 57 years. A relatively recent alumna of the ID major is Suzanne Wright (’06), a senior interior designer and show set lead at Thinkwell Group– a global experience/entertainment design firm. “Ringling prepared me to be not just a creative person, but also a true professional,” she notes. She goes on to say that she learned “not just how to complete an assigned task, but to own your creative process and clearly communicate that to others. Ringling fosters a welcoming community to be your very best self.” And last but not least, there’s Stefanie Voinea, a current Interior Design senior who’s also the very last ID Trustee Scholar. She says that she’s hopeful about her future and thankful for the opportunity of being able to study Interior Design at Ringling. “I can’t imagine not being here for these last few years, and it’s truly been an honor to be part of the last class.” Voinea almost deferred college for a year, which would’ve meant missing the window to be part of this final ID class. “Knowing how much I fell in love with this major, and that I enrolled at the perfect time and stuck through,” she says, “it’s just such a privilege and honor. I also feel it sets a standard – to give our best in everything we do in school and in our careers, because we were able to get this degree at such an amazing school.” Talk to any graduate of the ID major, and the story’s the same– Ringling’s ID major changed lives and made careers. Not bad for a major that began ninety years ago with a single course in decorating.
The sole remaining ID faculty member, Seongwoo Nam, has been with Ringling College since 2000. Like many at the College, he has mixed feelings about ending the major. “I’ve worked here 21 years, and it’s like my baby,” he admits. “At one time or another, I taught everything for this major and I’m proud of all we’ve done. But the end of Interior Design is absolutely the right move for Ringling College. It’s time to move ahead and challenge ourselves in new ways.” Going forward, prospective students who would have applied to Interior Design might instead find a home in Ringling’s new Entertainment Design (ED) major. While not an equivalent experience, they both share the guiding principles of making spaces come alive through design and creating innovative solutions for space-related experiences. Plus, ED works with theme parks, which certainly speaks to a new generation of design thinkers! Still, despite the excitement for the future, we will miss Interior Design all the same and will continue to honor its incredible alumni for their outstanding contributions, to the field and to Ringling College.
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Interior Design students sort through swatches. Interior Design faculty member Seongwoo Nam instructing.
Late 40s, early 50s Interior Design class
1932-1933 A Decorative Design course and Interior Architecture and Decoration course were first offered.
1978 The ID major was renamed Interior Design and Space Planning, and incoming Department Chairman Bernard Soep significantly updated the program.
1934 The Interior Decoration department was officially founded. 1938 Maude Loomis Dean became the first named faculty member for the department. 1965 The Interior Design department sponsored the first student art gallery on campus upon the acquisition of the old restaurant on the corner of US41 and 27th Street. They also organized the first student outdoor art sale which became the annual “Student Sidewalk Sales.” 1977 Third-year design students went with Department Chairman Charles Nelson Bradley on a special study tour to New York City, Paris, and London (the first time a Ringling College department took students on a major study/industry trip).
90s Interior Design class
1991 The major returns to the name Interior Design. Past Department Head Norman Hervieux and Interior Design students with nationally winning piece
1986 The IDSP major gets initial accreditation with FIDER (Foundation for Interior Design Education Research), and is granted full accreditation in 1989.
1995 FIDER grants 6-year accreditation (the longest available) at the first professional degree level to the ID department. This accreditation has been extended every term and was last awarded in 2019. 2021 The ID major graduates its final seniors.
Photographs courtesy of the Ringling College Archives CONTXT | SPRING 2021 29
S P OT L I G H T O N :
HUMAN CONNECTION By Gayle Guynup | Portraits by Karen Arango ’13
Meet Dr. Erin Robinson, associate dean of students and director of student health services, and Darren Mathews, director of human resources, two staff members who have been instrumental in Ringling College of Art and Design’s efforts to help maintain the health and wellbeing of the Ringling College community.
Dr. Erin Robinson oversees Ringling College’s counseling and medical services. The team works with Sarasota Memorial Hospital (SMH) in what Robinson describes as “an amazing partnership.” With the onset of COVID-19, SMH has dramatically increased its services, bringing nurses out to the campus and handling all of the COVID testing for students. “They have really gone above and beyond, as far as providing personnel and services that are critical to our campus,” Robinson explained. Originally from Connecticut, Robinson met her husband while attending College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts. They moved to Sarasota, where Robinson worked at The Coalition (now The Florida Center), doing case management work with kids in the foster care system. After going back to school and earning her doctorate from the University of Hartford, Robinson worked for seven years as a post-doctoral fellow at New College, working her way up to the position of associate director at The New College Counseling Center. “That is where I found my calling, working with college-aged students,” she said. In 2015 she opened her own practice, which she still has today. When the position at Ringling College opened, Robinson knew that it would be a perfect fit, as she was missing her work with college students and working in a collaborative, team-inspired environment. 30 CONTXT.RINGLING.EDU
DR. ERIN ROBINSON
Associate Dean of Students and Director of Student Health Services
When COVID struck in March, Robinson said her team had to move quickly to address student needs and understand how the pandemic would impact the College. “In terms of counseling, it meant getting my staff certified to do tele-mental health counseling and going from person-to-person counseling to working with someone who might be thousands of miles away on a computer screen.” “Fortunately, the summer gave us the opportunity to see on a small scale how we would handle a positive test result and contact tracing, and to establish the protocols that would have to work on a much larger scale once students returned in the fall,” Robinson said.
“Every department on this campus has worked together to think through all of the different scenarios that might develop, and then developed systems for how we would handle those situations.”
Robinson gives much of the credit for the College’s successful health and safety efforts to the students. “All of our students who have had to isolate or quarantine have been just wonderful, as have their parents,” she said. “They have taken this whole situation very seriously, adhering to the safety protocols we have in place, and their parents are just so thankful for all of the care we have been providing.” Robinson also credits Facilities for securing a lot of the personal protective equipment (PPE) that has been required. “We provided cloth face coverings for faculty, staff, and students. When a student goes into quarantine, they receive a bag filled with disposable face coverings and gloves, a thermometer, and other necessities,” she said. While Robinson added that she is optimistic about the new year, she is anticipating a certain degree of anxiety as students, faculty, and staff return for the spring semester. “As always,” she affirms, “we will be there for the students, whatever their needs.”
Originally from Louisiana, Darren Mathews earned his undergraduate degree in marine biology (essentially pre-med) from Texas A&M University. His first job out of college was in AIDS research at the University of Texas Medical Branch, doing microbiology and cellular chemistry. From medical research he moved into computer programming and database administration for the University of Texas. He realized he really had an affinity for human resources, and went on to earn his master’s degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Houston. After graduation, Mathews moved to Colorado, where he worked for 12 years as the Human Resources director at a college there. After about three years of living in the mountains, which are breathtaking and beautiful, he realized he was not going to do well growing old in Colorado. “There is way too much shoveling involved,” he said. “My wife and I wanted to get back to the Gulf Coast. I have an adult son with Down’s Syndrome who just loves Disney World, so we wanted to live, not in Orlando, but close enough that we could easily get there.” So, they moved to the Gulf Coast, hoping that there would be an HR position in Sarasota, preferably in higher education. It just happened that Ringling College was looking for a new director of human resources. It will be four years in April.
DARREN MATHEWS Director of Human Resources
In his role, Mathews is responsible for creating an environment where employees feel they can contribute 100 percent. “We make sure people have the tools they need, that they have a safe and secure work environment, and that they receive the pay and benefits that give them a sense of security.” Historically, Mathews said, Ringling College has not engaged in a lot of remote work. This school is all about collaboration with the long-held belief that being in close proximity is important to the creative process. “In March, we went from no one working remotely to 95 percent of our faculty and staff working remotely–and we did that in less than a month,” he explained. For Human Resources, this transition included helping to define which work could successfully be done remotely, working with IT to get all of the resources in place, and then a huge effort helping faculty and staff set up their home offices and remote routines. “We provided some guidelines–like you have to move 95 percent of your workforce off campus in a week, and here is the support we can provide. But then each individual department took it from there and made it happen,” Mathews said.
“Faculty had to figure out how to meet learning objectives when they could no longer use the familiar methodologies. Methods were absolutely turned on their heads for everyone, but the objectives stayed the same. The quality of our programs—academic and cocurricular—and our support services was never sacrificed.” Mathews said that there was so much change going on over the summer months that both he and Erin (Robinson) would spend a lot of time on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, keeping up with the latest information that could then be shared with faculty, staff, and students. “Erin and I would often collaborate on different situations as they arose. I knew I could trust her judgment, and that she would give me honest feedback,” he said, adding, “and that is the strength of Ringling College. In my experience, everyone on campus has the best interests of the College and the students at heart.” CONTXT | SPRING 2021
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At Ringling College of Art and Design, creativity is the driving force of all that we do. It inspires every aspect of our daily lives, even beyond the artwork so beautifully created by our students. Creativity empowers us to re-imagine how the world works. It changes lives. And your support makes it possible.
Your support brings creativity to life.
The emerging artists and designers of Ringling College have talent beyond measure and a true passion for their craft. They are dedicated to achieving great things, but they can’t always do it alone. The generosity of donors helps alleviate financial hardships for students, provides cuttingedge resources for faculty, and fosters an entire community of creativity. We hope you will join us as we navigate a new world – one where creativity comes to life.
Opposite: Game Art majors Tyler Bivins ’20, Sung Ho Kim ’20, Jarod Frank ’20, Connor Solnik ’20 Dion MBD ’19, Illustration Sharon Lee ’20, Visual Studies Jeremy Edelblut ’17, Illustration Beatriz Patarata ’21, Graphic Design Above: Jordan Holm ’18, Fine Arts Rae Moyer ’22, Photography + Digital Imaging Alyssa Ragni ’20, Computer Animation Joseph Janssen ’22, Virtual Reality Rae Moyer ’22, Photography + Digital Imaging Emelie Thomas ’19, Illustration
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CIRCA ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
“At Ringling you can navigate your own path. You’re surrounded by some of the best creators out there so you have to step up your game. You learn to hustle and create the best work you can, and you need to keep that hustle spirit and mentality in the workforce.”
GRAPHIC DESIGN MAJOR
2009
UI/UX design for Visa
Greg Tariff UI/UX design for Fetch Labs
Interactive mirror for Oak Labs UI/UX design for eBay
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GREG TARIFF:
Master of The Pivot By Nicole Caron
We recently caught up with Greg Tariff, Graphic Design ’09, to discuss corporate career success, coming back from fires (literally!), and the power of “going small.” On pivoting during challenging times:
On preparation for success:
Personally, my wife and I recently experienced a major house fire. We were sitting in our living room and the roof caught on fire due to a faulty gas fireplace! Our first priority was to grab our two dogs and get out. Thankfully, everyone is safe and we’re in temporary quarters while our house is being rebuilt.
I learned to network my butt off at Ringling. General Motors (GM) found a Facebook group I created about classic cars and invited a friend and me to visit GM headquarters to attend a big auto show. I brought my portfolio and grabbed every business card I could. Staying in touch with those people led to an internship my junior year in 2008. I worked with Career Services and the GM college representative to lock in that internship.
Professionally, I manage a team of nine and we use everything from Figma to Zoom. As a designer, using the right collaborative tools is essential. Nurturing culture is key in building a successful team. Intuit has an amazing design community: “D for D: Design for Delight” is our approach for solving customer problems. Every team member has input; good management checks in on the team’s mental and physical well-being and ensures the team stays connected. That was especially important in 2020.
Personal Design Philosophy: After quite some time of learning, I realized that not everything matters equally. Not everything is top priority. There’s an imaginary shelf: If there’s something not affecting you in the moment, it can go on the shelf. As a start-up, you try a gazillion things, but you just need to do one thing really well. It’s not about blasting your customers with everything–hone in on what they need and do that one thing. Dieter Rams, who was at Braun in the 1960s, said, “Good design is as little design as possible.” I learned about him when I was at Ringling. I mold this into my own philosophy every day.
In 2009 the economy crashed and you were lucky to find an internship, let alone a job. I sent out dozens of applications after graduation while freelancing in New York City and landed an opportunity with BFG, an interactive agency in Hilton Head, SC. Our clients included Warner Bros. and Coca-Cola, among others, and I learned a lot from those team members. For fun on weekends, a colleague and I created a site that aggregated free online contests and giveaways. In the first eight months, we had about 55,000 user-entered contests. Silicon Valley began reaching out to us about expanding, and then eBay invited me to California. I went out for an interview and the next day had an offer. During those leaps of faith, from New York to South Carolina to California, I kept my mind open, not wanting to rule out any possibilities. I focused on building my career.
RESIDES
San Francisco Bay WORKS
Head of Design, DIFM Quickbooks Live/Intuit SERVES
Advisory boards:
• Throtl • Fuzzy Pet Health • BrickBuilt EXPERIENCE
Led innovation teams at:
• eBay • Visa • Groupon • Oak Labs (acquired by Zivelo) • General Motors FOUNDER
• Fetch Labs • Gwazu
(acquired by Fuzzy Pet Health)
Advice for current Ringling students: Build relationships and take risks. Learn your environment and the resources you can tap into. I was always tapping into the knowledge of my instructors and Career Services to better my learning. That was a massive help in preparing me for the real world. My class projects gave me the foundation for the best practices in building brand identity and user experiences, which is key in the professional world. Don’t be picky about location: Take opportunities to build that portfolio. Swallow your pride, travel, get experience, then later on you can be picky when you’re a mature designer. Stay open-minded and embrace the unknown.
