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Alumni Profiles
My Future after Plattsburgh State
Read Freedom to Create,
an article about Art Department alumni from Plattsburgh Magazine's
spring 2001 issue, devoted to art at Plattsburgh State.
Whitney Cookman
Whitney Cookman was a Fine Art major and is now Senior V.P. at Random House, Inc.
The Art Program was an Excellent Experience
20 years after I graduated, I attended the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania for some executive training. It was then that I truly realized how rounded, deep, and excellent my college experience at Plattsburgh was. The Art program taught me how to think and how to think visually.
Almost all of my professors and fellow students made impressions on me. Two faculty members, in particular, had great effect on me--Rick Mikkelson and Glen Hoover (two "opposites", by the way!) I really liked the small class size and personal attention of the faculty.
I keep in contact with five or six of my closest friends from Plattsburgh. It's been more difficult with the faculty as most have moved on or retired. I still keep in contact with Rick Mikkelson (I think I took every Drawing Course Rick offered in the 4 years I was at Plattsburgh--including our Sunday morning drawing sessions-known as Donuts & Dylan-!).
Whitney's Advice for Art Students: Show Up and don't be Afraid of the Weather!
Don't be dissuaded by the far-north, weather issue. It was actually fun and became a source of pride to us students (plus, you'll never appreciate spring as much as when it finally hits Plattsburgh!). The college is in a beautiful location, with great people, and is close to Montreal. You just can't do better than the Adirondacks at your back, Lake Champlain at your feet, and the Green Mountains of Vermont across from you!
Take advantage of everything - try everything. Plattsburgh State offers some amazing experiences but, like the rest of life, you gotta show up.
Shea Gonyo, Class of 2002
Visit the website of alumnus Shea Gonyo.
In his final weeks as a student at Plattsburgh State, Shea designed this Art Department Web site. He now works in Flash-based Web design for the firm Firstborn Multimedia.
Kathleen O'Connell, Class of 2002
Kathleen O'Connell graduated from the Plattsburgh State Art Department in 2002 with a BFA. Her concentration in printmaking led her to graduate school at the University of Wisconsin where she continues to work in the area she loves and conveys that continuing passion and enthusiasm to her mentor, printmaker and professor, Diane Fine. Below are some excerpts from her e-mails to Diane and examples of her new work from Wisconsin.
Dear Diane,
This is a TOO BRIEF and way TOO OVERSIMPLIFIED memo on the state of Things right now. There is so much going on, and many different layers on which it is occurring. Grad school is fantastic. My living situation is fantastic. My jobs at both Tandem and the Silver Buckle are fantastic. I am pouring out as much work as I can... this is a great time for ME. I am extremely busy doing EVERYTHING. I received your mailing. Thank you, Diane. I always feel super, extra special when I get stuff from you--the whole dynamically churning universe I get all bunched up in just STOPS and I stop and this great warm comforting feeling throughout. Thank you, thank you.
I'm so wound up... and excited about being here... the beginning of the rest of my career as an artist! This environment is inspiring! Ummm, I haven't really said anything to anyone... because I don't want to psych myself out or, even worse, be disappointed, but I have been nominated to be THE student reprsentative for the Southern Graphics Council for the next 2 years. It sounds like it might be a big deal. I'm certainly honored about that.
Tracy's class is wonderful. I'm learning a few new printing and binding tricks here and there (and you know how I love tricks). Take care, Diane.
Love,
Kathy
Scott Wild, Class of 2002
Scott Wild was a 2002 graduate of the Graphic design program. His strong design and typography skills landed him a job at Computer Games magazine as their designer. He is responsible for the look of a national magazine with a circulation of 150,000 monthly. Scott manages a production artist, but is responsible for much of the layout himself. He also designs a CD-ROM that is included with each issue and looks forward to adding his own motion graphics to the interface of these game demo disks. Immediately after starting the job, Scott was given the task of designing the format for a new digest sized entertainment magazine, a project that will allow him to be on the ground floor of a brand new publishing venture.
Michael Shoenig, Class of 1999
Michael Shoenig studied with Raphael DeSoto privately from age 12 and attended the School of Visual Arts after High School. After 23 years living in various locations around the country, he moved back to New York and attended Plattsburgh State as a non-traditional age student, where he renewed is passion for art while achieving his deferred dream of completing his BA in art. After graduating in 1999, Michael moved back to San Francisco where he is currently employed by the San Francisco Opera. He maintains an art studio in San Francisco, and continues to pursue his career as an artist; regularly exhibiting and selling his artwork.
Daniel Ehrenberg, Class of 2004
Daniel Ehrenberg, whose concentration is Graphic Design, graduated in May of 2004. He has done two summer internships one for U.S. Game systems in Stamford Connecticut and one for in New York. These internships have provided Dan with opportunities to put his training and skills to good use and turn out profession printed matter that strengthens his portfolio.
Here's what Dan says about Graphic Design, "my goal in design is to communicate visual clues that form clean, powerful messages. I subscribe to the idea of simplicity and striking a balance between aesthetics and visual communication."
Question, Comments, Suggestions?
If you would like more information about art at Plattsburgh State, please contact
Peter Russom, Chair
Office: Myers Fine Arts 207
Phone: (518) 564-2198
E-mail: peter.russom@plattsburgh.edu
Kimberly Hall-Stone, Secretary
Office: Myers Fine Arts 220B
Phone: (518) 564-2179
Fax: (518) 564-2199
E-mail: art@plattsburgh.edu
SUNY Plattsburgh
Art Department
Myers Fine Arts 220 B
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
