Tag Archives: wendy popp

Francis Jetter’s “Cry Uncle” on display in the Illustration Program

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CRY UNCLE
by Frances Jetter
8th Floor Gallery
Illustration Department
2 West 13th Street L Building

Through April 30, 2011

We are pleased to extend an invitation to visit Parsons Illustration to view CRY UNCLE, by Francis Jetter.

If you are not familiar with the work of Frances Jetter you will find this art engaging in many ways.

The work is a 23 page accordion fold book that Frances wrote, designed and illustrated. The 18″ x 24″ images are impeccably printed from linoleum cuts, on translucent, handmade, Japanese paper. The content is truly compelling; a graphic account describing and addressing the horror of torture through a political lens. By all accounts, and certainly in my humble opinion, it is an aesthetically stunning and impassioned piece. It challenges us on an intellectual and visceral level and shares the beautiful tactile mastery of her medium.

Given the recent interest and proliferation of exhibitions throughout the New School University and the city offering variations on sequential narrative straddling both the fine art and the communications fields, this work has the exceptional qualities that enable it to rest comfortably in both realms.

Editions of this book (limited to 15) have been acquired by various notable institutions, among them, The New York Public Library.

Frances Jetter is an alumna from Parsons and has maintained a highly distinguished profile in the communications field for three decades.

Please find an opportunity to visit the 8th floor of 2 West 13th L building to the Illustration Department gallery, to see this exceptional piece of art.

The exhibition will be up through the end of April.

I encourage you to visit her website as well. www.Francesjetter.com.

–Wendy Popp, Parsons Illustration Adjunct Faculty Member

Artists Against the War Panel tonight

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Artists Against the War
A panel discussion and book signing with Steve Brodner, Frances Jetter, Victor Juhasz, Peter Kuper and Wendy Popp
February 10, 2011 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Based on the 2008 Society of Illustrators’ exhibit, “Artists Against the War”, Artists Against the War draws from the history of graphic protest and demonstrates the many ways that illustrators — in comics, editorial cartoons, illustrations for magazine articles, and so on — have reflected on the representations and misrepresentations of war, specifically the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The history of commercial illustration in the United States encompasses the images of artists like Charles Dana Gibson, Maxfield Parish, N.C. Wyeth, James Montgomery Flagg, Frederic Remington, and Norman Rockwell. These and many other artists helped to shape and define the American experience. After the Second World War, a divide grew between the worlds of illustration and fine art. Commercial publishers bankrolled illustrators to produce images on demand that were essential to marketing. Fine artists, meanwhile, generally struggled on their own to create unique and contemplative works of a decidedly non-mercantile nature.

Early on, some editorial illustrators, while still on paid assignments sponsored by commercial interests, managed to bridge this gap between illustration and high art—creating evocative works that told of real world events. Harper’s Weekly employed Winslow Homer as a war correspondent, sending him to the front lines of the American Civil War to sketch soldiers on the battlefield. Afterwards Homer evolved into one of America’s finest 19th-century painters. Business-related foundations aside, illustration commonly shared with fine art—up until the post WWII era—an exploration of the world through the traditions of objective realism. That relationship disappeared with the ascendancy of abstract art. The high art world is currently unable to provide thoughtful examinations that connect with the general public.

Surprisingly, the world of commercial illustration offers a model for the advancement of contemporary fine art. Endeavoring to communicate clearly, illustrators never abandoned realist aesthetics, which are the most direct way to deliver a thought or concept to a large audience. More importantly, illustration art does not wallow in the cynical disengagement and alienation that is so fashionable in today’s high art. Therein lies the potency and importance of Artists Against the Wars.

Steve Brodner will lead a panel discussion with Frances Jetter, Victor Juhasz, Peter Kuper and Wendy Popp. A book signing will follow.

Tickets
$15 non-members, $10 members, $7 students
rsvp@societyillustrators.org

“The Wreath: Interpretations” features work by Illustration sophomores

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[slideshow]

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:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrTWWinaJzg]

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)

Wendy Popp curates “Gifted” featuring Parsons Illustration Alumni and Faculty members

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The Voracious Reader invites you to join them for “Gifted”, a book signing event and exhibition of the art of the children’s picture book!

