John Thrasher
John Thrasher joined the department of art as a faculty member in 1995 when he began teaching drawing, ceramics, two-dimensional, and three-dimensional design on the Mansfield campus. He also teaches introductory theory and criticism. His studio practice addresses traditional and non-traditional forms in a variety of materials, styles and expressive contexts. His varied portfolio includes hand-formed ceramic sculpture, figure drawing, portraiture, murals, experimental drawing, performance, painting, and calligraphy. His artwork has exhibited nationally and internationally. He received The Ohio State University Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1999, and has been the recipient of outstanding teaching awards four other times during the course of his career. For John, art and teaching are a way of life. To view Professor Thrasher’s work, visit his website.
Contact: thrasher.1@osu.edu / 419-755-4384
Kate Shannon
Kate Shannon is an associate professor of art at The Ohio State University Mansfield where she teaches image-based studio art courses. The recipient of the 2013 OSU Mansfield Campus Award for Excellence in Scholarship, she has exhibited her creative work across the United States. Shannon received her BFA from the University of Kentucky and her MFA from The Ohio State University in Columbus where she now lives with her husband, son, and two cats. To view Professor Shannon’s work, visit her website.
Contact: shannon.112@osu.edu / 419-755-4187
Jeff Sprang
Jeff Sprang is a lifelong resident of North Central Ohio. He has been making photographs since 1967, when he set up a darkroom in his parent’s home. In 1970, while a sophomore at OSU-Mansfield, he became a part-time photographer for the Mansfield News Journal. After transferring to the Columbus campus of OSU, he continued to work part-time for the Mansfield News Journal while also stringing for the Associated Press and providing images for the Lantern. In 1973, after serving as photo editor for the Lantern, he graduated from OSU with a B.A. in Photography and Journalism. He then accepted a position as staff photographer at the Mansfield News Journal where he won many awards. Sprang began teaching Photography classes at OSU-Mansfield in 1998 after leaving the newspaper in 1997. He also taught Photography at Ashland University for several years. He has operated Jeff Sprang Photography from 1973 until the present. He and his wife Linda have three grown children.