SUNY Oneonta

"Emotional Ties" was a solo show of new work by Digital and Studio Art senior Christine Schmitt selected from the Gallery's Project Open Call exhibition. Her exhibition was on display in the Project Space Gallery from Jan. 30 to Feb. 24. An opening reception was held Thursday, Feb. 1, from 4 to 6 p.m. "This collaborative exhibition, which included supporting photographic works by Molly Seidl (SUNY Oneonta '23), featured a wide range of Schmitt's provocative crocheted art such as her 2D abstract wall works, 3D sculptures, wearables and site-specific installations," said SUNY Oneonta Art Gallery Director Sarah Simpson. "Overall, this was an immersive experience where the viewer enters a cohesive and mostly abstract environment that asks you to consider texture, color and shape in relation to the emotions they evoke. Schmitt offered guides in the form of emotive models dressed in the wearables that have since been combined into large-scale installations and in the presence and poses of her stuffed human-like sculptures." Admission to the galleries and receptions are free and open to the public, and visitors can receive parking passes through the University Police Department. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, contact Sarah Simpson at Sarah.Simpson@oneonta.edu or 607-436-2445.

Twenty-two SUNY Oneonta students and the Theatre Department produced "Dead by Jack," a "devised theatre" performance depicting the lives of the five women who were Jack the Ripper. Devised theatre is a method of creating theatre that originates from collaborative, often improvised, work by a performing ensemble. The actors, who were all SUNY Oneonta students, were in charge of coming up with their narratives, blocking and dramatic choices, and worked with the Theatre Department to develop the scenery and costumes for the show. The production was directed by Kiara Pipino, associate professor of acting, directing and movement, and five performances were held from March 1 to 6. "Everyone has heard about Jack the Ripper and about the White Chapel Murders," said Pipino. "Theories, speculations and a myriad of literature and media content in all forms has been devoted to this infamous serial killer and yet there is no scientific evidence that can firmly identify him. Perhaps this is why the fascination still exists to this day, more than one hundred and some years after the last killing, which happened in 1888." While the cast didn't work off a script, the characters, Mary Ann (Polly) Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine (Kate) Eddowes, Mary-Jane Kelly and Jack the Ripper, were based on Hallie Rubenhold's book "The Five: The Untold Lives of Women Killed by Jack the Ripper" and additional research completed by the cast. "We know a lot about these five women. We know where they were born, where they grew up, we know about their families, their struggles, their living accommodations, occupations and how they ended up down on their luck," said Pipino. "They were all labelled as prostitutes and while there is no judgement here about that profession, the fact is that most of them weren't. There are many Jack the Rippers still at large. The number of cold cases regarding slaughtered victims whose murderers were never found is astounding. According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Report there are about 340000 unsolved homicides just from 1965 to 2021." Students from the Mask and Hammer theatre club, an active and dynamic campus organization that promotes opportunities for students of all majors to become involved in theatre activities, were part of the production in various cast and crew roles. "Dead by Jack" was shown in the Hamblin Theatre on campus. Tickets for upcoming productions can be purchased online at https://oneonta.universitytickets.com/, in person at the Hunt Union Information Desk from Monday to Saturday between 1 and 10 p.m. and in person at the box office in the Fine Arts Center one hour before each scheduled performance. View ticket pricing and more information online at https://suny.oneonta.edu/theatre-department/season-shows.

Forty-one students were featured in the Art Across Campus: Spring 2024 exhibition. This was the third exhibition in an annual series that showcased the creative final projects by students across campus from a diverse range of majors and focuses. This semester's exhibition featured student work submitted by Dr. Suriati Abas (Elementary Education and Reading), Dr. Maria Chaves Daza (Africana and Latinx Studies), Dr. Sheena Mason (English) and Dr. Sarah Portway (Fashion). Art Across Campus was on display in the Open Space Gallery until Feb. 17. An opening reception took place on Thursday, Feb. 1, from 4 to 6 p.m. Admission to the galleries and receptions are free and open to the public, and visitors can receive parking passes through the University Police Department. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, contact Sarah Simpson at Sarah.Simpson@oneonta.edu or 607-436-2445.

