03/11/2025
Art — as seen through the eyes of schoolchildren and their art teachers — will be presented at a forthcoming exhibition at SUNY Cortland’s Dowd Gallery starting on Monday, March 24.
Selected by 20 dedicated educators of fine art, student works representing high achievement in the various techniques of drawing, painting, ceramics, collages, sculpture, digital media and creative arts will be displayed throughout the gallery.
Curated in a partnership with regional art teachers, the exhibition, titled “Imagination Celebration,” will run through Saturday, April 5.
Two opening receptions, first for elementary students and later for secondary students, will be held on Thursday, March 27, in the gallery, located in the Dowd Fine Arts Center at the corner of Prospect Terrace and Graham Avenue. The elementary student reception will take place from 5 to 6 p.m. The secondary student reception will run from 6:30 to 7 p.m.
Both receptions will feature music by the Cortland High School Modern Rock Band and other high schools.
A First Friday event on Friday, April 4, will extend gallery hours until 8 p.m. The exhibition and related events are free and open to the public.
Showcasing the work of both student artists and their mentors, “Imagination Celebration” will include students and teachers from area school districts.
Logo designed by Jesse Bender, a Cortland High School teacherThis year, Elizabeth Moshkowski of the Cortland District and Brookley Abbate of Homer Schools are the key organizers with Dowd Gallery. The exhibition will feature student artwork alongside a piece by each student’s educator-mentor.
“Dowd Gallery is excited to collaborate with regional teachers for the 2025 exhibition of elementary and secondary student work in an explosion of color, texture and talent,” said gallery director Scott Oldfield.
The exhibition, with its long tradition of being hosted at the Homer Center for the Arts for many years and then utilizing Homer’s HTEC building in more recent years, came to Dowd Gallery last year for the first time.
“We encourage all to join us in the celebration of fine art and education in the recognition and promotion of creativity in the scholarly pursuit of young artists,” Oldfield said.
Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment. Walk-ins are welcome. Visit the Dowd Gallery website for details about exhibiting artists, other programs, safety protocols and online booking. To schedule a visit or arrange group tours, contact Dowd Gallery.