New Sculpture Studio Carves UAlbany a Spot in World of Fine Arts
Fine Arts are Taught, Learned and Appreciated at Boor Sculpture Studio

Contact: Heidi Weber (518) 437-4993

ALBANY, N.Y. (October 17, 2002) � The University at Albany has announced the opening of the Boor Sculpture Studio, a new 20,000-square-foot state-of-the-art structure that houses all sculpture and three-dimensional activity for the art department, from freshman to graduate students.

Situated on Perimeter Road at the eastern edge of the campus, the building will celebrate its grand opening with a ceremony on October 18 starting at 5 p.m. The studio is named for Terri Cosma Boor, a Loudonville, N.Y. sculptor who has also been a student at the University.

UAlbany President Karen R. Hitchcock said, "The University community is extremely grateful to Terri Boor for her dedication to UAlbany and our students. Her generous contribution has allowed for the formation of a creative environment for sculpture on campus. UAlbany has always had a strong art program � and it has been made stronger by the establishment of this first-rate studio facility. We look forward to many more years of seeing our students bring ideas to life and the creation of inspirational works of art."

More than 200 students at the undergraduate and graduate levels are currently utilizing the one-story structure. The building includes a modeling studio; a media suite, which features a video production room; and an experimental gallery/installation area. A three-dimensional design room, a wood/pattern shop, and a complete bronze foundry and welding shop are also part of the facility, as is an outdoor workspace. At the front entrance, a general-purpose room provides presentation-style seating space for 50 but converts readily to an exhibition space, critique room, or photo studio.

Faculty and Master of Fine Arts students have individual offices and studios in the building, which � owing to the placement of windows, skylights, high ceilings, and track lighting � makes advantageous use of both natural and artificial light.

According to UAlbany Professor of Art Edward Mayer, the building project team conducted research at other institutions� sculpture buildings, including those at Virginia Commonwealth University, Syracuse, the University at Buffalo, SUNY New Paltz, the Rhode Island School of Design and the Maryland Institute, to ascertain ideas for creating an environment in which a wide variety of activities could be explored and to incorporate the most advanced safety and ventilation systems.

"Bringing the studio to campus demonstrates that the University is making an important investment in the arts. UAlbany has an excellent reputation in many areas; its programs in thin film technologies, public policy and public health, to name just a few, are very well known and attract students from all over the world," said Mayer. "By providing a venue where artists are exposed to new ideas and techniques and can learn and hone their craft, the Boor Sculpture Studio will help the University attract the strongest art students in the same way."

Boor, originally from Utica, began taking art classes at the University shortly after her husband, Edward Milan Boor, passed away in 1978. Over the years, she has befriended many UAlbany faculty and students. For the dedication ceremony, Mayer will unveil a portrait bust of Boor. The likeness will be displayed in the Boor Sculpture Studio�s lobby.

The $5.4 million Boor Sculpture Studio is one of the campus facilities funded through $120 million in state support allocated in 1998 to support the University�s five-year master plan.

Previously, UAlbany�s sculpture program was located in a leased building on Railroad Avenue in Colonie, N.Y.

Established in 1844 and designated a center of the State University of New York in 1962, the University at Albany's broad mission of excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, research and public service engages 17,000 diverse students in eight degree-granting schools and colleges.

For more information about this nationally ranked University, visit https://www.albany.edu.

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