Newsletter

Sculpture and Printmaking "Sow the Seeds of Love"

The Sculpture and Printmaking programs hosted "Sow the Seeds of Love" on Feb. 12, the first annual seed starting event to support the Natural Dye Garden. Organizers sold seed starter kits that included native seeds—bee friendly meadow mix, bird lover's meadow mix, sulfur cosmos, and "gift" zinnias—to support this new collaborative space for cultivating plants to create natural inks and dyes.

Learn more about the Natural Dye Garden—an outdoor collaborative space for cultivating plants to create natural inks and dyes, located just outside the Sculpture dock at the Fine Arts building—at its website.

Metal hosts Charon Kransen

On Feb. 18, the Metal program hosted Charon Kransen, proprietor of rare and hard-to-find books about contemporary and historical art, jewelry, craft, and design. Guests were invited to peruse his selection in the Fine Arts Building Rotunda.

MFA hosts dinner and a movie in Rosendale

The MFA studio critique class invited guests to join them for dinner and a movie in Rosendale on Feb. 20. The evening kicked off with dinner at Truss and Trestle diner, followed by a screening of "Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat," a film that examines the politics of decolonization in jazz and the CIA's involvement in the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, at the Rosendale Theatre.

Peh performs at planetarium

Associate Professor of Music and Director of Piano Studies Alex Peh, along with special guest Claire Chase and students in Peh's Multi-keyboard Ensemble class presented a live performance titled "Cosmic Liftoff" in the John R. Kirk Planetarium on Feb. 26.

The project celebrated the last work written by the genre-defining American experimental composer, Terry Riley. “Holy Liftoff” was written in 2023 for flute, multiple keyboards, and synthesizers.  "Cosmic Liftoff" featured astronomical and musical elements that embody themes in Riley’s work, such as birth and death, beginnings and endings, and the journey into the unknown.

Art History Association hosts lecture series

This semester, the Art History Association's annual lecture series focused on the connections between Art History and Disability Studies.

The series kicked off on Nov. 18 with Dr. Gannit Ankori of Brandeis University, who delivered a virtual talk, “Phantom Limbs: Frida Kahlo, Disability, and Art,” which examined how Frida Kahlo’s physical disabilities and creative capabilities allowed her to powerfully transform trauma and loss into inspiring and groundbreaking art.

On Feb. 3, the series continued with a virtual talk by Professor Elizabeth Howie of Coastal Carolina University on the topic of "The Dandy Victorian: Yinka Shonibare, Disability, and Passing." The talk focused on a series of five large Chromogenic photographs that depict the revels of a black dandy holding court in a luxurious 19-century manor, admired by ladies, gentleman, and servants alike.

On Feb. 24, Dr. Susan Aberth of Bard College presented "Down Below: Leonora Carrington's Journey Into Madness and Back," in which Aberth discussed how the British Surrealist artist Leonora Carrington found herself alone in France after her partner, the artist Max Ernst, was taken away in 1940 to a camp during World War II. While journeying to Lisbon with friends, she suffered a psychotic break and was placed in a mental asylum in Santander, Spain. There, she suffered a series of traumatic events and treatments. When released into the guardianship of her family, she escaped in a dramatic manner to New York City.

The series concluded on April 17 with its capstone event: a discussion by Professor Reva Wolf and Professor Victoria St. George. Their presentation, "Visual Sound and Deaf Artists: Goya to Grigely," explored the fascinating ways that deaf artists have created "visual sound" in their work as well as the histories of sign language and of hearing artists' conceptualization of sonic imagery. 

Art Ed Hosts Collaborative Kite-Making Workshop

Art Education faculty Eunkyung Hwang and Cheri Ehrlich hosted a collaborative kite-making workshop, "Rising Against the Wind of Resistance," on Feb. 26 in the lobby of the Dorsky Museum.

The workshop was open to everyone in the New Paltz community—students, faculty, and staff—who wished to amplify their voices amid ongoing pushbacks on gender equity and social justice issues. The workshop was free, with all materials (including kites) and light snacks provided. Together, attendees created collaborative kites and flew them as a symbol of their vision for a more equitable society.

