This year’s theme, A Moment in Time, explores the profound idea that time is a constant force of movement and change. The show is designed to be a space of “distortion and discovery,” inviting the audience to step out of their daily routines to pause and appreciate the unique creativity unfolding before them. From the foundational techniques of introductory courses to the complex silhouettes of advanced draping, the runway will reflect a wide range of styles that challenge and redefine contemporary fashion.

Behind the scenes, the event is a masterclass in professional execution, produced and promoted by the class under the guidance of Professor Seth Howard. These students are responsible for the intricate orchestration of the show, gaining hands-on experience in event management, marketing, and the fast-paced world of fashion production. The runway will feature works from a diverse group of creators, including students from:

• ARTX 120: Intro to Apparel Construction
• ARTX 226: Intermediate Apparel Construction
• ARTX 322: Flat Pattern
• ARTX 422: Draping
• Independent Designers

In a significant addition to this year’s program, the show will debut a special collaboration with Rocky’s Closet, a ����vlog initiative that provides free professional attire to students. A dedicated segment of the show will feature curated looks styled entirely from Rocky’s Closet merchandise. This partnership highlights the university’s commitment to accessibility and demonstrates that professional style is achievable for every student.

The stakes for the evening are high, as a panel of three distinguished industry professionals will serve as the year’s juried judges:

• James Volpe – Principal of White Sneaker Consulting
• Jenni Lee – Fashion Stylist & Brand Consultant
• Utkarsh Gupta – Assistant Product Developer & Designer at Golden Touch (Private Label & Walmart Specialist)

In addition to awards granted by the judges for design excellence, the evening will also see the presentation of academic scholarships to talented students within the College of the Arts, celebrating their hard work both on the runway and in the classroom.

A Moment in Time will take place on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Memorial Auditorium on the ����vlog campus. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the show commencing at 6:00 p.m. Pre-sale tickets are available for $12, or can be purchased at the door for $15.

Accompanied by Professor A. T. Pratt, students from the Products and Zines course participated in the festival, held March 28 and 29 at the Metropolitan Pavilion and hosted by the Society of Illustrators. Now in its fifth year under Professor Pratt’s leadership, the course’s presence at MoCCA has become a hallmark experiential learning opportunity within the department.

Throughout the weekend, students independently ran their own exhibition table, presenting and selling original work to a large and engaged audience. Their offerings included comics, zines, prints, stickers, T-shirts, and handmade objects, many of which sold attendees eagerly supported emerging artists. This direct interaction with the public gave students invaluable real world experience in marketing, audience engagement, and creative entrepreneurship.

The 2026 festival drew thousands of artists, publishers, and fans, reinforcing its reputation as the city’s largest independent comics and cartoon event. For Montclair students, the experience extended beyond sales. It was an opportunity to network with industry professionals, observe current trends in illustration and publishing, and situate their work within a broader creative community.

Over the past two years, the Products and Zines course has seen significant growth, expanding to three sections. In addition to Professor Pratt, this year’s sections were also taught by Professors Andre L Davis and Anthony Gambino, allowing for increased student participation and a larger presence at the festival.

The department also celebrates Professor Pratt’s individual achievement at this year’s festival. He was one of only fifteen artists to receive a MoCCA Award of Excellence for his comic Action Baby Comics: Animal Alphabet, a prestigious recognition highlighting outstanding work in the field.

Participating students included Angel Rodriguez, Ashley Ortiz Tovar, Justinee Massabny, Kelsey Ayala, Liany Sanchez, Jerusa Larancuent, Jazmin Gamboa, Jailynn Winn, Hailey Amanna, Abubacar Keita, Alana Schwartz, Alexa D’Alessandro, Amelie Barritas, Arianny Matos, Camila Pena Marte, Celeste Nova, Cyan Villar, Gavin Kisla, Elias Galdamez, Kaden Zofrea, Katherine Nicholas, Kimberly Peralta, Liz Seidemann, Maura Mayfield, Melissa Aydogan, Nate Quintero, Pauline Magos, Sean Wall, Simone Lino, and Skyla Vera.

The Department of Art and Design is incredibly proud of these students for their professionalism, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit. Their success at MoCCA reflects the strength of Montclair’s commitment to hands-on, career focused learning experiences that prepare students to thrive in the evolving landscape of contemporary art and design.

What unfolded throughout the week was nothing short of unforgettable. The atmosphere was grounded in culture, mentorship, and purpose, as panelists and attendees reflected on the extraordinary career of Freddie Leiba and the countless lives he has impacted. His legacy is defined not only by professional achievement, but by his commitment to opening doors, creating opportunity, and using fashion as a platform for empowerment and lasting change.

