Cornish College of the Arts

Part 1: Meet our 2025 Art Seniors 👋🏽⬇️ See the full spectrum of their work in SLU March 28th – April 11th.

Public Opening: Friday, March 28th from 6pm – 9pm.
📍 2014 9th Ave.

(Condensed) artist bios in order of work shown:
Caitlin Chimelis uses a variety of mediums to reflect her creative spirit, which is constantly growing and evolving: charcoal, mixed media, printmaking, paper mache sculptures, and painting. Caitlin looks for beauty and meaning in the messy, imperfect parts of life—and how those emotions can be hidden or even take on a divine quality when we really look. The elements a work can have can be spiritual, reminding us that emotions like anxiety or anger are raw materials, waiting to be uncovered and transformed. Through art, she sees their purpose and how they can transform these emotions, from heaviness into light.

Seattle-based soft sculptor, Candy Cortez, processes memory through the use of textiles in her artwork. Candy lives with mental illness, expressing the human experience with her healing journey through fabric manipulation. She has found community online through this work, connecting and sharing experiences with other artists worldwide who also live with mental illness. Candy has become a catalyst for social change and wellness in her community. Themes of growth, transformation, and restoration are prevalent in her work, highlighting the healing journey and encouraging others to seek support of their own.
IG

Kelsey McMonagle shares, "I strive to exist in a state where I live and breathe art. I am a jack of any trade, given enough time and love."
Learning is a keystone in my work and in my life. I wish to constantly slow down to explore the nuances around me, and spend my time documenting my experiences and successes. My growth is displayed clearly in chronology with my works. I am a lover of immersion, and that includes lore, and “easter eggs”, or mini puzzles and details for the more curious and invested. As a performer, I am a storyteller at heart; there is additional depth to my pieces only understood through writing, conversation, and sequences.
IG: .lenea.arts

More details on the show: https://hubs.li/Q03cDq100

With great excitement, we are proud to announce that Cornish College of the Arts and Seattle U have signed a binding agreement that provides for the establishment of Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University. Today’s announcement comes on the heels of last week’s unanimous approval of the agreement, from both institutions’ boards, setting in motion a planned closing date for May 31, 2025.

We’re excited for the opportunities this will bring both of our communities!

You're invited! The upcoming Cornish Student Showcase includes original songs, classical works, electronic music, punk rock, jazz, and more in Raisbeck Auditorium (right next to campus).

🗓️ Friday, March 28
🕚 8-10pm
📍Raisbeck Auditorium, 2017 Boren Ave.

Tickets 🔗 in bio

Photos by Winifred Westergard; Fall 2024.

Hi from theater rehearsals! We stopped Cornish College of the Arts - Theater Department rehearsals for their upcoming production of Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale.' 🐻❄️

"In this story harm is done, trust is broken, and lives are lost. And yet. Shakespeare tells us through Paulina, that it is required we do awake our faith.

By the play’s final moments that which was lost, is found. Those who are irredeemable, change. What had become stone, breathes again."
-Director Leah Adcock-Starr

Details and tickets for next weekend
🔗 https://hubs.li/Q03b-wNW0

The show opens on Thursday, March 27 at 8pm!
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Illustration Media taught by Gala Bent, Cornish Design Faculty.

DE 309, Spring 2024*

Students listen to an album and redesign its LP cover using collage techniques that reflect and enhance the music. Called "Second Life," this project challenges students to reinterpret existing album art by incorporating copyright-free images, public domain materials, or original photos, using the music itself to inform their research and design choices.

Featuring work by Cornish Design students and alumnx:
Damon Cottle
Emma Hill
Jillian Bird
Lucy Marrs
Spoons Bradshaw
*Sapna Srinivasan, Fall 2020

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illustration student, album cover art, collage art

We are thrilled to announce this year’s Neddy Artist Award finalists! 💫

In Painting — Lauren Boilini, Craig Cundiff, Andy Cash DeLapp and Dierdre Patterson.

In Open Medium — Romson Regarde Bustillo, Bri Chesler, Jordan Monloire and Hanako O’Leary.

The Neddy received a total of 174 eligible applications this year, a pool overflowing with Puget Sound artists who are dedicated to fostering meaningful and engaging creative practices. Narrowing it down to just eight is never an easy task!

Read the full announcement of The 2025 Neddy Award Finalists: https://mailchi.mp/cornish/the-2024-neddy-finalists-10137863

Thank you for supporting our Dance seniors at the Cornish Dance Capstone Concert last weekend! ❤️

We are so proud of the Dance department and were honored to welcome back guest choreographer and , Alicia Mullikin ( on IG).