Students Present 21st annual Wood Design Exhibition

Various student works were displayed and celebrated at the 21st annual Wood Design Student Exhibition, which took place March 7-12 in the Fine Arts Building Rotunda, with an opening reception held on March 7. Check out this Instagram post from SUNY New Paltz to see some of the pieces from the show, as well as a spotlight on one of the participants, Emma McGrath ’25 (Ceramics).

Art History Hosts "Convivum" Culinary Event

Art History invited students, faculty, staff, and alumni to partake in a culinary journey to ancient Rome: "The Convivium," an authentic Roman banquet featuring live entertainment and much more.

Hosted by students enrolled in Associate Professor Keely Heuer's "Art of Dining in Ancient Greece and Rome" course and supported by the Office of the Provost and the Creating a Stronger New Paltz Together Fund, the free event took place on Sunday, May 4 in the Athletic and Wellness Center.

Art Education Hosts Show with DRC

Undergraduate art education students and the Disability Resource Center presented an art show titled "Past, Present, Future Disability Perspectives: How Has Your Relationship with Disability Evolved Over Time?" from April 7–11 in the McKenna Theatre lobby at College Theatre. An opening reception was held on April 7.

As part of the exhibition, students from ARE305: Disability Studies in Art Education showcased artwork from their class project "Inclusive Architecture," in which students explored and critiqued inaccessibility of various built environments in local public spaces and radically reimagined inclusive architectural designs to promote awareness of disability justice.

See photos from the show on Fine & Performing Arts' Instagram page.

Art Lecture Series Brings Four Spring Speakers

The Student Art Alliance hosted four speakers this semester for the Spring 2025 Art Lecture Series.

The spring series kicked off Feb. 4 with ceramicist Judd Schiffman, followed by visual artist Jaz Graf on Feb. 25. Printmaker Luanda Lozano joined us on March 5, and the final speaker of the semester, Maria Phillips, visited campus on April 30.

On April 28, a Visiting Artist Slide Slam was held, where students pitched potential visiting artists and voted on who they wanted to host for next semester's Art Lecture Series. Stay tuned to find out who next semester's speakers will be on the Department of Art website and the Student Art Alliance Instagram page!

Undergraduate Art History Symposium

This year's SUNY New Paltz Undergraduate Art History Symposium from April 3-7 was the biggest one yet, with more than 300 undergraduate scholars from five continents participating. The virtual event, which is the largest of its kind in the world, included students Sophia Burton ’27 (Art History/French), Kara Butler ’26 (Metal), Ashley Chiu ’25 (History), and Irena Marsalek ’26 (English). All of the conferences' 40+ sessions were moderated by current SUNY New Paltz students, as well as alumni Abi Rosenthal ’24, Ben Kuhn ’24, Em Hines, Jocelyn Thornton ’24 (Art History), and Shay Steuart ’23 (Art History/Art Education), who pitched in as hosts.

This year's symposium also featured a keynote address by Dr. Sharon Stocker and Dr. Jack Davis of the University of Cincinnati, who in 2015 uncovered Mycenaean Bronze Age tomb at Pylos, Greece. In their presentation, "Lord of the Gold Rings," they shared the incredible objects they excavated from what is now known as the Griffin Warrior Tomb.

Learn more about the symposium and see the full schedule at its website.

SAA & AHA Host Printmaking Workshop

The Student Art Alliance and Art History Association hosted a printmaking workshop on April 23 in Smiley Art Building. Check out more photos from the event on the Student Art Alliance's Instagram page.

SAA Hosts Art Critique

The Student Art Alliance closed out the month of April with a peer-led art critique in Smiley Art Building 118. This student-led critique allowed students to get feedback on their final projects before their final critiques, and students were also welcome to use the time and space as a designated time to work on final projects surrounded by peers.

F&PA Helps Students De-Stress Before Finals

F&PA invited students, staff, and faculty from all departments to take part in a de-stressing event, where we used art and contemplative practices to help the campus community get through this often chaotic time of the school year. Held May 1 in and around the Smiley Art Building, 45-minute sessions in various relaxation techniques were offered, including Tai Chi, humming workshops, zen tangles, bilateral collab drawing, and more.

This event was made possible with support from the Office of the Provost's "Creating a Stronger New Paltz" grant, Episcopal Campus Ministry, and the School of Fine & Performing Arts.

