Newsletter

Theatre Arts nabs new DiGiCo console

The Department of Theatre Arts added an impressive piece of equipment to its collection this semester: the DiGiCo Quantum 225 Console, a state-of-the-art, top-of-the-line mixing console that is a new standard for Broadway, Off-Broadway, medium-size music performances and festivals, and corporate and broadcast audio. It will be accessible to audio engineering minors who take Audio Engineering 2 and Sound Design 2, as well as any sound designers and A1s who work on the department's Mainstage Productions.

"This board is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to theater line-mixing and general sound mixing techniques in theater sound," says Theatre Arts Lecturer Dean Mahoney. "Its use of nodal processing, advanced control group functions, and gorgeous pre-amp simulation make it both incredibly user friendly to students, and extremely powerful at a professional level."

This acquisition of the DiGiCo console makes New Paltz the first SUNY school to have access to this brand new console and software, notes Mahoney. Normally, this caliber of technology is associated with private institutions with robust funding; for a public Bachelor of Arts program such as ours, he says, "this is an absolute game changer."

"This console puts us at the absolute forefront of mixing console technology, and will allow students to obtain even greater employment opportunities at the highest professional levels in audio engineering and sound design upon leaving the Theatre Arts Department after concentrating in theater tech with a sound concentration," says Mahoney.

Students Donate Clothing for Exhibition

Award-winning artist Jean Shin invited students to donate clothing and collaborate on her upcoming Dorsky exhibition "Student Body."

In late March and early April, donations of gently worn garments were collected at various drop-off locations across campus to be used in the exhibition. On April 1, alumna Rachel Gee ’23 (Sculpture)—who now works as Shin's studio assistant—hosted a collaborative workshop in the Fine Arts Building where students began dissecting the items with scissors.

According to the Dorsky, "Student Body" will "exist at the intersection of art, fashion, collective action, and sustainability."

"As digital platforms for generating and sharing information become increasingly dematerialized, and as they merge with the realms of machine learning and artificial intelligence, this work redirects focus to the living beings and tangible materials that underlie and sustain human knowledge," according to the Dorsky. "In doing so, Shin calls attention to the often-overlooked physical substrates—those foundational elements—that both shape and are shaped by the flow of information in an increasingly technologized world."

"Student Body" will be on view at the Dorsky from Sept. 6 to Dec. 7, 2025.

Assembly Art Journal Celebrates Fifth Issue

The team behind Assembly, a student-run online art journal celebrating the work of SUNY New Paltz students, marked the launch of its fifth issue on April 4 with a celebration in the Fine Arts Building Rotunda—complete with ice cream and a cake bearing a photo of the issue's cover.

From visual artworks like photos, drawings, and sculptures to written pieces including poems and interviews with alumni, the fifth issue of Assembly was the largest one yet, featuring the work of nearly 60 students across multiple disciplines. Under the faculty advisement of Assistant Professor of Sculpture Michael Asbill, a core team of more than a dozen students—Heather Bissett, Margot Hulme, Dumitru Mahoney, Mars Weigley, Caelen Williams, Ripley Butterfield, Mandy Fetterman, Charlie Barnes, Miles Mastropietro, Joey McLaughlin, Xindha Yaeger, Sabrina O'Shea, and Grace Van Pelt—self selected into four teams (communication, editorial, submissions, and design) to collect submissions and create the publication. This year, Assembly was a client of Associate Professor of Graphic Design Amy Papaelias' Design Lab course.

Be sure to check out the full issue of Assembly online, and join us in congratulating all the participating students on this monumental accomplishment. Learn more about the Assembly team and read back on their journey to completion on their Instagram page.

Editor's Note: I had the pleasure of proofreading Assembly before launch, and I can't recommend it enough. My personal favorite: A Q&A with Joel Olzak ’20 (Sculpture) and Vernon Byron ’10 (Printmaking) ’25g (Digital Design & Fabrication) on the massive—and ultimately successful—effort to unionize the staff of Dia Beacon (page 111).

