Senior’s B.F.A. exhibition focuses on nightmares

11/25/2025

Nightmares, insomnia and sleep paralysis inspire in many a trip to the refrigerator or a few hours with a soothing book.

When SUNY Cortland senior Melissa Kummrow of DeRuyter, N.Y., awakes in the dark in a state of real anxiety and fear, she picks up her artist’s tools.

Now a B.F.A. candidate and senior studio art major with a concentration in fibers who is graduating in December, Kummrow’s senior thesis exhibition on these deeply disquieting, almost universal human experiences, titled “Parasomnia, A presentation of Fiber and Drawings,” opened on Nov. 21 and continues through Friday, Dec. 5, at the university’s Dowd Gallery.

Kummrow’s drawings, paintings and fiber art appear alongside artwork from classmate Sarah Goldberg, in an exhibition that is titled “BOLTHOLE.”

Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday with hours extended on Thursday until 7 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome. Admission is free and open to the public.

Graduating candidates display their final collection of artworks supported by writing and oral presentations that fulfill the year-long thesis requirement in their designated programs. Displayed works are evaluated by a B.F.A. committee comprised of Art and Art History Department faculty members.

Kummrow, a native of Pompey, N.Y., attended Fabius Pompey High School and obtained a degree in psychology before returning to college as a non-traditional student at age 24. She aspires to teach art.

“My recent work examines the darkest parts of dreams and how they merge into reality,” Kummrow said in her artist’s statement.

“’Parasomnia’ describes the abnormalities I experience at night, including insomnia, sleep paralysis, paranoia and nightmares,” Kummrow said.

“These restless nights have caused some emotional and physical distress, but they have also been an incredibly fascinating phenomenon I enjoy sharing with others,” she said.

The endless cycle of falling asleep, jolting awake, having a nightmare and waking up paralyzed creates intense feelings of frustration, fear and disorientation, Kummrow said.

“There is no way to predict when sleep paralysis will strike, forcing me into a paranoid state where I believe sleeping may lead to regret,” she said. “The hallucinations that follow paralysis have become engraved in my head, and I still struggle to decipher reality with dreams. ‘Did a rat really run across my face at 6 a.m., just after moving into an old farmhouse?’”

Kummrow also works with fibers to express the visuals and feelings of parasomnia.

“Linens, pillowcases and woven fibers are easily recognizable as common objects associated with sleep and comfort,” she said. “These symbols of rest have been altered to show the discomfort of my nights.”

Using hand embroidery, she stitched multiple self-portraits showing the effects of sleep paralysis.

Kummrow’s background in psychology helps her understand how parasomnia can be a frightening experience when someone wakes up without understanding their reality.

“This work serves as a visual journal of my experiences, helping me remember the alternate reality I only meet during my sleeping hours,” she said.

Visit the Dowd Gallery website or follow @dowdgallery on Instagram for detailed information about future artists, speakers and events.

Select an image to start a slide show