Ringling College: News & Events

Ringling College Gets Keys to Historic Sarasota High School

November 17, 2008 - SARASOTA - The Sarasota County School Board turned over the keys to the historic Sarasota High School building to the Ringling College of Art and Design today in a ceremony on the high school grounds.

Watch the ABC-7 news report by Linda Carson.

Today was a "banner day" for Ringling College as we signed a 99-year lease with the Sarasota County School Board for the historic Sarasota High School at the cost of $1/year. Pictured here is the view of the historic Sarasota High School from 80-foot in the air, proclaiming the building as the "future" home of the Sarasota Museum of Art.

©2008 Athena Torri, Class of 2011, Photography & Digital Imaging

Sarasota County School Board Chair, Dr. Kathy Kleinlein co-signs the lease to historic Sarasota High School and hands over the keys to Dr. Larry Thompson, president of Ringling College of Art and Design.

©Camille Pyatte, Ringling College, Class of 2003

Ringling College and Sarasota Museum of Art to celebrate
‘New Lease, New Life’ for Historic Sarasota High School

The School Board of Sarasota County,
Ringling College of Art and Design Board of Trustees
and
the Sarasota Museum of Art (SMOA) Board
Cordially invite you to

NEW LEASE…NEW LIFE
Cherish the past, honor the future

Join us for the Key Transfer Ceremony and the Big Reveal!
at the
Historic Sarasota High School
Monday, November 17, 2008
10 am -11 am

Continental Breakfast Served - Virtual and Guided Tour

1001 South Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34236

For more information, call 941.309.4729

Ceremony to celebrate ‘new lease, new life’ for historic Sarasota High

Nov. 13, 2008 — SARASOTA — The School Board of Sarasota County will hand the keys to the historic 1926 Sarasota High School building to Ringling College of Art and Design in a 10 a.m. ceremony, Monday, Nov. 17, in front of the local landmark. The symbolic key exchange will mark the beginning of a new era for the iconic building, which the School Board has leased to Ringling College for 99 years at the rate of one dollar per year to house the Sarasota Museum of Art (SMOA), a division of the college.

In the ceremony, large new banners will be revealed on the building, signaling another step in the transformation from historic Sarasota High to the Sarasota Museum of Art. School Board Chairwoman Kathy Kleinlein, Ringling College President Larry Thompson and Sarasota Museum of Art (SMOA) President Wendy Surkis are scheduled to be on hand for the event, as are other School Board members and Ringling College and SMOA board memberst. Invited guests include current Sarasota High Principal Jeff Hradek, state, county and city officials, and supporters of the efforts to save the historic building.

“This is a great example of organizations working together to benefit all our citizens,” said Kleinlein. “After the School Board selected Ringling College and the museum proposal, everyone connected with this project has worked diligently to make sure this vision becomes a reality. We’re proud that the historic Sarasota High School building will continue to be a central part of this community and that it will continue to focus on education.”

About Sarasota Museum of Art (SMOA)
When completed, SMOA will visually juxtapose a collegiate gothic architectural exterior, with a contemporary three-story glass enclosed entryway to the rear of the building. The project preserves and celebrates the past while exposing visitors to the present and leading them on the pathway of contemporary arts education in the future.

SMOA will be housed on the second floor of the historic Sarasota High School and will be a dynamic center for exhibiting modern and contemporary art of the 20th and 21st centuries. The museum and the Visual Arts Education Center (VAEC) will interweave exhibitions, educational programs and community outreach initiatives to engage a diverse audience and serve as a center for creative discovery and discourse.

“I am eagerly anticipating the new life that we will bring to the halls of this iconic treasure,” said SMOA President Wendy Surkis. “Both the historic Sarasota High School and the visual arts are integral parts of Sarasota’s distinguished heritage. This new ‘center for visual learning’ with SMOA as the centerpiece will have immeasurable benefits for people of all ages. We are working hard to make it happen.”

A comprehensive fundraising campaign is underway for Ringling College of Art and Design. The target amount includes a $22 million goal to fund the transformation of the historic Sarasota High School into VAEC/SMOA and an operating endowment for the museum. To date, $9.5-million has been raised toward that goal. A specific opening date has not been set, but the museum is expected to welcome visitors 14 to 18 months after the funding goal has been met.

“The passion the SMOA board members have for this project is energizing,” said Ringling College President Larry Thompson. “To get to this stage – with nearly half of the funding raised in just a few years – is evidence that Sarasota has embraced the idea of this exciting new museum.”

Restoring historic Sarasota High School
In October, 2004, the School Board of Sarasota County voted to lease the historic Sarasota High School to the Ringling College of Art and Design for an adaptive re-use of the facility as the VAEC and SMOA. The vote followed a two-year process of community involvement and consensus-building, the Sarasota High School New Life Initiative, in which over 200 potential uses of the historic building were considered.

The school board stipulated that any adaptive reuse would include the preservation of the defining characteristics of the 1926 structure. Since that time, the school district has continued to maintain the building and, with the state grant, is restoring elements of the building.

State grant helps prepare old SHS for new life
To prepare for the rebirth of the building as SMOA, Sarasota County Schools completed an initial phase of the restoration of the historic 1926 Sarasota High School in preparation for its rebirth as a visual arts center and art museum, thanks to a $350,000 grant from the Florida Division of Historical Resources.

The grant funded the construction of an accessible entrance to the Collegiate Gothic-style building in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the restoration of a bank of lockers to their original appearance, the removal of barriers to mobility into classrooms on the first floor, and the opening and restoration of four loggias (covered walkways with exterior arches) in the back of the building’s first and second floors.

It is believed that the loggias were designed to be open to a courtyard when the school was built. The loggias were enclosed in concrete soon after the school was opened

In 1927 in the year following its construction, to protect the building from inclement weather. The grant project allowed for the loggias to be opened for the first time in almost 80 years. Large sheets of tempered glass now encase the open area to protect the building from the elements.

The historic Sarasota High School is located at 1001 S. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota.
©Forrest MacDonald Photography

OBITUARY

Former Ringling College President Passes Away

Dr. Arland Christ-Janer, President
Ringling College of Art and Design
1984 - 1996 and 1998 - 1999

A natural leader and visionary, Dr. Christ-Janer had long been celebrated as a vital part of Ringling College’s legacy.

