AIDS Walk, May 15

Each year, Student Services takes the lead as AiNYC participates in the AIDS walk. This year, our involvement was facilitated by Counselor Laurie Vesalo. ADA Byron Gittens and Fashion Design student Travis Oestreich joined her.

Alumni Panel

Alumni Coordinator Marifrances Boccia invited an enthusiastic panel of graduates to talk to current students. They stressed the importance of networking while in school, and offered tips for becoming successful in their fields. Alum Participants:

Roman Jaquez – Web Design & Interactive Media 2004
Joey Kilrain – Graphic Design – Ai Philly 1997
Brenda Lloyd – Web Design & Interactive Media 2007
Willie Hall – Fashion 2006
Vivienne Pash – Fashion 2007

Stunning Trash Chic Exhibit in the Gallery!

Vikki Nulman, Amanda Lovell and Larissa Losilevich helped students create an outstanding gallery show.

For the Trash Chic competition and exhibition, entrants didn’t have to be able to sew – but they did have to be able to think outside the box. This competition inspired utmost creativity in the most ecologically friendly way.

The assignment was to create a garment out of anything but fabric. It had to be a size 6, wearable, and sustainable–not disposable–a garment that could last. Entrants could glue, sew, weave, crochet or knit their garments, as long as the medium used was not fabric.

Re-using items that are intended for other purposes is the key; saving the environment is the additional benefit in this ultimate eco-friendly competition. The materials are often items that would be thrown away, but these creative students have been able to see things with fresh eyes. According to Wikipedia, “Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.”


The first prize in the competition, a size 6 dress form, was won by Fashion Design student and ADA Cheryl Sigretto; second prize by US Marine veteran Ricky Jimenez; third prize by US Navy veteran Che’ Elliott Jones, both winning Yuki sewing machines. (The Art Institute of New York City is proud to be a “Military Friendly school”). Fourth prize, a gift card, was won by Emily Schwank.

The local newspaper (Tribeca Trib) editor and reporter were at the Opening Reception for an hour and a half! Many other media representatives have been invited, and hopefully will come during the show's run, up until the end of May.

Tribeca Film Festival - it's a Wrap!

The Art Institute and The Tribeca Film Festival

For the last seven years, The Art Institute of New York City has been actively involved in this world-class festival. Our students filmed the procedings, while Tribeca Kids Access, a group of elementary and middle school students from the neighborhood conducted the interviews.

Under the experienced leadership of Project Manager/alumnus Len Carter, who taught a production seminar in advance of the festival for the students, and with the invaluable support of Digital Filmmaking Department Chair Eve Okupniak, a team of 21 students filmed virtually all events taking place during the festival week (April 21 – May 2).

During this time, they also had the highly educational experience of editing the footage under a tight deadline to fullfil the “client’s” requirements.

The crew, dressed in black tee shirts with Ai logos, sported (large) press credentials, and thus had access to the assigned red carpet events. They filmed premiers, seminars and the Family Festival Street Fair, providing the edited footage to Tribeca officials as quickly as possible. This sometimes entailed editing late into the night, and on two weekends at both ends of the festival.
As in previous years, the Tribeca team provided media outlets such as WNBC with both print and video content to use in their coverage of the festival.

Participants gained valuable experience, not in just the real world, but in the world of international entertainment; the footage will be invaluable for their reels. Most students cite the opportunity to work with the festival as a highlight of their program. A special promotional DVD was created for Admissions use. This connection makes the school unique in the Art Institutes system.

According to Peter Downing, Creative Director & Producer of the Festival, "We would never have had such great coverage of those opportunities if it weren't for the camera crews and the personnel from The Art Institute of New York City. I think the students from The Art Institute did an extraordinary job... It was terrific to have a professional come back in and lead that team and make things run so incredibly smoothly..."

In addition to Peter Downing’s praise, many students credit Project Manager Len Carter with making their experience extremely valuable.

Sheniqua Lewis: “It was not only a pleasure working with Len, but the experience has taught me so much about the business and working for a real production company. Len made sure that we were well prepared and also professional and responsible. I hope to work on the festival next year, espeically if Len will be involved.”

Dalin Rowell: “Tribeca was an experience that taught me much more than I have learned in an 11 week class, and I think Len is the reason behind that.”

Kristina Siska: “I think our schools involvement in the film festival is a great privilege.”
Chris Conaway: “I found being part of the Tribeca Film Festival to be an awesome and very rewarding experience. I truly learned a lot from this hands-on opportunity. I felt that Len’s guidance was worth more than his weight in gold.”

Adam Forman: “Working on TFF is a serious privilege. I got an experience of the real world, as opposed to student projects.”

AiNYC is extremely proud of all Tribeca team members. We look forward to participation in the festival next year.

Frank Ramos
Nikhil Joglekar
Kristina Siska
Laquetta Lewis
Michael Simon
Sheniqua Lewis
Jared Frost
Jonathan Felix
Jennifer Hahn
Anthony Leslie
Kelley O'Brian
Ace Bouchard
Jose M Alvarado
Marcus Vazquez
Chris Conaway
Sergio Camargo
Dalin Rowell
Adam Forman

AiNYC Alum takes Fashion Design Student Under Her Wing!

