Susan Byrnes, visual arts

Susan is a visual artist whose studies in photography, video, metal casting, dance, and audio production have resulted in multi-media sculptures and installations. Her work has been shown at the Dayton Art Institute, Woman Made Gallery in Chicago, the Museum of New Art in Detroit, Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Antioch College in Yellow Springs, and the Sculpture Center in Cleveland. Susan will use the award money to produce, "Discover" a science-inspired cast and blown glass sculptural and audio installation that will portray the process and the wonder of discovery.

Eddy Kwon, music

Eddy is a performer-composer and teaching artist. He is founding member of the acoustic quartet, The Happy Maladies, and Assistant Director of MYCincinnati, a free, El Sistema-inspired youth orchestra program in Price Hill. He is a graduate of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music (CCM) and a Cincinnatus Presidential Full Scholar. Eddy has been featured in the Constella and MidPoint Music Festivals, and has premiered works for CCM and the Contemporary Arts Center. For his CAAF project, Eddy will compose and perform a minimum of three concerts of original music in direct collaboration with the young musicians of the MYCincinnati Chamber Orchestra. The thematic content of the performances will be shaped by personal interviews and group discussions around the formations of identity. The entire process will be documented on film and shared upon completion of the project.

Bridget Leak, theatre

Bridget has directed abroad and across the United States. Credits include: "Slut Shaming" (2014 CincyFringe), "Reconstruction" (Lincoln Center Presentation) and "Night of the Living Deepwater Horizon" (Ars Nova). Mrs. Leak is the 2013-2014 Resident Assistant Director at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Bridget is a Lincoln Center Directors Lab alum, former Artist in Residence at Robert Wilson's The Watermill Center, SDCF Observership recipient (Cleveland Playhouse and Round House Theatre), Gielgud Fellowship finalist and an Associate Member of SDC. Bridget will use the fellowship to produce "The Complete Tom: Parts 1 & 2" (1. Adventures, 2. Huckleberry), a new four-play cycle that presents all of Mark Twain's works on Tom Sawyer. "The Complete Tom" will premiere this fall in Cincinnati at various non-traditional and outdoor venues. 

Jeanne is an interdisciplinary artist: a modern dance choreographer, as well as a photographer and designer. She graduated from Carnegie Mellon's School of Architecture and originally came to America as a refugee from Cambodia. The director of MamLuft&Co. Dance, she is currently creating/directing her 13th full-length work created in collaboration with three other choreographers. She's been described as "protean," "brainy," "accomplished." Jeanne will use her award to fund the creation and development of a short new dance work for real space and film that juxtaposes real dancers with graphic design.

Cathy Springfield, theatre

Cathy was Director of Performing Arts at Xavier University for 23 years. She is currently a founding member of The Clifton Players who produce professional theatre productions. She also teaches "Arts Integration" that facilitates the use of art in teaching the core curriculum, a required course at Xavier. Cathy will use the fellowship to help reduce the stigma of mental illness by creating an interactive educational theatre program which will be performed around Cincinnati.