Tribeca Ball

By Claire Cushman (MFA 2015)

Prince Charming and Blue Deer

“The school is a modern fairy tale where dreams are coming true,” said New York Academy of Art President David Kratz, at the 21^st annual Tribeca Ball. “And I’ve always wanted to say ‘Welcome to my castle.’”

Sarah Novio, MFA 2015, in her studio

On Monday April 13^th, the New York Academy of Art welcomed guests to 111 Franklin for a “Once Upon a Time” themed ball, sponsored for the fifth year in a row by Van Cleef and Arpels. The building was transformed into an enchanted forest, housing unicorns, deer, and royal blue fern cut-outs. Models showcased VC&A jewellery, performers paraded around the building on stilts, and musicians filled the air with song. Guests, including Mary Kate Olsen, Brooke Shields, and Parker Posey, (to name just a few) filled the building, sporting glamorous dresses, crisp suits, and some incredibly lofty heels.

Final touches before the ball

Tribeca Ball celebrates the Academy’s emerging artists, and proceeds from the evening go to the school’s scholarships and public programming. During the cocktail portion of the evening, guests are given maps with studio locations so that they can visit Academy artists in their studios. As students, we welcome the opportunity to finally showcase our work, after hibernating in our studios for the winter months. Academy alumni and faculty work is also displayed. 

Esteban Ocampo-Giraldo, MFA 2015, in his studio

This year, the Academy honored Peter M. Brant, the publishing magnate and art collector. During the dinner portion of the evening, held in Wilkinson Hall, Mr. Brant was introduced by Bob Colacello, who worked with Andy Warhol at Brant’s Interview Magazine. Brant expressed his passion for art and the art world, and recounted the impact Warhol had made upon him:

“Andy really taught me beauty was everywhere, and that stayed with me my whole life.” 

Alonsa Guevara Aliaga's (MFA 2014, Fellow 2015) studio

Academy Alumni in the Print Shop

Chargaux

Photo Credit Margarita Corporan.

### 

SURVIVAL OF YET ANOTHER TRIBECA BALL

By Helen Strickler, MFA 2014

It’s 4:45 on a Friday afternoon, and I am getting very anxious.  In fifteen minutes the classroom I am currently taking Randy McIver’s ecorche intensive course in will become a massive and extraordinarily intricate game of painting storage Tetris and I am not convinced everything will fit.  It is time to prepare for Tribeca Ball.  An event the Academy hosts right here in the Academy, and we only have one little weekend to whip the building into shape.  There is nothing else like it, as a student that walks these halls daily, it boggles my mind how unrecognizable it becomes. 

This year I wanted to dive right in and get really involved to see just how this project works from start to finish.  You would not believe the team of people that work day in and day out to make this event happen.  I was lucky enough to work with one of the teams and help create the paper garden lounge in the basement. I spent hours during the week proceeding the event cutting folding and glue-gunning as many little paper flowers as I could produce… which turned out not to be all that many, but it was an eye opener for me to realize how much work goes into some of the elaborate decorations we see scattered about New York on a regular basis.  It was an incredible experience that has really opened my eyes to some of the different possibilities for me in this world.    

So now let’s get on with the event. I am sitting on this old recycled trunk in my studio, fidgeting and full of nerves, no idea what to expect.  The first thirty minutes go by and all I have successfully done is nervously stuff my face with tiny turkey sausages.  Then everything picked up.  The halls were crowded with people and the conversations and excitement began.  It was so exhilarating when I realized that people were actually interested in these paintings I’ve been working so hard on for the last two years.  I even sold a few, which is really just icing on the cake.  It opens up a whole new world for us as young artists to work day in and day out into the wee hours of the night and then to be given this unbelievable opportunity as students to show our stuff to an incredible audience of people.

