All Oak Hills High School students electing to enroll in an Art and Design Department course will develop a Competitive Advantage, Appreciation of the Arts, Creative Thinking and Problem Solving Skills, Interdisciplinary Connections, Social and Global Awareness, and Career Preparation related to Visual Communication.
The Overture Awards is a program that recognizes, encourages, and rewards excellence in the arts among Greater Cincinnati students in grades 9-12. Its mission is to encourage arts education as an integral part of a student’s academic experience and to create an environment that encourages training in, and appreciation of, the arts. The Overture Awards Competition is the area’s largest solo arts competition and offers awards in six artistic disciplines: creative writing, dance, instrumental music, theater, visual art, and vocal music. For the 2024 competition, students may win $3,000 (one awarded in each discipline) or a $1,000 finalist award. Judges at all levels of the competition are drawn from the professional arts community.
Best of luck in the Regional Competition to OHHS Art and Design students who were nominated by Ms. Schorsch to participate in this year’s competition:
The Taft Museum of Art’s Artists Reaching Classrooms program (ARC) immerses high school art students in Cincinnati’s visual arts community, artistic practices, exhibitions, and marketing strategies while exposing them to careers in the arts. This year, Drawing and Printmaking students are participating in this amazing program which consists of 1 museum visit and 4 classroom visits during the 1st semester, culminating in an exhibition at the Annex Gallery in the winter. This semester, students have been working alongside Cedric Michael Cox to experience the practices of a professional artist firsthand. Cedric also lead students in the creation of a collaborative artwork based upon the theme of “I/Us”, and an individual piece, for the Annex Gallery exhibition.
The experiences culminate in the creation of original artworks for exhibition at the Annex Gallery. Students were challenged to consider their interpretation of “The Beauty Within” or “Sacred Space” and generated works that demonstrate their approach to the term after brainstorming, project planning, and setting up their own resource images. Using a model for Juried Exhibitions, students selected 6 artworks for framing for the exhibition, 6 artworks that will be matted for the physical display in addition to sculptures, and the remaining will be displayed in a virtual exhibition in the gallery space.
Congratulations to the 6 Drawing and Printmaking students who were selected for framed participation in this year’s exhibition:
Madison Haley Cody Leopold Lilliana McGuire Baylee Moorman Alexandra See Aurora Studenka
Madison HaleyCody LeopoldLilliana McGuireBaylee MoormanAlexandra SeeAurora Studenka
Congratulations to the 6 Drawing and Printmaking students who were selected for matted participation or sculptural display in this year’s exhibition:
Grace Gray Sofia Grillo Tepe Brandin Henderson Colin Klaserner Sydney Lehman Alexis Predmore Lukas Schwab Natalie Weil
Sofia Grillo TepeColin KlasernerSydney LehmanAlexis PredmoreLukas SchwabNatalie Weil
The Taft ARC Exhibition will open at the Annex Gallery, 1310 Pendleton St., Cincinnati, OH 45202, on February 16th and run through March 28th, 2025. The OHHS Drawing and Printmaking students will be exhibiting alongside students participating from: Aiken H.S., McNichols H.S., Princeton H.S., School for Creative and Performing Arts, Spencer Center for Gifted and Exceptional Students, Walnut Hills H.S., and Western Hills H.S.
Ohio is home, but what is home? What is our relationship to place? How does place and home impact our lives? How do our lives impact place and home?
In partnership with the Ohio Art Council, the Art Academy of Cincinnati is hosting a new visual art exhibition this winter called, The Ohio Site Map Project. The purpose of the exhibition is to feature custom artwork made from K-12 students and teachers across Hamilton County to express their ideas, notions, and representations of home and place in Ohio. This collaborative exhibition will prioritize perspectives and compositions of youth in our community to elevate their values of home and place. Maps for this project will vary from realistic, surreal or anything in-between, all focused on what students see, think, and interpret about their experiences of home and place in Ohio.
