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Tag Archives: new york city

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Anthony Iacono

14 Saturday Aug 2010

Posted by alexisfedor in Artists

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anthony iacono, new york city, painting, visual art

The work of Anthony Iacono is superb in every way-and never mind that he has a whole series of people wearing hats, which is what first caught my eye and my heart.  He also has a series of pomegranates, food and what he calls Meat Heads (see his site for this wonderful series).  A graduate of The School of Visual Arts, he has had shows all over NYC and Brooklyn.  His talent is obvious, and his style is unique, quirky and deeply passionate.  Here is what he had to say about some of his work:

My most popular series are my “Hat Portraits”.  They really started as an accident.  I had always been interested in making narrative still-life paintings, but they were not working out the way I had planned.  I took a great photo of a friend wearing a big fur hat that he had.  I thought it would be nice to make a small painting of him.  After I showed the piece, I got a lot of great feedback, and decided to make more. I asked my friends if I could paint them wearing hats that they had.  After a while, I had 15 different portraits.  “Grady” was the first painting that I finished.  After painting common hats, I wanted to explore the different hats I could find in my friend’s closets.  I found birthday hats, hats with ears, and other crazy hats that all had different stories of why they had them.  Since the portraits show the bust of the figures, I wanted to paint patterns on clothes, and in “Robert” the plaid was really fun to make.  My most recent body of work are also portraits, they are paintings of people that I have fantasised about.  I dressed up my sitters to show a certain “type”.  I am still painting foods and am taking photos.

Grady
Meredith

Peter

Michael

Robert

Visit Anthony’s Site: http://anthonyiacono.com/

NYCSalt: Photography Programs for NYC School Kids!

14 Saturday Aug 2010

Posted by alexisfedor in Charities

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alicia hansen, education, new york city, nycsalt, photography

Devin

Alicia Hansen is a professional photographer who had the desire to give back to her community, particularly to school kids who don’t have a strong arts program to help them hone their skills. So she started NYCSalt, a non-profit organization that holds photography classes and programs for NYC school kids, lead and taught by professional photographers. The results have been nothing short of amazing. I spoke with Alicia about the incredible opportunities her programs have to offer.

Love + Water- What is the premise of NYCSalt ?
Danny


Alicia Hansen- NYCSalt is a non-profit photography program for inner city kids.  Right now we’re primarily working with kids who are in high school.  They mostly come from Washington Heights, The Bronx, and a few from Hell’s Kitchen and the Lower East Side.  Our program spans all over the city.  We have four photographers, including myself, who teach a group of about ten to fourteen kids during the academic year, and in the summer we have special programs.  All the classes are taught by professionals, so we focus on applying the art of photography as a trade, as well as finding internships for the kids interested in pursuing photography as a trade.  We meet for two hours each week for class, and then each student gets five hours a week of studio time.  They have two shows each year, one in June and one in December, which are pretty large events.  

Lewis

L+W- What inspired you to start such an amazing and inspiring organization?

AH- I’ve been a professional photographer for over 15 years, and I always thought it would be fun to hold a class for kids.  I never had art classes in school growing up, so it wasn’t until college that I was able to explore my creativity and find that I was really good at photography.  I think there are many kids who are extremely creative but don’t have the school programs that provide them with the proper guidance to hone their talents.  Our program gives them something to focus on, it gives them support and love and keeps them out of trouble.  

Chris

L+W- What is the most moving moment you’ve had so far?

AH- One of our students, Devin, came to us six years ago.  He was the chubby kid who got picked on quite a bit by his classmates in school.  He wasn’t interested in sports at all- he was interested in fashion design, which made him even less popular with the other boys.  He had really low self-esteem and confidence.  It turned out that he is a very talented photographer in that his work usually tells a story on a deeper level than most.  I remember our first show when he walked in and said, “oh, I have five pictures on the wall- I didn’t think I was that good!”  And he got to see his pictures sell as well.  To watch him over the years go from being the insecure kid who was put down by his peers to embracing all of the opportunities we’ve opened for him has been extremely rewarding.  He is now the youngest intern at Diane Von Furstenberg.  He went from working one day a week to three days a week and is developing relationships there.  He also found an internship on his own through the owner of the gallery that housed our last show.  He has gone from being extremely shy to a great networker who is not afraid to ask for what he wants, and I see great things happening for him in his future.  

  Chris

L+W- Is there anything else we should know about NYCSalt that we haven’t talked about?

AH- I think the inspiration for starting this was to give back to my own community to the best of my ability.  I have a huge love for the kids and have worked really hard at building relationships with them in order to help them find the right opportunities.  Over the years I’ve been blessed with seeing a lot of results because I’ve been working on this long enough, and it’s extremely rewarding.  We’re looking forward to the future and to the new kids who come through our program.