Eco Art Lab hosts Planting Party

The faculty and students behind the creation of the Department of Art's new Eco Art Lab and Natural Dye Garden invited the campus to a planting party on Tuesday, May 6 and Wednesday, May 7, with an opening celebration held at the conclusion of the planting parties on May 7. Refreshments and tools were provided to participants.

These vibrant learning labs—located just outside the Fine Arts Building Sculpture Studio—are spaces to grow natural art materials, explore biodiversity, and engage in embodied ecological research. Designed by the Eco Art Class with the mentorship of sculpture professor Emily Puthoff, and shaped by the insights of many campus stakeholders, the Eco Art Lab is an emergent learning lab rooted in reciprocity, creativity, and interconnection.

Congratulations to all the students who helped make these living learning labs a reality: James Biordi ’25 (Sculpture), Ripley Butterfield ’26 (Contract), Tierney O'Brien​ ’26 (Sculpture), Risa Oshinsky ’26 (Sculpture), Carolann Paszek ’25 (Visual Arts), Deminica Richard​ ’25 (Visual Arts/Art Education), Abigail Schwab ’25 (Visual Arts), Grace Van Pelt ’25 (Visual Arts), Mars Weigley ’25 (Sculpture)​, Caelen Williams ’25, and Adam Holland ’25g (Sculpture).

Sculpture Hosts "Slapdown" at Bacchus

In conjunction with Jacinta Bunnell (Magenta Delecta), Hope Windle (the Pilgrim) and Michael Wilcock (the Ref) of Hudson Valley Broads Regional Arm Wrestling fame, the sculpture program hosted SLAPDOWN, a socially-engaged event showcasing sculpture students competing for the Slapdown World Heavyweight Championship belt.

Slappers used a personalized “slapparatus” (pl:slapparati) against one another until somebody expelled something from their mouth. Similar to a March Madness bracket, slappers slapped until the strongest two emerged. In the end, Risa Oshinsky ’25 (Sculpture)—aka "Baby Bear"—was the winner of the Slapdown world Heavyweight Champion title.

Student Works Showcased in "New Pages"

More than two dozen theatre arts major and minors were featured as playwrights, dramaturgs, actors, and directors in this semester's "New Pages" festival, an undergraduate writing showcase where students present scenes from new plays they are currently developing. New Pages took place in Parker Theatre April 22 and 23.

Congratulations to all the students who participated this year:

