Alumni Day was a big success this year, as hundreds of alumni came together on the Brooklyn campus to reconnect with classmates on September 20. The daylong event included Pratt’s third annual Alumni Art and Design Fair, gallery exhibitions, career roundtable discussions, campus tours, and an evening cocktail celebration. There were also special events for engineering alumni as well as those celebrating their 5th, 10th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, and 50th+ reunions.
Another highlight of the day was a tour of the newly renovated Main Building, which was reopened to staff and students earlier this year after the fire on February 14, 2013. Alumni had the opportunity to tour the building’s new offices, studios, and classrooms, and meet with students in their studio spaces to hear about their work and share Main Building experiences and memories.
In Memorial Hall, Jorge Oliver, chair of the Film/Video Department, hosted a Creative Conversation with alumnus, award-winning artist, film producer, and art director, Michael C. Gross (B.F.A. Fine Arts ’66). In front of a rapt audience, Gross shared entertaining anecdotes and insights from his days as a Pratt student as well as his work for National Lampoon magazine and companies such as Mobil Oil. He also spoke about his long Hollywood career producing films, which also famously included designing the logo for the movie Ghostbusters. An article on the event appeared in the New York Observer and included quotes from Gross and Michael V. Sclafani, director of alumni relations and annual giving at Pratt Institute.
Additionally, Pratt faculty gave presentations on a broad range of topics, including Pratt's new Brooklyn Fashion + Design Accelerator, as well as initiatives in areas such as K-12 education and the preservation of modern materials.
The day came to a close with alumni socializing on the lawn, where they enjoyed light refreshments and an outdoor Alumni Day concert. Madame Pat Tandy and her trio performed jazz standards and blues as audience members listened and danced. Play the video above to view a recap of the day.
Video and Production: Peter Tannenbaum and Marion Hammon