Lewis
Visit NYCSalt: http://www.nycsalt.org/

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Tae Querney

09 Monday Aug 2010

Posted by alexisfedor in Artists

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korea, new york city, seattle, tae querney, visual art

Tae Querney was born in Seoul, Korea, moved to Seattle at age 9 and now lives in New York City with two cats.  Tae’s work has a soft, subtle quality to it that captures a fantastical quality in each subject matter she deals with.  Her use of beautiful characters combined with observations in fashion, tea or whatever strikes her fancy gives her a vehicle to merge worlds in a deep, celebratory style.  Here is what she had to say about some of her work:
This piece is done referencing Chrisitian Louboutin”s line of shoes. High heels generally makes a woman feel/look sexy. So by exploring that theme, I thought of flowers, which by nature is a very sexual organism. 
Whenever I can, I try to illustrate a topic that tickles viewer’s conscious. That’s why some of my illustrations don’t have eyes because I want the feel of the story to take over, rather than the character. Also, I hope that the viewer blocks the identity of the person in the picture, and they can place themselves in them.. the rest is up to the them. 
This is a part of personal ‘tea’ series I’m working on at the moment.. I recently learned a lot about teas, and found that each kind have their own deep history and healing properties, and I want to celebrate that.

Visit Tae’s Site: http://www.taequerney.com/

PHOTOGRAPHY SPOTLIGHT: Louisa Marie Summer

31 Saturday Jul 2010

Posted by alexisfedor in Artists

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germany, louisa marie summers, new york city, photography, prix pictet, social justice, visual art

Louisa Marie Summer is a photographer with a strong awareness of socio-political issues, and we happen to love her style.  Shooting mainly portraiture and social documentary, she captures people in motion in a rare and fine way that makes you think she must have been a ghost in the room.  As you can see from her work it is important for her to be as close as possible to her subjects, yet she captures the essence of human behavior in a surprising voyeuristic fashion that only a true artist could achieve.  Originally from Germany and now living in New York City, her work has been exhibited internationally, including the U.S., Europe and South Korea.  She has won numerous awards, and was nominated (not surprisingly) this year for the Prix Pictet 2010.
Here is what she had to say about one of her recent projects, Jennifer’s Family:
Upon arriving from Germany to live and work in the United States almost two years ago, I was shocked to find the America of my imagination—a place where everyone is well-educated and privileged—to be instead a place with a great deal of poverty and despair. Building on my long-term interest in social documentary photography, I set out to find subjects that allowed me to reflect on these issues.
Jennifer and David having a last look in the mirror before they leave for a doctor appointment.

The series “Jennifer’s Family” focuses on Jennifer, a second-generation Puerto Rican woman, her Native American life partner David, and their four children, who live in South Providence, Rhode Island.  
Their kids getting punishment – they have to stand still on the wall with hands up.

South Providence is an urban neighborhood with a large African-American and Hispanic population.  Many families here live well below the poverty line.  Unemployment is rampant and foreclosure rates are among the highest in the United States.  
Jennifer is brushing her daughters hair before going to church on a Saturday morning.
My photographs and video, captured over more than a year, represent intimate moments in the everyday lives of Jennifer and her family.  They illustrate how a twenty-five-year-old mother, in spite of difficult living conditions, poverty, desolation, and illness, manages to maintain an optimistic disposition while thoroughly caring for her children.  Though on the margins of capitalist prosperity, she lives in pursuit of her American Dream, hosting birthday parties and maintaining hope that one day she will own a home and achieve a better, richer, and happier life. 
Birthday party and all children from the neighborhood are invited.
With my personal photographs I intend that viewers will become engaged in what they see, questioning their stereotypes about poverty and disadvantaged families. As viewers discover the human side in Jennifer and her family, my hope is that they will finally internalize that investing in the poor is good for society as a whole, not just for the poor. 
Portrait of Keana in front of kitchen window.

Visit Louisa’s Site: http://www.louisasummer.com/


ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Anna Raff

25 Sunday Jul 2010

Posted by alexisfedor in Artists

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anna raff, illustration, new york city, visual art, watercolor

Let’s talk about Anna Raff: gorgeous watercolor illustrations that capture the essence of society and history with an air of humor and the slightest bit of satire, which makes her work ideal for kids, and incredibly, wonderfully thought-provoking and delightful for adults.  Based in NYC, she was recognized in 2010 by CMYK Magazine as one of the “Top 100 New Creatives.”  Her work has appeared everywhere from the Washington Post to “Extreme Home Makeover” to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  What we truly love about Anna, aside from the fact that her work is stupendous, is that she is incredibly politically and socially conscious.  Here is what she has to say about some of her work:



This is an image I made for day 163 of my year-long bird illustration blog, ornithoblogical, called “Tastes Like Chicken.” It’s my response to the tragic oil spill in the Gulf. 





