Exhibition Information

Winners of "Student Select '23" exhibition.

Winners of "Student Elect" exhibition.

Dowd Gallery - west: "Student Select '23"

Student Select '23
April 24 - May 13, 2023

The Art Exhibition Association members invited Natalija Mijatovic to serve as this year's exhibition juror. Mijatovic is the past Dowd Gallery's featured artist who exhibited her solo show, Of Snow and Sorrow, in the fall of 2021. She is an active practicing artist and a professor of art at the Department of Art and Design at Binghamton University. The guest juror came to select artwork for the exhibition on Wednesday, April 19 and chose 116 pieces from 54 artists representing ceramics, digital illustration, drawing, painting, photography, fibers, graphic design, sculpture, and video. The collection of works culminated in one of the strongest shows in the past ten years, demonstrating the diversity of thoughts, choices of materials, techniques, and need for engagement with the physical world.

Third Prize: Katherine Kressner, Kindred Quit, 2022 - 2023, Digital stop-motion animation, 2 minutes

After careful deliberation, Mijatovic selected four students as winners of the Student Select 2023 exhibition. The First Prize went to a student who graduated in the fall of 2022 as a Studio Art Major, Cesilia Tucker, for her oil pastel drawing titled 22. The juror gravitated to the piece for its subdued aesthetics and intentional execution. She commented, "The work transcends a sense of space and dreamy-like urban environment with poetic composition. It is a thoughtful work both with the use of color and perspective." Gabriel Carraher, a third-year Studio Art major with a concentration in Fiber Arts, was awarded the Second Prize for his weaving, titled Healing Touch. The fiber piece was selected for its masterful execution and intricate design. "The monochromatic scarf is beautifully done but also carries an additional spiritual dimension as an object of heading and conduit for peace. It is evident that the making process was a form of meditation," Mijatovic added. A 2-minute digital stop-motion animation, Kindred Quilt, took the Third Prize. Katherine Kressner, a graduating student from the Graphic Design and Digital Media program, displayed creativity and expressive portrayal of a complicated subject matter dealing with the loss of a loved one. "The student illustrated a heavy emotional journey after a tragic loss in a sensitive and lyrical delivery. The short film conveyed love and hope embedded in the beauty of a moving drawing." Two Honorable Mentions were awarded. The juror selected Dana Garrison, and the Dowd Gallery director, Jaroslava Prihodova, chose Alyssa Cusimano for the prizes. Both students show dedication to their artistic practice and produce consistently strong work inside and outside the classroom. Dana Garrison, a third-year BFA Studio Art student with a concentration in painting, and Alyssa Cusimano, a graduating BFA Studio Art student with a concentration in painting, received the honor for their body of work submitted to the exhibition.

The annual exhibition, historically presented in the Dowd Gallery, offers participants an opportunity to learn about formal presentations while sharing their creations with the campus community in a gallery setting. The three-week exhibition demonstrates that creativity thrives parallels with strong academic achievements. Across campus, students come together from other majors and concentrations to show tangible outcomes not only from art and design-focused classes but also from students' own personal creative activities outside of classrooms. The diverse selection of art produced by art majors, non-traditional students, and non-art majors alike demonstrates that their imagination, acquired skills, and enthusiasm honors the quality and dedication of the faculty at SUNY Cortland and the strength of the student community. The juror added, "I was impressed with the consistency and high quality of artwork across the media. Results are a testament to a great art program and classes offered at SUNY Cortland".

Participating student artists:

Yves Auguste, Tyler Avelli, Leah Bernhardt, Dillon Boyack, Adrian Cabreja, Ella Carbone, Gabriel Carraher, Ryan Castro, Anthony Cawley, Morgan Cherrone, Betsy Clasby, Alyssa Cusimano, Katherine De Marinis, Amanda Dirig, Firat Ercan, Julia Espinal, Amadeus Fairbrother, Izabella Fraser, Dana Garrison, Sophia Genao, Ashley Gill, Deanna Gilman, Sarah Goldberg, Taylor Goodney, Ella Gorrell, Gabriella Grieser, Evelyn P. Hull, Kristen Jeppestol, Mckenna Johnston, Samantha Kenny, Katherine Kressner, Michelle LaMorte, Chloe Loewenguth, Sophie Marin, Madelyn Marinelli, Talia Masson, Jackson Masters, Jakob Mawhir, Kaitlyn McCormick, Brooke O'Leary, Robert Ponterio, Alyssa Reardon, Lindsey Richards, Megan Robinson, Elizabeth Rogers, Mai Siwinski, Jean Tomassini, Cesilia Tucker, Noelle Turner, Ariele Vance, Aries Vanderpool, Cassie Williams, Rory Wolcott, and Angel Zapata.