SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS  and  SPIRIT & FLESH MAGAZINE
Transform Madison Avenue Into Outdoor Gallery with a Public Art Exhibition
THE LANGUAGE OF FASHION
September 8th–18th

Madison Avenue will kick off this year’s Fashion Week with an exciting initiative from the School of Visual Arts Graphic Design Department and some of the world’s leading fashion designers which marks the school’s first creative partnership with the fashion industry.

The project is curated by fashion industry powerhouse Linda Fargo, Senior Vice President and Fashion Director of Bergdorf Goodman, hosted by Madison Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) and directed by Yelena Deyneko, Co-Founder of Spirit & Flesh Magazine and School of Visual Arts alumni. ​

Thanks to the patronage of Madison Avenue’s Business Improvement District (BID), the School of Visual Arts installations shall be on display on Madison Avenue between 57th to 79th Streets from September 8th through September 18th and includes 15 seven-foot-tall statues featuring fashion illustrations created by students. The exhibition will be launched with a gala event and runway show on September 8th, hosted by School of Visual Arts, Spirit & Flesh magazine, the Madison Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) and Silk Music Group.

Richard Wilde, Founding Chairman of Advertising and Graphic Design departments, had a vision to expand SVA’s role in the world of fashion. The opportunity arrived when award-winning designer and SVA professor Olga Mezhibovskaya challenged her graphic design students to complete exciting two projects: create textile designs using typography and use the works to illustrate a full-fashion look.

The project blossomed when Fargo and Deyneko invited industry’s top designers to judge over 300 illustrations created by SVA students and select the winning typographic illustrations to be translated into wearable fashions and art installation for the ten day extravaganza.

Judges and mentors included Altuzarra, Rosie Assoulin, Francisco Costa, Jennifer Csengody, Delpozo, Alber Elbaz, Erdem, Geoff Howell, Naeem Khan, Minika Ko, Michael Kors, Ayanat Ksenbai, Humberto Leon, Carol Lim, Phillip Lim, Adam Lippes, Proenza Schouler, Jonathan Simkhai, Isabel and Ruben Toledo and Jason Wu.

For Spirit & Flesh, the project represents an extension of the magazine’s beliefs about fashion and art — that inspiration comes from surprising places and is linked to an understanding of history, global culture and fusion of disciplines, a collaboration of curious and open minds, and a journey from an idea to its skillful execution…

We are poised for a visual treat as the graphic illustrations being translated into garments by skillful professionals, including the father and son duo of legendary Tom’s Sons International Pleating, Kay Park, Stoll Knit Resources, Epson, Dyenamix, Kay Park, SM Patterns, Accurate Patterns and others all using fabric sponsored by the infamous Mood store.

Kevin O’Callaghan, Award Winning 3D Creative Director and SVA Faculty who realized students’ illustrations into the Public Art Installation; Nada Ray, award winning film director and SVA Faculty who followed the initiative from its conception to realization for “The Language of Fashion” documentary.

Special thanks to School of Visual Arts President David Rhodes for his support and encouragement, Christopher Austopchuk, CoFounder of Spirit & Flesh magazine, and the following sponsors, without whom this venture would not be possible: School of Visual Arts, Spirit & Flesh magazine, Epson, Madison Avenue BID, Silk Music Group, Mood Designer Fabrics, Tom’s Sons International Pleating, Dyenamix, Stoll Knit Resources, Bellion Vodka, Ross Communication, Atelier PR and Grubman PR.

Special Musical Performance courtesy of Silk Music Group with appearances by Lisa Batiashvilli and members of the New York Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, and with singer/songwriter Susan Justice performing a tribute to music and fashion icon David Bowie. Hors d’oeuvres provided by celebrity chef Todd English.