This guy, also from ornithoblogical, appeared on day 177, in June when there was all that hubbub about General McChrystal in Afghanistan.


Here’s someone who doesn’t need much of an introduction. I did this one for myself.
This is a piece I did for Time Out New York about waiting in line.
Visit Anna’s site: www.annaraff.com
Read Anna’s Blog: www.ornithoblogical.blogspot.com

REVEAL NYC SPA BENEFIT JULY 28!!!

25 Sunday Jul 2010

Posted by alexisfedor in Events

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domestic abuse, new york city, reveal nyc, women

If you live in NYC you won’t want to miss the Reveal NYC Spa Benefit this coming Wednesday, July 28.  The proceeds from the night go toward funding the Reveal Monthly Self-Care Workshops for women recovering from abuse and domestic violence.  And it’s VERY affordable!!!

Check it out and get your tickets here:

http://revealnyc.wordpress.com/

We’ll see you there…

BLOG TO FOLLOW: The Listening Voice

16 Friday Jul 2010

Posted by alexisfedor in Community

≈ 1 Comment

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blogs, dominique miniaci, music, new york city, the listening voice, writing

Music fans far and wide, The Listening Voice by Dominique Miniaci is a WONDERFUL new blog that chronicles great music throughout NYC.  And when I say great, I mean smart, interesting, insightful, soulful, all-around artistic work by musicians who seriously rock.  It is worth reading because Nique is an incredible writer, and listening to because the music is definitely worthy of a listen.  You won’t be disappointed.  And you will be supporting artists who deserve to be heard.

Check it out!!!

http://thelisteningvoice.blogspot.com/

NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON VOLUNTEERING AND SERVICE: TAKE PART IN IT NOW!!!

29 Tuesday Jun 2010

Posted by alexisfedor in Charities, Events

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national conference on volunteering and service, new york city, public service, social media, volunteer work

The National Conference on Volunteering and Service is taking place right now in NYC.  As it says on the home page, it is the largest gathering of volunteer and service leaders from the non-profit, government and corporate sectors.  The best part about this amazing event is that you can follow it almost entirely via social media, and let me tell you IT IS WORTH FOLLOWING!

What we so often forget is that a lot of a little adds up to a lot, FAST.  By your taking a few minutes to look at the opportunities presented at this conference, you are in fact committing a portion of your time to community service.  And that’s what it’s all about.

If you do anything, watch this video which sums up the conference, then go to the home page and find one of the social media outlets that works for you and hook in, even for just a few minutes, to see what’s taking place at this groundbreaking event.

Visit the NCVS Site
Follow NCVS via Twitter

The LAMP: Changing the Face of Advertising

21 Monday Jun 2010

Posted by alexisfedor in Charities

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dc vito, education, media literacy, new york city, the lamp



The LAMP, located in New York City, is an amazing non-profit organization that focuses on educating people to become media literate.  They hold workshops and events in all five boroughs to teach children as well as parents, educators and anyone who is interested about the power of manipulation in advertising.  Their programs have already created a cutting-edge response to media powers by having their participants question ads that are extremely powerful.  I talked with founder DC Vito to learn more about this fast-growing organization.


Love+Water- Can you explain the basic concept of The LAMP? 


DC Vito- The LAMP is creating a grassroots movement to improve and reform the media.  We provide media literacy services to youth, parents and educators throughout New York City.  These services take the form of workshops or events, and we go into communities to work to create critical, savvy media consumers.  At the end of every program we do, we make sure that everyone understands that all media are constructions.  They are constructed by someone with an intended target audience; for example, when you suddenly feel thirsty and crave Coca Cola, there is a reason for that which has a lot to do with the way the media have taught us to think.  Our goal is to create more media-savvy consumers who will demand a better media product that is more responsible, more geared to their needs and more sustainable.  

L+W- What are some of the programs you hold?
DCV- DCV- LAMP workshops are organized into four tracks: Commercials and Advertising, News and Reporting, Exploring Images and Video, and Digital Living.  A workshop we put out through the Commercials and Advertising track is one we call “Make/Break a Commercial.”  We’ve done this particular workshop for third graders, high schoolers, parents, families, and educators and students combined.  We talk about what makes an ad, and compare that to what makes a Public Service Announcement or a piece of entertainment. We go over the various techniques that ad agencies use to get their message across, including camera angles, the people they use, the words they use and anything else that is used to create the ad.  After this, students experiment with and learn these techniques for themselves by making their own commercials. Another part of the workshop is when students take an existing ad, and insert talk-back statements that questions some of the assertions made in the ad.  Our You Tube channel has a very popular video of a Bratz commercial that has been broken apart by an 11 year-old workshop participant.  She inserted questions in the commercial asking why their dogs are wearing eye shadow and why the 7 year-olds are dressed like teenagers.  We get fantastic comments saying, “please stop- you’re hurting the Bratz.”  We find this in itself fascinating because it shows that their form of advertising is really working on their targeted audience. Another thing that makes this is an interesting exercise is because it’s on the cutting-edge of free speech issues regarding copyrighted material and what is considered fair use.  We’re trying to push to fair-use boundaries as far as possible but also show that this is a very effective tool to use to break down the elements used in advertising.

