Fiat the Extraordinary
Tomorrow culminates the 6th annual MostArts Festival on our campus with a gala orchestra concert, an Outside of Ordinary experience that brings an extraordinarily talented group of artists to our University—professionals as well as the participants in the Young Pianist Competition. Each year, the event has grown and become more popular with artists and audiences alike.
This year’s event was highlighted by two added Outside of Ordinary events.
Wednesday evening, we dedicated “Wave,” the first-ever site-specific installation in the United States by renowned Swedish sculptor Eva Hild who has exhibited and installed works around the world. The sculpture was commissioned for the grounds of our Alfred Ceramic Art Museum by Ginger and Marlin Miller ’54, HD ’88, and HD ’19. Marlin is a long-time member and former chair of our Board of Trustees.
Marlin and Ginger have been extraordinarily generous to Alfred University. Their gifts have created the Miller Performing Arts Center and the Miller Theatre as well as the Alfred Ceramic Art Museum. It is fitting, therefore, that we dedicated the Eva Hild sculpture this week as the facilities created by the Miller’s generosity take center stage for the MostArts Festival.
The MostArts Festival also presented us with a unique occasion to showcase our programs, facilities, and people to a group of high school guidance counselors from the greater New York City area, a market where we are expanding our recruitment efforts. With hundreds of colleges and universities in the region, it can be difficult for a small university to create awareness or generate interest. However, with the vision of Robert Cohen ’59, a newly-elected member of our Board of Trustees, and the generosity of more than a dozen Klan Alpine alumni including Mark Mertel ’67, Joe Smith ’66, and Phil Stillman ’64, plus some other graduates and friends, the inaugural “Outside of Ordinary” flight gave us an extraordinary opportunity to introduce Alfred University to six key high school influencers from the greater New York City area.
The private flight picked up the influencers at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey on Wednesday morning and flew them to Arkport/Hornell International, where we met and accompanied them to our Alfred University campus for a day and a half of tours, demonstrations, presentations, and, of course, a sampling of artistic performances that were part of the MostArts Festival.
We relish every opportunity to demonstrate to community members, art lovers, and key high school influencers as well as their students that Alfred University is truly not just Outside of Ordinary, but Extraordinary.
Fiat the Extraordinary!