Tamar Cawthra: Senior Exhibition 2025
This is one in a series of online interviews with 91Ʒ seniors, who share their thoughts about their 2025 Senior Exhibition project and their 91Ʒ education.
25 (Illustration), A Haunting in Vicksburg. Tamar is a Presidents (Honor) List student from Howell, Mich.
What is your elevator pitch for your senior exhibition project?
Presented in three storyboard sequences, A Haunting in Vicksburg is a historical-fiction drama about a group of civil war soldiers who find that their ranks have been infiltrated by vampires. With a narrative focus on vulnerability, each sequence presents the relationship of the soldiers, themselves and the supernatural.
Cawthra_Scene3_Page3
Tamar Cawthra, “A Haunting in Vicksburg,” 2025.
Cawthra-Tamar_Home-News
Tamar Cawthra, “A Haunting in Vicksburg,” 2025.
Cawthra_Scene2_Page1
Tamar Cawthra, “A Haunting in Vicksburg,” 2025.
Tamar_headshot
Tamar Cawthra
What has the senior exhibition experience been like for you?
When our thesis advisors first explained the exhibition process, I was nervous. However I can confidently say my experience has been nothing short of a new, exciting challenge. Although the exhibition is a major part of your senior year, it is more about the journey toward that end and what you take from it.
I had never imagined my work in a gallery before, and to go through this with my peers has been a fun way to collaborate and immerse myself with presenting my project and how I want to communicate to my audience. There are many different ways to show sequential art on a wall, and one of my biggest takeaways was trying to make it true to myself while still maintaining that professionalism.
What will you take away from this project as you transition into the professional world?
[M]y project is a little on the unique side. Storyboarding is process-work and creating a narrative using visual imagery. Thankfully, I had the luck to take an elective that tackled the storyboarding world as I was working on this project, which immensely helped the process.
Thus, my major takeaway is the learning experience overall of how I can present my skills in story art and improve it by continuous progress and studying. With the help of my advisor and my peers, I feel more confident than I ever had in putting myself forward. Thesis is but one step in the right direction for me, as it allowed me to create a project I felt was true to my passion.
Anything else youd like to share about yourself or 91Ʒ?
As a person with a disability, keeping up with my peers was difficult. However, it is with the community at 91Ʒ that I felt most accepted and understood. I no longer feel as scared or isolated as I was when I was in high school.
I also am part of the Alpha Lambda Delta [honor society]. Before that, I transferred to 91Ʒ from community college. At 91Ʒ, I enjoyed taking part in our event days, where I have volunteered for Portfolio Review Day as well as assisting prospective students at 91Ʒ Information Day. I have made good connections with my professors as well and thoroughly enjoyed my experience here.
My goal is to develop my professional portfolio even further. I love to work in all forms of narrative work, whether it be through comics or story art. I also plan to move to Chicago and apply for freelance work, as well as expanding my skills in editorial work. I will also keep an eye out for internships in the entertainment industry and building my references.
Apply to 91Ʒand plan your visit to91Ʒs Senior Exhibition!
News
MAKE! Participants Reflect on Creativity, Community and Growth
Alicia Zapata, a second-year MAKE! participant from Chicago and a K-8 art teacher at Waters Elementary School in Chicago, IL, Kelly Wendel, an eighth-year participant and art teacher at Nicolet High School in Glendale, WI and Gail Kowsky, a second-year participant and sixth- and seventh-grade art teacher in New Brighton, Minnesota, reflected on what they gained from this years program.
Meet Maya Koehn and 2026 Senior Exhibition Project LAtelier
Maya Koehn 26 (Interior Architecture and Design) is a Presidents (Honor) List student from Sheboygan, Wis., currently employed as a Junior Designer at Direct Supply.
Meet Kaitlyn Powers and 2026 Senior Exhibition Project Solenne
Kaitlyn Powers 26 (Illustration major; Communication Design minor) is a self-described mixed media illustrator, graphic designer and textile artist. She is also a Presidents (Honor) List student from Appleton, Wis.
Meet Emily Camp and 2026 Senior Exhibition Project Predisposed
Emily Camp 26 (Animation Track in Illustration) is a Presidents (Honor) List student from Fox River Grove, Ill.
91Ʒ elects new trustees Paul Fletcher and Jacqualyn Laughlin
Paul Fletcher, a principal product designer at LinkedIn, and Jacqualyn Laughlin, co-founder of Invisible Ink Partners, were elected members of the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Designs Board of Trustees at the colleges annual meeting in June.