Visual artists Chuck Arnoldi and Gregory Amenoff juried work by 15 first- and second-year Ceramics, Painting and Sculpture MFA candidates

PHILADELPHIA (February 2, 2010) – Fifteen first- and second-year students in the Ceramics, Painting and Sculpture graduate degree program at the University of the Arts will exhibit their latest artwork in the juried show "2D or Not 2D." The exhibition runs February 4 through March 22 and is staged in University President Sean Buffington's office suite in Hamilton Hall (320 S. Broad St.). An opening reception is being held on February 4 from 3 – 5 p.m.

The students selected for the exhibition are: Marjorie Albano, Erica Bertke, Andrew Bredensteiner, Veronica Bruce, Veronica Cianfrano, Jessica Clark, Jessica Cohen, Martha Ferguson, Michele Kishita, Robert Libby, Sean Mattio, Teresa Palmer, Heather Pieters, Nancy Ring and Andrew Walker.

Pieces in the exhibition include Kishita's "Jizo's Footprints," a colorful montage of acrylic, paper and gold leaf on a wood panel; "Urban Space 3," an oil painting on canvas by Pieters; Walker's digital photo "Wourded Pavement"; and Cohen's "Aviator," a stoneware and casein paint sculpture.

Program director Joe Girandola utilized what he referred to as an "East Coast/West Coast" approach to employing a jury. Chuck Arnoldi, from Venice, Calif., and Gregory Amenoff, from New York City, lectured at the University during the MFA winter critique in December and, in the process, selected work for the show.

"The differing styles and personalities of these two acclaimed visual artists have combined to produce a great show," Giradola said. "This exhibition provides a platform for students to present their work in a professional manner, as they define what it means to be a practicing professional artist."

Amenoff is chair of the Visual Arts department at Columbia University. He has participated in more than 50 solo exhibitions and noted group exhibitions, including biennial exhibitions at the Whitney Museum and Corcoran Gallery of Art. Arnoldi has been involved in more than 50 solo exhibitions nationally and internationally, including the Whitney Biennial and Documenta 5 in Kassel, Germany.

The Low Residency MFA Program in Ceramics, Painting and Sculpture at the University of the Arts is a two-and-a-half year course of study committed to training artists at the highest professional levels, offering an MFA degree with specializations in ceramics, painting and sculpture. The program celebrates a vibrant 16-year history that includes alumni with successful gallery representation nationally and visual artist/educators at every university level.

The University of the Arts is the nation’s first and only university dedicated to the visual, performing and communication arts. Its 2,400 students are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs on its campus in the heart of Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts. The institution’s roots as a leader in educating creative individuals date back to 1868.

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