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 Taft Museum of Art’s Artists Reaching Classrooms (ARC) program immerses high school art students in Cincinnati’s visual arts community, connecting them with artistic practices, exhibitions, marketing strategies, and careers in the arts. This semester, Drawing and Printmaking students are participating in the program, which includes one museum visit, four classroom visits, and culminates in a winter exhibition at the Taft.
As part of ARC, students are collaborating with Adoria L. Maxberry, a Cincinnati-based visual and performance artist, educator, designer, and founder of Most OutGROWing LLC. Guided by a belief in the power of creativity for personal and collective growth, Adoria creates immersive experiences that blend education, reflection, and community. Her work spans murals, fiber arts, illustration, and mixed media, often embedding hidden phrases and personal stories. She has led significant public projects, including Revolutionary Recipes: The Flavors of a Black Woman Amplified, and partners with organizations like ArtWorks. Adoria also teaches in schools, performs as a lead puppeteer and voice actress on the Emmy-winning children’s series Paige’s Place, and was recognized as a Black is Excellence: Unsung Hometown Hero by the City of Cincinnati in 2022. Through ARC, she will guide students in creating a large-scale collaborative artwork for the Taft exhibition.
After spending their first visit getting to know Adoria and brainstorming about the things they experience in their daily environments, or what they find impactful about objects they interact with on a daily basis, they created a collaborative design synthesizing their different perspectives. During this week’s visit with Adoria, they began laying out their design and blocking in color. Over the next few weeks, the Drawing and Printmaking students will continue their collaboration in preparation for the winter exhibition of their work at the Taft Museum of Art.
The Taft Museum of Art’s Artists Reaching Classrooms (ARC) program immerses high school art students in Cincinnati’s visual arts community, connecting them with artistic practices, exhibitions, marketing strategies, and careers in the arts. This semester, Drawing and Printmaking students are participating in the program, which includes one museum visit, four classroom visits, and culminates in a winter exhibition at the Taft.
As part of ARC, students are collaborating with Adoria L. Maxberry, a Cincinnati-based visual and performance artist, educator, designer, and founder of Most OutGROWing LLC. Guided by a belief in the power of creativity for personal and collective growth, Adoria creates immersive experiences that blend education, reflection, and community. Her work spans murals, fiber arts, illustration, and mixed media, often embedding hidden phrases and personal stories. She has led significant public projects, including Revolutionary Recipes: The Flavors of a Black Woman Amplified, and partners with organizations like ArtWorks. Adoria also teaches in schools, performs as a lead puppeteer and voice actress on the Emmy-winning children’s series Paige’s Place, and was recognized as a Black is Excellence: Unsung Hometown Hero by the City of Cincinnati in 2022. Through ARC, she will guide students in creating a large-scale collaborative artwork for the Taft exhibition.
During their recent museum visit, students toured the galleries and worked with Laura Kilian Jaster, Senior Manager of Learning and Outreach at the Taft. In the studio, they explored Creative Unity by making works representing their individual identities, then contributing to classmates’ pieces to reflect the diversity of the group. For many, it was their first time experiencing the Taft Museum of Art, a true community treasure.
During the sweltering heat of July, OHHS Art and Design teacher Jamie Schorsch embarked on a life-changing journey as one U.S. teachers selected for the prestigious Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms (TGC) Program, a U.S. Department of State Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs initiative administered by IREX. In partnership with the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF), the program immersed these fellows in India’s vibrant educational landscape, where cross-cultural exchange and collaboration came to life.
Over the course of two immersive weeks, Schorsch traveled across India with fellow educators, engaging in a deep exploration of pedagogy, policy, and practice. The group visited schools and academic institutions in cities including New Delhi, Alwar, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hosur, Kolkata, Pune, Vadodara, with Schorsch being assigned to the host community of Varanasi. In each location, the fellows were warmly welcomed into classrooms where they observed instruction, engaged in co-teaching, and shared strategies with Indian educators and policy makers. From bustling urban schools to rural campuses, Schorsch witnessed firsthand the strength of India’s educational diversity and the passion of its educators.
