May 5–24, 2013
www.newschool.edu/parsonsfestival
Parsons The New School for Design will present its third annual Parsons Festival, which will take place May 5 through 24, 2013, and feature exhibitions, symposia, panel discussions, critiques and special projects that celebrate the next generation of art and design in a range of disciplines.
“The festival is an exciting opportunity for the public to come face to face with the breadth and depth of work of the next generation in art and design,” said Parsons Executive Dean Joel Towers. “This annual event enables us to provide a look at the creative process across a range of media, and present cross-disciplinary, collaborative work that speaks to the high level of innovation, critical thinking, and social engagement at Parsons.”
This year, Parsons Festival is an official event of the first NYCxDESIGN, the inaugural citywide event celebrating New York City’s diverse design scene.
Highlights include:
–Orchestral Garments (May 5), Parsons collaborates with Mannes College, The New School for Music, and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra for a multi-media performance that brings together fashion, technology and music to re-envision the future of orchestra wear.
–Parsons MFA Design and Technology Exhibition (May 8–24) and Symposium (May 10), a showcase of performances, objects and apps, games and video, and interactive experiences that explore the dynamic role of technology in our lives.
–Parsons’ School of Art, Media, and Technology Annual 2013 (May 9–24), a curated, multimedia exhibition of the best graduating work in the school’s undergraduate programs in Communication Design, Design and Technology, Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Illustration, and Photography.
–Parsons’ School of Design Strategies Exhibition (May 10–May 24), an exhibition of work by students in the School of Design Strategies, which offers experimental programs on the forefront of design, business, and innovation. The works explores how design thinking can promote change, foster creativity, and envision a new urban future.
–Parsons MFA Transdisciplinary Design Symposium (May 10), graduate students and outside experts in the field explore aspects of this relatively new discipline, which uses design thinking to address major social, economic and cultural issues, from urbanization to the economy and the environment. Also on view is a selection of thesis projects by graduating students, which last year included Softwalks, winner of a Fast Company Design and Innovation Award.
–Parsons MFA Photography Exhibition (May 13–24) features work by students in the program, which seeks to redefine the creative role of the photographer in contemporary culture. Reflecting a wide range of interests, areas of inquiry, methodologies, and approaches, these emerging artists extend the boundaries of the medium and the limits of creative vision.
–Parsons MFA Fashion Design and Society Exhibition (May 14–24), work by graduating students in this selective graduate program for emerging designers initiated and supported by alumna Donna Karan. Showcasing womenswear, menswear, and knitwear, the exhibition presents each student’s creative vision through an installation of clothing, film, and photography.
–Parsons Art and Design History and Theory Graduate Symposium (May 16–17), explores a range of current research in these fields, bringing together students from the MA History of Decorative Arts and Design, MA Fashion Studies, and MA Design Studies programs at Parsons.
–Parsons MFA Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition (May 18–May 25), features work by artists whose practices span a range of genres and fields of research. Independent curators Wendy Vogel and Jess Wilcox curate the exhibition.
–Parsons’ School of Constructed Environments Exhibition (May 21–May 24) presents drawings, models, and prototypes created by graduating students of the Architecture, Interior Design, Lighting Design, and Product Design programs at Parsons.
–Parsons BFA Fashion Show (May 22) presents top collections by the graduating BFA Fashion Design class, along with a display of work by students across the School of Fashion.
Parsons The New School for Design is one of the leading institutions for art and design education in the world. Based in New York but active around the world, the school offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the full spectrum of design disciplines. Critical thinking and collaboration are at the heart of a Parsons education. Parsons graduates are leaders in their respective fields, with a shared commitment to creatively and critically addressing the complexities of life in the 21st century. For more information, please visit www.newschool.edu/parsons.