It was a quite a week at AYB -- Karla had us thinking about visual literacy, and Jules got us making holiday themed zines. Dennis gets recognized as a Legend at PS 6 during a district wide innovation gathering. Plus we’ve been seeing some great art around town, which we recommend you check out too!
Monday in AYB Advanced Studio on Zoom Karla Prickett had us working on our literary chops with a fun and often funny session.
Karla recaps: “While exploring the phrase visual literacy, I have been very interested in how we as artists choose to conceptualize and convey what it is we are trying to express. For my PowerPoint, I selected three who have an eye for seeing much more in everyday objects than their typical definition or application. They all create newly imagined works that task our viewing, and leave us as audience wondering what it is we are looking at and what meaning or story the works were conceived to convey. Randy Regier, Eric Guesz, and Ai Weiwei compose using everyday elements as inspiration or actual sculptural elements; transforming them into totally new objects, fictitious narratives, or sculptural references of activism or nostalgia.
Once our creating time came to an end, it was the beginning of a most interesting and enjoyable exchange! The works were so amazing and imaginative! Everyone truly reinvented their selected object/objects.
A stone egg resting in an egg cup became a barometer clock in Marilyn's pencil drawing.
Cheyenne's paintbrush became a lit matchstick surrounded by brushstroke-like sparks in watercolor!
Leah's chessboard became a beautifully drawn checkerboard road where people walked along - totally dwarfed by a building shaped like a chess piece.
Travis' intriguing drawing brought together objects from the room such as a window, chair, plant and dental tool! The composition drew me in to explore what I was seeing! A dental experience inspired this mysterious illustration where teeth shapes are the window panes within a very imaginative cubicle.
Nylah received many compliments on her magical and intricate pencil drawing of a deer postured in Victorian dress, with hat amid flowing antlers of hung jewelry. The detail work on the dress was amazing! It was quite the transformation of a metal jewelry stand!
Lila brought smiles to our faces with her digital expression of relaxation and happiness. Her smiling Amazon box hinted to her joy in receiving a package. Drawing the Amazon logo arrow as a hammock was a clever element within her Amazon forest of flora and fauna!
Pat's pen drawing of pasta spoon and cork screw people with googly eyes was so expressive! The cork screw shape became a swivel-headed military general with epaulets at the shoulders of a medal-adorned jacket! The bow-tie clad demonstrative spoon character seemed to be conducting an orchestra - hair flying backward with raised baton!
And then there was Ed Rath's very rare and elusive cashew carnivore caught on a game camera at Lake Willoughby in Vermont, 1952. His table snack had become a museum specimen photo displayed below its identification label. The carnivore seemed the shape of an armadillo with cashew nuts carefully arranged to form a scaled body of armor...teeth clenched and a mean-spirited eye!
Rashida's bento boxes inspired her drawing (in progress) of apartment buildings in her work-in-progress.
Meridith's watercolor in gray tones depicted her kitten Charles Wallace diving Mark Spitz style into a re-imagined cat-carrier perched atop a fluffy cat bed! The style of the painting reminded me of New Yorker cartoon illustrations!
Adji's pencil drawing of stars and planets were inspired by her cat's toys. The "Eye of God" looks down upon an astronaut character gazing upward into the stars of outer space!
My (Karla) work in progress takes spaceship inspiration from the work of Eric Guesz.
Several commented on enjoying the PowerPoint images of the three artists featured in the lesson. I joined a few others in learning a new term:
Pareidolia - a psychological phenomenon that causes people to see patterns or recognizable shapes in random or ambiguous visual stimuli (for example, someone might see a face, animal, or ship in the clouds, or a face in the grain or knots of a piece of wood).
Thanks to all who participated in the lesson! It was a wonderful exercise in perception and imagination!”
Rashidah and I (Meridith) both noticed art later this week which reminded us of this session! Rashidah shares a YouTube video of work by Thomas Deininger and I took a photo at BWAC (I will get artist details next week and update!)
Artwork that reminded us of this lesson!
On Tuesday in AYB Advanced Studio in Person in our studio at BWAC, the whipping wind and cooler temperatures did not dampen the fun of making holiday themed zines with AYB Artist Jules Lorenzo!