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CIRCA ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
BUSINESS OF ART + DESIGN
2014
Still from animation My Moon
Sarah Kambara
Still from animation Weekends
Still from animation The Prize Inside
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SARAH KAMBARA:
Building Connections By Nicole Caron
Ringling College of Art and Design’s major benefit to many incoming students and new graduates is its ability to connect them with future employers. Sarah Kambara, Business of Art and Design (BOAD) ’14 and a producer at Chromosphere Design and Animation Studio in Los Angeles, was one of those beneficiaries. We recently talked about Ringling’s relationships with industry, the importance of mentors, and staying true to your vision. On the Ringling-to-real world pipeline: Ringling had such good connections; so many recruiters visit campus and the College brings in a lot of good speakers from creative industries. I was a transfer student, and when I saw Ringling’s relationships with employers I knew that was a huge opportunity. I knew I could get an internship and that I would have a decent shot at getting a job. BOAD focuses on production management, how to manage artists, and working on team projects with other artists. By taking studio courses, I gained insight into the workflow of artists and an understanding of the creative process. That knowledge allowed me to feel comfortable going into the creative industry and communicating with and managing artists.
On mentors and influences: Lisa Moody was my main mentor in producing; she took me under her wing and I worked with her in ART Network, Ringling’s official studentoperated campus television network. She shared a lot about her experience as a producer. Wanda Chaves also had a very inspirational impact on my life. She got me to ask myself, “Who do I need to be as a person to be a manager?” She taught me how to respect people.
On 2020’s biggest challenges and necessary adaptations: Some of our clients were in the beginning stages of their projects. They came to us and said they weren’t sure if funding would work due to COVID-19, and that they would talk to us later. We saw a lot of that timing turning into six to eight months later. So, with a maximum of twenty artists at my studio, we prioritized the internal artists first and spread the work across them to keep them employed.
We were approached about projects that didn’t always fit with our philosophy, but would provide additional work if we took them. However, the Chromosphere philosophy is to be passionate about only doing work we enjoy. The owner doesn’t just take on content to make money. So, if work came in that didn’t fit with who we are, even this year [2020], we turned it down. I appreciate that philosophy.
On “A Day In The Life” of a Producer: Chromosphere is an art and design studio. We do visual development, character art, and environment design for TV shows, short films, and commercials. We do pre- to post-production, from design to compositing. We work with clients from a variety of networks including Netflix and Cartoon Network, as well as with game and tech/ interactive-focused studios. In the initial client meeting, we listen to their needs and vision, then the director of production and I work out budgeting and scheduling for the project bid. We take client specifications and then budget according to their needs, tracking each part of the production and making sure it’s completed and reviewed. I liaise with clients, get their approval, and work with artists.
WORKS
Producer, Chromosphere Design and Animation Studio HIGHLIGHTS
2018 Winner Daytime Emmy Award, Outstanding Preschool Children’s Animated Series: A Storybots Christmas
2020 Winner Daytime Emmy Award, Outstanding Preschool Children’s Animated Series: Ask The Storybots
EXPERIENCE
• Jib-Jab • Pixar • Walt Disney Animation Studios
Advice for current Ringling students: Figure out your focus at Ringling because the art world can be small when you get a job. If you want to focus on 3D modeling, then get that experience and build your portfolio at Ringling. If I hadn’t focused on production management, I wouldn’t have gotten the job at Disney. Know your aspirations and goals, but don’t get too obsessive about them. Sometimes opportunities don’t come right away, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t coming. And sometimes you will understand later that you had other talents and contributions to offer, even if you didn’t meet your goals at that time.
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RINGLING COLLEGE’S
UNSUNG HEROES BY GAYLE GUYNUP | ILLUSTRATION BY LAURA BUCHOLTZ ’04
IT TAKES A TEAM
to deal with a situation as overwhelming as the Coronavirus pandemic. At Ringling College, that team included a multitude of unsung heroes, people you may not hear about but whose contributions were crucial to the College’s efforts to respond to the impacts of COVID-19. Departments like Public Safety and Facilities worked on-campus throughout the pandemic to help ensure a safe and clean environment for everyone. Institutional Technology (IT) was instrumental to the College’s successful transition to remote instruction in March with notice of just two weeks. We can’t forget food services, led by our partner Chartwell’s, which made it possible for students, faculty, and staff to dine safely. Public Safety provided a constant presence, on both the main and the Museum campuses, throughout the pandemic, helping to reassure students, families, faculty, and staff. “I am incredibly proud of the women and men who comprise Public Safety and their contributions in response to COVID-19,” said Don Strom, director of public safety. “Not once have they shied from their responsibilities to help ensure the campus could remain operational.” In addition to their typical duties, Public Safety officers stepped up to handle tasks to assist other areas whose staff was working away from campus. For example, the team was instrumental in ensuring proactive signage was in place across campus by helping to identify the types of signs needed and the locations in which they should be placed. Additionally, the Public Safety team helped coach students, faculty, and staff on the new behavior of using face coverings and helped manage access to buildings.
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“I THINK WE OWE SO MUCH TO THESE TEAM MEMBERS AND THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN SO MANY OTHER OFFICES ON CAMPUS,” STROM NOTES. Facilities, led by Viron Lynch, assistant vice president for facilities, worked to implement a series of protocols to provide enhanced cleaning across campus in an effort to mitigate the risk of infection. “We started additional wipe-downs, disinfecting of spaces, handles, and other commonly touched areas, which we do anytime there is a positive case on campus,” said Lynch. “We followed a basic protocol that we already had in place, expanding it when we found it necessary,” he said, adding that the biggest challenge was getting supplies when so many organizations were needing increased quantities. The Facilities team also worked across campus to assess spaces to understand the impact of physical distancing on our space capacity. “We worked with academic affairs to determine the number of people who could be in a classroom at any one time and to identify the number of workstations that would be available, all of which helped reduce the density in spaces across campus,” Lynch said. Along with Facilities, Environmental Health and Safety played a crucial role in helping the College protect the health and well-being of students, faculty, and staff. Carl Powell, director of environmental health and safety, is originally from England and has been with Ringling College for just over 14 years. “I married an American woman who dragged me over, and now I wouldn’t leave,” Powell said. “I came to America in May of 2006 and applied for a number of different positions. Though I had three offers, it was the job at Ringling College that was the most appealing. The College had never had a director of environmental health and safety before, so it was a clean slate and I could build a department from the ground up,” he said. “When COVID hit us in March, we had to think about how to keep people safe, not only here on campus, but also at home, where many faculty and staff members were working. We wrote ergonomic guidelines to assist people in setting up their home offices in a safe way,” Powell said. Once the school went into lockdown, there were many new procedures that had to be established, including cleaning and disinfecting protocols, training, and guidelines for safely entering buildings. “From mid-March until the students returned in September, all of the buildings were locked down. We went to an electronic access system for buildings, which Facilities, Public Safety, and IT helped to set up. Everyone–staff, faculty, and students–all have badges that allow them access to buildings relevant to their needs. It is a change we have long been considering, and COVID gave us a reason to accelerate our schedule and get it done,” he said.
Facilities, Public Safety, and Environmental Health were also involved in identifying the types and locations of signage that was needed to help ensure safety protocols were clearly identified across campus. “It seemed like such a minor project,” Powell said, “but every building and public space has its own signage, so it was a much bigger project than I anticipated.” He went on to say that the project “really made me appreciate all of the work that goes into the creative process.” Of the combined efforts of everyone across campus, Powell said, “It was amazing to see the amount of work that every department, every single person put in to make the protocols work. And it has all paid off.” These areas represent only a small fraction of all the heroes at Ringling College making it possible for students to continue learning during this incredibly difficult time. There is also Institutional Technology staff, who worked tirelessly to support students, faculty, and staff as they transitioned from in-person instruction and on-campus work to remote learning and working; ensured provision of laptops for staff; supported first-time Zoom users across the College; and established innovative protocols to enable students to access the power of Ringling’s computing resources from anywhere with an internet connection. Our dining service partner, Chartwell’s, adjusted its dining spaces to mitigate risk of spread, worked with us to create more flexible meal plans that reduced the number of times students had to come to the dining facilities, and introduced an incredibly popular food truck that allowed students and employees to procure food outdoors. The staff at the Ringling College Museum Campus found innovative ways to bring art exhibitions and classes to the greater Sarasota-Manatee community. And there are many, many more.
“I couldn’t be more grateful to every single member of our amazing Ringling College community,” said Larry R. Thompson, president of Ringling College of Art and Design. “I thank everyone at Ringling College who has contributed to creating and maintaining an environment dedicated to the health and well-being of our community.”
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REAL + READY 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. Seven 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 client-based work via a number of channels: Academic Department Projects, ART Network, Career Services Internships, The Collaboratory, Design Center, Service-Learning + Volunteerism, Student Life, and The Ringling College Studio Labs. The following stories present a handful of these projects, with an in-depth look at the challenge presented, the process, and the results. Notice that 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 careers of their dreams. *The Collaboratory is an initiative developed by Ringling College in partnership with The Patterson Foundation that provides creative, experiential learning opportunities for all of its students.
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REAL + READY
Patriot Plaza
Still from student film project.
PROJECT:
Students maintaining COVID safety procedures while filming.
Patriot Plaza Ringling College of Art and Design has been giving students the opportunity to leverage their artistic talents and education to work on meaningful, real-world projects for decades through The Collaboratory. Our commitment is made abundantly clear in classes and throughout the community: We create an engaging, rigorous, hands-on curriculum that comprehensively sharpens students’ skills to help them build the practical experience so crucial to landing jobs after graduation. From Fine Arts to Game Art, students have been able to work closely with clients to bring deliverables to life, ultimately handing over projects that convey both passion and skill and final products that holistically speak to audiences with both practicality and ingenuity. Our students are creatives, of course, but they are also budding professionals who walk the line between art and industry, designing a new model of what it means to turn theory into practice. And they’re at it again. This time, the focus is on the Film Department and a dozen of its students who are bringing an important local landmark to life. Patriot Plaza, a 2,800-seat ceremonial amphitheater on the grounds of the Sarasota National Cemetery, honors veterans by inspiring patriotism through commissioned artworks, ceremonies, and events. The Patterson Foundation, well known for its philanthropic endeavors, fully funded the $12 million construction after working closely with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Cemetery Administration on the design and construction of the venue. The space is meant to instill a sense of peace and reflection in a setting that invites the community to appreciate those who have served our country with pride and valor.
Now, our nationally-ranked Film Department will take on this project intended to give regional 8th graders the ability to experience the significance of Patriot Plaza from the comfort of their classrooms via an 11-part video series. The goal isn’t to be just another learning lesson, but to lead to group discussions at school and at home. Though the initial roll-out is geared specifically for local 8th graders, ultimately the hope is that the video series acts as the first domino in a chain reaction of opportunities to bring Patriot Plaza to life for a much broader audience, in both age and location. Twelve Film students, with guidance from faculty and support from staff, are working together to document and edit the 11-part series, allowing each segment to stand alone as its own encapsulated learning module or to work together as a whole for a completely comprehensive look into Patriot Plaza’s conception and future goals. Our Film students are acting as more than filmmakers. Their job is to create compelling content that tells a visual story through cinematography, editing, sound design, direction, production, and post-production. Our students will think beyond the classroom to create a series that resonates with viewers, inspires dialogue, and becomes a favorite that will be watched time and again. CONTXT | SPRING 2021
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PROJECT:
One Heart: United Through Diversity By Chelsea Garner-Ferris
Mahatma Gandhi said, “Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.” Those words still resonate.
Students Andrew Kroll and Kitt Kippenberger.
Ringling College of Art and Design believes that creativity thrives and reaches its full potential through the consideration and incorporation of a broad perspective and experience that is only possible through dedication to diversity and inclusion. When the opportunity arose for Ringling students to contribute to a project mirroring those ideals, it was an obvious and easy “yes” for the College. The proposal came from Ken Shelin, a dedicated LGBTQ activist who previously served as a Sarasota city commissioner and vice mayor. With support from the City of Sarasota, sponsored by the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, and armed with a dedicated and experienced project committee, the goal was to present the community with a work of art representing the city’s aspirations of becoming a more diverse and accepting place to live and visit. To begin fundraising efforts, the project required strong visual branding and marketing materials. The challenge at hand was this: Designing a brand for a work of art that hasn’t been created yet.
THE PROJECT
THE PROCESS
THE PRODUCT
Recognizing that Sarasota and its residents have made great strides over the past several decades toward cultivating and nurturing a more diverse and equal community, Shelin and his team, known as the Diversity Public Art Project Committee, felt it was important to acknowledge that there is still a long way to go – and that the efforts to get there are of the utmost importance. Toward that goal, the committee laid out a plan to select, produce, install, and dedicate an artwork that will symbolize and embody these efforts. Once created, it will stand as a visual representation of the city’s path to inclusivity, and, hopefully, act as a conduit to spark important conversations about the listening, learning, and accepting that would be necessary to get there.
