Parsons The New School For Design, Illustration Program
Arnold and Sheila Aronson Galleries, Sheila C. Johnson Design Center
66 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Parsons The New School for Design presents a one-night curated exhibition of work based on the theme of “obsession” from 35 graduates of its BFA illustration program. The show will feature thesis work as well as other pieces exploring this theme.
Visual arts, media, and design today are in a state of daily evolution, cross-pollinating ideas between their many disciplines. Industry categories that once defined the creative professional–photography, illustration, graphic design, architecture, fashion, advertising, the list goes on–have expanded to include newly synthesized versions of these fields. These days, a spirit of hybridization is on the rise, bucking tradition to fuse any number of creative pathways in search of a new direction. At the forefront of this ongoing revolution, the minds of ambitious young visionaries are at work and in play.
ADC Young Guns exists to identify the vanguard of creative professionals who let loose their imaginations, shattering conventions and breaking boundaries with a dash of brilliance and personal flair. Those of you who’ve set your minds to making a name for yourself, raising new standards from within cubicles, conference rooms, cramped apartments, and studios across the world–this is your chance to put those battle cries in action. If you’re age thirty or under and have two years of the working life under your belt, they’d like you to show them what it’s all about.
On a quest to identify the brightest young professionals across myriad creative disciplines, ADC Young Guns has become more than just a competition–it now comprises a community network of rebels and prodigies, unsung heroes and rising stars. Over the years, our roster has grown to include six classes of exceptional talent, among them Stefan Sagmeister (YG1), Rei Inamoto (YG4), James Victore (YG1), Ryan McGinness (YG2), floto+warner (YG5), Alexander Gelman (YG1), Deanne Cheuk (YG4), Todd St. John (YG1), Scott Stowell (YG3), and Mike Mills (YG1). Old Young Guns serve as the jury and select the fifty new creative wonders that form each new class of ADC Young Guns.
WHO CAN ENTER?
Entrants must be 30 years of age or younger when the entry site opens on March 19, 2009, and must have been working professionally for at least 2 years (both full-time and freelance work qualify). A proof of age will be required in the form of a Passport, State ID or drivers license from all entrants.
If you are a student with two years of the working life under your belt, you are also eligible to enter. Previous ADC Young Guns entrants ARE eligible to enter, but past ADC Young Guns winners are NOT eligible to enter subsequent cycles of the competition.
ADC Young Guns is an international competition open to all who qualify.
SUBMIT:
6-10 pieces of professional and personal work. A maximum of 3 pieces can be personal work. The rest must be professional, published work. Unpublished and client-rejected spec work counts as personal work.
Work entered does not need to have been created in a particular year – entries will be judged as a portfolio of work. Choose wisely. Pick projects that showcase the full range of your skills. Submissions need not conform to any specific media categories. Your submitted portfolio may feature work in one medium or several.
ENTRY DEADLINE: May 13, 2009, 11:59 PM EST.
ENTRY FEE: $135 USD.
Ready to prepare your portfolio? Review the Entry Instructions first.
Questions? Please contact info@adcyoungguns.org or visit their site.
Good luck!
On May 2nd Pat Cummings be signing books with a virtual CROWD of others at Books of Wonder. The new book has a collection of illustrators, among them Parsons grads Leo & Diane Dillon.
Here’s the info:
12 – 2 pm on Saturday, May 2nd
at Books of Wonder
Autograph session for:
Our Children Can Soar: From Carver to Owens, Fitzgerald to Parks, King to Obama. Thirteen African-American Artists Commemorate History’s Pioneers
Featuring work by:
BRYAN COLLIER, LEO & DIANE DILLON (Parsons Illustration Alums), PAT CUMMINGS (Parsons Illustration Adjunct Faculty), ERIC VELASQUEZ, E. B. LEWIS, SHADRA STRICKLAND, JAMES RANSOME, COZBI CABRERA and GREG CHRISTIE
Books of Wonder
18 West 18th Street
New York, NY 10011
(212) 989-3270
Parsons Illustration Adjunct Faculty Tara McPherson is on a USA Book and Toy Signing Tour for her new Lost Constellations book by Dark Horse and Gamma Mutant Space Friends Mini-Figure Set by Kidrobot! Here are the upcoming dates:
April 28
Diesel Fuel Prints, 6-10pm, Signing.
Portland, OR
April 29
Kidrobot, 6-8pm, Signing
San Francisco, CA
April 30
Kidrobot, 6-8pm, Signing.
Los Angeles, CA
May 2
Kidrobot, 6-8pm, Signing
Miami, FL
Dixon Place presents…
CAROUSEL
Cartoon slide shows & other projected pictures presented by a glittering array of artists, performers, graphic novelists, & other characters.
Hosted by R. Sikoryak (Parsons Illustration Alum and Adjunct Faculty!).
Featuring:
Brian Dewan
Dean Haspiel
Tim Kreider
Josh Neufeld
Jim Torok
Kriota Willberg
R.S.
and more!