Portrait ©Bill McIntosh

By Mark Zaloudek

Published: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 1:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 1:41 a.m.

SARASOTA - As a civic leader for more than three decades and the president of two local colleges, Arland "Chris" Christ-Janer made far-reaching contributions to Sarasota.

He was instrumental in saving New College from extinction and went on to lead the Ringling College of Art and Design into the digital age and helped raise more than $20 million for its expansion.

He also championed a revitalization of Sarasota's North Tamiami Trail that helped land a Ritz-Carlton hotel.

The popular and soft-spoken civic leader, who was also the first director of the FSU Ringling Center for the Cultural Arts, died Saturday of complications from a fall this year. He was 86.

"He had a genius for bringing people together," said longtime friend and former Ringling College vice president Frank Countryman, who witnessed the school's unprecedented growth under Christ-Janer's leadership from 1984 to 1996.

"The school just took off and it was fun, because he was willing to try anything that might have a positive outcome," Countryman said. "Some things worked and some didn't, but he changed the institution forever in a positive way.

"Christ-Janer, who came out of retirement to head the art school, drew upon his experience as president of four other colleges to broaden Ringling's three-year specialized program into an accredited, four-year institution.

"We're the most high-tech art and design college in the world because of his visionary leadership," said Larry Thompson, the college's current president.

After serving as president of Cornell College in Iowa and Boston University in the 1960s, Christ-Janer went to New York City in 1970 as president of the nonprofit College Entrance Examination Board, which oversees several standardized tests, including the SAT, which is taken by college-bound high school students.

He left that job to return to college administration with the fledgling New College, a private, liberal arts college in Sarasota, in 1973.

"He loved the concept of New College, sort of an Oxford University in America," Countryman said.

But when the school's financial difficulties proved insurmountable, Christ-Janer helped ensure its survival by persuading lawmakers to incorporate the college into the state university system in 1975.

New College of Florida has been recognized in recent years as one of the nation's top public colleges.

Concerns about widespread crime and declining neighborhoods on Sarasota's north side prompted Christ-Janer to become a catalyst in revitalizing North Tamiami Trail, the major thoroughfare shared by the art school and New College.

He teamed up with then-New College Foundation President Ron Heiser in 1987 for their "Gateway 2000" campaign that coalesced business owners, residents, city leaders and the police department to upgrade one of the primary routes into downtown.

Their efforts led to the Ritz-Carlton hotel chain opening one of its luxury hotels on North Tamiami Trail.

Thompson said jokingly that perhaps Christ-Janer's only failing was his inability to retire.

After leaving New College in 1975 and serving as president of Stephens College in Columbia, Mo., for eight years, Christ-Janer was intending to retire in 1983 but could not refuse the leadership role at Ringling.

"His second failed retirement was after he left here in 1996 and then they brought him back as interim president in 1998," Thompson said.

"His third failed retirement was after he retired from Ringling College and became interim executive director of the Ringling Museum" in 2000 for more than a year when the state-owned art museum came under the management of Florida State University, he said."And after that he became the director of the Ringling Cultural Center complex with FSU, so he just failed at retirement."

Christ-Janer remained active on several local boards until his recent illness.

He is survived by his wife, Uta.A service celebrating his life will be held at 3 p.m. Dec. 3 at First United Methodist Church in downtown Sarasota.

Memorial donations may be made to the Ringling College of Art and Design, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34234; the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, FL 34243; or the Westcoast Center for Human Development, 403 N. Washington Boulevard, Sarasota, FL 34230.

This story appeared in print on page A1

Sept. 9, 2008 - The Wellness Community of Southwest Florida, a non-profit organization providing free support, education and hope to cancer patients and their caregivers, will hold its 8th Annual Celebration of Hope dinner and presentation of the Stephen H. Goldman, M.D. Keystone Award dinner, on October 15th, 2008 at 6 p.m. at Michael’s on East.

The Stephen H. Goldman, M.D. Keystone Award recipients are nominated by the public and selected by The Wellness Community’s Award Selection Committee, which is comprised of members of the medical and non-profit community. The purpose of this coveted award is to honor two recipients, one from within the medical community and one layperson, whom have demonstrated the same exceptional commitment, compassion and dedication to fighting cancer and raising awareness as did the late Dr. Stephen H. Goldman. The 2008 award recipients are:

Russell W. Novak, M.D., a Surgical Oncologist with Sarasota Surgical Specialists. Dr. Novak has been committed to surgical oncology management of cancer patients for over 20 years.

Dr. Larry R. Thompson, President of Ringling College of Art and Design. Ringling College has participated in the design of TWC’s new facility at Lakewood Ranch in Sarasota and contributed many hours of expertise during the initial stages of the project. Dr. Thompson is passionate about the arts and education, and serves on the boards of Coastal Behavioral Healthcare and the Community Health Corporation for Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

“We are pleased to honor Dr. Novak and Dr. Thompson for their dedication to improving the lives of those affected by cancer.” Jay Lockaby, Executive Director of the Wellness Community of Southwest Florida.

Tickets to the 8th Annual Celebration of Hope can be purchased by visiting www.wellness-swfl.org or by contacting Nancy Hendricks at 941-921-5539.

To learn more about The Wellness Community of Southwest Florida’s capital campaign for a new home visit: www.helpusbuildhope.org

_{ABOUT THE WELLNESS COMMUNITY}

_{The Wellness Community (TWC) is an international non-profit organization dedicated to providing free support, education and hope to people with cancer and their loved ones. The local chapter, TWC Southwest Florida is located on Clark Road in Sarasota, with satellite program offerings in Longboat Key, Bradenton, Venice, and Newtown. Since opening the Southwest Florida offices in 1996, thousands of people have utilized TWC services.}

HERMITAGE ARTIST RETREAT AND RINGLING COLLEGE ANNOUNCE
RINGLING COLLEGE RESIDENCY

The Hermitage Artist Retreat

Aug. 31, 2008 – The Hermitage Artist Retreat and Ringling College of Art and Design are pleased to announce a collaboration to bring internationally recognized artists to the Hermitage’s Manasota Key beachfront campus. The collaboration is part of a special cultural exchange program to be called the “Ringling College Residency.” Each year, up to two visiting artists will be invited to live and work at the Hermitage in conjunction with a teaching exchange between Ringling College and Sint Lucas College in Antwerp, Belgium. These artists will enjoy the same 3-6 week residency as other invited artists and will also “give back” two free community services, as is required by all Hermitage artists.

