Announcing the Strathmore Speakers Series’ Fall 2015 Lineup

August 13, 2015August 13, 2015 / Strathmore Speaker Series / Leave a comment

The Strathmore Speaker Series is proud to announce its Fall 2015 lineup. The season will kickoff on Sunday, September 20th at 2 pm with a presentation by author and Onondaga County Court Judge Joe Fahey on his latest book James K. McGuire, Boy Mayor and Irish Nationalist. Our second event of the season will feature a presentation by Syracuse.com/Post-Standard columnist Sean Kirst on Sunday, October 18th at 2 pm. Social policy expert and candidate for Onondaga County Legislature’s 15th district Tim Rudd will conclude our season with a presentation on exciting new developments in social policy and their applicability to communities like Syracuse on Thursday, November 19th at 7 pm.

All events are held in the Onondaga Park Firebarn and are free and open to the public. We hope to see you there!

Maxwell School Economist Donald Dutkowsky to Speak at the Firebarn

May 6, 2015April 30, 2015 / Strathmore Speaker Series / Leave a comment

Maxwell School economist Donald Dutkowsky will speak at the Firebarn on Sunday, May 17th, 2015 at 3 pm. Professor Dutkowsky will discuss income and economic inequality and the growing gap between rich and poor in America.

Having earned his B.A. and Ph.D. in economics from SUNY Buffalo, Professor Dutkowsky began his teaching career at Clarkson University before joining Syracuse University in 1985. At Syracuse, he served as the Director of Graduate Studies for the economics department at the Maxwell School for ten years, and regularly teaches courses in Money and Banking and Macroeconomics. His research uses macroeconomic data to assess how monetary policy affects output growth and inflation. He also studies consumer and corporate economic behavior and monetary policy. Professor Dutkowsky has published more than 40 works in scholarly journals, newspapers, and textbooks. He has also been featured in numerous national and local news outlets including, the Syracuse Post-Standard and Herald-Journal, Business Week, the Daily Orange, WCNY, WSTM, WTVH, WSYT, WSYR, WAER, and the BBC. Recently, he’s weighed in on small business recovery from the economic crises, Governor Cuomo’s student debt forgiveness plan, falling gas prices, and unemployment among millennials.

Former Newhouse Dean and host of WCNY’s Ivory Tower David Rubin to Speak at the Firebarn

April 1, 2015April 1, 2015 / Strathmore Speaker Series / Leave a comment

Dr. David Rubin, former dean of the Newhouse School at Syracuse University and current host of WCNY’s “Ivory Tower Half-Hour,” will speak on “the Impact of Media on Democracy” at the Firebarn at 7:00 pm on Thursday, April 16, 2015.

About Dr. Rubin:

Dr. David Rubin holds a B.A. from Columbia University in American History and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Communication from Stanford University. He served as Dean of the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University from 1990 to 2008, and is now a member of the full-time faculty at Newhouse, teaching more than 200 students each year. Prior to Syracuse, he was, for 19 years, a member of the faculty and chair of the Department of Journalism at New York University.

At Newhouse:

As Dean of the Newhouse School, Dr. Rubin oversaw the building of the award-winning Newhouse-III, a state-of-the-art experimental lab for new approaches to online news delivery, and the new home of the offices of student services, a research center, and the Newhouse career center.

Beyond the Classroom:

In addition to teaching, Dr. Rubin is also the host and co-creator of “The Ivory Tower Half Hour,” a regular round-table discussion of public affairs that airs on WCNY-TV every Friday at 8 pm. Ivory Tower has been on the air since September 2002 and is the highest rated public affairs show in Central New York with a weekly audience of 10,000 viewers.

Dr. Rubin served as a Pulitzer Prize judge on journalism in 1998 and 1999 and writes a monthly column for the Syracuse Post-Standard and the Syracuse Media Group.

David Rubin is married to the former broadcast journalist Tina Press. They live in Fayetteville with their two Shelties, Bobby and Ace, both of whom are masters-level agility competition dogs, no thanks to Dr. Rubin.

Learn more about Dr. Rubin here.

“The Near Westside – by Choice!” – A Profile of Peter Waack and Maggie Maurer

March 9, 2015March 11, 2015 / Strathmore Speaker Series / Leave a comment

Peter Waack and Maggie Maurer. Photo from Syracuse.com.

