A roundup of ideas and projects from around the Institute
Chen Chen, BID ’07, and Kai Williams, BID ’06, are presenting “Blue Heron Triangle” in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden to provide a fishing platform for its great blue herons. The work is part of For the Birds, a garden-wide exhibition of artist-designed birdhouses. Their work was highlighted in coverage from the Daily Beast, Dezeen, and Elle Decor.
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.”
