News
*Visit our new page of "Tech Tips" for fun project tips and ideas!*
New and Expanding Media Arts Programs
Magic Box programming expanded in the 2008-2009 school year to reach over 1500 students, teachers and parents-- that's a 36% increase over last year! We visited 10 school sites, began teaching photo workshops to visiting school groups in the Gallery at 180 Maiden Lane, and worked for the first time with home-schooled students.
During 2008-2009, we deepened a number of our established school partnerships, while forging relationships with new schools and cultural organizations. Working with our Teaching Artists, students have found new and exciting ways to fuse art and technology -- from original photo galleries in schools, to documentation of events both in their communities and on the web.
What our students and educators have to say...
"I'm learning how to use cameras, and I'm getting better and better!"
-Anonymous Student
 "Magic Box Productions is an exemplary arts partner. I can’t think of a better way to prepare our students for the 21st Century than to immerse them in a rich and high quality arts curriculum."
-Principal Robin Sundic, PS 84 Manhattan
"Students learned social skills needed to be productive members in and outside the school community."
-Special Education Teacher
FOCUS: 2nd Annual Children's Photography & Video Exhibit 
Now Open at 180 Maiden Lane!
The exhibit features almost 40 photographs, as well as original animations and documentary videos, created by elementary, middle and high school students in Magic Box programs throughout the New York metropolitan area. Text and photos of the artists at work offer a glimpse into the students' creative process. “FOCUS really gives a great ‘kids’ eye view’ of life in the city,” says Magic Box Executive Director Nelle Stokes, “from portraits of friends and family members to shots of architecture and transportation.”
Curated by Stephanie Pereira, the exhibit emphasizes the relationship between the student artists and their subjects, as they explore portraiture and landscapes within the natural world and the urban environment.
Councilman Bill DeBlasio praised Magic Box programs, saying, "There are kids, and then their families and their friends... who are seeing the world differently because this was a part of their lives."
Paul L. King, Executive Director of the New York City Department of Education Office of the Arts and Special Projects said, "It's about inspiration... (Magic Box) really allows for a student's point of view to take hold and for that expression to take place."
The exhibit is open to the public, free of charge, April 30- December, 2009, with gallery hours from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. For further information call (914) 630-0256.
Bring your School Group to FOCUS Gallery
Tours & Workshops
Visiting student groups receive a guided tour of the video and photography exhibit by a Magic Box teaching artist and participate in a special hands-on photography, video or animation workshop. Please contact Magic Box to arrange a tour for your student group!
Holiday Gifting Program
This holiday season, Magic Box Productions offered a new way for you to support our work and polish off your gift list at the same time! Thank you for you support of the FOCUS gifting program! You can always still support Magic Box by visiting our "Support Us" page.
Inside Magic Box Productions
We're honored to work with a talented group of staffers, teaching artists and board members. Over the course of the year we'll profile some of the individuals who enable us to do such great work.
Magic Box welcomes Office Administrator Susan Helbock. Susan received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree many years ago and has been doing photography ever since. She now has two sons and her own event and portrait photography business, in addition to her job at Magic Box. You can view her work or contact her at her site.
Teaching Artist News
Michele Beck will be performing "Orange Echolon" at the POW POW performance festival in San Francisco on October 17, 2009. She will also screen two new documentaries at St. Mark's Poetry Project in NYC on October 23, 2009. Michele will be speaking about her work at the University of Maryland on November 3, 2009. She also presented at the Erickson Institute in Stockbridge, Massachusetts in August.
Tali HInkis recently received a NYSCA grant for individual artists, a NYFA fellowship for interdiscplinary work and a Van Lier fellowship from Harvestworks. She is a 2009 Smack Mellon artist in resident. Her recent exhibits include State of the Art NY, URBIS, Manchester, UK, and Reinventing Ritual at the Jewish Museum (upcoming).
Brian Buckley has returned from Santa Fe, New Mexico and Germany on a two-show tour of his photogram project “Instant Shadows”, where he spoke at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Siegen, Germany. His Photograms have also been exhibited in: (selected) New York City, Brooklyn, Long Island, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Pennsylvania, Birmingham, England, and Bucharest, Romania.
Outside of education and creating art, Buckley does creative editorial and advertising photography for: (selected) L’Oreal, New York Magazine, Legno Veneto Floors, the Daily News, Corcoran Real Estate, Zink Magazine, Art Business News, Direct Art, the New York Post…
Some Links:
http://www.brianbuckleyphotoinc.com
http://www.brianbuckleyphoto.com
http://www.buckleypictures.printroom.com
Meet Our Board
Joseph Cantara, one of our new board members, is a former Middle School Principal in Queens who worked with the Department of Education for over 35 years. He now works as an Educational Consultant and an Antiques Dealer specializing in Tiffany Studios and Mid Century Modern Italian Design. He serves on the Education Committee of Roundabout Theater and has an extensive background with the implementation of integrated Arts Education Programs in Elementary and Middle Schools. Joseph is married with a son and two Grandchildren. |