SUNY Oneonta senior Gideon Dean, of Berlin, MD, shares his experiences as a Music Industry major in the February 2024 edition of In Tune Monthly magazine. "SUNY Oneonta has many resources and avenues to explore what you want to do in music, media and entertainment," says Dean, one of nine students from across the country quoted in the magazine's "Best Music Schools" section. In Tune Monthly's "Best Music Schools" twice-a-year feature offers professional advice on navigating the college admissions process and tips for incoming first-year students from senior music majors. The online magazine is distributed to a monthly readership of 45,000+ middle and high school music teachers and their 10 million students. "Dr. Joseph Pignato's course Music Industry Communication was the most educationally and professionally fulfilling class I have ever taken," Dean told In Tune Monthly. "It gives you a real-life sense of the climate of the music industry and the job market. He teaches you how to properly present yourself and communicate well within the industry, which is important and not highlighted as much as it should be." Dean has his own radio show on WONY, SUNY Oneonta's student-run radio station. Called Equal Play, the show highlights women in country music, past and present. Dean's show won the Best Specialty Show award at the International Student Broadcasting Championship in fall 2023. Dean also received Rising Star recognition for his portfolio of work in radio and the Best Social Media Execution award for his co-hosted social media page, US Radio Updater. Dean runs that page with fellow student Christian Larson, who attends San Diego State University. Currently, Dean is a member of the Country Music Association's Educational Leadership Class of 2024. The year-long program includes opportunities to meet country music industry professionals, panels, seminars and courses. A highlight of the program was a trip to Nashville in August 2023 for the organization's annual Leadership Summit, a multi-day conference full of professional development, industry education and networking. Dean is the first SUNY Oneonta student and the second SUNY applicant ever to be accepted into the mentorship program. Additionally, Dean spent part of his 2023 spring break attending the Country Radio Seminar in Nashville. This annual seminar gathers radio professionals and artists to compare notes on what they would like the country radio scene to look like throughout the coming year. Dean had the opportunity to experience previews of new music and attend meetings with professionals in the music and media industries. After he graduates in spring 2024, Dean would love to work in country music radio, either on-air or behind the scenes at a media company or for a record label. "The Country Music Association is an organization that has drawn me in for the longest time," he said. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, SUNY Oneonta's Music Industry program prepares students for careers in a variety of fields in the music, media and entertainment industries. The curriculum includes specialized music industry studies in the recording industry, business affairs, intellectual property law, music products, and music theory, performance and history/literature. Internships, field experience and several related minors - audio production with Pro Tools certification, performance, music theory and music literature - allow students to tailor the program to their interests.

SUNY Oneonta senior Allison Sandt, of Park Ridge, NJ, shares her experiences as a Music Industry major in the February 2024 edition of In Tune Monthly magazine. "Growing as an artist in SUNY Oneonta's inspiring, close-knit community has only helped me go further distances outside of it," says Sandt, one of nine students from across the country quoted in the magazine's "Best Music Schools" section. In Tune Monthly's "Best Music Schools" twice-a-year feature offers professional advice on navigating the college admissions process and tips for incoming first-year students from senior music majors. The online magazine is distributed to a monthly readership of 45,000+ middle and high school music teachers and their 10 million students. "My favorite course at SUNY Oneonta was Music Industry Communications with Dr. Joseph Pignato, a preparational course useful for students interested in any avenue of the music industry," Sandt told In Tune Monthly. "As a recording and performing artist, I learned valuable lessons in creating a specific artist brand, researching my target demographic of listeners, developing comprehensive marketing plans for future releases, and finding career opportunities within my field." Sandt is very involved in Oneonta's local music scene, having played with a few bands at local venues like Wise Guys Sammy's, the Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center and the B Side Ballroom and Supper Club. During her first year at SUNY Oneonta, Sandt started a band called Seeing Double with other students. While the band is no longer playing together, Seeing Double surpassed 5 million streams of its music on Spotify and Apple Music. Sandt has also been the lead singer in Associate Professor Jeremy Wall's Funk Ensemble and participated in a few on-campus rock ensembles. She was also a live sound intern at The Black Oak Tavern in Oneonta, a hybrid creative marketing intern at bergenPAC in Englewood, NJ, and completed a virtual marketing internship with Les Poisson Rouge in New York City. Currently, she is playing bass for Jam Band with Dr. Pignato and independently recording her debut EP with the help of fellow Music Industry majors Teddy Holly, Dylan Travison, Tyler Tompkins and Michael Aaron. "My dream job is to do what I do now on a bigger scale! I love writing, recording and performing my own music and I would love to be able to do that as a full-time job," said Sandt. "With the experience I've had through Oneonta's local music scene, playing with Seeing Double, and working with some of my favorite musicians, professors and mentors here, I am looking forward to graduation in May." Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, SUNY Oneonta's Music Industry program prepares students for careers in a variety of fields in the music, media and entertainment industries. The curriculum includes specialized music industry studies in the recording industry, business affairs, intellectual property law, music products, and music theory, performance and history/literature. Internships, field experience and several related minors - audio production with Pro Tools certification, performance, music theory and music literature - allow students to tailor the program to their interests.