• Barclay Travis ’25 (Theatre Arts): Director, "Happy Birthday," "False Advertising"; Writer, "Familiar Frequencies"
• Jess Romanowski ’25 (Theatre Arts): Stage Manager
• Mya Espinosa ’26 (Theatre Arts): Actor, "Nearsighted," "Anima," "untitled," "False Advertising"
• Kiersten DeLorey ’25 (Theatre Arts): Writer, "Sunday!"
• Sky Rolnick ’25 (Theatre Arts): Director, "Anima"
• Aditri Khadilkar ’25 (Theatre Arts): Producer, "Anima," "False Advertising"; Director, "untitled," "Bad Therapist"
• Genesis Ramos-Brava ’25 (Theatre Arts): Writer, "Anima"
• Lily Rutski ’25 (Theatre Arts): Writer, "A Wake"
• Grace Hoey ’26 (Theatre Arts): Actor, "False Advertising," "Happy Birthday," "Sunday!"; Director, "A Darkness in Me," "Dracubitch"; Dramaturg, "Nearsighted"
• Christopher Etienne ’25 (Theatre Arts): Director, "Familiar Frequencies," "Sunday!"; Writer, "False Advertising"
• Lennon Lotardo ’26 (Theatre Arts/Adolescence Education): Actor, "False Advertising," "Dracubitch," "Fortunate Sons," "A Wake"
• Noah Cruz Hernandez ’25 (Theatre Arts/Psychology): Director, "A Wake"; Producer, "False Advertising," "Anima"; Dramaturg, "Bad Therapist," "Fortunate Sons"
• Liam Gorelin ’26 (Theatre Arts): Dramaturg, "False Advertising"
• Paige Mansfield ’27 (Theatre Arts): Actor, "False Advertising," "Familiar Frequencies," "Sunday!"; Dramaturg, "Dracubitch"
• Brionna McDonald ’25 (Theatre Arts/English): Dramaturg, "A Wake"; Actor, "False Advertising," "A Darkness in Me," "untitled"
• Keelin Naylor ’25 (Theatre Arts): Actor, "A Wake," "Happy Birthday," "Dracubitch"
• Naya Vulaj ’27 (Theatre Arts): Actor, "False Advertising," "Fortunate Sons," "A Darkness in Me," "Dracubitch"
• Oz Fen Wang ’25 (Theatre Arts): Dramaturg, "untitled"; Actor, "Bad Therapist"; Director, "Nearsighted"
• Ellis Jablonski ’25 (Theatre Arts): Writer, "Bad Therapist"; Actor, "Happy Birthday," "Nearsighted," "Sunday!"
• Donovan Guerin ’27 (Theatre Arts): Actor, "familiar frequencies," "Fortunate Sons," "False Advertising," "A Darkness in Me"
• Megan Hobson ’26 (Theatre Arts): Actor, "Sunday!", "Nearsighted," "Anima," "Dracubitch," "False Advertising"
• Marlee Lustig ’27 (Art History): Writer, "Fortunate Sons"
• Liam Studer ’27 (Theatre Arts): Actor, "A Wake," "False Advertising," "Sunday!", "familiar frequencies"
• Em Glass ’26 (Theatre Arts): Writer, "A Darkness in Me"
• Charlie Downey ’27 (Theatre Arts Minor): Writer, "Happy Birthday"
• Nova Bulin ’28 (Theatre Arts): Dramaturg, "Happy Birthday"
• Kyra Perles ’26 (Theatre Arts and Art History Minor): Dramaturg, "A Darkness in Me"
• Jojo Winter ’27 (Theatre Arts): Actor, "Happy Birthday," "Dracubitch," Fortunate Sons," "Sunday!"xb
• Jake Rizzo ’25 (Theatre Arts): Writer, "Nearsighted"
• Ray Buchanan ’25 (Psychology/Theatre Arts): Dramaturg, "Anima"
• Bridget Donnelly ’26 (Theatre Arts): Stage direction reader
• Bee Messin ’26 (Theatre Arts Minor): Writer, "Dracubitch"
• Rome Torres ’26 (Theatre Arts): Writer, "untitled"

Theatre Arts Presents Mainstage Productions

The 2024-25 Department of Theatre Arts Mainstage Production season included two productions directed by Theatre Arts alumni.

The year kicked off with a presentation of "Town Hall" directed by niqo torrez ’22 from Oct. 25-31 and Nov. 1-3, 2024. Written by Caridad Svich, “Town Hall” tackles a slew of relevant, urgent questions about our relationship to our environment, to other humans, and to democracy. It focuses on a group of people living in the near future, in a world different from but very similar to ours.

Next up was "Trouble in Mind" Nov. 22-24 and Dec. 5-8. Directed by former Theatre Arts instructor Jamie Patton and written by the late renowned playwright Alice Childress, the play-within-a-play about a middle-aged Black actress in her first starring role was originally performed off-Broadway in 1955, and then on Broadway in 2021-22. LaChanze, the acclaimed Broadway actress who garnered a Tony nomination for her leading role in the Broadway production of "Trouble in Mind," came to campus at the start of the fall 2024 semester for a live Q&A.

The season continued in February 2025 with two staged readings of "Spies Are Forever," directed by Barclay Travis ’25 (Theatre Arts), with music direction by Katie Gudzik ’22 (Theatre Arts). Written by Corey Lubowich, Joey Richter and Brian Rosenthal, “Spies Are Forever” follows the suave yet arrogant Agent Curt Mega after a tragedy forces him to reconsider the unstable world of espionage.

The Mainstage season ended with a splash with "Shrek the Musical," directed by Zach Gibson ’19, April 17-19 and 24-27. The Tony Award-winning fairy tale adventure that brings the beloved characters from the Oscar-winning animated film to life on stage drew several sold-out audiences to Parker Theatre, and tons of super fun social media content—including this video shot by the SUNY New Paltz Office of Communication & Marketing!

