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MANIFEST STAFF
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Jason Franz
Founding Executive Director & Chief Curator
Visual Artist and Educator
e-mail
As the chief operating officer of Manifest, Jason is involved in every aspect of the organization and oversees all programs. On the ground he coordinates the project submission process, jury process, and programming for exhibits and books as well as serving as the organization's primary grant writer and education director. He is the first point of contact for most communications regarding projects and Manifest's programming and philosophy. He also designs most Manifest publications, exhibit layouts, and PR material, and maintains this website and the organization's Facebook presence, among many other sundry tasks.
Born
and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Jason Franz attended the then museum-school, the Art Academy
of Cincinnati in Eden Park and
Mt. Adams,
receiving his BFA
degree with
honors in 1988. During the first ten years of his career as an
working artist Jason also served as exhibition designer and
preparator
at the Cincinnati Art Museum where he played a key role in establishing the Exhibition Design Department. He returned to academic
life
in 1996 to pursue an MFA degree at the University of Cincinnati’s
College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning, receiving his
MFA in 1998. Franz left the museum at this time and began
teaching. From 1997 through 2002 he developed and taught new courses
for the Art Academy of Cincinnati and the University of Cincinnati
in the fields of both art and design. In 2002 he was hired to head the painting and drawing programs
at Xavier
University in Cincinnati. He spent two years rebuilding these
programs, solidifying his teaching philosophy, and laying
the philosophical ground-work for Manifest. While at Xavier, he also served as
the faculty advisor for the founding of the Society
of Visual Arts (a student government organization),
assisted with the planning for a new departmental photography program,
and championed the integration of technology into all the classroom
studios. In
June of 2005 he left his teaching position in order
to accept a second year of
paid academic leave at the University while he focused his
energy towards Manifest. In 2006, as Manifest was up and running under his continuing volunteer-directorship, he was invited to return to the University of Cincinnati to teach drawing on a part-time basis in the School of Design. From 2008 to 2011 he also served as Content Coordinator for the Foundation Design Drawing program. Jason continued teaching drawing at UC through the 2012 academic year. At that point he shifted all his time towards Manifest, working to build its staff and board of directors, add programs, and pave the way for the gallery expansion in fall of 2013 and Drawing Center expansion in 2016.
As an artist and educator Jason is the recipient of numerous grants and awards, including an Ohio Arts Council Fellowship, a Xavier University Faculty Development Grant, two Darwin Turner teaching awards from UC, and three Summerfair Individual Artist Grants. In 2009 he was recognized with a Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Art Academy of Cincinnati. He is a three-time Independent Publishers Association (IPPY) award recipient for his work on Manifest Press’s International Drawing Annual and International Photography Annual publications. Jason has published articles and given lectures, panel talks, and presentations about Manifest, the philosophy and practice of art, and drawing as an art form across the U.S., and continues to exhibit his drawings nationally, and also accepts invitations to write articles, make presentations, provide guest critiques, and mentor students, working artists, and educators from time to time.
Jason merges a passionate, motivated sense for quality developed
in his ten years experience at the Cincinnati Art Museum and in
his own studio work, with his dedicated and intuitive techniques
of
fine art and design
education developed at the Art Academy, UC, and Xavier. His philosophical
approach to the pedagogy of creativity, community, and art exhibition
helps fuel the mission of Manifest.
Teaching Philosophy
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Erin Corley
Operations Manager
Visual Artist and Educator
e-mail
We welcomed Erin to the Manifest team in November 2017. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Erin received her BFA from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning with dual concentrations in both Photography and Printmaking. Following graduation, she relocated to Savannah, Georgia to attend the graduate program at the Savannah College of Art and Design where she received her MFA in Photography, and later went on to work with a non-profit organization in Upstate New York. There she served in an administrative capacity while utilizing her creative background to develop much of the organization’s marketing material. Her time in the non-profit world cultivated a love for philanthropy and community involvement that continues to inform her life. Erin has maintained a connection with Manifest throughout the years, having participated in our competitive juried exhibitions and publications from as early as 2007. She returned to Cincinnati in 2015, and is excited to help foster and support Manifest’s mission in the years to come, offering unique strengths resulting from the blend of her academic and creative backgrounds with her non-profit business experience.
As the Operations Manager, Erin is involved in much of the internal on-site business of the organization. This includes communications with donors, members, board members, staff, and grantors, as well as the general accounting associated with a non-profit business, translating organizational vision and on-the-ground operational strategies to all staff and volunteers, and serving as the common denominator between board, administration, and staff. She also heads up the publication distribution for Manifest Press, and plays a key role in the coordination and production of Manifest's books.
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Katie Baker
Exhibition Coordinator
Visual Artist and Educator
e-mail
Katie joined Manifest in September 2012 after completing her MFA at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Originally from Villa Hills, Kentucky, she received her BFA in painting and drawing, and a BA in English composition from Northern Kentucky University. She brings three years of university teaching experience (life drawing, basic drawing, digital photography, and design), grant writing experience, and gallery experience to her dual role at Manifest.
Katie is responsible for overseeing the nuts and bolts of exhibition installation, artwork coming/going, intern training, and overall presentation of the galleries. She also supports organizational development, and serves on our educational committee supporting the Drawing Center programming.
