A New Experience at The Louvre

Posted on August 2, 2015 by sreicis

Our final day in Paris and our destination is The Musee du Louvre. This is by far one of the largest museums that my students have visited, and the layout is both daunting and a bit overwhelming. Before entering the museum we had some time to enjoy the famous entry pyramid designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei and admire the courtyard of the former palace. Once inside we were able to appreciate the beauty of the winding staircase with the integrated elevator to accommodate visitors with disabilities. A new feature that we experienced was the hand-held individual audio/visual guides. These proved to be extremely useful and both simplified and assisted the process of navigating through the museum. There is a bit of a learning curve with these devices depending on your generation. That is because they are actual Nintendo controllers. If you were a fan of these video games, then you were at a terrific advantage. In any case, even though I am not quite from the Nintendo age I did enjoy an occasional Mario Brothers game in my time, and found these audio guides to be very useful and practical. Their built in GPS system meant they could determine your location in the museum and either guide you to the next exhibit, or pause to share information on your current location. Brilliant in my estimation. There are some exhibits I never grow weary of. These include the Nike of Samothrace, which had undergone a recent restoration, the apartments of Napoleon, and of course the Mona Lisa. What a wonderful end to our beautiful Paris visit. Of course there is much more to see and do in Paris, but the students have a strong introduction to the sights and the rich history. I remind them to start taking note of what they want to visit on their return trip to Paris….because a single visit cannot be enough! Our coach bus picked us up outside the Louvre and we were off to the train station to take the Eurostar to London. As we pass Garnier’s Opera house one last time I bid a fond farewell to one of my favorite cities. Now on to the next adventure….much excitement still ahead for us!

Galeries Lafayette Followed by Musee D’Orsay

Posted on July 22, 2015 by sreicis

We are now in the afternoon of Day 3 in Paris. We still have some free time left, but we need to be at the Musee D’Orsay by 7:00 pm. When this tight on time the logical choice is one of the large department stores. My favorite is the Galeries Lafayette on the Boulevard Haussmann. It is in the shadow of the L’Opera, so an opportunity to pass by and admire Garnier’s beautiful structure as well. There is something for everyone at the Lafayette, including housewares, gourmet foods and a lovely selection of wine. Built during the Belle Epoque the main store boasts a beautiful dome skylight with a remarkable stained glass design. This alone is worth a visit to the store. Another special experience is taking the time to venture to the rooftop. This is a wonderful place to take a break from shopping and enjoy an amazing view of Paris. You are high enough to see much of the city but not so high to feel disconnected from it. It proved a wonderful stop for a quick glass of wine before jumping on the Metro again to meet our group at the Musee D’Orsay. The museum was once a train station, designed for the Universal Exhibition in 1900. The station eventually closed, and 47 years later was re-opened as the Musee D’Orsay – one of the most wonderful examples of adaptive re-use. Fine art and decorative arts from 1848 to 1914 are displayed in the museum. It is just as interesting to study to renovated train station as it is to admire the art work. A special treat for us from Buffalo was the art glass door from the Darwin Martin House that is on display. As this was our last night in Paris, we wanted to explore the neighborhood surrounding our hotel. Bercy has gone through some renewal which includes many interesting cafes and restaurants. We found a very nice spot to enjoy a traditional french meal in a part of town where once stood a brewery. Very fun!

When Cynthia Leibrock Came to Town…..

Posted on January 18, 2015 by sreicis

Villa Maria College proudly hosted the Universal Design Symposium on their college campus. This event was open to all students in the region as well as local practicing professionals. And better yet it was free of charge! It started with a planned campus visit by Universal Design expert Cynthia Leibrock. Her mission is to educate students and professionals on the specifics of Universal Design and encourage using these principles in all aspects of design. To support this mission and maximize this effort, Villa expanded the platform of speakers and opened their doors to the community. With Cynthia Leibrock as the keynote speaker the program had a strong anchor. She was followed by a panel discussion on the practice of Universal Design that included researcher Jonathan White, Villa professor Ryan Renshaw and practicing professional and Villa alum Laura Wax. Other distinguished speakers included Professor Beth Tauke and Dr. Korydon Smith, both from the University at Buffalo, and Dr. Alex Bitterman from Alfred State College. Each presentation was registered with the AIA as well as the IDCEC for continuing education credits. This event was made possible with the generous support of the Interior Design Association of Western New York, SmartDesign Architecture, Eastern Energy Control Window Films, The Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access as well as the Irma Dobkin Universal Design Grant.
Villa students presented their Millennium Dream House studio projects, that feature Universal Design, as poster presentations during the afternoon coffee break. This was a wonderful learning opportunity for Villa students, who also had the added benefit of additional presentations before and after the symposium with Cynthia Leibrock. The strongest message that was shared during the symposium, is that it is the Interior Designer who will be the leader in Universal Design, above all other design and construction professions. The Interior Designer has the knowledge, ability and professional opportunity to improve the lives of countless individuals by incorporating Universal Design in each and every project.

