Looking for something a little less ordinary to give to a friend, coworker or loved one this holiday season, and support small businesses while you’re at it? Below are some recent and noteworthy endeavors from members of the SVA community, ranging from jewelry and face masks to games and activities. To see this year's list of recommended books, click here.
Happy holidays from the School of Visual Arts!
Shami Jewelry
Jewelry by Shami. Images courtesy Kelly Shami.
Custom, fine and fashion jewelry, $25 – $1,350
Shop Shami: shamiofficial.com
Kelly Shami (BFA 2013 Design) learned about jewelry design while working at her father’s jewelry store in New York City’s Diamond District, and in 2017, she and her twin brother, Mark, launched their own jewelry brand, Shami, in honor of their father’s dedication to the trade. Shami’s hoop earrings, custom nameplates and link bracelets are designed with her generation in mind—and her pieces have been worn by celebrities like Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Halsey and Dua Lipa in music videos and for performances.
Fuzzy Pals
Pet accessories by Fuzzy Pals, which raises money for animal shelters in Jakarta, Indonesia. Images courtesy Keiko Nabila Yamazaki.
Pet accessories, $10 – $20
Shop Fuzzy Pals: knyamazaki.com
Wanting to help abandoned and neglected pets in her home city Jakarta, Keiko Nabila Yamazaki (BFA 2017 Illustration) started Fuzzy Pals, a line of pet accessories like bandanas and bows, as well as pouches and notebooks for their humans, all decorated with cute, colorful patterns. A portion of every sale goes toward helping Jakarta’s Shelter Melati rescue and re-home dogs in need.
Avoid the Day Bookstore and Cafe
Avoid the Day bookstore and café, in Rockaway Park, Queens, is run by designer, SVA alumnus and faculty member Jason Heuer and his wife, Jianna. Images courtesy Jason Heuer/Avoid the Day.
Shop Avoid the Day: www.avoidtheday.org
99-04A Rockaway Beach Boulevard, Rockaway Park, New York
Support this local business by ordering books to be shipped to your home, buying a gift card, or sending someone a special gift box featuring books, journals, a tote bag, and more! SVA Pre-College Program faculty member Jason Heuer (BFA 2005 Graphic Design) and his wife, Jianna, opened this Rockaway bookstore earlier this year.
Little Mountain Press
A look inside of a Riso-printed zine by Little Mountain Press. Images courtesy Little Mountain Press.
Prints and publications, $5 – $10
Shop Little Mountain Press: littlemountainpress.com
Xiao Mei and Mountain Dog’s (both BFA 2018 Illustration) Little Mountain Press has the perfect gift for those looking forward to the new year: a vibrant, Riso-printed 2021 calendar. They also sell eye-popping prints and zines that explore Chinese culture and identity, and sexuality.
Grouphug Solar
Window GroupHug solar panel, for device charging. Images courtesy Krystal Persaud/GroupHug.
Window and custom solar panels, starting at $150
Shop Grouphug Solar: grouphugtech.com
MFA Interaction Design faculty member Krystal Persaud’s company Grouphug Solar makes compact, USB-equipped window solar panels that absorb sunlight and store energy so they work day or night, and can charge phones, tablets, speakers and other electronic devices.
Writer's Block Game
The Writer's Block Game, created by Micah Lynn as part of the collaboration between MFA Products of Design and The Museum of Modern Art’s MoMA Design Store.
Pencil set with stand, $48
Shop Writer's Block Game: store.moma.org
Micah Lynn (MFA 2019 Products of Design) created the perfect gift for the writer in your life: a pencil kit that doubles as a game, for those idle times when you’re waiting for inspiration to strike. The game is one of the latest items in the ongoing collaboration between MFA Products of Design and The Museum of Modern Art’s MoMA Design Store.
The Official Charles Fazzino Gift Shop
Pop-art puzzles by Charles Fazzino. Image courtesy Charles Fazzino.
Shop Charles Fazzino pop art: www.fazzinogiftshop.com
Housewares, games, luggage, prints and apparel, $5 and up
Pop artist Charles Fazzino (BFA 1977 Media Arts) maintains an e-commerce site where fans of his detail-packed work can buy a variety of items—including phone cases ($29.99), 1,000-piece puzzle kits ($14.99 – $16.99) and Charles Fazzino Monopoly World Edition board games ($599).
Everyday Witch Oracle
A selection of cards from the Everyday Witch Oracle.
40-card oracle deck and guidebook, $23.99
Shop Everyday Witch Oracle: www.llewellyn.com
Writer Deborah Blake and illustrator Elisabeth Alba (MFA 2008 Illustration as Visual Essay) have teamed up for this oracle set, aimed at witches and interested readers of all skill levels. It is a companion to the duo’s Everyday Witch Tarot kit, which came out in 2016.
Keith Haring Chess Set
Shop the Keith Haring chess set: store.moma.org
$38
Need a gift for someone who’s on a chess kick after binging-watching The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix? This chess set doubles as a piece of art, featuring SVA alumnus Keith Haring’s signature characters.
Christine Sun Kim x Langua Franca Sweaters
Sweaters from Christine Sun Kim's collaboration with clothing brand Lingua Franca, on sale at the Whitney Museum. Images courtesy the Whitney Museum.
Embroidered cashmere sweaters, $400
Shop Christine Sun Kim x Lingua Franca: shop.whitney.org
Christine Sun Kim (MFA 2006 Fine Arts) designed a series of sweaters for the Whitney Museum’s fourth collaboration with New York City–based clothing brand Lingua Franca. The collection, which features embroidered versions of Kim’s handwriting and drawings of signs in American Sign Language, continues the artist’s exploration of how people communicate across languages.
Face Masks
Click the images for purchase information.
This feature includes content from the spring/summer 2020 and fall/winter 2020 editions of the Visual Arts Journal.