A group of more than a dozen MFA and BFA alumni, students, and faculty from the Ceramics program came together to present their dynamic group exhibition, "Multiple Landscapes," at the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) Conference in Richmond, Virginia in March 2024.
From @newpaltzceramics on Instagram
"Multiple Landscapes" included the work of Ceramics faculty—Associate Professor Bryan Czibesz, Lecturer Lilly Zuckerman, and Professor Emerita Anat Shiftan—as well as 14 current and former Ceramics MFA students: Philip Adams, Geoff Booras, Laura Dortmans, Sarah Heitmeyer, Emilie Kim, Anna Kruse, Brianna McQuade, Bri Murphy, Kayla Noble, Paige O’Toole, Chrystal O’Boyle, Emily Parker, Lauren Sandler, and Yage Wang.
“['Multiple Landscapes'] was an incredible success with overwhelming positive feedback and great exposure for our programs,” said Czibesz upon return from the event.
The exhibition’s accompanying catalog was designed by Alyssa DiBartolo, a BFA in the graphic design program. McQuade, Dortmans, and Parker—who were all second-year Ceramics graduate students at the time of the conference—served as the curators and organizers of the exhibition.
Several aspects of the trip were funded by generous donor support, illustrating the direct impact that giving to the School of Fine & Performing Arts can have on the student and alumni experience. The venue rental—the single-largest cost of running the event—as well as the printed catalog were made possible by Dean's Office development funds. Refreshments served at the 'Multiple Landscapes' opening reception were funded by the Friends of Ceramics Foundation, a donor-supported account established by the Development office, while the MFA students’ travel and accommodations were generously supported by Campus Auxiliary Services.
View the "Multiple Landscapes" catalog, designed by Alyssa DiBartolo
The annual NCECA conference—which “provides considerable professional benefit to the Ceramics MFA and BFA programs,” said Czibesz—draws upwards of 5,000 attendees each year. The gathering serves as the Ceramics MFA program’s primary forum for promotion and recruitment at the national level, as well as the primary annual gathering for Ceramics MFA alumni.
“I am proud to meet up with the SUNY crew at NCECA each year and catch up, and it has been so exciting to see all the wonderful students move through the program over the years,” wrote Murphy. “SUNY New Paltz has a strong reputation in the field, and I am especially grateful for the ways BFA students are able to learn from the MFAs, the encouragement to explore multiple materials and processes, and the emphasis placed on research.”
Kruse, now an assistant professor of ceramics at Kent State University, added: “It's a place people instantly recognize and I'm always incredibly proud to say I went to SUNY New Paltz and studied under Anat and Bryan. I think knowing I went there and its reputation has definitely helped me get opportunities.”
Artworks featured in "Multiple Landscapes," as well as artist statements, are featured on the Ceramics program's Instagram account.
Fine & Performing Arts Dean Jeni Mokren traveled to Richmond to join the group of alumni and faculty for the exhibition, as well as Katherine Doss, development officer for the Office of Development and Alumni Relatons.
“By highlighting the shared experiences of SUNY New Paltz current graduate students, past and present faculty, and our alumni network, we hope to foster a sense of community and connection that transcends time and space,” wrote Parker, Dortmans, and McQuade in the "Multiple Landscapes" catalog introduction. “We thank our alumni network for their contributions to this exhibition and the NCECA community for providing a platform to showcase their talents. Together, we are excited to have you explore both the work and community that defines our Multiple Landscapes.”
