Graduating Senior Drew Smith, a graphic design major, will present “Exploring the Modern Impact of Mesoamerican Symbology” on Tuesday, March 29 at 4 p.m. in the Mazza Museum, located in the Virginia B. Gardener Fine Arts Pavilion, as part of the University of Findlay’s Richard E. Wilkin Lecture Series.

After researching a work of ancient Mesoamerican art as part of his fine art minor, Smith decided to further his understanding of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican arts and cultures, which resulted in an independent study under the direction of Marie Louden-Hanes, Ph.D., professor of art history and lecture series chair.

Following his independent studying, Smith read and wrote extensively on the complexities of Mesoamerican art, writing and history from the standpoint of visual literacy, which is what this school year’s Wilkin Series is focusing on. He found that these ancient conventions have affected our modern paradigms of visual literacies in a multitude of ways.

Also during his time at UF, Smith painted a four-wall mural for the new child psychology laboratory on campus, interned with the public relations and marketing department at Blanchard Valley Health Systems, mentored first-year students at the University and worked as a freelance designer and fine artist.

Smith placed first in the drawing category of the 2015 Juried Student Art Show at UF and has had six submissions accepted into the 2016 show, which has not yet granted awards.

Additionally, he serves as a Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow Ambassador.

For more information on the Richard E. Wilkin Lecture Series, contact chair Louden-Hanes at (419) 701-8713 or at [email protected].