<![CDATA[Ohio Art Education Association - Fellow Connections]]>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 22:00:10 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[Reflections on Summer Symposium 2025]]>Sun, 24 Aug 2025 15:54:05 GMThttps://www.ohioarted.com/fellow-connections/reflections-on-summer-symposium-2025This summer, I attended the 2025 Ohio Art Education Association Summer Symposium at Mount St. Joseph University. The theme for this year was Embrace Creativity, and from the moment I arrived on campus, I felt fully immersed in activities that supported this focus.
I registered for graduate credit, so I kept a journal throughout the event to document my experiences.   Keeping a journal was a meaningful way to document and reflect on my learning.  I appreciate that the OAEA Professional Development committee offers the option of earning graduate credit at Summer Symposium, OAEA Conference and for leadership opportunities.
Choosing workshops over the two days was difficult because there were so many great options. The first session I attended was Embellishments to the Max! with Sue Ayers.  Hot glue guns buzzed as participants attached bits and baubles from their personal stashes to three-dimensional items they had brought from home. I had such a great time in this session that I went straight to Michael’s afterward to buy a hot glue gun so I could continue working on my project that evening!
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The next workshop, Upcycled Goodness + Nature Craftiness, focused on creatively repurposing discarded materials to create home or classroom décor and handmade gifts. Adrian Vance Hawk did a fantastic job setting up stations that allowed us to explore various upcycling techniques.
On the second day, I attended Drawn to Stitch, a workshop hosted by Susan Ruttle Lawrence. We were introduced to a wide range of textile techniques, including cutting, appliqué, quilting, manipulation, embroidery, and machine stitching. We had ample time to explore these approaches using diverse fabrics and fibers, creating a compelling interplay between the visual and tactile surfaces of our fabric compositions.
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My final workshop was Painting with Fibers: Using the Wet Felting Technique, led by Therese Waldbillig. We created mesmerizing felted paintings, beginning with undyed merino wool as our canvas. Dyed merino wool and other natural fibers served as our color palette. By blending and manipulating these materials, we developed vibrant compositions, which were then completed using the wet felting process.
My favorite part of the event was the art show. I loved seeing what other art educators created during the week—and I thoroughly enjoyed sharing my own work as well!
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Submitted by: Dawn Norris
]]><![CDATA[Dennis Cannon, Ph.D.]]>Wed, 01 Jan 2025 22:31:16 GMThttps://www.ohioarted.com/fellow-connections/dennis-cannon-phdIn July, OAEA lost a pillar of our organization, Dr. Dennis Cannon.
 
A graduate of Ashland College (now University), Dennis began his career in art education teaching Visual Art in the Lexington Local School District. He earned his master’s degree in Administration and Supervision from Bowling Green State University and became the Coordinator for Gifted/Art Programs at the Mid-Ohio Education Service Center in Mansfield. His efforts focused on implementing professional development programs in gifted and art education. At this time he also became an adjunct faculty member at Ashland College and a lecturer at The Ohio State University, Mansfield Campus.
 
In 1999 he became Executive Director of the Ohio Partnership for the Visual Arts at The Ohio State University (OSU) while also pursuing and earning his Ph.D. in Art Education from the same institution. Dennis’ dissertation, Mentoring: A Study of Processes and Relationships in a Collaborative Curriculum Reform Research Project focused on the importance of teachers and university faculty working together in an arts integration curriculum research collaborative.
 
Dr. Cannon supervised teacher candidates for Ashland University and OSU and served as the Educational Consultant for VSA Arts of Ohio where he coordinated the Adaptation, Integration and the Arts (AIA) program which employs artists with disabilities to reinforce and enhance learning in inclusive classrooms through artist residencies. He retired from 2015 from the OSU Department of Arts Administration, Education and Policy as the Director of Field Experiences and Student Teaching. He served on the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education Board of Directors and Executive Committee from 1997 – 2007.
 
