Montclair State University is pleased to announce We Are We Make, the 2011 MFA Studio Arts Thesis Exhibition. Please join us for the opening on Friday May 13th from 6-9 pm. Sideshow Gallery is located at 319 Bedford Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

The exhibition will be on view from May 13th 2011 to June 5th 2011.

The tenth graduating class thesis exhibition is curated by the MFA’s 2010-11 visiting critic Matthew Nichols and features works by:

Katelynn Altgilbers Gianluca Bianchino Aimee Chappell-Hertog Marc D’Agusto Eliana Iturbe Michael Manning Whitney Newson Anthony Randon Kristal Romano

“We Are We Make. Joined together as this exhibition’s title, these four words possess the structure and brevity of an axiom. They seem to posit a direct link between being and creativity, suggesting that the latter logically derives from the former. But unlike, say, Cogito ergo sum – René Descartes’ famous equation of thought and existence – our phrase lacks a comparable conjunction; a consequential “therefore” is missing. And this, I think, is an important distinction. Because the nine students presenting work in this show are not artists by nature. Their talent is not some mysterious essence that runs through their veins like blood. That popular notion of the artist is romantic and flawed, and diminishes the hard work involved in any creative endeavor. While getting to know these students over the past several months, I have instead witnessed long hours clocked in the studio, numerous lively debates about each other’s work, and a willingness to redouble energy and commitment in the face of criticism and various other obstacles.”

- Matthew Nichols, from the thesis exhibition catalogue.

Montclair State University MFA Studio Arts

Located 13 miles from NYC, the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Studio Art is a 60-credit program designed to prepare students for careers as practicing professional artists. Comprised of a diverse group of students who share in a vision to explore, synthesize, innovate and create, the rigorous MFA program is a full-time two-year in-residence program that fosters opportunities for critical discourse in an environment where individuals can collaborate or work independently and make meaningful contributions to contemporary culture.

Since its inauguration the program has invited an exceptional group of artists, curators, and visiting critics to work with the students. Among such names are Roberta Smith, Jerry Saltzm, Eleanor Heartney, Arthur C. Danto, James Rosenquist, Phillip Pearlstein, William Wegman, Shirin Neshat, and Dana Schutz.

For more information about the program email program assistant Louise Davies, or director Dr. Andrew Atkinson, or call (973) 655 4074.