Tucked away on the far side of City Colleges’ East Campus, the Atkinson Gallery showcases student artwork, offering a broad spectrum of styles. This showcase is currently open and includes artwork from various art courses held at City College.
“Painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics… we’re firing on all levels, [students] are making it then they are displaying it,” Professor of Art History, Joy Kunz said.
Elle Lopez, a studio art major at City College, explained that the artwork displayed at Atkinson Gallery represents the culmination of students’ efforts over the semester.
“All of this work has been built up over the semester; it is the students’ show,” Lopez said.
For this exhibit, students’ artwork is either selected by their professors or chosen through an application process. Throughout the year, there are multiple showcases, and this month’s feature is the student showcase.
Christopher Ulivo, an associate art professor at City College, is currently serving as the gallery director, in addition to his teaching responsibilities. Ulivo took on this dual role after his predecessor, John Connely, stepped down earlier this year.
Connely had been the gallery director for five years and held that position as his sole responsibility. With Ulivo now managing both teaching and gallery duties, the gallery has begun involving more help from art students to ease the transition and support gallery operations.
The gallery’s operations rely on the efforts of many students, with positions such as gallery assistants and interns awarded through a selection process.
“Gallery interns have this wonderful opportunity to help hang the show [and] see all the little logistics around the art world,” Kunz said.
Students are able to gain hands-on experience in gallery management, curating, and the behind-the-scenes work involved in running an exhibition. Art history students contribute by researching and writing about the artists featured in the exhibitions, while graphic design students work on publishing the materials.
“We are looking to reach out to the community to let more people know about the gallery and for instructors to encourage their students to visit,” said Kunz.
Aside from this student showcase, the gallery also showcases artists outside of City College.
“We have professional artists that are selected by the gallery director, we try to have a gallery show at the beginning of the semester and then the students work [showcased] the second half,” Kunz said.
The gallery also offers workshops and lectures led by professional artists, providing students with the opportunity to gain firsthand insight into the experience of being a working artist, Kunz explained.
According to Kunz, the Atkinson Gallery has been on campus for nearly 30 years. While it once operated under a more traditional model, with a full-time director overseeing exhibitions, current efforts are working on making the gallery more student-centered without a full-time gallery director.
The current student showcase is located in the Atkinson Gallery located in Room 202 of the Humanities Building, with the exhibition running from Nov. 14 through Nov. 27. The gallery is open to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
