Nisky’s First Creative Career Showcase Was Lit

Kudos to NCSD Director of Art Sara Bussert and the more than one dozen art teachers, from across our district, who organized the inaugural Creative Career Showcase on Tuesday, Jan. 13. It was a significant feat designed to allow students, families and community members of all ages to explore the wide variety of creative careers and pathways available locally and nationally.

When asked about the event, Director Bussert shared, “It reinforced that the Arts are not only valuable, but full of opportunities. We accomplished something truly special by bringing this community together.”

The conversations, connections, and energy were memorable and meaningful. NAF was pleased to unveil and sell our newest merchandise to attendees at the event. This year’s Creative Career Showcase boasted:

🎓 7 colleges
🎨 24 creative career professionals
🎤 10 career speakers
🖼️ A gallery full of real-world inspiration

Attendees were able to:

• Speak with college reps about programs, portfolios, and admissions pathways

• Interact with professionals to learn what it’s like to make a living in creative industries

• Hear short informational presentations focused on specific career paths or experiences

• Learn from a dedicated Nisk Art Gallery exhibition featuring real-world examples from local creatives — including Niskayuna alumni and teachers

It was a fantastic experience as the photos below can confirm. Thank you for coming out to support and if you missed it, it’ll be back next year!

Participating colleges & programs included:

• Hartford Art School, University of Hartford

• SUNY Schenectady School of Music

• Union College

  • Union College Department of Theater and Dance

• SUNY Oswego

• Russell Sage College

• Savannah College Of Art and Design

• RPI

  • Architecture and Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions

  • Electronic Arts and Music

  • Communication, Media, and Design Department

  • Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences

Gallery participants included:

• Animator – Ollie Yao and Janessa "Trailing" Eldaye

• Art Education Major – Sofie Romero Boyrie

• Art Therapy – Heather Hutchison

• Branding Design – Jessie McGuire

• Cartoonist – Melody Often

• Creative Director – Katie McCambley

• Fashion Designer – Chloe Zaragoza

• Fiber Arts – Audra Colliton

• Interior Design – Kerri Sinnenberg & Genny Rubin

• Mixed Media – Natalie Boburka

• Photography —Janet Pan

• Painting–Dana Sela and Melody Often and Jeremy Riel

• Printmaking – Katherine Chwazik and Dana Sela

• Production Design – Amelie Striegnitz-Knox

• Sculpture – Jason Schultz

• Tattoo Artist – Jane Romm

• Video Art/Mixed Media – Stephanie Palazeke

• Composition –Tim Olsen

• Lessons Studio –Don Warren

• Music Performance – Jad Jacob

• Author – Brandon Hakulin

• Hair Stylist – Kelley Taylor

• Publishing – Suhani Parik

Professional tables included:

• Rebecca Gatto - Photography, Marketing

• Kim-Trang Blair - Wedding Photographer

• Genny Rubin - Interior design

• Don Warren - Songwriting, production, promotion, auditions, and much more.

• Josh Huber - Video Game Design - Art and Animation

• Gray Rogers - Concept Art for Video Games

• Rachel Petkewich - Writer and editor - including science magazine writer

• including profiles and features, webpages, and marketing copy, and freelancer

• Katie Chwazik - Printmaker & Art Education

• Liza Hart, Jane Grant, Stephanie Graves & Chloe Dudle - Art Education

• Jennifer Wilkerson - Brosgé LLC --a small scale clothing company

• Christie Rose - Director of Artist Relations Albany Barn

• Bill Scoville - Creative Director / Equil Viseion Records

• Leah Costantino - Nisk Art Friends

• Julia Durgee - Digital Marketing

• Kyra Teis - Childrens Book Illustrator

• Heather Hutchison - Art therapy / CREATE community

Presenters included:

• Jason Schultz - Landscape Designer and Recycled Metal Artist

• Gina Kiniry - Creative Director

• Genny Rubin - Interior design

• Kim-Trang - Photography

• Trevor Brown - Animation

• Melody Often - Cartoonist & Painter

• Suhani Parikh - Publishing

• Heather Rogers - Graphic Design, Illustration & Motion Graphics

• Tim Olsen - music: composition/performance/education

• Josh Huber - Video Game Design

Thank you to everyone who showed up to support the arts!