Letters: Barefoot in the Park

Hey guys, 

So it looks like we're accumulating people! Excellent. Feel free to pass this on to your fellow Seniors if you think they'd enjoy it.

I was going to post this on Monday, but what the hoo. Here's the first mini-project. 

We'll start off easy. The Op-Ed page also runs small illustrations to accompany the Letters to the Editor. We'll say the final art is 2x2.5 inches (width x height, always), b&w, which is the typical size for that slot.

Here are the letters, in response to this article about the potential harm of walking barefoot in NYC parks:

Go Ahead, Go Barefoot. The Grass Is Fine.
---
To the Editor:

Re “Barefoot in the Park? Watch Your Step” (news article, May 26):

For those who cannot abide the thought of venturing off their blankets, lest they be consumed by armies of bacteria, fungi and viruses: good luck in your quest for sterility. The air and soil around us are teeming with microorganisms, and guess what? You are a mammal! And not a particularly clean one at that.

Get over your quest for sterility, and dip your toe into that little bitty patch of dirt. It’s O.K. Really. And you know, it actually feels good. Much better than shoes and socks on concrete. Trust me, I’m a doctor.

Douglas Binder
Albuquerque, May 27, 2008
----
To the Editor:

I was saddened by your article about the hidden dangers of walking barefoot on the grass. I don’t need an expert to tell me there are bacteria or parasites “lurking” in the grass, and as a graduate in biochemistry I am not scared by their names and worst-case consequences. I am, however, disturbed by a parasite named fear continually feeding on the nation.

In Britain, where I’m from, the well-being of children is rated among the lowest in Europe. The Children’s Society believes that this is because the climate of fear and confusion that now surrounds children and young people can lead to mental health problems. As part of a report to improve the lives of children, it is asking people to reflect on happy memories from the first few years of their lives. Running around barefoot ought to be one.

Sarah Gordon
Washington, May 28, 2008
---


Read my comment in the last post re: sketches. What do you guys think is best in terms of posting schedule?

Post your work as a new blog entry (to those of you new to blogger, it should be pretty easy to use but let me know if you need any help).

-J

Welcome to the Sock Op'!

Hi hi friends!

We'll see if this works.

Are you interested in editorial illustration? Do you want to continue to learn and flex your conceptual muscles over the summer? Maybe, through the magic of BLOGGING!, this can be a place for such students. 

My idea is to do weekly mini-projects based upon the New York Times' Op-Ed and Letters page. I'm sure you've seen them. Here's one I did last year:

This illustration followed the death of Barbaro, a Kentucky Derby-willing racehorse that broke his leg and was eventually put down. The article dealt with the diminishment of quality within the breed and advocated changes to the sport to protect animals.

That's what the Op-Ed and Letters pages are: topical editorials that deal with current events and issues and therefore the concept is very important. The Op-Ed illustrations in the Times are done in B+W and are typically done very quickly (about 5 hours from the first phonecall to a finished piece). There is a place for all types of solutions and styles. Here is a large gallery of Op-Ed art, courtesy of the illustrator Wes Bedrosian.

Shall we try for a weekly article? Let's decide whether we want to do sketches or just post finished illustrations (post your thoughts in the comments regarding that). The idea is to have all participants to add into the critique, not just me. And please remember: the work here does not "count" for anything, is not marked, does not affect your grades or anything. It's just a virtual sandbox. 

There are some technical things:

- You must be registered with me (ie. made a blog author) in order to participate and comment.

- Commenting is no different from a critique in class: helpful, honest, but respectful.

- This is ONLY open to Rising Seniors at Parsons. Sorry.

Please email me at tamakij (AT) newschool (.) edu if you are interested in participating.