NYFA Holiday Gift Guide
The holiday rush is on, and we’re here with gift suggestions to take some of the stress out of the season.
Music to Our Ears
The NYFA Collection: Volume Two celebrates the 30th Anniversary of NYFA’s Artist Fellowship Program with ten tracks created/composed by the 2013 Music and Sound Fellows. The physical CD is available for purchase here or you can buy the digital album here! Double up with The NYFA Collection: 25 Years of New York New Music.
Jospeh Bertolozzi (Fellow in Music Composition ‘08)’s album Tower Music / Musique de la Tour charted at #11 on the iTunes Classical Charts and #16 on the Billboard Classical Charts. Hear what all the buzz is about and learn more about the album here.
Annie Rachele Lanzillotto (Fellow in Performance ‘99, Nonfiction ‘14) renders Manhattan in poem and song in the audiobook Schistsong. Described as “an urban songline of New York,” Lanzillotto’s story collection highlights the history, geology, and characters of the city.
Speaking of cities, Jeremy Slater (Fellow in Computer Art ‘99) transports us to Korea with seoul, a 10″ 33 RPM clear vinyl screen-printed record composed of field recordings and music that he recorded during a residency at Seoul Art Space-Geumcheon. Signed and numbered in an edition of 20.
Barbara Kopple (Fellow in Film ‘85) shines a light on late, legendary R&B queen Sharon Jones in the 2016 documentary Miss Sharon Jones. The documentary follows Jones over an eventful year as she struggled to hold her band together while battling cancer.
Want more to watch and listen? We suggest Brendan Toller (Fiscally Sponsored)’s Danny Says music documentary, about the life and times of Danny Fields. Fields played a pivotal role in the music and culture of the 20th century, working for the Doors, Lou Reed, and Nico and managing groundbreaking acts like the Stooges, the MC5, and the Ramones.
Watch List (Cont’d)
And the Emmys went to…Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos (Fiscally Sponsored) for their acclaimed documentary series Making a Murderer. The duo took home awards for Outstanding Documentary, Outstanding Picture Editing, Outstanding Directing, and Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program. Watch or re-watch season one now on Netflix in anticipation of the yet-to-be-released second season.
David O. Brown (Sponsored Project) sought out living examples of the bizarre and beautiful seas creatures that were captured as glass reproductions by the Blaschka family 160 years ago in the film Fragile Legacy. Join in on an adventure that merges science, art, history, and marine conservation.
Good Reads
Paul Beatty (Fellow in Poetry ‘93) was awarded this year’s Man Booker Prize for his book The Sellout, which uses scathing humor to address issues of race in America. Beatty made history by becoming the first American writer to receive the prestigious award; pick up a copy of the book to see why.
Sharon Louden (Fellow in Architecture/Environmental Structures/Design ‘13) edited The Artist as Culture Producer: Living and Sustaining a Creative Life, a book with essays by more than 40 visual artists on how they moved their practice outside the studio. A great read for anyone interested in the positive impact that artists can make in their communities.
Coming soon and available for pre-order is OS Grabeland by Hajoe Moderegger and Franziska Lamprecht (Fellow in Architecture/Environmental Structures/Design ‘16). The book documents Moderegger and Lamprecht’s travels to and from a piece of land they bought on Ebay and their interactions with the people living on the property. Selected by Lynne Tillman for the 2015 Fence Modern Prize in Prose.
Recently released is Girls in the Moon, Janet McNally (Fellow in Fiction ‘08, ‘15)’s first young adult novel. The book centers on Phoebe Ferris, a budding poet in search of an identity to call her own.
Art Books, Prints, & Wearables
Browse our Artspace page for a curated selection of works by more than 20 NYFA-associated artists. There’s a lot to choose from, and we won’t be surprised if you find more than a few favorites in the mix!
Pioneering feminist artist Judith Bernstein (Fellow in Printmaking/Drawing/Artist’ Books ‘88)’s new artist book Dicks of Death: Judith Bernstein, makes for a raw, powerful present this holiday season. The book features graffiti-inspired charcoal drawings that represent an amalgamation of anti-war, feminism, and sexuality and as well as additional works from the last five decades.
Purchase a print from Swoon (Fellow in Architecture/Environmental Structures/Design ’13)’s non-profit organization The Heliotrope Foundation, and help communities respond and heal after natural disasters and other urgent social crises. Choose from affordable prints by Swoon and a host of international artists.
Looking for a tropical escape from a New York winter? Visit Guyanese-born Kwesi Abbensetts (Fellow in Photography ’16)’s shop for some temporary relief from the cold via these art prints and apparel.
Make New York come alive with Wildlife of New York: A Five-Borough Coloring Book with illustrations by Giada Crispiels (IAP ‘12, ‘13, ’15). Great for children (and adults!) looking to explore lively streets, scenic parks, and teeming waterfronts across all five boroughs.
Wear some art on your sleeve with Liesl Pfeffer (IAP ‘13, ‘15)’s limited edition enamel pin, created in collaboration with Toxic Curiosity and based on Pfeffer’s collage series DWELLINGS.
In New York City? Shop unique, artisan-made Caribbean gifts for loved ones or yourself at caribBEING (Sponsored Organization)’s holiday market now through December 16. Visit the Caribbean Holiday Market’s Facebook page for more information, including hours and location.
If you’re looking for artisan-made gift items, consider this Purple Otomi Print Tapestry from Rosario Calatayud Serna (Program Associate, NYFA Learning) and her sister Paola. The tapestry is created with a specific stitch that is special to the Otomí women in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico and will brighten any room with its lively charm.
Bad Santa
Having trouble gifting to the lovable Scrooge in your life? Fellows Marshall Reese and Nora Ligorano (Video ‘88) have you covered with their F**K Snow Globe. Suitable for home or office, and a perfect all-occasion gift for those with a wicked sense of humor.
David Kramer (Fellow in Sculpture ‘90)’s My Own Worst Enemy Ashtray is funny, sad, and almost too beautiful for use. The words “My Own Word Enemy” are written in a circle that goes on and on into infinity. Signed, numbered, and limited edition.
Gifts that Keep on Giving
The Profitable Artist: A Handbook for All Artists in the Performing, Literary, and Visual Arts is NYFA’s go-to career guide. This invaluable resource for emerging artists is available for a discounted rate of $20 plus shipping.
With friends like you, we can continue to fulfill our mission to empower artists in all disciplines at critical stages in their creative lives. Consider making a donation to NYFA to help us continue our vital services.
Another way to support NYFA? Start shopping with AmazonSmile. Every time you shop, Amazon will make a donation to NYFA. It’s win-win!
Images: Alan Levine, More Painting with Light Experiments, 2007; Jeremy Slater (Fellow in Computer Art ‘99), seoul record detail, 2013, screen-print on vinyl record; Blaschka Glass Anenome, glass model example, Image Credit: Fragile Legacy; Zoë Charleton, Fort Mose detail, 2014, mixed media on paper, The Artist as Culture Producer book cover art, Photography by Greg Staley; Swoon (Fellow in Architecture/Environmental Structures/Design ’13), Thalassa, digital print on archival paper with embossing by Braddock Tiles, for The Heliotrope Foundation; David Kramer (Fellow in Sculpture ‘90), My Own Worst Enemy Ashtray detail, 2004, ceramic and ink; The Profitable Artist, Image Credit: NYFA.
