One of the highlights of the New York gallery scene is the city's other art fair, an annual showing of student work. The exhibitions and open studios present work in all media, often some yet to be named. While the exhibitions are sometimes a hodge-podge of style and substance, they offer risk-taking work that won't be a bore. Second-rate artists rarely make it through these demanding programs, so the level of accomplishment is high. And professionalism is on the rise, especially since art gallery scouts have been raiding the ranks of pre-emerging artists in recent years.

In some cases, the student shows offer new curators a chance to work alongside their mentors to conceptualize and present highly polished museum-worthy exhibitions. The shows listed here are at Cooper Union, Columbia University, Hunter College, International Center of Photography, New York University, Parsons The New School of Design, Pratt Institute, and the School of Visual Arts.

April 23 - 27: Parsons The New School for Design, Secret Lives: Illustration Senior Thesis Exhibition, featuring limited edition T-Shirts designed by Parsons Illustration Students and produced by Brooklyn Industries
Opening reception: April 24, 6 - 8 pm
Art Directors Club, 106 West 29^th Street at Sixth Avenue
Monday - Friday, 10 am - 6 pm
Parsons The New School for Design Info: 212-229-8919 / or Art Directors Club, 212-643-1440. Illustration, below: three pieces from the Secret Lives show.

Through April 28: Pratt Institute MFA Thesis Exhibition, Section 1
Pratt Manhattan Gallery, 144 West 14th Street, 2nd floor,
Pratt Manhattan Gallery information: 212-674-7788.

April 23 - 26: School of Visual Arts BFA Fine Arts Open Studios
Sculpture: 30 West 17 Street, 12 noon - 6pm
Opening reception: April 23, 5 - 9pm
Painting: 133/141 West 21 Street, 4th and 6th floor
Opening reception: Thursday, April 26, 5 - 9pm
School of Visual Arts Info: 212.592.2145.

April 24 - May 12: NYU/Tisch School of the Arts BFA Senior Photography Exhibition
721 Broadway between Waverly Place and Washington Place, Gulf + Western Gallery (rear lobby) and 8^th Floor Gallery;10:00 am - 7:00 pm weekdays, and 12:00 noon - 5:00 pm Saturdays. Photo I.D. required to enter building. NYU/TSA Information: 212 998 1930.

April 26 - 28: School of Visual Arts MFA Fine Arts Open Studios
Reception: Thursday, April 26, 5 - 9pm
133/141 West 21 Street, 8th and 9th floors
Continues on Friday, April 27, 12 noon - 8pm and Saturday, April 28, 12 noon - 6pm. School of Visual Arts Info: 212.592.2145.

May 4 - 19: Selected Works from MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Thesis Projects
Curated by David Sandlin, featuring work by 16 students in the program
Opening reception: Tuesday, May 8, 6 - 8 pm.
Visual Arts Gallery, 601 West 26 Street, 15th floor. Monday - Saturday, 10am - 6pm. School of Visual Arts Info: 212.592.2145. Illustration, left: SVA's Visual Arts Gallery.

May 4 - 19: Fresh Crop: School of Visual Arts MFA Design Thesis Exhibition
Opening reception: May 8, 6 - 8 pm, Visual Arts Gallery, 601 West 26^th Street between 11^th and 12^th Avenues, 15^th Floor. School of Visual Arts Info: 212.592.2145.

May 4 - 12: Pratt Institute MFA Thesis Exhibition, Section 2
Pratt Manhattan Gallery, 144 West 14th Street, 2nd floor,
Opening reception: May 3, 5 - 7 pm
Pratt Manhattan Gallery information: 212-674-7788.

May 6 - 27: Columbia University MFA Thesis Exhibition
Painting, Sculpture, Installation, Photography and New Media
Please check website for dates, hours, and location, in Rockefeller Center. Columbia University Visual Arts Information: 212-854-2829.

May 16 - June 16: Hunter College MFA Thesis Exhibition
Hunter College/Times Square Gallery, 450 West 41^st Street, Ground Floor. Hunter College MFA Arts Information: 212-772-4991.

May 18 - 26: Parsons/The New School Communication Design and Technology
BFA Senior Exhibition. Opening reception May 17, 6:00 - 8:00 pm.
Chelsea Art Museum, 556 West 22^nd Street, near 11^th Avenue. Tuesday - Saturday, noon - 6:00 pm; Thursday, noon - 8:00 pm. The opening receptions are free and open to the public; regular hours, admission charges apply.

May 21 - June 28: 41^st Annual Cooper Union End of Year Shows
Through May 27: School of Engineering Exhibition
Through June 9: School of Art Exhibition
Through June 28: School of Architecture Exhibition
Cooper Union Foundation Building, 7 East 7^th Street at Third Avenue. Hours: Monday - Friday, 11:00 am - 7:00 pm, Saturdays noon - 5:00 pm. Cooper Union Events and Information.

June 1 - 9: Parsons/The New School Communication Design and Technology MFA Thesis Exhibition. Opening reception May 31, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Chelsea Art Museum, 556 West 22^nd Street, near 11^th Avenue. Tuesday - Saturday, noon - 6:00 pm; Thursday, noon - 8:00 pm. The opening receptions are free and open to the public; regular hours, admission charges apply.
For information about the upcoming Parsons Photography MFA and BFA Thesis Exhibitions, please check the Parsons Photobook website. Photograph, left, by Sarah Sudhoff, 2006 Parsons Photography MFA program.

June 15 - 30: School of Visual Arts MFA Photography, Video and Related Media Exhibition
Visual Arts Gallery, 601 West 26 Street, 15th floor.
Opening reception: June 19, 6 - 8 pm
Hours: Monday - Saturday, 10am - 6pm. Summer hours: Monday - Friday, 10am - 5pm
School of Visual Arts Info: 212.592.2145.

Through May 20: ICP-Bard MFA Thesis Solo Exhibitions
The ICP-Bard Studios. 24-20 Jackson Avenue, 3rd Floor

Long Island City, Queens. Gallery Hours: Saturday - Sunday, 12:00 - 6:00pm, or by appointment.
ICP Student Exhibit Information: 212-857-0001.

June, 2007: ICP Full-Time Documentary Photography/Photojournalism and General Studies Student Show
Details were not available at publication time; for information: ICP Student Exhibit Information: 212-857-0001.