For Immediate
Release
Contacts:
Liana Hawes,
Hawes Group
(212) 242-2275 or (917) 912-7484
liana@hawesgroup.com
For poster,
click HERE
JUDGES SELECTED
FOR ANNUAL
ATLANTIC AVENUE HOLIDAY WINDOW DESIGN COMPETITION
Brooklyn, New York - November 15,, 2004 -The Atlantic Avenue
Local Development Corporation (LDC) has selected a panel of six
Brooklyn-based individuals to judge the Annual Atlantic Avenue
Holiday Window Design Competition to take place on November 30
on Atlantic Avenue in Boerum Hill. Judging the competition, which
awards Atlantic Avenue retail merchants for outstanding aesthetics
in window design, are Deborah Kass, Jane Walentas, Kathleen Gilrain,
Patricia Cronin, Jean Raveau-Violette and Gail Johnson. The team
was selected based on their artistic merit, diligence and accomplishments
in the fine, visual and media arts. A prerequisite was that they
live and work in Brooklyn.
Competitors
must have their designs installed by 6PM on November 30 when the
judging team will assess individual store windows based on the
following criteria: original creative concept; use of materials;
display technique; merchandising acumen; execution on a holiday
theme and eye catching appeal for pedestrians. Winners will be
announced at 6PM the following day, December 1, at the LDC's annual
holiday tree lighting ceremony at the Belarusian Church, corner
of Bond Street and Atlantic Avenue.
"The LDC is
thrilled to have this accomplished Brooklyn group as judges this
year," said Sue Wolfe, LDC Holiday Committee Chair. "The holidays
are a crucial time for Avenue retailers and the LDC's goal is
to foster healthy competition, recognize the outstanding talents
of merchants and kick off the season with some eye candy for shoppers...each
window is a truly unique showcase - minimalist, abstract, whimsical,
Dickenseque - you just never know what to expect on Atlantic Avenue!"
Wolfe added.
ABOUT THE
JUDGES
Deborah Kass is a fine artist who has exhibited nationally
and internationally and is in the collections of the Museum of
Modern Art, the Whitney Museum, the Guggenheim Museum, and the
Jewish
Museum. She has received grants from the National Endowment of
the Arts, the New York State Council of the Arts and Art Matters,
Inc. Patricia Cronin is Associate Professor of Art and
Deputy Chairperson of the M.F.A. Program at Brooklyn College.
Her paintings and sculptures have been exhibited nationally and
internationally including Yale University Art Gallery, Brooklyn
Museum, and Alessandra Bonomo Gallery in Rome. Her acclaimed "Memorial
To A Marriage" sculpture is permanently on view in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Jane Walentas is an art director, antique restorer, designer
and active member of the DUMBO neighborhood community. She has
held numerous Art Director positions on major consumer brands.
Ms. Walentas is currently restoring the antique Philadelphia Toboggan
Company Carousel #61, the first carousel to be placed on the National
Register of Histroic Places. Kathleen Gilrain is the Executive
Director of Smack-Mellon studios, a non-profit arts organization
for underrepresented artists to create, explore and exhibit their
creative ideas. Ms. Gilrain launched the studio's Artist Studio
Program in response to the crisis in availability of affordable
workspace for artists living and working in New York City. Since
joining the organization she has expanded the exhibition program,
affording more opportunities for artists and curators to present
their work. Gail Johnson, is president of Brooklink Media,
founder and editor-in-chief of the bi-monthly publication NRG
Magazine, a 4-color glossy magazine covering Brooklyn lifestyles,
fashion, art and culture. A former investor relations executive,
Ms. Johnson now oversees an editorial staff of over 25 people.
Ms. Johnson's is known for delivering intelligent editorial content,
arresting photography and graphic design that appeals to the trendy
set in Brooklyn. In 1985, Jean Raveau-Violette began creating
Brooklyn window displays. Three years later, he was designing
and building sets for the theater, movies, trade shows and fashion
shows. He has continued to extend his design work by creating
unique store and restaurant interiors. Raveau-Violette lives and
works in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. The 2004 Atlantic Avenue Window
Design Competition will be accented by innovative streetscape
decorations, inspired by a two-year road construction project
retailers were happy to see complete. After months of staring
at red flagging tape outside their establishments, retailers came
up with the idea of assembling the red commercial-grade ribbon
street into lamppost streamers to create a sweeping street-wide
effect. Designer Pauline Skehal of Care Partners Thrift,
(2003 winner) then created giant luminous gold bows to top off
the streaming red skirts. This in effect, carries through the
holiday theme as well as that of "Lighting the Boulevard" an LDC
sponsored doorway lighting project to improve the Atlantic Avenue
streetscape with energy efficient LED (light emitting diode) technology.
The holiday window designs, street decorations and sparkly LED
lamps emanating from doorways will add a welcoming feeling to
Atlantic Avenue during the holiday season.
*Editors
please note: On Thursdays through December 24, 2004 many Atlantic
Avenue merchants will have late night holiday shopping hours until
9:00 pm
About the
Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation (LDC)
The LDC is
a Section 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization committed to the
economic development of the Atlantic Avenue area from Fourth Avenue
to the East River waterfront in Brooklyn, New York. The Atlantic
Avenue Master Plan was sponsored by the Atlantic Avenue Leadership
Conference, a collaboration of 50 local community groups and businesses
including the Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation. For
information, please call 718-875-8993 or email atlanticave@atlanticave.org.