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Adam Mysock
Drawing Center Coordinator
Visual Artist and Educator
e-mail
Adam joined Manifest's team in July 2017 to take on the greatly expanded role of coordinating Manifest's Drawing Center program. This came after his return to Cincinnati to spend a year as one of Manifest's 2016/17 Artists in Residence during which he became intimately familiar with the organization's mission, vision, and operations.
Originally from Cincinnati, Adam received his BFA degree in Painting and Art History from Tulane University (New Orleans, Louisiana) in 2004. He then went on to earn an MFA from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois in 2007.
Immediately following his studies, Adam served as the first coordinator for the Cincinnati-based nonprofit ArtWorks's mural program—overseeing their first 17 murals. During this time he also taught drawing at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. In 2008, Mysock joined the faculty of Tulane University’s Newcomb Art Department, where he taught all levels of painting and drawing, as well as the graduate seminar on pedagogy. During his eight years at Tulane, Mysock helped pilot departmental recruitment and retention programs and led a task force focused on establishing the Department’s Foundations program. As a working artist Adam's work has been exhibited and published both nationally and internationally and is in private collections throughout the world.
Adam coordinates all efforts related to developing and maintaining Manifest's Drawing Center educational offering, events, facility, and programs, including providing outreach to local high schools and universities.
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Kelia Hamilton Baker
Project Manager for Manifest Press
e-mail
We welcomed Kelia to the role of Office Manager in March of 2015. Over the following year, taking the central role in coordinating tremendous amounts of information and activity behind the scenes at Manifest, she grew the position to one meriting the title of Operations Manager, to which Kelia was promoted in January 2016. She originally joined Manifest as a Gallery Intern in January 2013, after returning to the Tri-State area from St. Louis where she received her BFA from Fontbonne University. Born and raised in Northern Kentucky, Kelia experienced a summer apprenticeship in 2009 with ArtWorks Cincinnati Mural Works, which solidified her love for creating and for non-profit organizations with a solid mission. This amplified her understanding for the public's need for accessible art. From August 2013 to May 2014, Kelia continued her involvement with Manifest as a volunteer while working full time as Director of Operations for a regional community-based organization, developing her leadership skills and gaining valuable working knowledge of organizational operations. In November and December of 2017 Kelia undertook the hand-off of her role to Erin Corley who became Manifest's new Operations Manager. Kelia then transitioned into a new role as Project Manager.
As Project Manager Kelia focuses her work on coordinating Manifest Press's publication production schedule, including coordinating design, communications, and followup for the annual INDA, INPA, and INPHA series, as well as the still-in-process Manifest Exhibition Annual 'yearbook' series.
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Taryn Zust
Operations Assistant
Visual Artist/Student
e-mail
Taryn first joined Manifest as an intern in January of 2018. She was our first co-op student from the University of Cincinnati’s DAAP Fine Arts program. Taryn proved herself to be such a great fit within our small team and organization that we hired her as Operations Assistant once her academic co-op concluded.
Born and raised in Cincinnati, Taryn continues working toward her BFA with special interest in drawing, printmaking, and sculpture at the University of Cincinnati. Her interest in art and design has been cultivated by a vibrant local art scene, imparting a passion for craftsmanship and quality and those centers that further the connection between community and creative exploration.
Taryn’s job at Manifest serves as a supportive connector between the large work and projects handled by our program and administrative staff. With a keen eye for detail, a refined command of the written word, and a can-do attitude, Taryn brings a vibrant enthusiasm to our team, helping Manifest to realize many of its behind the scenes efforts all while supporting artists and carrying on our mission for quality.
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 From the Archives:
Manifest staff on July 23, 2013 (Planning meeting in 'Unit 3').
Pictured left to right: Tim Parsley, Michelle Sanchez, Katie Baker, and Jason Franz.
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CURRENT INTERNS and VOLUNTEER GALLERY STAFF
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Maria Marotta
Sherman Parnell
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CURRENT/PAST ASSOCIATES
Qualified professionals volunteering to support Manifest programs for one-year
periods in the areas of education, design, grantwriting, and with other key organizational needs.
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Christy
Carr (04-05)
Designer and Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, Art Academy of Cincinnati
Robert Spahr (04-05)
Visual Artist and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Visual Arts
at Dowling College
and Adjunct
Professor of New Media at SUNY, Purchase
College, New York
Kristin
Cullen (05-07, 09-10)
Designer and Associate Professor of Graphic Design,
University of Cincinnati
Kevin Muente (05-10)
Associate Professor of Painting and Drawing, Northern Kentucky University
Matthew Litteken (07-08)
Professor of Drawing and Painting, Professional Artist
Robert Anderson (07-09)
Adjunct Professor of Drawing and Painting, Professional Artist
Matt Wizinsky (08)
Graphic Designer
Kim Shifflett (08)
Professional Artist
Trevor Ponder (04-11)
Professional Artist, Current Graduate Student of Architecture, University of Cincinnati (2015)
Daniel O'Connor (11-13)
Adjunct Professor of Drawing and Painting, Professional Artist
Mike Bale (13-14) (17-18)
Professional Artist
Scott Ramming (11-present)
Professional Artist
Michael Wilson (16-present)
Professional Photographer
Sharee Allen (16-present)
Marketing & Communications Professional, Artist, Art Therapist, Photographer
Andy Houston (17-present)
Artist and Educator
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