AAP Holds Seventh Annual Distinguished Alumni Tour in New York

The seventh annual AAP Distinguished Alumni Tour held in January was a resounding success and the largest to date, according to organizer Peter D. Gerakaris (B.F.A. '03). Gerakaris, an artist who serves on the AAP Alumni Advisory Council and cochairs the Young Alumni Council, led approximately 30 alumni on a four-hour expedition in downtown Manhattan. Attendees enjoyed presentations at the studio of Joel Perlman (B.F.A. '65); Eric Corriel’s '01 gallery show at Garis & Hahn; Jennifer Cecere's (B.F.A. '73) loft; and PRESENT Architecture's office, cofounded by Andre Guimond (B.Arch. '03) and Evan Erlebacher '02.

Tour attendees were treated to an inside look at the projects that the alumni are engaged with, including Corriel's light-box installation, Ceceres' needlework inspired "doilies" and public art projects, the process behind Perlman's cast metal sculptures for numerous exhibitions and commissions, and PRESENT Architecture's innovative renovation and design projects, including their forthcoming collaboration on the new LaGuardia Airport expansion.

Feedback from this year's attendees was overwhelmingly positive, and many sent messages praising the event. "It's a brilliant way to connect with and meet Cornell alumni across the generations," wrote Danni Shen (B.F.A. '15). Alumni hosts were also impressed. "Those young architects are fearless and very interesting guys," said Perlman. PRESENT's Guimond added, "We really appreciated the opportunity to introduce our work to such a big and engaged group of AAP alumni."

Gerakaris credited the success to volunteers and others from the Dean's office, the AAP Advisory Council, the Young Alumni Council, and PRESENT Architecture, which hosted the closing reception at their offices, located at 66 West Broadway. "None of this would have been possible without their inspiring energy, work, and generosity," Gerakaris said. "It was a fabulous mix of alumni from multiple generations."

The reception was capped by a unexpected birthday celebration coordinated by Heather Zises '98 and Nathaniel Doyno (B.S. URS '05), cochair on the Young Alumni Council, when Doyno surprised Gerakaris by popping out of a closet with a cake. Said Gerakaris, "How apropos to receive a present at, well, PRESENT!"

Among the alumni who attended the tour were: Francisco Benavides (B.Arch. '96), William Bintzer (B.Arch. '74), Luis Corzo (B.Arch. '14), Doyno, Mark Gibian '79 (B.F.A. '80), James Hoffman (B.Arch. '15), Esther Jun (B.F.A. '15), Nozomi Kato (B.F.A. '05), Jill Lerner (B.Arch. '76), Nicolas Martin (B.Arch. '12), James Sawyer (B.Arch. '74), Shen, Donny Silberman (B.Arch. '13), William Smith (M.Arch. '13), Andrea Strongwater (B.F.A. '70), and Zises.