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In 2003, an international public art project, "Clay, Color and Fire" was designed and directed by Brown Checco for the Cincinnati Park Board. Seven international ceramic masters came to Cincinnati to create over 15,000 handmade ceramic tiles to cover the colonnade and hearth of the Friendship Pavilion in the TM Berry International Friendship Park. The visiting artists were assisted by over 150 apprentice artists and volunteers during their month-long residency at the University of Cincinnati's School of Fine Art at DAAP. For her leadership in this project, Jan Brown Checco was awarded the Post Corbett Award for "Individual in the Arts" in 2003.
"A Change in Perspective," (2005) was a drawing exchange that engaged 18 artists from Cincinnati and Munich, Germany. Nine original drawings from each city were color copied nine times, and these copied drawings were sent to the other city to be overdrawn by 9 artists. The resulting 81 dyads (two people drawing in the same space) were exhibited in both cities, including texts from all participants. The critical press which found the project to be both meaningful intercultural dialogue and an exciting way to build understanding and relationships. Artists in Cincinnati and Munich are now producing a drawing exchange project which with Chinese artist partners, exchanging ideas through a triangular international process.
Brown Checco's "Common Ground Art Roundtables," and “Designing Freeland” exercises are used for building enhanced creative group dynamics. These have been used at The Clay Street Project, an innovation think-tank sponsored by Procter and Gamble; and for teambuilding within the Children’s International Summer Villages program . Mandala, labyrinth and geometric 3-D tools are employed to facilitate group artmaking. Discussions include contemplation of the individual’s context within the group, and the group’s context within our increasingly connected world society.
Jan is currently designing and fabricating innovative public artworks for The Friendship Garden project for Liuzhou, PR China. In 2006, she led a public art fiber art workshop which included over 200 students and teachers of an English enrichment course. Her architectural ceramic works are featured in the new art survey book, "World Contemporary Public Ceramic Art," by Zhang Yushan of Hunan Fine Arts Press, PR China. Brown Checco's ceramic work will be included in the book's artist group show in Shanghai, Summer 2007.
Jan holds a BFA in Communications Design and Painting compiled from studies at Miami University, Oxford, and the Art Academy of Cincinnati, as well as an MFA in Sculpture from UC DAAP. She has studied at Studio Art Centers International in Florence, Italy; Parsons School in Paris, France; and independently in Morocco.
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Professional Experience & Awards Return to Top
- Lead Artist for international drawing exchanges with Munich and Liuzhou/Nanning PR China (2006-08)
- Designer and Lead artist for Community-based Public Artworks (2003-present)
- Distinguished Alumna Award, Art Academy of Cincinnati (2007)
- Design Excellence Award: Cincinnati Garden & Mosaics Project, BUGA 2005, Munich, Germany (2005)
- Winner of the Post Corbett Award for Artistic Excellence for “Individual in the Arts” Achievement (2003)
- Nominee for the Ohio Governor’s Award for Community Development through the Arts (2003 & 2004)
- Dream-Come-True Award, from the Cincinnati Park Board, for “Clay, Color and Fire” (2003)
- Lead Artist/Director for Cincinnati’s international public art collaboration, “Clay, Color and Fire” (2001-2003)
- Founder of Art on the Square, a regional visual arts festival (1994-96); Program Director (1994 &1996)
- Five years as designer of arts education materials for the Cincinnati Art Museum (1992-97)
- Founder and director of AIR-Artist in Residence program for Finneytown Local Schools (1991-96)
- Award: Art Direction - Ohio Humanities Council/Ohio State Capitol Exhibition, “Ohio Builds a State” (’93)
- Fifteen years of regional, national and international art exhibition planning, management and promotion
- Art Director for Forrec International: conceptual design of museum exhibits and theme parks (1988-91)
- 30 years as studio artist; art for exhibition; creation and sale of widely marketed limited edition prints
- Illustrator of five published books distributed in France and USA
Processes, Materials and Technical Specialties Return to Top
- International Artists Exchange projects, designed and directed in Asia, Europe and Africa
- Design and Direction of Community-based Public Art Projects
- Planning, design, fabrication and installation of public artworks using handmade ceramic mosaics and paint
- Three-dimensional gallery installations and assemblages with found objects, fiber and fired clay mediums
- Graphic design, illustration, presentation art using computer programs Photoshop, Freehand & PowerPoint
- Figurative and symbolist painting, employing egg tempera, fresco, oil, acrylic, watercolor and traditional drawing mediums
Professional Service Return to Top
- Steering and Review Committee member for MuralWorks program, administered by ArtWorks (2007)
