Category Archives: News

Launch party for The Storyteller by Evan Turk

Alumni News, Parsons

storyteller09Books of Wonder is delighted to host the launch party for EVAN TURK‘s debut work as BOTH author and illustrator. You and your young readers and listeners won’t want to miss The Storyteller, an original folktale that celebrates the power of stories and storytelling by this 2015 Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Honor recipient.

Long, long ago, like a pearl around a grain of sand, the Kingdom of Morocco formed at the edge of the great, dry Sahara. It had fountains of cool, refreshing water to quench the thirst of the desert, and storytellers to bring the people together.

But as the kingdom grew, the people forgot the dangers of the desert, and they forgot about the storytellers, too. All but one young boy, who came to the Great Square for a drink and found something that quenched his thirst even better: wonderful stories. As he listened to the last storyteller recount the Endless Drought, and the Glorious Blue Water Bird, he discovered the power of a tale well told.

Acclaimed illustrator EVAN TURK has created a stunning multidimensional story within a story that will captivate the imagination and inspire a new generation of young storytellers. So make sure you’re here on Thursday, June 30th when you can meet EVAN TURK and have him sign copies of all of his wonderful picture books! Ages 3-6. Thursday, June 30th, 6-8pm.

Illustration Alumni Feature: “Hyperakt” on Mashable

Alumni News, AMT Home Slider

Read this great Mashable article on 2000/01 Parsons BFA illustration grads!

Peraza was an asylum seeker from Cuba, arriving in Miami as a child in 1984. Zeltser was a religious refugee from Ukraine who landed in New York as a teenager in 1993. The two met on the first day of classes at the New School’s Parsons School of Design in New York City in 1996.

“I was an annoying, arrogant loudmouth,” says Peraza, who has a healthy swath of hair on top of his otherwise closely shaved head. “Julia’s more studious, the good kid.”

While at Parsons, they discovered a healthy competitiveness and a shared drive to succeed, which they attribute to being immigrants.

“You just don’t take shit for granted,” Peraza says, noting the many “rich kids” who simply cruised by. “Every opportunity we got, we busted our butt to do it.”

 

 

Situated in Brooklyn’s Gowanus neighborhood, blocks away from a Whole Foods and the Morbid Anatomy Museum of death-obsessed hipsterdom, the cavernous storefront of social impact design studio Hyperakt stands out.

The open studio is quiet — the only sound comes from the humming tubular vents overhead and a handful of staff who confer in whispers. Most of the others focus quietly on their iMac screens.

Unlike stereotypically pristine, carefully curated design studios, Hyperakt’s space is a little more freewheeling. Utilitarian shelving units are haphazardly packed with supplies; dark, reclaimed wood desks with metal legs are pushed together to form long working spaces, flanked by contemporary office chairs on wheels.

Founded in 2001, Hyperakt’s 15-person team has focused on social impact design since 2009, when its cofounders, designers Deroy Peraza and Julia Zeltser, phased out the types of clients who needed things like dog leash branding or Camel cigarette ads in Spanish.

For the past seven years they have worked exclusively for NGOs, nonprofits and other social good organizations.

“It’s really satisfying to see memberships increase, donations increase and the caliber of volunteers rise,” Zeltser tells Mashable, decked out in a colorful woolly sweater and scarf of magentas and reds.

Hyperakt leapt into the social good sector full-force because it’s where the team created its best work.

Zeltser cites one client as a good example: educational nonprofit iMentor, which they’re currently helping to rebrand their mentorship program. Other clients include big names like the Ford Foundation, United Nations, NAACP, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Sitting in Hyperakt’s conference room, moments after Zeltser shrieked with laughter when Peraza rustled up an old Camel ad they made, they reveal their two essential and successful marketing tools.

First is the active creation of community, both virtually and physically; for example, their once-a-month Lunch Talk series holds free and public forums among creative people, “designed to foster knowledge, sharing and casual conversation” over food and beer.

Second is spending time and resources on experimental, self-generated projects, which often go viral or land on design blogs and magazine pages. In 2008 they created posters in support of then-Senator Barack Obama that led to an exhibit at Flux Laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland. Hyperakt also took a challenge in 2013 to rebrand the teaching profession, an assignment from Kurt Anderson, the host of radio show Studio 360. And a noteworthy work in progress is On the Grid, a neighborhood guide for cities around the globe created in collaboration with local design studios.