Kippenberger and Kroll brainstormed and met periodically over Zoom with Shelin and his team. Eventually, the concept and design for One Heart: United Through Diversity was born. Kroll was responsible for the design, including typography, composition, and color palette, while Kippenberger focused on the project’s illustrations. “Both the design and illustration of One Heart is intended to look welcoming and friendly, and to highlight the many emotions and conversations we know the Diversity Public Art Project will spark for others,” notes Kippenberger. “The illustrations aim to depict the diverse, inclusive, and welcoming community we aspire to be.”
In one short semester, Kippenberger and Kroll produced an astonishing amount of professional assets for the One Heart project. In addition to a logo, they also created a beautifully designed pocket folder to hold the branded mission statement, vision, budget, and other information about ways to get involved. Business cards, letterhead, a donation card and envelope, informational postcard, and a full set of brand guidelines were also included in the package. The students even went a step further to design assets for the project’s website, a branded One Heart T-shirt, and graphics to use on social media platforms.
The “heart” illustration is a main focus of the project, appearing in the logo and throughout the branding, reiterating the obvious (yet often overlooked) fact that all humans share this important and vital thing in common. Also featured throughout are recurring and overlapping conversation bubbles that represent the importance of dialogue between people of all different backgrounds and beliefs.
It wasn’t just the project’s committee who benefited from this collaboration. The students gained invaluable experience working on a professional project that required them to partner with clients, work to a deadline, and deliver on budget. But it was deeper than that, too, especially in such unprecedented times. Kroll said they enjoyed working on the project and that they found it rewarding. “We hope that we have helped inspire our community to take part in what will become an important symbol and space of equality, inclusion, and diversity for all of us to celebrate.”
Ringling College of Art and Design seniors Kitt Kippenberger (Illustration), and Andrew Kroll (Graphic Design) were selected to work on the project’s branding and marketing materials under the experienced guidance of Ringling College’s Design Center. The first step was to come up with a project name and logo. “At the Design Center,” says Holly Antoszewski, associate director, “we provide students with the opportunity to work on all phases of a real-world project in a multidisciplinary learning environment. As a College, we believe that diversity of thought and perspective helps to shape cultures and conversations. We were excited to be a part of what will become an important symbol of inclusion in our community and for our students to have the opportunity to be involved in the design process.”
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Meanwhile, with the help of CODAWorx, an online resource to find and commission artists, the committee was busy reviewing an impressive list of over 200 local, national, and international artists. This list was eventually narrowed down to 55, with 15 artists interviewed by the committee over Zoom. Of those, six were chosen for the opportunity to present their proposals for the space. Once the final artist(s) is selected and fundraising for the project has been completed, the monumental work will be permanently installed in Sarasota’s Bayfront Park, accessible to and available for all to enjoy.
The committee’s goal is to produce, install, and dedicate the public artwork by mid-summer 2022. For more information, visit the project’s website at www.sarasotaarts.org/oneheart. Scan to visit www.sarasotaarts.org/oneheart
REAL + READY
One Heart
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PROJECT:
Newtown Alive By Jiana Johnson ’21
Jiana Johnson ’21 Creative Writing
Out of several accomplishments of the Ringling College of Art and Design community during the fall 2020 semester, one that significantly enriched our awareness of Sarasota’s history was the Newtown Alive art contest. Run through the College’s Collaboratory, which provides students with the chance to work on realworld projects with real-world clients to gain crucial work experience before graduation, this project’s goal was to celebrate Sarasota’s Black community through art that commemorates those who first integrated the Sarasota beaches. The mission for the Newtown Alive exhibition is to educate a wider audience by illuminating three important facets of Sarasota’s Black history: Beach integration; education; and civil rights. While the competition for the first installation focused on Sarasota’s beaches and concluded in fall 2020, all three exhibitions will be posted digitally and on view to the public in fall 2021. With the help of Collaboratory instructor Rick Dakan and project coordinator Megan Greenberg, I was afforded the opportunity to work with Vicky Oldham, project consultant and community scholar, and other facilitators of Newtown Alive to pay homage to the pioneers of Black history in Sarasota. This experience helped me enter the realm of filmmaking, and showed me how to build a genuine connection with people I interview. For decades, Sarasota has been a predominately white environment; for much of that time, it had strict laws regarding racial segregation. It was labeled a Sundown town – an all-white neighborhood or city known for practicing racial segregation through forms of discrimination, violence, and harassment towards nonwhites in the area. Even though Sarasota established its popularity in the ’40s for having beautiful beaches, Black people would not be granted the luxury to enjoy them without facing oppression for years to come. When the Black community was able to obtain money from officials to build a beach of their own in 1955, they faced backlash from white community members who didn’t want them to build on any of the proposed locations, including the north end of Siesta Key and an area on Longboat Key.
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On Monday afternoon, October 3, 1955, Newtown residents caravanned to Lido Beach to hold a wadein, swimming and walking the shores in protest. This public demonstration was a clear message to Sarasota officials that the voices of the Black community were going to be heard, despite the harassment they had long endured. These wade-ins would continue for another ten years before change was seen. It wasn’t until the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was enacted that the protests would stop, and, even then, no one knows exactly when the beaches were fully integrated. Though this moment in history was a huge turning point in equality for generations to come, few people today recognize it as such. Having grown up in a predominantly white neighborhood, I am no stranger to feeling out of place in public spaces. With this in mind, I created a video portrait showcasing the gaze of two Black women. They stare directly into the camera for long periods of time to give the viewer an uncomfortable sense of always being watched. My experience as a Black woman in America is not too far from that. Taking a moment out of what I feel every day and turning it into a video meant to play on a loop is in itself protest art. The narrator in the video is Odessa Butler, who was only a teenager when she attended the wade-ins with her mother. Being able to talk to someone who experienced Sarasota’s ever-changing environment resonated with me, and that conversation is something that I will carry with me throughout my life. This history needs to be told, and I am honored to be among the selected few whose art will act as a love letter to the Black community here in Sarasota, and beyond. Learn more about Newtown Alive at www.newtownalive.org.
Scan to visit www.newtownalive.org
REAL + READY
Newtown Alive
1st Place Winner
Illustration by Briana Uchendu ’21
2nd Place Winner
Video entitled Liberty by Jiana Johnson ’21
3rd Place Winner
Illustration by Kitt Thomas ’21
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AND THE WINNER IS... Computer Animation student wins Rookie of the Year with animated short, The Box Assassin
Film’s Branded Entertainment students receive widespread recognition for Quarantine Films
#1 animation school in the world
Third-year Creative Writing student has short story featured in The New York Times
by Animation Career Review
Photography + Imaging junior selected by Creative Quarterly as Top 25 Photographers/ Top 100 Artists of 2020 Photography + Imaging sophomore has work accepted into Sarasota’s Black Muse exhibition
STUDENT ACADEMY AWARD Two Computer Animation students won a 2020 Student Academy Award (Silver) – the 16th for the major since 1998
#1 GRAPHIC DESIGN SCHOOL IN FLORIDA by Animation Career Review
EMMY Computer Animation student wins Emmy at 40th College Television Awards for Animation 46 CONTXT.RINGLING.EDU
#4 school for Creative Media + Entertainment in the world By The Rookies
19 Computer Animation alumni worked on Soul, which won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Motion Picture
Two Game Art seniors place third for Best Visual Quality in 2020 Game Developers Conference run by Intel University
Entertainment Design hosted legendary Disney Imagineer, Joe Rohde on campus
Wet Dog Corp. SXSW Brand Activation wins Gold ADDY with two Business of Art + Design students managing production and social media
#2 3D motion graphics schools in the world by The Rookies
Motion Design students take home 1 National Gold ADDY Award, 2 Motion Awards from Motionographer, and 1 Promax Student Spark Award
TOP 25 FILM SCHOOL IN THE U.S. by The Hollywood Reporter
Creative Writing student has game reviews published by DBLTAP, esports insider platform
Fine Arts alumnus named as a 2021-22 Fulbright Semi-Finalist
Three Interior Design seniors win SOURCE Awards; grand prize, honorable mention, and award of recognition
Fine Arts alumna interviewed in Hyperallergic magazine
30 Illustration students won 37 AWARDS from The Society of Illustrators
Marketing + Communications won 1 Silver Telly Award, 1 CASE Award, and took home 6 Educational Digital Marketing Awards Ringling College Design Center awarded 2 CASE Circle of Excellence Awards for Design: Invitations; 6 GDUSA Awards; and 1 Silver, 6 Gold, and Judges’ Choice ADDY Awards Ringling College ART Network students win a Telly Award
#3 game design school in the world AND #1 IN THE U.S. by The Rookies
Top design school by GDUSA
Graphic Design student featured in the Communication Arts Student Showcase 2020 6 student projects selected in GDUSA Graphic Design Awards Graphic Design students win 2020 National Gold ADDY Graphic Design students win 7 Silver, 4 Gold, and 2 Judges’ Choice awards at 2021 ADDY Awards
CONTXT | SPRING 2021 47
T HE ART OF
GIVING
DEAR FRIENDS, Wow, it has certainly been quite a year! Since our last issue of CONTXT, all of our lives have changed dramatically. Along with the entire world, Ringling College of Art and Design students, faculty, and staff faced unanticipated challenges and needed to think creatively to find solutions together. It has been rewarding to witness how flexible and imaginative the Ringling College community has been and, most remarkably, how we persevered. For many years, Ringling College has been the fortunate beneficiary of tremendous generosity. Donors have found a connection with the College – our students, faculty, staff, and programs – while understanding the positive impact philanthropic giving has on our institution. Donor support is crucial for Ringling College to thrive. Your gifts provide our students with access to an exemplary education that positions them for far-reaching success. Whether they move down the street or to another continent, our students and alumni have a global reach, meaning that your contributions truly change the world. Please know that even though much is uncertain, one thing remains true: Your gifts have made and continue to make a difference to all of us at Ringling College. We are especially grateful that so many of you decided to answer the extra call for support to help our students through these extraordinary circumstances. Thank you to the many donors who supported the College’s greatest need – Portrait by Elan Photography student scholarships. We are most humbled by those who chose to fund the start of new programs that answered unexpected needs due to COVID-19. For every person who renewed their membership or gave additional support for the reopening of the Sarasota Art Museum or added a donation to their Osher Lifelong Learning Institute membership or class registration, we are grateful. To those who chose to give to strategic initiatives that support long-range plans and ensure the College’s continued growth, thank you. And for donors who contacted us to share that they have worked with their advisors to thoughtfully make plans to include us in their wills, we are so appreciative. The generosity of so many is reflected in the following pages. You will learn about a few of our donors who have connected their passion for giving with their excitement about Ringling College. I hope they inspire you as they do us. For those of you who have already chosen to support the College through a meaningful gift, THANK YOU! If you would like to learn about opportunities to make an impact at Ringling College and ways to connect with initiatives that you are passionate about, please contact us. We look forward to getting to know you and to learning about what inspires you! Warmest regards,
Stacey R. Corley Vice President for Advancement giving@ringling.edu | 941-359-7674 | ringling.edu/advancement
48 CONTXT.RINGLING.EDU
By Gayle Guynup Portrait by Matthew Holler ’11 Maurice (Mo) and Carolyn Dursi Cunniffe got their first taste of Ringling College of Art and Design in 2014, when close friend and long-time Ringling College supporter Jean Martin invited them to attend An Evening at the AvantGarde. The couple made a gift toward student scholarships that very evening. That was just the beginning of the couple’s involvement with Ringling College. With Mo’s long-time love of the arts (he is an avid collector of American Impressionists), and both his and Carolyn’s long-time philanthropic support of higher education, the relationship with Ringling College was a natural fit.
Over the years, the Cunniffes have found a variety of ways to support the College and its students. One of their most recent and generous gifts will be recognized with the naming of the new campus dining facility in their honor, Cunniffe Commons. Yet another passion is student scholarships. In 2020, they created the Maurice and Carolyn Cunniffe Masterpiece Scholarship, a full-tuition scholarship that supports students with the innate talent and drive for art and design but without the financial resources to make their dreams a reality. “Higher education today has become an expensive investment,” Carolyn said. “If we want to see talented young people get a good education and, in the case of Ringling College, have an excellent career path, financial help is indispensable.” Mo has also been a member of the College’s Board of Trustees since 2015 and serves on the Board’s Academic and Student Affairs Committee. The Cunniffes have also participated in the College’s Art Tour travel programs. Mo started his career as a junior physicist at ITT Laboratories. Years later, in 1971, he formed his own company, Vista Capital Corporation, which, over the next 40 years, purchased multiple companies. Today, he is chairman and chief executive officer of Vista. Carolyn Dursi Cunniffe was senior vice president executive recruiting at Cablevision Systems Corporation, retiring in 2011. She also spent a number of years in various management positions, directing retail services and product launches at both Revlon and Chanel.
