Design Student Exhibitions On Campus, In the Community

In Gerald Mead's DES 414 Senior Seminar, design students gain first-hand experience in all facets of being a working designer or craft artisan.

As a requirement of Mead’s course, each student must have a solo exhibition. Whether the exhibition is on or off campus, students are responsible for securing the location; creating and distributing invitations and posters; promoting their show; hanging and installing their artwork; and connecting with an audience.

This is all in addition to spending countless hours in a studio, creating and refining their work.

A successful designer must balance the roles of event-planner, promoter, and curator. Moreover, they have to prepare and maintain a portfolio; market their work for representation, sale, or freelance commissions; seek and apply for exhibitions; and hone their resume-writing and interview skills.

Independently orchestrating a presentation of their work gives students valuable practical experience in a number of activities that they will be able to apply to their future careers as design professionals.

"Each semester brings a broad range of themes and approaches to the thesis exhibitions required of students completing their BFA in design" said Mead. "The exhibitions demonstrate the high level of expertise the students have achieved through the college and it is very appropriate for them to share those talents with the public as well as their family, friends, and colleagues. The thoughtful organization, presentation, and marketing of each of the exhibitions is significant and impressive.”

The student exhibitions that are part of this course include:

 

Cloth: Socially Inspired Clothing and Branding by Nicholas Jackson
November 5–11
Opening reception: November 5, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
The Project 308 Gallery, 308 Oliver Street North Tonawanda, New York 14120
Gallery hours: Tuesday and Thursdays, 7:00–9:00 p.m.

 

 

 

Elemental Entities: Nature Graphics/Poetry by Katy Siwirski
November 8–11
Opening reception: Tuesday, November 8, 6:00–9:00 p.m.
El Museo Gallery, 91 Allen Street, Buffalo, NY 14202
Gallery hours: Tuesday–Saturday, noon–5:00 p.m.

 

 

 

Pizza-fueled! Artworks by Elyssa Harper
Opening: Friday, November 18, 6:00–9:00 p.m.
125 Art Collective, 125 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, N.Y. 14222
Gallery hours: Tuesday–Saturday, noon-8:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

Spectral Dissonance: Transformation in Mixed Media by Sarah Webb
November 17–20
Reception: Friday, November 18, 6:00–9:00 p.m.
1045 Gallery, 1045 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222
Gallery hours: Thursday and Friday, 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; Saturday, 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. or by appointment (716) 361-8329.

 

 

 

Watercolored Surf: Board Graphics by Katie Radder
November 17–20
Reception: Friday, November 18, 6:00–9:00 p.m.
1045 Gallery, 1045 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222
Gallery hours: Thursday and Friday, 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; Saturday, 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. or by appointment (716) 361-8329.

 

 

 

Null Division: A Multimedia Collection by Jaye Wuertzer
November 18–25
Opening reception: Friday, November 18, 7:00–11:00 p.m.
Project 308 Gallery, 308 Oliver Street North Tonawanda, New York 14120
Gallery hours: Tuesday and Thursdays, 7:00–9:00 p.m.

 

 

 

Experiential Odysseys: Video Graphics by Yahaira Zapata 
December 2–7
Opening reception: Friday, December 2, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Main St. Gallery, 515 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203
Monday–Thursday, 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. or by appointment (716) 578-1702.

 

 

 

Re-forming Nature: Metalwork and Jewelry by Sabrina Wolf
December 2–7
Opening reception: Friday, December 2, 6:00–7:00 p.m.
Main St. Gallery, 515 Main Street, Buffalo 
Gallery hours : Monday–Thursday, 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; Friday, 6:00–9:00 p.m.

 

 

 

Quirks of Evolution: Ceramic Sculpture by Melanie Fisher
December 2–7
Opening reception: Friday, December 2, 6:00–9:00 p.m.
1045 Elmwood Gallery for the Arts, 1045 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222
Thursday–Sunday, 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. or by appointment (716) 228-1855

 

 

 

Celestial Concepts: Videogame Art by Patricia Sturckler
December 3–9
Opening reception: Saturday, December 3, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Project 308, 308 Oliver Street, North Tonawanda NY, 14120
Gallery hours: Tuesday and Thursdays, 7:00–9:00 p.m.

 

 

 

Signs of Trouble: Hockey Graphics by Dakota Broderick
December 5–9
Upton Hall, main floor opposite Warren Enters Theatre
Buffalo State College, 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222
Hours: 7:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.