Clearing her throat, Zeltser teases Peraza that she usually works on the jobs that bring in income, while he gets to experiment with viral hits like these.

“It’s the self-generated stuff that gets all the attention,” he counters, sounding slightly defensive.

The Refugee Project is one of these self-generated assignments. The team initially saw the U.N.’s refugee data in 2012, and while it was compelling, it was presented in such a dull manner that it might speak to academics but no one else.

So they collaborated with information designer and artist Ekene Ijeoma on The Refugee Project to allow users to easily see the exact number of refugees to and from countries by year. Ijeoma notes that in the past, photographs, rather than visualized data, have been used to communicate such social issues.

“But you can only see what’s in the frame,” he says. Data, he adds, provides a more expansive story.

The Refugee Project caught the eye of the Annenberg Space for Photography’s curators, and will be part of the upcoming show in Los Angeles called New Americans, in conjunction with an exhibit called “Refugee,” which opens on April 23. The Refugee Project will be projected on huge screens and remain interactive, providing historical context to the exhibit.

 

Read the rest of the article by Clicking Here

View Their Work by Clicking Here

Congratulations to Elena Lloyd

News

Elena Lloyd, current third year illustration student at Parsons, received the Les Kanturek Scholarship through Society of Illustrators Student Competition in 2015. Following this, Ms. Lloyd has been able to artistically explore and create bodies of work made possible through means of the funds provided by the scholarship. Thank you Ms. Lloyd for the wonderful work!

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Elena raw triple in class

Making Center Workshops

News, Parsons, Student News

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An ongoing goal at Parsons is to support learning beyond the classroom. The making facilities across the University serve as spaces for experiential and cross-disciplinary learning through hands-on practice, allowing students from varying departments and disciplines to work side-by-side, informing each other along the way.

 

The Making Center is proud to offer a suite of Technician led workshops for all Parsons students held throughout the Spring semester. Technicians in all of the Making Center facilities have a depth and breadth of knowledge in an array of mediums and industries. For the first time last semester, shop Technicians developed and led hands-on workshops outside of course curricula, to share skills and processes from their professional practices. The result was a success- with students from Product Design, Fine Arts, Interior Design and other Parsons programming working in collaboration to pick up skills that might support their studio work and personal practice. This semester, the shops are building from this pilot program to bring an even larger suite of workshops.

 

Workshops will be held at the making facilities in 25 East 13th st, and and 2 West 13th st. facilities. Sessions will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00-4:30pm. Topics include advanced woodworking techniques such as carving, lathing, and steam bending. Technicians will also lead sessions on sewing fundamentals, bending metal, and, for the first time, there will be workshops to learn the basics of electronics and Arduino.

 

We are excited by the opportunity this will allow both students and faculty and look forward to the discourse that follows this academic year, as we receive feedback and prepare for the coming Fall and the opening of the Making Center in 2 West 13th St. and 66 5th Ave. and the exciting new affordances it will offer.

 

Class size is limited and attendees must RSVP online at Resources.Parsons.edu.

 

Steam Bending

Led by Abby Mechanic

Parsons East, E4 Wood Shop

Tuesday, March 15, 3:00-4:30pm

For Sophomores and Above

Sign Up Here

 

Workshop attendees will use steam bending techniques to make a wooden bow. In this process, strips of wood are steam heated using a steam box. The applied heat and moisture makes the wood pliable enough to easily bend around a mould to create a specific shape. Eat Your heart out Katniss Everdeen!

 

 

Bending Metal

Led by Matt Leabo

Parsons East, E4 Metal Shop

Tuesday, March 17, 3:00-4:30pm

For Sophomores and Above

Sign Up Here

 

Workshop attendees will learn how to operate the E4 Metal Shop Di-Acro Bender. This newly refurbished machine is perfect for bending metal to shape metal stock for various applications from furniture to sculptures. Must wear boots and clothing appropriate for the metal shop.

 

Cyanotype Printing

Led By Sherri Littlefield

2 West, 9th Floor, L9 Work Shop

Tuesday, March 29, 12:00-1:30pm*

Open to all Parsons Students

Sign Up Here

 

In this workshop students will make cyanotypes, using the same process that captured the first photographic images. Students will have a hands-on approach to mixing chemicals, applying chemicals to paper, and utilizing sunlight to develop photographic prints. (*Note this time is different than others in the series.)