The discussion offered a powerful reminder that fashion history extends far beyond garments and trends. It is rooted in people, leadership, and the meaningful impact individuals leave behind. Through his vision and dedication to mentorship, Leiba has influenced fashion in ways that reach into culture, education, and access for emerging creatives.

The space itself was filled with a palpable sense of gratitude, love, and collective respect, reflecting the vibrant community Leiba has cultivated over the years. To witness and participate in honoring a living legacy was a profound experience for all involved.

Special thanks are extended to Neva Palmer, a ����vlog student, for attending and supporting the event. Her presence underscores the importance of bridging education, culture, and industry, and highlights the role students play in carrying these legacies forward.

With immense gratitude, Professor Panchu celebrates the life, leadership, and enduring impact of Freddie Leiba, a visionary whose work continues to inspire and shape future generations in fashion and beyond.
For more information about The Fashion Alliance Network, please visit .

Fanning earned her BFA from Pratt Institute and her MFA from ����vlog. She teaches Perceptual Drawing and Figure Drawing, specializing in instruction that spans introductory to advance drawing practices, including both general and figure drawing. The fellowship supports the creation of new work and advances the professional careers of New Jersey artists selected solely on artistic merit.

Story by Web and Digital Media Manager Alexandra Thelin Blackowski

Students can play modern board games and dive into immersive VR experiences.

Faculty can incorporate games across disciplines to support critical thinking, collaboration, storytelling, systems analysis, and experiential learning. The Game Hub supports course integration, project-based work, and experimentation with game-based and game-informed pedagogy, whether for a single class session or an entire course.

The Game Hub is an extension of Livia Alexander’s research, which was completed as part of ����vlog’s Higher Education Academic Leadership (HEAL) Program. Alexander is a Professor of Art and Design and, as a participant of the HEAL Program, explored game-based learning and play tools for community building, pedagogy, and interdisciplinary engagement.

The Game Hub has been made possible by University Libraries’ sponsorship and The ADP Center for Learning Technologies’ partnership.

Visitor Information

Location: The ADP Center for Learning Technologies (University Hall 1140), ����vlog

Availability: Monday – Thursday: 9 AM – 8 PM; Friday: 9 AM – 3 PM

About the Higher Education Academic Leadership (HEAL) Program

The HEAL Fellowship program provides opportunities for faculty to identify and study an important problem or challenge facing higher education and propose a scalable and impactful intervention that ultimately supports the success of students, faculty, staff, or the university.

Story by Social Media and Communications Coordinator Lauren Conforti 

Her featured work, Long Day, is an oil painting on unstretched canvas that was created while she was studying abroad in Newcastle, England, from January to June 2025. Mahoney chose to work on unstretched canvas so the large-scale painting, 29 x 60 inches, could be rolled and transported home in a suitcase, a method influenced in part by her interest in contemporary painters working at scale on unstretched surfaces.

The painting depicts the emotional and physical aftermath of a long day and reflects Mahoney’s experience of living abroad and immersing herself in new routines and creative environments. During her time in Newcastle, she filled her days with studio work, dance classes, traveling, and building new friendships. She credits the experience with pushing her to explore new ways of working and thinking about her practice.

“When I returned home, I came across the Visionary Projects open call and decided to apply,” Mahoney said. “A few months later, I received an email saying my work had been accepted to be shown in Manhattan subway stations. It was really exciting.”

–Sophie Mahoney

She noted the importance of ����vlog’s study abroad opportunities in shaping the work. “I don’t think this painting would have been made if I hadn’t done the study abroad program at Montclair State,” Mahoney said.

Through the Visionary Projects initiative, selected artists have their work installed in NYC transit spaces, included in an online artist directory, and made available for purchase. Mahoney’s painting was installed at multiple subway locations, including 18th Street on the 1 line and Cortlandt Street on the R line, giving daily commuters and visitors the opportunity to encounter her work in a public setting.

Mahoney’s selection reflects the professional development encouraged within ����vlog’s Department of Art and Design, where illustration students are supported in pursuing external opportunities, open calls, and real-world exhibition platforms that extend their work beyond the classroom and into the public sphere.

About the Artist:

Sophie Mahoney is a New York–based artist originally from New Jersey. She received a BFA with a concentration in painting from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University in May 2022, and a second BFA in Illustration from ����vlog in Winter 2026. Her practice primarily focuses on painting, while also incorporating illustration and sculpture. Her work explores themes of feminism, queerness, body image, and mental health.