“We are very pleased to announce the Ringling College Residency,” remarked
Bruce E. Rodgers, executive director of the Hermitage. “Ringling College has an
international reputation and draws top artists from around the world. The opportunity to support artists’ work that has been qualified by Ringling College’s high standards is a way to expand our global reach. It also allows us to share the work and expertise of these artists with the community, through our community ‘give-back’ program. Everyone who chooses to take advantage of these programs will benefit from the Ringling College Residency at the Hermitage. We are thrilled to be able to provide the time and space to create for these deserving artists.”

The program is expected to begin in spring of 2009. Philip Heylen, Antwerp’s
vice mayor for culture and tourism, is a yearly visitor to Sarasota and helped to create the teaching exchange between the two colleges. Coincidently, Ringling College President Dr. Larry R. Thompson and Hermitage Executive Director Bruce E. Rodgers had already been in discussions about a residency in order to support the impressive roster of artists affiliated with the college. A memorandum of understanding was signed earlier this month.

“We expect the Ringing College Residency to expand on the already exciting
programs that are offered at Ringling College of Art and Design,” continued Melody Weiler, vice president of Academic Affairs. “This residency will be far reaching in that it will provide opportunities for our faculty to grow, opportunities for our students to be introduced to a more global mindset and, of course, the added benefit to the community as a result of the Hermitage programming. For all of these reasons, the college looks forward to starting the Ringling College Residency at the Hermitage Artist Retreat.”

For more information about The Hermitage, contact Bruce E. Rodgers, Executive
Director at 941.475.2098 or visit the website at www.hermitage-fl.org.

ABOUT THE HERMITAGE
The Hermitage is a not-for-profit artist retreat located on Manasota Key. It brings mid-career painters, sculptors, writers, playwrights, poets, composers and other artists from all over the world for extended stays on its 8.5 acre, beachfront campus. Each artist is asked to contribute two services to the community during their stay. So far, Hermitage artists have touched over 4,000 Sarasota County children and adults with their unique and inspiring programs.

Ringling College of Art and Design Produces Third Annual Sarasota International Design Summit in Partnership with Target

Visual, Social, and Mobile Media to Dominate 2008 Agenda

SARASOTA, Fla. – June 3, 2008 – Ringling College of Art and Design today announced that it will produce its third Sarasota International Design Summit with Target as Title Sponsor on October 27-29, 2008 at the Ritz Carlton, Sarasota and the Ringling College of Art and Design campus.

“Our 2008 Summit theme, Design + Technology: Visual. Social. Mobile. will explore what innovative thinkers and organizations across the globe are developing with respect to new interactions between humans and machines and transforming the way we communicate with social, visual, and mobile media,” said Dr. Larry R. Thompson, Ringling College president. “Over the course of three very exciting days, we’ll delve deeply into those areas with designers and design-minded company leaders to understand how design is influencing the evolution of these important new technologies.”

Produced by Ringling College of Art and Design (www.ringling.edu) in partnership with Target (www.target.com) as title sponsor, the Design Summit showcases the College’s commitment to expanding the role of design and design thinking in all walks of life, and its innovative approaches to training students in the business of art and design.

Among the speakers confirmed to date are:

Duane Bray, software experience design director, IDEO
Ken Ford, director, Institute for Human and Machine Cognition
Dave Gray, founder and chairman, Xplane
Josh Hallett, new media strategist, Voce Communications
Franco Lodato, vice president and managing director, Pininfarina Extra USA
Larry Thompson, president, Ringling College of Art and Design
Tom Wujec, principal consultant and fellow, Autodesk

The Summit will feature keynote presentations, breakout sessions, pre-conference workshops and tours, parties, exhibits, and plenty of time for participants to meet informally or participate in semistructured discussion groups that afford them the opportunity to share expertise and form relationships with other attendees.

Venues for the Summit include the Ritz Carlton, Sarasota and the Ringling College of Art and Design campus. Special conference rates of $235 per night are available at the Ritz Carlton, Sarasota, the Summit host hotel.

Tickets may be purchased online. Special early bird registration rates are $695 through August 30th and $795 starting September 1.

For more information, visit http://sarasotadesignsummit.blogspot.com/.

^{About Ringling College of Art and Design}

^{Ringling College of Art and Design is a private, not-for-profit fully accredited college offering Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (BFA) in 13 disciplines including Advertising Design, Motion Design, Computer Animation, Digital Film, Game Art & Design, Fine Arts, Graphic & Interactive Communication, Illustration, Interior Design, Painting, Photography & Digital Imaging, Printmaking and Sculpture, and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in the Business of Art and Design,.} ^{In 2006, BusinessWeek named the College one of the top 60 Design Schools in the world. The College's Computer Animation program was ranked #1 in North America by the UK’s acclaimed 3D World magazine in 2007. For more information visit www.ringling.edu.}

^{About Target}

^{Minneapolis-based Target serves guests at 1,613 stores in 47 states nationwide by delivering today’s best retail trends at affordable prices. Target is committed to providing guests with great design through innovative products, in-store experiences and community partnerships. Whether visiting a Target store or shopping online at Target.com, guests enjoy a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to thousands of unique and highly differentiated items.}

^{Since 1946, the corporation has invested five percent of its income in thecommunities it serves. Target (NYSE:TGT) gives more than $3 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Target partners with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.}

Ringling Interior Design Students Win Scholarships

The Donghia Foundation has awarded Ringling Interior Design students Ashley Bright and Elizabeth Langford each a $30,000 scholarship for the upcoming year.

This scholarship has been awarded for the past 7 years and each year a Ringling student has won an award. This year marks the second time that two Ringling students have won in the same year.

Congratulations Ashley and Elizabeth!

2008 Computer Animation Jason Holt Featured in 3D World Showreel!

Ringling College of Art and Design Alumnus Jason Holt is featured in the current issue (issue 106) of 3D World magazine in an interview about the making of his senior thesis film "Fun Down Unda."