Sewing Fundamentals

Led by Matt Leabo

Parsons East, 4th Floor, E4 Wet Area

Thursday March 31, 3:00-4:30pm

For Sophomores and Above

Sign Up Here

 

In this workshop students will learn the basics of sewing and machine controls. This session is perfect for fine artists, product designers and Parsons students working with soft forms.

 

Handmade Electronics

Led by Hannah Mishin

Parsons East, 4th Floor, E4 Wet Area

Tuesday, April 5, 3:00-4:30pm

For Sophomores and Above

Sign Up Here

 

In this workshop, students will get an overview of DC electronics: reading simple diagrams, prototyping protocols for circuits, and soldering techniques for making permanent circuits. Students will leave with their own hand-wired LED circuit.

 

Wood Carving: Spoon Making

Led by Abby Mechanic

Parsons East, 4th Floor, E4 Wood Shop

Tuesday, April 7, 3:00-4:30pm

For Sophomores and Above

Sign Up Here

 

Wood carving and shaping by hand is perhaps the oldest style of woodworking. This workshop is for beginners and intermediate wood workers alike to gain an understanding of the properties of wood, grain and density. Students will make a hand carved spoon.

 

Intro to Arduino

Led by Hannah Mishin

Parsons East, 4th Floor, E4 Wet Area

Tuesday, April 12, 3:00-4:30pm

For Sophomores and Above

Sign Up Here

 

Arduino is a microcontroller, a mini computer, which takes code and translates that to electrical signals. Those signals send and receive information to one another, allowing students to program interactivity, algorithms, and even interface with certain programs within their laptops (Max MSP, Processing, etc.) The Arduino platform provides students a gateway tool to for inserting ultimate control over any project utilizing electricity.

 

Students will leave this workshop with fundamental and basic understanding of the Arduino IDE and code format and of basic DC electronics. This workshop will explain how the two go together. We will use Arduino to make an LED turn on and off with code and with analog and digital inputs.

 

This is a very basic course, if you have any Arduino experience, please do not sign up for this course.

 

Turning Green Wood

Led by Phoenix Lindsey-Hall

Parsons East, E4 Wood Shop

Thursday April 14, 4th Floor, 3:00-4:30pm

For Sophomores and Above

Sign Up Here

 

The wood chips will fly as attendees learn to turn freshly cut green wood on the lathe. During this hands on workshop, students will learn how to make a natural edge bowl. Everyone will take a turn!

 

Mold Making and Casting

Led by Max Garett

Parsons East, 4th Floor, E4 Wet Area

Tuesday, April 19, 3:00-4:30pm

For Sophomores and Above

Sign Up Here

 

Students will learn about synthetic mold making and casting materials. There will

be examples of how casting in different materials can deliberately alter an object’s original dimensions or weight. Students will then take part in a hands on demo experimenting with provided materials.

 

Tapestry Weaving

Led by Nica Rabinowitz

2 West, 9th Floor, L9 Work Shop

Thursday, April 21, 3:00-4:30pm

Open to all Parsons Students

Sign Up Here

 

Attendees will learn the basics of tapestry weaving with locally sourced yarn and peg looms. Students will design a small tapestry project and practice traditional and contemporary weaving techniques.

 

Glass Slumping

Led by Andrea Distefano

Parsons East, 4th Floor, E4 Metal Shop

Thursday, April 26, 3:00-4:30pm

For Sophomores and Above

Sign Up Here

 

Slumping glass is a highly technical operation that is subject to many variations, both controlled and uncontrolled. Attendees will learn and experiment with slumping processes. Must wear boots and clothing appropriate for the metal shop.

 

Raising Metal

Led by Heechan Kim

Parsons East, 4th Floor, E4 Metal Shop

Tuesday, April 28, 3:00-4:30pm

For Sophomores and Above

Sign Up Here

 

Raising is a metalworking technique whereby sheet metal is formed over a stake by repeated hammering and annealing. Must wear boots and clothing appropriate for the metal shop.