Featured works:
~El Fin~
Choreographed by Alicia Mullikin and performed by Angela Ye, Emma Sumanaweera, Marlo Nettel, Sophia Bunnell, Talia Roybal

What Do You Want?
Choreographed by Marlo A. Nettel and performed by Emma Sumanaweera, Angela Ye, Sophia Bunnell, and Marlo A. Nettel

South Of Yunnan
Choreographed by Migali Amuti and Jianping Ye; performed by Angela Ye

Hiiiiii, Hello — Hey
Choreographed by Ashley Menestrina and performed by Sophia Bunnell

Images by Jazzy Photo

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This class explores the illusion of motion through traditional methods of animation. Students will create animation on paper with light tables and through stop-motion with clay and found materials.

Analog Animation taught by Neely Goniodsky and Britta Johnson of the Film and Media Department at Cornish.

AN101, Fall 2024

Early animation devices like phenakistoscopes, zoetropes and magic lanterns are examined, giving students an opportunity to gain experience with hand-building and installation projects. Students will learn how to create a set with lighting and use current software and digital cameras to capture animation. Exploration is encouraged!

Featuring work by Cornish students:
Ali Whitmore
Leah Small
Sean Serrano

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Mark your calendars for our fifth Visiting Artist Lecture of the school year with trailblazing performance artist, Sheldon Scott!

🗓️ Friday, March 7
🕚 11:30 am - 12:30pm
📍Raisbeck Auditorium, 2017 Boren Ave.

Born and raised in Pawley’s Island in the Gullah/Geechee Lowcountry of South Carolina, Sheldon Scott now lives and works in Washington, DC. His practice is primarily based in performance, and includes sculpture, installation, photography, drawing, and film. In his work, Scott plays in the intersection of race, sexuality, and economic forces, while impugning mythologies of Black Male supernaturality.

Scott has exhibited widely, including at Delaware State University, Art Miami, Untitled Art Fair, Katzen Art Museum, David C. Driskell Center, and the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. His work has been acquired by esteemed collections including the National Museum of African-American History and Culture and The Ogden Museum of Southern Art.

Learn more about Scott's current work and RSVP for this standout lecture: https://cornishtickets.ludus.com/index.php?show_id=200465780

The event is free and open to the public.
Presented by Cornish Art Department.

"A worldwide pandemic didn't stop us from dancing, singing, acting, filmmaking, or creating. It didn't stop us yesterday, it has yet to stop us today, and I know it's definitely not stopping us tomorrow."

- Daymien Bunao (Film, '22)

We recently had the pleasure of chatting with Daymien about their experience as a filmmaker, their time at Cornish, and the impact of interdisciplinary learning on their craft.

Their biggest advice to current and incoming students? You get as much out of the [Cornish Film] program as you put in. Some students treat assignments as tasks, while others see them as opportunities to create something meaningful. Those who fully embrace their work as art—not just schoolwork—are the ones who thrive. "Don’t just complete projects; make films, tell stories, and create something real," they share.

Last summer, they challenged themselves to create three short films— one being Dr. Saturnine, the sci-fi short pictured below, about a character whose mundane life is disrupted by beings from a 1960s black-and-white sci-fi TV show. Jay, a disillusioned teaching assistant trapped in a dead-end job, craves something more. When a cosmic battle between the eccentric Dr. Saturnine and the villainous Planner crashes into his world, he’s thrust into an interdimensional adventure where no realm is safe from the chaos to come.

Explore more of Daymien's work: @ daymi3nb on IG
Read the full blog here: https://bit.ly/4k9xfOL

Concept Art: Characters taught by Alexandra Barsky

This concept art course focuses on character design. Students create memorable characters with interesting personalities and physical features that tell a story. Throughout the semester, students practice developing characters through observation, research, and visualization, embedding them in worlds with thought-through social values and cultural attributes.

Students learn how to translate illustration into time-based media, and continue developing mastery of digital, analog, and traditional animation tools. Differences and overlaps of animation and game art pipelines will be clarified. Students develop scripts, storyboards, and short animations!

Featuring work from AN301, Fall 2024 by:
Quinn Kregness
Sakura Watanabe
Irene Morse
Anahi Castillo-Leavitt

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“Folklore is a celebration of storytelling through the vibrant lens of old Mexican traditions, featuring masks, costumes, and characters inspired by traditional dances, handcrafts, and cultural rituals. Bold lines, vivid colors, and organic forms come together to create visual narratives that honor the richness of these customs while reimagining them for contemporary audiences,” beloved Seattle-based artist and Victor Melendez Art states on his upcoming exhibition at The Behnke Family Gallery in South Lake Union, Seattle.

