Feature
Where Are They Now? Catching up with Ringling College of Art and Design Alumni
September 2022—Most Sarasotans know that we have one of the world’s premier art schools right in our back yard. Ringling College of Art and Design is world-renowned for producing top notch professionals in their fields. But while some fly off to far away states, and even countries, to pursue their careers, many have chosen to make Sarasota their home. We caught up with a few Ringling College alum to hear what they have been up to since walking across that stage.
Studio 1415
Ferenc Beleznay:
Photography and Digital Imaging
Class of 2015 +
Irene Rofail
Illustration
Class of 2015
Originally from opposite ends of the globe, Irene coming from Tanzania and Ferenc from Hungary, their paths crossed when they moved to Sarasota to attend Ringling College of Art and Design in 2011. Studying here allowed them to fine-tune their skills, enabling them to learn from each other and grow together at the same time. Since graduating, Ferenc has shot advertising, fashion and product photography for Bealls, Inc., while Irene has worked in several fields with a variety of companies, such as Mograph Mentor, Miles Media, and Art In Tanzania backed by UNICEF to name a few.
The pair have always had a passion for travel. However, during COVID this was not an option anymore. “We realized that a big part of why we enjoy going to new places is trying new flavors and cuisines, which we can do right here! This passion for food combined with our photography experience has led to us founding Studio 1415.” Two years later, Ferenc and Irene now work with a variety of clientele both in the Tampa Bay Area as well as all over the country specializing in food, cocktail, and restaurant photography.
“We believe that food is one of the most integral parts of one’s culture through which a beautiful story can be told, and it has become our passion to showcase to the world what these amazing chefs have to offer!”
Why Sarasota?
“We have seen an amazing growth happening to this city and that brought a wave of interesting and creative restaurant openings, allowing us a unique opportunity to grow our business. Sarasota has a charm to it that brings a combination of both culture and diversity to it which allows creativity to flourish.“
Website: www.studio1415.com
Greg Rumph
Illustration
Class of 1998
Greg Rumph graduated from Ringling College of Art and Design in 1998 where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Illustration. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, he moved to Sarasota in 1984 with his family and has been here ever since.
“Simply put, that’s why Sarasota is home!” says Rumph, “I’ve been extremely lucky to have landed in a spot that is rich in art influences, and to have been exposed to great art teachers from high school through Ringling College.”
His artistic journey began by creating copies of his father’s work when he was growing up, and eventually learning from doing master copies (reproductions of master artists’ work) while honing his craft at Ringling.
Shortly after graduation, he was asked to be a substitute teacher at Booker Middle School where he fell in love with the kids, the steady paycheck, and the benefits. Now, fifteen years later, he’s moved into an administration that has seen him work at three high schools. Currently, he is responsible for the Visual and Performing Arts magnet program at Booker High. Aside from his education work, he still finds time to freelance with his illustration around family time.
Instagram: @ rumphg
facebook.com/grumphii
Jamiel + Jennifer Law
Illustration
Class of 2019
Jamiel Law was born in Sarasota, Florida where he received his primary and secondary education and developed an interest in the arts. As a kid and teen, he took art classes at Art & Frame until high school completion. Jamiel enrolled at Ringling College of Art and Design in the fall of 2015 where he focused his interests in illustration. While learning the skill and craft aspect of the major, he also volunteered as a Student Ambassador and Orientation Leader. Jamiel and Jennifer moved to New York for a short time after graduation where Jamiel began his career in the editorial field. Currently, he continues to work as an editorial illustrator and as a designer at Buck. He is also working on his first children’s book.
Jennifer Law was born in Miami, Florida where her love for murals and graffiti sparked her interests in the arts. While in high school, her family relocated to North Carolina and eventually attended University of North Carolina School of the Arts. She explored multiple disciplines in fine arts and enjoyed the thrill of working with her hands which gave way to various awards of excellence. In these years, she developed a passion for photography. With multiple pathways ahead of her, she decided to pursue illustration at Ringling College of Art and Design. She was awarded an internship in New York following graduation and learned the ins and outs of the advertisement industry. Constantly looking to evolve her skillsets within an entrepreneurial context, she currently merges the information and design principles that she learned about illustration with her passion and eye for capturing others’ stories with her photography business, Hazeywavez.
Why Sarasota?
