Fashion Institute of Technology Presents "Chalk FIT"

Fashion Institute of Technology  (“FIT”) Senior Illustration students are currently showcasing their talents along the walls of the FIT building along 7th Ave between 27th and 28th Streets. In tune with the 10th anniversary of “Chalk FIT” this year’s theme is "celebration."

The exhibit beautifully captures what “celebration” means to the students, revealing the variety of their thoughts and interpretations. A lot of the beautifully detailed artwork seems to draw inspiration from the diverse multicultural backgrounds of the artists themselves.

Lucky for us, many of these artists have thoughtfully included their Instagram handles and contact details above their work, providing an easy way for art enthusiasts like us to follow along their captivating artistic journeys! We are so fortunate to call such a highly esteemed and creative institution, FIT, our neighbors. 

Chalk That Talk

Amid the continuing protests against police brutality and systemic racism, the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) presents a mural series titled “Chalk That Talk” that is an “artistic response to the injustices our community has faced through history.” Their statement: “We are students and creatives alike that are unwilling to abide by a $ystem that was designed to work again$t us.”

Black in Time

In honor of Black History Month, FIT’s Black Student Union presents an interactive exhibition featuring work by students, faculty, alumni, and invited artists that illustrates the “constant evolution of black art” and educates visitors about black fashion, art, and music, from ancient Egypt to the modern day. The exhibition aims to celebrate the “evolution of black culture by going beyond the narrative of slavery and back to the rich heritage of culture and tradition in Africa and its expansion worldwide.” It showcases a selection of stunning fashion designs, educational exhibits (including one called “Threads of Bondage” that discusses hidden African American contributions to couture), videos, and artwork. We found the exhibit to be highly educational and informative. It is on view through March 8 just down the street from our office at the FIT’s Pomerantz Center’s Art and Design Gallery.

ChalkFIT 2019

Fall is a colorful time of the year—you know, the changing leaves and all that—but in our neighborhood we have another reason why this season is always filled with some lovely hues. Every October, illustration students at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) create bold and inventive murals on their building facades on Seventh Avenue and West 27th and 28th Streets. This year, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the school’s founding, the panels depict ninety historic moments, events, and people from over the last 75 years as well as panels that look forward to the year 2032. Events illustrated include the 1945 V-Day celebrations, the 1956 Elvis performance on the Ed Sullivan show, the 1997 death of iconic rapper The Notorious B.I.G, the 2018 marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and, looking into the future, the impending destruction and alien invasion of New York City in 2032 (well, we hope this timeline isn’t accurate). We always enjoy seeing the student artists at work and the finished results. Alvin Sumigcay, a senior illustration major at FIT, explained to NY1 they often receive feedback about the artwork from pedestrians: “Someone passed by and said, ‘Oh, I was at that Elvis concert back there.’ So I think nostalgia plus something to look forward to, that’s why we have something for the future as well.”

Minimalism/Maximalism at FIT

The Fashion Institute of Technology’s Minimalism/Maximalism exhibit  examines the interplay between minimalist and maximalist aesthetics throughout history. While some styles are decidedly simple in color and design, other items openly celebrate extravagance and spectacle. Spanning from the eighteenth century to the present, the exhibit features garments and accessories from “alternating periods of excess and restraint,” which connect to larger social and economic trends of their times.

Minimalism/Maximalism will be on view through November 16, 2019 at FIT’s Fashion & Textile History Gallery on the corner of 28th Street and 7th Avenue in Manhattan.

ChalkFIT 2018

Every fall senior illustration students at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) create temporary murals at Seventh Avenue and West 28th Street, just down the block from our office. This year over fifty students interpreted the theme, "The future of the human experience." In addition to the yearly theme, the individual murals were inspired by everything from robots and technology, science fiction horror, and the immigrant crisis, to kewpie babies and propaganda art. Visitors can download the Arilyn AR App (on iTunes and Google Play) on their smartphone to enjoy the animation and augmented reality features of the murals.

Dream

Each year since 2013, illustration students along with select alumni and professors at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) have created beautiful and colorful murals along Seventh Avenue. The seventy-seven murals painted in acrylic on the three by six foot blocks of limestone are only a couple blocks from our office. This year the theme is “Dreams," a reference to the uncertain future of recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.  “It’s really a new experience to them,” Dan Shefelman, an assistant professor of illustration at FIT’s School of Art & Design, tells Chelsea Now about the students. “Most of them haven’t worked this big, on-site, with people watching. In the painting process, it’s as much of a performance as a piece of art. It’s amazing to watch the students realize how much people like what they do.” Student Melissa Cicero tells NY1: "I'm used to canvases and paper. It's a challenge. But I accept challenges." The murals will be up until spring.