For Immediate Release — Friday, August 26, 2005

Contact:

Mary E. McCrank

Media Relations Officer

(585) 245-5516

SUNY Geneseo's Lockhart Gallery Displays National Ceramics Exhibit

GENESEO, N.Y. — The tiniest art exhibit in the history of the State University of New York at Geneseo's Lockhart Gallery will open this week.

"In Our Cups: A National Ceramic Exhibition Celebrating the Drinking Vessel" will be on display from Aug. 27 through Sept. 17.

An opening reception will be held from 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27 at the gallery, located at 26 Main St. in Geneseo.

It also is the first time the gallery issued a call for work from numerous artists from around the nation, said Carl Shanahan, a professor in the School of the Arts. The request resulted in submissions from about 90 artists from 33 states, the nation's capital and two Canada provinces. All of the pieces of artwork are ceramic objects that serve as drinking vessels and are no larger than 12 inches in dimension in any direction.

"Part of the idea was to bring more prestige to the Lockhart Gallery and to the school," said Shanahan. "It's nice to branch out and encompass a larger community."

In addition, Ron Meyers, a ceramicist who lives in Georgia and has been profiled in numerous national ceramics magazines, is the exhibition's juror.

"It will be very different from anything that's been in there before," said Shanahan.

The gallery's new director said she expects the exhibit to place the Lockhart Gallery into the spotlight beyond the Genesee Valley.

"The space is small, but that doesn't mean we have to have a small show," said Nicole Cox, a visiting lecture of art and director of the gallery.

The exhibit is free and open to the public. The gallery is open from 1-4 p.m. daily. For more information, call (585) 245-5814.

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