Exchange Programs

Exchange Visitor Profile: Tim Fitzgerald

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Name: Tim Fitzgerald

From: Birmingham, United Kingdom

Intern at: Escape Plan Productions (Austin, TX)

Q: Tell us about one of your favorite projects you are working on in your internship.

I am only a month into this internship, and it has been filled with a number of great projects; anything from basic editing, to really involved work from the start of the project to the finish. My personal favorite project I have worked on in my time so far in Austin has to be a 45 second bumper film that we made for Fantastic Fest 2014. Our film, Clownin’ Around (Warning: Contains scenes of violence, horror, and gore), was pretty highly regarded at the festival and almost won an award presented by Edgar Wright. On this set, I was the boom operator and sound designer, so I really got to experiment with some new and interesting design techniques.

Q: Where is your favorite place to go in Austin?

I’m a big fan of exploring cities, so I just like to hang out downtown. The city centre here in Austin is stunning, the buildings look great, everything is clean, and the people are so very friendly. Not to mention there is always something new to find in town every time you go in, be that a store, a bar or an event of some kind. There is just always something going on.

Q: Tell us about a funny or interesting moment that happened during your program.

There is a famous film production studio not too far from the Escape Plan offices, and I have admired one production company there for some time. Seeing a couple of guys from there hanging out downtown was a very surreal moment for me, as I has been a fan of this company for a number of years.

Q: What has been your favorite cultural activity so far?

Certainly the case with Austin, if you want to engage in cultural activity, just go out and meet people. Everyone here is so unique and comes from such a wide variety of backgrounds that it is seemingly impossible to pin down one culture. This may sound really obvious, everyone comes from different places and everyone has different experiences, but here in Austin, it seems to be so diverse in multiculturalism that you are constantly taking part and learning about cultures.

Q: What does cultural exchange mean to you?

Cultural exchange for me means to really engross yourself in a culture that is not your own, really get invested in something that you may not be used to. I personally think cultural exchange is how we grow as people, because we gain a better understanding of the world.

Q: What are your plans for the future once you finish your program in the United States?

I haven’t got anything set in stone yet, but I’m constantly applying for work in film, TV and video game production across the UK. This is a very short term plan, but I really think it will help me build up on my experience to become a better sound designer. As for a long term goal; I’m not certain as of right now, but I’ve always been the type to live on my wit, in that I go with whatever is going on at the time.

You can view more of Tim’s work here.

Host Spotlight: WORKac

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WORKac, based in New York City, is interested in positing architecture at the intersection of the urban, the rural and the natural. WORKac has achieved international acclaim for projects such as the recently completed master plan for the New Holland Island Cultural Center in St. Petersburg, Russia, Wieden+Kennedy’s 50,000 sq ft, three story New York offices, the Blaffer Museum in Houston, Texas, the Children’s Museum of the Arts in Manhattan and the Edible Schoolyard at P.S. 216 in Gravesend, Brooklyn.

We got in touch with Sarah Dunham, Director of Communications at WORKac, to hear her thoughts about being one of our host organizations.

Q: What are some of your favorite things about hosting exchange visitors?

We love having a diverse group of international people in our office! Hosting J1 exchange visitors allows us to work with architecture students from around the world, which brings fresh perspectives to our office on a regular basis.

Q: What are some of the neat work-related tasks that WORKac interns get to do?

Interns at WORKac are involved in nearly every phase of the design process for projects that they work on. In addition to 3D modeling and rendering, interns are crucial to the physical model-making process, which is an important part of the design process at WORKac. Helping to translate design ideas into physical models allows the team to test ideas quickly and understand the spatial implications of a range of design options for various aspects of a process.

Q: What are some of the cultural activities that WORKac interns get to take part in?

Depending on what part of the year they have joined the office, interns generally get to enjoy the annual summer party out in Rhode Island which involves camping, kayaking, beach days, and good food, or the annual holiday party which has featured epic karaoke in the past. Every so often interns will get to visit some of our recently completed projects including the new offices for Wieden+Kennedy New York and the Edible Schoolyard Project at PS216. Rarely (but it does happen!) interns may get to attend an event hosted by Zero + Maria Cornejo, a brand whose retail stores we designed a few years back. In addition, we tend to have happy hours in the office every few weeks and we always send interns off with a small get-together to say thanks!

Q: What should people do if they are interested in applying to the WORKac internship program?

We receive applications on a rolling basis so they can send any materials to hr@work.ac. We are not able to host a ton of people at a time so spots are a bit limited but we would love to talk with any interested students!

You can view WORKac’s portfolio here. 

Exchange Visitor Profile: Alaa Awad

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Name: Alaa Awad

From: Egypt

Scholar at: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Gallery 51 (North Adams, MA)

Q: What was the inspiration behind your mural, “Justice”?

