Visiting Artists
2024
Making:
Visiting Artists - Michael Asbill, Thomas Sarrantonio & David Soman
The SUNY Ulster Visiting Artists Series brings the works of three contemporary Mid-Hudson Valley artists who are actively exhibiting and are well versed in their process of “Making” artwork.
In addition to the exhibition there will be a monthly lecture series providing each artist an opportunity to share and discuss their thoughts and concepts in regards to the process of making and creating. The lectures will be held from 1 – 2 p.m. in the Mountain View Room located in the Macdonald DeWitt Library. The first lecture will be held on Monday, September 16 and features David Soman, the second lecture is scheduled for Monday, October 21 with Thomas Sarrantonio, and the final lecture will be Monday, November 18 with Michael Asbill.
2024
VISITING ARTIST — James E. Ransome
"The View From My Window" Exhibit: February 23 - March 8
James E. Ransome's journey in art began in the rural South, devoid of direct exposure to art galleries or museums, yet fueled by a deep-seated passion for storytelling and illustration. With accolades such as the Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration and the IBBY Honor Award, Ransome's career is a testament to the power of perseverance and talent. His work has taken on many forms, from books and posters to paintings and murals. Learn More | Visit James E Ransome's website.
2023
VISITING ARTIST : Marielena Ferrer
Broken Monarchs Exhibit: March 10 - April 14
Community Art Workshop: March 23
Marielena Ferrer is a socially engaged artist who serves as the chair for both Kingston City Arts Commission and the Alianza Cultural de Kingston. Originally studying architecture at Central University of Venezuela, Marielena later earned a certificate of distinction in “Leadership and Empowerment” from Spain’s Polytechnic University of Valencia and a diploma in “Gender Leadership” through the EQUAL Transnational Cooperation Community Initiative of the European Social Fund. Additionally, Marielena sits on the Family of Woodstock Board of Directors, Arts Mid-Hudson Advisory Board, and is a teaching artist at the Department of Regional Art Workers, the D.R.A.W., in Midtown Kingston. Art is a growing part of Marielena’s larger desire to aid people in awareness of themselves and their environment. Marielena is currently pursuing her MFA in Sculpture from SUNY New Paltz.
2019
VISITING ARTIST MARTIN WITTFOOTH
Thursday, September 12 – Friday, October 18 • Vanderlyn Hall 265
Opening Reception • Slide Show & Lecture: Thursday, September 12 • 7:00 p.m.
Martin Wittfooth is an artist whose paintings, drawings, installations and sculptural works investigate themes of the intersection and clash of industry and nature, and the human influence on the environment. Many of his works explore the theme of shamanism - rituals and practices as old as our species - through which we have attempted to dialogue with nature: the nature outside of ourselves and the nature within. His creative language uses the combination of allegory and symbolism to convey visual narratives. Martin Wittfooth was born in Toronto, Canada in 1981. He currently splits his time between two studios, Savannah, Georgia, and the Hudson Valley. He earned his MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City in 2008. Wittfooth’s work has been exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide, including the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, Akron Art Museum in Ohio, and La Halle Saint-Pierre in Paris, with solo exhibitions in New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Montreal. His paintings have also appeared in numerous publications, including Juxtapoz, American Art Collector, and Vice, and cover features in New American Paintings, Hi- Fructose, and American Artist Magazine.
2019
VISITING ARTIST/GUEST CONDUCTOR - Johan de Meij
Tuesday, March 19, 7:30 p.m. Quimby Theater, Vanderlyn Hall
Dutch composer and conductor Johan de Meij joins the SUNY Ulster Wind Ensemble as guest conductor. The performance will feature works by de Meij and others. There will be a Q&A session at the performance.
Johan de Meij studied trombone and conducting at the Royal Conservatory of Music in The Hague. His award-winning oeuvre of original compositions, symphonic transcriptions and film score arrangements has garnered him international acclaim. His Symphony No. 1 The Lord of the Rings (Sudler Composition Prize) has been recorded by The London Symphony Orchestra, The North Netherlands Orchestra, The Nagoya Philharmonic and The Amsterdam Wind Orchestra, among others. His symphonies have been enthusiastically received at many of the world’s finest venues.
Johan de Meij currently maintains posts with both the New York Wind Symphony and the Kyushu Wind Orchestra in Fukuoka, Japan as their principal guest conductor. Johan is founder and CEO of his own publishing company Amstel Music, established in 1989.
For more information contact Chris Earley, Chair of the Arts, at earleyc@sunyulster.edu or (845) 688-1949.
2019
STORYHORSE DOCUMENTARY THEATER
VISITING ARTISTS: Mary Stuart Masterson & Jeremy Davidson
Saturday, February 2, 7:00 p.m.
THE FACE OF IT - three one-act documentary plays about identity based on conversations with people in the Hudson Valley. Written by Jeremy Davidson, directed by Mary Stuart Masterson, sound design by Seth Chrisman, and projection design by Rasean Davonte Johnson.
- In Her Shoes: Set in a Poughkeepsie nursing home, Ulster County BOCES principal - Genna Suraci and her mother Lena step into a new stage of life together.
- The Weight: A young woman from Ballston Lake faces an impossible choice that challenges her relationship to God.
- Among Us: A search for Sasquatch with Gayle Beatty, founder of the Hudson Valley Bigfoot Research Alliance and psychic medium Johnny Angel.
Jeremy Davidson and Mary Stuart Masterson, cofounders of Storyhorse (storyhorsetheater.org),
will be visiting Theatre Arts classes throughout the semester to teach the format
of Storyhorse Theater and guide students to present their own stories.
