Dear Friends of the Vilcek Foundation,
We are celebrating the Vilcek Foundation’s 10th birthday, and invite you to join us as we reminisce a little-admittedly with some pride-about a number of the events and exhibits of the recent past that symbolize both our ongoing mission and the decade of growth in our programs and outreach.
In September, set to coincide with New York’s Fashion Week, we were pleased to debut Russian-born designer Madina Vadache’s Spring 2011 collection. Titled Transparency, the 19-piece exhibition showcased the artist’s masterful use of her favorite textiles and materials, from ostrich feathers to Chantilly lace to silk organza, her signature fabric.
Hardly had the Vadache mannequins left the premises when our gallery was transformed once again, by Senbazuru, an interactive installation from the fertile imagination of Toshiko Nishikawa. This Japanese native has a powerful sense of global interconnection, heightened, she says, since her immigration to the United States, and articulated through 1,000 mirrored orbs that appear to float from the ceiling. Senbazuru is on display until December 9-and we hope to see you at the closing reception on December 10, when you may be one of the lucky recipients of a magical orb, presented by the artist herself.
In October, as the leaves were turning in New York City, we turned our attention to sunny Hawaii, for the annual Hawaii International Film Festival. For the fourth year, in partnership with HIFF, we sponsored the American Immigrant Filmmakers on Profile (AIFP) program. The 2010 films represented the talent and vision of the foreign-born directors, producers, and actors behind Au Revoir Taipei, Apart Together, Beijing Taxi, and Dog Sweat. Since their debut at HIFF, these films have been screened at various film festivals, and recognized internationally. One of them, Beijing Taxi, was recently awarded the Best Feature Documentary prize at the Sidewalk Film Festival, and the Best Director prize at the Duke City Docfest!
We’re also pleased to announce that The Vilcek Foundation, itself, was honored this year, by the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. On November 2, 2010, we received the VLA’s Arts Visionary Award, which recognizes annually extraordinary contributions made to the arts community. It was especially gratifying to accept the award trophy, which was designed by the late Ann Sperry, visual artist and former board member of the VLA.
We thought it was time, too, to refresh the look of our website. We called once again on Abbott Miller and his team at Pentagram Design to give a modern twist to the original design, to reflect the many ways the Foundation has grown and changed. As you’ll see when you visit www.vilcek.org, it now offers a wide range of multimedia features, and makes it easier than ever to stay up to date with our activities. Just now, for example, you can access a video for a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Senbazuru. Or click on our gallery archives to more carefully peruse Madina Vadache’s collection. If you’re a film buff, you’ll want to read more about the 2010 AIFP selections. And, finally, we hope you’ll take time to learn about and register for our upcoming events and exhibitions!
All of us at the Vilcek Foundation thank you for your ongoing support, and we look forward to a busy, exciting future. Please stay in touch-drop us a note at info@vilcek.org, leave a post on our Facebook page, or pick up the phone. We welcome your comments and suggestions and look forward to hearing from you.