Process • Passion • Purpose: Art & Design Symposium

Friday, February 20, 2026 | 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Location: Wright State University Creative Arts Center

Join us for the second annual gathering of artists, architects, designers, and art enthusiasts from diverse industries to celebrate the importance of art in our lives. Immerse yourself in thought-provoking panel discussions and engaging presentations from industry experts. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and explore the power of art and design.

Agenda

General
Panel
Presentation
Keynote
Social
8:00 AM
8:00 AM – 8:25 AM
Arts Center Hall

Registration & Breakfast

8:00 AM – 8:25 AM General
Schuster Hall

Organ Music

8:25 AM
8:25 AM – 9:00 AM General
Schuster Hall

Introduction & Opening Remarks

Steven Aldredge
Chair, Wright State University School of Fine And Performing Arts
Dr. Dan Zehringer
Professor and Director of Outreach & Engagement, Wright State University College of Liberal Arts
9:00 AM
9:00 AM – 9:50 AM Panel
Schuster Hall

The Art of Access: Removing Barriers & Expanding Creative Opportunity

Curtis Bowman (Moderator) — Director of Engagement, Culture Works
Shayna McConville — Division Manager of Cultural Arts, City of Kettering
Tamiko Stump — Interim Director, Dayton Society of Artists
Lisa Wagner — Executive Director, Levitt Pavilion Dayton
9:00 AM – 9:50 AM Presentation
Stein Galleries

Lynette Lombart Art Tour

50-person limit

Jeremy Long, Glen Cebulash
10:00 AM
10:00 AM – 10:50 AM Panel
Schuster Hall

Creative Intelligence: How AI is Redefining the Arts

Tracy Longley-Cook (Moderator) — Associate Professor, Wright State University
Marcella Hackbardt — Professor of Studio Art, Kenyon College
Colleen Kelsey — Instructional Designer, Sinclair Community College
Alan Knowles — Instructor of Writing, Wright State University
10:00 AM – 10:50 AM Presentation
Recital Hall

Art Representation & Democracy

Jessimi Jones — Executive Director, Springfield Museum of Art (SMOA)
11:00 AM
11:00 AM – 11:50 AM Panel
Schuster Hall

A Case for Art

Jenny Michael — Co-owner & Co-CEO, Ohlmann Group
David Bowman — Co-owner & Co-CEO, Ohlmann Group
11:00 AM – 11:50 AM Presentation
Recital Hall

Everyone Deserves Beauty: Art in our Community Health Center

Kim Bramlage — Curator, Five Rivers Health Centers
12:00 PM
12:00 PM – 12:50 PM
2nd Floor

Lunch

1:00 PM
1:00 PM – 1:50 PM Panel
Schuster Hall

Waxing Poetic: The Encaustic Process

Curtis Bowman (Host)— Director of Engagement, Culture Works
Kate Huser Santucci, Jen Perkins, Chris Rankin — Encaustic Artists
1:00 PM
1:00 PM – 1:50 PM Presentation
Recital Hall

The Ties That Bind: Motherhood, Matrilineal Connections, and Materials

Heather Jones—Fiber Artist, Curator at The Contemporary Dayton
2:00 PM
2:00 PM – 2:50 PM Panel
Schuster Hall

Public Broadcasting: Moving Forward

Debi Chess (Moderator) — Director, External Relations & Development, Dayton Metro Library
Shaun Yu — President/CEO, Discover Classical
Luke Dennis — General Manager, WYSO & President, Miami Valley Public Media
Kitty Lensman — President/CEO, ThinkTV & CET
2:00 PM – 2:50 PM Presentation
Recital Hall

Marketing Your Art Without Losing Your Voice

Emily Stamas — Global Marketing Manager, Henny Penny
3:00 PM
3:00 PM – 3:10 PM General
Schuster Hall

Poetry Reading

Sierra Leone — Dayton's Poet Laureate
3:10 PM
3:10 PM – 4:10 PM Keynote
Schuster Hall

Keynote Speaker

Willis "Bing" Davis — Artist, Educator, & Community Activist
4:10 PM
4:10 PM – 4:30 PM General
Schuster Hall

Closing Remarks

Dr. David Stark — Manager, Artspace Hamilton Lofts
Dr. Susan Edwards — President, Wright State University
4:30 PM
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Stein Galleries — Enter on 1st Floor, by Front Entrance

Reception

Sponsors

The 2026 EPIC Art & Design Symposium would not be possible without the support of our generous sponsors. We’re grateful for their dedication to uplifting the vibrant local art and design community.