L+W- Is The LAMP located only in NYC?


DCV-  We are in New York City, all of the boroughs.  At the moment, we serve all boroughs of New York City, but when The LAMP started in 2007 our hope was that the organization could eventually expand nationwide.  We’ve explored specifically going to Atlanta and Chicago in the near future, but right now it is not feasible for us.  We’d like to build as much as we can here and then expand.
L+W- What is the most moving moment you’ve had so far?
DCV- There are so many, and I definitely have a list of favorite moments from our events and workshops.  But there is one exercise we do with youth that moves me every time.  We do a workshop called “What’s in the News?” where we break down what truth is within the context of news, and how it can change depending on who is reporting a story and why.  Each participant gets their own reporter’s notebook, and I dress up in some weird costume, break into the class, do something and leave.  The facilitator then ask the students to write down all of what just happened.  The moment that really grabs me is the moment the students read their lists and realize that they’ve each recorded their experience differently.  In that moment most of the students stop and go, “Wow!”  when they realize that no two people tell a story in quite the same way. It’s a huge “wow” moment for me as well.
L+W- Is there anything else people should know about The LAMP?
DCV- We believe strongly that media literacy is a basic need in a society which is saturated with media. What I’ve talked about here is just a sliver of all the work we do to help people become media literate and learn how to respond to their media. At the moment, our culture is experiencing a strange leap into fully grasping the need for media literacy, where hyped-up horror stories about social networking are everywhere, and people looking for jobs realize that they need basic computer skills if they’re going to get hired. At The LAMP, we want people to learn how media function, but also how to use it themselves and think critically about ways that media impact our lives and decisions.

Visit The LAMP
Follow The LAMP on Twitter: @thelampnyc
Go to The LAMP YouTube
See The LAMP Flickr Photo Stream

Support Kageno’s Day of Wellness in Support of Africa in NYC on April 12

07 Wednesday Apr 2010

Posted by alexisfedor in Charities, Events

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day of wellness in support of africa, donna karan, kageno, laura nann, new york city, urban zen foundation

Love and Water supports the work of Kageno, and wants to let all of the NYC community know about their Day of Wellness in Support of Africa Event at Donna Karan’s Urban Zen Foundation on April 11.  There is still time to purchase tickets.

To learn more about Kageno, visit their site and read the Love and Water interview with Laura Nann!

Please join Kageno and Donna Karan’s Urban Zen Foundation as they inspire healthy living at the Day of Wellness in Support of Africa event. Leaders in alternative health care will take guests through their latest innovations providing tools and knowledge to embark on a healthier lifestyle while supporting Kageno, in their mission to transform communities in Kenya and Rwanda. 
As a guest you will enjoy:
An Anusara yoga class led by Jordan Mallah, Certified Anusara Yoga Teacher and renowned Yoga Therapist.
Instruction on the Clean Detox program by New York Times best selling author Dr. Alejandro Junger .
Guided meditation sessions with Dr. Robert Thurman, monk, Buddhist Scholar and tireless proponent of peace.
Massage, Reiki,Yoga Therapy, lunch and much more are included in the day’s program!
Tickets for this event are $125. Please register no later than April 8th by  clicking here.
A Day of Wellness in Support of Africa was conceived to build awareness for Kageno projects in Kenya and Rwanda. Through guided instruction and active participation on the latest innovations in alternative health, guests are able to take part in an opportunity to transform both themselves and contribute to the further development and continuation of the Health Centers and Health programs in Kenya and Rwanda. The Health Centers in Kenya and Rwanda provide access and educational programs to over 12,000 villagers and are cornerstone programs to Kageno’s infrastructure and mission. 
For more information visit www.kageno.org
Sunday, April 11th, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Urban Zen Center | 711 Greenwich Street
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The official blog of Love+Water designs. We hold weekly t-shirt design projects. You design the shirts, you pick the winners, we donate up to 50% of all profits to charity. Because every drop counts. If you are an artist with interesting work (painting, poetry, photography, wordage, all-around great, creative person) or a charity helping to foster incredible change, let us feature you!

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