After two years of occupying the third floor of Penfield Library, the Tyler Art Gallery has reopened with a kickoff exhibit titled “Restart.”

From Oct. 4 through Oct. 30, “Restart” will occupy the gallery space on the first floor of the newly reopened Tyler Hall. The exhibit encompasses artwork by different artists, with many with ties to Oswego State.

Tyler Hall has been a pivotal building on campus for 48 years, said Cynthia Clabough, chair of Oswego State’s art department.

Clabough said the opening to the gallery is metaphorical in terms of providing openness and fluidity to the campus. Tyler Art Gallery Director Michael Flanagan said new beginnings and fresh starts are ideas that all artists contemplate.

“Restart” includes artwork from artists nationwide, but the exhibit is built to emphasize the community. Student art teachers, mentors and students from three local high schools were invited to interpret what the word restart means to them and submit artwork.

In the juror’s statement, Helaine Posner, the chief curator, stated that the inaugural exhibit of the Tyler Art Gallery reflects the diversity and vitality of creating art in today’s world.

Many artists with contributing work on “Restart” take inspiration from the natural world, while others incorporate urban landscapes, Posner said.

The artwork varies in terms of different mediums, with work dabbling in painting, drawing, collaging, sculpture and photography.

The selected works reinforce the ideas on contemporary life and serve as an inauguration to the reopening of Tyler Hall.

For many students, the reopening presents an opportunity to view art in a museum-like setting without venturing off campus.

“I’m excited to see the new gallery in Tyler Hall,” Oswego State sophomore Amna Sadique said. “I never visited the gallery when it was in [Penfield], but I am looking forward to the changing exhibits as the semesters go on.”

Tyler Art Gallery presents six exhibits annually, which are free and open to the public. In addition, the gallery serves as a classroom to teach, and for students and community members to learn through direct encounters of professional quality artwork.

In addition to Tyler Hall, there is an off-campus gallery located at 168 W. First St., giving students opportunities to create both fine and performing artwork with inspiration from previous art creating a collaborative atmosphere. 

For students, faculty, staff and community members there will be a free public reception featuring several artists on Oct. 21 from 5 to 7 p.m.