Category Archives: News

Parsons Illustration Alum wins 2011 Caldecott Honor

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Parsons Illustration Alum David Ezra Stein has been awarded a 2011 Caldecott Honor for his book, “Interrupting Chicken” (see the trailer above!).  Here’s an excerpt from the official press release:

The American Library Association (ALA) announced the top books, video and audiobooks for children and young adults – including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards – at its Midwinter Meeting in San Diego.

Two Caldecott Honor Books were named: “Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave,” illustrated by Bryan Collier, written by Laban Carrick Hill and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.; and “Interrupting Chicken,” written and illustrated by David Ezra Stein and published by Candlewick Press.
Congratulations to David on this very high honor.

Carol Peligian solo show at Dean Project

Carol Peligian
Solo-exhibition
Exhibition dates: Through February 12th

Official Press Release!

DEAN PROJECT gallery is thrilled to announce “Sosomuch”, a solo exhibition of new paintings and sculptures by Carol Peligian. The exhibition continues Peligian’s alchemical seduction of material possibility: aluminum, oil, enamel, latex are equally employed to generate an altered state existing somewhere between atmosphere and stratosphere. These works alternately confront and quietly elicit questions related to the idea of infinity and existence.

The work’s delicate construction and implacable physicality provide the viewers with a space where the surrounding and the self become one in spirit. The understanding of material/form is evident in each of the works. Moreover, the integrity with which Peligian has approached her subjects, results in a paradoxical visual experience of reality/reassurance and the mystery of the purity of time/space. The juxtaposition of the organic and manufactured as they trade boundaries, make more permeable the borders between the work and the viewer.

Carol Peligian lives and works in New York City. Her drawings and sculptures have been shown in both the United States and Europe. Current work includes a recently installed outdoor public sculpture. Two projects are in proposal, one of which is Mountain of Tears, a Threnody, to be installed on the banks of the Providence River. In 2008-09, she had a solo exhibition, Transfluence. at MOBIA (The Museum of Biblical Art) in New York City. She has taught at the Rhode Island School of Design and has been a faculty member at Parsons School of Design since 1994 where she currently teaches drawing.

Nearly, 2009-10 Rolled and painted aluminum 3.5' and variable dimensions

Congratulations to Carol on this tremendous accomplishment.

Quick Hit: Pillows designed by Illustration Alum Lindsey Balbierz

Parsons Illustration Alum Lindsey Balbierz recently contacted us with the following news:

I’m really excited to share with you what I have been working on the past few months: my new illustrated traffic scene pillow designs.

My pillow covers are available for purchase here: http://envelop.eu/shop/designers/p/detail/lindseybalbierz

Congrats, Lindsey.  Fantastic, fun work!

Lauren Redniss’s new book: Radioactive!


Associate Professor Lauren Redniss has a new book out!  Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout is an art book comprised of history, love story, and gorgeous imagery.  Here’s what Lauren has to say about the book and her creative process:

To research the book, I traveled to Hiroshima to interview atomic bomb survivors, to the Nevada Test Site outside of Las Vegas to talk with weapons specialists, to Warsaw to see the house where Marie Curie was born, to the Curie Institut in Paris to interview the Curie’s granddaughter. I spoke with an oncologist exploring innovative radiation treatment in San Bernadino, California and the Idaho National Laboratory’s Director of the Center for Space Nuclear Research about how nuclear power and propulsion could enable space exploration and crystal cities built on the moon.

I made the artwork for the book using a process called “cyanotype.” Cyanotype is a camera‐less photographic technique in which paper is coated with light‐sensitive chemicals. When the chemically-treated paper is exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, it turns a deep blue color. Photographic imaging was critical to both the discovery of X-rays and of radioactivity, so it made sense to me to use a process based on the idea of exposure to create the images in Radioactive.

You can read more about Lauren’s methods and the book here.  You can grab a copy here, or at any number of fine bookstores.

Lauren will also be taking part in a talk with Nobel Laureate Harold Varmus, MD.  They will discuss Lauren’s work, science, and discovery.  The talk will be Friday, January 21, 2011 – 7:30 PM EST at the NYPL.

New York Public Library
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street
New York, NY 10018-2788

Congratulations on your tremendous accomplishment, Lauren!

“The Wreath: Interpretations” features work by Illustration sophomores

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Sophomore Concepts Instructor Wendy Popp sent us the above images and below information about “The Wreath: Interpretations”, which her students created work for.  The event has gotten a ton of positive press.  Here’s Wendy on the project:

Essentially, this is the 28th year of this show. I had my students write proposals and submit sketches. The theme is to interpret – the wreath. I added the parameters to concentrate on a 21st Century issue that they could be passionate about which reflects nature, (since the show is situated just in front of the Zoo and inside Central Park). The students submitted on their own independently and got in on their own merit. Seven got in, but one did not submit the final. Last night was the opening and Commissioner Bebepe commented that this was the best show he had attended and proceeded to comment on 5 of the wreaths our students created! He particularly liked Adrian Smith’s acknowledgment of Eine Sitlle Nacht , which is a very appropriate story to tell in this context.

All of us really stretched our comfort zones with the 3d element, many used other facilities, (woodshop and laser cutting) at Parsons to create their pieces. It was a very satisfying project all around.

Our students participating are Adrian Smith, Vilde Braanaas, Anastasia Ionkin, Richard Pean, Lea Mieret, Abigail Malate.

You can read more about the exhibition in the WNYC article or by watching this YouTube clip from NY1:

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Congratulations to all the students involved on such a successful project!

“The Wreath: Interpretations”
Arsenal Gallery in Central Park,
Dec 13 – Dec 17,Dec 20 Ending: Thu Jan 06
830 Fifth Ave (at 64th St)

Illustration Alum Rodger Stevens exhibits works at Goose Barnacle

Goose Barnacle Holiday Reception
Thursday, December 16th, 6:00pm – 9:00pm.

GOOSE BARNACLE presents recent works by Rodger Stevens

Rodger Stevens (b: 1966 in Brooklyn, NY) is a contemporary American artist whose work is known globally for his intricate wire sculptures.

His latest exhibition features wire sculptures – both wall-mounted and suspended from the ceiling, string drawings mounted on wood, and steel plate paintings. The piece that I’m most excited about is one that
Rodger created especially for the Goose Barnacle window.  For this work Rodger adapted elements from our Brooklyn heritage as well as shapes that evoke the nature of Goose Barnacle.

Rodger, graduated from the Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn.  Since then he has attended Pace University, Parsons: The New School for Design, and the School of Visual Arts.

Rodger has exhibited in some amazing places, such as Tiffany & Co., MTV headquarters, the Todd Oldham boutique and the Yohji Yamamoto showroom in SoHo. In recent years he has done commissions for the Whitney Museum, the American Folk Art Museum, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Barney’s, Stuart Weitzman, The Rockwell Group, and the W Hotel.

Goose Barnacle
91 Atlantic Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 855-2694