Winners of the 2008 Best of SUNY Student Art Exhibition

Albany – The annual Best of SUNY Student Art Exhibition returned to the New York State Museum for the third consecutive year in May, showcasing the work of SUNY’s top student artists from across the state. At a reception held last night, Interim SUNY Chancellor Dr. John B. Clark announced this year’s student winners of ‘Best in Show’ and ‘Honorable Mention.’

“SUNY students and faculty excel in many areas, but the Arts has always been one of our strongest suits,” said Interim Chancellor Clark. “SUNY students and faculty have produced some breathtaking art over the years and the current ‘Best of’ exhibit is no exception. On behalf of SUNY art students and faculty across our 64 campuses, I wish to thank the New York State Museum for sharing these works with their audience, and I encourage art enthusiasts in the Albany area to visit the museum and experience this breathtaking exhibit for themselves.”

Three student artists in the Best of SUNY Student Art Exhibition received “Best in Show” awards of $1,000. Four “Honorable Mention” awards of $500 were given to an additional four students. The SUNY student art shows began in 2002 so that the work of SUNY’s most talented student artists would be seen by a wider audience. This year’s winners are as follows:

Best in Show

• Jonathon Mess’ "Strata," from SUNY New Paltz
• Laura Murphy’s "Life in a Moldy Cup of Coffee," from SUNY Potsdam
• Rada Gurkovskaya’s "Untitled," from Fashion Institute of Technology

Honorable Mention

• Crystal Wood’s "Rotten Eggs," from SUNY Plattsburgh
• Anthony Garito’s "Russell," from Mohawk Valley Community College
• Jay Price’s “Stoneware,” from SUNY Plattsburgh
• Jeff Heotzler’s "Cultural Diversity," from Ulster Community College

The sixth annual ‘Best of SUNY’ exhibition, open through September 1, contains art works from 24 SUNY campuses. It is a juried show featuring more than 60 works of art selected from more than 200 artistic pieces submitted to the SUNY student art exhibition at the State university Plaza this past academic year.  The works for the fall 2007 and spring shows were chosen by individual art departments across SUNY’s 64 campuses. The traditional areas of drawing, ceramics, painting, printmaking, photography and sculpture are enhanced by the addition of digital imaging and mixed media installations.

Please view this year’s complete participant listings at the following links:

Best of SUNY - Fall 2007-08 Selections
Best of SUNY - Spring 2007-08 Selections

About the NYS Museum
The State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department, the University of the State of New York and the Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the museum website at www.nysm.nysed.gov.

About the State University of New York

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the nation, educating more than 427,000 students in 7,669 degree and certificate programs on 64 campuses. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit www.suny.edu.

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