Consider the word "concinnity." One might look it up to find its meaning, "harmony, elegance of design or assembly,"
according to a dictionary definition.It's not an everyday word for most, but it caught Jeanne Riley's imagination when it
popped up on a word-of-the-day Web site.
Her three-piece quilt, titled "Concinnity," is well put together and aptly named.Visitors to Syracuse University's recent
"On My Own Time" exhibition agreed.They voted it "Best of Show." The exhibition,an inaugural year event mounted in
the Noble Room of Hendricks Chapel in April, featured 121 pieces of art by 62 University employees.
This is an encore honor for Riley,administrative assistant for School of Architecture Dean Mark Robbins. An earlier work was voted best in the 2000 show. Of this quilt she says, "I didn't expect it at all.I was quite surprised."
For Riley and for this quilt, concinnity means "the coming together of disparate elements."
"It was that way with this quilt," she says. "Different ideas were knocking around in my head. They came together in
this quilt." And she admits to looking up "concinnity."
"On My Own Time" is a community arts program begun in 1974, sponsored by the Cultural Resources Council (CRC) in
cooperation with the Everson Museum of Art, to showcase artistic talents of individuals employed by local businesses. The Office of the Chancellor and the Office of Human Resources sponsored this year's University exhibit.
At SU, this year's event celebrates and encourages creativity in faculty and staff by naming winners in three categories,
after review by two panels of judges.Faculty and staff submitted artwork in a variety of media, including painting, ceramics, printmaking, drawing, sculpture, photography, collage/assemblage, fiber art,glasswork, computer art, metalwork and
mixed media.
Mark Coldren, director of organizational
development and training in Human
Resources and emcee for the awards
reception, says this year's exhibit was
"remarkable in terms of size and quality,"
as evidenced by the number of pieces
CRC and Everson judges chose for display
at the Everson's "On My Own Time"
exhibit this fall, Oct. 15-Nov. 13. Seventeen
pieces from SU were selected, one of
the largest groups of pieces chosen from a
single organization in years, according to
Eboni Britt, staff development specialist
in Human Resources, who coordinated
the Hendricks show along with Linda
Pitonzo, events coordinator in the Office
of the Chancellor.
A panel of University judges selected
the following pieces for in-house awards:
"Bowl #1," ceramics, Susan Borker of
The College of Arts and Sciences; "Leaf
Platter," ceramics, Arlene Sjoblom of the
Faculty/Staff Assistance Program; "The
Eye of the Storm," Fiber art, Mary Ann
Fraser of Academic Affairs; "Concinnity,"
Fiber art, Jeanne Riley of the School
of Architecture; "Elips," glass art, David
McKenney of Physical Plant; "Travel
Bag," a leather piece, James DeWitt of
Physical Plant; "Ain't Nature Great," color
photography, James Budrakey of the Center
for Business Information Technologies
at University College; "Patience and
Repentance," color photography, Kathleen
Pascarella of the Office of Publications;
and "Dragonfly Dreams," sculpture,
Marcia Wisehoon of the S.I. Newhouse
School of Public Communications.
Five artists were awarded in-house
prizes and had artwork selected for
Everson exhibit: For color photography,
Robert Gates of The College of Arts
and Sciences, "Crouse College Steps"
won an in-house award and "Fatal Attraction"
will show at the Everson; also
for color photography, Donal Little of
Faculty Computing and Media Services,"Martha's Mandala" won an in-house
award and "32 Modulations of Love"
will show at the Everson; "God's Light,"
black and white photography, Amy
Archambault of Faculty Computing and
Media Services, won an in-house award
and will show at the Everson; "Chautauqua,"
painting, Wendy Harris of University
College, won an in-house award and
will show at the Everson; and "Ellie,"
painting, Larry Schafer of the School of
Education, won an in-house award and
will show at the Everson.
The panel of CRC and Everson
judges also selected the following works
for display in the Everson exhibition:
"Lake," pastel painting, Amanda Brown
of The College of Arts and Sciences;
"Cambridge," color photography, Theresa
Davis-Dye of the College of Human
Services and Health Professions; "Boxes and Trays," ceramics, Julie Hall of the
Center for the Support of Teaching and
Learning; "Plants and Structures," color
photography, Jessica Haynie of the School
of Architecture; "Blue Man," sculpture,
Ronald Kalinoski, formerly of Computing
and Media Services; "Porcelain Bowl
#1," ceramics, Robert Levy of the School
of Architecture; "Fungus Cascade," color
photography, Kelly Pierson of The College
of Arts and Sciences; "Gossip Hour,"
color photography, Scott Samson of The
College of Arts and Sciences; "Still Life
with Hydrangea," painting, Eric Shute of
the College of Law library; "Winter Ice,"
black-and-white photography, Penelope
Singer of E.S. Bird Library; "Girl with
Antler," printmaking, Stephen Singer of
E.S. Bird Library; and "Untitled," color
photography, Joe Viscomi of the Dean of
Students Office.