Carousel at Dixon Place, Wed. March 9

News
Dixon Place presents
CAROUSEL
Comics Performances and Picture Shows
Hosted by R. Sikoryakcarousel March 2016 RGB BEST
Live drawings, gag cartoons, and graphic novels as created, performed, and read by:

Sam Gross

Ellen Lindner

Doug Skinner with Anne Shapiro

Connie Sun

Meghan Turbitt

Jess Worby

and more!

Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at 7:30 pm

Dixon Place, 161A Chrystie Street (btwn Rivington & Delancey), NYC

Tickets: $15 (advance), $18 (at the door), $12 (students/seniors/idNYC))

Advance tickets & info: www.dixonplace.org  (212) 219-0736

(The Dixon Place Lounge is open before, during, and after the show.  All proceeds directly support DP’s mission and artists.)

Carousel at Dixon Place, Wed. March 9

Faculty News, Illustration Dept. Events, News
Dixon Place presents
CAROUSEL
Comics Performances and Picture Shows
Hosted by R. Sikoryakcarousel March 2016 RGB BEST
Live drawings, gag cartoons, and graphic novels as created, performed, and read by:

Sam Gross

Ellen Lindner

Doug Skinner with Anne Shapiro

Connie Sun

Meghan Turbitt

Jess Worby

and more!

Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at 7:30 pm

Dixon Place, 161A Chrystie Street (btwn Rivington & Delancey), NYC

Tickets: $15 (advance), $18 (at the door), $12 (students/seniors/idNYC))

Advance tickets & info: www.dixonplace.org  (212) 219-0736

(The Dixon Place Lounge is open before, during, and after the show.  All proceeds directly support DP’s mission and artists.)

Graphic Novel Contest: Bubble Factory

News

We are pleased to announce “La Fabrique à Bulles” or the “Bubble Factory” contest, celebrating graphic novels and comics. The contest’s name emphasizes the power of the mind and creativity of young artists while “Bubbles” refers to, as in English,  “Speech Bubbles”.

Les bandes dessinnées are an integral part of the French culture. This art form is considered to be the “9th Art” in France, and it is an undeniable means to propagate political or social messages. This year’s theme is “Résister!” (Resist!).

In order to participate:  

  • Contestants must submit one 11”x17” panel keeping with this year’s theme. The entry form and contest  guidelines are on the Alliance Française website
  • Any medium (oil, acrylic, pastel, watercolor, etc) will be accepted as long as the artwork is original.
  • Panels must be sent to the Alliance Française (c/o Fabrique à Bulles) at “2142 Wyoming Avenue N.W.  •  Washington D.C. 20008” and be postmarked by no later than April 22, 2016.
  • The contest is open to anyone living in the United States. Students under the age of 18 must have parental/guardian consent. (See the form on the website listed above).
  • There will be a final award ceremony in Washington D.C.; the date and location will be announced. The two winning panels and the artwork of the finalists will be displayed at a local gallery where the ceremony will take place.
  • Prizes to be announced in the coming weeks!

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Parsons Illustration Faculty R. Sikoryak’s Illustrated “iTunes Terms and Conditions”

Faculty News

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Parsons Illustration Faculty R. Sikoryak has adapted the complete text of the “iTunes Terms and Conditions” into a 94 page graphic novel, incorporating a different comics style for every page.  It’s a new reading experience: the pictorial legal agreement!

The graphic novel has garnered a lot of press, notably from the Observer, Huffington Post, Variety, and The New Yorker.

For more awesome excerpts and interviews check out these links below:

Canadian (CBC) Radio Interview

NPR

Billboard

GQ

And if you want to follow the novel as it’s serialized check it out on Tumblr, where it’s uploaded one page per day!

More great press for Parsons Illustration Faculty, Lauren Redniss

Faculty News

Lauren Redniss is featured in Elle Magazine for her new book, Thunder & Lightning.

“My anxiety is about time…that time is slipping away too quickly,” says Lauren Redniss, who is, in no particular order: a reporter, a painter, a social historian, a biographer, and a feminist who creates stories and tableaux that are published as books, which are at once sexual and prim, grotesque and romantic, scientific and soft. “I always felt like I needed to hold on to things because they might slip away, and that impulse was stronger than any other fear,” she says. “So I made sure I was always drawing and writing and recording things, and it became natural to put them together in some way.”

Read the full article here.

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