022908_roskintrue1334586686108acckfproskin, art, furniture, sculpture, Hofstra, college, press release, news, media, university relations, public relations, announcementHOFSTRA UNIVERSITY'S CALKINS HALL ROSENBERG GALLERY PRESENTS SCULPTURAL FURNITURE BY ALEX ROSKIN/Hofstra_Main_Site/Home/News/PressReleases/Archive/022908_roskinprpgse1204316045512acorte21239817256078Press Release Sub TitleMarch 5 to 31, 2008Press Release TitleHOFSTRA UNIVERSITY'S CALKINS HALL ROSENBERG GALLERY PRESENTS SCULPTURAL FURNITURE BY ALEX ROSKINPress Release Date2008/02/29Ginny GreenbergUniversity Relations202 Hofstra Hall(516) 463-6819(516) 463-5146prpgse@hofstra.eduUniversity Relations//Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY:  The Rosenberg Gallery at Calkins Hall, South Campus, will present an exhibition of sculptural furniture by Hofstra faculty member Alex Roskin. This design show will celebrate its opening on March 5, 2008, with a gallery talk scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.

Mr. Roskin received his B.F.A. degree in sculpture from Alfred University School of Art and Design, then honed his craft in a traditional English-style furniture apprenticeship. He earned his M.F.A. in furniture design soon after at the Rhode Island School of Design. He is now an assistant professor at Hofstra University teaching sculpture and 3-D design.

Mr. Roskin believes that a firm footing in craft (whatever craft that may be, from hand cutting dovetails to the perfectly beaded TIG weld) is the first step to understanding how to work a material toward successful expression.

His most recent works of sculptural furniture grew out of his reverence for anatomy. The skeletal series that will be on display at the Rosenberg Gallery reflects the seemingly simple yet highly complex mechanics of this physical armature. The works bring to mind skeletons’ hardened mineral forms, left behind after all else has dissolved.

For Mr. Roskin, the function of the furniture, and the chair specifically, offers a challenge. These are works made solely to be looked at, with special attention paid to the integration of scale, ergonomics and engineering.

The Rosenberg Gallery hours are Monday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 to 4 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday from 1 to 2 p.m. and 3 to 4 p.m.; and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information call Hofstra University’s Fine Arts Department at (516) 463-5474 or the University Relations office at (516) 463-6818 or 6819.