Peter Waack and Maggie Maurer will join other neighbors from Syracuse’s Near Westside for a panel discussion of what it’s like to live and work in one of the City’s most dynamic neighborhoods. The conversation will take place on Thursday, March 19th at 7 pm at the Onondaga Park Firebarn (500 Summit Ave, Syracuse, NY) and is free and open to the public.

Peter is the General Manager of The Daily Orange, a student-produced news media organization affiliated with Syracuse University. He is active in the community, sitting on the board of Directors for ArtRage, Syracuse Sports Corporation, and the advisory board of SyracuseFirst. Peter’s partner Maggie runs her own interior design consultancy and is a sales and marketing executive for an independent media company. Previously, she worked in the green home industry.

Together Peter and Maggie occupy the “R-house” at 19 Otisco Street on Syracuse’s Near Westside. The home’s design was among three winners of “From the Group Up”, a competition for affordable and energy-efficient homes to fill vacant lots in the neighborhood. The home was built in 2010 through a partnership between the University and Home HeadQuarters.

The 1200 square foot home was designed to German Passivhaus standards. Airtight and super-insulted, the home has a poured concrete floor that stores and strategically releases heat from sunlight coming in through large windows, and can be heated with the energy needed to run a hair dryer. Since moving in, Peter and Maggie have further demonstrated their commitment to green living by outfitting R-house with EnergyStar appliances and low-flow plumbing. They’ve even ensured that its exterior paint is environmentally-friendly and does not emit Volatile organic compounds.

More information about the home can be found here.

R-house interior. Photo from Arch Daily.

“The Near Westside – by Choice!” – A Profile of Michael Giannattasio

March 2, 2015March 2, 2015 / Strathmore Speaker Series / Leave a comment

The third featured speaker for the Strathmore Speaker Series’ upcoming “The Near Westside – by Choice!” event is Michael Giannattasio. Michael will join a panel of other Near Westside residents and business owners on Thursday, March 19th at 7 pm at the Firebarn in Onondaga Park for a conversation about what it’s like to live and work in one of Syracuse’s most exciting neighborhoods. The event is free and open to the public.

Michael is the founder and director of Syracuse Arts Learning & Technology (SALT) Makerspace. He holds BFA and MFA degrees in Sculpture, is an independent fabricator, Co-Chair of Public Arts Task Force for 40 Below, a university-level teacher, and a public art sculptor.

Michael grew up in the Bay Area, just south of San Francisco. From a young age, he was exposed to diverse populations which influenced his outlook and goals in life. He received his first degree, a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Sculpture, from California State College, Chico. At Chico, he refined his process by working with every medium he could get his hands on including: glass, bronze, aluminum, wood, and ceramics. After completing his degree, Michael worked for a time as a studio assistant, independent fabricator, and professional artist.

In 2009, he moved to Syracuse to begin work on a Masters of Fine Arts in Sculpture at Syracuse University’s School of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA). During this time he focused his art on experiences relating to location and expressed through digital installations. By the time he graduated in 2012, Michael had fallen in love with the City of Syracuse and its people.

Soon after graduation Michael became involved with 40 Below’s Public Arts Task-Force, working to create collaborative and permanent public art projects throughout the City of Syracuse. At around the same time, he began working on the SALT Makerspace project. Since 2012, Michael has worked tirelessly to bring the Makerspace to life. In July 2014, his hard work finally paid off, with the grand opening of the 2,300 square foot SALT Makerspace in the Delvan Center on West Fayette Street. The space, which is aimed at local inventors and artists, offers members access fully-equipped metal and wood shops, a computer lab with 3-D printers and software, and a collaborative lounge space. It also hosts regular workshops on a variety of topics.

The SALT Makerspace. Photos from Syracuse.com.

“The Near Westside – by Choice!” – A Profile of Rick Destito

February 24, 2015February 25, 2015 / Strathmore Speaker Series / Leave a comment

Near Westside resident and developer Rick Destito will join us on Thursday, March 19th at 7 pm for the Strathmore Speaker Series’ “Near Westside – by Choice!” event.

Rick grew up in Central New York and studied construction management at SUNY Canton, graduating in 1998. After graduation, he spent several years traveling the country before relocating to Syracuse in 2001.

Rick initially focused his restoration on local homes, before purchasing the 65,000 sq. ft. Gear Factory building at the corner of Fayette and Geddes streets in 2005. The building, which was designed by famed industrial architect Albert Kahn, had once produced auto parts and mortar shells, but by 2005 was crumbling and abandoned.