Music Presents "Music Without Borders" Concert Series

The spring 2025 concert series "Music Without Borders," presented by the Department of Music, brought a mix of mainstay department performances and exciting visiting musicians to the Studley and Shepard stages in spring 2025.

The semester kicked off with "Intersections: Chinese Music Ensemble of New York" on Feb. 14. On Valentine's Day, the iconic West Point Band drew a crowd from campus and beyond for "Dance With Me,” an evening of music inspired by the rhythms of dance, followed by an Honor Band concert on Feb. 15. The month closed out with Piano Trios of Maurice Ravel and Fanny Mendelssohn, featuring violinist and Department of Music faculty Alex Shiozaki, cellist Robert Burkhardt, and pianist and Department of Music adjunct lecturer Nana Shi.

March kicked off with a performance by The Professors, a jazz quartet comprising Assistant Professor and Director of Jazz Studies Mark Dziuba on guitar, former Department of Music chair Vincent Martucci on piano, and adjunct lecturers Rich Syracuse on bass and Jeff "Siege" Siegel on drums. A choral concert was held March 12, followed by an Honors Recital March 25.

April was packed with concerts: Davenport Artist-in-Residence Nathan Davis on April 1, Tina Chong on April 8, Alex Peh's piano studio on April 15, the spring voice recital on April 22, student chamber groups on April 23, the College Youth Symphony and Symphonic Band on April 25, and a performance by composition students performing original works on April 29.

The concert series closed out in May with back-to-back performances by the student chamber jazz group and a final choral concert on May 7.

Nathan Davis named 2025 Davenport Artist-in-Residence

Award-winning composer and percussionist Nathan Davis visited campus this spring as the 2025 Davenport Artist-in-Residence. His stay included an open rehearsal on March 13 in Studley Theatre, during which Davis rehearsed a Davenport-commissioned work written for the Composer New Music Ensemble; another open rehearsal on March 17 in Shepard Recital Hall, where Davis rehearsed "Like Sweet Bells Jangled," an electro-acoustic piece (for percussion, winds and live-processing), with New Paltz music students Durant Poole ’26 and Vincenzo (Enzi) Pascarella ’25; and a closing concert on April 1, where the Composer New Music Ensemble performed "Offerings," a newly commissioned work using resonant objects.

Davis "writes music that deals deftly and poetically with timbre and sonority," wrote the New York Times. His opera/ballet “Hagoromo" was produced by American Opera Projects and premiered at the BAM Next Wave Festival with the International Contemporary Ensemble, the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, choreographer David Neumann, and dancers Wendy Whelan, and Jock Soto. And Lincoln Center presented the premiere of “Bells”, a site-specific work for ensemble, multi-channel audio, and live broadcast to audience members’ mobile phones. 

The Kenneth Davenport Residency for New American Music at SUNY New Paltz is made possible by the College’s Kenneth Davenport Endowment, established in 1985 by the School of Fine & Performing Arts and the Davenport Family. This program supports residencies for contemporary American composers to share their work with students.

"The Kidz" Perform Pop Concert

BFA MFA

Congratulations to all the graduating BFA and MFA students who presented their thesis exhibitions at the Dorsky at the end of the spring semester!

Serving as the culmination of the BFA/MFA student experience, thesis exhibits offer a valuable opportunity for students to display the work they've been diligently shaping, refining, and perfecting during their time at New Paltz. Students collaborate with each other, as well as with faculty and museum staff, to plan the exhibitions, and then work to design and install their own work. The show is more than just a collection of final art projects: It's a chance for the campus community to celebrate our student artists' accomplishments, revel in their work, and send them off to their future creative endeavors with a truly special experience to remember.

BFA I, which opened April 25, featured Julia Barbour ’25 (Painting and Drawing), Adell Coe ’25 (Art Education/Painting and Drawing), Jackie Conley ’25 (Painting and Drawing), Jeff Healy ’25 (Painting and Drawing), Logan Johnson ’25 (Photography), Julianna Lorenz ’25 (Art Education/Ceramics), Eddie Mangione ’25 (Photography), Emma McGrath ’25 (Ceramics), Jangir Qayum ’25 (Photography), Bill Reed ’25 (Painting and Drawing), Alexander Tonetti ’25 (Ceramics), and Amanda Vogl ’25 (Ceramics).