“We chose Sarasota as our home because we have the opportunity to give our time and talents to the city that has provided a wealth of information and resources which have been essential to our growth and development today. Hopefully, we can be a part of building upon the foundation of this art community with excellence and diversity. Sarasota will always have a special place in our hearts because it is where we met and have had many beach adventures.”
Jenny Medved
Illustration
Class of 2004
Jenny Medved is an award-winning representational figurative artist based out of Sarasota, Florida. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Jenny moved to Florida in 2000 to obtain her BFA in Illustration from Ringling College of Art and Design, where she also currently teaches as an adjunct instructor. Jenny holds a MFA in Figurative Painting from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California, where she studied under mentors Zack Zdrale, William Whitaker, and Warren Chang. Jenny also studied traditional portraiture at the Florence Academy of Art in Florence, Italy.
Jenny is a member of the Hawaii Watercolor Society (HWS), a signature member of the Florida Watercolor Society (FWS), an associate member of Women Artists of the West (WAOW), American Artist Professional League, and a master signature member as well as the previous president of the Florida Suncoast Watercolor Society (FSWS).
Jenny’s work documents Indigenous and Polynesian cultures that carry on the native traditions of their families and ancestors. This includes native tribes and dancers from the mainland US and Canada, and also includes the islands of Hawai’i, Samoa, Tahiti, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand, among others.
She also owns and runs her own coconut wax candle company, Blue Palm Candle Co., based here in Sarasota. The scents and styles are a retrospective throwback to life in Florida.
Why Sarasota?
“I came to Sarasota in 2000 to attend Ringling College. Two years later, I met my future husband, Dennis, who worked at Mote Marine Laboratory. We met at the Old Salty Dog on City Island, where we both worked part-time. I never really saw Sarasota as a place to put down roots, but after we started our family, we realized that this little resort town with the beautiful Gulf and beaches, great school system, and the healthcare we were getting, you really can’t find that anywhere else! I’ve taught as an adjunct instructor at my alma mater since 2012, made lifelong friendships while raising our two smart and handsome boys here in Sarasota, and I’m proud to call this place home.”
Websites: jennymedved.com & bluepalmcandleco.com
Karen Arango
Photography & Digital Imaging
Class of 2013
Karen Arango is a Sarasota-based visual journalist commissioned by several local and national magazines and organizations. These include the following: the San Francisco Chronicle, The Community Foundation of Sarasota, Manatee Community Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, United Way Suncoast, Goodwill Manasota, Ringling College of Art and Design, and others. Her work focuses on collaborating with local non-profits to create visual stories that promote awareness of the community’s social needs.
Karen earned a Digital Journalism Master’s degree from the University of South Florida, a Photography and Imaging Bachelor’s degree from Ringling College of Art and Design, and a photography certificate from the International Center of Photography in New York City. Karen is mainly interested in adopting her visual skills to positively impact her community and beyond.
Karen has exhibited her photography work internationally. Her video Faces of Goodwill won a Silver Telly Award, and local film festivals have featured her short film, Families Together.
Why Sarasota?
“Sarasota has everything I love—beautiful landscapes, kind people, and artistic culture. After graduating I felt embraced by this supportive community, which has become my home. I am blessed and I am grateful to work with amazing organizations and people that believe in me and my work, and I hope that I can continue to contribute positively to this community.”
Website: karenarango.com
Andrés Paz
Motion Design
Class of 2016
Website: famaproduction.com
+ Meybis C. Pitty
Visual Studies w/ Fine Arts minor
Class of 2019
Website: emash.studio
Andrés was born in Cali, Colombia. During his teenage years, Andrés moved to the United States where he discovered a passion for art and design. To further expand this new vocation, Andrés enrolled at Ringling College of Art and Design with a concentration in Motion Design. While at Ringling, Andrés immersed himself in a variety of extracurricular activities, such as volunteering as a Student Ambassador and Orientation Leader, attending SGA meetings, and being part of the ART Network, the all-student Ringling television group. As part of the ART Network, Andrés learned the ins and outs of the production pipeline, participating in all the roles including production assistant, videographer, editor, and assistant director. After graduating, Andrés opened his own company, FAMA Productions, LLC, as a consultant agency offering expertise in the area of video and multimedia marketing for a variety of clients, such as Ringling College and small business owners.
