The Wood/Furniture B.F.A. program has a strong academic component. The degree offers students a broadly grounded educational experience as a basis for a beginning career as professional designers or artists. The focus is on developing the aesthetic, conceptual and technical skills necessary to foster creativity as the student works towards developing their individual identity as a visual designer/artist.
The Furniture/Wood program offers a year-long resident artist program for recent Buffalo State alumni, allowing them time to work on expanding their portfolio in preparation for graduate school or for further career development.
In 2013, the Art Conservation and Design departments and the Burchfield Penney Art Center organized the International Asian Lacquer Symposium at Buffalo State College. Artists, art historians, conservators, curators and scientists from around the world participated in lectures, demonstrations, and exhibitions. The symposium—held May 20—24 on the Buffalo State campus—explored the craft’s technical aspects through history and discussed the cultural differences in conservation approaches.
Masters in National Living Treasures demonstrated their traditional techniques and introduced processes, materials, and the tools that they use.
The highlight of the Symposium was the collection of artwork displayed in the exhibition at the Burchfield Penney Art Center. Seventy-three lacquer works by artists from seven countries became the centerpiece for the program.
The Korean Foundation and Ishikawa, Japan, supported the Symposium and the Exhibition.
As a Buffalo State student, Nathaniel Hall, '13, was recognized at national competitions and juried exhibitions for his original designs. Since graduating from the wood/furniture program, he has earned widespread acclaim for his inventive, yet functional work. Hall is now a graduate student in the furniture design program at San Diego State University.
“Motomorphic Chair” was selected as finalist in the AWFS Fair in Las Vegas, NV in 2011 as part of the Fresh Wood Student Competition.
“In and Out, of the Box” was selected as a finalist in the AWFS Fair in Las Vegas, NV in 2013 as part of the Fresh Wood Student Competition.
In 2015, Hall was selected as one of 13 designers to appear in Framework, a television show airing on Spike Network.
Adam’s “Table for Dali” was selected as a finalist in the AWFS Fair in Las Vegas, NV in 2011 as part of the Fresh Wood Student Competition. Adam received the People’s Choice award and 2nd place in Post Secondary Tables.
