In Gerald Mead's DES 414 Senior Seminar, art and design students gain first-hand experience in all facets of being a working designer or craft artisan.
As a requirement of Mead’s course, each student must present a solo exhibition. Whether the exhibition is on or off campus, students are responsible for securing the location; creating and distributing invitations and posters; promoting their show; hanging and installing their artwork; and connecting with an audience.
This is all in addition to spending countless hours in a studio, creating and refining their work.
"The student thesis exhibitions cover a broad range of content and themes, but what they have in common is a single-minded focus on the part of the individual students to showcase their design talents and passion for their field," said Mead. "This, combined with an opportunity to extend that experience out into the arts community by working with and engaging other professionals and involving a public audience off campus, results in an indispensable applied-learning experience.”
A successful designer must balance the roles of event-planner, promoter, and curator. Moreover, they have to prepare and maintain a portfolio; market their work for representation, sale, or freelance commissions; seek and apply for exhibitions; and hone their resume-writing and interview skills.
Independently orchestrating a presentation of their work gives students valuable practical experience in a number of activities that they will be able to apply to their future careers as design professionals.
Student Exhibitions
Feline Frolic: Event Rebranding by Sarah Costello
November 20–25
Reception: Tuesday, November 21, 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Sugar City Arts Collaborative, 1239 Niagara St., Buffalo, NY, 14213
Hours: Friday, 5:30–7:30 p.m. or by appointment, sugarcityartcommittee@gmail.com.
Celtic Refresh: Irish Pub Rebranding by Megan O'Donnell
November 22–30
Reception: Saturday, November 25, 5:00–8:00 p.m.
125 Art Collective, 125 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, NY, 14201
Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, noon–8:00 p.m. Closed for Thanksgiving.
Hops and Tops: T-Shirt Design and Branding by Matthew Walsh
November 27–December 1
Reception: Monday, November 27, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Sugar City Arts Collaborative, 1239 Niagara St., Buffalo, NY, 14213
Hours: Friday, 5:30–7:30 p.m. or by appointment.
Woven Wilderness: Fiber Art by Lucas Colon
November 27–December 8
Reception: Monday, November 27, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
E. H. Butler Library, Circulation Gallery, 1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, NY, 14222
Hours: Daily, 7:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.
Futuristic Fantasies: Video Game Graphics By Sean Marcano
November 30
Reception: Thursday, November 30, 7:00–10:00 p.m.
Ashker’s On Elmwood, 1002 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, NY, 14222
Floral Seasons: Illustrated Fans by Fan Wu
December 1–8
Reception: Friday, December 1, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
464 Gallery, 464 Amherst St., Buffalo, NY, 14207
Gallery Hours: Monday–Friday, 2:30–8:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2:30–7:30 p.m.
On The Rise: Band Promotional Designs by John DeJac IV
December 4–10
Reception: Friday, December 8, 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Sugar City Arts Collaborative, 1239 Niagara St., Buffalo, NY, 14213
Hours: During events or by appointment.
Lucid Dreaming: Photo Manipulations by Andrea Scott
December 4–11
Reception: Saturday, December 9, 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Project 308 Gallery, 308 Oliver St., North Tonawanda, NY, 14120
Hours: By appointment.
Focusing Fitness: Gym Identity Design by Sebastian Errigo
December 4–13
Reception: Saturday, December 9, 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Gallery 308, 308 Oliver St., North Tonawanda, NY, 14210
Gallery Hours: By appointment.
Abnormality: Multimedia Designs By Mia Townsend
December 7–11
Reception: Friday, December 8, 6:00–9:00 p.m.
1045 Gallery, 1045 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, NY, 14222
Hours: Thursday–Saturday, 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Sunday, noon–4:00 p.m.
Coincidental Companions: Children's Book Illustrations by Brooke Murgia
December 7–12
Reception: Friday, December 8, 6:00–9:00 p.m.
1045 Gallery, 1045 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, NY, 14222
Hours: Thursday–Saturday, 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Sunday, noon–4:00 p.m.
Cinematic Sequel: Drive-in Rebranding by Katie Malecki
December 8-13
Reception: Friday, December 8, 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Main St. Gallery, 515 Main St., Buffalo, NY, 14203
Hours: Monday–Friday: 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday: 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Transforming Tresses: Salon and Boutique Rebrand by Chloe Mitchell
December 8–13
Reception: Friday, December 8, 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Main St. Gallery, 515 Main St., Buffalo, NY, 14203
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.; or by appointment.
Liminal Space: Ceramic Works by Christina Chilberg
December 8–30
Reception: Friday December 8, 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Artspace Buffalo Gallery, 1219 Main St., Buffalo, NY, 14209
Hours: By appointment.
