School of Visual Arts presents “On Sustainability,” an exhibition of work by BFA Interior Design students. Curated by faculty member Ralph Ottaiano, AIA LEED-AP, “On Sustainability” is on view Saturday, December 10, through Thursday, January 12, at the SVA Flatiron Gallery, 133/141 West 21st Street, New York City.

This exhibition explores the pressing issue of globalization and its relationship to planetary health. In a series of research and design assignments, participating students examine three pillars of sustainability: environment, economics and equity. The projects on view propose solutions to the problem of housing for populations displaced due to climate change and political instability.

Participating designers include Meichun Cai, Stephanie Chan, Daniel Chilcote, Sooji Choi, Mona Daoud, Alex Davis, Andreina Figuiera, Jennifer Forgione, Yingshan Fu, Amanda Gardner, Angela Hernandez, Vanessa Lacayo, Fatima Jeghir, JooWon Kim, Younjin Jang, Yuying Lee, Anthony Legato, Danyang Long, Cheri Li, Yavira Marte, Deulle Min, Kwangsung Park, Brandon Perler, Anthony Pezzulo, Maria Ramirez, Alexandra Seager, Vitalia Svechin, Paula Trivino, Ting-Yu Tsai, Yawen Wang, Wenso Yang, Zherui Zhang and Xinyan Zhou.

According to Ottaiano, “Sustainability is about seeing and recognizing the dynamic, cyclical and interdependent nature of all the parts and pieces of life on earth, from the soil under our feet to the whole planet we call home, from the interactions of humans with their habitats and each other to the invisible chemical cycles that redistribute water, oxygen, carbon and nitrogen.

“We can think of the word ‘sustainability’ in two ways: as an idea and as a discipline. As an idea, sustainability refers to the knowledge of how dynamic systems work on a planetary scale, including what we know about the current health or decline of local and global systems. As a discipline, sustainability is about humanity's rapidly evolving response to the urgent planetary challenges we face—a response that necessitates creative solutions from groups like interior designers.”

BFA Interior Design prepares students to shape the places where we live, work and play. Taught by award-winning designers, architects and artists, students learn to integrate the latest technology and materials with time-tested processes and principles of design. The faculty and curriculum are guided by a commitment to sustainability, the interplay between art and design, and the responsibility of design to address social issues.

Exhibition

On Sustainability

SVA Flatiron Gallery

Reception