Kate Shannon, The Ohio State University’s artist laureate for 2025-2026, will be at Ohio State Lima to discuss her creative work with the Rinhart Collection of 19th-century photographs at Ohio State’s Rare Books and Manuscripts Library.
“What can you do with a photographic archive? Using historical photographs for creative, research and class projects” is free and open to all from 12:40-1:40 p.m., Thursday, March 5, 2026, in the HCF Conference Room 106 in the Perry Webb Student Life Building.
“A photographic archive is not a fixed story. It is a collection of fragments waiting to be revisited, questioned, and reinterpreted,” said Shannon, an associate professor of art. “By working with older images, we can uncover overlooked details, rethink dominant narratives, and connect past moments to current concerns.”
Shannon will introduce approaches to working with historical photographs and share ideas for how photographic archives can be used for teaching, research and creative work. Participants will also have the opportunity to view selections from Ohio State Lima’s photographic archive documenting the early years of the campus and to discuss ways these photographs might be used in their own projects.
“"When we take time to look closely at a photographic archive, we begin to see the decisions, values, and aspirations that shaped a community,” Shannon said. “As Ohio State Lima approaches its 65th anniversary, these photographs offer a way to reflect on how the campus has evolved and to imagine how its next chapter might be shaped.”
As artist laureate, Shannon is hosting a series of hands-on workshops across the state, helping community members of all ages connect with the history of photography and gain a deeper appreciation for its impact on cultural memory. Participants are introduced to historical photographs and early photographic techniques, examining how the medium has evolved from careful, hands-on processes to today’s quick, easy-to-capture digital images. Shannon engages local archivists, historians and community members, inviting them to share their own photographic materials — from family albums to regional collections — to enrich public awareness of Ohio’s rich visual history.