BFA II, which opened May 2, featured Mackenzie Brent ’25 (Ceramics), George Burkett III ’25 (Painting and Drawing), Ellie Cromling ’25 (Painting and Drawing), Minh Đoàn ’25 (Painting and Drawing), Michael Paul Hauck ’25 (Art Education/Ceramics), Christine Liao ’25 (Ceramics), Grace Lindenfelser ’25 (Printmaking), Lili Noah ’25 (Art Education/Ceramics), Jolie Orbeta ’25 (Painting and Drawing), Sarah Prohens ’25 (Photography), Caelen Williams ’25 (Sculpture), Xiaohan Wu ’25 (Metal), and Aryeh Zanan ’25.

MFA II, which opened May 9, featured Emma Bailie ’25g (Painting and Drawing), Ava Hricisak ’25g (Sculpture), Emilie Kim ’25g (Ceramics), Maryellen Mahar ’25g (Painting and Drawing), Chrystalynn O'Boyle ’25g (Ceramics), Roberto Rossi ’25g (Printmaking), and Maggie Seinfeld ’25g (Photography and Related Media).

MFA II, which opened May 16, featured Philip Adams ’25g (Ceramics), Talula Baer ’25g (Metal), Estuardo Bonilla ’25g (Painting and Drawing), Erica Compton ’25g (metal), Siyu Dong ’25g (Metal), Edgar Hartley ’25g (Printmaking), Mary Jane Nusbaum ’25g (Printmaking), and Derek Lopez Vergara ’25g (Printmaking).

BS/BA in Visual Arts Seniors Present "Visual Symphony"

Graduating seniors in the BA and BS in Visual Arts programs presented their final exhibition, "Visual Symphony," at the Fine Arts Building at the end of April. An opening reception was held on May 2.

Congratulations to all the seniors who participated: Nicole Betemit ’25, Samantha Bosaz ’25, Ryan Brown ’25, Kiersten Barkstorm ’25, Paul Castner ’25, Karlie Diaz Del Valle ’25, Louie Dorazio ’25, Joshua Edwards ’25, Rosemary Gonzalez ’25, Gwendolyn Grimes ’25, Kelli Karlin ’25, Jessica Kiesel ’25, Heather Rose Kuhn ’25, Nicholas LaRocca ’25, Riley Mahoney ’25, Emma Nelk ’25, Samantha Ondreicka ’25, Sabrina O'Shea ’25, Brooke Pennington ’25, Sara Perez ’25, Lex Perkins ’25, Natasha Renud ’25, Gianna Roggio ’25, Jamie Setterstrom ’25, Traver Smith ’25, Jahda Williams ’25, and Ruby Zuckerman ’25.

Meet the artists and see their work on Instagram!

Seniors Present Work at Design Show

After a Wooster power outage forced a last-minute relocation to the South Classroom Building, the 2025 Design Show went on as planned on Friday, May 2, and was by all measures a wild success. This major culminating event, which featured the graduating thesis projects of 29 students in the graphic design BFA and digital design and fabrication MA programs, drew hundreds of guests, including family and friends from out of state, alumni, local professionals, and the campus community.

Congratulations to the students who presented their work at the show: Caleigh Addis ’25, Cotye Allen ’25, Elizabeth Blasco ’25, Quinn Bonney ’25, Danielle Bunn ’25, V Close ’25, Jazmyne Daily-Simpson ’25, Rowan Davidson ’25, Melina Devine ’25, Alyssa DiBartolo ’25, Myrkos Diaz ’25, John DiMaio ’25, Cleo Goldman ’25, Olivia Hansen ’25, Kat Humphrey ’25, Leigh Joiner ’25, Nate Martinez ’25, Emely Moncion ’25, Arianna Moore ’25, Allie O’Connor ’25, Jake Pennisi ’25g, Kaylah Phillips ’25, Daniella Rivera ’25, Celina Sciuto ’25, Jess Soledad ’25, Caia Sullivan ’25, Madison Tripi ’25, Olivia Wilson ’25, and Dylan Yu ’25.

Design Lab students Showcase Pro-Bono Work