Pick up your copy of 3D World at most major bookstores.

Read the article synopsis and view "Fun Down Unda."

Check out Jason's website.

Ringling College Recruitment Poster Wins Gold Medal

Graphic & Interactive Communication alumnus Ryan Hammond (class of 2008) received a 2008 Circle of Excellence Gold Medal for his Ringling College recruitment poster "Global Dialog."

This Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) award was one of 717 entries, of which two grand gold medals, 21 gold medals, 21 silver medals, and 25 bronze medals were awarded.

For more information on the CASE award winners, visit their Website at www.case.org.

Congratulations Ryan!

Ringling College's Evan Mayfield, Class of 2008, Wins Oscar in 35th Annual Student Academy Awards®!

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - June 7, 2008 – Computer Animation alumnus Evan Mayfield received a Student Academy Award® in the Animation Category this evening from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his senior thesis film, "The Visionary."

Student Academy Award® Presenter Todd Holland (left) and Evan Mayfield, winner of the Bronze Medal in the Animation Category for "The Visionary."

©Evan Mayfield | The Visionary | Animation Still

The 2008 Student Academy Awards® ceremony was held Saturday, June 7 in Beverly Hills. This is the fourth consecutive win by Ringling College of Art and Design students and the sixth awarded overall since the College began entering the competition!

In addition to a trophy, Evan received $2,000 in prize money.

Congratulations Evan!

Read the full story: 35th Annual Student Academy® Awards


©2008 Evan Mayfield \| "The Visionary" \| Animation Stills

Ringling College Student Academy Awards® History

35th Annual Student Academy Awards – June 7, 2008

Bronze Medal :: "The Visionary" :: It isn't easy to make the transition from glasses to contacts.

34th Annual Student Academy Awards – June 9, 2007
Bronze Medal :: "A Leg Up" :: Being different can put you out in the front of the crowd.
©2007 Bevin Carnes

33rd Annual Student Academy Awards – June 10, 2006
Silver Medal :: "The Dancing Thief" :: A jewelry thief trys to choreograph his way out of trouble by charming a museum guard with his smooth moves.
©2006 Meng Vue

32nd Annual Student Academy Awards – June 12, 2005
Bronze Medal :: "Things That Go Bump In The Night" :: A small boy discovers what if is that really goes bump in the night.
©2005 Joshua G. Beveridge

29th Annual Student Academy Awards – June 9, 2002
Gold Medal :: "Passing Moments" :: A young man discovers he should take advantage of opportunity, as it can soon be gone.
©2002 Don Phillips, Jr.

25th Annual Student Academy Awards – June 14, 1998

Gold Medal :: "Jataka" :: A boy’s journey to release the soul of an old warrior.

RINGLING COLLEGE STUDENTS HEADLINE SOCIETY OF ILLUSTRATORS STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION WITH 27 WINNING ENTRIES!

©2007 Jane Radstrom
"Saul Williams, Slam Poet"
Instructor: George Pratt

Saul Williams performed on the Ringling College campus last fall to rave reviews.

Ringling College of Art and Design made impressive headlines with 24 students accepted into the prestigious 2008 Society of Illustrators Student Scholarship Competition.

Ringling had 27 total student works accepted – more than double any other institution in the country and representing 20% of the entire works in the show!

According to the Society of Illustrators, the Student Scholarship Competition is the most competitive and prestigious of juried shows in the art of illustration. Winning entries represent a very exclusive group of the most talented student illustrators in the country – just 3% of the 4,000 entrants were selected to be part of this exhibition.

Congratulations to all entrants, the winners and the entire Illustration Faculty!

A round of applause go to these student winners:

Scott Adam

Sarah Caterisano

Charles Chaisson

Tommy Chen

Matthew Crotts

Greg Dahler

Oliver Dominquez

Laura Dresser

Luis Espinosa

Tyler Hildebrand

Megan Ingrham

Erik Jones

Schin Loong

Max Marin

Erin McGuire

Larissa Neto

Andrew Olson

Jamie Pogue

Jane Radstrom

Will Ralston

Orlando Sanchez, Jr.

Tina Sweep

Francis Vallejo

Andrew Wright

Click here to view the Ringling College Winners Gallery.

More on the Exhibition:
The exhibition in the Museum of American Illustration at the Society of Illustrators in New York City will run from April 30 through May 16, 2008. An awards presentation will be held on Friday, May 2, 2008.

The Society of Illustrators is located at 128 East 63rd Street
(between Park and Lexington Avenues)
New York, NY 10065

Gallery Hours:
10 A.M.– 8 P.M. Tuesday
10 A.M.– 5 P.M. Wednesday - Friday
12 noon– 4 P.M. Saturday
Closed most holidays.

ABOUT THE ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION
Since its inception in 1981, the Society has awarded more than $1.2 million to deserving students and their schools in this unique competition. And once again, the Society gratefully acknowledges the support of The Geri Bauer Foundation, Spectrum, Dick Blick Artists Materials, The Greenwich Workshop, The Illustration Academy, The Park Foundation, the artists who participated in “Art Out Loud” and the late Arthur Zankel and other bequests established in memory of family and colleagues.

©2008 Camille Pyatte '02

Ringling College President Dr. Larry R. Thompson and Campaign Chair and Trustee Diane Roskamp announce the total money raised as of January 31, 2008 in the College's Pathway to Preeminence Campaign as $44,112,952.

RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN LAUNCHES "PATHWAY TO PREEMINENCE" CAMPAIGN!

Sarasota, Fla. - February 26, 2008 - Ringling College of Art and Design today announced the launch of the most ambitious fundraising Campaign in its 76-year history: a $70-million comprehensive fundraising campaign named "Pathway to Preeminence."

Several hundred people attended the public event on the Ringling College campus which was hosted by President Larry R. Thompson and Campaign Chair Diane Roskamp. (Pictured above.)

The four-pronged Campaign includes the following aspects and financial goals:

Scholarships: $12-million Goal

To provide scholarships to all deserving students.

Chair: Chuck Smith, Ringling College Trustee

Academic & Campus Enrichment: $28-million Goal

To develop new majors and minors, new living/learning facilities, and to provide cutting edge technology to the academic programs.

