As part of recognizing BFA Advertising and Graphic Design Department Chair Richard Wilde’s 40th anniversary at the College, SVA is presenting “The Wilde Years: Four Decades of Shaping Visual Culture,” an exhibition that celebrates designers, art directors and other creative professionals who have graduated from the program. The show, which is on view at the Visual Arts Gallery, 601 West 26th Street, 15th floor, features iconic and culturally significant works by select alumni from all four decades of Wilde’s tenure.
“It is an honor to be recognized,” says Wilde. “I am inspired by these alumni and proud of their accomplishments. Many have become some of the most influential and creative people working in the business today.” Designed by Kevin O’Callaghan, chair of 3D Design, the multimedia exhibition space of “The Wilde Years” places familiar advertisements, book covers, CD packaging and posters within everyday settings: a comfortable reading nook will highlight book jacket design and feature covers for James Frey’s A Million Little Pieces, Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Living History and Junot Diaz’s The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, among other bestsellers; subway advertisements, including theatrical posters for Broadway hits like Rent, Chicago and John Leguizamo’s Freak, will be on view within a mock subway platform; a life-size bus shelter will include advertising campaigns for Anheuser-Busch, Pepsi and Showtime; and a mini-screening room will project television commercials and music videos. In total, the work of over 100 alumni is represented in “The Wilde Years,” selected by a curatorial committee comprised of Gail Anderson, creative director, SpotCo; Sal DeVito, executive creative director, DeVito/Verdi; Janet Froelich, creative director, Real Simple; Todd Radom, principal, Todd Radom Design; and Lisa Rettig-Falcone, group creative director, DDB Worldwide.
“The Wilde Years” will be at the Visual Arts Gallery through Saturday, November 7; there will be a reception open to the public on Monday, October 19, 5:30 – 7pm. AIGA is presenting a “Wilde Years” panel discussion on Monday, October 26, 6:30 – 8:30pm, at the SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street; click here for tickets and more info.
Images: “The Wilde Years: Four Decades of Shaping Visual Culture” installation photos by John Wyszniewski.
