Art to Watch: MaDora Frey

Artists to Watch: MaDora Frey

Take a closer look and see what you find.

Whether you're a fine artist, photographer, or just an admirer of the strange and puzzling, you're bound to find something interesting in MaDora Frey's digitally warped rorschach photographs. A closer look at each piece reveals textures and images that are evocative of New York City, which is one of her main inspirations for her urban romantic pieces. I've fallen head over heels with her work, which I've had the pleasure of seeing in person many times; there really is something magical about the images that suck you in and plays tricks with your mind. I recommend seeing these larger-than-life pieces up front and close if you get the chance!

Check out more of her work on her website! You won't regret it.

NYC This Week: Vintage Halloween Parade

Vintage Halloween Parade in Greenwich Village

October 31st at 7pm

Nice costumes, ladies!

We know you're just dying to show off your undoubtedly awesome costume, and there's no better way to do it than celebrate at the Vintage Halloween Parade.

All Those in Costume are Welcome to Join Hundreds of Puppets, 53 Bands of Different Types of Music, Dancers and Artists, and Thousands of other New Yorkers in Costumes of their Own Creation in the Nation’s Most Wildly Creative Public Participatory Event in the Greatest City in the World!

For all those in costume is on 6th Avenue South of Spring Street and North of Canal between 6:30pm and 8:30pm. The Parade STARTS at 7 pm!

ONLY enter the line-up on 6th Ave. from the East and South between Canal and Spring!

Check out some more info on their website! Have a great and safe Halloween!

NYC This Week: Cloud City on the Roof of the Met

Tomas Saraceno on the Roof: Cloud City @ The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Through November 4th

Saraceno's mirrored structure on the Met's roof

As a lover of New York, this is something I've been dying to see. How cool does this sound?

Tomas Saraceno created a constellation of large, interconnected modules constructed with transparent and reflective materials for the Museum's Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden. Visitors may enter and walk through these habitat-like, modular structures grouped in a nonlinear configuration.

Perfect way to spend a beautiful fall afternoon. And the Met is virtually free. So what are you waiting for? Check out more at the Met's website here.

Good Eats NYC: Union Square Food Trucks

Union Square Food Trucks

Gorilla Cheese NYC and Seoul Food

Union Square is full of lots of eclectic people and things, which is why it should be no surprise that some pretty awesome and unique food trucks are often parked in the area. Here are two that I frequent and I think are work a try!

Gorilla Cheese NYC

How often do you just want a damn grilled cheese without having to sit in a diner to get it? Because I can never find one when I want one. Thank heaven for Gorilla Cheese NYC, which goes beyond your average American-cheese-on-bread with a dozen or so different crazy combinations to try. They even sell tomato soup to dip it in. My stomach is growling just thinking about it. Look out for the bright orange truck and find out more info over here!

Seoul Food

This truck offers a Korean twist on traditional Mexican street food and it's to die for. Definitely not your average burrito; Sweet and Spicy Pork with Cilantro-Lime Relish, Cheddar Cheese, Rice and Kimchi Aioli? Yum. I have no idea what half of those words mean, but I know that together they make for a dynamite combination. For around ten bucks you get an entire burrito that'll fill you up all day. They're in a black and red truck, so if you see something you like on their website make sure to catch them!


Which food trucks are your favorites and worth trying? Let us know or leave a review!

Art to Watch: Cotton Candy Machine

Cotton Candy Machine Art Boutique & Gallery

Brought to you by Tara McPherson

Located in Williamsburg

This boutique and gallery space is a one-two sugary punch.

Tara McPherson's otherworldy characters have taken the illustration world by storm, cementing her as one of *my* favorites of all time. Luckily for me and anyone else who might be a fan, she's got a boutique in Williamsburg called Cotton Candy Machine where she sells art, merch, and even curates shows.

Two of my favorites, Camilla D'Errico and Brandi Milne, have an exhibition there that opens on October 12th and runs through November 4th, which is going to rock my world and probably yours if you stop by. Interested?

Get more info on this wonderland over here!

NYC This Week: Dogs at Central Park!

My Dog Loves Central Park Festival

Saturday, October 13th, 2012, 11-3pm

There is nothing not fun about this picture.

