The Daily Bulletin

Please join the Burchfield Penney Art Center at Buffalo State for the opening celebration of A New Beginning: Art & Design Faculty Exhibition on Friday, May 11, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., part of this month's M&T Second Friday events. The exhibition is on view in the Burchfield Penney’s Charles Cary Rumsey and Sylvia L. Rosen galleries through Sunday, September 23.

Buffalo State’s recently created Art and Design Department merged the educational and creative activities of the former departments of Art Education, Design, Fine Arts, and Interior Design. The Burchfield Penney Art Center and its partners at the college see this convergence as a tremendous opportunity for a holistic approach to educating and creating in the arts.

A New Beginning explores this new creative force. Selected work representing the full-time faculty will provide greater insight to their contemporary approaches in the field. A wide range of works illustrates the diverse, culturally aware, and socially relevant orientation of their practice. The exhibition includes a beautifully illustrated art history book, ceramics, illustrations, interior design, jewelry, lacquerware, mixed media collage and assemblage, paintings, pastel drawing, photography, sculptures, textiles, and video.

The following faculty members are participating in the exhibition:

Michelle S. Bae-Dimitriadis, Associate Professor, Art Education
Jozef Bajus, Associate Professor, Fibers
Eric R. Dolph, Assistant Professor, Interior Design
Frances M. Gage, Associate Professor, Art History
Lin Xia Jiang, Professor, Painting
Sunhwa Kim, Associate Professor, Wood/Furniture Design
Candace P. Keegan Masters, Associate Professor, Art Education/Painting
Joseph A. Miller, Associate Professor, Drawing and Painting
Tara J. Nahabetian, Associate Professor, Metals/Jewelry Design
Philip B. Ogle, Professor, Drawing, Mixed Media
Brent D. Patterson, Assistant Professor, Communication Design
Kenneth P. Payne, Professor, Sculpture
Alice C. Pennisi, Associate Professor, Art Education
Richard J. Ross, Associate Professor, Illustration
Stephen F. Saracino, Professor, Metals/Jewelry Design
Jörg E. Schnier, Chair and Associate Professor, Interior Design
Bhakti Sharma, Associate Professor, Interior Design
Yola L. Monakhov Stockton, Assistant Professor, Photography
Colleen Toledano, Associate Professor, Ceramics
Carol A. Townsend, Associate Professor, Design Foundations
Robert L. Wood, Professor, Ceramics

The Burchfield Penney’s curatorial team included Scott F. Propeack, associate director and chief curator; Nancy S. Weekly, Burchfield scholar and Burchfield Penney instructor of museum studies; and Kathy G. Shiroki, curatorial associate and lecturer, Art Education. They visited faculty members in their studios and offices and were treated to impressive histories of each talented artist, art historian, and designer.

"SUNY Buffalo State is so fortunate to have faculty with such profoundly accomplished careers filled with international travel and a sustained level of inquiry," Ms. Weekly said. "They get involved in both community activities and international research to bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, as well as fresh perspectives to their students. This exhibition provides a window on their art-making."

Each of the works on exhibition was selected in collaboration with its creator, from work created this year to proud accomplishments dating back as far as 1984. Each piece tells a story, which has been transcribed and shared on the exhibition’s posting on the Burchfield Penney website. There visitors can also see artist profiles to learn more about their fascinating achievements.

For more information on May M&T Second Friday events, please visit the Burchfield Penney website or Facebook page.