Campuswide LoKo Arts Events to Showcase Student Talent & Visiting Artists at SUNY Potsdam, with Hands-On Experiences for All Ages
SUNY Potsdam is pleased to present its LoKo Arts spring events lineup, a campus-wide celebration of creativity—bringing together students, visiting artists and the broader community, from April 27 to May 2.
This year’s events highlight the work of SUNY Potsdam’s talented music and art students, alongside visiting artists, offering a dynamic mix of visual art, live music, artist talks and hands-on creative experiences for all ages. Community members are invited to engage directly with the arts in an accessible and welcoming environment.
To check out all the free events, visit www.potsdam.edu/loko.
The week will open with “Word Salad: A Presentation of Poetry & Art Inspired by the Work of Anna Warfield,” on Monday, April 27, from 6 to 7 p.m., in the Barrington Student Union Multi-Purpose Room. Performers will share original poetry and artwork inspired by Warfield’s recent exhibition at SLC Arts, exploring the intersection of language, expression and visual storytelling.
Beginning on Thursday, April 30, ecologist and artist Dr. Michale Glennon will open her exhibit, “Wool & Water,” in SUNY Potsdam’s Timerman Hall. The exhibition will feature fiber art pieces that translate environmental data into visual representations of changing water quality in the Adirondack region and Lake Champlain Basin.
On Friday, May 1, Glennon will visit SUNY Potsdam classrooms and be available throughout the day to speak with visitors in the hall. She will also lead a public workshop on Saturday, May 2 at 10 a.m., where participants will create their own data-inspired fiber mobiles using wool and driftwood. Glennon is the director of research the Adirondack Watershed Institute at Paul Smith’s College, where she works closely to raise awareness of the environmental challenges facing the Adirondack region.
On Friday, May 1, LoKo Arts will join forces with SLC Arts for the Plein Air Festival Kick Off: "Art in the Open," being held throughout the day on the Academic Quad. Local artists, students and community members of all ages are invited to paint outdoors and capture the natural beauty of the campus and North Country in a collaborative and creative setting together. All skill levels are welcome—bring your brushes and inspiration!
Stamping and registration for the LoKo Plein Air Day will begin at 8 a.m., followed by painting from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The public showcase will be held at 3 p.m., with awards and prizes presented at 4:30 p.m.
Later in the day, the exhibition opening for the annual “Art Attack” show will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Gibson Gallery in Brainerd Hall. This juried exhibition showcases a wide range of student work across disciplines, highlighting both emerging artists and graduating seniors in the rigorous Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program.
The Crane Spring Festival concert, “Joy!,” will be offered on Friday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m., in the Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall. The performance will feature the distinguished visiting conductor Maestro Miguel Harth-Bedoya, directing the Crane Chorus and Crane Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra will open the performance with the overture to Leonard Bernstein’s operetta, “Candide,” followed by “Fiesta! Four Pop Dances for Orchestra” by Jimmy Lopez, an eclectic work that ends with a blazing “Techno” finale. In addition to other works, the Crane Chorus will join the orchestra onstage for an epic close, presenting the final moment from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, the “Ode to Joy.” A Q&A/pre-concert talk will be offered on May 1 at 3 p.m., in the Proscenium Theater, located in the Performing Arts Center. The concert will stream live online at the performance time. For the full program and details, visit www.potsdam.edu/cranelive.
On Saturday, May 2, artists of all ages are welcome for “Highlighting the Arts!,” which will be held from 9 a.m. to noon in the Performing Arts Center lobby. Led by SUNY Potsdam art education students in collaboration with SLC Arts, this free, hands-on program will feature artist Liza LaBarge Paige ’12 and offer creative activities targeted for children in Grades Pre-K to 8.
Participants will rotate through vibrant, “highlighter-inspired” versions of painting, drawing, collage, printmaking and mixed media sculpture. Each activity blends guided instruction with open-ended exploration, encouraging creativity, problem-solving and self-expression, while remaining developmentally appropriate and adaptable for diverse ages and abilities. Children will experiment with a range of materials and techniques, discovering personal interests, and building artistic confidence along the way.
The LoKo celebration will continue into the evening with Madfest on Saturday, May 2, which will be held from 4 to 10 p.m. at the Marshall Park Bandshell. Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the music festival will feature a line-up of folk and Americana artists from the North Country and across New York State. Madfest is hosted by the student-run Madstop Records.
Throughout the LoKo Arts spring events, SUNY Potsdam’s commitment to creativity, collaboration and community engagement will be on full display. All events are free and open to the public.
The LoKo Arts Festival is made possible by the generosity and artistic vision of Kathryn (Kofoed) ’54 and Donald Lougheed (Hon. ’54).
For more information, visit www.potsdam.edu/loko.
About SUNY Potsdam:
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges—and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.
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