Nineteen SUNY Oneonta students designed a collaborative anthropology art exhibit titled "Winter Waste Land" under the guidance of Professor of Material Culture Cynthia Falk. The exhibition is on display in the Open Space Gallery from Nov. 19 to Dec. 16, and an opening reception was held on Dec. 5. "Spread across the three walls of the Open Space Gallery, the installation utilized consumer refuse, most of which is recyclable, to create three separate tableaus: a winter scene with snow people, a display of colorful discarded products and a factory setting made from cardboard," said Dr. Falk. At the exhibition, viewers were encouraged to consider the amount of single-use products they consume and discard every day. Students were present at the reception to discuss the impact of waste materials that can be recycled. All recyclable objects were recycled at the end of the exhibition.

On Thursday, Nov. 9, the SUNY Oneonta Theatre Department presented "All in the Timing," a 20th century play written by American playwright David Ives. "All in the Timing" is a collection of one-act comedic plays featuring intellect and satire and won Ives the John Gassner Playwriting Award. Each act is uniquely different from one to the next in the original six plays, ranging from an awkward first date titled "Sure Thing" to "Variations on the Death of Trotsky." Eight more plays were later included in "All in the Timing," including a monologue about a man who believes he is an actual typewriter. The SUNY Oneonta production of "All in the Timing" was directed by Kiara Pipino, associate professor of acting, directing and movement. Students from the Mask and Hammer theatre club, an active and dynamic campus organization that promotes opportunities for students of all majors to become involved in theatre activities, played the role of 21 different characters. Other students involved in the production are part of the crew as stage and assistant stage managers, assistant director, sound designer, prop coordinator, painters, master electrician, costume crafts, wardrobe supervisor and several run crew members. "The Theatre Department decided on "All in the Timing" because the nature of the show will expose students to a different acting style and aesthetic than what they have been working on previously," said Pipino. "It is a way more stylized piece, too, which means the acting will need to take into consideration the design aspects of the production - as they become just as important in the storytelling as the text itself." Casting and initial rehearsals for "All in the Timing" began at the end of the spring 2023 semester. Assistant Technical Director and Theatrical Designer Nathan Elsener designed the scenery, and Technical Director, Production Manager and Theatrical Designer Scott Segar designed the lighting. Associate Professor of Theatrical Design Bethany Marx designed the costumes, and the role of "Jack" was played by Associate Professor of Philosophy Achim Koeddermann. "Because "All in the Timing" is not a full-length play, but rather a series of short plays with a similar kind of approach to style and acting, students could work on shorter pieces and really focus on details," said Pipino.

SUNY Oneonta Art and Design major Clayton Davis showcased his artwork in a solo exhibition titled "Vestiges" on campus from Oct. 17 to Nov. 11. A reception was held on Thursday, Nov. 9, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Open Space Gallery at SUNY Oneonta. "Vestiges" was a solo exhibition about the "disintegration experienced throughout our lifetimes, be it through the decay of relationships with family and friends, a fading memory, or the slow degradation of a rock turning to sand," said Gallery Director Sarah Simpson. "These experiences can be found everywhere in the known universe, and it's important to realize this and celebrate it." Through his work, Davis aimed to show viewers personal and public examples of these occurrences so they could slowly begin to accept them and understand their "inherent beauty and relation to our shared human experience." From a painting of a fading childhood home memory to photographs of old barns slowly falling through disuse, he shows the mental, emotional and physical sides of this phenomenon.