The inspiration was Egyptian heritage and symbols of peace and happiness. MaHt, the goddess of Justice became the center of the mural.

Q: Where is your favorite place to go to in Massachusetts?

On the summit of Mount Greylock at an old lodge and restaurant where I gave a presentation. The views of the countryside from the mountaintop were fantastic.

Q: Tell us about a funny or interesting moment you have experienced during your program.

There were many interesting moments while I was working on the mural: like five teenage girls on walking to a concert stopped to paint on the mural with me or new friends sitting together on the sidewalk eating rhubarb pie looking at and talking about the mural. Many people volunteered and helped on the mural.

Q: What is your favorite new food you have tried in the United States?

Seafood!

Q: What has been your favorite cultural activity so far?

The Metropolitan Museum in NYC especially the African, Egyptian wings and the Modernism exhibitions.

Also, the mountain top and on the street where I was creating the mural I met many interesting people.

Q: What does cultural exchange mean to you?

It means exchanging knowledge and experience and the positive expressions in our lives. Leaving the mural here means that this exchange can keep going even though I’m returning to Egypt.

Alaa’s 100-ft mural, “Justice” is now on display along Center Street in North Adams, Massachusetts. Read more about the mural’s inspiration and hear from the MCLA show curator, Julia Mogan-Leamon. And watch the mural take shape with this process video!

Check out Alaa’s additional 12-painting installation, “Thebes”, in MCLA Gallery 51.

Alaa’s street art in Egypt during the Egyptian Revolution caught the eye of many citizens and reporters alike.

Exchange Visitor Profile: Katherine Man

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Name: Katherine Man

From: United Kingdom

Trainee at: Vera Wang (New York, NY)

Q: Tell us about one of your favorite projects you are working on.

Whilst working at Vera Wang, I was able to assist the design team on three collections: Ready-to-wear Fall 2014, Bridal 2015 and Resort 2015. I enjoyed working with the bridal team as I was able to experiment with fabric manipulations in delicate tulle and hand-sew embroidery samples. It was great to see my samples being used and inputted into weekly fittings which were further developed. I was honoured to see the final collection, knowing that my creative eye had been a part of these beautiful designs. It was amazing to see gorgeous gowns in production every day as I realised how much craftsmanship and time was put in, from draping the silhouette to pressing each individual pleat of a bodice. As an aspiring designer it has been a truly inspiring experience.

Q: What is your favorite place to go in New York?

The Lower East Side is my favourite area of the city because it’s perfect for the younger crowd and it’s very chilled. My favourite area is Soho, which has a mix of designer boutiques and smaller art galleries. East Village is great for restaurants that are not too expensive - I’m addicted to bubble tea and dumplings so I always head to a place called Tkettle!

Q: Tell us about an interesting moment you have experienced during your program.

I have been blessed to have met some amazing people. You never know who you may bump into in NYC. I met Gok Wan, a UK fashion stylist, whilst on an errand at work and got a photo with him. I also made great friends outside of work and we bonded like glue. We even went to a Brooklyn Nets game and saw Rihanna! I have made the closest friend for life that I will stay in touch with forever, despite being on the other side of the world.

Q: What is your favorite new food you have tried in New York?

I’m not too adventurous when it comes to trying new foods as I’m a vegetarian! But I found an amazing restaurant called Westville that is known for healthy and tasty vegetarian meals. They make vegetables taste really good with their seasoning from oyster mushrooms with garlic and herbs to kale with shallots - I will be making a trip back!

Q: What has been your favorite cultural activity so far?

I visited the “Ai Wei Wei: According to What?” exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum which was powerfully moving. I also went to the “Charles James: Beyond Fashion” exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art which allowed me to see the sculptural, mathematical and scientific methods of constructing his gowns from sketches and pattern pieces to completed works.

 

Check out some collections Katherine worked on:

 

You can also connect with Katherine on LinkedIn.

Exchange Visitor Profile: Alessandro Gallo

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Name: Alessandro Gallo

From: Genoa, Italy

Scholar at: Archie Bray Foundation (Helena, MT)

Q: What have you worked on as a part of the Professional Program?

In the past couple of weeks, I attended a meeting of and for Montana Clay Artists, which was held in Helena, and went to open studios of three Old School ceramic artists: Richard Notkin, Sarah Jaeger and Robert Harrison. I also gave a Slide Talk/Lecture at Montana State University in Bozeman. I worked and am still working very hard actually to finish two pieces.

Q: What was your major project while you were here in the United States?