Miss your pup back home? This Saturday, Central Park is going to the dogs-- literally, in an all-day festival celebrating our favorite companions. So stop by and pet some furry friends, 'cause it's totally free. PS- this is a great opportunity to do some gesture drawings of dogs of all shapes and sizes!

Check out more at their website here!

NYC This Week: It's Comic Con

New York Comic Con

October 11th-14th at the Javitz Center

Have a little fun at the convention and cosplay!

I know I don't need to tell y'all about Comic Con, but just incase you need a reminder, it's right around the corner. It costs a pretty penny to get in, but totally worth it to go for a day or two. This pop culture convention is the place to be. I know some of you will be there, so come back with plenty of cool pictures and stories!

I will sit over here, being jealous and wallowing over all of the Captain America cosplayers I won't get to stalk and all the ridiculous merch I won't get to buy. Insert sigh here.

Check out some more info right over here.

Election Day: Helpful Links!

The Election is Coming... Are You Ready?

It's that time, ladies-- the upcoming election is going to impact our futures as not only citizens of the United States, but as women and students. Whether it's your first time around the block (it will be mine!) or you've done this before, here are some helpful resources so that you're ready to cast your vote on November 6th!

This eagle is ready. America.

The 2012 Presidental Candidates
http://2012.presidential-candidates.org/

- This website is one of the best for mostly unbiased factual information on not only the candidates, but on all of their stances on certain issues, providing links to videos of speeches, official statements and news articles to support their information. If you've got a half hour to spare, it'll be easy to click around the issues that matter to you and help you decide on a candidate!

2012 Presidental Issues Chart
http://2012election.procon.org/view.source-summary-chart.php

- ...Or if charts are more your thing, you can check this one out. It has side-by-side comparisons of each of our could-be presidents so you can see how the nominees stack up. Updated regularly and unbiased 'pro/con' answers.

How to Apply for an Absentee Ballot
http://www.longdistancevoter.org/

- For those of us not from NYC, an Absentee Ballot is going to be the best way to get our vote in. An Absentee Ballot allows one to vote even though they might not be in their hometown on election day to cast the vote in person. You can even download the PDF for your ballot registration on this website! Make sure to do it a few weeks in advance so that your vote counts.

Make sure you get your vote on this November! The future is what we make of it and who helps guide us through it. Do a little research and do your part!

Art to Watch: tART Women's Art Collective

Art to Watch:

tART Women's Art Collective

The cover of one of tART's past black-and-white 'zines.

tART Collective is a contemporary feminist artist collective right here in NYC. These awesome ladies band together and host exhibitions, studio visits, workshops, 'zines and engage in the art community. Their exhibitions have been everywhere from the AIR Gallery to Art Renaissance Festival in Brooklyn. As lady artists, I think it's important for us to be involved not only in the art world, but with other women arists, and tART Collective is a great way to explore that community.

Check out the artists who make up this fantastic group and what they've been up to!

Art to Watch: HeartChild

Hello and welcome back, Gram Gals!

I hope you all have been having a wonderful time adjusting to new classes and new deadlines and of course, new projects!

Speaking of projects, one project that a friend of mine, fellow film major, Ben Duffy, has been working diligently on is his documentary film HeartChild. 

HeartChild is a documentary film about twenty-nine year old Crys Worley, who is the mother of a nine year old autistic child, Sasha. It is a remarkable story about a mother's struggles, not only with her own health, but the well being of her son. Committing to Sasha that she will never give up on him and inspired by the challenges parents of autistic children face, she started a non-profit organization, called A.Skate - Autism. Skating with Kids through Acceptance, Therapy, and Education. This film documents her extraordinary journey.​

Ben's film is so close to my heart because my little brother Jack also has autism and Crys Worley's struggle is one that my mother goes through and one that I am very familiar with. News of this heartfelt journey continues to spread not only all over SVA, but all over the nation, touching members of the autism and skating community everywhere.

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Please take a minute to visit the website and watch the trailer for the film (above), for it is not yet finished, and if you're feeling generous, please donate to the Kickstarter for the film and you might just be able to get a copy of the doc or a t-shirt! You can donate by visiting the HeartChild website and scrolling to the bottom and clicking KICKSTARTER. 
I donated and it was the best $20 I've ever spent.

By the way, here's a picture of me, my mom, and sister Bridget and my bro Jack wearing the sweetest PJs ever.

Peace Love and Movies, 

RA Ashley