Chancellor Klein Congratulates Student Winners of PS Architecture 2008
Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein recently congratulated the winners of PS Architecture 2008, a new architectural photography competition open to New York City public school students of all grades. Twenty winning photographs were selected by a jury from among 500 submissions, and an exhibit of the winning works—by students in elementary, middle, and high schools across the City—appeared at the Center for Architecture in Greenwich Village. Chancellor Klein was joined at the Center for Architecture at a celebration for the winners by Deputy Chancellor Kathleen Grimm, School Construction Authority President Sharon Greenberger, and Tim Hayduk, Director of Learning By Design:NY at the Center for Architecture Foundation.
“Congratulations to all the students who participated,” Chancellor Klein said. “Regardless of whether a school is old or new, ornate or unadorned, there is always something that can catch an artistic eye. This exhibit demonstrates how a talented photographer can give the rest of us an extraordinary view of the ordinary.”
“I applaud the work of these students and I want to thank the Center for Architecture for their partnership and support for this program,” Deputy Chancellor Grimm said.
“The students used their cameras in such an exceptional way by focusing on unique architectural designs in our schools,” SCA President Greenberger said. “They did a terrific job.”
“We are very pleased to partner with the Department of Education on PS Architecture,” said Mr. Hayduk. “This program is very close to our hearts because it provides students with the opportunity to examine their school as a work of architecture and represent their seeing through the art of photography. It is a true celebration of the built environment.”
The competition, which was sponsored by The Center for Architecture Foundation, FXFOWLE Architects, LLP, National Reprographics, and Pentagram Design, was open to all New York City public school students.
The contest was judged by a jury of arts and architecture professionals, including: Nelson Bakerman, architectural photographer; Michael Bierut, Pentagram Design; Michele Cohen, DOE’s Public Art for Public Schools; Tim Hayduk, Center for Architecture Foundation; Martin Pedersen, Metropolis magazine; Stan Ries, architectural photographer; Ann Rolland, FXFOWLE Architects; and Maria Bonilla and Barbara Rudnick, art teachers in NYC public schools.
Raphaela Olive, citywide winner, elementary school (PS 20 Clinton Hill School, Brooklyn), said, “I am very surprised to be able to win this contest. I have never thought that my photos were that good. I take my photos for the fun of it. But I guess I should take them more seriously now. Who knows, they might just be worth something someday.”
Barbara Font, citywide winner, middle school (PS/IS 266, Queens), said, “I am very excited and honored to be chosen as the citywide winner. I enjoy photography because it allows me to use light in interesting and creative ways. One of my favorite photography subjects is people in movement; I like the energy and emotion that is portrayed in the picture. For example, jumping represents excitement and happiness while running could represent fear. Lastly, I was very fortunate to have a middle school art teacher like Ms. [Anissa] Mendez [PS/IS 266, Queens], she encouraged me to be creative and enjoy the artistic side of photography.”
Andrew Marcus, citywide winner, high school (NYC Lab School for Collaborative Studies, Manhattan), said, “This contest made me realize that architecture, and art, are all around me. I saw the parallel lines in the stairwell compliment the railings and tiles on the wall. It’s great to see so many other students also looking at their schools through a new lens as I did with mine.”
The winners (and the schools they attended last spring at the time of the contest) include:
Elementary School: Raphaela Olive, Citywide Winner, Elementary School: PS 20 Clinton Hill School (Brooklyn); Marissa Gonzalez, Second Place, Elementary School: PS 116 John J. Driscoll (Staten Island); Bryan Chango, Third Place, Elementary School: PS 116 John J. Driscoll (Staten Island); Roman Bromblin, Fourth Place, Elementary School: NEST+m (Manhattan); Daniel Kim, Runner up, Elementary School: PS 41 Crocheron (Queens); Kenny Shi, Runner up, Elementary School: PS 69 Vincent D. Grippo School (Brooklyn); Qi Wen Li, Runner up, Elementary School: PS 112 (Brooklyn); Christina Wu, Runner up, Elementary School: PS 112 (Brooklyn)
Middle School: Barbara Font, Citywide Winner, Middle School: PS/IS 266 (Queens); Ayah Khalil, Second Place, Middle School: PS/IS 111 Adolf S. Ochs (Manhattan); Justin Sam, Third Place, Middle School: Irwin Altman Middle School 172 (Queens); Michael Nieves, Fourth Place, Middle School: Academy for Social Action (Manhattan)
High School: Andrew Marcus, Citywide Winner, High School: NYC Lab School for Collaborative Studies (Manhattan); Brian Hinds, Second Place, High School: James Madison High School (Brooklyn); Nicoletta Gallo, Third Place, High School: Millennium High School (Manhattan); Betty Zhao, Fourth Place, High School: Stuyvesant High School (Manhattan); Ligia Perez, Runner-up, High School: Marta Valle Secondary School (Manhattan); David Yusim, Runner-up, High School: James Madison High School (Brooklyn); Chloe Smith, Runner-up, High School: Forest Hills High School (Queens); Jeaniffer Lacrete, Runner-up, High School: High School for Service and Learning at Erasmus (Brooklyn).
