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SUNY Canton Graphic and Multimedia Design Professor Opens Painting Exhibition, Oct. 26

Canton, NY (10/20/2023) — A SUNY Canton professor's paintings come to life through the vibrant fall colors in the Adirondack Mountains.

Matthew J. Burnett, who teaches in the Graphic and Multimedia Design program, is displaying a sizeable collection of his work on campus during his "Northern Light" exhibition.

"Nature is bigger than us - it is us," Burnett said. "My paintings, my outdoor endeavors, all of this is an attempt to illuminate, enjoy, and learn from forces that are older and larger than us. I paint to explore the paradoxes inherent in our relationship with nature and to showcase the intricate overlap between the two realms."

An artist's reception and an official show opening will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, in the Southworth Library Learning Commons Classroom. The event is free, and the public is invited to view Burnett's work.

In addition to the opportunity to enjoy the work and comradery with the artist, colleagues and students, there will be an opportunity for "Competitive Pictionary." Participants are invited to test their quick drawing skills for prizes and bragging rights.

As a lifelong Northern New York resident who currently lives in Saranac Lake, he draws upon his experiences as a woods guide and his former post as a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Assistant Forest Ranger to nourish his creative endeavors.

Burnett is best known for his experiential learning and teaching in an outdoor classroom. He routinely offers immersive experiences along the Raquette and Saranac rivers as college courses in photography, drawing and painting.

This display is the latest in more than a dozen exhibitions Burnett has displayed in the region. In tandem with "Northern Light," he has also contributed a restored and custom-painted wooden guide boat for the "Listening to Water" exhibition at St. Lawrence University's Richard F. Brush Art Gallery. He's also staged interactive art performances using 3D-printed floating vessels on the Grasse River and another large-scale artistic undertaking projecting light onto sculptural forms made of snow.

Burnett is a 2021 SUNY Chancellor's Award for Creative Activities. He's also a fellow at the Munich University of Applied Sciences in Germany following a semester-long International Fellowship post. He earned his Master of Fine Arts from the Maine College of Art and his Bachelor of Arts from SUNY Plattsburgh.

About SUNY Canton

As Northern New York's premier college for career-driven bachelor's and associate degrees, SUNY Canton delivers quality hands-on programs in engineering technology, management, and healthcare fields. It is home to the Center for Criminal Justice, Intelligence and Cybersecurity. Faculty members are noted for their professional real-world experience in addition to outstanding academic credentials. As SUNY's leader in online education, SUNY Canton OnLine offers hundreds of flexible and convenient courses as well as 23 online degree programs. The SUNY Canton Kangaroos 15 traditional athletic teams compete at the NCAA Division III level as part of the North Atlantic Conference. SUNY Canton also features varsity esports and cheerleading.

Media Attachments

SUNY Canton Professor Matthew J. Burnett stands in the Southworth Library Learning Commons classroom with his paintings. The artist set a show opening for "Northern Light" at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26.

SUNY Canton Professor Matthew J. Burnett adjusts a large painting inspired by fall colors in the Adirondacks. The artist is displaying a collection of his work in the Southworth Library Learning Commons.

In tandem with the "Northern Light" exhibit at the Southworth Library Learning Commons, SUNY Canton Professor Matthew J. Burnett entered his custom-painted guide boat at nearby St. Lawrence University.

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