SUNY Oneonta student Cymphani Hargrave received the Director's Choice award for her exhibited artwork titled "Grandpa" at the Fenimore Art Museum as part of the LEAF Art and Poetry Contest. Hargrave's piece, along with the rest of the work in the contest, was on display from Sept. 15 to Nov. 5, and an opening gala was held on Sept. 20. Every year, the Director's Choice award is received by one artist who exhibits their work in the Fenimore Museum. The award is given to an artist by the current director of the LEAF Art and Poetry Content, and the piece is chosen by how deeply it resonates with the director. "I've only recently begun to enjoy photography and hone my skills in that art form," said Hargrave. "I am proud and honored to be the recipient of the 2023 Director's Choice award." Hargrave's inspiration for "Grandpa" came from a visit to her grandfather's highrise apartment shortly after she began studying photography. To submit her piece, Hargrave worked alongside SUNY Oneonta Assistant Professor of Photography Wesley Bernard, whom she said, "is a big inspiration to me as a photographer." "When I visited my grandpa's home after I started studying photography, I began to appreciate the details I never noticed before," said Hargrave. "I walked onto the balcony, took notice of the exposed, cured concrete, and decided that that setting would become the backdrop for taking my family's portraits. I saw his home as a location to showcase the beauty of our family."

On Thursday, Oct. 26, the SUNY Oneonta Mask and Hammer Theatre Club performed "I & U," a play written by American playwright and screenwriter Lauren Gunderson. This play features two characters named Anthony and Caroline, and is recognized as an ode to youth, life, love and the strange beauty of human connectedness. One afternoon, Anthony arrives unexpectedly at classmate Caroline's door bearing a beat-up copy of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, an urgent assignment from their English teacher. Homebound due to illness, Caroline hasn't been to school in months, but she is as quick and sardonic as Anthony is athletic, sensitive and popular. As these two let down their guards and share their secrets, this mundane poetry project unlocks a much deeper mystery that has brought them together. The production's director was SUNY Oneonta Theatre and Psychology dual-major Katelyn Litwak. The cast and rest of the production team were also SUNY Oneonta students. "I & U" has been in development by the Mask and Hammer Theatre Club since the spring of 2023. "I knew I wanted to direct a show, but I had no idea what show to propose," said Litwak. "I turned to the professors for advice, and one suggested I and You. The show was set to open in spring 2020, but it was canceled in March when everything shut down. The director at the time, Emily Kramer ('21), never got to see her vision for the show come to fruition. After reading the play myself, I instantly fell in love with it. Theme of finding the beauty in life through "the small stuff" really spoke to me, and the ideology was something that, I believe, we all need a reminder of." Additional students who helped produce the show include stage manager Sofia Delgado, costume designer Sarah Izzo, sound designer Jessy Gardner, lightning designer Lindsey McCreadie, props coordinator Jessica Davis, assistant stage manager Renee Hooper, "Caroline" actress Evelyn Winters and set designer Gabriel Gutierrez, who also played "Anthony." The production of "I & U" was performed in the Hamblin Theater at SUNY Oneonta from Thursday to Saturday, Oct. 26-28, at 7:30 p.m., and on Sunday, Oct. 29, at 2 p.m. Information about future shows performed by the Mask and Hammer Theatre Club and the SUNY Oneonta Theatre Department can be viewed online at https://suny.oneonta.edu/theatre-department/season-shows.

Two SUNY Oneonta students had their artwork on display at the Community Arts Network of Oneonta (CANO) as part of the "Hartwick X SUNY Oneonta Student Show." The exhibition was on view from Oct. 7, 2023, to Oct. 22, and a reception was held on Oct. 22, from 2 to 4 p.m. SUNY Oneonta students Victoria Villaverde and Clayton Davis had their artwork featured, while Hartwick featured several students. Both Villaverde and Davis are both Art and Design majors and will graduate in the spring of 2024. Both Villaverde and Davis have had their work on display in multiple exhibitions at SUNY Oneonta. The students had their work on view alongside an exhibition at CANO by artists Michael Asbill and Andrea Frank titled "Adopting to Tree Speed." The "Hartwick X SUNY Oneonta Student Show" was one of several exhibitions that featured artwork completed by SUNY Oneonta students. Many of these exhibitions are on display in the SUNY Oneonta art galleries on campus throughout the academic year.