Chair: Dianne Belk, Ringling College Trustee

Library: $8-million Goal

To build a new world-class library providing an entryway for our students, faculty, staff, and the community into new and exciting worlds of creative thought.

Chair: Isabel Norton, Ringling College Trustee

Sarasota Museum of Art (SMOA)/Visual Arts Education Center (VAEC): $22-million Goal

To renovate the historic Sarasota High School on U.S. 41 and create Ringling College’s south campus, which will contain the Sarasota Museum of Art -- a Mecca for modern and contemporary art.

Chair: Wendy G. Surkis, SMOA President and Ringling College Trustee

To date, Dr. Thompson and Mrs. Roskamp announced, the Campaign has raised $44-million toward the goal.

For more information and to be part of our journey on the Pathway to Preeminence, please contact the Ringling College of Art and Design Office of Development: 941.359.7674 or giving@ringling.edu.

Pathway Campaign Brochure (PDF download)

Make a Donation Online!

RINGLING COLLEGE TO LAUNCH “PATHWAY TO PREEMINENCE” CAMPAIGN ON TUESDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2008 FROM 1:30-3 P.M.

On Tuesday, February from 1:30-3 p.m., Ringling College of Art and Design will be hosting a public kickoff event to unveil its most aggressive comprehensive Campaign in History.

The Campaign presentation “PATHWAY TO PREEMINENCE” will be held on the Ringling College Campus, 2700 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, and is free and open to the public. Valet parking will be provided.

The event, hosted by Ringling College President Dr. Larry R. Thompson and Campaign Chair and Board of Trustee Diane Roskamp will unveil the Campaign fundraising goal and will report for the first time the total monies raised to date.

Included on the agenda is a wealth of information about the College’s new and upcoming ventures, including new academic programs and a progress report on the College’s Visual Arts Education Center/Sarasota Museum of Art.

Highlights include the first ever “virtual groundbreaking” at Ringling College – the unveiling of architectural renderings of two new 5-story buildings which are currently being constructed on the Ringling College campus and scheduled to be opened in the fall of 2009. The buildings – one a student residence hall, and the second, a new academic building – will be the first fully LEED certified Ringling College buildings adding a total of 170,000 square feet of space to the Ringling campus portfolio.

As the College’s reputation grows, so do the prominence of its alumni in the art and design industry. Featured speakers will include three illustrious young alumni whose accomplishments include designing the Altoids and Starbucks advertising campaigns (Noel Haan ’90), lead animator for Spiderman and Lord of the Rings feature films (Tonya Noerr Tornberg ’01), and a designer of the Herman Miller Aeron Chair (Mark Saffel ’84). These enterprising graduates have made their mark on the design world, shining the spotlight on their education at Ringling College and Sarasota.

Be one of the first people to hear about Ringling College's monumental developments in Sarasota and around the world and encourage your friends and family to join you!

RSVPs not necessary, but would be appreciated by the end of the day Monday, February 25, 2008 to 941-359-7673.

Download the Campaign Invitation (PDF)

MEDIA CONTACT

Christine Meeker Lange

Special Assistant to the President

for Media & Community Relations

Ringling College of Art and Design

2700 North Tamiami Trail

Sarasota, FL 34234-5895

office: 941.359.7594

mobile: 941.302.2769

Creative Loafing Chooses Ringling's Own
Jeanna Marie Ohnemus's Photograph for Cover

Max Lindsy, Online Producer for Creative Loafing, based in their Washington DC office, made the final decision. Mr. Lindsy originally had a different idea for the cover, but was not happy with the photographers shot. So Max looked through various artwork previously submitted for the issue, including a "Best of Ringling" submission by Selby Gallery which included a low resoultion image of Jenna's photo. The rest is history.

Ringling College CA Alumna Matt Omernick Featured in Vanity Fair with LucasArts The Force Unleashed Team

Read it Now !

RINGLING COLLEGE ALUMNA BEVIN CARNES FEATURED ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA!

2007 Ringling College Computer Animation graduate Bevin Carnes and Student Academy Award Winner was featured February 12, 2008 in a wonderful interview on Good Morning America!

Watch it now!

Bevin Carnes, Computer Animation, Class of 2007 and 2007 Student Academy Award Winner

CMYK Magazine Highlights Ringling College's "Universal Demand" Admissions Poster

©Tyler Lang '07

Issue 39 of the popular CMYK magazine features the story behind this award-winning recruitment poster, designed by Ringling College of Art and Design graduate Tyler Lang '07.

The feature article, written by CMYK's Mimi Zeiger, and designed by Amy Chang, focuses on Tyler's approach to creating a data-heavy but design-friendly WOW! piece aimed at reaching prospective students and their parents.

Read the article! (PDF download)

Reprinted with permission of CMYK magazine.

02.02.08

Ringling Senior Illustration Student Wins National Hallmark Greeting Card Competition

Erin McGuire’s Card design is selected by voters; now available for purchase

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 11, 2008 -- Hallmark Cards, Inc., today announces America voted Erin McGuire - a Sarasota, Fla., design student - the best of the best, beating nine other finalists to be named the Grand Prize winner in the company's national card competition.

Hallmark selected Ringling College of Art and Design student Erin McGuire's design as one of 9 finalists in its national (PRODUCT) RED(TM) card competition in December. Then, McGuire's design was made into a real Hallmark greeting card currently being sold online, with a portion of its sales benefiting the Global Fund (www.theglobalfund.org) to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.

For years Hallmark consumers like McGuire have been clamoring to submit their own greeting card designs to the company. The result is the launch of the first in a series of themed card competitions - a competition inspired by Hallmark's partnership with (RED)(TM). Online voters chose McGuire as the Grand Prize winner. In total, more than 75,000 votes were collected. Florida student McGuire - originally from Port Richey, Fla. - earned 34 percent of those votes.

McGuire's design features a girl handing a card to a bird to enable the card's delivery. The colorful, whimsical design garnered more attention than she suspected.