“A zine is a self-published, non-commercial print-work that is typically made by hand and produced in small, limited batches. “Zines can touch on a variety of topics from music and art, to politics, sexuality, humor and personal memoir. Their content may be written, drawn, photographed, collaged, or any other form of combining words and imagery. A zine’s structure may be narrative, journalistic, comic-like, or completely abstract!” ~ The Bindery
Jules summarizes the lesson: “Some of our fondest memories surrounding the holiday season include the media we consume in relation to it. Whether it's through films, ads, or books, iconic winter imagery and displays of age old family traditions help to spark excitement and nostalgia for the month of December.
We looked at examples from classic holiday ads, comics from the New Yorker, as well as excerpts from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss and Caralyn Buehner’s “Snowmen at Night.”
For class work students were encouraged to craft zines in relation to the holiday. Whether it be comics about the misadventures of snowmen and gingerbread people, an assortment of favorite recipes, or a mini diary to reflect on the complicated feelings intertwined with these darker and colder months, their options for expression are endless! Each zine needed to include a title page as well as at least one line of text within the piece.
I taught everyone the folding & cutting techniques to make an 8-page zine from one piece of paper. This is my zine shown unfolded so that you can see the placement of folds and cuts.
Ed Rath crafted a zine about elves who urged to unionize under the tyrannical reign of Santa (and were very tired of their s’more lunches).
Ed Rath, Winter Solstice at the North Pole, Zine (start to finish!)
Catherine made a zine about the necessity of laziness during the holidays through a heartwarming vignette of a dialogue between her and her sister.
Catherine de Zagon, Lazy Sorella, Zine (cover and page details)
Abriel (bob)'s zine stunned with phenomenal collage work for her piece titled "Windows,” where she very carefully created different depictions and silhouettes of windows, thus creating a very cozy and colorful world.
Abriel (bob), Windows, Zine
Chase incorporated some pop culture references into his work with an appearance from the internet’s latest meme, “chill guy.”
Adji updated the Grinch!
Adji Kebe, The Grinch Circus, Zine (cover and 2 page detail)
Shellorne and Assata bring us Gingerbread Folks Antics!
Shellorne Smith Gingerbread Girl, Zine (4 page detail)
Assata Benoit, The Gingerbread Attack, Zine (4 page detail)
Fiona, Grace, and Mia revel in favorite seasonal activities!
Fiona Taang, Holiday Favorites, Zine (cover and page detail)
Grace Web, Winter Things I Love, Zine (4 page detail)
Jada and Taylor explored uplifting seasonal ideas.
Mitch, Bren, and Keenan focused on family and home.
Meridith celebrates her new kitten Charles Wallace. Fessing up that with a standing decorated tree in proximity to wild and energetic little guy, this zine is truly a work of fiction!
Meridith McNeal, Charles Wallace and the Star, Zine
At critique I read most of the zines aloud. Chace masterfully read his own. Overall, whether it be lists about holiday essentials, Grinches who don’t want to steal androids, or other rhyme filled tales about sisters’ mischievous antics to capture Santa Claus, the students zines definitely helped to spread giggles and cheer for all those around to hear!”
AYB Managing Director Dennis Buonagura reports: “PS 6 (our partnership school in Jersey City) asked me to participate in their district's spotlight on innovative and community-based activities - they chose to focus on AYB's long association with them, and I was happy to do so.
Our classes are not in session (yet!) at PS 6 but the school selected students to join me in our classroom for a recap of a previous lesson by discussing and creating art using shading techniques (blending, hatching, stippling, cross hatching, etc.). Students folded their paper into quarters and selected eight of the techniques taught to them last year - using colored pencils and both sides of the paper. It was a success.
The photographers filmed and shot photos of the class in session and one of our docents from last year, Isabella, was selected to sing the praises of AYB and what our programming means to her. She had written a little speech in advance (she was perfect - articulate - complementary - altho a tiny bit nervous) and was filmed with the class in session behind her. Not sure how the editing process goes so don't know what will end up on the cutting room floor.
It was great to be asked to partake and I was really happy when the principal introduced us (me?) as a "legend in school partnership vendor programming".
It was impossible for me to take any photos since I was flying solo, but hopefully I will receive some from the photographer before this recap hits the stands. In the meantime, here's a shot taken from our classroom, room 314, of the ever changing skyline of Jersey City.
