SUNY Potsdam Welcomes Back Accomplished Art Alumni for Exhibition, Lecture Series and Gallery Talks
Josh Sperling ’06 poses for a portrait in his studio in Ithaca, N.Y. Large-scale abstract paintings by Sperling are currently on display as part of the SUNY Potsdam Art Alumni Invitational exhibition at the Gibson Gallery.
Over the past several months, the SUNY Potsdam Department of Art and the Gibson Gallery have highlighted the work of its accomplished alumni, who work in a range of media and fields.
The SUNY Potsdam Art Alumni Invitational exhibition currently on display in the Gibson Gallery opened during Reunion 2023, and features the work of 29 alumni artists. The artists are a diverse group, both in their backgrounds and in their chosen media, and their graduation dates cover a wide span.
SUNY Potsdam’s art alumni are an accomplished group, and the exhibition showcases their many achievements, from the renowned large-scale abstract paintings by Josh Sperling ’06 (see illustration) to ceramic work by Katsitsionni Fox ’95, featuring a traditional Akwesasne form with bold contemporary decoration. Stephan Savoia ’75 has twice been a recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in Photography, as part of a team photographing President Bill Clinton’s career in politics. The most recent graduate represented, Angelina Doherty ’15, is a graphic designer and artist who works in Montreal and is currently experimenting with digital media as a fine art.
Visitors to the exhibition will enjoy seeing works in cast paper, ceramics, digital prints, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture, sometimes in combination. The Gibson Gallery is located in Brainerd Hall, and is open Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 1 to 5 p.m., and on Wednesday and Thursday from 1 to 7 p.m. Admission is free.
An oil painting by Emily Glass ’07 is among the works by 29 alumni artists currently on display at SUNY Potsdam.
Photography of garments designed by Saad Hajidin ’88 are on display as part of the SUNY Potsdam Art Alumni Invitational exhibition at the Gibson Gallery.
A lecture series has been held in tandem with the exhibition. On Sept. 14, Saad Hajidin ’88 spoke about his career in the fashion industry, bringing to campus the Ralph Lauren team sweaters he designed for the 2014 Winter Olympics. On Oct. 17, June Tyler ’77 spoke about her long career in painting, drawing, printmaking and papermaking. The last presentation will feature the painter Josh Sperling ’06, and will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 3, in Brainerd Hall Room 202.
Work by Josh Sperling ’06 is currently on display as part of the SUNY Potsdam Art Alumni Invitational exhibition at the Gibson Gallery.
The Gibson Gallery has also organized four lunchtime gallery talks in October, by Liza L.L. Paige, Jim Murray, Isaac Snell and Nate Infante.
SUNY Potsdam’s Department of Art offers both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts degree programs in art education, studio art, fine arts, and graphic design and new media. Graduates have gone on to pursue professions in the fine arts, art administration, art therapy, digital design, K-12 and university teaching, museum curation, audio/visual administration, publishing, gallery ownership, interior design, architecture, commercial printing, pattern making, photojournalism, studio ceramics and more. For more information, visit www.potsdam.edu/art.
The Art Museum at SUNY Potsdam serves as the center for visual arts at the College, and encompasses all of the collections found throughout campus, including in the Gibson Gallery. The museum is dedicated to the exhibition and interpretation of quality works of art, and its collection includes significant artworks from the 20th and 21st centuries, as well as earlier pieces. Its mission is to make direct experience of the visual arts accessible to students, faculty, staff and alumni of the College, as well as to residents of Northern New York. To learn more, visit potsdam.edu/museum.
About SUNY Potsdam:
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges—and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.
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