From Friday, September 29 to October 7, 10 SUNY Oneonta students exhibited a collection of photographs from a faculty-led Documentary Photography course in Portugal. The Documentary Photography class, which took place in the summer session of 2023 in Portugal, had many things to offer the participating students, two professors and two full-time guides as they traveled and explored the cities and countryside. The trip was a mixture of students from many disciplines at SUNY Oneonta. These students hiked the hills of Lisbon and the volcanoes of Terceira Island and tasted the local cuisines such as the beef dish Alcatra, local cheeses, fresh sardines and world-famous pastries. The students interviewed and documented farms specializing in permaculture and talked with donkey milk producers on sustainability and innovative technologies meshing the old with the new. While photographing, the students were inundated with the vast history and culture of such a great European nation. Lisbon and the Azores provided crucial cultural insight into modern Portugal and its place in the world. The camera allowed them to document their individual experiences. Their knowledge of photography was utilized to create a visual reflection of how they saw the country. During the trips to markets, ranches, festivals and ancient villages, they were able to gain insight about the daily lives of the people. To successfully show the beauty and details of Portugal, each photographer had to be perceptive at the moment and be aware of the moving world around them. They were to photograph with intent and telling a story was paramount. The moments captured from this class will help them understand the global connections we share and to foster cultural sensitivity far beyond college. Understanding the diverse European perspective was made easier with the use of cameras because the students were able to communicate and interact with locals despite any verbal language barrier. The camera created a conversation and the student's voices were visual.

On Friday, Sept. 29, the SUNY Oneonta Theatre Department presented "The Imaginary Invalid" featuring 10 students in various roles. "The Imaginary Invalid" features a hypochondriac father, Argan, who wants his daughter, Angelique, to marry a doctor so he can save on his medical bills. However, Angelique is in love with another, and soon the whole household is in support of her scheme to save true love. The SUNY Oneonta production of "The Imaginary Invalid" was adapted and directed by John McCaslin-Doyle, professor of theatre history, dramatic literature and acting. Students from the Mask and Hammer theatre club, an active and dynamic campus organization that promotes opportunities for students of all majors to become involved in theatre activities, were part of the production in various cast and crew roles. "It is classical play, but it is also fun," says McCaslin-Doyle. "Both will help students with their development. "The Imaginary Invalid" is a broad, physical farce with strong language demands, something we couldn't do during COVID lockdown - and something essential for students to experience." Casting and initial rehearsals for "The Imaginary Invalid" began in April 2023. Theatre Department Chair and Professor of Theatrical Design John Bagby designed the scenery and coordinated the props for the performance. Scott Segar, technical director, production manager and theatrical designer, built the scenery over the summer, and Marjean McCaslin-Doyle, costume shop supervisor and theatrical designer, designed and built the costumes. "In this production, five actors play twelve characters, so people are busy on stage and backstage all the time," says John McCaslin-Doyle. "It's something that can be designed to travel out to high schools in the spring for recruitment. This adaptation is a short play, cut down to accommodate the brief time we have to mount this production."

Five SUNY Oneonta students will show their artwork in the Project Open Call: Fall 2023 group exhibition from Sept. 12 to Oct. 7 in the Open Space Gallery on campus. An opening reception is taking place in the gallery on Thursday, Sept. 14, from 4 to 6 p.m. Project Open Call: Fall 2023 is a group show of new work submitted by SUNY Oneonta students to the Gallery's open call. Featuring work by: Lulu Q. Burkowski, Breena Nachbar, Catherine Naughton, Christine Schmitt and Lauryn Williams. Project Open Call is an open-call program that accepts applications at the end of every semester for consideration in student shows in the following semester. Students may submit either personal work or coursework and can apply for inclusion in a curated group exhibition or with an original idea for a solo or group show. Admission to the gallery and reception is free and open to the public, and visitors can receive parking passes through the University Police Department. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, contact Gallery Director Sarah Simpson at Sarah.Simpson@oneonta.edu or 607-436-2445.

Thirteen SUNY Oneonta students have their artwork on display in the Jean Parish Scholarship: 2022-2024 exhibition in the Project Space Gallery. An opening reception will take place in the gallery on Thursday, Sept. 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. Jean Parish Scholarship: 2022-2024 is a group exhibition featuring work by the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 student recipients of the Jean Parish Scholarship: Julia Bogart, Lulu Q. Burkowski, Clayton Davis, Kelsey Etienne, Kelsey Greene, Victoria Hallenbeck, Kento Igarashi, Nicholas Keller, Stephanie Mallen, Ashley Pink, Christine Schmitt, Paige Splendido, and Victoria Villaverde. Displayed works include inkjet print photography, knitting, digital videos and animations, mixed media and various canvases. Faculty Emerita Jean Parish enjoyed a lengthy teaching career at SUNY Oneonta, leaving behind a gift to provide financial assistance to students studying art. One of the two endowed funds she set in place supports the Jean Parish Scholarship, distributed by the Art Department through a competitive process every fall semester. Art majors already enrolled in the program are eligible to apply during or after their first semester, and the department gives several non-renewable awards for the academic year. Admission to the gallery and reception is free and open to the public, and visitors can receive parking passes through the University Police Department. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