Jeremy Davidson is a writer, producer, and actor. His writing includes the documentary plays, GOOD
DIRT (BAM, Fischer Center), THE KEPT PRIVATE, and THE QUIET EXECUTION OF FRANK L.
TEAL. He is the writer/director of the Holocaust film, TICKLING LEO (Jury Prize Best
Film, Stonybrook Film Fest). Acting work includes the recent Netflix series SEVEN
SECONDS, THE AMERICANS, ARMY WIVES, and PAN AM.
Mary Stuart Masterson has appeared in over 25 films, including FRIED GREEN TOMATOES and BENNY & JOON, as well as numerous plays and musicals including NINE and NATIONAL ANTHEMS. She directed and produced the feature film, THE CAKE EATERS and produced TICKLING LEO, written and directed by her husband, Jeremy Davidson. She is also the founder of StockadeWorks, dedicated to fostering film and tech in the Hudson Valley.
2018
VISITING ARTIST— Andrew Zuckerman, Photographer, Filmmaker, and Curator
Show dates: October 11 – November 2, 2018
Visiting Artist Andrew Zuckerman is an award winning photographer, filmmaker, and curator. Much of his work is concerned with the intersection of nature and technology. His immersive investigation of the natural world has produced multiple books and exhibitions collected in three volumes Creature (2007), Bird (2009), and Flower (2012).
Zuckerman’s ongoing portrait practice utilizes both photography and filmed interview formats to examine human perspectives. With the support of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, he released Wisdom in 2008 as a book, a feature length documentary film, and a global traveling exhibition.
For this exhibition, Andrew will show a selection of works from his series "A Message from the Exterior," an installation of photographic works from his continued investigation of the human relationship to the natural world. Through a systematic and objective approach to live subjects, presented in extreme resolution and clarity, his intention is to celebrate these subjects in a way that makes them feel new and somehow undiscovered.
2017
VISITING ARTIST: Rita MacDonald
November 3 - December 13, 2017
Rita MacDonald is a visual artist exploring two related bodies of work. In one, she works with images of decorative patterns found in architecture to make large-scale wall drawings that are temporary and site-specific. In the other, she uses images of decorative patterns found in clothing to make small-scale, often highly detailed, graphite drawings on paper.
She has exhibited at Wave Hill and Lehman College in the Bronx, Smack Mellon and Storefront Ten Eyck in Brooklyn, The Soap Factory in Minneapolis, MN and The John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, WI. MacDonald has completed several public art commissions including two permanent mosaics in subway stations. Through The Women’s Studio Workshop in Rosendale, NY she received a grant to publish an artist book which is now included in several large collections, including the libraries of both the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, MN. and Yale University in New Haven, CT.
The Illustrator's Show
Carin Berger • David Goldin • David Gordon • Giselle Potter • David Soman
March 3 – April 7
Spring 2017 Visiting Artist Exhibition, The Illustrator’s Show, will bring together five artists based in the Hudson Valley and NYC who work in the burgeoning field of children’s illustration. The show will include examples of preliminary sketchbook concepts to finished art and book products. As visiting artists, the inpiduals will come to the gallery for hands on workshops, portfolio reviews, and conversations with students in the Fine Art and Design programs.
2016: Kevin Hays
Master Class: Thursday, September 8, 2016
4:00-6:00 pm, Quimby Theater
Concert: Thursday, September 8, 2016
7:00 pm, Quimby Theater
Kevin Hays is internationally recognized as one of the premier jazz pianists of his generation. Many of his 15 recordings as leader have received critical acclaim from publications such as The New York Times, Downbeat Magazine and Jazz Times, as well as a “Coup de Coeur” from the Académie Charles Cros (France). A prolific sideman appearing on over 60 records, Hays’s long list of notable musical associations include records with Chris Potter, Joshua Redman, Nicholas Payton, and Al Foster.
Kevin’s performance will feature a combination of material from various sources and genres. Being an improviser, he decides on much of the program as he goes along, but it will likely include his original songs, spontaneous interpretations of jazz standards, and improvisations on classical, folk and blues themes. Kevin considers the audience to be a participant in the process and one can expect many delightful surprises along the way.
Past Visiting Artists (by year)
Arts TimelineSpring 2015: Janaki Patrik
Spring 2014: Tim Rowan
Fall 2013: Keiko Sono
Fall 2012: Julianne Swartz
Spring 2012: Scott Freiman
Fall 2011: Linda Montano
Spring 2011: Michael Dickman
Fall 2009: Thomas Nozkowski
Summer 2009: Martin Olstad, Woody Pirtle, Tim Rowan, Judy Sigunick, Ed Smith
Spring 2009: Larry Grenadier
Fall 2008: Woody Pirtle
Spring 2008: Donald Brenner
Fall 2007: Will Cotton
Spring 2007: Christopher O'Riley
Fall 2006: Portia Munson
Spring 2006: Jonell Mosser
Fall 2005: Gillian Jagger
Spring 2005: Justin Kolb
Fall 2004: Ford Crull
Spring 2004: Judy Pfaff
Fall 2003: Ben Katchor
Spring 2003: Vivian Bower
Fall 2002: Milton Glaser
Spring 2002: Joan Snyder
Fall 2001: Martin Puryear
Spring 2001: Gwen Fabricant
Fall 2000: Henrietta Mantooth
Spring 2000: Grace Wapner
Fall 1999: Mary Frank