Both earned their undergraduate degrees from Fordham University, Mo with an A.B. in physics and Carolyn receiving her B.S. from Fordham’s Undergraduate School of Education. Carolyn earned her master’s degree in modern languages and her doctorate in French literature from Fordham’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and then completed her studies at The Sorbonne in Paris and the University of Perugia. Mo earned his master’s in physics from Stevens Institute of Technology, and completed doctorate-level studies in economics and finance at NYU. Today, Carolyn is a trustee of Fordham, while Mo, who was a trustee there for 12 years, serves as a trustee emeritus at the university. They remain major donors to their alma mater. Mo and Carolyn met in 2009, and soon fell in love. “It all happened in an instant,” Carolyn said. “We married, and then about seven years ago, a trip from the East Coast of Florida to the West Coast to see a dear friend brought the Cunniffes to Sarasota for the first time. “Our friend showed us around and in record time we fell for the beauty of Sarasota and all of the cultural opportunities it afforded,” Carolyn said.
Shortly after attending Avant-Garde, Mo met Larry Thompson, president of Ringling College of Art and Design, whom Carolyn describes as “an impressive leader and a person who gets things done,” she said. “He has been incredibly effective in establishing Ringling College as a top-tier art school.” Mo says he was happy to become a trustee of such a well-run school with an impressive percentage of students graduating with excellent jobs. “Ringling College is one of the rare examples of a school’s influence permeating the entire city,” Mo said. “The creativity and skill of the students is seen everywhere–in the many internship programs offered by local companies, in interior designs for the lobbies of several buildings, in the fabulous short animated films shown at the Town Hall lectures to audiences of 1,700-plus, and in so many other places where the students’ incredible creativity is ‘on show.’ The influence of the school is everywhere and rare is the person in Sarasota who is not familiar with and proud of Ringling College.”
CONTXT | SPRING 2021 49
Though they had been frequent theater and concert patrons in Chicago, they moved to Sarasota for the golf and “had no idea what a cultural jewel Sarasota was,” Larry said. They first became involved philanthropically with the Jewish Housing Council (now Aviva). “I went to lunch with Nate Benderson, and the rest was history,” Larry said. It was through Nate that the couple met Warren Coville, who encouraged them to get actively involved on the boards of various arts organizations. Debbie started with the Sarasota Ballet, and Larry with the Asolo Repertory Theatre. It was when Wendy Surkis started fundraising efforts for the Sarasota Art Museum that they first met Larry Thompson, president of Ringling College of Art and Design.
By Gayle Guynup | Portrait by Matthew Holler ’11 The story of Debbie and Larry Haspel could go something like this: Doctor and nurse meet. Doctor and nurse fall in love. Thirty-five years and six children later, doctor and nurse live happily ever after. That is certainly part of the story. But there is so much more. These local philanthropists have been involved with Ringling College of Art and Design since 2013. They have supported the College and its students through its Avant-Garde events, and, in 2020, they made a gift to Ringling College’s Student Health Center to establish a student resilience program. With their mutual backgrounds in healthcare, this gift has great meaning for both the Haspels and the students who have benefitted from its services. Larry is originally from New York and moved to Chicago for medical school. Debbie was born and raised in Chicago. As his career progressed, Larry got into hospital administration and he became the CEO of a hospital system. At the time, the nurses were considering unionizing, and Larry was asked to go out and listen to their concerns. Debbie attended one of those meetings. Debbie was taking a negotiation course in law school, so she offered to assist. As Larry tells it, “The meeting was not going very well. Debbie stepped in and brought the nurses’ message down to a level we could all understand. I was thankful, and more than a little impressed,” Larry said, adding that he noticed she was very cute as well as very eloquent. “Ultimately, we started dating and it led to a wonderful romance and our marriage of almost 35 years,” Debbie said. The couple has six children, one boy and five girls (though they lost one of their daughters a few years ago). The Haspels lived in Chicago until they moved to Sarasota when they retired to be closer to Debbie’s parents. 50 CONTXT.RINGLING.EDU
“Our daughter had attended the Rhode Island School of Design, which was one of the top design schools in the country– at least until Ringling came along. Our son-in-law went there, too, and he became an Academy Award-nominated film director. He did a couple of Tim Burton films. He came down for Christmas and asked if we could go see Ringling College,” Larry explained. “Larry Thompson came in the day after Christmas and gave us a personal tour of the entire campus. My son-in-law said, ‘I teach at Cal Arts and I direct films, and I can tell you right now this is the best art school in the nation, probably one of the best in the entire world.’” And that’s how their relationship with Ringling College was born. The Haspels started attending events and learning more about Ringling College. “There were many ways we could have become involved, but the issue of mental health was one that really resonated with the two of us,” Debbie said. “College is stressful, under the best of circumstances. But art, with all the critiques and public scrutiny, is packed with pressure. It can be very tough on your self-esteem,” Debbie added. “We thought one way we could help was to make sure that these kids could actualize all of their amazing potential, without getting derailed. We never could have anticipated how COVID-19, with its social isolation, would make these services even more crucial to the students’ well-being,” Debbie said.
“You want to make a difference in a positive way, in a way that might really change someone’s life. You can’t change the world, but if you can make someone’s world a little easier, that’s what it is all about,” she said. They continue to marvel at how Ringling College of Art and Design has become a creative hub for the entire community. “The leadership at Ringling College has an out-of-the-box mindset, and is always looking for creative and innovative ways of doing things. Also, when they get involved in doing something, they get the best possible leadership,” Larry said. “It’s really quite impressive. These kids really are getting a worldclass education, and have bright futures ahead of them.”
By Gayle Guynup Portrait by Matthew Holler ’11 Victor Young is a very busy man. He is not only the co-owner of BMW Sarasota, Lamborghini Sarasota, Jaguar/Land Rover of Ocala, and Auto Spa, but also the owner of two other companies – Digital Caviar, which handles primarily film production work, and Global Metropolis Media, a company dedicated to marketing and content creation and development. He and his wife, Tia, have three daughters, one of whom, Taylor, is in her freshman year as a game art major at Ringling College of Art and Design. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg for this local entrepreneur and philanthropist. Young was born in Tampa, the youngest of seven children. He would spend summers on his grandparents’ farm in Charlotte, North Carolina. This experience apparently stuck with him, as today he owns a small ranch of his own in the Ocala area in addition to their home in Sarasota. His professional journey began in the radio and television industries, working in the production side of the business for a Tampa station. With his smooth, deep voice, he soon became an on-air personality. However, when the media companies began consolidating, Young says, “I went from being a pretty big fish in a small pond, to just being a fish in a pond.” Young had always had really nice, fast cars from the time he was a kid. “I raced go-carts and minibikes and worked on cars with my dad. I am a pilot, and have my skipper’s license. If it moves fast, I am ready to go,” he said. He was at his last live remote event when a guy came up to him and told Young how great he thought he would be at selling cars. Young took his card, thinking that nothing would come of it. A few weeks later, he found that card and was hired as a car salesman. It was March of 1993, and Young thought it was just a temporary gig until he found a better job in a bigger media market. In six months, he was manager of that company, then general manager, and the rest, as they say, is history. He never left the automotive business. In 2009, in the throes of the recession, Young says he realized he was almost totally invested in the automotive industry, which is when he decided to branch out with his first media production company.
Young first heard about Ringling College around 2008. He got his first look at the campus in 2009. He was next exposed to the College when he became involved in the Sarasota Film Festival. “I met some Ringling students through that connection. I ended up investing in one of their student films. I had become pretty ingrained in the Ringling College world at that point,” he said. “Everything I did seemed to be pulling me closer and closer to Ringling College. I met Larry Thompson in 2009, and in 2010 BMW Sarasota became a sponsor of the College golf tournament, something we have done every year since,” he said. Victor describes himself and Larry as “kindred spirits,” adding, “He is a hybrid like I am. He’s got the business side down and he understands the arts, and he can walk both sides of the street.” Since becoming involved through the golf tournament, Digital Caviar has worked on Ringling College projects, and the company has hired Ringling students as interns on some of its film projects.
“Ringling is this special place that allows people who see the world through a different lens to really grow and create,” Young said. “Today, Ringling students are all over the world creating content in every media imaginable. The students become very engaged at Ringling, and they stay engaged, which gives them the opportunity to grow into the artists that they were destined to become.” As for Taylor, Young says, “What’s really impressive is watching her level of excitement about her classes. Her level of engagement is off the charts,” he added. Things had always come very easily for Taylor, her dad says. The problem is, when success comes too easily, it can hinder your growth. “When she was in high school, she won a summer scholarship to Ringling College, where she met kids from all over the world. It was such an eye-opening experience to see how amazing some of these artists were. So, Ringling College has given my daughter a new benchmark, something to aspire to. And that’s a wonderful thing,” he said.
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THE FIFTIES
1950
James Patrick Lynch (Illustration) retired recently to Las Vegas. He served for 32 years at The Los Angeles Times in their art department creating illustrations, maps, charts, and graphs and writing articles on his passions as a pilot and toy collector. In between reading, writing, sketching, and painting, Patrick teaches on occasion at the College of Southern Nevada and peruses social media.
1968
Tom Hutchinson (Commercial Design) and spouse Carol celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in December 2020. Tom paints by commission and exhibits with Nunnally’s Noble Street Gallery in Anniston, AL.
1972
Robert A. “Bob” Brown (Advertising Design) retired from teaching art at the NJ Institute of Technology in January 2020 and relocated to Waycross, GA where he is an artist, illustrator, designer, and government marketing specialist with Brown Ink Associates. In addition, Bob is also a certified veterans counselor. browninkgallery.com; browninkdesign.net
THE SIXTIES
1963
Have news to share? Send notes about new jobs and promotions, accolades, awards, museum openings, screenings, even life milestones like marriages, babies, and retirements– whatever you would like to share! Send your notes to alumni@ringling.edu Alumni, please check out our new webpage just for you at www.ringling.edu/alumni. Find information including career resources, alumni event information, and student mentorship opportunities!
Scan to visit ringling.edu/alumni
Gaylen “Frosty” Rankin (Fine Arts) opened Frosty’s Art Center & Gallery, which includes a studio print shop, frame shop, and jewelry studio in Millersburg, KY, in May 2020. His painting of Abraham Lincoln’s childhood Kentucky home, Lincoln’s Blacksmith Shop, was selected for display by the U.S. State Department in the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, through May 2022. frostyartwork.com
Patrick Morrison (Fine Arts) retired from teaching at Naples High School after 35 years in 2003. Patrick also owned a photo restoration business from which he retired in 2019. Laying low due to COVID, Patrick now plays bass fiddle Bluegrass in Bonita Springs, FL.
Bill Mayer (Advertising Design) exhibited four pieces in the Society of Illustrators (SOI) 63 Show. Three works were for Airbnb Magazine (Mallory Roynon, Art Director), depicting the trail of the Grimms Brothers through Northern Germany, and one for SooJin Buzelli of PlanSponsor, titled The Weight of Debt. SOI’s Hamilton King award was for Little Red Riding Hood from the Airbnb series. (opposite) thebillmayer.com
1966
Gene Johnson (Commercial Design) showed recent paintings in his solo exhibition Geometry of Intention at the Caldwell Snyder Gallery in San Francisco in February 2020. Gene’s principal studio is in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. genejohnsonart.com
1974 Tom Leigh (Commercial Design) illustrated Dr. Joan MacCracken’s One Hen, Two Ducks. A fun memory challenge book, the proceeds of which benefited The Alzheimer’s Association in honor of her late father, was released in July 2020. Tom is currently specializing in nature-based photography on Little Deer Isle, ME.
THE SEVENTIES
1971
Ken Muenzenmayer (Commercial Design) teamed with his spouse Karen Vernon to exhibit in Gemini, at Live Oak Art Center in Columbus, TX, from June-July 2020. Their studio is located in Brenham, TX. muenzenmayer.com
Mandy Johnson (Advertising Design) was a featured artist at the Mattie King Davis Art Gallery on the Beaufort Historic Site in December 2020-January 2021. Mandy paints fulltime at her Morehead City, NC studio, which is open by appointment. mandyjohnson.com
1977
Debra (Kauffman) Yaun (Graphic Design) received the following awards in 2020: Exceptional Merit with Colored Pencil Society of America (international); Best in Show from American Pen Women at the Bowen Center; President’s Award from UK Coloured Pencil Society (international); first place from International Scratchboard Society; and was published in Best of Drawing magazine’s Strokes of Genius Competition Winners. debrayaunscratchboard.com debrayaun.com
1981
Amy (Golditch) Bernard (Graphic Design) joined the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County as a senior marketing artist in December 2018. Previously selfemployed for 10 years, Amy also raised two daughters as a single mom. Amy was conferred her BFA from Ringling College 2018, and she shared, “Two study-abroad experiences in Italy (Venice and Sicily) were the best thing about going back to college as an adult.”