"I was really overwhelmed by how far-reaching this competition was. People I barely knew were letting me know they voted for me," says McGuire. "I returned to school from winter break the last week of voting, and the Ringling community really came together to support my work and help me win Hallmark's card competition." "Hallmark consumers are continually approaching us with incredible ideas for greeting cards, and we love that passion," said Lindsey Roy, senior product manager at Hallmark. "As a company built on creative expression, we wanted to see what might happen if we invited our fans to create whatever's in their hearts. They didn't disappoint. It's been inspiring to see the unique, amazing ways Erin and the other entrants interpreted the theme."

McGuire entered the contest by logging on to www.Hallmark.com/you and shared her card design inspired by the theme of connecting and (PRODUCT) RED. Entrants were then judged - based on representing the theme, creativity and ability to be sent for multiple occasions - by representatives from Hallmark and (RED)(TM). The 10 finalists' designs were posted on www.Hallmark.com/you where consumers were encouraged to vote for their favorite design through Jan. 10, 2008.

And...Congratulations to Ringling College student Tiffany Bogus from Sarasota, who was also one of the top 10 finalists in the competition!

While McGuire's design was voted by consumers as best design in the country, she faced stiff competition from other creative consumers.

Meet the other nine finalists, hailing from a variety of locales:

-- Emily Barklage from Eureka, Mo.

-- Leslie Bernal from San Antonio, Texas

-- Tiffany Bogus from Sarasota, Fla.

-- Mia Deng from Atlanta, Ga.

-- Kelsey Hargens from Ames, Iowa-

-- John Lucatorta from Tucson, Az.

-- Meredith Shamburger from Carthage, Texas

-- Angie Stiles Richardson from Peoria, Ill.

-- Daniel Williford from Los Angeles, Calif.

The 10 finalists received $250, with Hallmark matching that amount in a contribution to the Global Fund. Their designs also were made into actual Hallmark cards currently for sale on www.Hallmark.com/you through the end of February. McGuire's card will be sold on www.Hallmark.com/you through the end of the year.

Just like the entire Hallmark (PRODUCT) RED collection, 8 percent of net wholesale sales of these cards will go to the Global Fund. As the Grand Prize winner, Erin received an additional $2,250, with Hallmark matching it in a contribution to the Global Fund. "This first-of-its-kind creative endeavor is a perfect example of why we are thrilled to have Hallmark as a (RED) partner," said Susan Smith Ellis, chief executive officer, (RED). "With this competition, Erin and other (RED) fans everywhere were given the opportunity to put their inspired designs to work to put a smile on a friend's face - and help people living with AIDS in Africa at the same time. Beyond buying Hallmark (PRODUCT) RED, this is great way for the (RED) community to get involved." Read more about it: www.yourhallmarkcardcompetition.blogspot.com

Ringling College Computer Animation Program Named #1 in North America by 3D World Magazine!

In its 2nd Annual Training Directory (Inside 3D World Issue 98), the Acclaimed 3D World magazine has again named Ringling College's Computer Animation Program #1 in North America. Ringling first received a #1 ranking in 3D World's inaugural training guide issue which published in February 2007.)

The 40-page guide is a detailed compilation of information on more than 400 computer animation programs around the world including colleges and universities, commercial training courses, and online training.

New in this Training Guide is 3D World's "Global Ivy League" - a list ranking the world's top 20 animation colleges according to the number of student shorts screened at key animation festivals. Ringling College is recognized at #4 in the World and the only U.S. College in the top eight.

Check out the selection criteria and rankings here: 3D World 98's CGI Ivy League

Catherine "Cat" Hicks, a Computer Animation senior, was featured in the article, along with a number of comments by Ringling College Computer Animation Department Head Jim McCampbell.

Ringling College Computer Animation APPLICATION DEADLINE IS JANUARY 15, 2008 for admission to the Fall 2008 1st Year Program.

Apply Now to Ringling College!

3D World Training Guide

3D World Issue 98 Synopsis - Winter 2007

RINGLING COLLEGE PARTNERS IN WORLD AIDS DAY COMMUNITY EVENT SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 1, 2007

Events Schedule (PDF) Download

Nov. 9, 2007 – SARASOTA, FL – Saturday, Dec. 1 marks the 19th annual observance of World AIDS Day. The Sarasota community observance of World AIDS Day reflects the forging and strengthening of the community partnership between the Ringling College of Art and Design and five neighborhood associations representing the “Mayor’s Revitalization of the Newtown Community.” All these entities are coming together for a unified World AIDS Day event at two locations on Saturday, Dec. 1.

The day’s events incorporate the themes ”Community Sponsored … Community Involved … Community Focused,” and the United Nations global theme for World AIDS Day 2007, “Stop AIDS – Keep the Promise: Leadership. ”Instead of asking “Where did this disease come from” Ask yourself, “What can I do to tackle the HIV pandemic?” said John Acevedo, of Community AIDS Network who also serves as the HIV/AIDS Network of Sarasota (HANS) chair, and co-chair of the HANS World AIDS Day Planning Committee.

The opening ribbon-cutting ceremony presented by Sarasota Military Academy will begin at 11 a.m. on the Ringling College campus. A complimentary continental breakfast provided by Starbucks will follow. People can receive free health screenings, HIV testing and information about community services at the World AIDS Day 2007 Health and Wellness Expo from noon to 5 p.m. in the Exhibit Hall of the Student Center at Ringling College of Art and Design. A representative from the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland will present the Letters to the World, written by international children to their governments which will be on display for viewing along with the National Institute of Health – Children’s Art Exhibit, the National AIDS Quilt from Atlanta, Georgia, and the Southwest Florida Community AIDS Quilts also in the Ulla Searing Student Center Exhibition Hall at Ringling College.

Local choral groups, Gulf Coast Men’s Chorus, and Harmony: Women’s Voices of Sarasota will perform from 5 to 6 p.m. A Candlelight Vigil, to include the formation of a human AIDS ribbon, as a tribute to people who have lost their lives to AIDS will begin at 6 p.m. An Interfaith Community Service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota, 3975 Fruitville Road, following the Candlelight Vigil at Ringling College. The events at the Ringling College will conclude with the outdoor viewing of the Sarasota Film Festival feature “Rent” at 9 p.m.

