Celebrating Three Decades of New York Council on the Arts / New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowships
September 1–November 12, 2017
The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is partnering with SUNY on a major travelling exhibition commemorating the work of NYFA and New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) Fellows over the past 30 years.
The exhibition, titled Artists as Innovators: Celebrating Three Decades of New York State Council on the Arts/New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowships, will show at seven SUNY museums between 2017 and 2020.
The Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art at SUNY New Paltz is first in line, with the exhibition debut and public opening reception scheduled for September 9, from 5 to 7pm, at the Dorsky. The exhibition will be on display in the museum’s Alice and Horace Chandler and North Galleries from August 30 to November 12.
“The Dorsky and its SUNY partners are thrilled to be participating in this collaboration with NYFA,” said Sara Pasti, the Neil C. Trager director of the Dorsky Museum, who also serves as chair of the SUNY Council of Museums and Galleries.
“We’re particularly honored to have the opportunity to open ‘Artists as Innovators’ here in New Paltz, as the exhibition provides a unique opportunity for our students and regional audiences to see work by extraordinary contemporary artists who have played an influential role in art history. This is likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Pasti said.
”Artists as Innovators” is a celebration of NYSCA and NYFA Fellowships, which over the last 30 years have supported more than 4,000 in a variety of disciplines, including not only the visual arts but also literature and performance.
Curated by Judith K. Brodsky and David C. Terry with the assistance of Madeline Scholl, the exhibition looks back over the years to feature works by more than 20 NYSCA/NYFA Fellows who have gone on to record significant achievements in their artistic careers.
Participating artists include: Elia Alba, Ida Applebroog, Dawoud Bey, Sanford Biggers, Ross Bleckner, Wendell Castle, Tara Donovan, Chitra Ganesh, The Guerrilla Girls, Christian Marclay, Marilyn Minter, Lori Nix, Tony Oursler, Faith Ringgold, Martha Rosler, Dread Scott, Andres Serrano, Shinique Smith, Carmelita Tropicana and Fred Wilson.
“The work in this exhibition shows how these influential artists interpret our times, questioning our values and prompting social awareness, but at the same time creating works of art that are innovative and full of visual power,” said co-curator and NYFA Board Chair Brodsky.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of programs at the Dorsky, SUNY Orange and SUNY Ulster. More information will be listed at www.newpaltz.edu/museum.
Following its presentation at New Paltz, Artists as Innovators will travel to SUNY Cortland, Alfred University, SUNY Fredonia, SUNY Plattsburgh, Stony Brook and Westchester Community College.
