A roundup of ideas and projects from around the Institute
As New York City marks the two-year anniversary of its first COVID-19 death, here’s a look back at a fall 2021 Pratt.edu story on how Pratt students are considering how to memorialize those lost in the pandemic. Shirley Chen, BFA Interior Design ’21, reimagined the New York State Pavilion as a healing path of mourning and connection.
Vincent Celano, BArch ’93, conducted a Q&A at Pratt about his firm Celano Design Studio Co. Celeno was recently featured on the Hospitality Design podcast.
An exhibition by former professor Jason Stopa, MFA Fine Arts ’10, was reviewed in Art Dog Istanbul. “Stopa’s paintings begin with a grid-like structure, which he disrupts using arabesque forms and intuitive decisions, visually conveying themes of freedom and ecological sustainability within a modern city.”
Nicole Rifkin, BFA Communications Design (Illustration) ’14, was featured in Collateral. “Nicole’s art often carries a cinematic touch, layered with narrative depth and a sense of movement.”
Dr. Mary McBride, chairperson of creative enterprise leadership (CEL), discussed designing action with DBA Chief Executive Deborah Dawton in a recent webinar about harnessing your creative powers to take decisive, impactful action.
Monica Santos Gil, BID ’15, is featured in a round-up of Puerto Rican fashion brands by Refinery29. “Founded by Monica Santos Gil after years of working in and witnessing the wastefulness of the fast fashion industry, Santos by Monica is a New York City-based sustainable brand known for its geometric bags crafted from cactus leather.”
Lisa Corinne Davis, BFA ’80, has two new mosaic projects in the 68th Street-Hunter College subway station: “Tempestuous Terrain” and “Liminal Location,” which are featured in Hyperallergic.
Two new reports by the Pratt Center for Community Development were featured in local publications. Brick Underground wrote about “Flipping Out: How Home Flipping Reduces Affordability in NYC Neighborhoods of Color,” while Streetsblog NYC covered “Better Buses for Flatbush Avenue: Participatory Action Research with Riders Alliance.”
Chris Hauserman, Dhruvin Thakkar, and Sher Netto, all MS Sustainable Environmental Systems ’26, presented their Fall 2024 Sustainable Communities work in support of the Gowanus Canal Conservancy at the Van Alen Institute.
“Tracing,” a typography by Yichen Wang, MFA Communications Design ‘22, won the Iron A’ Design Award in the Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design Category. The prestigious recognition is awarded to “good designs that meet the professional and industrial requirements expected from well-designed creations.”