An esteemed group of artists will gather for the opening of this very special show, curated by local artist and Parsons Illustration Adjunct Wendy Popp.

The show will open on Sunday, Dec 5th at 2pm and run through Dec 19th. Exhibiting artists include Parsons Illustration alumn Peter DeSeve (The Duchess of Whimsy) and Parsons Illustration faculty members Wendy Popp (One Candle/Where the Sunrise Begins), Guy Billout (Journey/The Frog Who Went to See the Sea) and Sergio Ruzzier (Amandina/Hey! Rabbit!).  Other featured artists include Istvan Banyai, Rudy Gutierrez, Susan Jeffers, Javaka Steptoe, Shaun Tan, Ed Young and Lisbeth Zwerger. Many of the artists will be on hand to sign their books. Original and printed  artwork will be on sale as well.

Don’t miss this rare and wonderful gathering of gifted artists as we celebrate the many gifts of the season! Refreshments and opportunities for little ones to share their gifts as well.

Sunday, December 5, 2:00pm – 5:00pm
The Voracious Reader
1997 Palmer Avenue
Larchmont, NY

Pop-ups pop-up in Parsons Illustration!

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Check out this fantastic video comprised of collection of photos and video footage of students’ pop-up projects from the Spring 2010 Sophomore Concepts classes.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfb1M_03kiU]

Thanks to Sophomore Concepts instructor Peter Hamlin for constructing the video!  And congrats to all the students on their inspired work.

Wendy Popp and students help kids with figure drawing at SOI

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Editor’s Note: This entry is brought to us by Adjunct Faculty Wendy Popp, who participated in a cool project with the NYC Department of Parks and the Society of Illustrators.

si-parks-dept-kids-091

Two weeks each year, the Society of Illustrators, in conjunction with the NYC Department of Parks,  sponsors eight figure drawing classes for gifted 8- to 12-year-olds. Each class, lasting 1½ hours, is led by an Artist member who instructs the students in basic drawing skills from the urban centers of a few boroughs. I was invited to be a guest instructor on Friday, April 17th and I invited my students to participate. Ema ( I Chieh ) Chen and Emily Trenk are the sophomores who volunteered, and they were very generous with their time and creativity and the kids responded to their presence and expertise. I gave the students some information about children’s book illustration, signed a few books. We thought about skateboard deck design and worked with them conceiving ideas and executing their sketches as a  theme for the session. We worked in conte crayon and pastel.

si-parks-dept-kids-09

Thanks for sharing, Wendy!  And thanks to Emma and Emily for volunteering their time and efforts to such a wonderful cause.

Parsons Illustration Faculty included in Society of Illustrators show

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billout anti-war

Several artists affiliated with Parsons Illustration are featured in “Artists Against the War“, a show presented by The Society of Illustrators in collaboration The Nation magazine. Parsons faculty members Wendy Popp and Guy Billout, as well as Illustration alum Peter Kuper all have works on view.

kuper anti-art

The official press release reads:

This show is the expression of over 60 of the top graphic artists and illustrators working in the United States and abroad whose anguish has compelled them to produce works that challenge the self-destructive ignorance, indifference, incompetence and corruption that is the result of US Middle East foreign policy. These works of art will give a voice to those whose views are not represented by the mainstream media. We will be using this forum as a way to support those most directly affected by the harsh consequences of military combat—the brave men and women who serve their country as well as their family members who must live with the affects of war long after the parades are over.

You can view images from the online show here and/or visit the Society before the show closes on January 26th, 2008. Additionally, there will be a panel discussion called, “The Media: The First Casualty in Iraq” which takes place Wednesday, January 23rd at 7 p.m. ($10/$6 for students).

popp anti-war

The Society of Illustrators
128 East 63rd Street (between Park and Lexington Avenues)
New York, NY 10021-7303
Tel: (212) 838-2560
E-Mail: info@societyillustrators.org

[Images by Guy Billout, Peter Kuper, and Wendy Popp.]