‘My, My, Tiger’s Eye’ exhibition brings graduate student artwork to the Rochester community

When immersed in one’s studies it’s easy to have tunnel vision on the end goal of graduation, but it’s important to look back and appreciate each step taken toward that goal. Focusing on their growth as artists is what motivated Alex Paat and 14 graduate students to create My, My, Tiger’s Eye, a new exhibition hosted at Flower City Arts Center.

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Elizabeth Lamark Photography

Hannah Giancola, a furniture design graduate student, showcased a reliquary containing something precious to her: a box sex of Wallace and Gromit VHS tapes she loved as a child. Her work served as a reminder of what motivates her to pursue a career in art.

“As I worked with the artists to select pieces for the show, I was really interested in pieces that were a reflection of where they were in their artistic explorations,” said Paat, a ceramics graduate student who organized and curated the exhibition. “I was interested in having this show be an honest snapshot of how our work has evolved since our first year of graduate studies.”

The mixed-media exhibition, on view through Sept. 28, includes glass, fiber, metals, prints, and paintings—a true showcase of the breadth of graduate programs offered by the College of Art and Design’s School for American Crafts and School of Art. The exhibition is entirely driven and directed by students, in conjunction with the staff at Flower City Arts Center. Paat, from Columbus, Ohio, began the process with his initial outreach to the gallery in December 2023.

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Elizabeth Lamark Photography

Emmanuel Okechukwu, a ceramics graduate student, included works that featured a finishing glaze he developed over the past year. He was motivated to create a look that would be ‘uniquely his,’ so viewers could come to recognize his work instantly without his name attached to it.

Kate Whorton, ceramics & Firehouse Gallery director at Flower City Arts Center, shared that the exhibition was appealing because of the center’s special focus on highlighting work from emerging and early-career artists.

“It is crucial for an artist to see their work in public. Looking at works-in-progress in the studio can seem myopic, and seeing the finished piece unencumbered in a gallery setting is a chance for clarity,” said Whorton. “Art is a connection point between people, between the artist and the viewer, and the feedback from a well-received exhibit can be instructive and crucial for young artists.”

While Paat took the lead in much of the organizing and curating efforts, he said that the exhibition would not have been possible without the shared vision and support from the other students featured. The opportunity to support each other while gaining visibility for their work appealed to all the presenting student artists, especially Hannah Giancola, a furniture design graduate student.

“This has been a special moment because we get to see the growth of each other's work and we’re able to share that with our community,” said Giancola, a Rochester native. “One of my goals is to try to be a bigger part of the Rochester community, so getting to show downtown in a place where people can just happen upon our artwork and enjoy it is exciting. It further integrates us even more into the place we call home.”

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Elizabeth Lamark Photography

Alex Paat, a ceramics graduate student, contributed a black stoneware tray, inspired by the shape of an egg carton, depicting the letters of the alphabet.

Emmanuel Okechukwu, a ceramics graduate student from Nigeria, said the exhibition was not only a way to showcase his work, but an opportunity to apply the knowledge he obtained through his studies.

“This show has really helped us to practice what we’re going to do when we graduate: how we can get our work out there, how to contact galleries, how to identify fair exhibition agreements, and so on,” said Okechukwu. “You don’t have to wait until you graduate to figure out all of this. I think it’s excellent that we’re doing this as students, when we can turn to our professors for advice, because it better prepares us for our future.”

My, My, Tiger’s Eye is currently on view now through Sept. 28, subject to Flower City Arts Center’s hours of operation. More information, including the full list of student artists featured, is available on the Flower City Arts Center exhibition page.