Sixteen students and the SUNY Oneonta Theatre Department will present "EVIL DEAD: The Musical," a theatrical rock performance based on the "Evil Dead" franchise. Beginning Wednesday, April 26, the production stars Ash, the housewares employee turned demon-killing hero, and its plot and characters are a mix of the "Evil Dead," "Evil Dead II" and "Army of Darkness" films. "EVIL DEAD: The Musical" features five unsuspecting college students who travel to an abandoned cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway, accidentally unleashing an evil force that turns the group into demons. With the help of his iconic chainsaw, Ash must defeat the demons as all characters sing and dance to songs specifically written for the musical. The SUNY Oneonta Theatre Department will perform the production several times throughout the week with help from the Mask and Hammer student theatre club. Faculty and staff make up the show's director, light designer, technical director, costume designer, costume shop manager and assistant technical director. The choreographer, sound designer, stage manager, production coordinator, dance captain, assistant light designer, assistant stage managers and cast are SUNY Oneonta students. "The musical fits a mostly student-populated audience well and has an excellent score. It is a rock musical, and the songs are quite popular," said "EVIL DEAD: The Musical" Director and Associate Professor of Acting, Directing and Movement Kiara Pipino. "I hope to see more people coming to see the production, considering its popularity. It is time to see theatre make a real comeback after the pandemic. A live theatrical experience is so much more fulfilling than what any streaming service can provide." "EVIL DEAD: The Musical" can be seen in the Goodrich Theater at SUNY Oneonta from Wednesday to Friday, April 26-28, at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday, April 29, at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at https://oneonta.universitytickets.com/, in person at the Hunt Union Information Desk from Monday to Saturday between 1 and 10 p.m. and in person at the box office in the Fine Arts Center one hour before each scheduled performance. View ticket pricing and additional information online at https://suny.oneonta.edu/theatre-department/season-shows.

The SUNY Oneonta 2023 Juried Student Art Show features more than 80 works by 50 talented student artists. The exhibition opened on March 28 and will run through May 13 in the university's Martin-Mullen Art Gallery on campus. Featured artwork was submitted by students and selected by Art Department faculty members. This year's award winners were chosen by invited jurors President and Founder Karen Shafer and Director of Program Initiatives Dan O'Neil at Aunt Karen's Farm. Located in Mount Vision, Aunt Karen's Farm is a quiet residency program for artists, educators, administrators, environmentalists and agrarians to incubate new work and celebrate nature. The show highlights the different mediums and themes explored by students over the academic year. Prints, 3D models, clay sculptures, digital designs, photographs, drawings and mixed media make up this year's offerings. SUNY Oneonta student Victoria Villaverde designed the show's poster. On March 30, an opening reception celebrated student talent with an award ceremony and refreshments. During the reception, Gallery Director Sarah Simpson thanked College President Alberto Cardelle, Provost Enrique Morales-Diaz, School of Liberal Arts and Business Dean Elizabeth Dunn, Vice President for University Advancement and Executive Director of SUNY Oneonta Foundation Paul Adamo and Art Department Chair and Assistant Professor Katherine Spitzoff for their continued support of the galleries. "In addition, we would like to thank the faculty who work hard every day to teach and inspire our students, the staff for their crucial help and of course, our students, who put in hard work, thinking both critically and creatively, and sharing their art with us," Simpson said. "A special thanks to Audrey Porsche, Associate Director of Scholarly Activities, and Ben Wendrow, Director of Development, for their support in making these awards a reality." Winners of the following special awards were announced: Jean Parish Art on Campus Award, Excellence in New Media Award, Helen and George Zimmerman Memorial Award, Golden Artist Colors Inc. Award and the Martin-Mullen Creativity Award. Faculty Emerita Jean Parish enjoyed a lengthy teaching career at SUNY Oneonta, leaving behind a gift to provide financial assistance to students studying art. One of the two endowed funds she set in place supports the Jean Parish Art on Campus Awards, facilitating the purchase of student work to be displayed on campus. Excellence in New Media is a new award celebrating the work of students who excel in newer and non-traditional art practices. A permanent virtual gallery space to display the digital art that is purchased through this award is being built, mirroring the beautiful examples of physical art purchased for display across campus through Jean Parish. Professor George Zimmerman was a teacher at SUNY Oneonta for 32 years and was instrumental in developing the Art Department. Helen and George's family has generously made donations in their memory for the awards. Golden Artist Colors is an artist materials manufacturer founded in 1980 and is dedicated to creating and sharing the most imaginative and innovative tools of color, line and texture for inspiring those who turn their vision into reality. They have graciously shared gift certificates for the Golden Artist Colors Inc. Awards. The Martin-Mullen Art Gallery and Martin-Mullen Creativity Awards are named after two previous faculty members, Minnie Martin and James Mullen. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Beginning Wednesday, April 5, the SUNY Oneonta Mask and Hammer Theatre Club presents "boom," a play written by American playwright Peter Sinn Nachtrieb. This production features a character named Jules, who is a marine biology grad student, and a journalism student character named Jo. After Jo answers Jules's online personal ad that offers a "no strings attached" experience, the future of humanity rests upon them as an apocalyptic event wipes out most forms of life on Earth. In addition to the roles of Jules and Jo, a third character, Barbara, serves as an audience guide for humanity's end. The "boom" production can be seen in the Hamblin Theater at SUNY Oneonta from Wednesday to Friday, April 5 to 7, at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday, April 8, at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at https://oneonta.universitytickets.com/, in person at the Hunt Union Information Desk from Monday to Saturday between 1 and 10 p.m. and in person at the box office in the Fine Arts Center one hour before each scheduled performance. Ticket pricing and additional information can be viewed online at https://suny.oneonta.edu/theatre-department/season-shows.

