By Ashley Junkunc 21
The Ohio Arts Council honored two University of Dayton College of Arts and Sciences faculty Individual Excellence Awards for their respective creative work in filmmaking and graphic design. Jesseca Ynez Simmons, assistant professor of communication, and Misty Thomas-Trout ’11, assistant professor of art and design, received the awards and $4,000 grants to develop their skills and advance their careers.
The council awarded grants to 75 artists from across the state in art sectors that include crafts, interdisciplinary, media arts, design arts, 2D and 3D visual art and photography last year.
Simmons submitted two documentaries for the award that symbolized her love of “docu-fantasy” 一 an original, self-created genre that combines aspects of documentaries and experimentation. One of these films, Emerald Ice, explores the mind of American poet, Diane Wakoski.