Ringling College student comic books highlight Smithsonian female artists

Jay Handelman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·2 min read
The cover of Ringling College student Madi Wong’s comic about Cherokee Nation artist Kay WalkingStick on the website of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
The cover of Ringling College student Madi Wong’s comic about Cherokee Nation artist Kay WalkingStick on the website of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
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A group of Ringling College of Art and Design student illustrators are honoring the achievements of inspiring but underrepresented women artists in a series of comic books published online by the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

The new work marks the second year of a collaboration between the museum and the college recognizing the work of female artists who are part of the Smithsonian’s permanent collection.

The artists highlighted in “Drawn to Art: Ten Tales of Inspiring Women Artists” are Judy Blaca, Tiffany Chung, Sonya Clark, Sarah Goodridge, Ester Hernandez, Lois Mallou Jones, Nellie Mae Rowe, August Savage, Jaune Quick-To-See Smith (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Nation) and Kay WalkingStick (Cherokee Nation).

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The first page from Ringling College student Micah Eubanks’s comic book “Playhouse: A Comic About Nellie Mae Rowe” featured on the website of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
The first page from Ringling College student Micah Eubanks’s comic book “Playhouse: A Comic About Nellie Mae Rowe” featured on the website of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

The student illustrators, inspired by graphic novels and web comics, have created their own take on the work of these artists. The students participating in 2022 are Stephanie Bravo, Rebe Chen, Micah Eubanks, Elisia Fernandez, Aleyah Lyon, Susie O’Connor, Abigail Rajunov, Oliver Stephenson, Maddy Williams-Solberg and Madi Wong.

“This innovative project provides yet another avenue for young people, or anyone interested in artists and their stories, to be introduced to the museum’s rich collection and discover the power of art,” Stephanie Stebich, the Margaret and Terry Stent Director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, said in a statement.

The museum’s collaboration is with Ringling College’s INDEX (Industry Experience) program, which is described as an “experiential education initiative that provides students with professional experience prior to graduation by connecting them with leading brands and clients to develop creative solutions to business challenges.”

The cover of Ringling College student Stephanie Bravo’s “A Better World: A Comic about Ester Hernandez” featured on the Smithsonian American Art Museum website.
The cover of Ringling College student Stephanie Bravo’s “A Better World: A Comic about Ester Hernandez” featured on the Smithsonian American Art Museum website.

The 10 students were chosen from 39 illustration students who entered this year’s INDEX competition. The work of students selected last year also can be seen on the website https://americanart.si.edu/art/art-comics.

“The opportunity to work with the Smithsonian American Art Museum to delve into the lives of underrepresented fellow artists and bring their stories to life is a portfolio- and career-building experience of the highest order,” said Jeff Schwartz, the school’s associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of undergraduate studies.

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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Ringling College students honor female Smithsonian artists in comics