About the SVA All-Staff Art Show
Now in its second year, the SVA All-Staff Art Show showcases art made by the employees working at the School of Visual Arts (SVA). The show was first conceived upon the surprising discovery that many of those that work at SVA are also gifted and passionate artists. I wanted to give a voice to an often overlooked segment of our school's community as well as an outlet to express who they are beyond their job titles. Since its inception, the show has enabled employees to connect with other employees as well as with the greater SVA community. My hope is that the SVA All-Staff Art Show will continue to inspire a desire to appreciate the people that contribute so much to our SVA experience.
In the words of Ray Trotman, an SVA security guard and artist: "I feel like a celebrity now! Everyone knows who I am now! And they come up to me and ask, 'Aren't you Ray, the guy with the puppets?'"
Please visit our facebook page to view artist's profiles and photos from last year's show.
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Ray Trotman works as a security guard at SVA's printmaking building on E 21st. St. Ray's passion is for acting, puppetry, and ventriloquism. He sews and makes his own dolls and costumes, and he has also spent a number of years traveling and performing with his puppets. His most iconic project to date is his series of lively and mischievous 'what-not dolls'. Although he no longer has the time to perform, Ray continues to record videos and write stories and poems for and about his puppets.
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Harry Sookhai has been working as a security guard at SVA for five years. His love for graffiti art started at age 14, and he has been drawing and painting ever since. He keeps a sketchbook with him at all times and uses paint markers to create vibrant landscapes of patterns, colors, and letterforms. Harry also translates his work onto canvas; his paintings exude the same spirited energy as his drawings. Besides his close friends and family, has never before shown his work to anyone.
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Leslie Whylly works as a security guard at SVA. Although he has taken traditional art classes, he learned how to draw largely by studying the techniques of Walt Disney Animators. And by observing the quirks and habits of the people around him, he learned to create characters with personality, spunk, and humor. Leslie co-founded Hood Fetish, where his drawings come to life on T-shirts and various other apparel. Leslie hopes that the SVA Employee Art Show will give him the exposure he needs to jumpstart his career doing what he loves.
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Collin Murphy works as an assistant in the mailroom at the SVA main building. He graduated with a BFA in photography from SVA and is currently pursuing his masters in photography. You can also view his work on his website: www.collindemurphy.com
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Daniel Arthurs' passion is for photography. During the day, he works in the mailroom at SVA's main building.
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Gf Newland received his MFA in Computer Art/Animation at the School of Visual Arts. He is currently the systems administrator at SVA, where he manages the installation and operation of all software, hardware, networks and audiovisual equipment in the Continuing Education Lab and assists CE instructors in providing training in Adobe Suite Software. To view more of his illustrations, designs, and animations go to www.gfnewland.com
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Facebook Page
You can see the rest of the artists and their work on the show's facebook page.