For more information about Sophie, please follow these links:

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Heffernan paints large-scale narrative paintings that deal with issues like environmental degradation, climate change, and evolving notions of the self. Forty years ago, she started using a process in her work called image streaming that gave her a way to use some of that vast wealth of mental imagery within a mind to tell non-linear visual stories. Image streaming in combination with research opened up a way of painting that allows her to evolve a complex story as she paints. Using the materiality of paint itself, those stories can be embodied in form and tell us a deeper story, that engages complex issues using visual means.

America Will Be! is curated by Dr. Nicole Archer, Art and Design Department Chair, and (University of Maryland, College Park). Lead support for the exhibition and its programming is provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art, with additional support from the and the .

Through objects and images that harness the power of the U.S. flag, this exhibition asks: How is race used to politically disenfranchise American citizens and asylum seekers? How have members of the Black community responded to systematic political exclusion with resilient, creative forms of political participation? And how might we expand what it means to participate in democracy as we write the nation’s next chapter together?

“America Will Be!” proudly showcases 25 artworks, objects, and documents created across generations and U.S. regions, which are often considered in relation to one another but are seldom displayed together. Highlights include David Hammons’s iconic African American Flag (1990), which reimagines the stars and stripes in the colors of Pan-African unity; June Edmonds’s Four Years in the White House Flag (2019–21), a meditation on power, presence, and the symbolism of the flag through rhythmic fields of color; and Hank Willis Thomas’s 14,719 (2018), a monumental textile installation in which each of the 14,719 embroidered stars represents a person who was shot and killed in the United States during that year. Together, these works confront and transform one of the nation’s most charged symbols, exploring its capacity to hold both collective pride and protest. These important loans complement works in The Driskell Center’s permanent collection, including Faith Ringgold’s Declaration of Freedom and Independence (2009) from her celebrated print portfolio, underscoring The Driskell Center’s ongoing commitment to collecting and presenting art that redefines the visual and political meanings of American identity. America Will Be! provides an opportunity for the community to reflect on and learn from the complex ways artists and communities have used the symbol and image of the flag to confront the pressures and meanings of loyalty—to nation, to community, and to self.

An exhibition preview and opening reception, featuring a commissioned performance by the artist Sheldon Scott, will be held in The Driskell Center Gallery on Friday, February 6, 2026, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Respiro (Breath) brings together performances, installations, and video works that explore breath as both a physical necessity and a poetic structure, a rhythm of presence and absence, binding and release, individual gesture and collective action. Installed within the historic church, the exhibition unfolds as a series of subtle interventions that activate the architecture and invite viewers into a shared sensory experience.

Fabric, sound, and light recur throughout the works as connective threads, weaving together body, space, and community in cycles of gathering and dispersal. Movements tether and untether, sounds resonate and fade, and projected images fold the space back upon itself. Through these gestures, Kaczmarek and Miranda transform the church into a living body, one that inhales and exhales, holds and releases, remembers and renews.

The choice of site is central to the project. Rather than treating the church as a neutral container, the artists engage it as an active participant. Breath becomes a metaphor for ritual, echoing the building’s history as a place of collective presence, reflection, and transformation. In this context, Respiro (Breath) invites audiences to consider how imagination and embodied action can reshape spaces, offering moments of hope, connection, and attentiveness.

Kaczmarek was an artist in residence at RUC Rural Residency for Contemporary Art, which supports international artists working in dialogue with the cultural and geographic landscape of the Camonica Valley. His residency underscores RUC’s mission to foster experimental practices rooted in place, exchange, and sustained inquiry.

The exhibition catalogue, Respiro, published by Museo Camuno in 2025, accompanies the project. The catalogue, in Italian and English, was presented during a catalogue presentation event at the museum.

Through Respiro (Breath), Kaczmarek’s sabbatical research takes shape in a project that is both intimate and communal, exploring how breath, as a shared yet deeply personal act, can become material for art and a catalyst for connection. He hopes to carry the insights and approaches from this residency back into the classroom when he returns to his teaching duties after his tenure as a Fulbright Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellow in India this spring.

For more information, see the links below:

A feature on Italian TV:

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Bisa Butler is a New Jersey-born and based artist renowned for her vibrant quiltwork. Butler crafts portraits that illuminate the significant contributions and unique viewpoint of the Black community. Butler views her quilts as celebrations of Blackness and vital historical correctives, offering powerful opportunities to tell stories from a long-underrepresented perspective. Her subjects are often ordinary individuals, whose names and stories have been historically overlooked, sometimes captured in faded family portraits or by itinerant photographers. Butler’s artistic journey began with painting studies at Howard University, later evolving to incorporate fabric into her practice during her MFA at Montclair University. They include West African wax prints, kente cloth, and Dutch wax prints, each carrying rich and complex ties to African history. Her innovative approach has earned her widespread acclaim, leading to exhibitions across the United States since the early 2000s.