Universal Design in Green Mountain Ranch Style

Posted on July 5, 2014 by sreicis

Recently I had the privilege of becoming a Green Mountain Ranch fellow. I spent a week at the ranch in Northern Colorado with three colleagues from other colleges and universities in the United States. During the week we were able to share our universal design projects, tour the ranch, experience living in a universal design home and gain incredibly beneficial knowledge and guidance from our host, Cynthia Leibrock. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMd-l-cIxSI&list=PL90A5FD3F71AFADAA

So how would I describe life at Green Mountain Ranch? Simply said….wonderfully comfortable! This was a most inspiring experience. In addition to Cynthia’s remarkable home are her skills as a host and mentor. The sharing of ideas started each morning with breakfast and continued throughout the day. Sessions were both on site and off. As we engaged in Cynthia’s healthy lifestyle we continued our collaborative learning experience spending many hours hiking, climbing and enjoying nature at its finest. Pictured above are fellow Nancy Asay, her husband Ray, fellow Jane Huges, fellow Sandra Reicis, Frank and Cynthia Leibrock and fellow Erin Adams, as we enjoyed a collegial dinner out. Our travels took us to breathtaking sites in Northern Colorado as well as South Eastern Wyoming.

We even saw some local wildlife who accommodated us with some pretty amazing photo opportunities. This elk is posing at Rocky Mountain National Park.

Interior Design Student Exhibit and Awards

Posted on April 13, 2014 by sreicis

Villa Maria College hosted the 2014 Interior Design Student Exhibit opening night reception on Friday, April 11, 2014. President Sister Marcella Marie Garus was present at the event. The reception was a resounding success culminating with the announcement of the Distinguished Students of the Year. A jury of 21 distinguished designers and educators assessed the exhibit prior to it’s public opening and based on their votes the 1st place award was given to Harrison Walsh ’14. He receives the Humanscale Diffrient Task Light, donated by Millington Lockwood. The 2nd place winner was Jessica Foster ’14 who receives the HON Motivate Chair, donated by Integrity Office Supply. The 3rd place winner was Tara Clack ’15 who receives the Buffalo Office Interiors chair. Each of the students is pictured in front of the exhibit of their body of work. Members of the jury included Ike Lowry, Cannon Design; Robert Reeder, Robert Reeder Interiors; Lee Schlatterer and Todd Piotrowski, Carmina Wood Morris; Nina Lewis, DIRTT Environmental Solutions; Edna Czyc, Wolf Gordon; Megan Ebert, DalTile; Mimi Fierle, Buffalo Office Interiors; Sandra Zygaj-Borowski, Integrity Office Solutions; Mary Golden, Ferguson Lighting and Bath Showroom; Barbara Reformat, Tiles International; Ryan Renshaw, Schenne & Associates; Jim Constantin, Laura Shoemaker, Ryan Hanes, Charles Gattie, Roswell Park Cancer Institute; Therese Smith, Villa Alum; and Villa Faculty members, Brian Duffy, Michael Bosworth, Joyce Kessel and Bob Grizanti In addition to the selection of the distinguished students there is also a best of show category for the freshmen students. Due to the high caliber of the freshman work, this was a difficult year for voting, but the majority votes went to Ana Spanake. She wins a full-size drafting table donated by Seneca Blueprint. Congratulations to all the winners! The exhibit will run until April 25, 2014.

Visiting a Masterpiece….Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob

Posted on March 20, 2014 by sreicis

Although I take my sophomore class to Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob each year, I honestly say that it never grows old. This tradition has continued for over 10 years and it can be said that we have a pretty good system right now. The size of this year’s group put us into two separate tour groups. Pictured at left outside Fallingwater are Sara Rozeski, Kaeli Bigelow, Elena Pellegrino and Melissa Wheeler. The visit coincides with a studio project that explores residential design, domesticity and serving the needs of the those who reside in the space. Students are challenged to re-think what a home should be and inspired to create the home of the future. Sustainability and Universal Design are two factors that need to be incorporated, but the ‘idea’ of home is what generates much thought… as well as much thinking ‘outside of the box’. Whether you love Wright’s designs or not, I think everyone would agree that you would not consider these homes to be inside a box. Even more enjoyable is the wonderful sculpture garden installed by current owners, Lord and Lady Palumbo. Works on display include Andy Goldsworthy, Claes Oldenburg, and Sir Anthony Caro among others. The Red Army (1991) by British artist Ray Smith is in Painted Steel. Two section of the Berlin Wall are also on display.