On Friday, FD Faculty Member Ana Zayas and Career Services Advisor Regina Pokidaylo visited Alumna Arabelle Lysius at Planet Lingerie, where she is employed as an Assistant Designer. Arabelle chose our current student, Grace Ashi, to intern at Planet Lingerie this quarter. Regina and Ana toured the offices, spoke with the Head Designer and learned about Grace’s duties and what Arabelle is teaching her.

Field Trip to FENCES

Students with instructors Warren Bradley, Marcia Lloyd and Diane Orr, headed to Broadway to see Denzel Washington and Viola Davis in August Wilson's revival of Fences. Students toured the Broadway District, including a visit to the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle before heading to the show. Some shots:

Interior Design Student Sandy Thevenin chats with Instructor Warren Bradley between acts about Loquasto's set design.

Students Christian Caiafa and Monica Cabral enjoy the Broadway District before the play starts.

Posing under the Cort Theatre Marque with Instructors Marcia Lloyd and Diane Orr are students (l to r) Morissa Greene, Christina Pelfrey and Denise White.

Lots of star power during and after the show, including the actor who played "Bono" opposite Denzel Washington's "Troy" talking to the audience. Halle Berry was spotted by the students as well.

AiNYC Volunteers

AiNYC Volunteers, more

AiNNYC & New York Cares!

Under the leadership of Assistant Director of Admissions, Janegila Wright, a group of twelve Art Institute of New York City volunteers helped revitalize Drew Gardens, a two-acre community site in West Farms on the Bronx River. Volunteer efforts were conducted under the auspices of New York Cares. Art Institute of New York City volunteers included Melanie Clarke and Geneva White from Admissions, Luis Acosta from the Copy Center, and a cadre of eager students.

Drew Gardens was once a dumping site, but activist and founder Drew Hyde transformed the area into a peaceful refuge for people in the community. It has been in operation since the mid 1990’s, with Jennifer Plewka overseeing the activities.

The garden has become a “living classroom” for students of all ages to study the Bronx River, the urban forest, the pollinator garden, and the interdependency of the plants and animals inhabiting the site.

Art Institute of New York City volunteers painted borders for the educational garden beds for Jennifer’s pre-school students; they made signs for the composting area, the pollinator garden, and the harvest areas.

Christopher Pineda, Web Design and Interactive Media student enjoyed the painting projects so much he asked Jennifer if he could return to paint more signs. She was delighted with this offer, saying she could definitely use his help.

James Barrett, Digital Filmmaking student, brought along his camera to record the events of the day. He interviewed Jennifer and Site Captain Peter Doherty from New York Cares, discovering enough additional information about the gardens and the surrounding communities to inspire him to create a documentary.

According to Janegila Wright, “our student volunteers were so amazing. They went above and beyond what was asked of them. We received nothing but great compliments from Peter Doherty and Jennifer Plewka. I look forward to heading up another New York Cares project in October.”

AiNYC Students Give Back to the Community

The Art Institute of New York City has “adopted” the Hearts of Gold charitable organization as a focus of the school’s community involvement. Hearts of Gold (HoG) is an organization which benefits mothers and children while they are in shelters, helping them to prepare for independent lives.

At the end of April, a group of nineteen Interior Design students under the guidance of instructor Tory Jones visited the space destined to become a new thrift shop whose profits will support the organization. Preparations were underway for a fundraiser in early May. Students studied the still-empty space, brainstorming to come up with a design concept mirroring the evening’s colorful logo.

There were two Project Managers, Jonathan Cheng and Alexandra Winokur, President and Vice President, respectively, of the Student Chapter of NSID. They listed the needed materials and had them purchased with help from Rebekah Chow, Roz Palmer, and Dilys Shiao in the Education Department. The team worked through the weekend, doing prefabrication work. They were in classrooms and in hallways, anywhere they could spread out their materials. They designed, drew, cut out foam core, and created tissue paper collages, all inspired by the vivid multicolored logo.

On the day of the event, they transported the material in a student’s truck. They worked feverishly to install their designs before guests arrived.

The results of their efforts were awesome. The organization founder, Deborah Koenigsberger, was delighted. Comments were heard all evening about the beautiful designs adorning the walls, and hanging from the ceiling.

According to Project Manager Jonathan Cheng, “It’s very rewarding to work for a non-profit, especially one for homeless families. It’s also rewarding to be part of a project for the real world, especially working as a team with fellow students. We had a great flow. Everyone multitasked and was proud of the outcome.”

From Alex Winoker, “I was extremely excited to work with a great organization like Hearts of Gold to help raise awareness and support for homeless mothers and their children in the city. It was great to collaborate with the Interior Design students to create an Installation piece for the opening event of “Thrifty HoG,” whose proceeds will support this charity and also will provide job training for these struggling women. The experience not only gave me a real world opportunity but also allowed me to lend a hand for this wonderful cause.”

Students who participated in the Hearts of Gold project:
Alex Winokur
Jonathan Cheng
Zachary Vitelli
Ryan Fleming
Tamara Belgrave
Lauren Perez
Ronald Guardado
Maritza Hevia
Elif Ozturk
Erlita Berisha
Terressa Maisonet
Angely Alvarez
Chattele Pinelle
Sara Simpson
Sandy Thevenim
Renee Riddick
Brian DiPaolo
Glori Ovalle