PARSONS THE NEW SCHOOL FOR DESIGN
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NEW YORK, April 15, 2011—Parsons The New School for Design will present its first art and design festival, with nearly 200 public events taking place across its campus and around the city from May 7–23, 2011. A daylong block party on May 21 will feature a printmaking jam, an interactive fashion photo booth, and musical performances. “We are opening our doors to the public to showcase the talent found here at Parsons, but also to celebrate the future of art and design,” said Joel Towers, executive dean of Parsons The New School for Design. ”The Parsons Festival will comprise a number of exhibitions and installations featuring cutting-edge and critically engaged work in a wide range of disciplines.” An integral part of The New School, Parsons' first festival reflects the creative spirit that is a hallmark of the university. In addition to the May 21 Block Party, highlights of the Festival include exhibitions of work by students across Parsons, including: a large-scale collaboration between Milk Studios and Parsons Photography program featuring projections, screenings, music and art performances (May 20); an MFA Fine Arts exhibition at The Kitchen (May 5-16, opening reception on May 10); an exhibition of experimental installations, screenings and an arcade of gaming projects by Design and Technology students at the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center (May 9-23, opening reception May 14); a special screening of Somewhere to Disappear, a portrait of the renowned documentary photographer Alec Soth, followed by a conversation with Soth (May 9); an exhibition of new furniture concepts by Parsons Product Design students at the Poltrona Frau Showroom during the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (May 14-17, opening reception May 14); and a exhibition of work by students in Parsons legendary fashion school (May 12-19). There also will be several symposia and panel discussions that address topical issues in the field. Scientists, scholars, and technology experts will come together for Transhumanism Meets Design (May 14-15), a symposium on technology's potential to radically transform the human condition. Water Fight: Fracking, Food, Art and Economy (May 16) moderated by Anna Lappé, author of Diet for a Hot Planet, will address industrial hydrofracking (drilling rock formations for oil and natural gas), and tools for protecting ecosystems and building a green economy. Fashion Cuts: Public Media and the Fashioning of Reality (May 10) brings together Tim Gunn and the Sartorialist, Scott Schuman, to discuss the cultural significance and meanings of this contemporary construction of fashion. For a full calendar of events, please visit the Parsons Festival website at www.newschool.edu/parsonsfestival. The Parsons Festival is sponsored in part by Blick Art Materials. “Our company is dedicated to supporting art education, including partnerships with schools such as Parsons,” said Edward Ogorzaly, President. “While we are the largest in the industry, our service and community involvement sets us apart from the rest.” Parsons The New School for Design is one of the leading art and design schools in the world, and builds upon The New School’s legacy of progressive ideals, scholarship, and pedagogy. For over a century, the school has pioneered art and design education, establishing the first programs in fashion, interior design and communication design in the nation. Based in New York City but active around the world, the school offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the full spectrum of design disciplines. Critical thinking and collaboration are at the heart of a Parsons education. A student-centered curriculum allows for both focused and interdisciplinary learning, with unparalleled internship opportunities and industry partnerships laying the groundwork for entrepreneurship and professional success. Parsons graduates are leaders in their respective fields, with a shared commitment to creatively and critically addressing the complexities of life in the 21st century. For more information, please visit www.parsons.newschool.edu. # # #
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Media Contacts: Deborah Kirschner Kate McCormick |
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