SAVE THE DATE! Join Us for an Opening Reception at the QCC Art Gallery to Celebrate the Sixteenth Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition on April 10 from 4:00-6:00pm
“Join us for a little night music, skip along the paving stones, and delight in the cartoon network of kitties and lads drawn sad,” said Annemarie Coffey, co-curator, Professor, Art & Design. “In each work is an accomplished auteur. And, when brought together, there is ebullient chatter. Each student contributes to the gathering. You are sure to be surprised.”
This student exhibition will highlight a range of talent from students pursuing their artistic aspirations. It will run from April 10 to May 18, 2024. The opening reception will be attended by President Christine Mangino, students, faculty, and staff as well as elected officials and additional members of the surrounding community.
Co-curator Nathaniel Sullivan, Associate Professor, Art & Design added, “Each work in the show is a manifestation of learning taking flight. When the assignment is a prompt left behind and something else takes hold; the obsession over a detail, a personal interest followed, an idiosyncrasy explored. This is a moment when our students become artists.”
“Each year, this event is bustling with visitors, and it gives me immense pleasure to see the support and encouragement art students receive from members of our own community and beyond,” said Faustino Quintanilla, Executive and Artistic Director, QCC Art Gallery.
"We are excited to showcase the achievements of our young artists,” said Kathleen Wentrack, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Art & Design. “This year’s show illustrates the breadth of our students’ accomplishments with work from across all disciplines. A new feature this year is the screening of animation and video works in the Art Gallery’s theater. We look forward to celebrating our students’ success along with their families, friends, and the entire Queensborough community."
Jigdrel Dhendup, whose piece is a blue Ebay logo created in his digital design class, was born, and raised on the island of Bhutan. In 2021 he immigrated to the U.S. where he finished his senior year of high school at Newtown in Queens. “I knew art would be my life and that education was the path to success in such a broad area. “I conducted research and fell upon Queensborough’s Art & Design program which offered me access to an affordable education in a reputable program. I am so excited to participate in the student exhibit, to share my work and be among people who have supported me.” Jigdrel will graduate in May with an A.S. degree in Digital Art & Design.
Jigdrel’s piece is a blue Ebay logo created in his digital design class. “Thanks to my great professors and wonderful friends, I have self-confidence and a solid foundation in the adobe programs I learned.” Jigdrel will graduate in May with an A.S. degree in Digital Art & Design.
Coffey noted a few other standouts such as:
Michelle Huh, a first-year student who has three works in the show. “She has a developed personal style and design sense. Her work is complex and demonstrates top-tier skills though executed with deceptive ease. She is a break-out star!”
Fabianna Fuentes Mosqueda, who is showing for the second consecutive year, is preparing to graduate this spring. She shines in all mediums; she has had drawing, collage, digital and video works selected for the shows in Gallery X as well as the annual Juried Student Exhibition. She actively contributes to the Art & Design Department. She recently led a film discussion, the ‘final girl trope’ in the horror genre, following the Department screening of Scream, and she is a featured artist from the Department of Art & Design in the upcoming Student Spring Symposium.”
Sharon Whinston works from painting, illustration, and digital animation in the show and has favorable reviews, if not outright raves, from her digital and studio instructors. She is particularly pronounced in style, direction, and career goals.”
Daniel Cardenas Criollo is not only a talented artist, but he is also President of the Foreign Language Club and has contributed to Collective Issue 6, the annual student creative writing and visual arts journal.”
Brianna Evans said, “It is such an honor to be included in this show and just as equally I am so grateful for the connections I have made here, meeting passionate people, incredible people.”
The Art & Design Department expresses deep gratitude to the QCC Art Gallery and Queensborough's Division of Strategic Initiatives and Advancement for their support.
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Nestled within the iconic Oakland Building at Queensborough Community College in Queens, New York, the QCC Art Gallery stands as a testament to artistic expression. For decades, since 1966, the Gallery has been a cornerstone of the College and its neighboring community, presenting a dynamic range of exhibitions and engaging events. Guided by a commitment to nurturing visual consciousness and celebrating diversity across artistic mediums, cultures, and societies, the Gallery continues to be a vibrant hub for creative exploration. The Gallery is open to the public and free of charge. Call 718-631-6620 for more information.
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