There will be a Picnic in the Park at Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Park, 2523 Cocoanut Ave that will include opening ceremonies and ribbon cutting at noon, a Health and Wellness Expo with health screenings, HIV testing, and educational speakers, a DJ and live entertainment, a children’s fair, a blood drive and refreshments.

All World AIDS Day activities at both locations are free and open to the public, with the exception of the food venues at Ringling College of Art and Design. This event is sponsored by the HIV/AIDS Network of Sarasota (HANS) in conjunction with the World AIDS Day 2007 Planning Committee, a collaboration that includes Ringling College of Art and Design, five neighborhood associations, and various community organizations.

For more information, call John Acevedo at 941-366-0461, or log on to the HIV/AIDS Network of Sarasota County (HANS) website, www.hivsarasota.org.

October Issue of Florida Trend Features Florida History & The Arts Section Profiling Ringling College

This month’s issue of Florida Trend includes a special publication entitled "Florida History & The Arts" (produced by the Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs) which features a comprehensive 6-page news story on Ringling College of Art and Design!

Click here to view the entire Ringling College article

Read an excerpt at MyFlorida.com

Liberal Arts Faculty Member and Russian Historian Dr. Albert Weeks Celebrates 50 Years of Naming "Sputnik"

Sarasota, FL – October 4, 2007 – Today marks the 50th Anniversary of the Russians’ launch of the first artificial Earth satellite, coined as “sputnik” by Ringling College of Art and Design's own Liberal Arts Faculty member Dr. Albert Weeks, who was then working as a reporter for Newsweek magazine.

Here, in his own words, is how Dr. Weeks recalls that historic day: October 4, 1957

HOW I REMEMBER SPUTNIK’S 50th ANNIVERSARY

On the morning of Oct. 4, 1957, I was doling my usual morning chore as a young Editorial Assistant on Newsweek’s Science Desk. One of my jobs was to distribute stories for the various desks as the news came tock-tock-tocking off the bell-ringing “A-wire.”

When I saw the story’s headline with its Moscow dateline, “Russians Put a 'Moon' into Orbit,” I immediately alerted all the relevant desks to this amazing event.

Managing Editor Gordon Manning turned to me (I am fluent in Russian and had a PhD in Soviet studies) and asked me what "ISZ" meant. These were the Russian initials for the artificial satellite as given by Tass in the AP (Associated Press) story. I answered that "Iskusstvenniy Sputnik Zemlyi" could be translated as "Artificial Satellite of the Earth."

"We can’t go with ‘ISZ’! Isn’t there some shorter form?" Manning asked.

I answered: "Why don’t we use simply 'sputnik'? I mean, as a common noun, lower-case ‘s’?”


Gordon, pronouncing the word “sputt-nik,” replied, “But what does that mean?”

I explained that it meant simply "satellite." So Newsweek came out that next Monday in its cover story on the big event by coining the common noun "sputnik." This coinage later wound up in Webster’s III as Newsweek’s and The New York Times' first usage.

But what followed later that night was more memorable. I had the time and coordinates for the passage overhead of the “little beeper.” So I notified everyone on the “book” (magazine) that I would be up on the roof of the Newsweek Building (at that time located at W. 42nd St. and Seventh Ave.) to view the appearance of Sputnik over New York City’s skyscrapers that was expected to occur around 6:30 p.m.

Just about all the staffers joined me on the tarred, sooty roof in the clear, dim twilight. As we looked toward the northwest, all of a sudden there appeared this spooky “moving star.”

It moved higher and higher in the sky, going ominously not too slow, not too fast, toward the southeast. These days such a sight would not be very exciting to anyone as satellites can regularly be seen coursing overhead in early or mid-evening as such objects are caught in sunlight at high altitudes. But Sputnik I was something different as an exotic, yellowish, twinkling “eye” looking down on us as though it was spying on us.

President Eisenhower saw fit to broadcast a message on the air that was intended to calm down everyone’s nerves by assuring the nation that this Soviet feat had been expected.

As it turned out, the Soviet breakthrough in space was not all that easy for the U.S. to emulate. But we finally did. And the space race was on to be followed by the orbiting of sophisticated weapons known as MRVs and MIRVs. Still later came “cosmonaut” Yuri Gagarin’s first man-in-space achievement and then America’s landing of an astronaut on the our natural satellite, the Moon.

October 4, 1957 thus went down in history not only as “Sputnik Day.” It became Chapter One in an arms race in space and the consequent danger to the security of world civilization that weapons in space entail, and that still hangs over us. Like that first sputnik coursing through the skies of New York City.

– By Dr. Albert L. Weeks

Click here to read an article about Dr. Weeks’ sputnik experience published in this month’s local local Landings Association paper, The Eagle. The story was written by Irwin Starr, former radio and TV producer.

This month, Ringling College's Verman Kimbrough Memorial Library pays homage to Dr. Weeks with several showcases of sputnik and Russian historical memorabilia.

Ringling College of Art and Design Becomes First Educational Institution in the World to License CryENGINE 2®!

Frankfurt, Germany / Sarasota, Florida, September 17 – Ringling College of Art and Design and Crytek today announced the College has become the first higher education institution in the world to acquire a license to use Crytek’s award-winning CryENGINE 2® middleware for educational purposes.

Remarking on the agreement, College President Dr. Larry Thompson said, “We are thrilled Crytek has chosen Ringling College as its inaugural partner for educational licensing. We view this CryENGINE 2® agreement as a validation of the exceptional and innovative academic program we have created here and feel privileged to have Crytek as one of our newest business partners.”

The addition of CryENGINE 2® to the learning environment is tremendous according to the College’s Computer Animation Department Head Jim McCampbell:

“Our student body is a uniquely talented group which consists of some of the most amazingly gifted young artists, animators and designers to be found anywhere in the world, and our job as an institution is to prepare them to take their place in a future where computer games, 3D graphics and computer animations may well become the overwhelmingly dominant commercial and creative art form.

They deserve to work with only the very best visual tools currently available, and no other real-time technology can compare to the CryENGINE 2® in either animation or scene rendering quality, and nothing else comes close to the ease of use and power of the new Sandbox 2TM level editor.”

“No other game engine comes close to offering the visual fidelity of the CryENGINE 2®, which can produce the kind of high quality near-photorealistic output in real time that until now required expensive render farms days, or even weeks, to generate,” McCampbell said.

