Official News Release

OHIO STATE FAIR NAMES NEW FINE ARTS EXHIBIT CO-DIRECTORS

COLUMBUS— Columbus residents Pamela O’Loughlin and Melissa Vogley Woods have been selected as the new co-directors of the Ohio State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition.

O’Loughlin is a graduate of the Columbus College of Art and Design and The Harding Graduate Internship in Art Therapy. She has ten years experience in child welfare and expressive arts therapies. O’Loughlin is a founding member of Footsteps on Wings Dance Company and was key in the development and certification of Verita Place, a supported living agency. O’Loughlin is active in the community, volunteering at Brentnell Recreation Center and the Franklin County Children’s Services Therapeutic Arts Program.

Vogley Woods graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute with a bachelor’s degree in Painting. She is founder and co-owner of The Painted Monkey Mural Company and co-founder of Community Arts and Mural Project (C.A.M.P), a community-based mural organization dedicated to outreach in the arts. Vogley Woods has exhibited her work extensively both locally and nationally. Melissa Vogley Woods is a recipient of Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award and Greater Columbus Arts Council, International Artist Residency Program, Dresden; Germany. As well as several Franklin Country Neighborhood Arts, Artists in the Community Grants.

The Ohio State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition features the talents of Ohio’s professional and amateur artists. More than $16,000 is awarded to the winning artists in a variety of categories.

In addition to prize money, selected work is eligible for the Patron Purchase Program. The program is designed to provide new and established collectors of Ohio artworks the unique opportunity to add to their collections, while providing the artists statewide visibility and exposure.

To learn more about the Ohio State Fair Fine Arts Exhibit, visit ohiostatefair.com or call 614-644-4040. The Fine Arts Prospectus and entry form will be available at ohiostatefair.com after March 1, 2008. The deadline for entries is June 1, 2008.

The Ohio State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition is presented with support from the Ohio Arts Council.

For more information, call 1-888-OHO-EXPO or 1-614-644-FAIR. On the Web, visit us at ohiostatefair.com.

The Ohio Expo Center is proud to host the Ohio State Fair. With a spectacular midway, big-name entertainment, hundreds of exhibits and one of the largest junior shows in the nation, the 2008 Ohio State Fair will run July 30 - August 10.