Then suddenly three hours have flown by, and its time for the dinner.  I actually had the miraculous privilege of attending the dinner, which really summed up an already fantastic night.  Catered by the notable chef Daniel Boulud, the food was absolutely delicious! But, my favorite part was the little flower headdresses and boutonnières they provided at every seat for each of the guests.  It really brought the whole floral, garden theme full circle.  After we ate we got to the dancing with the fiery DJ Kiss.  The Van Cleef & Arpels models we had seen throughout the night appeared with amazing, giant paper flower headdresses.  My dad took pictures with them and it made him look famous.  Wouldn’t you know those girls could dance too!  Each had a bodyguard though to make sure they didn’t lose any of the lavish jewels they were dawning for the event.

Once all is said in done, the students reunited at one of the usual hang outs to celebrate the survival of yet another Tribeca Ball.  This year our fantastic little after party was held at the Tribeca Tavern.  Good friends and good fun made this years ball a great success! We hope to see you all there for our next event, OPEN STUDIOS from 6:00 to 9:00 at the Academy, April 25; also my 25th birthday (shameless plug!) can’t wait to see you all.

###

For more information on Helen Strickler please visit helenstricklerartist.com.
To visit her studio in person, come to the Academy's Open Studios event on April 25th from 6-9pm where Helen and all of the Academy's artists-in-residence will open their creative spaces to the public and be on hand to discuss their work.

FRESH PERSPECTIVES FROM TRIBECA BALL

by CAMILA ROCHA (MFA 2015)

We were anxious!!! … and there was tons of work to do before, during and after Tribeca Ball. All the studios in the Academy and all the artists were sharp and ready for one of the most successful events in Tribeca. Right before the event started I was taken by a fear and a kind of insecurity. All of my works in my studio walls  were in progress and I had no idea about what to expect from the crowd.

Tribeca Ball attendee John Bowman visited my studio

A wave of agitation arose with every single step footstep and sounds of voices from the other end of the hall. Half an hour later it felt like a natural. I enjoyed the range of collectors and fresh responses inspired by my unfinished work.  For me it was a humble feeling.

We had journalists talking about art.  Teachers giving us a feedback about the work that we were showing and a line of guests waiting to listen what we have to say. All the artists worked very hard, it was beautiful to see everyone's works and being able to talk about our discoveries and conquering our first academic year.

It was an amazing success. Congratulations to the school for the awesome organization and the astonishing event!

My fellow classmate Eric Pedersen (MFA 2015) and I at the end of the evening

As we move closer to summer and the end of this semester, it will take couple of weeks to digest the storm of information that is just about to end.
Next up, I'll introduce you to more of my classmates and share their views from the studios.

### 

Camila Rocha is the Academy's 2014 Social Media Scholar.  You can learn more about her and her work by visiting her website: www.camilarochaart.com.  In the meanwhile you can find her musings about her first year experiences right here on the Academy's blog.

TRIBECA BALL TOP TEN (for artists-in-residence)

by Nicolas V. Sanchez (MFA 2013, Fellow 2014)

Tribeca Ball is an annual event produced by the Academy to showcase its stellar artists. The Academy invites a tremendous amount of people who are all eager to visit the school’s artists-in-residence and see all of their work.  As a student, you participate in the event by displaying your work for easy viewing or by simply just working in your studio like any other day. It's a great opportunity for emerging artists to gain experience in a social environment where your work is front and center.
As artists, we each have different goals, some of which may include meeting people, introducing your work, and possibly selling a piece or two. When asked by the Academy to give my top ten list of preparations and things to keep in mind during the days leading up to the Tribeca Ball, here is what I came up with...

1. Arrange your work. You can choose the "all over" salon style, the clean selected works gallery look, or somewhere in between. Think about your goals for the night and what arrangement will help your work shine. 

2. Clean up vs natural work space. Again, you don't have to go through all of the trouble of re-arranging your studio. Letting people in to your unique work space can be just as interesting and exciting as organizing and exhibiting your work. 