“With the CryENGINE 2®, Crytek has clearly created a product that is a full generation ahead of anything else, and truly defined what next generation means today. Licensing the CryENGINE 2® will ensure our graduates are prepared and experienced in working with a technology that is rapidly becoming a new industry standard, while allowing them the possibility to create virtually anything their imaginations can conceive,” he concluded.

“We are extremely proud to have been chosen by such a highly regarded school as Ringling College of Art and Design as their game engine provider, and very pleased to have the school many regard as the best computer animation school in the USA become the first to join our new educational licensing program.” said Faruk Yerli, managing director of Crytek, “The ranks of the Ringling alumni reads like a who’s who of the computer graphics world, as do the companies they work for. Our own director of animation is an alumnus, which shows you how highly we regard their graduates. Now that Ringling will be training their students using our engine and tools, we look forward in the coming years to welcoming even more future graduate game designers and animators to our employ, as will the ever growing list of companies who have chosen to license the CryENGINE 2® for their own productions.”






©2007 Images courtesy Crytek. Top row: Photo Realism, Time of Day; Middle row: Advanced Ocean Shaders, Sandbox-2 Road Tool; Bottom row: Sandbox-2 Smart Objects, Facial Animation Editor.

About Crytek GmbH

Crytek GmbH ("Crytek") creators of the multiple award winning next- generation first person shooter Far Cry®, and the soon to be released blockbuster hit Crysis®, awarded as best PC Game of both E3 2007 and the 2007 Leipzig Games Convention, is an interactive entertainment development company with its headquarters located in Frankfurt Main, Germany and additional studios in Kiev, Ukraine and Budapest, Hungary. Crytek is dedicated to creating exceptionally high quality video games for the PC and next-generation consoles, powered by their proprietary cutting edge 3D-Game-Technology CryENGINE 2®. For more information about Crytek, please visit www.crytek.com. Development teams who are interested in obtaining a commercial license for the CryENGINE 2® middleware should mail their inquiries to cryengine@crytek.com

About Ringling College of Art and Design
Ringling College of Art and Design is a private, not-for-profit, fully accredited college offering the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree [BFA] in eight disciplines: Computer Animation, Digital Film, Game Art & Design, Fine Arts, Graphic & Interactive Communication, Illustration, Interior Design and Photography & Digital Imaging. A member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design [AICAD www.aicad.org], the College is recognized as being among the best and most innovative visual arts colleges in the United States as well as a leader in the use of technology in the arts. In 2006, it was ranked by BusinessWeek as one of the top 60 design schools in the world and one of only 10 in the U.S. For more information visit www.ringling.edu or email info@ringling.edu

BusinessWeek magazine names Ringling College one of the top design programs in the world!

It its special fall 2006 issue on D-Schools, BusinessWeek magazine named Ringling College of Art and Design as one of the top 60 design school in the world, and one of only 10 top institutions in the United States.

Click here to read the full story.

Ringling College Student Wins 1st Place in Prestigious Robert Bruce Thompson Annual Student Lighting Design Competition!

5.25.07

Rising Senior Interior Design major Heather Tyler was awarded 1st Place in the 2007 Robert Bruce Thompson Annual Student Lighting Design Competition, the most prestigious competition of its kind in the country.

The challenge entrants were to solve involved a university building a new dormitory where student rooms needed an attractive, durable light fixture that would deliver light levels for studying as well as general living needs. Ms. Tyler received a $6,000 prize and a trophy for her winning design. In addition, her work will be featured in an upcoming issue of Architectural Lighting, the top journal in the lighting design profession.

The Bruce Thompson Student Lighting Design Competition was open to all architectural engineering programs, architecture programs, interior design programs and theatre or industrial design programs in the United States. This is the third year in a row a Ringling College student has won an award in the Robert Bruce Thomson Annual Student Lighting Design Competition.

In the Competition application form, the sponsor suggested that because of the high level of competition, "it is recommended that entrants be undergraduate seniors or graduate students." Ringling College's Heather Tyler was an undergraduate Junior-level student when she won.

According to Interior Design Department Head Norman Hervieux, "The award is a testament to Heather's creative work ... and to both the teaching of her instructor, Seongwoo Nam, and the College’s curriculum which emphasizes social responsibility and respect for the environment as a vital element in the creative work of its students."

Entering national student design competitions is a way for Interior Design students and faculty to measure the success of their work against the work of faculty and students from other accredited programs across the country.

Ringling College of Art and Design's Bevin Carnes '07, Wins Student Academy Award® in Animation Category!

5.17.07

Ringling College of Art and Design Computer Animation 2007 graduate Bevin Carnes, is one of only 11 students from six colleges and universities named a winner in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 34th Annual Student Academy Awards® competition.

Bevin is a finalist in the Animation category for her Senior Thesis entitled "A Leg Up" and will find out the level of her award – Gold, Silver or Bronze – at the official awards ceremony on June 9 in Los Angeles. Besides trophies, Gold Medal recipients receive $5,000, Silver Medal recipients are awarded $3,000 and Bronze Medal recipients are awarded $2,000.

All of the student winners will participate in a week of industry-related activities and social events, culminating in the awards ceremony on June 9 at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles.

The U.S. students first competed in one of three regional competitions. In the regional competition, Ringling College was fortunate to have three semi-finalists selected, Bevin, and fellow Ringling classmates Joe Ark Sun for "End" and Chris Nabholz for "Respire, Mon Ami." Each of those regions was permitted to send as many as three finalists in each of the four award categories. Academy members then screened the finalists’ films and voted to select the winners.

The Student Academy Awards were established by the Academy in 1972 to support and encourage excellence in filmmaking at the collegiate level. Among past winners who have gone onto prominent careers as filmmakers are Spike Lee, Robert Zemeckis, John Lasseter and Trey Parker. Last year, two former Student Academy Award winners received Oscar® nominations: Lasseter received his fifth nomination for the animated feature “Cars;” and James Longley earned his first nomination for the documentary feature “Iraq in Fragments.” Over the years, former Student Academy Award winners have garnered a total of 35 Oscar nominations and have won or shared seven awards.

Bevin Carnes website

Read the full story from the Academy