PICA has Constructed Socially and Politically Relevant Artwork Since 2010. Take A Look Back at their Most Influential Pieces.

For over ten years, Riverdale’s Projects in Contemporary Art Class, also known as PICA, has inspired and educated the Riverdale community on a plethora of topics surrounding current events and social change in the form of art. Led by Upper School art teacher Mr. Nicky Enright, the course has explored the many ways in which art can become an active component in our community that encourages students to reflect on some of the most pressing issues in our world. The respective subjects of the artwork have ranged over the years, including the impact of social media, climate change, and Covid-19, and have been displayed through several different media such as posters, sculptures, and interactive websites.

We invite you to explore this retrospective of some of PICA’s most influential pieces from 2010-2021!

Title: “Welcome”

The first PICA project, in collaboration with lower school students, was to welcome the community back to school after summer break. The illusion of text was created by rendering the negative space around the letters, with sidewalk chalk.

Title: Connections

This work began as a collage of pages chosen by PICA students from art magazines. They then traced chosen elements from those pages onto a roll of translucent mylar. When the original collage was removed from beneath it, the task was to make stimulating connections of the disparate elements.

Title: Scape Evolution / Stormscape

This evolving exploration of the concept of “scapes” began with a clothing-scape. It turned into a landscape and then a seascape. Then, after Superstorm Sandy, students channeled their unease by transforming the calm beachscape into an angry sea and stormy sky.

Title: Before I Die

Inspired by New Orleans artist Candy Chang, PICA re-created her interactive work, which has been executed in over 30 countries. Our version allowed students to reflect on their goals and aspirations while offering an opportunity to observe, anonymously, the hopes and ambitions of the community.

Title: Higher Eduction

Using stacked school desks, zipties, and a single, attached spiral notebook, PICA created a large sculpture about school - academic ambition, stress, and achievement

Title: From Russia With Love

Inspired by the 2014 Sochi Olympics where homophobic laws were being enforced, PICA turned the Olympic rings into gender symbols whose colors reference the international nature of the Olympics and the LGBTQ flag. The word “pride” evokes national pride and gay pride, representing inclusiveness.

Title: You(r) Ad(here)

The love child of capitalism and consumerism, this evolving work began by painting text. Then advertisements and logos slowly invaded until they consumed the entire billboard. A “Jordan” logo was cut – a human engulfed by and literally shaped by ads. The title says many simply “adhere” to logos and ads that physically overwhelm and suffocate us.

Title: Climate March 2014

PICA chant: “Hell No! We won’t go! We won’t be no Dinosaur!” PICA became “People Increasing Climate Awareness,” and joined the Life Drawing class at the historic Climate March in 2014. They used their vocal and artistic voices in a powerful way, contributing to the best art seen there.

Title: [In]Justice

A reflection on the mass incarceration of American citizens, this piece not only exposes the percentage of the American population in prison, but also the unfairness revealed by the demographics. No other country has as many people behind bars as “the land of the free.”

Title: Silver Bullet

Various plant matter and toy soldiers were spray painted gold and silver to create a mini garden outside the art building to draw attention to natural beauty and make a statement about the protection of nature, in this case with a mini military presence.

Title: PICA Stained Glass

When PICA discovered a trove of old slides of artworks from the pre-digital art department, they decided to install them onto windows in the cafeteria and around campus, to turn them into a kind of art historical “stained glass” that illuminated art history while creating beautiful light & shadow play.

Title: The Lost & Found

On average, 96 Americans are killed with guns each day. As part of their video-screening assembly, (This Is Not A Drill), PICA created an installation in the gym using 96 items from the school’s Lost & Found to illustrate and reflect this sad fact.

Title: What Do You Stand For?

If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. An interactive project made out of paper.

Title: House On Fire

Inspired by teenager Greta Thunberg’s speeches about the urgency of climate change.

Title: Riverdale Circus School (RCS)

PICA responded to the introduction of colorful outdoor classrooms by creating circus street signs, to add some light-heartedness & fun to the new challenges of learning during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Since the course was first constructed in 2010, the Riverdale PICA class has produced unique, influential, and creative pieces for display around campus. The projects that PICA has developed have allowed the RCS community to reflect on current events and myriad social issues in new and more meaningful ways. For more information on PICA projects over the years visit this link: PICA Files.