All posts filed under: Service

More Work for the Art Center

Published by Libby

I have been a bit busy the last few months! As I have been getting used to my role at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, I have been designing on several levels. As the Director of the Studio School, I create classes and events with my staff (Dalila DeCarvalho, I am looking at you!) . As the defacto art director, I design the materials to support them: pieces for print, web, for educational and promotional purposes. Applying a forming style I have had to design as quickly as possible, so I work within extremely narrow limits. It’s the only way I know to find great ideas, actually. I have limited the options for grids and fonts as much as I dare and let the color story develop as I go. It isn’t perfect, but it is actually starting to turn into a consolidated style my team can use. I have been able to get the catalog set up and it has come together well. I even get to go to Linco to print it! Press check …

Art Center Fall 2016 Catalog: Total Redesign!

Published by Libby

I redesigned the catalog of the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey this month. I took it as a chance to refresh the brand. As the Director of the Studio School, I need to make sure I am reaching and hearing all the people for whom I hope to serve. This catalog, along with the website and other communications, is my program’s lifeline. Motif The Art Center connects all levels of art makers to each other and the world. I started playing with these fairly oblique geometric shapes connecting elements to each other in the background. I will pull that thread until I find a way to talk about the entire organization: contemporary art museum, studio school, and community resource. I chose the color as a starting point as I venture through the spectrum until we all settle on a solid color story. In essence, I hope to gently beta test a few elements while I promote all that the Art Center already has in abundance: engaged staff, spectacular museum programming, great instructors, and a solid core of students and visitors. My goal is to …

New Position at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey

Published by Libby

I have been chosen to be the new Director of the Studio School of the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey. I am leaving my position of Assistant Professor at the New York City College of Technology and am relocating my family and studio in the Maplewood, NJ area sometime in the next year. I will continue to teach for Parsons the New School in the AAS program for as long as that fine institution will have me–this coming year, I am teaching online classes for them. Until the transition is complete, I remain active on the Steering Committee of the Gowanus Studio Space and continue work on my long-running Monstress Mid-Living suite. My work with the EAT lab is still underway, albeit a bit slowed by all the changes.

Community Building: Workshop for GSS Members

Published by Libby

I coordinated a workshop for Gowanus Studio Space members called Grant Writing for Artists which was led by Andrea Petrini. It’s all a part of my effort to give the studio quality programming that deals directly with the business of being an artist. Andrea is an expert on the subject, being both an accomplished artist and grant writer on the individual and organizational levels. Overall, we all were shocked at how logical the process is; personally, it is hard to think of so many of my regular activities as being worthy of funding. I’d never think of putting a stipend for myself in the budget, for instance. This starvation mentality is from years of doubting my creative output’s value while dealing with the overall scepticism or apathy the world generally seems to be filled with. How amazing it is to consider that organizations are genuinely interested in supporting our work! I came away determined and renewed. Andrea will be giving another workshop in June for GSS members, then we may schedule in a few for …

Knowing Brooklyn: GenEdge Spring 2016

Published by Libby

After a lot of work behind the scenes, the Spring 2016 GenEdge work is coming to fruition. Over 30 people (faculty, staff, and students) from across the City Tech campus submitted work to be displayed in three amazing and concurrent exhibits which will happen from April 11-15. So far I’ve made the logo, the branding campaign, a style guide, several animated pieces, assignments for students, staff, and faculty… Oh, and video spots that are coming up. I curated a show, I am documenting it all… A lot of work! I hope it makes a difference for City Tech!

The City Tech GenEdge

Published by Libby

I have begun rolling out the identity for an internal General Education Committee promotion here at City Tech. I had to weave the idea of what we have tried to do into the existing brand identity of the school while imparting the vigor and importance of the 60 credits of Gen Ed our students take here in the 4 year program. I have developed what will be an extensible logo system. Here is the base, a simple badge: I want it to be super simple, but slightly askew: general education classes make up 60 of the 120 credits our 4-year students take. The City Tech GenEdge is the result of years of effort by the college-wide curriculum development and the General Education Committee. We have taken the General Education requirements, the students’ needs, and the expectations of society to put together a meaningful approach to skills and attitudes we all need. This is the added benefit of culture and community our students and graduates deserve, and which helps them thrive as they enter the world …

Portfolio: Service

Published by Libby

Service is the engine for all of my major ventures. How do I find the subject matter for my art work? Working with people, seeing what is actually up in the world. How to I know what and how to teach? Putting out feelers at every available level. As for research, my service work provides so many opportunities to test my theories and seek feedback. I  try to serve my college, department, and larger community as a part of my everyday practice. Service at City Tech Service to my Community

Leading, Libby-Style

Published by Libby

I have decided that the way to change the world around me is to change myself. This is not my original idea but it has finally sunk through my thick skull. I am leading a few instructors at my school and I am treating it as a pilot for true Libby-Style Administration. Up until now, I have hung back rather a lot. I have extended myself, but only a bit as I was still learning the ropes. Last year was a very hard one and I did not get to grow on a lot of levels as I could only manage to survive. This year, I choose to thrive and the best way to do that is to actually concentrate on helping others in a sincere and concerted way. Service is the way I will change myself and the world around me. Mistakes are pending, but willingness is in place and ready to roll!

Fall 2015 City Tech COMD Orientation

Published by Libby

I am producing materials and running the orientation of the new COMD (Communication Design) students this year, working once again with my co-conspirator, Prof. Anita Giraldo. We are developing a set of tools which will act as the needed decoder rings for incoming freshmen and transfers.

GSS Internship Pilot Program

Published by Libby

I have started an internship program for City Tech students at the Gowanus Studio Space: two students from the Communications Design Department are currently working hard and learning much in the way of printmaking in return. The interns do 7 hours of work in exchange for a set 3 hour block of time in the print studio. We are still tweaking the details, but this mix is working. I hope to get the internship recognized by the City Tech Communication Design Department as a viable opportunity so I can get the students college credit.