The 50th Annual Fairmount Art Exhibition will be juried by the following distinguished individuals:

About Eddie

A graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art (BFA, 1987), Eddie Mitchell has maintained a dedicated studio practice for nearly four decades. His work is defined by a profound fascination with the transformative power of illumination, rooted in the belief that light engenders a sense of extravagant joy and enchanting optimism. Through vibrant, large-scale oil paintings, Mitchell explores how light interacts with the magical energy of color to create a profound sense of cheerfulness and radiant energy.

Since 1992, Mitchell has balanced his creative output with a deep commitment to arts education. He serves as a part-time faculty member at both Lakeland Community College and his alma mater, bridging the gap between professional practice and mentorship. This dual role is complemented by an extensive exhibition history, including participation in over 200 art shows and numerous public demonstrations.

Represented by galleries across Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, Mitchell’s canvases are held in several prominent public collections. Whether through large-scale public commissions or private gallery works, he continues to craft a euphoric atmosphere, inviting viewers to experience a world intensified by light’s exuberance.

About Stephen

Stephen Tornero is an artist and teacher from Canton, Ohio. While working towards a Masters in Art Education at Kent State University, he had the chance to study weaving, and fell in love with this practice. Working in textiles allowed for the combination of vibrant colors, texture, pattern and transparency that was not successful in other media. Stephen currently teaches visual art and fashion design to 7th and 8th grade students at Plain Local Schools. While these two practices don’t always intertwine, he believes that a strong art practice and a strong teaching practice enhance each other.

About Adam

Adam McVicker is a Wooster native and lifelong artist whose rural upbringing sparked a deep appreciation for craftsmanship and the natural world. He holds a Fine Arts degree from Kent State University, where he studied ceramics under Eva Kwong and the late Kirk Mangus. His training also includes an Ohio Arts Council Traditional Arts Apprenticeship with Cary Hulin of Holmes County Pottery and two-time studio assistant at Penland School of Craft.
Adam has served as Clay Coordinator at Wayne Center for the Arts for 12 years, at the same studio where he first learned to throw on a wheel. Outside of WCA, he works from his home studio and flower farm, where he is currently building a wood kiln to expand his teaching practice. In addition to ceramics, he can be found fishing, frolicking and having fun with his wife Eva and their two daughters, Ellie and Maxine, and an ever-increasing number of pets and livestock.