2009 Student Art Show opens Jan. 29 in Schick Art Gallery

The annual Skidmore Student Exhibition, sponsored by the College?s Studio Art Department, will be on exhibit in Schick Art Gallery from Thursday, Jan. 29, through Sunday, March 1, 2009. An opening reception will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Jan. 29.

This year?s juror, Michael Oatman, selected 84 works from 213 pieces in a variety of media completed by Skidmore students during 2008. Original ceramics, communication design, drawing and painting, electronic media, fiber arts, metals, photography, printmaking, and sculpture were submitted. A total of 104 students entered works; 57 are represented in the show. Oatman also selected 10 awards for outstanding work, which will be announced at the opening reception. These awards are funded through donations made by friends of the gallery, campus organizations, and community businesses. A complete list of winners will be posted in the in the gallery and on the Schick website along with a juror?s statement.

A renowned collage and installation artist, Oatman has been praised by the Albany Times Union for producing ?some of the most ambitious, challenging work on the art scene.? In 2007, editors of the Times Union voted him one of ?Top Three Artists? of the Capital Region. He teaches drawing and space in the School of Architecture at Rensselaer, providing fundamental skills while nurturing creativity, individual interests, and at times collaboration. He has been a Yaddo fellow and has received numerous residencies, grants, and honors.

Oatman has been in solo exhibitions at the Stremmel Gallery, Reno, Nev.; Skidmore?s Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery; Francis Colburn Gallery, University of Vermont, Burlington; and the Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown, Mass., among others. Recent group exhibitions have included the University Art Gallery, College of Arts and Architecture at Penn State, University Park, Penn.; the Albany International Airport and Albany Center Galleries; the Miller Block Gallery, Boston, Mass.; and MASS MoCA, North Adams, Mass., among others. Oatman is represented by Stremmel Gallery, Reno; Miller Block Gallery, Boston, Mass.; and Lenore Gray Gallery, Providence, R.I.

The Skidmore Student Exhibition and reception are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 4:30 p.m. weekends.

Please click here for more details about the show, including an interview with guest juror Michael Oatman.