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By Rachel Ellner, April 23, 2013 6:05 pm

Immersion in Ancient Rome happened easily for Fine Arts professor Vincent Arcilesi while on sabbatical in Rome in 2009.  His paintings of contemporary Romans wandering about the empire, seem to suggest a total accessibility to the ancient world.  His series “Arcilesi in Rome,” work he did while on sabbatical, will be on display at the   from May 2 to May 30.  The opening reception will be held on May 2nd from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“I stayed in the historic center. The parliament was a block away,” says Arcilesi. “Lawyers and politicians were walking around, conducting business in these ancient buildings.  It’s not just a tourist place, contemporary life goes on. But there’s a new Rome as well that’s built outside the historic center.” 

“Bernini in the Roman Forum I” 20″ x 16″. Oil, 2013 by Vincent Archilesi

“Bernini in the Roman Forum I” is one of Arcilesi’s seven new paintings, many which show a commingling of ancient and contemporary figures.  They will be on display along with eleven drawings named for Roman goddesses.

Playful, anachronistic elements provide scale and humor in Arcilesi’s paintings. There are women on horseback appearing less like conquerors than tourists. In another there’s a tiny Dachshund facing the opposite direction of an imposing  Roman emperor on horseback in Piazza del Campidoglio. In another, four lazy cats appear nonplussed beside ancient nudes and a distressed goddess.

“Dreamer and Her Dream,” by Vincent Arcilesi

Vincent Arcilesi’s daughter, Francesca Arcilesi, runs the Arcilesi-Homberg Fine Art with Norma Homberg. The two recently made the transition from running a pop-up gallery to their current gallery, located at 111 Front Street in Brooklyn.  Hours are: Wednesday through Sunday 12 noon to 6 p.m. 

Photo by: Steven Tucker

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By Rachel Ellner, April 5, 2013 10:11 am

Prof. Suikang Zhao’s latest art installation, “Taokonick,” captures the grittiness and romance of firefighting and manufacturing. It’s a series of bronze and stainless steel pieces at the new Engine 38 firehouse in Tacony, PA. Prof. Zhao’s work was chosen for its permanence, historical detail, and reverence to the community.  Funded by Philadelphia’s Percent for Art Program, the installation is also, frankly, fun.

A laser cutout of an old Philadelphia fire truck. “They put water in it and a team pumps it and water comes out. In the old days everyone came out to help,” says Zhao. “Otherwise next time no one helps you.”

Zhao’s intent was to help knit the newly built firehouse and adjacent community center together and to connect the entire site more closely to the neighborhood.

“I can’t put up an isolated sculpture and walk away. I have to research the history, talk to firefighters and people in the neighborhood,” said Zhao. His site-specific installation includes elements of historical relevance like Disston saws (originally made nearby), images of old fire engines and an apparatus used to receive fire alarms from call-in boxes before telephones were common.  

“It really challenges the function and communication of art. Constructing permanent public art is a stricter process. Every nut and bolt has to be chosen with care, because it’s going to be up for 50 to 100 years, exposed to the weather.”

The Disston saw was manufactured by Philadelphia industrialist and saw maker Henry Disston. The small blade with disproportionately large teeth on the upper left of the right-hand panel is from a fireman’s saw that was used for demolition. Zhao’s re-creation is made of stainless steel.

“This way of art making – researching and respecting the community and the history that it’s a part of — is a way of integrating art into a sphere that is not necessarily art-savvy outside the universe of galleries and museums,” says Fine Arts Chair Stephanie DeManuelle. “It’s an excellent example for students and artists who are ready to go out into the world.”

“I bring art inside people’s lives,” said Zhao who teaches in the fine arts department. “It has to do with the context of this particular  site — the history of the neighborhood and Philadelphia, and the Disston saw.”

The Disston saw in this photo was from a collectible that Zhao borrowed and made a cast of. “Local kids didn’t know how to use it, or what it was used for,” Zhao said.

“I don’t believe art should superimpose any reality. It’s a part of the texture of reality. That’s why my work has a lot of overlapping, interweaving, texture in form and context.  To me it’s no longer about artifacts. The issue is, artifacts only work within a context in the surrounding environment.”

A fire alarm receiver. “When you pulled the handle on an alarm box — they were on many telephone poles and inside buildings — it sent an electrical signal to this machine, which typed out the alarm-box number indicating where the fire was.”

Hydrant and water gun from 50 years ago arranged as permanent art, sturdy enough for children to play on.

Most people think of public art as beautification, says Zhao. “They even have this term ‘the beautification of the site.’ But I’m ‘challenging’ the site, bringing my thinking process into this reality. Time is not linear but rather treads through different forms of social structures of past, present and future—overlapping simultaneously.”

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By Rachel Ellner, January 28, 2013 3:51 pm

As Melissa Starke saw it, Art Basel provided an opportunity to try a new approach for students to participate in a world renowned art show.  Instead of a contest with a panel of judges, instead of it coming down to either: You’re in, versus “maybe next time,” students would participate in a mentoring program designed to prepare them for an exhibition of such a large magnitude.

For Melissa, coordinator of the Fine Arts department it meant an onrush of work and excitement. “We functioned as if we were an established gallery,” said Melissa who is also adviser for Urban Studio, an School-supported artists’ collective based out of the fine arts department.

Melissa Starke, coordinator of fine arts and adviser to Urban Studio

Here are some of the steps that Melissa and 20 students, faculty members and alumni followed that led to the culmination of their participation in Art Basel Miami in fall 2012.

1. End of spring 2012: Melissa sets up the student mentoring program with the goal of applying to Art Basel. Faculty mentors critique and hold “a dialog” about the collective work. “That’s what met the initial eligibility criteria” said Melissa. Students were also given assistance with practical matters, like writing bios and artists’ statements.

