Celebrating Cincinnati through Art: A Collaborative Journey for the Ohio Site Map Project and AAC Exhibition

Posted on November 22, 2024 by OHHS Art and Design

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

Exploring ‘Subjective Evidence’ and Multiple Perspectives

Posted on October 27, 2024 by OHHS Art and Design

On October 18th, AP Art and Design students embarked on their first field experience as a part of this year’s Contemporary Arts Center School Outreach Program. The CAC SOP offers students from grades 2 through 12 a comprehensive, immersive experience with contemporary art. Running from September through May, this year-long program includes an in-school orientation, two guided tours of CAC exhibitions, a classroom project tied to the exhibition led by a local artist, and a spring visit to an artist’s studio. Program docents work with the same class throughout the year, fostering continuity and rapport with the students. Many docents have developed long-standing relationships with the schools and teachers they support, providing consistent guidance and engagement year after year.

During the tour, students engaged with the Barbara Probst: Subjective Evidence exhibition. A German photographer who divides her time between Munich and New York, Barbara began capturing single scenes through multiple images taken simultaneously with a radio-controlled camera system in 2000. This innovative technique reveals complex, playful, and darkly cinematic visions of people in time and space. Probst’s work spans various photographic genres, including landscape, still life, fashion, portraiture, and street photography. Her multi-perspective approach creates quasi-three-dimensional views that raise philosophical questions about optical authority: what defines visual truth when multiple perspectives coexist? Does adding more visual data lead to a greater sense of realism—or diminish it?

In the gallery, students explored the idea of multiple vantage points capturing a single scene and moment in time. Throughout the year, students will create artworks inspired by their experiences with the CAC SOP and will participate in an exhibition in the Spring of 2025.

The Future BFA “Artist as Researcher” Exhibition @ the AAC

Posted on July 27, 2024 by OHHS Art and Design

The Art Academy of Cincinnati (AAC) recently invited Ms. Schorsch to nominate 4 OHHS Art and Design students for full scholarships, covering tuition and housing, to participate in the Future BFA program. Future BFA is the AAC portfolio and college prep program for rising High School students interested in pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in visual art, design, or creative writing in college. For three weeks in July, students from across the country assembled on campus in the historic neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine in Cincinnati, Ohio. During the Future BFA program, students took a college-level course based on artistic research and independent projects. As a result of the course and full access to the AAC studios, FBFA students produced work culminating in the final “Artist as Researcher” exhibition. In addition, FBFA students grew in their understanding of themselves and their practice as an artist and formed long-lasting friendships with like-minded peers. Upon successful completion of the Future BFA Pre-College program students gained 3-college credits as a transferable studio elective.

Congratulations again to Milo Butts, Rain Magrum, Jackson Mundstock, and Finley Nguyen on receiving full scholarships to participate in this amazing summer school opportunity! On Friday, July 26th, from 4-8 pm, a celebration of their experience took place alongside the exhibition of the artworks they created in Site 1212, located at the cornerstone of the AAC campus. Students spoke about bringing their artistic visions to life and their amazing experiences with the Future BFA program.

Celebrating Art: Spring 2024 Top Ten and High Merit Students Announced

Posted on July 21, 2024 by OHHS Art and Design

Congratulations to the OHHS Art and Design student whose art was selected as a High Merit piece for the Spring 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 Spring 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 students:

From Schorsch’s Studio Art AP 2D Design, Studio Art AP Drawing, and Drawing and Printmaking class:

Anna Caito
Miguel Estrada
Aubree Fuson
Cedar Krodel
Aubrey Laib
Cora Mundstock
Finley Nguyen
Lizzie Schreibeis
Michael Smith
Katelyn Stricker

From Dignan-Cummins’ Ceramics 1 and 2, Honors Enamels, Mosaic, and Glass, Honors Fiber Arts, Sculpture, and Studio Art AP 3D Design classes:

Ashley Haarmeyer
Lindsey Hines

Congratulations to Scholastic Art Awards National Medalists Grace Gray and Sophia Wehman!

Posted on June 12, 2024 by OHHS Art and Design

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.

More than 100,000 students submitted more than 330,000 works of art and writing to the 2024 Scholastic Awards. Gold Key Regional winners compete on the National level for Medalist Awards. Grace and Sophia’s work was selected by some of the foremost leaders in the visual and literary arts for excellence in originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision. Less than 2,000 works received a National Medal, which places them within the top 1% of all submissions!

Grace Gray’s (11) piece, “Hug Me”, was awarded a Silver Medal, and Sophia Wehman’s piece (10), “Overflow”, earned a Silver Medal.

An awards ceremony for National Medalists will take place at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Congratulations to our Scholastic Art Awards National Medalists!

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