A member of OAEA, Dr. Cannon joined in 1968, receiving his 50 years Circa Award in 2018. He was not satisfied to just be a member but believed he should give back to the organization he believed in. He served as President of OAEA from 1997-99 and was inducted into the Distinguished Fellows in 1999. He was a founding member of the Ohio Art Education Foundation (OAEF) and served as its first President from 2001 to 2020 and Treasurer from 2005 to 2024. He served as co-president of the Foundation from 2020 – 2022. He was the North Central Regional Director from 1990 – 1993. OAEA recognized him as its Ohio Art Educator of the Year in 2009 and as the Emeritus Award winner in 2019. Working with his vast relationships in the state, he collaborated with the OAEF and the Ohio Arts Council for the exhibition Art Educators as Artist at the Riffe Gallery in 2018.
 
A regular presenter at OAEA and NAEA as well as a published author with articles in Art Education, Dr. Dennis Cannon provides us with an example of what it is to be a leader. While we mourn his loss, we celebrate the many gifts he gave to OAEA and art education.
 
Dennis left behind a son, daughter and 3 grandchildren. He is survived by his partner, Thomas Fuller.
 
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]]><![CDATA[​CANDLE MAKING IS AN ART]]>Wed, 20 Dec 2023 15:58:41 GMThttps://www.ohioarted.com/fellow-connections/candle-making-is-an-art
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Special thanks to Julie Woodburn for providing the following article and photos showcasing students and our own Lynda Berman! December, 2023

Mrs. Oldham and Miss Woodburn invited Lynda Berman, expert candle-maker and retired art teacher into their classrooms in December for a fun filled day of candle making. The kids at Hocking Hills Elementary, and Mrs. Oldham's middle school classes got to experience fine art, craftsmanship, and science all while creating their festive candles for the holiday season. Everyone had a magical time and were able to create a one of a kind candle to take home.
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]]><![CDATA[OAEA Fellow and Ohio Arts Council Executive Director Elected Board Chair of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies]]>Fri, 08 Dec 2023 16:48:03 GMThttps://www.ohioarted.com/fellow-connections/oaea-fellow-and-ohio-arts-council-executive-director-elected-board-chair-of-the-national-assembly-of-state-arts-agenciesMembers of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) elected Ohio Arts Council (OAC) Executive Director Donna S. Collins as chair of its board of directors on Oct. 23, 2023. Collins will serve a two-year term as NASAA board chair while continuing to lead the OAC. Immediately prior, she served two, three-year terms on the board as a member, two of those years as NASAA board secretary.  NASAA is a national, not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization whose mission is to strengthen the nation’s 56 state and jurisdictional arts agencies. NASAA board positions are unpaid.  "I look forward to working in partnership with Chair Donna Collins and the rest of NASAA’s new board leadership," said NASAA President and CEO Pam Breaux. "These talented leaders bring a breadth of experience and perspectives, deep commitments to serving the public, and authentic passion for the arts. We are eager to get started with this new team and welcome their expertise and guidance." OAC Chair Ginger Warner said, “Donna works tirelessly to bolster public support for the arts, find new efficiencies, continuously improve arts grants and programs, and reach more Ohioans through expanded access to the arts. I am excited for her to take on a new leadership role with NASAA, which is one of the most important organizations working nationally to strengthen the arts and cultural sector.” Collins said, “I am humbled to be elected to this position by my peers at state arts agencies across the country. The OAC has earned a national reputation for excellence, just as NASAA does an outstanding job to empower state arts agencies like Ohio’s through knowledge, representation, and community. I am excited to deepen my service to all those endeavoring to bring the arts and culture to life.” Since becoming its executive director in 2014, Collins has led the OAC to expand its funding to reach all 88 counties, worked to grow public funding for the arts in Ohio to a historic high, and redesigned the OAC’s arts education programs to greatly enhance teaching artist residencies to benefit Ohio’s schoolchildren. Prior to the OAC, Collins served as the executive director of the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education (OAAE) from 1998-2014 and as the executive director of the Ohio Citizens for the Arts and Foundation (OCA) from 2001-2014. More extensive biographic information for Collins follows.
 