One highlight of the experience was delivering formal remarks at a special reception at the closing of the experience, where Schorsch addressed an audience of distinguished guests including Fulbright scholars, representatives of the U.S. Department of State, members of IREX, USIEF, and the U.S. Embassy in India. Drawing from the insights gained throughout the exchange, Schorsch spoke to the transformative power of international collaboration in education and the mutual growth that comes from partnerships rooted in cultural understanding.
Throughout the journey, Indian Fulbright alumni served as generous hosts, opening their schools, homes, and hearts to the TGC fellows. These hosts played a vital role in connecting educators across borders, sharing local wisdom while learning from the American visitors. Their support exemplified the enduring strength of the Fulbright network and the global impact of its alumni.
Reflecting on her experience, Jamie Schorsch described the exchange as “a living bridge between classrooms,” one that will continue to inform her teaching practice and empower her students to think globally.
Her time in India was more than an exchange of ideas, it was a reaffirmation of education as a shared human endeavor that transcends geography. As a Fulbright TGC Fellow, dedicated arts educator, and advocate for global learning, Schorsch returns to her classroom with renewed purpose, eager to infuse her curriculum with global perspectives, foster student curiosity about the world, and inspire the next generation of changemakers.
This year, the AP Art and Design Drawing, 2D Design, 2D Design Photography, and 3D Design students had the amazing opportunity to participate in the Contemporary Arts Center’s School Outreach Program. The CAC School Outreach Program provides an intensive multi-layered experience with contemporary art for students in second through twelfth grade. Beginning in September and ending in May, the year-long program comprises an in-school orientation, two guided visits to CAC exhibitions, visits with a local artist, and a visit to a studio.
The program kicked off for the students in the fall, with their first visit to the CAC…for many, this was their first visit ever! Students were introduced to the iconic building, designed by Zaha Hadid. After learning about the history of the CAC, students toured exhibitions Barbara Probst: Subjective Evidence,Chip Thomas and the Painted Desert Project, Vivian Browne: My Kind of Protest, and the Anti-Robot Inundation Army. Students were also presented with the opportunity to hear OHHS Art and Design teacher Jamie Schorsch speak about her work on display as a part of the Journey of Healing: The Trauma-Informed Power of Art exhibition.
In addition to their CAC experiences, students visited the Queen City Clay, were they interacted with the largest professional, community, clay-based art space in the United States and learned to create wheel thrown vessels. Artist Rachel Linnemann brought her expertise and passion for art to Oak Hills High School as part of the CAC’s School Outreach Program as well. Engaging with Studio Art AP students, Linnemann shared invaluable insights into her creative process, inspirations, and the traditions for documenting and weaving together memories through found object sculptural collages. Through interactive discussions and demonstrations, students gained a deeper understanding of artistic expression and were inspired to explore their own creativity. Linnemann’s visit not only enriched the students’ artistic knowledge but also fostered a sense of connection to the broader art community, leaving a lasting impact on their artistic journeys.
The School Outreach program culminates in a Student Art Exhibition showcasing the artwork of the students created in response to their experiences throughout the program. This exhibition showcasing their works opened with an event taking place on May 1st at the Contemporary Arts Center and will be on display through June 1st. The family-friendly exhibition – held in the museum’s interactive UnMuseum and Creativity Center – is a wonderful showcase of creativity and a testament to the hard work of our young artists.
Jordan Tinsley
“Refractions of Me”
“Collective Lens”
“Collective Lens” captures the same space from multiple viewpoints, as seen through the lenses of students. Each photograph offers a unique angle, revealing how personal perspective shapes our understanding of the familiar. By presenting these varied interpretations side by side, the series invites viewers to consider how diverse viewpoints come together to form a fuller, more layered understanding of a shared environment.