What We Are Reading
AYB Artist Keenan Conley reviews: “Love Goes to Buildings on Fire by Will Hermes (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2012) was originally recommended to me by Meridith. Before even finishing the book, I was already so invested that I recommended it to my dad to read as well.
The book ties in many components of culture, focusing primarily on art and music history, which felt a bit too kaleidoscopic at first but later became my favorite aspect of the book. I really enjoyed pausing to listen to songs mentioned in the book- by artists like Dizzy Gillespie, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Elvis, etc… This narrative is an interesting exercise in comparing modern New York to its rich history - the book offers an interesting geographic and sociopolitical juxtaposition, held up to the “modern” New York I experience like tracing paper. The author wasn’t wrong when he said New York tends to erase its own history by reinventing itself- it’s disconcerting (but also its own type of special) to feel nostalgic for the places you’ve never visited and things you’ve never experienced- the old haunts and people that used to define New York but no longer exist.”
Other Art News
AYB Artist Lila Green enthusiastically reviews Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library's Treasures: "Last weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to visit the Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library's Treasures. This exhibit is a true gem, offering a captivating journey through a vast array of artistic and historical artifacts. The best part? It's completely free!
Treasures installation photos by Lila Green
The exhibition is a treasure trove, showcasing everything from exquisite clothing and cuddly stuffed animals to timeless literature and elegant furniture. Each piece tells a unique story, offering a glimpse into the past and inspiring future creativity.
One section that particularly resonated with me was the one dedicated to James Baldwin. The depth and breadth of his work, from his powerful novels to his insightful essays, were truly awe-inspiring. It was fascinating to see how his words continue to shape our understanding of society and the human condition.
Many of the topics and works explored in this exhibition directly relate to what we've been discussing in our art class. From the evolution of storytelling to the power of visual expression, there's something for everyone to appreciate.
I highly recommend that our entire art class take a field trip to the Polonsky Exhibition. It's an opportunity to immerse ourselves in art and history, to be inspired, and to gain a deeper understanding of the world around us."
Dennis reports: “I visited the Pets In The City exhibit at The New York Historical Society (Central Park West and 77th Street) this week - what's not to love about pets and NYC? It's terrific.
There's a mock newsstand right at the entrance with dozens of New Yorker covers featuring pets and a bronze "model" of Indian Hunter by John Quincy Adams Ward right opposite. While I love the Ward statue in Central Park (I walked into the park yesterday and took this photo), I'm not sure if this falls into the 'pets' category but ... so be it. A gorgeous sculpture no matter.
Many photos of NYC events for dogs - Halloween parades and such. I was sad to not see any documentation of the huge annual event in Central Park called My Dog Loves Central Park which would host, on an average, 8000 visitors (with about 4000 of them being dogs). Of course, I'm partial as I was the chairperson of that event for many years. No mention of the Pet Memorial Tree in Central Park either.
Surprised not to see Balto, tho - while not a pet, he’s an iconic statue in Central Park by a Brooklyn born sculptor, Frederick Roth. I'm happy that they featured photos from the Hua Mei Bird Garden downton in Sarah D. Roosevelt Park - if you've never been ... GO!Of course, the famous Gordon Parks photo "A Woman And Her Dog In Harlem” is one of the exhibit's highlights and rightfully so.
There are several “instagrammable" photo ops around (here's Joe in one of them) and a photo of my friend Karen with her chihuahua Eli at the Tompkins Square Park Halloween event. I sent a photo of this to Karen and she knew nothing about it. Wow - the NYHS can put your photo on display without permission? I guess, copyright stuff?
If you love animals and NYC - it's not to be missed. I didn't take many photos but of course I could not pass up this vintage print ad of a pug!
PS - they have a great gift shop - together with the Neue Gallery and the Tenement Museum - make up the best 3 museum gifts shops in NYC (in my opinion)."
AYB Artist Ajani Russell sent a text saying “I just saw an amazing show!” and sent a stunning drawing/painting of a house on fire.
Whispered Tales, a full gallery installation at Templon Gallery (293 10th Avenue, NYC) by Belgian artist Hans Op de Beeck looks mysterious and well crafted! As described in the press release: “Op de Beeck’s distinctive body of work explores temporality, memory and the human condition. He uses a minimalist aesthetic to evoke scenes, both familiar and mysterious, where the apparent simplicity of the form masks an emotional complexity.”
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