Art has the power to bridge history, culture, and imagination. OHHS National Art Honor Society students Molly Audretch and Annie Riley, alongside Ms. Schorsch, embarked on a creative journey to produce an artwork that pays homage to the vibrant and multifaceted identity of Cincinnati.
The Foundation: Researching Cincinnati’s Roots The project began with a deep dive into Cincinnati’s historical maps. These maps provided more than geographical information—they served as a visual narrative of the city’s evolution over time. By studying these maps, Molly and Annie gained insights into the foundations of Cincinnati’s neighborhoods, the development of its infrastructure, and the changing patterns of its cultural and economic hubs. This research informed the overall composition of the artwork, grounding it in a sense of place and time.
Collaging “A Changing City” Building on this historical framework, the students incorporated collaged images from “A Changing City,” a cartoon book created for peace and justice as part of SOS ART. This piece served as a reflection of the city’s adaptability and resilience, themes that resonate deeply with Cincinnati’s history. The integration of these images added layers of meaning to the artwork, linking the past and present while honoring the creative initiatives that seek to make art a force for positive change.
Inspired by Murals: Cincinnati’s Outdoor Gallery Cincinnati’s downtown murals, iconic for their vibrancy and storytelling, became another element of inspiration. The students drew on the colors, styles, and narratives of these murals to weave the city’s artistic energy into their piece. These elements not only celebrated the city’s thriving public art scene but also connected the collaborative artwork to a larger conversation about the role of art in urban spaces.
The Flying Pigs: A Symbol of Whimsy and Resilience No celebration of Cincinnati would be complete without a nod to its most whimsical and beloved icon—the flying pig. Representing the city’s humor, resilience, and nod to its industrial past, the flying pigs were seamlessly integrated into the artwork. These elements brought a playful yet meaningful layer to the composition, reminding viewers of Cincinnati’s unique character and enduring spirit.
The final piece stands as a testament to the collaborative spirit of Molly, Annie, and Ms. Schorsch. By blending historical research, artistic inspiration, and community-centered themes, the artwork reflects Cincinnati’s rich heritage and dynamic future. It is not just a visual representation of iconic landmarks and symbols but also a narrative of a city that continues to grow, adapt, and inspire. This Ohio Site Map Project highlights the power of art education and community engagement, showcasing how young artists can honor the past while creating something that resonates with the present and inspires the future..
Join the Art Academy of Cincinnati and our partners in celebrating the completion of The Ohio Site Map Project for the exhibition opening reception: Thursday, December 5, 2024 from 5p-8p SITE1212, Art Academy of Cincinnati, 1212 Jackson Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 Light refreshments provided Exhibition will be on view through Thursday, December 12, 2024 Gallery Hours: 9am-9pm
The National PTA Reflections competition was developed as a way to encourage students to explore their talents and express themselves. The Reflections Program has inspired millions of students to reflect on a specific theme and create original artwork. Each year, students in grades Pre-K through 12 are recognized for bringing the theme to life through film production, dance choreography, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts. The 2024-2025 Reflections program theme is “Accepting Imperfection”.
Best of luck to the following students who submitted work for this year’s competition. Stay tuned for results!
Literature Entry Ava Wildenmann
Visual Arts Entries Molly Audretch Annie Riley Lizzie Schreibeis Sophia Wehman Lydia Wilson
Molly AudretchAnnie RileyLizzie SchreibeisSophia WehmanLydia Wilson
Congratulations to the OHHS Art and Design student whose art was selected as a High Merit piece for the Summer 2024 Celebrating Art competition and publication! Receiving a Top Ten or High Merit award means the art was an exceptional piece. Out of thousands of entries received for the Summer 2024 contest, it stood out as being one of the top 5% submitted. Students who have art selected as Top Ten or High Merit work will receive special recognition in the book as it is displayed as a Top Ten or High Merit piece.
Congratulations to the following student:
From Schorsch’s AP Art and Design 2-D Design class:
OHHS Art and Design 