- Design Team Member for the new Central Riverfront Park, conceptual design phase, Cincinnati, OH (2006)
- Advisory Board Member for WomanMade Gallery, Chicago IL (2003 - present)
- Liberty Garden art direction, a new public garden for Cincinnati Park Board & Keep Cincinnati Beautiful (2004-05)
- SOS ART, annual invitational exhibition & happening for Greater Cincinnati artists, Steering Committee (2004-05)
- International Committee Member, College Art Association (2003 - 2006); Conference Session Chair (2004)
- Organizer of international cultural exchange & collaborative projects for Cincinnati’s Sister Cities (1999-present)
- Development of an international women’s art exhibition “Traditions” for WomanMade Gallery, Chicago IL (2001-03)
- Jurying and curatorial service for regional visual arts projects and exhibitions (1993-present)
- Project Director for Art on the Square Juried Exhibition with Charlotta Kotik of the Brooklyn Museum of Art (1995)
- Technical Advisor, restoration of Memorial Hall, for painted wall decorations & design of print materials(1990-92
Guest Speaker Return to Top
- Ohio Arts Council panel “”Public Values” (2007); Guangxi Arts Institute, Nanning, PR China (2006); MuralWorks
- orientation to mosaics (2007); Mayerson Foundation Artist in Residence, Cincinnati (2006); Cincinnati Arts & Culture
- Committee Meeting (2004); International Session, College Art Association Conference, Philadelphia (2002) and
- Seattle (2004); Freshman Assembly, University of Cincinnati (2000, 1998) and Art Academy of Cincinnati (1997);
- Community Art Forum (1995); Community Art Forum, UC Raymond Walters College (1994); Cincinnati Art Club (1993)
Jan Brown Checco • Selected Projects and Exhibitions Return to Top
2007
- 3 City Drawing Exchange, Cincinnati/Munich/ Nanning/Liuzhou; project designer & Lead Artist
- Juror’s Invitational Exhibition, WomanMade Gallery, Chicago IL
- SOS ART 2007, Art Academy of Cincinnati Galleries, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Group Exhibition World Contemporary Ceramic Public Art (invitational), Shanghai, PR China
- Friendship Garden, LongTan Park, Liuzhou PR China; Lead Artist for design of art elements
- MuralWorks, Steering Committee participant, planning of new public mural program for Cincinnati, OH
2006
- A Change in Perspective, exhibition of 180 drawings from a group cultural exchange with Munich, Germany, at the Amerikahaus Fortieth Anniversary, and in Cincinnati at University Galleries on Sycamore
- SOS ART Select, invitational exhibition, at DAAP Galleries on Sycamore, Cincinnati, OH
- Alpine Gardens, guest artistic director for autumn floral & art exhibition, Krohn Conservatory, Cincinnati, OH
- Twin Lakes Fountain Mosaics, community-based art project, Montgomery, OH
- Our Daily Bread Murals, 100’ x 12’ designer & lead artist for community-based public artwork, Cincinnati, OH
- Days in Clay, solo exhibition, Guangxi Arts Institute, Nanning, PR China and Liu Gao School, Liuzhou, PR China
2005
- Down-the-Way Map Flag, lead artist for community-based mural art installed in Cincinnati City Hall
- SOS ART 2005, Works of Protest & Peace at the Mockbee, exhibiting artist/steering committee, Cincinnati, OH
- Munich-Cincinnati Drawing Project, Sister Cities Art Exchange program, lead artist
- Empty Chairs, Painful Windows, videoe/art therapy/installation art at YWCA Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2004
- Dream Building & Generosity, community-based mosaic artworks for Summit Country Day School, Cincinnati
- Ceramic Mosaic Artwork for Cincinnati Garden Plaza, BUGA2005 Horticultural Expo, Munich (award)
- SOS ART 2004, Works of Protest and Peace at SS NOVA, invitational exhibition, Cincinnati, OH
2003
- Clay, Color & Fire - art direction & installation of architectural public art, TM Berry International Friendship Park
- Traditions, curator for international juried exhibition, WomanMade Gallery, Chicago, IL
- SOS ART 2003, Works of Protest and Peace at SS NOVA, invitational exhibition, Cincinnati, OH
2002
- Installations and Performances at the Carnegie - invitational group exhibition, Covington, KY
- “Transformations” - collaborative stage & gallery exhibition of CCM & DAAP, University of Cincinnati, OH
- Wish You Were Here - invitational group exhibition, Wood Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
- Matri Art - exhibition and performance, 840 Gallery, DAAP, University of Cincinnati, OH
2001
- Members Exhibition, international juried exhibition, WomanMade Gallery, Chicago, IL
2000
- Cincinnati Studio Artists Group at Heim & Handwerk 2000, Munich, Germany
1999
- Eve: Living the First Life - juried solo exhibition, Carnegie Arts Center, Covington, KY
- Forty Mid-Career Women Artists - juried group exhibition, University Club, Cincinnati, OH
1998
- Group Exhibition - 5 egg tempera paintings, John Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA
- Morocco - with Gail Morrison at Mullane’s Parkside Cafe, Cincinnati, OH
- Portrait - international juried exhibition, WomanMade Gallery, Chicago, IL
- Invitational Group Exhibition at 4222 Wabash Gallery, Chicago, IL
1997
- Works by Artists in Residence - group exhibition, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT
- Figure 15 - juried group exhibition, Carnegie Arts Center, Covington, KY
1996
- Home Seen - solo exhibition at Wellage and Buxton Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
- Works from Summer Studies - group exhibition, Parsons New School, Paris, France
- Figure 10 - juried group exhibition, Carnegie Arts Center, Covington, KY
- NUDE ‘96 - Lexington Art League, national juried exhibition, Lexington, KY
1995
- Florentine Nudes - solo exhibition, Over-the-Rhine Artists Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
- Culture Crimes/Art Assassins - public sidewalk chalkwork for opening of Aronoff Center, Cincinnati, OH
- Grande Exhibition 1995 - national juried exhibition, Akron Society of Artists, Akron, OH
- Holy Baloney - national juried exhibition, WomanMade Gallery, Chicago, IL
- Ohio Womens Caucus for the Arts Annual Exhibition, juried state exhibition, Toledo, OH
1994
- Fresh Art - plein air exhibition at Berringer Crawford Museum, Covington, KY (first prize award)
1993
- NUDE ‘93 - Lexington Art League, national juried exhibition, Lexingrton, KY (award)
1992
- International Art Exhibition - Florida Museum of Hispanic & Latin American Art, Miami, FL
Articles, Interviews, Publications Return to Top
- World Contemporary Public Ceramic Art – two page photo essay; publisher: Zhang Yushan, PR China 9/06
- “One-Way Ticket to Paradise” - review of CSAG exhibition in Munich, Sueddeutsch Zeitung, Germany 4/8/06
- “Clay, Color and Fire and the work of Vladimir Shapovalov”, in Mockba - a Russian art review, no. 5, 2005
- “Putting People on the Palette”- tutorial about Summit Dreambuilding Mosaics for Pottery Making Illustrated, 2006
- “Melancholy Suits the Mockbee” - report about SOS ART 2005 by Sara Pearce, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5/1/05
- “Clay, Color & Fire: Making Tiles and Peace” - 3300-word article for Ceramics Monthly, Summer 2004
- “Clay, Color & Fire” 32-page booklet with CD enclosure; JBC author and art director, 2004
- Arts Exploration Journal, Issue 4, from Guangxi Arts College, “Clay, Color & Fire: A Successful Public Art” 2003
- “Excellence in the Arts” - Post Corbett Awards – article in the Cincinnati Post, 11/18/03
- “Focus: Clay, Color & Fire” 30-minute television interview produced by Joanne Grueter for CET Cincinnati, 9/03
- “Mosaics Make Magic” - report about Clay, Color and Fire by Marilyn Bauer, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7/3/03
- “Ideal World Ohio” - review of CSAG exhibition in Munich, Sueddeutsch Zeitung, Germany 12/8/00
- “Renaissance Now” - review of solo exhibition at Interiors, Cincinnati, City Beat 1/98
- “Nudes” - review of group exhibition at the Carnegie Arts Center, Owen Findsen, Cincinnati Enquirer 9/96
- “A Revealing Body of Work” - interview with Jonathan Kamholtz, City Beat 11/96
- “Florentine Nudes” - review of solo exhibition in Cincinnati, Antenna Magazine 11/95
- “Culture Crimes” - report about public venue performance piece in the Cincinnati Enquirer 10/95
- “Conversations with Irma” - television interview with Irma Lazarus, WCET Public Television Cincinnati 10/93
- “Modern Day Michelangelo” - interview about Laurel Court ceiling decoration, Cincinnati Post 11/85
Teaching Experience Return to Top
- Designer and lead artist for Camp SEE with the Cin-Liu Sister City Program, Liuzhou, P.R. China (2006)
- Artist in Residence at Twin Lakes Community, ceramic community-based mural, Montgomery, OH (2006)
- Art Director for Our Daily Bread Murals, managed 8 high school art teachers and students, Cincinnati, OH (2006)
- Art Director for Vine Street Murals Project & Can-Paign, with Keep Cincinnati Beautiful (2005)
- Artist in Residence, The Summit Country Day School, for seven-month architectural mosaic project (2004-2005)
- Adjunct faculty member, Figure Drawing 301, College of Mount Saint Joseph, Cincinnati, OH (2004)
- Instructor of record, Life Drawing II, School of Fine Art, University of Cincinnati (2001)
- Instructor of record, Basic Drawing I & II, School of Fine Art, University of Cincinnati (2000-01)
- Adjunct faculty member for Foundations Drawing, School of Design, DAAP, University of Cincinnati (1999)
- Teacher of elementary students, special grants programs at the Art Academy of Cincinnati (1996)
- Teacher of college level illustration and design courses, Ohio Visual Arts Institute, Cincinnati (1980)
Jan Brown Checco • Education Return to Top
- Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture, College of DAAP, University of Cincinnati, OH (2002)
- Vermont Studio Center, two-week residency working with Gregory Gillespie (1997)
- Parsons New School in Paris, France; painting and drawing (summer session 1996)
- Studio Art Centers International (SACI) Florence, Italy; painting and art history (1995)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts, Art Academy of Cincinnati, suma cum laude; painting and drawing (1992-93)
- Independent studies in drawing & painting while working in design & illustration, Paris, France (1980-85)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts work at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio; illustration and design (1970-73)
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