Mailbox art in times of war fall 2008 I have been receiving Pratt publications for a long time. I believe the last issue with its extensive coverage of this timely topic is the most professional I’ve ever read. The stories and accompanying photographs show a real depth of understanding of the myriad aspects of war—histories, propaganda, patriotism and, of course, the layout and examples of art and photography are just plain excellent. This is a periodical I will save. Valetta Marascia Art Education ’61
The article “Flower Power” featured an image of the Pratt cannon painted in a “psychedelic” pattern—it originally appeared in the 1967 yearbook, and I am the girl who painted it. A group of us—including George Delmerico and Peter Millard—worked on the yearbook. George was art director and orchestrated the painting of the cannon. We did not have permission. I had been painting the psychedelic design everywhere— including in Peter Millard’s bathroom in an attic apartment in an old frame house on Washington Avenue. Later on in that “summer of love,” Mayor Lindsay even invited us to paint the “artists’ gate” on the Central Park South entrance. These designs were not about the war. They were about fun and change and pushing the envelope. Beverly Parisi Millard Advertising ’67
Congratulations on an absolutely stunning fall 2008 issue of Prattfolio. Being a WWII veteran with two and a half years overseas, I was especially intrigued by the article “Mad Men: Vietnam Protest in the Golden Age of Advertising” and some of the segments that, unfortunately, have many parallels today.
I very much enjoyed the article “Mad Men,” about Len Sirowitz and George Lois. It brought back a vibrant design era as well as the accomplishments of these two creative and socially committed designers. It was especially interesting to read about the close cooperation between Sirowitz and his copywriter Dave Reider. I looked for similar credits for Mr. Lois’s collaborators and found none. One gets the impression that Lois worked entirely alone. This must give Pratt students a misleading view of what goes on in advertising agencies and design studios. The majority of Lois’s covers, for example, were photographed by Carl Fischer, who was also an important contributor to many of the creative concepts behind them. “Changing the face of magazine design” was the work of many talented people. Lotte Blaustein Widow of the late Professor Al Blaustein
In the Ghost Army article, you listed Pratt graduates who were part of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, but left out any mention of Ed Biow and Elmer Mellebrand. We were both in the 603rd Engineer Camouflage Battalion, one of the four components of the 23rd, from September 1942 until the unit was disbanded in September 1945. The late Pratt professor Alexander J. Kostellow was very active in getting us Pratt students to practice camouflage back in 1941, long before anyone had heard of the 23rd. Ed Biow Illustration ’42
The Magazine of Pratt Institute spring 2009 Prattfolio is published by the Office of Public Relations and Communications in the Division of Development for the alumni and friends of Pratt Institute. ©2008 Pratt Institute Pratt Institute 200 Willoughby Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205 www.pratt.edu Executive Director of Public Relations and Communications Mara McGinnis Art Director Christine Peterson Managing Editor Elizabeth Randolph Designer Tracy Wargo Assistant Editor Adrienne Gyongy Senior Production Manager Nora Quinn Photo Manager Diana Pau Editorial Assistant Amy Aronoff Charice Greenberg Ben Korman Contributors Charlotte Savidge Photography Bob Handleman Mark Murray Diana Pau Rene Perez Ryan Rayburn Lance Robinson Sean Sullivan Dean Della Ventura Kevin Wick Call for Submissions We are seeking submissions for the Fall 2009 issue of Prattfolio, which will take the theme “Spaces.” The issue will examine the topic from a variety of perspectives—including the innovative design of physical spaces in the fields of architecture and interior design; the planning of public spaces and plazas in urban design; the examination of virtual space by digital artists, gamers, and denizens of the virtual world; and more. If your work concerns the concept of “space,” please submit high-resolution samples (300 dpi or greater) with a brief explanation to erandolp@pratt.edu for consideration.
Herb Meyers Illustration ’49 Alumni Beverly Parisi and Peter Millard, above, painting the Pratt Cannon.The two were later married. Photos Courtesy of Beverly Parisi Millard
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Please send letters for Mailbox to mara.mcginnis@pratt.edu or mail to Mara McGinnis, Executive Director, Office of PR and Communications, Pratt Institute, 200 Willoughby Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205.