Rick immediately set about out renovating the building and reopening it as a space for local artists, musicians, and makers. Today, some 70 people actively use the space including Syracuse’s hottest new business, Borough Furnace.

Future plans for the Factory include converting the basement into music studios, reinstalling the building’s windows, and transforming the upper floors into workspaces, including community spaces where tenants can share larger and more expensive equipment.

The Gear Factory. Photo from SUNY Canton.

In 2008, Rick purchased an 1876 Victorian house at 721 Otisco St. for $1. He spent the next two years and $60,000 transforming the house into a living space for his family. After numerous fires and years of neglect, the house has become a symbol of Rick’s commitment to the Near Westside neighborhood he calls home.

Destito home before and after. Photos from Syracuse.com.

“The Near Westside – by Choice!” – A Profile of Maarten Jacobs

February 16, 2015February 16, 2015 / Strathmore Speaker Series / Leave a comment

On Thursday, March 19th at 7 pm the Strathmore Speaker Series will host the first event of its spring 2015 season. This event, entitled “The Near Westside – by Choice!”, will feature a panel discussion between neighbors who live and work on Syracuse’s Near Westside. It is our first panel event, and in honor of it, we will be posting weekly bios of our guests. First up is our panel moderator Maarten Jacobs.

Maarten Jacobs, MSW, is the Director of the Near Westside Initiative (NWSI), a nonprofit organization working to combine the power of art, technology, and innovation with neighborhood values and culture to revitalize Syracuse’s Near Westside (also known as the SALT District). In that role over the past four years, Maarten has worked diligently to ensure that the residents of the Near Westside neighborhood are actively engaged in the revitalization taking place in their neighborhood and ensuring that the community’s best interests are always represented. Similarly, with a personal passion for the arts, Maarten has pushed the Near Westside Initiative to be a truly place-based initiative with a focus on implementing creative placemaking as a fundamental strategy for economic and community development.

In addition to his work with the Near Westside Initiative, he teaches Community Economic Development at the Syracuse University School of Social Work. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology and a Master’s degree in Social Work with a concentration in Community Development and Social Action from the University of Maryland.

The Strathmore Speaker Series Announces its Spring Lineup

February 13, 2015February 13, 2015 / Strathmore Speaker Series / 1 Comment

The Strathmore Speaker Series is proud to announce its spring 2015 lineup. The season will kickoff on Thursday, March 19th at 7 pm with a panel discussion between neighbors who have chosen to live and work in the up-and-coming Near Westside (SALT District). Our second event will feature a lecture about the impact of media on democracy by former Dean of the Newhouse School and moderator of WCNY’s Ivory Tower Half Hour, David Rubin on Thursday, April 16th at 7 pm. The spring season will conclude with a presentation on income inequality in America by Maxwell School Economist Donald Dutkowsky on Sunday, May 17th at 3 pm. All events are free and open to the public.

‘Tree of 40 Fruit’ Creator Sam Van Aken to Speak November 20th

October 27, 2014October 8, 2015 / Strathmore Speaker Series / Leave a comment

Syracuse University Professor and creator of the Tree of 40 Fruit Sam Van Aken will speak at the Firebarn on Thursday, November 20th, from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

About Sam Van Aken:

Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, Sam Van Aken received his undergraduate education in Communication Theory and Art. Immediately following his studies he lived and worked in Poland under the auspices of the Andy Warhol Foundation and the United States Information Agency. Returning after several years in Europe, Van Aken received his MFA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2001. Since this time his work has been exhibited nationally and internationally receiving numerous honors including a Joan Mitchell Award, Association of International Curator’s of Art Award and a 2009 Creative Capital Grant. Sam Van Aken is currently an Associate Professor in the Art Department at Syracuse University.

Sam Van Aken’s art combines sophisticated technology with traditional modes of art-making. Van Aken’s projects cross boundaries between artistic genres, including performance, installation, video, photography, and sculpture. With each body of work, he selects practices and new perspectives that provide a kinesthetic perception of objects and a visceral charge.

Most recently, he has gained acclaim for his Tree of 40 Fruit project. For this project, Van Aken uses the ancient technique of grafting to attach branches from various types of stone fruit onto a single tree, resulting in one tree that blooms in a multitude of colors and bears a range of fruit, including peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines, cherries, and almonds. Currently, Van Aken has sixteen such trees installed at locations across the country. Van Aken’s project has been featured by NPR, Time, and CBS, among other news outlets. In March of 2014, he spoke at TEDxManhattan (see below).