College Unveils NEW Art Gallery
SUNY Schenectady has expanded its footprint in downtown Schenectady with a bold, new space for art programming that is responsive to the community. What was once the basketball court on the first floor of the former YMCA Building, located at 13 State Street across from campus, has been transformed into the SUNY Schenectady Center for the Arts, where students take a variety of visual art courses in a spacious classroom filled with natural light. A new Art Concentration, part of the Liberal Arts degree program, will start this Fall Semester. Just a few feet away is The Rise Gallery, open to the public, featuring the work of local artists, art faculty, alumni, and students.
College officials unveil The Rise Gallery. Dr. Steady Moono, College President, Maureen Mbanga, Student Trustee; Stephen J. Tyson, Fine Arts Faculty Member, Art Gallery Director and Curator; Ann Fleming Brown, Chair of the Board of Trustees; Eileen Abrahams, Dean of the Division of Liberal Arts; Dr. Peggy King, Emeritus and College Trustee; and Ray Gillen, College Trustee.
Artists, students, art faculty, College officials, alumni, community members, friends, and supporters of the College came together on March 28 for a festive gala, unveiling of the new Center, and to view the inaugural art exhibit in The Rise Gallery, with more than 50 works of art on display through the end of May.
The inaugural exhibit includes a stunning array of works of sculpture, pen and ink, fiber art, acrylic, oil and water color.
Among the featured artists is Miki Conn, former Director of the Hamilton Hill Arts Center, who is also a storyteller, lecturer, and poet. She is shown in front of her piece "A Few Of My Favorite Things: Heart Stuff" with Stephen J. Tyson.
She shared, “Whether one creates art or is a witness to art, through the visual arts the barriers to expression, connection, and understanding are removed. Feelings and responses that can't be expressed in words become accessible. Art schools and programs are valuable because they facilitate this process, offering tools, materials, techniques and practice to help the artist and audience connect.”
During the Art Gala, guests enjoyed music performed by talented students in the Jazz
Ensemble, from the School of Music.
"Baby Talk" - Fern Cunningham-Terry
"Dante's Fire of Purgatore (accent over the second 'a')" - Ralph Caparulo
"I Don't Fit In" - Oscar Alberto Bográn
"Quiet Pride" - Tayron Lopez '16 (Taiitan)
The public is invited to tour The Rise Gallery through May 31 during gallery hours:
Monday and Wednesday: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Friday: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and
Saturday: 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Exhibiting Artists
Bianca DiLella
Chantie Rony
Craig Petriekis
Fern Cunningham-Terry
James Cunningham
Lindsay Kirk
Luidmyla Kovalchuk
Margaret Cunningham
Mary S. Greco
Miki Conn
Oscar Alberto Bográn
Raè Frasier
Ralph Caparulo
Robert Blood
Sarah Boink
Stephen J. Tyson
Steve Kowalski
Tayron Lopez / Taiitan
Veronica Cohen
Emely Davila
Christopher Rivas
Autumn Cronin
Sarah Dukhi
Hanif Thompson
Sylvia Baldeo
Claire Bracco
William Malik Penn
Avel de Knight