Ellie Amlin, Emma Brunner, Sandra Diaz, Alysse Niewoehner, Ella Rizzo, Jordan Tinsley, Lydia Wilson, Rachel Wunderlich
“Domesticated Paths”
“Domesticated Paths” explores the unique behaviors of domesticated animals. Through the lens of trail cameras, pets were observed in their unfiltered moments, revealing the contrast between domestic comfort and the instinctual nature of each species. Each pet’s behavior reflects a delicate balance between their domesticated role and the wild instincts they can’t entirely escape. “Domesticated Paths” captures the charming, often humorous, and sometimes surprising actions of pets, offering a candid glimpse into the personalities that emerge when they think no one’s watching.
“Oh, how blindly the folly praise”
“Oh, How Blindly The Folly Praise”: This dry point etch print collaged with magazine clippings came about as a result of actions taken by our governments, and more specifically, the cult-like praising seen from their devotees. Throughout its planning stage, I constantly went back to Francisco de Goya, taking inspiration from his series of etchings, but also the issues he discussed in paintings such as Witches’ Flight. In his works, you can see the satirical allegories, but also the mourning of what could have been–something I wished to emulate. This piece surrounds how hysteria, fear, and ignorance dominate a society in times of crisis. The donkey-headed figure is an allegory for stupidity AKA the ass…the pose references the iconic orator/adlocutio gesture where the figure lifts their right hand, symbolically lifting righteousness, divinity, and the blessed…to pay homage to the greats. This, however, is on the left to represent the opposite – to give power and status to the damned or in this case, to raise stupidity and ignorance in this time of confusion and threat. The collage is composed of headlines, from dated magazines, of the issues that plague society today (climate crises, deadly diseases, literacy issues, etc). They function together by showing how the hysteric reactions, ignorance, and lack of knowledge seen in history could be placed in the context of contemporary society and still make sense. A testament to the regressive and hysterical ignorance seen in our world, our home, today.
“A Memorable Moment”
“A Memorable Moment” is inspired by the multiple images of the single scene photography works of Barbara Probst; each student in AP 3d Art & Design was challenged to choose a moment of significance from the school year to capture in their art. Using a square Instagram formatting for composition reflects a contemporary approach to capturing and sharing imagery. Each artist chose their materials, inspired by the collage and assemblage style of Rachel Linneman, as well as working with clay components honoring our experience at Queen City Clay. Each panel showcases the individual artistic style and media, yet collectively, represents the momentary blip this year is within their life.
Ava Bunke, Lexie Chernay, Evelyn Dann, Grace Franklin, Maggie Heydorn, Jack Ludwig, Samantha McDonald, Rylee Prickett, Drema Rivera, Leo Ruthven, Abby Shultes, Lauren Wright, Zoe Wueedeman, and Olivia Young.
OHHS Art and Design students enrolled in Schorsch’s Drawing and Printmaking class had the opportunity to participate in the ARC program this year. The Taft Museum of Art’s Artists Reaching Classrooms (ARC) offers an immersive educational experience to Greater Cincinnati high school students that includes a range of activities, including museum visits, classroom sessions with professional artists, and studio tours.
Throughout the first semester, students had the opportunity to work alongside mentoring with artist Cedric Cox as they built an understanding of artists, art, and society, working artists’ methods, exploration of various careers in the arts and culture sector, and appreciation for the Taft Museum of Art as a local resource with a rich history.
The experiences culminate in the creation of original artworks, and one collaborative piece, for a juried exhibition at the Pendleton Arts Center Annex Gallery. Students were challenged to consider their interpretation of “The Beauty Within” and “Sacred Spaces” and generated works that demonstrate their approach to the term after brainstorming, project planning, and setting up their own resource images.
The Exhibition awards took place on March 8th, 2025 at The Annex Gallery, showcased the work of students from Aiken, McNicholas, Oak Hills, Princeton, School for the Creative and Performing Arts, Spencer School for the Gifted and Exceptional Students, Walnut Hills, and Western Hills High Schools. At the opening reception, Aurora Studenka received the Award for the Best in Show from OHHS and Baylee Moorman took home the 2nd place award!
OHHS Art and Design 