In the fall, art department alumni spanning four decades shared their work and their stories in a special exhibit at Tyler Hall.

Some 35 alumni artists were included in the first such show in nearly 20 years.

Commercial artists, teachers and children’s book illustrators were all represented. The exhibit included many New York pieces as well as imports from several states.

“It is by and large positive recognition of their time spent here,” said Michael Flanagan, assistant director of the Tyler Art Gallery. It’s also inspiration for current students, who got a flavor for the variety of careers artists can pursue.

The recognition came with much appreciation from artists like Mario Romano ’05, who wrote, “I look back at my undergraduate degree and I am thankful for the freedom I had to express what was necessary for me at that time.”

Alumni Exhibitors:

Jamie Ashlaw ’92

Marc Barr M’74

Paul Bartow ’88

Catherine Bebout ’79

Gail Bering-Porter M’ 08

Amy Gutter Bernard ’98

Amanda Besl ’98

Isaac Bidwell ’08

Kelly Chilton ’09

William DeMott ’84, M ’89

Holly DePue ’11

Bernice Ficek-Swenson M ’77

Kenneth Freed M ’75

Gary Grosenbeck ’89

James W. Johnson ’77

Tyrone Johnson-Neuland M ’99

Sarah Heppell ’09

Deale A. Hutton ’01

Denise Lisiecki M ’75

Mike Lupa ’05, M ’06

TreeLee MacAnn ’75

Thomas MacPherson ’73

Rebecca Mushtare ’03

Rick Muto ’75

Sarah Nesbitt ’06

Stephen Nevitt M ’73

Mary Ann Spavins Owen ’73, M ’75

J. Malcolm Owen M ’78

Paul Pearce ’79, M ’03

Mary Pierce ’94,  M ’96

Kelly Roe ’94, M ’97

Mario Romano ’05

James Russell ’83

Virginia Saunders ’75

Roy Strassberg ’72

Cara Thompson M ’02

Kate Timm ’74, M ’76

Rose Throop ’95

“For students majoring in journalism and graphic design, in particular, this allows them to list the minor on their résumés,” said Cynthia Clabough, art department professor and chair. “So even though they could have done all this study before, it allows an employer or graduate school to see they were focused and dedicated.”

Clabough said alumni working in photography throughout the region helped motivate the creation of a photo minor.

“The distinction gives the students just that little extra bit of confidence they may need, and certainly gives the employers more confidence, too,” she said.

The photo minor is the latest among a number of minors related to the art department that have strong interdisciplinary interest and cooperation: arts management, museum studies, expressive art therapy and audio design and production.

“So this is in that tradition,” Clabough said. “We don’t always call these courses interdisciplinary, but it does show cooperation. That interdepartmental, inter-area cooperation, we do well here at Oswego. That’s key. It’s key to what our departments have been willing to invest in.”