Traducción al español en los comentarios ⬇️

“Folklore, as an art form, transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries, inviting us to find common ground in the power of shared stories. By weaving elements of my heritage into my work, I aim to preserve and reinterpret traditions that have been passed down through generations, while fostering unity and inspiration within and beyond my community.”

Opening reception: February 28, 4:30pm-7:30pm
1077 Lenora St. (across from Cornish College of the Arts)
RSVP 🔗 in bio

Explore Víctor Meléndez’s surreal world, where creatures, culture, and storytelling come together in bold, vibrant artwork. Meet the artist, watch live screen printing, and be part of an evening celebrating his creative journey while enjoying Mexican appetizers and aguas frescas by Rice, Beans & Happiness.

Follow Consulado de México en Seattle on Instagram for live posts during the upcoming opening reception of Folklore on February 28!

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In just one week, our College of the Arts - Music Department Faculty will showcase new, contemporary music works and performances in Raisbeck Auditorium! 🎤

Featuring offerings by beloved music educators and local Seattle musicians:

Kaley Lane Eaton
James Falzone
Tim Kennedy
Leanna Keith
Marcin Paczkowski
Tom Varner
...with surprise, special guests!

📆 February 21, 2025
🕒 8-9:30pm, no intermission
📍 2017 Boren Ave. Seattle, WA

Snag your ticket today: https://bit.ly/42JvYHQ

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Click through to learn more about Syvilla Fort and her legacy at Cornish College of the Arts!

To honor her legacy and to empower the forthcoming generation of artists of color, Cornish established the Syvilla Fort Scholarship Fund. This fund is dedicated to supporting continuing students of color in any major. A minimum of two scholarships are awarded annually!

As we open the doors to this opportunity, we invite you to be a part of Fort's legacy and contribute your unique voice to the college's vibrant history.

The application closes on March 1. Decisions will be made April 1. Keep an eye out for recipient announcements on April 18th!

Learn more & apply today: https://hubs.li/Q036twwq0

Navigating financial aid and scholarships can feel overwhelming, but Cornish’s Financial Aid Department is here to help every step of the way.

We recently spoke with Rachael Spencer, Financial Aid Specialist and Financial Literacy Coordinator, and Melanie Zhgenti, Financial Aid Specialist and Work Study Coordinator—both Cornish Alumni—to answer some of the most common questions students and parents have about securing financial support for their education.

Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4gHq9ho

At Cornish, we give every student an ORCA card that provides unlimited access to full fare on:

• Bus-Community Transit, Everett Transit, Kitsap Transit, Metro Transit, Pierce Transit, and Sound Transit
• Rail-Sound Transit- Link light rail and Sound Transit Sounder train (including Rail Plus partnership with Amtrak Cascades)
• Streetcar-Seattle Streetcar
• Ferry-King County Water Taxi, Kitsap Local Ferries, and Fast Ferries
• Access Transportation-Service on Kitsap Transit and Metro Transit

Not sure where to visit next? Take a trip to the annual Fred Hutch x Cornish Art Department Exhibition at the Robert Arnold Building! Select works on view until June 30, 2025.

Find more information on the student ORCA card program through the Office of Student Life or (current students can) read more in the Student Handbook. 🚊

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Shiny things have always played a role in Ric’kisha Taylor’s life—hair accessories, DAX grease, her mother’s glittery debit cards. Now, Taylor’s montages use the allure of luster to explore deeper, often painful themes, such as the avoidance of intimacy and cultural assimilation. In her new solo exhibition, Gleaming, at 4Culture Gallery, beauty and vulnerability coexist, prompting reflections on societal expectations and personal experiences.

Gleaming is on view at 4Culture Feb 6-27, 2025.

Take in the many elements of Black diaspora culture, such as music videos, books, and fashion, as Taylor considers what it means to be a Black womxn navigating the sophisticated nature of belonging and self-expression.

See you there!

Media:
1 - Ric’kisha Taylor. Croc Suit, 2022. Fabric, studs, ink, glitter paper, and rhinestones. 20 x 16 inches.
2 - Ric’kisha Taylor. Lot Lizard, 2022. Fabric, sequins, glitter paper, metal chain, and rhinestones. 20 x 16 inches.
3 - Ric’kisha Taylor. Most Tropical Fish, 2022. Fabric, sequins, pearls, and glitter. 20 x 16 inches.

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