1982
Patricia Gawle (Fine Arts) was featured in Vallarta Lifestyles magazine’s “Tour of 5 Art Galleries,” January-March 2021 issue. Patricia moved to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in 2008 where she maintains a gallery and studio, Arte & Ceramica by Patricia Gawle, which is located in the Romantic Zone. yourartadventure.com
Society of Illustrators’ Hamilton King award-winning piece Little Red Riding Hood by Bill Mayer ’72.
Don Yaun (Graphic Design) celebrated his 25th anniversary as VP of Advertising at Atlanta Attachment Company in May 2020 and retired in September 2020. He was also included in Winners of AcrylicWorks 7 The Best of Acrylic competition. The Yauns’ studio is located in Buford, GA. donyaunart.com
1979
Greg Groves (Graphic Design) married Brenda Staub in November 2020. The Groves reside in Tucson, AZ where Greg is a lead software developer for AdventHealth Information Technology. He enjoys hiking, photography, cheering for the University of Arizona Wildcats, and being a smart aleck.
1978
Ken Bowser (Graphic Design) has released the tenth book he’s written and illustrated in his “Jesse Steam” Mystery series. Published by Red Chair Press and available wherever books are sold. Ken’s illustration studio is located in Winter Park, FL.
THE EIGHTIES
1980
Bill Dillard (Graphic Design) relocated in September 2020 from Chicago. He shared, “In 1980, I Kathleen (Miller) Winder (Painting) loaded up my truck for the windy city and took a job with a Ringling and her business Final Touch graduate starting in illustration Frame & Gallery were featured in and design. After 40 years of the March 2020 issue of Venice Gulf art direction at FCB, J Walter Coast Living magazine. Kathleen Thompson, and Leo Burnett, I specializes in conservation and finally made the move to Western custom picture framing, catering to North Carolina. Believe it or not, original fine art. Her store includes still working. Life’s been good, consignment gallery space and handmade gifts. finaltouchframe.com thank you, Ringling.” bdillard.com
1983
James Powell (Graphic Design) was commissioned in March 2020 for portraits of famous and distinguished Omega Men for the International Headquarters Office of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. In 2019, James retired from teaching after 25 years, and in 2012 he was named Teacher of the Year at Savannah High School. An illustrator, graphic artist, display assistant, and muralist, James’ Semaj Art Studio is located in Stockbridge, GA. semajartstudio.com Laura Vardell (Graphic Design) exhibited the artwork of Ringling classmate Gena Semenov (attended as Simmons, ’83, Illustration) at her gallery, Carolina Antique Maps & Prints in Charleston, SC in June and again in November 2020. Gena and her spouse Mark Herbert (’83, Illustration) reside in the greater Orlando area. carolinaantiqueprints.com genasemenov.com
1984
John Stahr (Graphic Design & Illustration) was featured in “The Stahr of Aviation Airbrush Artists” in the February 2020 issue of FLYING magazine. artisticaviation.com
1985
Pam (Carter) Willoughby (Graphic Design) joined Pasco County Schools’ Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education as Program Coordinator in October 2020. Pam is supporting the Arts, A/V Technology and Communications teachers, marketing, and promoting Pasco’s CTE programs and career academies and coordinating online learning for CTE courses. Tom Chambers (Graphic Design) received a merit award from All About Photo magazine’s #10 Portrait Awards for his Tales of Heroines series in May 2020. This series also was a Grand Prize winner with Photos De Femmes, a finalist in The Portrait Project from the Lucie Foundation, Bronze prize winner with One Eyeland Photo Awards, and third place winner with Dallas Center for Photography. Tom’s photo Marwari Stallion #1 was the cover image for the book, Horse Crazy, by New York Times staff reporter Sarah Maslin Nir, released by Simon & Schuster in August 2020. Tom is located in Richmond, VA. tomchambersphoto.com
Super-Position by Christopher Skura ’85.
Christopher Skura (Fine Arts) exhibited in FLUX: Vita Mutata curated by Natsuki Takauji at Sculptors Alliance in NovemberDecember 2020, and in Less is More at Upstream Gallery in Hastingson-Hudson, NY in January 2021. christopherskura.com
1986
Deborah Rodriguez (Fine Arts) retired from a 30-year career teaching art in the School District of Hillsborough County in 2014. In 2016, Deborah earned her master’s of fine art in painting from Savannah College of Art and Design. deborahrodriguezart.com CONTXT | SPRING 2021 53
Photo by Elan Photography
Nada Khan (’18, Business of Art and Design) is a data-driven strategist for Heat + Deloitte Digital who was named one of the Association of National Advertisers’ Rising Marketing Stars in 2020.
ACCOMPLISHED ALUMNI By Abby Weingarten
As a testament to what happens when artistic potential leads to prosperous careers, Ringling College of Art and Design’s Alumni Honor Wall pays tribute to the work of multiple thriving graduates. For four years, this on-campus installation in the Keating Center (designed by Jeff Bleitz, department head of Graphic Design) has honored alumni who have made their mark on the creative world. Ringling President Dr. Larry R. Thompson led the virtual ceremony for the 10 honorees of 2021 on January 22.
“The Alumni Honor Wall celebrates Ringling’s truly remarkable artists and designers,” said Susan Borozan, Ringling’s director of alumni relations and engagement. “Their accomplishments inspire not only current and prospective students, but also faculty, staff, and donors. Their achievements exemplify the value of an art and design education.” The accomplishments of this year’s alumni are vast and varied.
Ashley Wilkins (’10, Interior Design) is the founder and creative director of Islyn Studio, and has more than a decade of experience working with clients such as Ace Hotel and Rockwell Group. Sarah Johnson (’15, Motion Design) is the art director for Hello Sunshine who has spent years branding new companies and restaurants. Ethan J. Berger (’15, Photography and Imaging) is the creative manager for Foot Locker North America. He produces content for Champs Sports stores in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Michelle Cowart (’96, Computer Animation) is a character animator for DreamWorks Animation who has contributed to such films as How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, Trolls World Tour, and The Croods: A New Age. Natasha Thornton (’14, Film) is a senior cinematographer for Innovative Education at the University of South Florida. Her work has garnered praise at numerous film festivals and has led to distribution with Amazon Prime.
Lesley Flanigan (’01, Fine Arts) is a sound artist, musician, and composer in New York City whose performances and recordings have been presented at venues and festivals internationally. Jeremy Griffith (’11, Game Art) is a lead visual effects (VFX) artist for Cloud Chamber studios who started work on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 after graduating. He also gave two talks at the 2019 Game Developers Conference: “Grounding the Impossible: Pushing Creativity in VFX” and “The Dao of VFX Animation.” Giselle Guerrero (’05, Graphic Design) is the vice president of creative for Impossible Foods, and has worked for various brands such as Apple, Nike, Google, JetBlue, and IKEA. Francis Vallejo (’09, Illustration) is a freelance book illustrator and associate professor of illustration at The College for Creative Studies in Michigan. His books, Jazz Day and Anansi Boys, have appeared on many best-of lists, and he credits his time at Ringling to his proficiency as an instructor. “I’m so thankful I was able to study under Professor George Pratt. He transformed how I viewed the world as an artist, and set the standard for how an illustration teacher should handle themselves in the classroom,” Vallejo said. “Now, as an instructor myself, I try to capture the brilliance of his classroom.” Scan to watch this year’s Alumni Honor Wall unveiling
Congratulations to each of the 2021 honorees!
THE NINETIES
1992
Merritt Andrews (Illustration) is currently working with Universal Creative’s Resort Development Hotel Team managing the graphics and signage implementation and fabrication for Dockside Inn and Suites at Universal’s Endless Summer Resort, opening this fall. In the past six years, Merritt has managed the signage for Loews Sapphire Falls Resort (2016), Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort’s Bayside and Beachside Towers (2017), Universal’s Aventura Hotel (2018), and Surfside Inn and Suites at Universal’s Endless Summer Resort (2019). All projects were accomplished with the design talents of Wrenhouse Design, owned by Scott Wren ’97 and his spouse, Debra.
1993
Jonathan Goodman (Graphic Design) started Trigonal in January 2021, a private gallery focused on emerging artists and secondary market collections. artsy.net/trigonal Instagram: @trigonalgallery
1994
Todd Kelly (Illustration) joined IKEA as Director of UX and Product Design for the United States in September 2020. Todd most recently served as Director of UX Design at DICK’S Sporting Goods, having spent the last 8 years leading design and development teams across the company. toddjkelly.com Mary (Reaves) Uhles (Illustration) illustrated the book written by Cynthia Schumerth, Let’s Pop, Pop, Popcorn (Sleeping Bear Press), which was released in March 2021. Kirkus Reviews calls it, “Fun: a highly disguised STEM book for snack lovers. There is great synergy between words and pictures, making it hard to sit still while turning the pages.” maryuhles.com
1995
Limbert Fabian (Illustration) joined Illustration grads Mike Knapp ’95, Brandon Oldenburg ’95, Monique Steele ’14, Teju Abiola ’19, Jamiel Law ’19, Simone Mariano ’19, and RaShawn Dixon ’20; Computer Animation grads Michael Yates ’14, Kal Athannassov ’16, Esteban Bravo ’17, and Camilo Castro ’18 in collaborating with 100 artists and allies to create Art of Change, a book of inspirational artworks promoting positive change and benefitting Black Lives Matter. Funded in December 2020, the book will be released in May 2021. Ryan Sias (Illustration) helped translate mental health professionals’ counsel into engaging storyboards as part of the animation process for Sesame Street’s “Caring for Each Other” initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ryan’s studio is located in Astoria, NY. ryansias.com
1996
Chie Fueki (Fine Arts) exhibited in the group show Flex at the Tang Museum at Skidmore College in February-June 2020. Chie also exhibited Mother Altar at Mother Gallery in Beacon, NY in May-August 2020, which was reviewed in The New York Times. In January 2021, she was featured in Hyperallergic’s “Beer With a Painter: Chie Fueki” by Jennifer Samet. Kelly (Jezewski) Romano (Computer Animation) joined the PepsiCo Design and Innovation team as a Senior Design Manager in March 2020, where she leads design activation across 13 states for the beverage portfolio which includes Pepsi, MTN Dew, Gatorade, Bubly, LifeWTR, Pure Leaf, Lipton, Rockstar Energy, and more.
1997
Deborah Blackington (Computer Animation) released Any Bunny’s Covid-19 ABC on Amazon in November and at Barnes & Noble in December 2020. A family effort, the book was written with Debbie’s daughter Grace and illustrated by daughter Brynne ’21 (Illustration).
Art of Change, a book of inspirational artworks by multiple artists and alumni.
Aiko Hachisuka (Fine Arts) exhibited a special online presentation at Van Doren Waxter in Manhattan in July-September 2020. Aiko was also featured in The New York Times’ T Magazine in August 2020, “The Artist Making Bulbous, Colorful Sculptures Out of Thrifted Clothes,” as part of their series 15 Creative Women for Our Time. vandorenwaxter.com Karen (Barberie) Hallion (Illustration) married Brandon Kenney in October 2020. Karen partnered with Ashley Eckstein for Star Wars Her Universe pins which were released at Disney World in March 2020. Karen was Ringling College’s Insight program keynote speaker in February 2020. Her artwork can also be purchased on Etsy. karenhallion.com Jennifer Payne (Fine Art) was bestowed the SHINE Landscape Award 2020 from M.A.D.S. Milano Gallery in Milan, Italy in March 2020. Her work, Ocean Storm was accepted into the Copelouzos Family Art Museum permanent collection in Athens, Greece in August 2020. A member of the Beaux Arts of Central Florida, Jennifer’s studio is located in Orlando. jenniferpayneart.com Rebecca Perez (Computer Animation) was an animator for Pixar’s Forky Asks a Question, which won a Creative Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Animated Program in September 2020. She also was an animator on Pixar’s Golden Globe winning Soul. In March 2020, Rebecca joined Disney Animation in Burbank and is currently working on Encanto. rebville.com
1999
Daniel Bejar (Illustration) was named a 2020 Socrates Annual Artist Fellow by Socrates Sculpture Park in September 2020, and exhibited in MONUMENTS NOW: Call and Response at Socrates Sculpture Park, which was on view October 2020-March 2021. danielbejar.com
Omarr Otero (Photography and Imaging) married Cinthya Karolina Reyes in July 2020. They reside in Deltona, FL. Omarr teaches 3D Art, 2D Art, and Drawing at Hagerty High School in Oviedo, FL. He also teaches community classes in Orlando. omarrotero.com Rich Pope (Illustration) was nominated for a regional Suncoast Emmy award in the Public Current Affairs category for his work on a video investigative series, “Laborland” for The Orlando Sentinel. This series was also recognized with a Silver Medal for Investigation in the Society of American Travel Writers’ Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition in October 2020. richpope.com Chris Sheridan (Illustration) exhibited Rediscovering Silence at the Royal Nebeker Art Gallery at Clatsop Community College in Astoria, OR in October-November 2020. Chris’ collection of 30 paintings were created in the time of COVID-19, and inspired by his artist residency in the Finnish Archipelago, just before the pandemic. sheridanart.com
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2005
THE AUGHTS
Drew Malesky (Computer Animation) joined Animism Studios as a senior animator in December 2020. Drew specializes in Feature Film Animation and is based in Vancouver, BC. drewmalesky.wixsite.com/animation
2000
Jeff Boddy (Computer Animation) joined Netflix as creative manager of the Internal Production team in August 2020. He recently led the design and animation of the graphics found in Netflix’s firstever inclusion report film, Sowing the Seeds: Inclusion Takes Root at Netflix. More of Jeff’s work can be found at noboddy.com. Andrea Ehret (Illustration) is an associate principal product designer at Hasbro for the PlayDoh brand, where one of her toys, the Play-Doh Builder Treehouse Kit, won a 2020 Good Housekeeping Award. Andrea’s String’n’things are available on Etsy. stringnthings.etsy.com Android Jones (Computer Animation) had multiple exhibitions in 2020 including: Bicycle Day TV, live visuals on April 20; performance visuals in collaboration with CloZee on July 2; The Acoma Street Project, live visuals, August 28-October 30; Beyond Borders: Live stream event with live visuals on October 23; and Winter Solstice Fest live stream event and workshop talk, December 18-20. androidjones.com Art Vogt (Illustration) and Katie (Menning) Vogt ’01 (Illustration) married in 2011. Both former Ringling RAs, they reside in Union, KY with their three children, where Katie is a graphic designer for MJM Studios Inc. and enjoys quilting. Art is an animation story artist for several clients, including CBN and Fuzz Animation and is currently developing his own animated properties. artvogt.com
Jeff Boddy ’00 creative manager for Netflix’s Sowing the Seeds: Inclusion Takes Root.