Meybis C. Pitty was born in Boquete, Panama. In 2015 she attended The United World College Pearson in British Columbia, Canada, receiving the international baccalaureate upon completion. While at Pearson, Meybis discovered her passion for art, which led her to Ringling College of Art and Design. At Ringling, Meybis pursued the major of Visual Studies primarily focusing on directing and creating documentaries. Meybis loves telling people’s stories, as she believes everyone has something to share. Documentaries are a great way to bring awareness to issues and let other people know they are not alone in their struggles. Meybis is also passionate about performing arts and has found a home in The Sarasota Ballet as a video producer and editor where she is in charge of promoting The Sarasota Ballet through video. Meybis has led the production of a new series within the Ballet called “Through the lens” where viewers are guided backstage to learn more about the performances, choreographers, and other interesting stories in the ballet world.
Scott Wren
Graphic Design
Class of 1997
From a very young age, Scott Wren loved to draw. Years later, he attended Ringling College of Art and Design, but it wasn’t until his senior year that he became interested in the themed entertainment field.
“I was recruited out of Ringling as an ‘Apprentice’ by Walt Disney Imagineering in Glendale, California, where I worked on a multitude of projects located in Orlando, Paris, Anaheim, and Tokyo. Not only did Disney provide the experience and training I needed to develop my career further, but it is also where I met my wife, Debra.”
Wren’s career path took a slight detour in 2006 when his family, then with a young son, moved to Austin, Texas. Here, he became an Art Director for GSD&M Advertising while Debra started a business called Wrenhouse Design, which would later be run by them both. Not soon after did Debra get a job offer at Disney Imagineering in Orlando, steering the couple back to the Sunshine State. Scott, upon leaving GSD&M, stepped into Wrenhouse Design, adding more projects to the ever-growing list of entertainment industry clients. In 2011, with this expanded workload, Debra rejoined Wrenhouse as well.
“Since we no longer needed to reside in Orlando, and I always loved living in Sarasota, I happily returned with my family in 2012. We have been very fortunate to continue providing design services for many leaders in the themed entertainment industry including Universal Creative, Walt Disney Imagineering, Disney Yellow Shoes, AECOM, EA Sports, Raven Sun Creative and many more.“
Why Sarasota?
“We chose Sarasota for so many reasons. I have great memories of my time in college. The laid back atmosphere, the art community, friendly people and the endless days of sunshine quickly come to mind, making it a wonderful place to raise a family. We could have moved anywhere, but one of the most significant motivators for choosing Sarasota was the possibility of extending a helping hand to the many talented students attending Ringling College. I am very proud to say that, after living here for 10 years, we have a strong relationship with the school and do whatever we can to help the next generation of artists and designers.”
Website: wrenhouse-design.com
Selina Bostic
Graphic Design
Class of 2020
Selina Bostic is a graphic designer based out of North Port, Florida. After moving from Ann Arbor, Michigan, she began her artistic career at Ringling College of Art and Design where she obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design. During her time at Ringling, Selina won a Gold Student ADDY Award for her collaboration on the MiSuits project, specifically on the social media team. She has also collaborated to rebrand Shelf Indulgence, a used bookstore/coffee shop located in Sarasota, Florida.
Currently, Selina is working as a graphic designer at Feld Entertainment. Feld Entertainment is the worldwide leader in presenting and producing live touring family entertainment experiences that bring people together. Their properties include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Monster Jam, Monster Energy Supercross, Disney on Ice, Marvel Universe Live, Sesame Street Live, and Jurassic World Live Tour. In June 2022, Selina was inducted onto the American Advertising Federation (AAF) Suncoast Board as their social media and communications chair. She is also a contributing designer with Sarasota Scene Magazine and freelances in her spare time.
Why Sarasota?
“In March 2020, when COVID-19 was starting to become serious and everything in the design world was shutting down, I was in the middle of my senior year at Ringling College and my post-graduation future was looking very uncertain. Originally I didn’t see myself staying in Sarasota after my time at Ringling, but with how the world was at the time, I had to stay local. During that time picking up freelance jobs, contributing with Sarasota Scene, and now at Feld Entertainment, plus becoming an AAF Suncoast board member, I came to the realization that I could be just as or more successful in my design career staying in Sarasota without making a big jump to a major city and starting all over immediately after graduating during a global pandemic. Plus I could stay close to my family, the friends I’ve made during and after Ringling, the beautiful artistic community that Sarasota has to offer, and the beaches!”
Website: studio97.graphics
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