The Fredonia Technology Incubator will present the second installment of its ongoing Arts and Business Luncheon series at its Dunkirk facility on Friday, Oct. 16 from noon to 1 p.m. The event will feature artist Ed McGowin, whose more than 50-year career has included paintings and sculptures seen across the U.S. and around the world. Attendees must register at www.fredonia.edu/incubator, as seating is limited.
Mr. McGowin is known most for his 1970 “Name Change” project, where he legally changed his name 12 times in 18 months and created a body of work under each name.
McGowin has also completed outdoor sculpture commissions for the New Mexico Department of Highways Route 66, in Santa Rosa, New Mexico; the N.Y.C. Metropolitan Transit Authority, Bayside Long Island Railroad Station; the Veterans Administration in Indianapolis; and the General Services Administration in Mississippi. In addition, he has had exhibitions at Tallinna Kunsithoone in Tallinn, Estonia; MoMA PS1, in Long Island City, N.Y.; and the Corcoran Gallery of Art, in Washington, D.C.
“We are excited to offer a series that provides insights on the business side of the arts,” said Incubator Director Chuck Cornell. “Having an accomplished artist and entrepreneur on site to share experiences furthers our mission of instilling an entrepreneurial spirit in the community and inspiring business startups that will create jobs in our area.”
The Incubator, located at 216 Central Ave. in Dunkirk, kicked off the series last month with renowned sculptor Albert Paley as keynote speaker. Attendees got an inside look on the process Paley uses to make his visions come to life and his business a success. They also heard from one of his employees about the methods they follow to make his structures available to be seen around the world.
The series is possible through the support of Fredonia’s Cathy and Jesse Marion Art Gallery, and its director, Barbara Räcker. It is an extension of the Visiting Artist Program within the university’s Department of Visual Arts and New Media. Additional support has been given by Fredonia Distinguished Professor Alberto Rey, also of the Department of Visual Arts and New Media, and Dr. Susan McNamara, Assistant Professor and Internship Coordinator with Fredonia’s School of Business.
The Fredonia Technology Incubator promotes economic growth in Western New York by supporting entrepreneurship and the development of new, innovative companies into successful business ventures. The incubator provides services to startups which, in turn, create jobs in the community. In addition, the incubator develops real-world internships and training opportunities for students, attracts and retains graduates for the area, provides a first-class facility for community activities, and provides support services to community organizations and leaders.
The incubator is part of Fredonia’s Division of Engagement and Economic Development (EED), established in 2013 to facilitate and support university-community collaborations that enhance the intellectual, cultural, artistic and economic vibrancy of the region. Such collaborations include active community engagement and partnerships with local and regional organizations, governments, businesses and universities. In addition to the incubator, the division oversees the university’s StartUp New York economic development program. The division is led by Vice President Kevin Kearns.