Several F&PA Faculty Celebrated at Authors Event

Congratulations to all the Fine & Performing Arts faculty who were honored at the Sojourner Truth Library's annual Celebration of Faculty Authors, held at the library on April 2.

"This event is designed as a space for colleagues to observe the hard and time-intensive work of researching, drafting, refine revising and publishing in their areas of expertise, even as they balance responsibilities to teach and mentor New Paltz students," according to the University. "This year’s celebration honored books, recordings and publications authored by 13 faculty members in the past year, across a breadth of topics."

Among the baker's dozen of faculty recognized this year were Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts Dan Daly, Assistant Professor of Printmaking Aurora De Armendi Sobrino, and Professor of Art History Reva Wolf. Publications by these three faculty have officially been added to the more than 2,200 book-length works by SUNY New Paltz faculty authors in the Sojourner Truth Library’s collection. 

Read more about the event on the SUNY New Paltz News website.

PianoSummer Ends 25+ Year Run at New Paltz

Master pianist Vladimir Feltsman—professor of piano studies and artistic director of PianoSummer at New Paltz—retired from SUNY New Paltz in December 2024, after nearly four decades on the Department of Music faculty.

His retirement also marked the end of PianoSummer at New Paltz, as Feltsman and his wife Haewon, PianoSummer coordinator, are relocating the annual festival to the Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick, Massachusetts.

“I wish to thank Professor Feltsman, an accomplished musician and instructor, for his long years of service to SUNY New Paltz, its students and the broader New Paltz community,” said President Darrell P. Wheeler.

“PianoSummer has been an important event at SUNY New Paltz for more than 25 years,” said Jeni Mokren, dean of the School of Fine & Performing Arts. “We are sad to see the end of it here, but wish the best for Vladimir, Haewon, and PianoSummer.”

Read the full announcement on the SUNY New Paltz News website.

MKAD to Receive County Executive Arts Award

The Midtown Kingston Arts District (MKAD)—an organization whose Board of Directors counts the Dorsky Museum's Manager of Education and Visitor Experience Zachary Bowman and former Neil C. Trager Director Sara Pasti among its members—will be honored at Art Mid-Hudson’s 13th Annual Ulster County Executive’s Arts Awards. MKAD will receive the award in the Arts in Education category at the ceremony, which will be held at the Diamond Mills Hotel in Saugerties on June 11—and Bowman will serve as one of two "celebrity balloon poppers" at the event.

Read more about the Ulster County Executive's Arts Awards at the Arts Mid-Hudson website.

Metal seeks unwanted jewelry for upcycling project

• Sojourner Truth Library circulation desk, 845-257-3714, Check ahead for summer hours
• The Art Department Office, FAB225, call 845-257-3830 or email prestiad@newpaltz.edu
• The Dorsky Museum of Art, East entrance reception desk, Wed-Sun 11-5
• Art Education Office, SAB 108 A, Mon-Fri 10-4 

Dorsky Featured in NYT Article

The Dorsky Museum was featured in the New York Times' May 1 roundup of the best art day trips from NYC. Dorsky curator Sophie Landres was quoted in the story, touting the museum's current exhibition, "Landmines," which is on view through July 13.

The exhibition explores land, history, and memory through powerful works by Dawoud Bey, Christina Fernandez, Richard Mosse, and Rick Silva.

“It’s bright, it’s vibrant, it’s weird,” Landres told the Times. “There are surprises in it.”

See the full article on the New York Times website, and be sure to check out "Landmines" this summer if you haven't already.

Choral Institute Slated for Summer ’25

The Department of Music will host its first-ever Choral Institute this summer. Led by Assistant Professor and Director of Choral Activities John Wilson and institute conducting fellow Michael McCormick of Princeton University, the week-long intensive from July 6-13 will provide an opportunity for high school students to engage in a honors-level music making choral experience. In addition to compelling rehearsal experiences, students will take elective classes such as Music Theory, Intro To Conducting, African Drumming, Group Voice Lessons, and recreational activities all led by teaching artists who are leaders in their field. The week will conclude with a performance Sunday, July 13 in Studley Theatre.

