The annual exhibition of work created for the MFA Illustration as Visual Essay program at School of Visual Arts celebrates the work of 19 students with an opening reception tonight. David Sandlin, the curator of this year's installment, gave me a tour of the show last week during the installation.

As curator, David explained, his role began early in the year, as he was charged with the responsibility of helping the students refine their thinking during the two-semester course - which is self-directed with guidance from thesis advisors and from David. Most of the artists were on hand, hanging their work on the 10 running feet of wall space allotted. Each one took a turn presenting their project to me amid the hum of electric drills and the tapping of hammers.

Left to right: Elizabeth Clarke's Forgotten Town by Laura Peyton; Eustace Tilley by Andrew Roberts; Alice in Wonder City by Siyu Chen. Copyright the artists, courtesy School of Visual Arts Communications Department.

Laura Peyton's gouache paintings for Elizabeth Clarke's Forgotten Town, a book set in a 19^th century ghost town, evoke the look, the feel, and even the dust of the place with an allure that would surely hook middle school readers. Each panel has a moody quality that is enhanced by sharply contrasting light and dark spaces. The story has a twist, which Laura gave away: the boy visiting the ghost town discovers, at the end of the story, that Elizabeth Clarke is a ghost. A bound copy of the book is also on display. Peyton's thesis advisor is Teresa Fasolino.

The duckie brothers Pip and Squeak, along with hundreds of their cousins, are characters in Matt Barteluce's children's book, The Rubber Duck Chronicles: It's a Wide, Weird World. Based on the true story of a container of rubber ducks that was lost at sea and then tracked for two decades by oceanographers, the story introduces children to ocean life. Conceived as a giant "board book," the bound copy, through its large size, number of pages, and exceptional binding, trumps the beautifully executed originals on the wall. Matt's thesis advisor is Mirko Ilic.

In a series of proposed covers for The New Yorker, Andrew Roberts brings to life contemporary issues and situations that engage residents of the city. Working in a classic style reminiscent of Bruce McCall, Roberts turns the tables through his contemporary subject matter and characterizations. For example, for the annual February issue featuring the character Eustace Tilley, the artist creates a Martian emerging from his firey planet, gazing at Earth through his magnifying glass. Roberts' thesis advisors are Barry Blitt and Edel Rodriguez.

Taking on the classics and giving them a new twist is a challenge that inspires many students coming through this program and Siyu Chen is one. Alice in Wonder City, a contemporary take on Alice's Adventure in Wonderland, is based on her own experiences on arriving in New York City. In her comic book, done in black-and-white ink and brush drawings, Alice is a Chinese girl who follows a rabbit-headed man into Wonder City, where she encounters characters from Lewis Carroll's story, including the Cheshire Cat, the Queen of Hearts, and the Mad Hatter. Siyu's thesis advisor is Paul Buckley.

There is much more to say about this exhibition than can fit in a single issue of DART, but you can follow the story on Facebook - just hit the button below.

Selections from Thesis Projects in the MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Department is on at the Visual Arts Gallery. Opening reception: tonight, May 4 from 6 to 8 pm; the exhibition runs through May 15th. 601 West 26^th Street (west of 11^th Avenue), 15^th Floor, New York, NY. Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm. 212.592.2145.

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