Faculty Exhibition: Department of Art and Photography
19 October - 1 December 2006

Introduction:

Ever since the emergence of the Romantic era in the nineteenth century, the artistic personality has suggested someone who is not just creative, but also often dynamic, passionate and temperamental. This archetype would most certainly apply to many of the distinguished faculty who have inspired the students of the Department of Art and Photography at Queensborough Community College, of CUNY.Two who come to mind immediately are Danny Lyon, the widely published, nationally known photographer who, while a member of our Art and Photography faculty in the late nineties, had a solo exhibition in our former two room Gallery in the Oakland Building, and Miriam Beerman, a painter who inspired our students to “find their own style,” and who, we are proud to note, will be presenting her own work in our recently renovated and expanded Art Gallery within the coming year. Her work is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Corcoran Gallery (Washington, D.C.), The Brooklyn Museum, The Montclair, (New Jersey) Museum, and the Trenton (New Jersey) Museum, among others.

The contemporary artist is expected to be a genius and an individualist, apparently untroubled by day-to-day practicalities. Nonetheless, despite public success, today’s artists often find it necessary to earn a living outside of their creative production, which is quite fortunate for us. John Hawkins, a retired faculty member, was the first of the QCC Art and Photography department to have a one-person show in the Art Gallery, many years ago. His work, inspired by Matisse’s sinuous line and flattened space, and by the raw power of German Expressionist woodcuts, is well known and popular on the campus among the many collectors who enjoy his art. Our department’s faculty exhibitions, both solo and group shows, were born in our previous venue in the Oakland building and thus have a long and distinguished history. This is our first exhibit in the new QCC Gallery, curated under the expertise of Gallery Director Faustino Quintanilla. A visit to the present show reveals a wide range of outstanding talent.There is no doubt that the present Faculty Exhibition demonstrates the excellent quality of the on-going artistic production our Visual Art faculty.  Our students have been influenced by their fine teaching skills and aided by the nurturing support that they have provided to them, our future generation of professional artists. Influenced by their guidance and classroom critiques, students have repeatedly expressed interest in viewing the work of their professors. A Faculty show, which is a tradition that is observed in every Fine Art department in the country, provides the perfect venue. 

Deanne DeNyse