Participants in a sculpture studio at the Michael C. Rockefeller Art Center Studio Complex.
The State University of New York at Fredonia is particularly proud of its outstanding support for future artists in participating in three programs at the New York State Summer School of the Arts.
Over 100 high school students from across the state received intensive, pre-professional training from internationally renowned artists in three New York State Summer School of the Arts (NYSSSA) programs – the School of Theatre, the School of Media Arts and the School of Visual Arts.
The theater and visual arts schools used the Michael C. Rockefeller Arts Center (RAC), while the media arts students visited the Igoe Photography Studio.
For the first time in NYSSSA’s 42-year history, three NYSSSA schools operated simultaneously on the same campus – a blessing for all students.
“This has provided a wonderful opportunity for cross-disciplinary collaboration and creative enrichment as students learn not only about the work of their peers, but also other disciplines. Fredonia has always been a fantastic partner in helping our program to be a success,” said Lydia Kubiniec, a Los Angeles-based television/film producer and administrative director of the three programs.
SUNY Fredonia had a long tradition of hosting NYSSSA schools before the COVID pandemic, but this is the first time the School of Media Arts has been housed on campus.
Final student presentations, attended by the students’ parents, rounded out the three weeks the students spent on campus.
On Friday, July 26, Visual Arts held its closing ceremony at the Robert W. Marvel Theater, followed by an exhibition at the Cathy and Jesse Marion Art Gallery.
On the same day, Media Arts hosted events at the Emmitt Christian Art Gallery. Photographs were displayed on the gallery walls and Mac computers showing animation loops were on pedestals. A 16mm loop installation was shown in the Costello Community Room. Film, video and animation students had screenings in the Marvel Theater.
The theater school’s closing ceremony took place on Saturday, July 27th.
“This year, despite limited funds, we faced the unique challenge of finding the right SUNY campus that could accommodate multiple schools with the resources available. Fredonia has been incredibly supportive and welcoming of NYSSSA’s return and has met each challenge with us proactively and with shared enthusiasm for student life,” added Ms. Kubiniec, who has worked part-time for the NYSSSA since 2013.
Fredonia was also a great practical choice for NYSSSA for many reasons. Kubiniec rated the Rockefeller Arts Center as “incredible facility” to meet programming needs. Its dance studios and theater spaces, art studios and classrooms were all suitable for theater, visual arts and media arts.
The proximity of the RAC and Igoe Hall to the dormitory where the students were housed and to the Cranston Marché cafeteria also made sense given the students’ intensive class schedule, Kubiniec noted.
“The Fredonia campus offers the perfect balance of college experience and comfortable size with amenities nearby. This allows our students to step out of their comfort zone and still feel at home – an invaluable combination for their success at NYSSSA,” said Kubiniec.
The School of Theater, which enrolled 18 students, utilized dance studios as well as the Alice E. Bartlett Theater. Special events and performances were held in the Marvel Theater.
Facilities used by the School of Media Arts and its 21 students included Igoe Hall, equipped with film labs and darkrooms for film and photography courses, the Rockefeller Arts Center’s computer labs and film equipment for video and animation, the Costello Community Room in the RAC Studio Complex, and the Marvel Theater for lectures and presentations by visiting artists.
Traditional classrooms in the RAC, Christian Gallery, Marion Art Gallery and Marvel Theatre were the destinations for 62 students from the School of Visual Arts for lectures and special exhibitions.
The size of each school’s faculty ranged from five to 12; there were also a number of teaching assistants in the visual arts and media arts. They are all experienced artists, teachers and creatives themselves with extensive credentials and backgrounds as filmmakers, digital media artists, visual artists, university professors, directors and actors, Kubiniec said.
SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. accompanied Fredonia President Stephen H. Kolison Jr. on a tour of the NYSSSA program on July 17, which included opportunities to speak with students and faculty and tour the RAC facilities.