Beginning Friday, March 3, 11 SUNY Oneonta students will have a role in the Theatre Department's production of "Bernhardt/Hamlet," a play written by American playwright Theresa Rebeck. The production shows the challenges faced by 19th-century actress Sarah Bernhardt in her role as Shakespeare's Hamlet. The real-life Bernhardt performed as Hamlet in 1899, and this play captures both the drama and comedy of the international celebrity's performance during that time. The SUNY Oneonta production of "Bernhardt/Hamlet" is directed by John McCaslin-Doyle, professor of theatre history, dramatic literature and acting, with help from the Mask and Hammer theatre club, an active and dynamic campus organization that promotes opportunities for students of all majors to become involved in theatre activities. The production can be seen in the Hamblin Theater at SUNY Oneonta on Friday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 4, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; and from March 7 to 9 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at https://oneonta.universitytickets.com/, in person at the Hunt Union Information Desk from Monday to Saturday between 1 and 10 p.m. and in person at the box office in the Fine Arts Center one hour before each scheduled performance. Ticket pricing and additional information can be viewed online at https://suny.oneonta.edu/theatre-department/season-shows.

The SUNY Oneonta Theatre Department's production of "Nordost" was selected to perform at the Kennedy Center Region I Festival (KCACTF) at Cape Cod on Feb. 2. The production featured six SUNY Oneonta students, including one student stage manager and another who oversaw lighting. Kiara Pipino, associate professor of acting, directing and movement, directed "Nordost." KCACTF honors excellence of overall production and offers student artists individual recognition through awards and scholarships in playwriting, acting, criticism, directing and design. The KCACTF is a national theater program involving 18,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide which has severed as a catalyst for improving the quality of college theater in the United States. The KCACTF has grown into a network of more than 600 academic institutions throughout the country, where theater departments and student artists showcase their work and receive outside assessment by KCACTF respondents.

A total of 23 students' artwork is on display in SUNY Oneonta's Open Space Gallery. Titled "Black, White, & Full Color," the exhibition features work by students who took a Writing About Literature course with Dr. Sheena Mason, assistant professor of English. The exhibition is inspired by the concept of double consciousness and illustrates the questions of societal interpretations of race and the practice of racialization through the lens of racelessness, an overview of contemporary and historical literature on the subject and personal experience. "Black, White, & Full Color" is a collective single piece of work created with language-based drawing, blackout poetry, books and PowerPoint. It is inspired by the work of conceptual artist Glen Ligon, critical engagement with the idea of race and practice of racialization, and modern literacy sources such as James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Paul Gilroy and Frantz Fanon. The exhibition opened Tuesday, Jan. 24, and will run through Feb. 18. The Open Space Gallery is free and open to the public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. An opening reception will be held Thursday, Feb. 2, from 4 to 6 p.m., with an inclement weather date set for Thursday, Feb. 9, from 4 to 6 p.m.

