SUNY Chancellor Announces "Best Of" Student Art Awards

Albany – State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher today announced the winners of this year’s Best of SUNY Student Art Exhibition, which showcases work by the top student artists from across SUNY and is on display at the New York State Museum through Sept.3, 2012.

“The Best of SUNY art exhibition represents the finest, most creative, and influential works of art developed by SUNY students over the past year, and we are thankful that the NYS Museum has agreed to put these outstanding works on display once again this year,” said Chancellor Zimpher. “The chosen works are a testament to the many talented SUNY students who study the arts on our campuses and to the faculty who have helped them capture their passions, interests, and observations in paint, photography, digital media, and more. Thank you to all of this year’s contributors and congratulations.”

The awards will be presented by SUNY Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost David K. Lavallee, at a reception today at the Museum. The reception is OPEN PRESS and will be held from 5 – 6 p.m.

Three student artists who will receive $1,000 scholarships are:

• Karen Boyle, Columbia-Greene Community College
• David Hernandez, SUNY Cortland
• Katherine Irwin, SUNY Potsdam

Honorable Mention awards of $500 will also be given to:

• Frank Cannarella, SUNY Plattsburgh
• Michael Capobianco, SUNY Old Westbury
• Elizabeth LaBarge, SUNY Potsdam
• Julie McLaughlin, Binghamton University

A complete listing of students with work included in the exhibition is available online.

The juried exhibition features 68 works selected from more than 316 artistic pieces submitted for the SUNY Student Art Exhibitions for fall 2011 and spring 2012, which were previously displayed at State University Plaza in Albany. The traditional areas of drawing, ceramics, painting, printmaking, photography and sculpture are enhanced by the addition of digital imaging and mixed media installations.

State Museum Director Mark Schaming said, “Again this year, I am impressed by the breadth, the variety of approaches and focus of the work in the exhibition. New York State’s position is unique given the power of the public university system, the talents of these emerging artists and the synergy of the art world that is part of this state. This exhibition is an important one and allows the thousands of visitors to the State Museum a chance to see the outstanding work that is the result of these exceptional programs.  It is a great tribute to the artists, faculty and families across the state who are dedicated to a public education in the visual arts.”

The SUNY student art shows were initiated in 2002 so that the work of SUNY’s most talented student artists would be seen by a wider audience. This will be the fifth time since 2006 that the State Museum hosted the exhibition.

About the New York State Museum

The State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information 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 United States, educating nearly 468,000 students in more than 7,500 degree and certificate programs on 64 campuses with more than 3 million alumni around the globe. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit www.suny.edu