Cleveland Institute of Art student exhibition pays homage to Chagrin Falls women of centuries past

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2026

CLEVELAND—Amelia Vinson, a Drawing and Painting junior at the Cleveland Institute of Art, has partnered with the Chagrin History Center to present Drawn from the Archive: Remembering Women from Chagrin Falls History, a collection of paintings and drawings reflecting on women seen throughout time in Chagrin Falls.

Responding to an extensive collection of mourning garments, dolls and photos from the history center, Vinson highlights the everyday moments in the lives of women from Chagrin Falls. The paintings and drawings focus on women from the late 19th to mid-20th century in moments of rest and quiet reflection, giving these women a moment to be commemorated.

"I have always been drawn to images and objects with history. When combing through the Chagrin History Center's archive, I was struck by photos of women that seemed to capture a moment in time," Vinson says. "These women are not often included or talked about in the history of Chagrin Falls. I imagined what these women were like, living and growing up in Chagrin Falls in a time when women did not have the same freedoms we do today. As I created this work, I felt connected to these women and the lives they led—and I hope viewers do, too."

Drawn from the Archive: Remembering Women from Chagrin Falls History will open from 6 to 9pm Saturday, June 6 at the Chagrin History Center (87 E. Washington St., Chagrin Falls), with an artist’s talk about the concept and process of the show at 7pm. The exhibition will be on display through Friday, August 28.

"The Chagrin History Center has been incredibly excited to collaborate with Amelia and the Cleveland Institute of Art in this exceptional exhibition," says Maggie Wilson, Chagrin History Center museum manager. "Amelia's interest in combining local history and art is showcased wonderfully in her beautiful artwork. Taking inspiration from artifacts, historic textiles and historic photographs, Amelia's artwork highlights the experiences of often underrepresented voices in history, including women. This is an exhibition that is not to be missed!"

To learn more about Vinson and her art, follow @ameliart.vinson on Instagram.

Drawn from the Archive: Remembering Women from Chagrin Falls History was created through the Creativity works program, which is made possible by the generous support of the Fenn Educational Fund and the G.R. Lincoln Family Foundation. Creativity Works is a self-initiated internship program with the goal of supporting a student's professional development. Participating students create proposals that align with their long-term professional goals.

Contact

Cleveland Institute of Art
Michael C. Butz, Director of College Communications + External Relations
mcbutz@cia.edu / 216.421.7404

Cleveland Institute of Art

The Cleveland Institute of Art is a private, nonprofit college of art and design that has been the training ground for countless students who have gone on to make important contributions to the fields of creativity and innovation since it opened in 1882 as the Western Reserve School of Design for Women. Its students have designed internationally recognized products, their artwork has been exhibited in major museums and private collections around the world, and their entertainment media has been enjoyed by audiences and game players for generations. It enrolls about 550 students nationally and internationally and has a faculty of about 100 full-time and adjunct members, all of whom are practicing artists, designers and scholars.