The Annual District Office Art Exhibition is dedicated to the recognition and celebration of the district’s talented visual arts and design students in the Oak Hills Local School District. The purpose of the exhibition is to provide the young artists of our district with the opportunity to participate in a multi-level group exhibition, generate an appreciation for the arts throughout the district, and reflect the fine quality of art instruction and talent which exists in our district. 

The 2021 OHLSD District Office Art Exhibition will be on display at the Oak Hills Local School District Office until March 2022.

OHHS Art and Design teacher Jamie Schorsch will be contributing to the public art legacy of Hamilton, OH this summer through the StreetSpark program. Formed through a partnership between the City of Hamilton and the Fitton Center for Creative Arts, StreetSpark is a program founded to further the art identity in the city through exciting public art projects. This program creates arts engagement by producing high-quality murals, building opportunities for local artists, and enhancing the visual appeal of the city. StreetSpark brings visible murals and artwork into the community with the goal of fueling Hamilton with art.

Schorsch recently had her design, “Cultivating Community”, selected and will be leading a team of artists from June 7th-25th in painting the artwork on the Telhio Credit Union on Park Ave.

“Cultivating Community” Artist Statement

“The concept for “Cultivating Community”, designed for the Telhio Credit Union, was inspired by the core values embedded in the not-for-profits ideals of caring, commitment and integrity. Compositional elements used in the design are inspired by Art Deco rendering traditions that were prevalent in the artwork of 1930’s, when the Credit Union was founded, as well as the architecture throughout the City of Hamilton. The image is designed to be viewed as a wrap around, but also stand on it’s own as a composition when viewed from one side of the building.

The hands extending into the composition from the roof level are rendered in grisaille to communicate the idea of stone, a strong foundation on which to build. The hands are representative the Telhio Credit Union redistributing income back to its members and the community. The colored water flowing from the grisaille hands signifies the nurturing nature of the Credit Union that allows for fostering growth and prosperity. Trees, grass, and flowers communicate the idea of a flourishing community while referencing the tree-line neighborhood of Prospect Hill. The expansive field serves as a historical nod to the landscape of the area as it would have existed when Native American groups occupied the site around Fort Hamilton. Daisies, symbolic of innocence and youth, allude to the children attending Wilson Middle School. Tiger Lilies, which are often associated with pride, confidence, wealth, and positivity and Irises, which represent wisdom, hope, and trust, frame the image. The bee serves as an emblem of abundance, persistence, industry, and community. Imagery of beans embedded amongst the flowers calls to mind additional ideas of growth tied to fairy tale imagery and folklore.

Color palettes prevalent in Art Deco traditions inspired the more analogous color scheme, as well as linear emphasis, for the work designed to provide contrast with the sticker-style design to be integrated with the bare brick of the architectural structure. Colors were selected for their symbolism and contrast. The blue waters illustrate tranquility brought to the community through abundance whereas yellow daisy floral disc exudes a sensation of radiating happiness embedded in the purity of the white daisies. Green is utilized to represent the color of life, renewal and growth within an environment.

Design elements and symbolism embedded in “Cultivating Community” are intended to synthesize with the architectural structure of the Telhio Credit Union, provide contemporary and historical nods to the surrounding environment as well as the function on Telhio nurturing the community, while communicating a whimsical uplifting image that communicates tranquility, peace, and prosperity”.

The Rain Barrel Art Project was created to promote the use of rain barrels throughout the Ohio River Valley area through a creative and educational medium. The Rain Barrel Art Project desires to educate people on environmental issues like stormwater runoff, watersheds and water conservation.

Rain barrels continue to grow in popularity across the country. However, one of its biggest drawbacks is its dull appearance. Some people are less likely to use them given their negative aesthetic impact on residential and commercial landscaping, even though they conserve water and save money. The “Save Local Waters” initiative believes that producing beautiful artistic rain barrels that have unique painted details will make them more desirable and naturally increase interest to promote their use.

This year, OHHS artists in Ms. Kopf’s and Ms. Schorsch’s Painting and Mixed Media created 4 Rain Barrels for this year’s event! Congratulations to all of the students who were selected by their peers to submit pieces for the jurying.

Completed Rain Barrels will be displayed at the Cincinnati Zoo from April 1st through 30th with the Online Auction and Artist Reception TBD.

Congratulations to Isabel Catron (11), Elena Fernading (9), Reagan Louis (10), Sophia Osborne (10) on the selection of their design by the “Save Local Waters” committee for this year’s event!

Students from the OHHS National Art Honor Society and Ms. Schorsch’s Drawing and Printmaking and Studio Art AP Drawing classes will be exhibiting work at the Cincinnati Art Museum! The Cincinnati Art Museum education staff worked with a committee of teen art enthusiasts to curate an exhibition of artworks addressing the theme of “Space”. Artists were invited to interpret and use their creative voice to address this theme in the media of their choice. The only parameter was that works submitted had to be 2-Dimensional and only 10 inches by 10 inches.

Congratulations to the following students whose work was selected to be physically displayed on the walls at the Teen Art Expo as a part of 100 pieces selected from around the city:

Olivia Burnett
Sophia Osborne
Scarlett Shorten
Leah Stolla
Patrick Thibodeaux

Congratulations to the following students whose work was accepted into the 10×10: Teen Art Expo as a part of the digital sideshow that will play throughout the Expo:

Chloe Meadows

The 10×10 Expo will be on display in the Great Hall at the Cincinnati Art Museum from May 6^th through May 9th, 2021. There will be a “Space” themed Costume party on Thursday May 6^th from 5:30-7:30. The party will be outdoors on Art Climb, located at the far end of the Cincinnati Art Museum parking lot. Art making, a costume contest and other fun activities will take place. Social distancing and masks are encouraged. 

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards has an impressive legacy dating back to 1923. Over the years, the Awards have grown to become the longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in the U.S., and the nation’s largest source of scholarships for creative young artists and writers. A noteworthy roster of past winners includes Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Richard Avedon, Robert Redford, Joyce Carol Oates, Stephen King, John Updike, and many more.

Each year, the Alliance partners with more than 100 visual and literary-arts organizations across the country to bring The Awards to local communities. Teens in grades 7 through 12 can apply in 28 categories of art and writing for the chance to earn scholarships and have their works exhibited or published. Submissions are juried by luminaries in the visual and literary arts, some of whom are past award recipients. Panelists look for works that best exemplify originality, technical skill and the emergence of a personal voice or vision.

Gold Key Regional winners compete on the National level for Medalist Awards; only 1% were selected for a Medal. Samantha Bradley’s piece, “Practice”, was awarded a Silver Medal!

Congratulations to Scholastic Art Awards National Medalist Samantha Bradley!