If you know a high schooler or rising eighth grader who loves to sing, encourage them to sign up at the Choral Institute website!

A Packed Season at the Dorsky

The spring semester saw a slate of exciting exhibitions at the Dorsky, and the museum kicked things off with a spring opening party on Feb. 8 with refreshments, music, and ample opportunity for hands-on making. The party centered on the four exhibitions featured at the Dorsky this spring, some of which are still running through this summer: "Landmines,” on display from Feb. 8–July 13; “Hudson Valley Artists 2025: Movement,” which was on display Feb. 8 through April 6;  "A Living Collection,” an ongoing exhibition; and "Space to Create," also ongoing.

Read more about the spring opening party and details about this semester's exhibitions on the SUNY New Paltz news website.

Ward Mintz honored with Museum Association of New York Award of Distinction

Ward Mintz, an ardent supporter of community arts and longtime friend of the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art, has been recognized with a 2025 Museum Association of New York (MANY) Award of Distinction. He was one of 14 award winners honored during the 2025 MANY conference “Cultivating Community: Looking In, Reaching Out” at the Downtown Ithaca Conference Center on April 7. 

Mintz served for many years as the chair of the Dorsky’s Advisory Board, and remains engaged as a member. Under his leadership, the museum grew its reach and influence with initiatives such as an exhibition on Benjamin Wigfall, the beloved New Paltz professor and one of the Hudson Valley’s most influential African American artists. Mintz also spearheaded programs connecting underserved communities to the arts, fostering accessibility and engagement with new audiences. 

Learn more about Mintz's recognition on the SUNY New Paltz news website.

Several F&PA Faculty Appear on "Our Professors Are Actually Cool" Podcast

Students Vail Perry '25 and Izadora Meares '26 recently started a podcast, "Our Professors Are Actually Cool," and several of our own F&PA faculty have been interviewed—including BSVA coordinator and Associate Professor Jim Fossett, Assistant Professor Dan Daly, and Professor Suzanne Stokes.

Listen to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and check out the show's Instagram page!

F&PA students named Outstanding Graduates

Several Fine & Performing Arts students were named Outstanding Graduates by the President's Office for the 2024-25 academic year.

“This group has not only accomplished the completion of the expectations, but have excelled in critical areas,” said President Darrell P. Wheeler. “You are to be applauded for the accomplishments that you’ve made in your discipline, for the impression that you’ve made on your faculty and staff and your colleagues and for the impact that you stand prepared to make as you go forward beyond your time as an undergraduate.” 

Congratulations to all our outstanding grads from F&PA: Barclay Travis (Theatre Arts), Vincent Mandracchia (Music), Julia Dubinsky (Theatre Arts), Jazmyne Daily-Simpson (Graphic Design), Maya Battistella (Theatre Arts), Grace Lindenfelser (Printmaking), Jocelyn Thornton (Art History), Luke Anderson (Theatre Arts), Emma McGrath (Ceramics), Joseph Cartolano (Visual Arts Education), Jaidyn Haywood (Visual Arts), Sophia Bon (Printmaking), Anya Lucas (Graphic Design), Sarah Berry (Music), Jolie Orbeta (Painting and Drawing), Katharine Asenbauer (Visual Arts Education), Alessandra Papaleo (Art History), Paige Shaver (Music), Owen Davies (Visual Arts Education), Sarah Himme (Graphic Design), Ingrid Wheatley Rebling (Music Therapy), Daniel Loxton (Painting and Drawing), Emilie Kim (Ceramics), Jared Weinstock (Music Therapy), Nguyen Minh Doan (Painting and Drawing), Danielle Bunn (Graphic Design), Ian O'Connor (Art History), Olivia Hansen (Graphic Design), and Samantha Bosaz (Visual Arts).