artafacta: ideovigilancia

This month, I was invited to submit a piece for an online fanzine called "Artafacta." The creators, a group of Spanish illustrators and designers, take two words and smash them together to create a third word, the theme of which participants are asked to illustrate. This month's word was "ideovigilancia." Check out the link below to see the other submissions and just in case you can't figure out the translation yourself, the imagery will certainly help. The page preceding mine features the work of my classmate at SVA, the extremely talented André da Loba. Stayed tuned for next month; they're working their way through the alphabet, so "J" is next.

artafacta: ideovigilancia

the thesis show-the r. u. fauna department store

The Thesis Show reception was a great success Tuesday night. Over 750 people visited the Visual Arts Gallery on West 26th Street to see the SVA MFA Illustration and MFA Design installations. Above are a few images from my part of the show, The R. U. Fauna Department Store, at a quieter moment this weekend with my nephews. (That's Will reading the "Formal Wear" section of the catalog.)

The R. U. Fauna story began deep in the rainforest, where founder Rufus Ulysses Fauna, billionaire, adventurer, naturalist, and lifelong clotheshorse enjoyed his first vacation. Never before had he witnessed such diversity and ingenuity outside of the retail world, and he knew bringing it home would set his chain of dry goods stores apart from the competition. For the rest of his life, R. U. continued his travels, hiring the mammals, reptiles, crustaceans, and domesticated creatures he encountered along the way. The exhibition documents the unique history of the R. U Fauna Department Store, featuring a merchandise catalog, employee portraits, and a display of befanged gift boxes.

The Thesis Show is up through Saturday, May 16th, at the Visual Arts Gallery, 601 W. 26th, 15th floor. Regular gallery hours are Monday through Saturday, 10AM to 6PM.

the art directors club

This week I was invited to participate in a portfolio review day at the Art Directors Club in New York City. Over 100 recent graduates were showing their wares. Chaired by Matteo Bologna (of Mucca Design) and Roberto de Vicq de Cumptich (author of “Bembo's Zoo”), participants met a wide variety of art directors, ad agency representatives and publishers. Here’s my set up...with me.

the thesis show reception—may 5th, 6 to 8pm

Reception: May 5th / Exhibition: May 1st—16th

“The Thesis Show,” the culmination of my two years at the School of Visual Arts, officially opens to the public on May 1st, but you may attend the opening reception on the evening of Tuesday, May 5th, from 6 to 8 PM. There you can meet me, see some art, a gorgeous view of the Hudson River, and have a glass of (bad) wine. The Visual Arts Gallery is located at 601 West 26th Street, between 11th and 12th Avenues, on the 15th floor. If you can't make it then, the show is open through May 16th. Regular gallery hours are Monday to Saturday, 10AM—6PM. 

the washington post - real estate section

This week I was hired by The Washington Post to do the illustration for their lead story in this weekend's Real Estate section. The story deals with the difficulty first time home buyers are experiencing securing loans in the current economic climate. As a result, many people are turning to their families for help. (Yes, I do have some personal experience in this area. ;>) The online version has a rather bizarre crop, so I'm hoping the print version shows the whole image, seen here. The shoes make the men...and women...at least I think so.

"The Bank of Mom and Dad"

how do you get on a carnegie hall playbill cover? - part 2

Patience, patience, patience. It looks a little more like Christmas than Spring, but here it is, finally. Last summer, one of my pieces was chosen to don the March 2009 Carnegie Hall Playbill covers. While I am disappointed with the choice of background colors, it's still flattering to know that each night for a month, 7000 music lovers are holding a piece of my art in their hands. And there's a very nice credit inside next to a thumbnail of the uncropped piece.

save the date: tuesday, may 5th

The opening reception for my thesis show will be held the evening of Tuesday, May 5th, from 6 to 8 pm, at the Visual Arts Gallery, 601 West 26th St., 15th floor. I hope you can make it!