A total of 36 students across courses taught by Dr. Sheena Mason, assistant professor of English, have their artwork exhibited in SUNY Oneonta Project Space Gallery. "Art Across Campus: Literature in Translation" showcases the final projects of students from courses outside of the Art Department. The exhibition opened Tuesday, Jan. 24, and will run through Feb. 18. "Art Across Campus: Literature in Translation" features painting, drawing, sculpture, black-out poetry and collage art styles. The contributing students are part of the Postcolonial Literature and Culture: The Americas, Creolization in Literature, African American Women Writers and Postcolonial and Culture: Africa courses. The Project Space Gallery is free and open to the public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. An opening reception will be held Thursday, Feb. 2, from 4 to 6 p.m., with an inclement weather date set for Thursday, Feb. 9, from 4 to 6 p.m.

SUNY Oneonta Senior Esteban Castro's "Angry King | Lonely King | The Beholder of Love," a three-panel mural, is featured at the Open Space Gallery on the SUNY Oneonta campus. Created over two weeks, Castro painted this 10 x 45-foot original work on-site. Referencing the long history of public murals and graffiti art, along with his personal experience in fashion design and drawing, he has created three unique pieces that speak to the self-harmful effects of unmitigated anger and the need for love and community to heal and grow. While reminiscent of masters like Basquiat and Herring, his style is distinct and includes consistent patterns like dashed outlining within steady outlines, crowns, and a "seeing heart" that make this mural recognizably his. "Angry King | Lonely King | The Beholder of Love" by Esteban Castro is on view now until Nov. 12.

"Project Open Call: Fall 2022" is a group show of new work submitted by current SUNY Oneonta students to the Martin-Mullen Gallery's open call. The exhibit is on view from Nov. 15 - Dec. 10, with an artist reception on Thursday, Nov. 17, 4-6 p.m.

SUNY Oneonta's production of "The Wolves" has been recognized by The National Awards Committee of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival for "distinguished production of a play" and "outstanding ensemble." Assistant Professor Kiara Pipino earned "outstanding director of a play." SUNY Oneonta's production was first presented by the Theatre Department and Mask and Hammer Theatre Club on campus in October 2019. It was then performed at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Regional Festival at the end of January 2020 in Hyannis, MA.

On Feb. 20, SUNY Oneonta students Jolie Gagnon (Music), Miguel Isbirian (Music Industry), and Ajare Malcolm (Music) sang a sold-out performance of Gustav Mahler's Symphony no. 2 "Resurrection" with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus at the Royal Festival Hall, part of London's South Bank Centre. The performance was conducted by Czech Philharmonic Principal Guest Conductor, Jakub Hrusa, who is also the recently appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra. Hrusa's rising reputation secured an unexpected BBC Radio 3 recording of the performance, to be aired on Monday, March 9. The students spent 11 days in London, rehearsing and visiting important historical and cultural sites, musically prepared and led by Associate Professor of Music and Philharmonia Chorus member, Timothy Newton. The students were selected for this honor after submitting video auditions to the Chorus in December coached and accompanied in Dr. Adam Kent's Classical Collaborations course, and in voice lessons with Dr. Steve Markuson and Colby Thomas, chosen from among eight Oneonta students by Chorus Master, Gavin Carr. The Philharmonia Orchestra had just returned from a residency in Tokyo, and drew wide critical acclaim for this performance from several media outlets. The students' trip was supported, in part, by the Caroline '67 and David D'Antonio Student Travel for Excellence Fund.

To celebrate the Class of 2019, SUNY Oneonta's Office of Communication and Marketing produced a remake of the iconic intro to 90s television cult classic "Friends" with help from a few of our talented seniors. Because, after all, the friends you make at SUNY Oneonta will always be there for you.

Artwork by many student artists will be on display in SUNY Oneonta's Martin-Mullen Art Gallery for the "Annual Student Juried Art Exhibition 2019" in the Fine Arts Center from April 8 to May 11. Featured artworks were chosen from an open jury process and works entered by the art faculty. Painting, drawing, sculpture, digital print, digital video and an assortment of mixed media make up this year's offerings. All are invited to attend the exhibition.

Artwork by SUNY Oneonta recent graduates is featured in a new exhibition in the college's Project Space Gallery. "Student Recipient Exhibition, Jean Parish Memorial Scholarship 2017-2018" opened Sept. 10 and runs through Oct. 5.

More than 20 SUNY Oneonta music industry students and two faculty members got a behind-the-scenes tour of a Dave Matthews Band concert on Dec. 5 at the Albany Times Union Center-- including a surprise Q&A with Matthews himself.