Thursday, Apr 30, 2009
8:00 PM (door opens at 7:30 pm)
at the NEW
Dixon Place
161 Chrystie Street
New York, NY 10002
Tickets:
$15 (general)
$12 (students/seniors w/ valid id) or TDF
2 tickets for $25 with postcard (see attached jpeg)
Advance tickets & more info:
www.dixonplace.org
(212) 219-0736
Editor’s Note: This guest entry comes from Illustration Senior Roxie Vizcarra, who participated in the Pictopia/Pictoplasma Festival in Berlin, Germany this past March.
When the Illustration Department invited me to help represent them at this year’s Pictopia Festival (part of the acclaimed character design organization Pictoplasma), I was excited to be able to visit a city I’ve never been to, especially one with some much history as Berlin. What I didn’t know at the time was that there couldn’t have been a more perfect location for Pictopia to take place. It’s impossible to go very far without encountering some form of art that incorporates strong character design.
I spent a couple of days watching over Parsons’ exhibition, Ugly is Beautiful, at the Collegium Hungaricum, which also featured work by other Pictopia Character Walk artists. The set-up for the show was long and tedious, but in the end it was worth the effort as everything looked fantastic, and I can attest to the fact that most people who came by to have a look were rather impressed by the variety of unique characters Parsons students have to offer.
What: Mini Mini-Comics Workshop!Come learn about comic conventions, the comics industry, self-publishing, and constructing your own zines, artbooks, and mini-comics. A great introduction to those considering submitting work to this year’s MoCCA Festival! Some people think these conventions are only about comic-comics (pictures in panels), but Jillian has amassed a huge collection of books at these types of festivals that run the whole gamut of arty, comic-y, narrative, non-narrative, silkscreen, photocopied, etc. etc. She will also talk about her experiences making her first mini-comic and how she did it SOOO wrong. She’ll talk about how to construct these things in a non-painful way. Plus, she’ll answer any other comics industry related questions!
Don’t miss this truly great opportunity to meet with Jillian and get the benefit of her experiences!
New York Public Library – Cullman Center presents
A Checkroom Romance by Ben Katchor and Mark Mulcahy
Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 7pm SOLD OUT
Just added: Friday, May 15, 2009 at 7pm TICKETS AVAILABLE!
5th Avenue and 42nd Street
New York, NY 10018
In this new, musical tragicomedy by cartoonist Ben Katchor and musician Mark Mulcahy, one man’s casual obsession with the architecture and culture of coat checkrooms ensnares him in a desperate struggle between employment agents, maitre ‘ds, lovesick podiatrists, low-budget contractors, and paraphilic playboys.
A Check-Room Romance was commissioned by the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers.
Order tickets online here or call 212.868.4444.
Tickets: $15 general admission/$10 Library Donors, Seniors and students with valid ID.
Giant Robot is proud to present Devil’s in the Details, a 10-person group art show. Contributors range in artistic styles and backgrounds, from illustration and graphic design, to graffiti and fine art. Representing some of the most prolific and engaging voices in the art world today, each artist has created new original works for this show.
Participants include:
Devil’s in the Details
April 11 – May 6, 2009
Reception: Saturday, April 11, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.
Giant Robot Gallery
437 East 9th Street
Between 1st Ave. & Ave. A in the East Village
New York, New York 10009
(212) 674-GRNY (4769)
grny.net
Parsons Illustration Alum and current Adjunct faculty member Gavin Spielman was recently honored with a cover illustration for an issue of Dan’s Papers. The issue also featured an interview with Gavin–he discussed his inspiration and techniques. Here’s a taste:
Q: Despite your being known for landscapes, you experienced a very different kind of scene when you were a student.
A: Yes, I used to hang out in St. Mark’s Place observing homeless people on the street, aging older men. I found them beautiful and sincere, with their weathered looks. I would pay them to pose for me. Oddly enough, my studio is in that same area.
Q: What else were you doing at that time?
A: I was doing graphic design. As a student I studied philosophy and music at SUNY-New Paltz, transferring to Parsons to major in illustration. I teach at Parsons now.
Q: How did that early experience with the homeless influence you?
A: I detached myself from the destitution on the street. I was sacrificing monetary gains to devote my work to the homeless.
Q: Your subjects are different now. How would you characterize your current style and subjects?
A: I’m a traditionalist; I don’t think technology and graphic design adhere to the “Old World” style that I respect. As for subject matter, I don’t look for social subjects now but for muted scenes like what George Innes would do. I am interested in looking for dark scenes, lighting-wise.
Read the rest of the interview here. You can see more of Gavin’s work on his official website, and if you live in the New York City area, his work is included in a show at 225 Gallery called, “Macy’s is Not the Only Flower Shop in Town!” The show is up through May 17.
So pick up your copy of Dan’s Papers and stop by 225 Gallery soon! Congrats, Gavin.
225 Gallery
225 W. 14th Street
Gallery Hours–Mon-Thurs: 10am – 7pm; Fri, Sat, Sun: 10am – 6pm