With the help of third-year printmaking major Anthony Tino, SUNY New Paltz students gathered on Friday, Nov. 12 to show off their creations in a gallery designed specifically for them.
“I decided to create the show as an alternative to dealing with galleries in town and because there is no student gallery on campus,” said Tino. “If we don’t have a gallery we’ll just make it ourselves.”
Held in Student Union 100, the Clothesline Art Show included various pieces submitted by students, which were hung on a clothesline rather than displayed on a wall. Works on the clothesline included prints, paintings, drawings and photos. Video submissions were shown on a monitor and included both live action and stop-motion videos.
Tino, who conceived and organized the entire show, said the event was not only a presentation of students’ work but entirely student-run as well.
“I’ve never displayed anything in a gallery setting before,” said third-year geography major and art minor Ryan Reutershan, who submitted two stop-motion videos. “I found the show appealing because it’s being organized and run by [us].”
In order to have their work considered, students submitted pieces to an all student panel, which decided on what art would and wouldn’t make it into the show. However, every piece submitted was ultimately accepted into the show.
At the event, artwork wasn’t the only attraction. Guests were greeted by a five-gallon keg of root beer, plenty of food, a performance from the band Giant Peach and a guy walking around in an alligator costume.
The idea of the event, according to Tino, stemmed from a desire to create a forum where students’ work could be presented without any hindrances.
“We can have shows like this anytime and they can go anywhere,” Tino said.
Third-year geography major, Angela DeVivo showed off an ink drawing and many of her photos in the show and said it was a wonderful experience for someone who is not studying art professionally.
“I submitted because I do work on the side of my studies and thought it’d be nice to see it in a local show,” she said.
Tino hopes that future student-run events will prosper and said there’s a future for more clothesline galleries.
He said he hopes the event will inspire more exhibits organized by students.
“I wanted something to spark campus unity,” he said.