ABOUT DONNA S. COLLINS
Donna S. Collins serves as the executive director of the Ohio Arts Council (OAC) a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically. Collins brings more than 30 years of experience in leading a state agency and statewide non-profit organizations, demonstrating consistent success and solid results that impact policy, education, economic development, and arts and culture. At the state level, Collins serves as co-chair of the Ohio Advisory Group of the National Museum of Women in the Arts; is a member of the Ohio Women’s Suffrage Monument Commission; is a committee chair for the America 250/Ohio Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial; is a fellow with the Ohio Art Education Association (OAEA); and is an Ohio Commodore by appointment of former Governor John R. Kasich. Collins served as the Schwartz Leader-In-Residence (LIR) at Marietta College for the 2016-2017 academic year. Collins currently serves on NASAA's Development Committee and has also served on the Awards and Dues Task Forces. At the national level, Collins is former chair of the Kennedy Center National Leadership Committee. She also served as an Americans for the Arts (AFTA) state captain and a State Arts Action Network chair and member, as well as chair of the Arts Education Council. Collins has received the Alene Valkanas State Arts Advocacy Award from AFTA; Distinguished Fellow and Arts Administration Awards from the OAEA; VSA Ohio’s (now Art Possible Ohio) Fran Bay Award; and executive director recognition from the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network; she has been inducted into the Ohio Educational Theatre Association’s Hall of Fame; and received the McDonough Award for Excellence in Leadership from Marietta College.
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ABOUT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF STATE ARTS AGENCIES
Founded in 1968, the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization. In collaboration with the nation's 56 state and jurisdictional arts councils, we advance the arts as a powerful path to economic prosperity, rural resilience, good health, education success and strong communities in which everyone thrives. NASAA serves as a clearinghouse for data and research about public funding for the arts as well as the policies and programs of state arts agencies. For more information about NASAA and the work of state arts agencies, visit nasaa-arts.org.
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]]><![CDATA[21 Fellows Attend 2023 OAEA Conference]]>Fri, 08 Dec 2023 16:43:30 GMThttps://www.ohioarted.com/fellow-connections/21-fellows-attend-2023-oaea-conference
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The 2023 OAEA Conference in Toledo was a great success with 21 Fellows in attendance.  We inducted three new Fellows – Mary Haas, Cathy Sweny, and Jennifer Thompson (shown above with their nominators, Alice Tavani, Linda Hoeptner Poling, and Sue Ayers).  Mary currently serves on the Executive Committee as the President Elect through 2024.  Cathy Sweny is a longtime OAEA member serving in a variety of capacities from Regional Director to two terms as Emeritus Division chair.  Jen Thompson has served two terms as Elected Board member and ongoing Emerging Artist Exhibit Chair. She is also an active ED&I Committee member.  These three will be a great addition to our Fellows family.

]]><![CDATA[Tim Shuckerow - Lived Large and Will Be Missed]]>Thu, 27 Jul 2023 02:26:01 GMThttps://www.ohioarted.com/fellow-connections/tim-shuckerow-lived-large-and-will-be-missed
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Tim will be missed for so many reasons - as a father, family member, art educator, mentor, and friend. Please join his family and friends for a Funeral Mass at 11 AM on Saturday, August 5th at Communion of Saints Parish - 2175 Coventry Road, Cleveland Heights. A reception and luncheon will be held following Mass at Walsh Hall, located next to the church.

Our dear Fellow Judy Flamik shared the following in an article she wrote about Tim prior to his death - and we share it here with you to pay respect to Tim and his long and rewarding career:

Tim Shuckerow is a lecturer, writer, musician, painter, educator, workshop
presenter, father, and husband. He holds many professional and academic
honors. He has his finger on the pulse of issues that face the community, the university, and art education. Tim is an exemplary professor of painting and art education, supporter of the fine arts at all levels and a community leader.

I have known Tim for over 40 years. First, from Cleveland Institute of Art and
later through my involvement in Ohio Arts Education Association, and recently he served as my Supervisor in the Art Education Department of Case Western Reserve University.

Tim is a problem solver; I have seen Tim turn Ohio Arts Education Association into one of the finest Art Associations in the country, while serving as our Vice President of Ohio and past president of Northeast Ohio. He does this by facing and stating problems and issues, defining goals, listening to suggestions, and going forth with a plan.

With students and employees he is fair and compassionate. Not only does he work tirelessly at his job at the university, at his duties as an educator, but he works with zeal to promote the arts in every medium at every level from pre- school to senior citizens, both privately and through organizations such as Ohio Arts Council, Ohio Alliance for Art Education, National Arts Education Association, Ohio Art Education Association, Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio, and many other grassroots endeavors, such as smART. His most recent public work commission can be viewed at the Rock and Roll of Fame Museum sponsored by the Cleveland Clinic.

