Bonnie Cohen is an award-winning designer, whose ceramic artwork has been included
invitational exhibitions throughout the country, including the prestigious Spertus
Museum International Judaica Competition in Chicago. She has a BFA with honors from
Carnegie-Mellon University with further individual study in Ceramics from the University
of Akron.
COMMUNITY ART AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
JCC Tile Project: Designed and implemented a project to create two tile murals in
honor of the 50th Anniversary of the State of Israel. This project involved designing
techniques for integrating children's art into the murals. Responsibilities also
included writing a curriculum for workshops, training teachers and directing the
installation of the two murals. Over 200 children ages 3 to 18 participated in creating
the murals which gained national recognition. This project was funded by corporate
and private sponsors. (1998)
Judaic Art Community Programming: Artist-in Residence for a program of 13 course
offerings called "Making Midrash, A Jewish Journey With Art" Responsibilities included
project design, hiring and training teachers, and creating publicity and other promotional
materials. This program was funded by the Jewish Identity Development Fund of Akron
and was awarded a Silver Medal from the National Solomon Shechter Organization of
Jewish Day Schools. (2001)
Torah Cover Design: Designed and helped fabricate a collaborative Torah cover project
for Beth El Congregation honoring the tenth anniversary of the Torah Reader's Society.
A series of workshops were held for the one hundred Torah readers to create beaded
artwork which was applied to the Torah cover. (1999)
Akron Jewish Community Hebrew High School: Created and taught a class in Judaic
Art integrating Jewish themes and text study with the creation of Jewish Art and
ritual objects using clay, collage, printmaking, and calligraphy. (1998-present)
Pittsburgh School for the Blind: Designed a tactile mural for the school as a senior
project with the Dean of the School of Design at Carnegie-Mellon University. The
wooden relief mural was fabricated and installed by design students. (1975)
Temple Israel, Columbus Ohio: Artist-in Residence Program (2001)
COMMISSIONS
Beth El Congregation, Akron, Ohio
Temple Israel, Akron, Ohio
Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation, Reston, Virginia
Shaw JCC, Akron, Ohio
Central New Jersey Jewish Home for the Aged, Somerset, New Jersey
Jewish Seniors Agency of Rhode Island, Providence, Rhode Island
Cleveland Jewish Federation
The Traditions of the Palm Beaches
The Deupree House, Cincinnati, Ohio
Temple Beth Ami, Rockville, Maryland
The JCC of Springfield, Massachusetts
Summa Hospital System, Akron, Ohio
The Syracuse Home Association, Syracuse,NY
The Northshore Synagogue, Syosset, NY
PROFESSIONAL DESIGN
Bonnie Cohen Ceramic Designs: Designed a line of decorative and functional ceramic
objects sold in 14 galleries in the United States. This body of work focuses on
biblical and nature themes with an emphasis on Jewish Ritual Objects. (1993-present)
Babcock and Schmid Associates, Bath, Ohio
Art Director and Senior Designer: Directed all graphic design projects for the company
including corporate identity programs, package design, product design, and interior
and exterior signage. Responsibilities included writing proposals, presenting concepts
to clients, writing graphic standards guidelines, generating creative concepts and
overseeing implementation of projects.
Clients included; Sherwin-Williams, Sentry Hardware, Telxon Corporation, Regional
Transit Authority of Cleveland, Invacare, Pizza Hut, Bernina, L.J.Minor, J.M. Smucker's,
Olympia Brewing. (1975-1989)
PUBLISHED ARTWORK
The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Art Calendar (1998 and 2001)
The Women of Reform Judaism Art Calendar (2000)
American Greetings Corporation (1999)
Na'amat (1998)
Jewish Women Magazine (2001)
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
The American Guild of Judaic Artists
The Ohio Designer Craftsmen
Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education
Women's League for Conservative Judaism, Kolot BiK'dushah (Society of women who
have distinguished themselves as Torah Readers and Shlihot Tzibbur)