2. Students work throughout the summer 2012 into the fall on individual pieces that would be exhibited at the Art Fair. 

Students fundraising to cover costs for Art Basel

3.  Students fundraise during the months of preparation, to help cover costs for the trip to Miami. There are tote bag sales, a flea market and a raffle. 

Constructing a public art piece at Art Basel

4.  In addition to the exhibit, a proposal had been approved for a large-scale sculpture to be build in one of the public spaces. “We built an entire public art piece from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.” said Melissa. The installation was a 20’ x 12’ metal rectangular form filled with cocoon-like shapes suspended above a swimming pool. Each artist filled a “cocoon” with objects of personal significance. 

The night before the VIP Art fair opening, students meet with Melissa, FIT grads and faculty member Joel Werring to discuss how to best approach patrons and visitors, as well as go over gallery materials.  

Urban Studio’s exhibition room

The day after they finished the public installation, Melissa and FIT alum Garrett Klein curated and installed the exhibition. The VIP opening was that same night.

Garrett Klein welcoming visitors

“You can see that this experience could not have happened without the commitment and collaboration of a small village!” said Melissa. “Having exhibited during Art Basel was an invaluable experience for everyone. It’s possible that an artist might not have this opportunity in their lifetime.”

It was the fourth successful year for FIT involvement in Art Basel.  To read about last year’s appearance go to: Urban studio creates a splash at Art Basel. 

Participating artists from the FIT community included: Greta Anderson, Katrina Avino-Barracato, Valentina Burzanovic, Mario Cardoza, Dimitri Dimizas, Slavko Djuric, Eric Gottshall, Brittany Gray, Jisu Kim, Garrett Klein, Chadbourne Oliver, Lydia Pfeffer, Jessica Planter, Rin Shen, Julia Sinelnikova, Joanna Skora, Melissa Starke, Jennifer Torres, Marcin Wlodarczyk, Joel Werring

Photos used with permission

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By Rachel Ellner, December 21, 2012 2:50 pm

“Natural, instinctual and quick” is how fine arts student Chanel Mehyo describes her chalk pastels, charcoal and acrylic paint drawings that appear in the Junior BFA “Selections” exhibition in the Pomerantz Building lobby. Mehyo completed the series in experimental drawing class, taught by Prof. Stephanie DeManuelle, chair of fine arts. The class says Mehyo “helped me become more fearless.”

“You can see in Chanel’s work what an amazing sense of color she has. Her whole shape sensitivity is also amazing,” says DeManuelle. “She uses really beautiful color juxtapositions.

Chanel Mehyo chalk and acrylic drawings

“Chanel uses dry and wet media, charcoal, acrylic paint and chalk. It’s the impulse of the project to develop a vocabulary that is used throughout the series with mixed media, ” says DeManuelle, who encourages students to explore contemporary drawing techniques. “Students are meant to develop multiple works using similar strategies in each of the pieces.”

Chanel Mehyo’s series cont.

Mehyo wants to continue her studies post graduation to become an art therapist.

The Selections exhibit will be on display until January 28, 2013.

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By Rachel Ellner, November 26, 2012 2:20 pm

Two days after Hurricane Sandy struck on October 31, fine arts students Lydia Maria Zackery, Jessica Planter and Eric Gottshall headed to John Jay High School to bring aid and cheer to seniors and youngsters. The school, in Park Slope Brooklyn, had been turned into a temporarily shelter for Red Hook and Coney Island residents.  After assisting seniors, the students applied their artistry to face-painting youngsters for a Halloween bash with live music and treats.

Lydia Maria Zackery with a Halloween party-goer at John Jay High School

“I’m an abstract expressionist,  so she got a wild face makeover, ” said Zackery about the little girl on the right with a debonair mustache.

Erika Von Gundy (City worker), Lydia Maria Zackery & Eric Gottshall at John Jay High School

“I live in Crown Heights and we weren’t affected at all. But to walk 45 minutes to Park Slope and see people being evacuated to there from Staten Island and Red Hook gave us a dose of reality,” said Zackery.

Lydia Zackery and Jessica Planter having a quick bite before heading to John Jay High School with art supplies

There was help along the way.  Zackery stopped at Seventh Avenue Art Supplies in Park Slope on her way to the makeshift shelter. “I told the owner what we were doing and he said ‘Take whatever you can use,’” said Zackery.  It was another generous act without the fanfare that would follow.

photos provided by Lydia Maria Zackery

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By Rachel Ellner, June 8, 2012 4:27 pm

“I tell the students I love it when they have to stand on a chair to reach their project,” says Fine Arts Prof. Barry Sigel about the Accessory Design students who take his 3-D Design course.  For their final assignment, students had to make geometrical figures out of everyday objects.

Suyun Chng

“This is a really inventive project because Sue cut up two identical cups making them into one bigger cup,” says Sigel.

Caitlin Connelly

But wide works too. “Caitlin’s looks like something out of nature,” says Sigel about a construction made from barbecue skewers. “She brought it in on the bus leery that she might stick someone. She had a big coat over it.”

Brianne Desch

Brie –”as in the cheese” she likes to say–got into every project.

Hyeyoon "Sally" Jung

This wall of translucent cups had a wonderful optical illusion to it.

Natali Sznajderman

Natali’s caffeinated project was made out of coffee filters.

The change to a different blue gives Sonam’s tower of cups a unique feeling.

Mary Kimberly Gayatinea

Kim started out using straws, but came up with this interesting construction using insulation sleeves.

Nayeun "Nell" Kim

“This project appears both flat and 3-dimensional at the same time. The photo also shows how useful it could be as a head rest,” says Sigel

Photos by: Barry Sigel