Brock Stearn (Computer Animation) married the love of his life in August 2020, after delaying three times due to the pandemic. In fall 2019, Brock was the initial hire at Lightstorm Entertainment tasked with creating and building the studio’s Post Visualization Department technology and team. He is currently working as the post visualization department lead on the upcoming Avatar sequels. myanimator.com
2002
Alexandra “Alexi” Lillis (Illustration) launched Compass Critique, LLC which offers online art instruction and distance-learning opportunities, in April 2020. She offers a variety of different formats for students to engage with through Zoom and email, in both group and private lessons. Alexi currently lives on Anna Maria Island, FL. compasscritique.com alexandralillis.com
2003
Claire Almon (Illustration) joined Gimmie Games as a senior artist in March 2020, in Atlanta, GA. Claire specializes in the animation and children’s publishing industries. clairealmon.tumblr.com
2004
Alan Hawkins (Computer Animation) was promoted to head of character animation at Sony Pictures Imageworks (SPI) in January 2020. Celebrating his 16th year at SPI, Alan is associate producer and head of character animation for the upcoming film, Hotel Transylvania 4. Jeff Miner (Illustration) celebrated his 10th anniversary at TJX in Boston, in February 2020, where he is senior product manager.
2001
Brian Blomer (Illustration) joined Caterpillar, Inc. as head of digital customer experience in July 2020. Over 13 years at United Airlines, Brian rose through the ranks developing UX and UI for customer-facing digital applications. Brian specializes in designing for various digital devices and interfaces for large complex industries, and is based in Chicago.
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Award winning children’s book illustrated by Emily Dove (Gross) Barton ’07.
Bryce McGovern (Computer Animation) joined Epic Games as a senior animator in July 2019. With nearly 15 years of experience on multiple award-winning animated feature films, Bryce relocated to the Greater Raleigh-Durham area and specializes in character animation. brycemcgovern.com Dale Mulcahy (Computer Animation) celebrated his 15th year at Treyarch in August 2020, most recently as an FX art specialist in Los Angeles. Dale and his spouse Megan welcomed their second son just as the pandemic hit its stride in 2020.
2006
Mona Bagla (Graphic & Interactive Communications) relocated to her hometown of Mumbai, India after spending nearly 18 years in the USA, and joined Duff & Phelps as VP of marketing/head of design and creative in September 2020. monabagla.com Duncan Barton (Illustration) and Emily Dove (Gross) Barton ’07 (Illustration) welcomed their first child, Rowan Jesse Barton, in June 2020. Blue Planet II, illustrated by Emily, was named to Books for Topics’ 2020 Best Children’s Books of the Year list. The Bartons reside in Cleveland, OH. duncanbarton.com emilydove.com Guillermo Careaga (Computer Animation) will be celebrating his 15th anniversary with DreamWorks Animation in June 2021, where he was hired right after graduating from Ringling. He was a character lead on his most recent project, Boss Baby: Family Business (fall 2021 release). Guillermo is also VP of the non-profit Paraguay Animation, which promotes animation in his home country through training and education. Over the last 5 years, Paraguay Animation has offered countless webinars, masterclasses, conferences, and workshops and
in January 2021, its animated short film contest awarded a $1,000 prize to the winning team. paraguayanimation.com Nicole Mauser (Fine Arts) exhibited in The Arts Club of Chicago’s 89th Exhibition of Visual Artist Members in January-February 2020. In October 2020, Nicole co-founded the Chicago gallery Space & Time. Its inaugural exhibition titled, Exhibitionisms was co-organized by Tobey Albright ’04 (Fine Arts), and co-hosted at Tiger Strikes Asteroid from November 2020-January 2021. nicolemauser.com spaceandtimegallery.com Kaylene (Simmons) Rudd (Illustration) and her spouse Matthew Rudd ’07 (Illustration), welcomed their second child, Arthur in November 2020. After two years in Los Angeles, Kaylene joined Westlake Academy in greater Dallas-Fort Worth as Middle Years Programme Principal in June 2020. Jamie Swick (Illustration) released Easy Chango, her first book of Polaroids featuring images made while living in Mexico, in February 2021 and now available on her website. Jamie has contributed to podcasts, interviewed on working with Polaroid film as a medium, and is located on the Pacific Northwest coast. jamieswick.com Shawn Witt (Illustration) and spouse Kristin Palach Witt ’09 (Computer Animation), welcomed their second child, Teddy in February 2020. Along with son Julian, the Witts reside in the greater Boston area where Shawn is a principal artist at Proletariate, Inc., and Kristin celebrated her 10th year at Harmonix as a lead animator.
2007
Eric Droble (Computer Animation) started 2020 by rejoining ReelFX to work on Scoob! as a senior animator, then headed to Brazen Animation to work as animation supervisor on Crash Bandicoot 4. In June he helped animate a Clash of Clans spot with Psyop, before finally returning to Playstation as a senior animator in July. patreon.com/drobile
2008
Melanie (Munns) Antonelli (Illustration) just celebrated her 10th year at the University of Mississippi Museum where she currently serves as curator of exhibitions and collections manager. Recent passion projects include a digitization initiative and the development of a sculpture garden. Her next major exhibit will feature works by Jacob Hashimoto. Melanie remains an active artist and educator. melaniemunns.com Celeste Argueta (Graphic & Interactive Communication) married Jorge Fuentes in December 2020. Celeste owns Studio Dos, an event, decor and styling, print, crafts, photography, and design company based in San Salvador, El Salvador. studio-dos.com Ellen (Murray) Coonrod (Illustration) joined Pearson Education Management as a multimedia graphics designer/ animation assistant in March 2020. ellencoonrod.com Greg Dechow (Illustration) and spouse Sonika Fourie Dechow ‘11 (Interior Design) welcomed their first child, Sienna Rhone Dechow, in July 2020. Greg was promoted to senior manager of Creative Services and Digital Marketing at ASO Corp., in July 2020 and Sonika was promoted to project manager and senior interior design associate at Angela Rodriguez Interiors in September 2020. sonikadesigns.com Mike Johnston (Graphic & Interactive Communication) joined Critical Mass as a senior producer in November 2020. miketothemax.com superspacecreative.com Brent Lewis (Computer Animation) was promoted in February 2021 to software engineering manager at Airbus Digital Solutions–Growth and Innovation, located in Atlanta, GA. JQ Park (Computer Animation) and Computer Animation alumni Byung-Joo Choi ’09, Kevin Herron ’13, Sagar Arun ’18, and Daniel Ceballos ’18 were animators on the Golden Globe nominated
feature film Over the Moon. A senior character TD and senior animator, JQ celebrated his 10th year at Sony Pictures Imageworks in 2020. ByungJoo joined Cinesite as a senior 3D animator in November 2020. Kevin joined Cinesite as an animator in February 2021. Sagar joined Spire Animation Studios as an animator in January 2020. Daniel joined Blizzard Entertainment in May 2020. vimeo.com/benc3d LinkTr.ee/kevinherronart / vimeo.com/sagararun / vimeo.com/dceballos Taylor Pate (Computer Animation) was promoted to chief technology officer at KERV Interactive, in Austin, TX in August 2019. taylorpate.com Carolyn Vale (Computer Animation) joined Guerrilla Games to work on an upcoming AAA title in February 2020. Carolyn specializes in character, keyframe, and motion capture face and body cleanup animation. She is located in Portland, OR.
2009
Heather Heckel (Illustration) was featured in “Park Palette,” published in National Parks Magazine in Winter 2021. Heather has completed 11 artist residencies and teaches middle school in Port Washington, New York. heatherheckel.com Bonnie (Przonek) Herbough (Interior Design) married Charlie Herbough in May 2020. Bonnie is in sales with Materials Marketing in Atlanta, GA. Francis Vallejo (Illustration) was awarded a Master’s of Arts in Illustration from Savannah College of Art and Design in August 2020. He also celebrated his 5th year as an instructor in the Illustration Department at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, and was a 2021 Ringling College Alumni Wall of Honor honoree. francisvallejo.com Kendra Vander Vliet (Computer Animation) directed a short for Walt Disney Animation Studios entitled Downtown as part of their Short Circuit Experimental Films, released in January 2020 on Disney+. Kendra is a rough layout artist at Disney Animation Studios, currently working on Encanto.
Congratulations to our contributers!
Golden Globe Winner Best Motion Picture–Animated Soul Computer Animation Alumni Jaime Landes Roe ’04 (Directing Animator), Rebecca Perez Stodolny ’97, David Torres ’99, Joshua West ’01, Jessica Sances Torres ’02, Kevin Andrus ’06, Lindsay Andrus ’06, Gwendelyn Enderoglu ’06, Robb Gibbs ’08, Kristen Needham Beech ’08, Catherine Hicks ’09, Alex Marino ’09, Mikey Sauls ’10, Mike Bidinger ’14, Michael Yates ’14, Gang Maria Yi ’14, Tarun Lak ’16, Camilo Castro ’18, and Aviv Mano ’18
Golden Globe Nominees Best Motion Picture - Animated The Croods: New Age Computer Animation Alumni Liron Topaz ’09 (Animation Supervisor), Michelle Cowart ’96, Elisabeth Franklin Constantine ’03, Dane Stogner ’03, Greg Hettinger ’09, Garrett O’Neal ’14, and Luiza Alaniz ’16
Onward Computer Animation Alumni Jessica Sances Torres ’02 (Directing Animator), David Torres ’99, Joshua West ’01, Gaston Ugarte ’02, Lindsay Andrus ’06, Gwendelyn Enderoglu ’06, Kristen Needham Beech ’08, Ben Beech ’08, Robb Gibbs ’08, Nick Pitera ’08, Catherine Hicks ’09, Greg Peltz ’09, Mike Rutter ’09, Mikey Sauls ’10, Adam Campbell ’12, Mike Bidinger ’14, Gang Maria Yi ’14, Tarun Lak ’16, and Aviv Mano ’18
Over the Moon Computer Animation Alumni JQ Park ’08, Byung-Joo Choi ’09, Kevin Herron ’13, Sagar Arun ’18, and Daniel Ceballos ’18
Golden Globe Nominees Best Television Series Drama The Mandalorian Amy B. Christenson ’00, Illustration and Matt Sullivan ’12, Computer Animation
Lovecraft Country Mitch Gonzalez ’10, Computer Animation CONTXT | SPRING 2021
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THE TWENTY TENS
2010
Ashley Folkman (Illustration) joined NVIDIA in San Francisco as a senior product and visual designer for their Gaming Platform Division in July 2020. With 10 years of product life-cycle knowledge, Ashley specializes in user-centered design processes and experiences. ashleyfolkman.com Keith Hutson (Illustration) joined Bulldog Creative Services in Huntington, WV as a video producer in November 2020. After working at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in video production, Keith now specializes in bringing stories to life through the fundamentals he learned at Ringling, and is creatively thriving through more outdoor activities found in his new rural environment.
The Art & Sole of Ringling College Is your heart with Ringling College of Art and Design, but your soles are somewhere else? Let these exclusively designed socks show your support for Ringling College while also helping aspiring artists and designers pursue their passions. When you make a gift of $25 or more to student scholarships, we will send you these limited edition Ringling College socks in recognition of our gratitude for your support. This special token also makes a perfect gift for parents, current students, and alumni.