The IIDEX Tradition….change is on the way

Posted on March 19, 2014 by sreicis

For as long as I have been at Villa Maria College….and long before I joined the faculty we have taken our students to IIDEX , Toronto in September. We started with a caravan of cars….making the trek from Buffalo to Toronto. Sometimes we stayed overnight to broaden our experience. Change was not new to us. We had to adjust to stricter rules at the border and required students to have passports or enhanced driver’s licenses. But we were always able to make it work. Students would sometimes be unprepared…and take a chance at the border, hoping their student ID and a Red Cross card would be sufficient to demonstrate good character. In the end we always made it there and back….with everyone in tow. Most recently we started renting a bus and opened the trip to all students, faculty and alumni. We would select an iconic destination for an afternoon tour. This year it was the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) where students marvelled at the Frank Gehry renovations, including the staircase that inspires romance. This always marked the start of the Fall semester. But as I said…change is on the way, and IIDEX 2014 will be held in December. Not only do we have to think about the weather (and if this winter taught us anything it was the power of the polar vortex) but the December dates will come a week before the end of classes. That means it will come immediately before finals, and immediately before final critique. So I think that change is on the way for us as well….. Our students learned a tremendous amount at IIDEX, bringing us back year after year. Even though a few exhibitors were not welcoming to students, most were…and the students remembered them. They worked at forging relationships with the representatives and specified those products in their projects. As professionals they continued to gravitate to furniture, fixtures and materials that they were familiar with. So….looking forward we will make sure that our students not lose the learning experience. We will likely be replacing IIDEX Canada with a field trip that works with the academic calendar…..but losing a beloved tradition will be difficult.

Villa’s Freshman Class at the Darwin Martin House

Posted on November 3, 2013 by sreicis

Students in the Introduction to Interior Design class at Villa Maria College, taught by Professor Sandra Reicis, were treated to an outstanding, docent led tour of the iconic Frank Lloyd Wright designed Darwin Martin House Estate. Located in the city of Buffalo, close by the Olmstead designed Buffalo park system, the Martin House Restoration Corporation has done an incredible job restoring this architectural gem to its former glory. Still a work in progress, we were able to see the first completed room which would be the sitting room, the nearly completed restoration of the kitchen, the living room, dining room and library nearing completion as well as the recently rebuilt pergola and conservatory. Our tour director shared a wealth of knowledge with our students, which is surely to inspire them as they embark on their design education at Villa.

The Benefits of Field Trips……

Posted on February 2, 2013 by sreicis

Once again the sophomore Interior Design class from Villa Maria College travelled to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for a two day field trip. The studio class is exploring the use of fine art as inspiration for a design concept, and thus the first day we visited the Andy Warhol Museum followed by the Carnegie Museum of Art. Each gallery visit was unique and the student reflections were varied. The field trip was filled with shared experiences that strengthened the group camaraderie as well as improved classroom discourse. A quick stop at the University of Pittsburgh Cathedral of Learning included a photo opportunity for ‘Harry Otter’, in the space that was momentarily re-named Frogworts.The evening concluded with a fun dinner at the Hofbrauhaus and some shopping at Southside Works. The following day was the traditional trip to Fallingwater, the Edgar Kauffman summer residence designed by Frank Lloyd Wright . Pictured are students, guests and instructor Sandra Reicis at the swimming pool and the classic view by the river.Then it was a visit to Kentuck Knob currently owned by Lord Peter Palumbo and also designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.Several students selected works from the Andy Warhol Museum, and all students reflected on both these residences as they designed their ‘Millennium Dream Home’, the Studio 2 final project. Experiencing the spaces was critical to a true understanding of the design impact. The docent led tours at both locations were outstanding and provided a great amount of information and insight.

Villa Maria College students take 1st, 2nd and 3rd in ASID competion!

Posted on October 9, 2012 by sreicis

The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) has announced the winners of the Upstate New York and Eastern Canada Network 2012 design competition. There are three professional categories including Residential, Commercial under 3,000 square feet and Commercial over 3,000 square feet plus one student competition category. Winners for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place are awarded in each. In the student competition category all three winning entries are from the Interior Design program at Villa Maria College. Third place, for her Studio 5 Dzintari Health and Wellness Center is Sandra Zygaj Borowski. The project location is Latvia, in the city of Sigulda. Students Skype with the project architect, Gunta Graudupe as well as the owner/client Dr. Anda Polna. Ms. Zygaj Borowski researched Latvian folklore and history, selecting the symbol of the Cross Hatch Star to inspire her design. The second place winner, for her Studio 4 Sephora Pop-Retail Design is Savana Czekalski. The students in this studio travelled to New York City to visit the newest Sephora retail store, gain first hand knowledge of the business and study other examples of retail design. Ms. Czekalski based her design on the concept, ‘Tis the Season to be Pretty. The first place winner, also for the Studio 5 project in Latvia was also Savana Czekalski. Students were required to design sustainable interiors applying universal design principles and reflecting the unique cultural and regional properties of the location in Latvia. The projects were also critiqued by Professor Daina Gaga, from the Latvia Culture College located in Riga, Latvia. Both studios are taught in the Junior year. Faculty advisor for Studio 4 is Professor Paul Brinkworth and Faculty advisor for Studio 5 is Professor Sandra Reicis.

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