Author: Hannah Scott

Pouya Jahanshahi is an Iranian-born graphic designer and scholar, currently an associate professor of graphic design and the coordinator of the MFA in graphic design program at Oklahoma State University. Jahanshai’s current exhibition, “Liminal Poetry,” is on display at the Clayton Staples Gallery on the second floor of the McKnight Art Center. He will give an artist talk at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, April 27 in 210 McKnight, with a reception following from 2 to 2:30 p.m. on the second floor of McKnight.

Pouya Jahanshai migrated from Tehran, Iran as a result of the Iran-Iraq War, first to London and then to Los Angeles. He earned his MA at California State University, Fullerton, with a focus on the “anatomy of a visual message” and the realm of semiotics. He received his MFA in graphic design and integrated media from the California Institute of the Arts, where he focused on the global development of what he as termed “hybrid visual cultures” — where cross-pollination of cultures has resulted in the birth of new visual realms.

While working with a broad range of cultural organizations and clientele, he is the co-founder of Pasaj Collaborative and Local-Not-Local art and design collaboratives, and his 20×20 Posters for Peace collection is currently being exhibited internationally. When time permits, he pursues his hobbies of Persian calligraphy, silkscreening and concrete poetry.

The WSU Ceramics Guild will host the Wichita Public School ceramics programs for the first annual Clay Olympics on Friday, April 21 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Henrion Hall.

Eight area high schools will bring eight students each to compete in a series of events such as throwing the widest bowl or sculpting kiln guardians. Medals will be awarded to the three teams with the highest overall scores. High school student work will also be on exhibit in 105 Henrion with awards juried by members of the WSU Ceramics Guild.

A hot dog and hamburger cookout for lunch will take place at noon on the outdoor kiln pad.

Josh Cornett, a senior double majoring in art history and accounting, has been selected to present his paper “Shifting Sympathies: Thomas Nast’s Indian Cartoons in Post-Civil War America,” on Thursday, April 6 at the Pop Culture Association 2023 National Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

Cornett is currently the curatorial intern at the Ulrich Museum of Art and is primarily interested in the cultural exchange between indigenous groups and colonizing groups. While performing research in preparation for the Ulrich’s 2022 exhibition “Myths of the West: Narrating Stories of the Land and People through Wichita Art Collections,” Cornett found himself gathering an abundance of research about the German-born American political cartoonist Thomas Nast, as four of his works were displayed in the show, and Cornett went on to construct his paper from this research.

Cornett made the decision to submit his piece to the conference with encouragement from Brittany Lockard, associate professor of art history in the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries.

Looking for a gift for a loved one? Wanting a treat in the spirit of self love? Love supporting local artists? The WSU Ceramics Guild and Tornado Alley Press, WSU’s printmaking guild, will have a Valentine’s Day sale in the Rhatigan Student Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13.

Gift sets including a cup, candy and hot cocoa mix will be offered for sale by the Ceramics Guild, while Tornado Alley Press will have beautiful and unique art prints available for purchase. Come support two of WSU’s guilds.