To make your gift and receive your socks, visit www.ringling.edu/artandsole. After all, YOU are the art and sole of this tightknit community!
www.ringling.edu/artandsole
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Candy Minosa (Computer Animation) was promoted to creative director at Predator in January 2020, located in Jacksonville, FL. David Serna (Illustration) was awarded a 2020 regional Lone Star Emmy in graphic arts for his work as an illustrator on a U.S. Census public service announcement. David is a creative services producer for Univision Communications in Houston. davidserna.net
2011
Ellen Andersen (Photography and Digital Imaging) and her partner Dylan VanWormer ’11 (Computer Animation) relocated to the metro Detroit area in February 2020 after 5 years in Los Angeles. Ellen is senior project manager for Digitas while Dylan is senior 3D artist at General Motors. Erica (Beall) Lynch (Illustration) and her spouse Chris welcomed their first child, Fletcher in August 2020. Erica also celebrated her 9th year as a textile designer at Kohl’s Department Stores HQ in Wisconsin.
Jeremy Fisher (Fine Arts) was part of the design team sculpting for the exhibition, Lost Vegas: Tim Burton, working directly with Burton to translate his drawings into larger than life sculptures at The Neon Museum Las Vegas, and an as-yet unannounced stop motion feature. Jeremy returned to Stoopid Buddy Stoodios as a stop motion animator in October 2020 on Season 11 of Robot Chicken. Jeremy specializes in short form commercial stop motion work. jeremydfisher.com Avner Geller (Computer Animation) joined Netflix animation as an art director in June 2020 on an unannounced project. avnergeller.com Meg O’Brien (Illustration) married Jeremy Post in July 2019. Meg is owner and art director of Owlish Studios in Portland, OR. owlishstudios.com Sam Tilson (Computer Animation) and his Los Angeles-based Super Silly Films released Part 1 of his documentary series Why Art in 2018, and it is currently streaming on Comcast’s Xfinity Streampix. Why Art challenges what it means to be an artist. Part 2 wrapped and is out to festivals. Additionally, Sam exhibited photography in The Space Between Us at Bailey Contemporary Arts in Pompano, FL from JulySeptember 2020. supersillyfilms.com
2012
Curtis Anderson (Advertising Design) and his spouse Taylor welcomed their first child, Story James Anderson in October 2020. The family resides in Sarasota where Curtis is a Ringling College admissions counselor and runs Curtis Anderson Photography. Curtis will exhibit his documentary photography series, The Story I’ll Tell–The Mixtape in March 2021 at Ringling College’s Patricia Thompson Alumni and Skylight Gallery. curtisandersonphoto.com Katya Bowser (Computer Animation) joined Atomic Cartoons as a storyboard director in January 2020. katyabowser.com
Dan Martinez (Game Art and Design) joined Falcon’s Creative Group as senior CG artist in June 2020. Dan specializes in sculpting, modeling, and texturing for entertainment studios. dmartine.artstation.com Casey (Cummings) Vala (Business of Art and Design) married Steffen Vala in April 2019 in Orlando, FL. The Valas reside in San Diego, CA where Casey is a motion capture technician at Rockstar Games. Ian White (Computer Animation) was promoted to lead rigger at ICON Creative Studio, located in Vancouver, BC in May 2020.
Naughty Dog. Katelyn joined Santa Monica Studio in July 2020. figureight.artstation.com artstation.com/maurici0o artstation.com/peytonvarney artstation.com/katelynjohnson Audrey Gonzalez (Illustration) joined Atomic Cartoons as a design supervisor for an unannounced Netflix show in August 2020. thatsaud.com Sharon (Correa) Harris (Motion Design) was promoted to motion lead, Google Maps and all Geo Efforts Team at Google in New York City in April 2020. Sharon celebrated her 5th year at Google in 2021. instagram.com/sharonmharris
Multiple alumni worked on the children’s animated series Ask the Storybots.
2013
Karen Arango’s (Photography and Digital Imaging) photo documentary, Where the Magdalena River Ceases, was published by Dodho in January 2021. Karen is an independent visual journalist studying in the USF Digital Journalism and Design MFA program, and serves on the board of UnidosNow in Sarasota. karenarango.com Max Golosiy (Game Art and Design) and Game Art alumni Mauricio Sotolongo ’18, Peyton Varney ’18, and Katelyn Johnson ’19 were artists on The Last of Us Part II at Naughty Dog studio, which was awarded 2020 Game of the Year by The Game Awards in December 2020. After over 7 years at Naughty Dog, Max joined Blizzard as a senior dungeon artist in February 2021. Mauricio is an environment artist at Naughty Dog. Peyton is an environment texture artist at
Kevin Herron (Computer Animation) joined Cinesite as an animator on The Addams Family 2 in February 2021. With 10 years of major studio experience and management, Kevin specializes in character animation. LinkTr.ee/kevinherronart Gracie Kennedy (Illustration) joined CraftHTV America as the Creative Director in April 2020, where she designs patterns, manages large format printing, all global marketing, and production staff for this online crafting vinyl retail company, headquartered in Dallas. paperlaine.com Danny Samuels (Illustration) was awarded the Robert B. McMillen Foundation scholarship in June 2020 to complete his graduate studies in digital art at DigiPen Institute of Technology where he is currently also a professor. Danny is the art director at a new startup board game company in Seattle, WA. dannysamuelsart.com
Carly Senora (Computer Animation) joined Boulder Media as a remote lighting and compositing artist in May 2020 working on a fun film for Hasbro. carlysenora.com Blair Whiteford (Fine Arts) earned his MFA in painting from Yale University in 2019. His exhibition, Sowing a Seed in a Field Made of Ash, was on view at Jack Barrett Gallery in New York City from January-February 2021. Blair is a studio artist in the greater New York City area. blairwhiteford.com
2014
Sarah Kambara (Business of Art and Design) won a 2020 Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Preschool Children’s Animated Series as producer for Ask the StoryBots (Netflix) in July 2020. Ringling Alumni team members included Greg Mako ’14 (Graphic Design), and Computer Animation alumni Robert Showalter ’11, Megan McShane ’14, Jackson Read ’16, Andrew Wilson ’16, Masha Zarnitsa ’16, and Ashley Anderson ’17. Sarah currently is a producer for Chromosphere-LA. sarahkambara.com Rosaleen Magnone (Photography and Digital Imaging) joined Temple University’s Fox School of Business as assistant director of their MIS department in February 2020, where she helps to oversee student engagement, PRO Points, and marketing initiatives for undergraduate and graduate programs. Shannon (Berke) McSheehan (Game Art and Design) married Sean McSheehan in September 2019. They moved with their new baby, Connor to Washington State in December 2020. Shannon is working as the VFX lead of research and development at Riot Games. artstation.com/shannonmcsheehan Marysol Stepanof (Motion Design) was promoted to art director and celebrated her 6th year at JibJab in June 2020. dribbble.com/marysolstepanof
Ray Vazquez (Graphic Design) relocated from San Francisco to Beaverton, OR in July 2020, and he joined YouTube as an interaction designer on their Search and Discover team in January 2021. Ray practices empathy always and specializes in making thoughtful user experiences across platforms. rayvazquezdesign.com Andrew Wierzba (Illustration) relocated to Amsterdam, Netherlands in May 2019 with his spouse, Chelsea and their two kids. Andrew is a user experience designer at Booking.com. wierzba.design
2015
Amalia Fredericksen (Graphic Design) joined Facebook as a fulltime senior visual and product designer in January 2020 after contracting since April 2019. Kenneth Sterling Gronquist (Photography and Imaging) married Megan Breukelman in February 2019. They reside in Brooklyn where they are wedding photographers. meganandkenneth.com Nancy Nyström (Graphic and Interactive Communications) joined HUGE as a senior art director in February 2020, working on nationwide commercials for brands such as Realtor.com and AIG. Nancy is based in NYC. nancynystrom.com Susan Saulnier (Illustration) and John Treanor ’16 (Illustration) married in February 2020. Susan is pursuing her BFA in Entertainment Design from Ringling College where she is coordinator of student volunteerism and service learning, and John is a freelance illustrator for Hasbro. susansaulnier.com johntreanor.com Harrison Stagner (Film) and his Stag Productions released a series pilot, STUBBZ in January 2021. Film alumni Nichole Fernandez ’16, Tony Ahedo ’15, Nick Lennon ’15, and Lauren Sobczak ’16 were lead creatives, while Aaron Kinsey ’15, Evan Mattson ’14, Chandler Howard ’17, Casey Nelson ’17, Benny Davis ’16, and Darrien Land ’19 were a part of the production team. STUBBZ can be viewed for free at stubbzshow.com.
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Solongo Enkhtor (Visual Studies) was promoted to product design manager at Octopus Interactive, a company providing entertainment in Ubers and Lyfts. She is also collaborating on a children’s story that transforms the conventional medium into an interactive experience that involves both the reader and listener! Act along with Ren the Red Panda at storymoves.com.
Brenna Thummler (Illustration) created a short comic for COVID Chronicles: A Comics Anthology (Graphic Mundi/PSU Press), a collection of COVIDrelated comics that creators donated with proceeds benefiting booksellers/comic shops affected by the pandemic, released in February 2021. Brenna released a new graphic novel Delicates, her sequel to the critically-acclaimed Sheets in March 2021 from Oni Press (Simon & Schuster). brennathummler.com
Keishen Lloyd (Film) rejoined Hasbro as an assistant editor in January 2021. Keishen specializes in film editing, digital artistry, and post production. keishenlloyd.com
2016
Christopher Blond (Fine Arts) married Denee Rose Blond in January 2021. A studio artist in Venice, FL, Chris joined Ringling College’s Sarasota Art Museum on the visitor experience team in October 2020. chrisblond.com teamblond.com Chelsea (Brukardt) Meyer (Interior Design) and spouse Kevin Meyer welcomed their first child, James in July 2020. The Meyers reside in greater Adelaide, Australia where Chelsea is a design consultant for Forpark Australia, in addition to her own business styling homes for sale. chelseabrukardt.com Anne Lesniak’s (Illustration) art, Don’t Tread on Us (2019) for Ms. magazine was awarded the American Society of Magazine Editors Best Cover Contest and Awards for Photography and Illustration 2020: News and Political Cover Readers’ Choice Award in July 2020. Anne’s artwork was originally published in Summer 2019. Anne is an illustrator for Cloudco Entertainment. illustrationsbyanniee.com David Machov (Graphic and Interactive Communication) joined Polaris as a digital product designer in October 2020. Andrés Paz (Motion Design) and Meybis Pitty ’19 (Visual Studies) married in May 2019. They reside in Sarasota where Andrés works for Ringling College’s Communications Department and is owner of FAMA Productions, and Meybis is a videographer and graphic designer with The Sarasota Ballet. They welcomed their first child, Andrea in February 2021. famaproduction.com 60 CONTXT.RINGLING.EDU
Michael Owooje (Photography and Imaging) relocated to Maryland in January 2020 where he is currently a junior photographer/ digital tech for CreativeDrive on the Under Armour creative account team. Michael specializes in fashion editorial work that further developed after 10 months as an editorial photographer at Zulily in Columbus, OH. michaelowooje.com Concept art by Bailey Hoback ’17.
Erica Pead (Motion Design) joined Positiv TV as a multimedia designer for broadcast and social media in November 2020. Since moving to LA, she’s fallen in love with working from home and Dungeons & Dragons. She is surviving LA with humor and the ability to adapt to any situation. epead.myportfolio.com Ally Sage (Business of Art and Design) joined Netflix in Los Angeles as a production coordinator on The StoryBots in November 2020.
2017
Bailey Hoback (Illustration) joined Treasure Studios as a concept artist in May 2020. Bailey also is a freelance concept artist with Jam City and is based in greater Los Angeles. baileyhoback.com Natalie Palumbo (Motion Design) was motion designer, poster designer, and VFX artist for the film Daybreak, which was awarded Best Comedy and Best LGBTQ from the Cannes World Film Festival in January 2021. natalieapalumbo.com Jenette Rodriguez (Fine Arts) earned her Master’s of Fine Arts in studio art from Burren College of Art in Ireland in May 2020. Jenette’s studio is located in Cape Coral, FL. jenette-rodriguez.squarespace.com
Work by Christian Huthmacher ’16.
Kristin Sjoquist (Motion Design) and Christian Huthmacher ’17 (Motion Design) married in November 2019 at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. They reside in Manhattan where Kristin is a GFX animator at A&E Networks and Christian is an animator with Nickelodeon. kristinsjoquist.com christianhuthmacher.com
Madison R. Young (Fine Arts) earned her MFA in art and technology studies from School of the Art Institute of Chicago in May 2019. Madison is an independent curator in Chicago. madisonryoung.com
2018
Audrey Crist (Graphic Design) joined Quad in Bellevue, WA as a production artist in July 2020.
