ART Tank Competition Makes its Debut, Showcasing Student Works

Inaugural ART Tank winners Mariana Suarez Molina and Anika Griffing. Photo by John Griffin.

As the story goes, four Campus Beautification Committee (CBC)members were enjoying their first holiday lunch together last year when the question came up about how to build a pipeline of student artists to keep the initiative going strong for years to come.

Somebody suggested a Shark (and Wolfie) Tank-type competition. Somebody else started jotting down ideas on a napkin. Shortly following the commute back to the office, there was a Google doc circulating, outlining details and figuring out parameters and resources for what would become the CBC's inaugural ART Tank competition.

This October, the CBC held its first ART Tank competition - going from buffet napkin to execution in just about a year's time. The event took place in the Stony Brook Union with seven worthy competitors gaining the opportunity to share and demonstrate their passion and skills.

Artwork by Anika Griffing.

ART stands for Artists Rising Through, and the successful event exceeded everyone's expectations. The submissions and presentations made the four judging panelists'jobs tough, and two winners were named: Anika Griffing, graduating December 2024, and Mariana Suarez Molina '26. Both of their works are planned to be installed in the Melville Library next semester.

Griffing, who's majoring in multidisciplinary studies with concentrations in studio art and music and a minor in jazz studies, said, "I hope that this event will continue to brighten Stony Brook because it felt amazing to be part of it. Knowing that it was the first of its kind and being a huge advocate for the arts in our community, I gave it my all. I wanted this event to gain popularity and provide opportunities for future artists."

As a result of her ART Tank exposure, other pieces of Griffing's work are planned to be displayed, and available for sale, throughout the Student Health Services' Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Center. "For an artist, it's a really big deal and I can't thank everyone enough for ART Tank and all the other opportunities that came after."

Artwork by Mariana Suarez Molina.

Molina, a health sciences major, echoed Griffing's sentiments about the significance of the event. "As an international student, it was an incredible honor to have the chance to leave my own mark here at Stony Brook. That sense of creating something lasting and meaningful for the campus community truly inspired me to submit an entry to ART Tank. Winning was incredibly exciting because it marks the first time my art will be showcased. I felt immense gratitude for the opportunity to bring my ideas to life and share them with the community. It's a moment I'll always cherish and I'm so excited for what's to come."

Georgia LaMair Tomczak, senior manager of community engagement and gallery operations for the Zuccaire Gallery, said being a judge for ART Tank and a CBC member is an "absolute honor."

"I was truly inspired by the exceptional quality of both the submissions and the contestants," she said. "ART Tank is not only a fantastic opportunity to beautify our campus and showcase the incredible talent of our students, but also a powerful platform for community building and professional development in the arts. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for ART Tank and the innovative works it will continue to inspire."

Uncovering Hidden Talents and Hidden Artists

Chris Tanaka was 'at the table', literally, last year, and had the initial idea for a competition.

"The inspiration for ART Tank came from seeking out ways to engage the 'hidden artists' in the SBU community, not just those majoring in art but others who have talents we, or they, may not even have fully recognized," said Tanaka, associate director for finance and administration, School of Professional Development, and an active CBC member. "I think the most exciting and important outcome is that art that didn't exist in the world before, exists now."

How it all began. From left: Lauren Candela, Chris Tanaka, Mitchell Trinka and David Ecker.

Not being his first rodeo, CBC member David Ecker is Wolfie Tank's creator and spearheaded the idea Tanaka had presented on that fateful day, working closely with CBC and other SBU collaborators across campus. "The student presentations showcased the diversity and inclusion that the campus inspires," said Ecker, a technology solutions and engagement specialist in the Department of Information Technology and a partner in the Innovation Center at the College of Business. "It symbolized the artists' creativity, ambitions and resilience as they move forward toward their careers. Each one was clearly following their own unique path, showcasing their lives, experiences and friendships. And the artwork they proposed will hopefully inspire others to follow their own paths on campus."

Fron left: David Ecker, Smita Majumdar Das, Eric Murphy, Mariana Suarez Molina, Georgia LaMair Tomczak, Anika Griffing and Judith Brown Clarke.

Both Tanaka and Ecker also spoke fondly of the close bonds CBC members have and the important work they get done as a team. CBC founder and chairman Mitchell Trinka (digital media manager, University Advancement) and member Lauren Candela (director of communications, Finance and Administration), among others, were credited with playing an integral role in the ongoing evolution of the CBC in general and the formation of ART Tank from those first thoughts over lunch.

Vice President for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer Judi Brown Clarke, a CBC sponsor, summed it up like this: "ART Tank empowers students to express their sense of belonging through creativity, highlighting the powerful role of art in building connections and affirming community."

- Ellen Cooke

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