That is the snake wrapped around the hare. Title: Tangled Up in You. Beth Cavener did all the sculpting and I painted the Tattoo. It’s been the most exciting project that I’ve done here and it was a huge success, having been shown at the Milwaukee Art Museum during the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA).

Q: What are you plans for the future as your finish your program in the United States?

I’ve accomplished all that I wanted to, met awesome people, learned a lot and shared a lot of technical information and ideas. So now I’m ready for some serious Montana fly-fishing!

Read about Alessandro’s collaboration with Beth Cavener Stichter, Tangled Up in You! Check out more of Alessandro’s work here.

Exchange Visitor Profile: Adrienne Lipson

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Name: Adrienne Lipson

From: London, Canada

Trainee at: Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (Chicago, IL)

Q: Tell us about one of your favorite projects.

My favorite projects that I’ve worked on in my internship with Hubbard Street 2 have been my involvement in the creation of two brand new dance pieces. Hubbard Street annually holds a National Choreographic Competition through which they choose two emerging and talented choreographers to create work on the second company. This year we worked with American choreographer Loni Landon, as well as Brazilian choreographer Alex Soares, each for a two week period. It was amazing to be directly involved in the process of creation with both choreographers alongside the dancers of Hubbard Street 2. The knowledge and experience I gleaned from those four weeks alone was truly immense and unforgettable.

Q: What is your favorite place to go in Chicago?

My favorite place to go in Chicago would have to be around Millennium Park to see Cloud Gate (or, as it is commonly known, The Bean). It is very tourist-y, yet somehow I am struck again and again by how beautiful the Chicago skyline is in that stretched and skewed reflection. It reminds me how exciting it is to be living in this big, beautiful city.

Q: Tell us about an interesting moment you have experienced during your program.

Every day that I’m with Hubbard Street 2 has had both its funny and interesting moments. One interesting experience that stands out for me was collaborating with the Art Institute of Chicago in a performance celebrating and exploring the works of the Old Masters. It was a completely unique experience because we performed in the actual galleries, full of priceless paintings, with an audience watching from only a few feet away. This is a completely different experience than the usual dancing on a stage, where lights make the audience look like deep black nothingness. Dancing at the AIC was extremely close and intimate, and something I’ll never forget!

Q: What is your favorite new food you have tried in the United States?

Coming from Canada, essentially all of the food available is the same as in the U.S. However, I have been delighted with Chicago’s particular affinity for Brunch! One amazing restaurant that I discovered around my neighborhood is called Longman and Eagle. Although they also offer a dinner and extensive drink menu, their brunch is truly phenomenal. (I recommend their smoked Scottish salmon benedict on pumpernickel rye, for any who are interested!)

Q: What has been your favorite cultural activity so far?

So far, my favorite cultural activity in Chicago has been being able to see The Second City of Chicago on two separate occasions. Sketchy comedy and Improv is big in Chicago, and The Second City is definitely the ultimate destination for it. I saw two revues (‘A Clown Car Named Desire’ and ‘Let Them Eat Chaos’), both of which were hilarious and completely inspiring!

See some of Adrienne’s works here:

Exchange Visitor Profile: Emilio Vavarella

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Name: Emilio Vavarella

From: Monfalcone, Italy

Trainee at:  Harvestworks Digital Media Arts Center (New York, NY)

Q: Tell us about one of your favorite projects you are working on.

Among many other projects on which I’m collaborating at Harvestworks, the one I want to talk about is a personal project that I started when I moved from Venice to New York. It’s called MEMORYSCAPES and it’s a multimedia installation, based on my research on memory, error, technology, subjectivity and virtuality. The project investigates how memory and reality affect one another, through notions of architecture and related mental images, resulting in a complex body of work. To carry out the project, I’m using Harvestworks’ computers and recording studio, with the support of audio engineer Kevin Ramsay for a series of interviews with Italian and Italian-Americans who I’ve met in NYC. At the end, I will produce a series of holograpich photographs that will present a 3D model of Venice, altered by the collective memory of the people I’ve interviewed. The project is also supported by the Jarach Gallery in Venice, so it truly represents a bridge between these two amazing islands: Manhattan and Venice, which I consider my two adoptive homes.

Q: What is your favorite place to go to in New York?

I love to walk along the Brooklyn Bridge at night, and look at the beautiful skyline while listening to music. I love working in Manhattan, and spending time at the art galleries in Chelsea, but I also love living in the peaceful and beautiful neighborhood of Fort Greene, where I can work and relax in silence.

Q: What is your favorite new food you have tried in the United States?

I love that I can find all the things I loved in the countries I’ve lived in over the last few years. If you spend some time and energy looking, you can find a perfect espresso or Turkish coffee, amazing Israeli rugelach … basically everything you can find in the rest of the world, but all in one place!

You can view Emilio’s work here.