Abigail Udell (Illustration) joined Moose Toys in Cornwall, United Kingdom as product designer/ illustrator in December 2019. Abigail specializes in pattern and product design and she additionally sells cards and gifts through Etsy. abbiudell.co.uk
2019
Anna Conde (Computer Animation) joined DreamWorks Animation as technical animator in December 2019. annaconde.com Paul Detling (Motion Design) and Lauren Cash ’20 (Motion Design) married in June 2020. The Detlings relocated to Kingsport, TN in February 2021, where Paul is an animator remotely for Epipheo and Lauren is a junior designer remotely for Hue & Cry. pauldetling.com & laurencash.myportfolio.com/work Daun Kim (Computer Animation) won the 2020 YouTube Kids Animation Dingle Student Award for Best 3D/CGI for Don’t Croak in March 2020. Additionally, her senior thesis work won Best Animated Series at the 40th College Television Awards in May 2020. daunkim.com
David Klos (Fine Arts) exhibited Paper Manefest(o): Paper Revolutions at Morgan Conservatory, Cleveland, OH from January-March 2020 and at Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking in Atlanta from August-December 2020. davidklos.com Jamiel Law (Illustration) and Jennifer (Medina) Law ’19 (Illustration) married in May 2019. Jamie’s art for The New York Times article, “Trying to Parent My Black Teenagers Through Protest and Pandemic” was noted in The New York Times’ 2020 Best Illustrations List. Jamie and Jenny reside in Bradenton where Jamie is a designer for Buck Design, LLC and a freelance
illustrator, and Jenny is owner and creative director of Ola Studios and a freelance illustrator for clients including Teen Breathe Magazine. jamiellaw.com; olastudios.co jmedinaillustration.com Savannah Magnolia (Fine Arts) was awarded VSA Emerging Artist Program’s First Place Award from The Kennedy Center, Washington D.C. in October 2019. She exhibited six paintings with Zenith Gallery at Art Basel Miami Beach in December 2019, and in Keep it Cute at MIZA Gallery, St. Petersburg, FL in February 2021. Additionally, Savannah was accepted into Skyway 2021. meltingmagnolia.com
Sanjana Sharma (Motion Design) joined Spacejunk in Columbus, OH as a motion designer in November 2019. She teaches “Intro to Modular Typography” on Skillshare. In March 2020, Sanjana started a stationery and art shop, TheStudioSS, which is available on Etsy. thestudioss.etsy.com sanjanasharma.com Jenna Thomas (Film) was awarded her Master’s in Leadership for Creative Enterprises, with a focus on film and the business of the film industry, from Northwestern University in May 2020. Jenna is working in development for filmmaker Neal Edelstein in the greater Chicago area. jmtfilm.com
THE TWENTIES
2020
Emily Fritz (Business of Art and Design) joined DreamWorks Animation in Burbank as a production assistant on Boss Baby: Back In Business in June 2020. emilyfritz.me Tabitha Kitchen (Computer Animation) and Computer Animation alumni Kate Namowicz ’20 and Eric Wang ’20 all relocated to Vancouver, BC in February 2021, to join Sony Pictures Imageworks as animators on Hotel Transylvania 4. tabithakitchen.portfoliobox.net katenamo.com adzukibean.wixsite.com/eric Briana McPhee (Illustration) joined CloudCo as an illustrator in Cleveland, OH in February 2021. brianamcphee.myportfolio.com
IN MEMORIAM Carl Smith Allen ’75 Interior Design October 29, 2020, Daphne, AL
Marvin Edison Haas, Jr. ’78 Painting April 8, 2020, Morehead City, NC
Charles W. “Chuck” Kennedy ’52 Advertising Design and Illustration May 26, 2017, Palm City, FL
Thomas Alvin Scanio ’62 Commercial Design February 4, 2021, Sanford, NC
Nicola Marie “Nicci” Annistopoulos ’91 Graphic Design November 28, 2020, S. Pasadena, FL
Ann Elizabeth (Medlin) Hall ’77 Interior Design April 21, 2019, Bradenton, FL
David J. Klein ’77 Graphic Design April 29, 2020, Key West, FL
Dorothy Ann (Hutchins) Shank ’60 Interior Design November 24, 2020, Jacksonville, FL
Dean F. Clark ’58 Fashion Illustration October 30, 2020, Kalamazoo, MI
Edward Clark Harnage ’78 Graphic Design March 6, 2015, Perry, FL
Patricia “Pat” (Roper) Laney ’63 Fashion Illustration September 27, 2020, Atlanta, GA
Rose Noel Sigona ’16 Interior Design January 3, 2021, Winter Park, FL
Jimmy Collins ’91 Computer Design October 13, 2017, Newberry, FL
L. Eugene “Gene” Hawkins ’68 Fine Arts May 26, 2020, Greenville, SC
Richard Cyrus “Dick” Lewis ’55 Commercial Design September 27, 2020, Pearl River, NY
Bethany Jayne Somers ’07 Illustration February 5, 2020, Portland, OR
Armello “Glo” (Fields) DeRaimo ’58 Commercial Design June 24, 2020, Ashland, KY
Nathan Andrew Hubbard ’01 Illustration December 16, 2020, Chuluota, FL
Robert M. “Mike” Noles ’78 Painting June 24, 2020, Orlando, FL
Matthew M. Spisak ’84 Illustration September 21, 2020, Chickasaw, AL
John Marcus “Marc” Dodson, Jr. ’06 Illustration September 30, 2020, Tallahassee, FL
Joseph Michael “Mike” Huey ’58 Illustration January 10, 2019, Pensacola, FL
William Parry Owen, Jr. ’66 Commercial Design January 29, 2021, Alliance, OH
Marcia Carol Ente ’95 Computer Animation March 26, 2018, Sarasota, FL
Peter James Isbell ’70 Interior Design July 12, 2015, Bradenton, FL
Charles “Jerry” Pair ’63 Interior Design June 14, 2020, Atlanta, GA
Edward Henry Springs ’59 Commercial Design September 19, 2020, Blowing Rock, NC
John G. Fairey ’55 Fine Arts March 27, 2020, Hempstead, TX
Dennis Lee Jaenicke ’75 Fine Arts December 4, 2020, Kankakee, IL
Samantha Pellicano ’14 Photography and Digital Imaging June 29, 2019, Sarasota, FL
Shine Fitzner ’94 Computer Animation February 27, 2021, Wailuku, HI
William “Gardner” Jenkins ’80 Graphic Design January 9, 2018, St. Petersburg, FL
Jeanne (Trimble Wilson) Garrison ’48 Fine Arts July 7, 2018, Bradenton, FL
George E. Jordan ’63 Fine Arts May 2020, Westport, CT
Samuel Glen “Sam” Perry ’83 Fine Arts January 28, 2021, West Palm Beach, FL
Frederick J. “Tup” Goodhue ’66 Fine Arts July 26, 2020, Moultonborough, NH
Julius Michael “Mike” Kelly ’66 Interior Design July 13, 2019, Grayson, GA
Oliver Jernigan “Jere” Gordon, Jr. ’53 Fine Arts May 11, 2020, Hudson, WI
David Kendal Kenemer ’79 Graphic Design and Illustration May 31, 2020, Deltona, FL
Elizabeth Anne “Beth” Griffin ’84 Graphic Design and Illustration July 16, 2015, Brooklyn, NY
Jessica Anne Pomerleau-Halnon ’10 Computer Animation August 21, 2020, Burlington, VT Ilona G. (Mueller) Ranaudo ’72 Fine Arts July 7, 2020, Watertown, CT Philip Ruxton II ’61 Commercial Design February 17, 2021, Rising Sun, IN
Erin Lynn Starks ’96 Illustration February 16, 2021, Jupiter, FL Sheridan Eileen “Sherry” (Smith) Stiller ’75 Interior Design July 25, 2020, Tulsa, OK William E. “Will” Turner ’74 Painting May 30, 2020, Helena, MT Mary P. (Gross) Wallace ’48 Fine Arts November 5, 2020, Delray Beach, FL Charles Edward Walsh ’61 Fine Arts March 19, 2017, Jefferson, GA Jill Ann (Martin) Young ’69 Fine Arts June 6, 2020, North Canton, OH CONTXT | SPRING 2021
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Finding Love at Ringling Would you like your love story told? Get in touch with us at alumni@ringling.edu
Gloria Jean [Anderson] Marion
Julie Knight
COMMERCIAL DESIGN, ’63
Christopher Skura
Gerald Marion COMMERCIAL DESIGN, ’64
My very first day at Ringling College, I was on the way to drawing class with Frank Rampolla when I just happened to meet Gloria Jean Anderson, who was also on her way to class. She greeted me with a beautiful smile and said, “Hi!” That smile captured my heart and we dated throughout our years at Ringling, marrying two weeks after my graduation. We celebrated our 56th wedding anniversary in June 2020. We have two sons and two daughters-in-love, and seven beautiful grandchildren. Thanks, Ringling!
– Gerald Marion www.pilgrimsreststudios.com
Heather [Tinkey] Jones INTERIOR DESIGN, ’03 James “Ted” Jones ILLUSTRATION, ’00 Our love story started at Ringling and began with a Sharpie. August 1999, I arrived on campus for “Make Your Mark!” new student orientation. My group leader was Ted Jones. The week ended with a family cook-out where Ted ran up to me wearing a plain T-shirt with a Sharpie in outstretched jazz hands, and shouted, “Sign me!” I was mortified! It would be years before our first date, but after many long emails and well after Ted graduated, we eventually dated and married. Now, 16 years married, one beautiful daughter, multiple addresses, heartaches, joys, AND a worldwide pandemic, later... We’re still standing together!
– Heather Jones www.tjonescreative.wixsite.com/portfolio
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FINE ARTS, ’90
FINE ARTS, ’85
I first met Christopher at a retro ’50s art party the first week of school at Ringling College, in 1987. To make an impression on the freshmen, Chris and his friends lit their clothes on fire in the microwave and arrived wearing them, still smoking! Chris and I were close friends until 1990. I was in New York City then and Chris came to visit me – and we decided to become a couple! We visited museums, cafes, and held hands walking down Broadway! We were married in Woodstock, NY in 1997. After our chance meeting at Ringling 33 years ago, we are committed to supporting each other in our artistic pursuits. I work as a ceramic instructor and artist and Christopher is a visual artist and art conservator. We split our time between New York City and Woodstock, NY, where we have our own art studio.
– Julie Knight To hear more about our stories, listen to Larry Forte’s (Fine Arts, ’86) podcast, “Limited Perspective”: www.limited-perspective.com/podcast/2020/4/16/julie-knight www.limited-perspective.com/podcast/2020/4/27/chris-skura www.julie-knight.squarespace.com www.christopherskura.com
RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN
Board of Trustees Officers
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.
Alumni, keep in touch!
Chair George L. Miles, Jr.
Update your contact information at www.ringling.edu/alumni and let us know
Vice Chair Michael Klein
what’s new in your life. You may also email us at alumni@ringling.edu.
Secretary Ali M. Bahaj Co-Treasurer Dr. Joel Morganroth
We encourage comments and questions about CONTXT
Co-Treasurer Rosemary Oberndorf
If you have questions or comments, or want email updates and/or to discontinue
President Dr. Larry R. Thompson
receiving printed copies of CONTXT magazine, contact us at contxt@ringling.edu.
Ringling College Senior Officers
For other inquiries
President Dr. Larry R. Thompson
Admissions admissions@ringling.edu
V.P. for Academic Affairs Dr. Peter A. McAllister
Advancement giving@ringling.edu
V.P. for Advancement Stacey R. Corley
Alumni Relations alumni@ringling.edu
V.P. for Finance & Administration Dr. Tracy A. Wagner
Campus Store store@ringling.edu
V.P. for Human & Organizational Development Christine DeGeorge
Center for Career Services www.ringling.edu/talent or talent@ringling.edu
V.P. for Student Life & Dean of Students Dr. Tammy S. Walsh
Library library@ringling.edu Marketing & Communications communications@ringling.edu
CONTXT Team
President officeofpres@ringling.edu
Publisher Dr. Larry R. Thompson
Sarasota Art Museum museum@ringling.edu
Executive Editor Raelyn Lincoln
School of Continuing Studies scs@ringling.edu
Creative Director Jennifer Mumford Brady Editor Chelsea Garner-Ferris Designer /Art Director Laura Bucholtz ’04 Video ART Network Production Manager Karen Durocher Business Manager Sharon Wilson
For more information, call 941-351-5100 or visit www.ringling.edu
Production Notes The inks, coatings, and varnishes used in this issue of CONTXT are formulated with significant amounts of bio-derived, renewable resources, including vegetable oils such as linseed oil, resin-based on tall oil or gum rosin, and alkyds derived
Writing Susan Borozan, Nicole Caron, Stacey Corley, Chelsea Garner-Ferris, Gayle
from vegetable oils. The paper used in this issue of CONTXT is Endurance Silk. It
Guynup, Jiana Johnson ’21, Esty Loveing-Downes ’21, Markella Paradissis-Wagner ’22,
is a sustainably produced paper that comes from responsibly managed forests.
Patricia Pete ’15, Dr. Larry R. Thompson, Ryan G. Van Cleave Photography Karen Arango ’13, Elan Photography, Ryan Gamma, Matthew Holler ’11
Printed by Manatee Printers, Inc., of Bradenton, FL. www.manateeprinters.com
Illustration Rachel Bivens ’21, Don Brandes The information presented in this issue of CONTXT is correct to the best of our knowledge. We hope you will alert us to any inaccuracies. We apologize for any concern they may cause.
CONTXT IS ONLINE! Enjoy expanded stories and stay up-to-date on news at Ringling College all year!
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