New College Students to Display Art Works
Through 'The Looking Glass' Festival April 14

(March 25, 2007) – The annual art festival of works by New College of Florida students, featuring photography, painting and sculpture, takes place Saturday, April 14, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at College Hall, 5800 Bay Shore Road.

The free event, The Looking Glass: Festival of the Arts, will include visual arts, food, raffles, live music and interactive entertainment.

The Looking Glass, previously known as Under the Radar, is being directed by three second-year students: Anne-Laure Grignon, who is majoring in cellular biology and French literature; Lindsay Levinson, sociology and political science; and Aditi Shukla, economics.

"Students and the greater Sarasota community can expect a great display of talented artists from both New College and Ringling School of Art and Design, plus music from 15 bands and much more," said Grignon, who is French. "The Looking Glass is all about imagination, and about the images reflecting from our surroundings."

Proceeds from the festival will be donated to charity. A fashion show at 3 p.m. will feature designers' work from the Design and Architecture Senior High School of Miami, with proceeds benefiting SwaziAID, a nonprofit organization dedicated to socioeconomic and health-care improvements in Swaziland through innovative, cost-effective and sustainable solutions; learn more at www.swaziAID.org. This will be the first time the festival is linked to a charity, and it will also provide the debut for SwaziAID's Sarasota branch.

The three New College student organizers decided to host a tutorial around this year's art festival under the sponsorship of David Ellis, visiting assistant professor of political science. Working with Ellis, the organizers developed a business plan to keep on schedule and a working budget. They were able to identify two major sponsors: Mercedes Benz of Sarasota and the Sarasota French consulate, which will host a preview wine tasting April 7, 4-7 p.m.

"The students directing this year's festival have three goals," said Ellis. "They want to offer New College art students an opportunity to display their fine work, to raise charitable donations for an education NGO operating in Swaziland and to use this opportunity to raise the positive profile of New College within the Sarasota community."

Ellis has a great deal of confidence in the success of The Looking Glass: Festival of the Arts. "New College's talented artists and faculty will have the ability to show their work," he said. "The charitable aspect demonstrates the intrinsic giving nature of the student body, and it will be a very positive and enjoyable experience for both the community and the students."

For more information, send an e-mail to ArtFestNCF@hotmail.com or phone 941-487-4154.