Past Exhibitions

 

 

Ethics + Aesthetics = Sustainable Fashion

November 20, 2009 - February 20, 2010

The first American exhibition to explore the work of artists and designers who seek practical and symbolic solutions to the question of integrating sustainable practices into the fashion system.

The exhibition is organized around three main themes: Reduce, Revalue and Rethink, expanding on the traditional ecological mantra Reduce, Reuse, Recycle by acknowledging the importance of aesthetics within fashion design.

Guest Curators: Francesca Granata and Sarah Scaturro

Artists/Designers: Bodkin, Alabama Chanin, Susan Cianciolo, Kelly Cobb, Loomstate, Rogan, Max Osterweis/ Zoë Sheehan Saldaña, SANS, Slow and Steady Wins the Race, Uluru, and Andrea Zittel and Tiprin Follett/Smockshop

A full color catalog of the exhibition will be available, made possible by a generous grant from the Coby Foundation, Ltd.

 

Image: Alabama Chanin, sleeveless dress from the "Song Birds Collection," 2008.

Photo by Russ Harrington

Click for reviews of the show at:
ChangeObserver
EcoFashionWorld.com 
Examiner.com 
DailyCandy.com
Timeout
Treehugger.com
Artnet.com
Fashionprojects.org
Sparked
SmashingDarling.com
AbsoluteArts.com
WornThrough.com
ThreadsMagazine.com
SustainabilityDigest.com
ZeroFabricWasteFashion
DesignDB.com
EthicalStyle.com
TravelDeals
CatalystsDR
DomusWeb

 

Design Jazz: Improvisations on the Urban Street

September 25 - November 7, 2009
Public reception and “Pratt Falls” performances, Friday, October 9, 6–8 p.m.
Inspired by the newly created department of Academic Sustainability at Pratt Institute, this exhibition in two parts will document both theoretical and creative approaches to the design of urban streets by invited guests Amy Guggenheim, artist, writer and professor, Pratt Institute; Mitchell Joachim, architect, designer and co-founder Terraform One; and Leon Reid IV, street artist, teacher, and Pratt alumnus, as well as document the process of a local realized project.

 

Design S: Swedish Design Award

June 18 - August 5, 2009

Pratt Manhattan Gallery will present "Design S: Swedish Design Award," an exhibition that features 19 shortlisted entries to Sweden's biggest design award competition, with a focus on design for sustainability issues including climate, the environment, the welfare of society, and the long-term quality of life. The exhibition will open with a panel discussion moderated by design critic and curator Julie Lasky at 4 p.m. on June 18, and an opening reception from 6 - 8 p.m. The exhibition, which is free and open to the public, will continue through August 5, 2009.    

"Design S: Swedish Design Award" features the most innovative Swedish furniture, lighting, science, fashion, and transportation designs as organized by Svensk Form, the Swedish Society of Crafts and Design; The Swedish Industrial Design Foundation; and The Advertising Association of Sweden. The exhibition is made possible in part by leading European intellectual property firm Albihns, The Consulate General of Sweden, and Saab Automobile.   

The Design S/Swedish Design Award singles out successful designs and rewards creative solutions to problems. The aim of the award is to present a picture of today's broad Swedish design expertise and to highlight the ability that Swedish design has to give added value to people, companies, and organizations. Each individual submission for the award was assessed based on the problems faced by companies and organizations, the final solution, and how design expertise contributed to the result. Particular importance was placed on a holistic approach to sustainability.   

Participating designers and design firms are Tobias Berneth, Michael Bihain, Anna Bonnevier, Stefan Borselius, Ilse Crawford, Björn Dahlström, Folkform, Jonas Hultqvist Design, James Irvine, Kollektivet, Jean-Marie Massaud, POC Sweden, Propeller, Claesson Koivisto Rune, Sandellsandberg, Stockholm Design Lab, Syntes Studio, Tonium och No Picnic, Gunilla Lagerheim Ullberg.   

The panel discussion, titled "Practical Makes Perfect: Design in the Age of Obama," will be moderated by Lasky and will include panelists Per Bornstein, architect, Bornstein arkitekter and "Design S" juror; Katherine Nelson, editor, Metropolitan Home; and Robert Langhorn, visiting assistant professor, Industrial Design, Pratt Institute.   

The 2008 award's 19 nominated submissions constitute a selection that has been methodically drawn from an extensive body of more than 200 submissions. Of the shortlisted entries to the 2008 Design S/Swedish Design Award, a jury of design experts chose to single out the 10 with the symbol of the award, a Design S.   

Svensk Form, the Swedish Society of Crafts and Design, is a not-for-profit membership association mandated by the Swedish government to promote Swedish design at an international level.  

SVID, the Swedish Industrial Design Foundation, works to make companies, organizations, and public bodies aware of the importance of design as a competitive tool and to encourage them to integrate design methodology into their activities. Another task of the foundation is to support educational and research efforts in the design field in order to increase knowledge about design.   

The Advertising Association of Sweden is an industry organization for all kinds of consultants in the communications field in areas such as advertising, PR, design, event management, direct marketing, digital communications, the media, and action marketing. The association inspires and trains its members so that they can do better business for both their clients and themselves.