Tim does more than delegate and plan, he is a doer. His enthusiasm and passion brings out the best in the people around him. He works tirelessly behind the scenes to promote his students, colleagues, and causes. I have personally witnessed him planning, hanging shows, cooking, serving, and cleaning up to promote an event, many times without even a thank-you.
One might call Tim, “Cleveland’s Renaissance Man, because his interests go
beyond just the “fine arts” as exemplified by his elegant commentaries about the critical role of creative thinking and how that role impacts other professions, our community, and society as a whole.
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Tim cares about people; he is a “gentle giant” of a man. He has traveled world-wide, not as a tourist, but has lived with the people, in the countries he visits. He brings his experiences back to share with our community to help us have an understanding of other cultures and in the end a better understanding of ourselves.

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]]><![CDATA[Honoring Jan Brasier]]>Tue, 30 May 2023 13:30:51 GMThttps://www.ohioarted.com/fellow-connections/honoring-jan-brasier

On May 13th family and friends gathered together to honor Jan Brasier (1933-2019). COVID delayed this celebration of her life, but George Liston and Sue Ayers were in attendance to represent the Fellows.

Jan was a longtime OAEA member and active volunteer serving a variety of roles, such as OAEA Secretary, Elementary Division Chair, and West Region RD. She was inducted into the Distinguished Fellows in 1997.  Jan was loved by all as a dedicated teacher, quilt artist, and creative soul fondly remembered for her use of items most people would throw away.  
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]]><![CDATA[Fellows Create their best DAYton at Annual Conference 2022]]>Tue, 06 Dec 2022 16:36:41 GMThttps://www.ohioarted.com/fellow-connections/fellows-create-their-best-dayton-at-annual-conference-2022Twenty-three Distinguished Fellows attended the Ohio Art Education Association's Annual Professional Development Conference in Dayton, November 10-12, 2022. 

We were especially pleased to have two of our Charter members in attendance - George Liston and Lynda Berman. 

At the Fellows' business meeting Laura Tawil was elected as the new Fellows Chair -her term will begin January 1.

We extend our appreciation to outgoing Chair Suzanne Mitolo for her service and care of the Distinguished Fellows.

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]]><![CDATA[Distinguished Fellows Flamik and Young]]>Tue, 06 Dec 2022 16:23:58 GMThttps://www.ohioarted.com/fellow-connections/distinguished-fellows-flamik-and-young
At the 2022 Dayton Conference two new Fellows were inducted – Judy Flamik and Matt Young.  Judy has been an active OAEA member for many years and was instrumental during the height of National Board Certification for art educators.  Matt Young is our outgoing OAEA President and has been an enthusiastic leader and arts advocate. Matt will take over the reins as Conference Chair next year. These two are a great addition to our Distinguished Fellows team. 

​Pictured below are Judy Flamik with Lynda Berman, and Matt Young with Kurt Reichert.

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]]><![CDATA[A VISIT TO THE TROLLS AT AULLWOOD]]>Thu, 17 Nov 2022 20:26:37 GMThttps://www.ohioarted.com/fellow-connections/a-visit-to-the-trolls-at-aullwoodby Nancy Vogel 
OAEA Dayton Conference Offsite co-chair
OAEA Distinguished Fellow 

This year it  was  a pleasure to continue to work on the conference committee co-chairing offsite as a Fellow. We had an amazing committee in Dayton and I was excited to share my personal experience volunteering on the construction of the Trolls at Aullwood Audubon in Englewood with conference members on Saturday for an Encore option. 

The weather changed from 70 degrees and warm to snow, but a group of us persisted on our hike. We had a dozen people signed up for the experience. Some decided to visit the trolls on their own and a group of six of us stayed together. I enjoyed sharing the construction process and Thomas Danbo’s vision (artist of the installation) as we hiked through freshly falling snow. 

Due to the snow and visibility, each troll seemed to “appear” in front of us.  We came upon them as if they were a surprise. What a great way to close out a productive conference weekend! 

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