3. Be prepared. Have business cards, a sign-in book, your website updated, prices for your work (price list), and a pen. Always have a pen in hand. You look amazing with a pen. Preferably a ballpoint pen. 

4. Dress good to feel good – not to impress. If putting on a suit and tie or nice dress brings out the confident and outgoing side of you, then great! If not, just don't be scraggly. 

5. Practice your moonwalk before the event. Do whatever helps you shake off any sweaty, shaky, awkward nerves. I may or may not give an "impromptu" dance lesson before the event. Easy on the liquid spirits. 

6. Mi casa es su casa! Be a good host. Smile and welcome people into your studio. 

7. Be engaging. Don't be afraid to highlight your work or yourself to let people know a little something about you, especially if they are looking intently at your work. Speak up! A conversation starter could be, "I made that while on my residency in China.." or "Please buy that. I haven't eaten in 73 days." 

8. Don't start with the end in sight. Be open to any conversation about anything. It may turn into a great opportunity OR an incredibly interesting fun fact about their cat, either way, free yourself and the person you're talking to of any expectations or forced commitments.

9. Be yourself, not that other guy...unless that other guy is very sociable, positive, funny, smart, talented, incredibly good looking, and overall so much cooler than you, then yea...sorta, kinda, maybe be a little like that guy.

10. Your closer- "Thank you so much for stopping by my studio. Enjoy the rest of your night." Done.

There are many other helpful do's and don'ts for Tribeca Ball. If you want more specific help based on your work, your studio location, how to feel more comfortable meeting new people, make the night an overall positive experience, what pen looks great on you, dance moves, what hat to wear, and goat sounds to make, I will be available anytime leading up to the event to visit your studio. Holler! See you at the Ball!

To learn more about Nicolas V. Sanchez (MFA 2013, Fellow 2014) please stop into his studio on the second floor at the Academy.

Post Tribeca Ball, Pre MFA Open Studios, and Some New Work

By Ian Factor (MFA 2014)
 
Tribeca Ball was last week, and MFA Open Studios is this Friday, so the activities never end here at the Academy. What follows is a little assemblage of photos taken in and around the school over the last two weeks.

Only about a month left of class before the summer break, and I'm scrambling to get everything done ... seems like an impossibility at this point: five paintings and two presentations to do on top of everything else. The push is on.

I'm JUST getting into the sketches and studies that I plan to develop this summer and into next year as my Thesis work. In addition to all the class work I need to get done, I'll be trying to get a grasp on this new direction as well. So in my next entry I'll have more to report on that. I have one charcoal sketch below that represents the beginning of the beginning in this new direction.

In the meantime, I hope to see everyone at the Open Studios this Friday, Apr. 19th, from 6 to 9pm!!!

One of my newer pieces in progress:
"Crow Pose," 48" x 60" Oil

Detail of "Crow Pose"

Here's a working charcoal drawing of mine,
beginning the "movement" series.
30" x 22" Charcoal on Tan Canson Paper

My Palette

Sweet Graphite pencils! 

Alfred Rosenbluth, MFA 2013 

Zoe Suenson Taylor, MFA 2013

Wade Schuman and his band, Hazmat Modine, at Terra Blues.

JP Roy's Painting II Class Crit.

Sunlit studios

John Jacobsmeyer lectures during our composition class.
 

Ilsa Brittain (MFA 2014) with some casts.

Some of the casts.

Wade Schuman's "Man and Beast" class.

Roberto Osti drawing during the Tribeca Ball.

My studio prepped for the Ball. 

Models getting ready for the Ball

The night of the Ball: Music and art. 

Zoe Suenson Taylor, MFA 2013 at the Ball.

Cast and the stars.

Students working on Anatomy on a Sunday evening.

Katie Fogg, MFA 2014 working on Anatomy.

Ian Factor (MFA 2014) will be blogging here throughout the academic year about his first year at the Academy and moving to New York City. Check the label "First Year Experience" or "Ian Factor" for more posts about his first year at the Academy.