A roundup of ideas and projects from around the Institute
Niama Safia Sandy, visiting assistant professor of fine arts, created posters for a new For Freedoms series of art installations in sites around New York state most impacted by CCTV cameras: “The text on the posters is an effort to connect issues at hand with algorithms at the center of predictive policing, and attempts to apprehend and extract Black people, their bodies and the wondrous gifts of creativity and ingenuity they have offered the world.”
A project by Pratt architecture student Kevin (Tianyi) Wang was shortlisted in the Skyhive 2021 Skyscraper Challenge, an international competition seeking innovative high-rise concepts. Wang’s “Tree Habitat” was inspired by the mangrove trees local to Shenzhen for a mixed-use residential tower that would act as a giant air purifier for the Chinese city.
Hannah Fink, MID ’20, was profiled by Women in Industrial Design. Fink works at Industrial Craft in San Francisco and shared her experiences designing as part of a small team where her projects have included an intuitive clock: “We design to meet the needs of humanity. Our understanding of people’s needs—both those articulated and unrecognized—powers our imagination.”
Quilian Riano, who was recently appointed the new assistant dean within Pratt’s School of Architecture, contributed to Architect Magazine’s “One Year Later” series reflecting on what has changed over the past months of pandemic and protests: “What I have learned and keep learning is how to give up more space, put things into practice, and make sure that voices are heard. … We can all work in multiple ways toward our overall goal of creating anti-racist, decolonializing models of pedagogy.” Riano’s appointment as assistant dean was also covered by Architect Magazine as well as Archinect and The Architect’s Newspaper.
Now on view in the windows of Pratt Manhattan Gallery are collections by three class of 2021 fashion students: Samara Huggins, Keyin Wang, and Miray Atakan. The exhibition also features the film “Community Quilt” which represents a virtual coming together and celebration of the work of Pratt fashion seniors. Stop by through September or follow @PrattExhibits for highlights.
A Patch story on public art to see this summer on Myrtle Avenue highlighted the “Watching” installation by Pratt student Jack Ketteler that covers the utility boxes in Myrtle Avenue Plaza with colorful eyes.
Elena Conte, senior fellow at the Pratt Center for Community Development, co-authored the City Limits op-ed “NYC’s Next Mayor Needs to Revamp City Planning for Equity”: “Rather than focusing exclusively on the number of jobs or housing units, our city’s next leaders must center inclusive growth by improving the quality of life and place for the hardest-hit communities first.”
Graduate industrial design students Charlotte Böhning and Mary Lempres are part of a seven-month incubator organized by Waste Management and the Slow Factory Foundation. The design challenge is focused on regenerative fashion that is recycled or remade and Böhning and Lempres are exploring a carbon-capturing leather alternative. The competition was covered by Forbes and will culminate in a February 2022 showcase of work by the six participating designers.
Master of Science in Sustainable Environmental Systems students have been touring sites, such as Newburgh in the Hudson Valley, in preparation for a deep dive into how green infrastructure and environmental justice can advance health and joy for all residents.
Karen Kubey, visiting associate professor of interior design, joined the WHEREING podcast hosted by Nina Freedman, visiting associate professor of undergraduate architecture, for a discussion on her career in housing and social justice and a vision for the future of housing in the United States.
