 | (c) Zev Jonas 2006 |
Meet the Young Professionals
Zev Jonas first became involved with the YPG when he donated one of his pieces to be auctioned off at our 2008 benefit. Since then he's become more involved by attending events, and now, hosting one! With a solo exhibition opening next month at NY Studio Gallery, Zev and the gallery are sponsoring a pre-opening cocktail party exclusively for YP members. We caught up with Zev to ask him about his work.
What role does the natural world play in your art, either as inspiration or as a model for your work?
The focus of my art is on the interaction between people and nature, wildlife, and the natural environment. The art looks towards the beauty, the confrontation and the issues that arise for both people and nature in this sometimes tenuous/challenging relationship.
How can art help to raise these issues to the forefront?
Art assists both me and the viewer through documentation that fosters contemplation plus challenges and potentially changes the way we observe and act. Art can force people to run the gamut of emotions about nature & wildlife and their own relationships with them both. It is not necessarily, however, a straightforward call to action.
How can art reach audiences that may be more difficult to reach by other means?
I believe in art that is confrontational - challenging people to think. My work is predicated on the underlying assumption that people who are open to art for not only its beauty are more open to these questions than that they would be to direct environmental messages without art as the delivery. That being said, if this can be done subtly as opposed to hitting people over the head, I feel the messages within art are more powerful. How can something be beautiful yet disturbing at the same time?
What is the intersection between art and conservation?
Art and conservation can often be a contradiction and is a problem I question continually. Many people use 'art', particularly photography, as an act of capturing (whether as a document of a physical object or a memory) rather than what we define as long term conservation. I look to my art as something that can inspire people to address this contradiction through deeper contemplation of their surrounds and how to interact with other species, environments and each other. After looking at what is around me, if I don't think an image I am going to take can do this, I put my camera down.
Click here to learn more about Zev and his work. For questions or more information about the pre-opening event open to YP members and their guests, please contact us.
Green Reading
by Mark Woloszyn
Big Coal (by author Jeff Goodell) is an eye-opening book that has a wealth of information about energy infrastructure in the U.S. It covers everything from coal mines in West Virginia and Wyoming, to the powerful companies that control the rail lines crisscrossing the country, to the state-sanctioned monopolies of the power companies. The way the author humanizes his subjects, however, makes the book very engaging. Goodell includes stories about people on the front lines, such as miners, as well as those who feel the downstream effects of our energy appetite. Big Coal will make a lasting impression on you and how you view the electricity we sometimes take for granted.
Get Involved!
By becoming a member of the YPG, you will not only be supporting the work of The Nature Conservancy, but will also receive special access to members-only activities and be invited to become a YP Committee member.
YP Committees in the areas of Conservation, Events, Development, and Membership & Media are directly involved in helping to plan our events and to expand our efforts. They are not only a great way to get involved, but can also help determine whether a position as a YP Board Member might be the next step.
For more information about the Real Estate Group and the Real Estate Group Steering Committee, please contact Joel Papo.
For more information on the YPG or how to join, please visit our website or contact us.
Special thanks to Naomi Arbit, who compiled the content of this newsletter. Questions? Email Naomi.
For all other inquiries, please contact us .
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Upcoming Events with the YPG
Capturing Conservation
a photography exhibition by Zev Jonas
Wednesday, October 1st
7:00 to 10:00pm
Wine and light fare will be served
Join us for an exclusive pre-opening gallery preview of fellow YP member Zev Jonas’s photography. Kindly note that due to limited space, this event is open only to YP members and their guests. For more information contact us, or click here to become a member.
YP Hike at Breakneck Ridge
Saturday, October 18th
Departure from NYC: 9:00am
Approximate Return: 5:30pm
We hope you can join us for our last hike of the season! Breakneck Ridge Trail is a challenging 5 mile hike that, along with a good work out, provides unparalleled views of the Hudson River Valley, Bear Mountain, and West Point along the way, not to mention several Conservancy preserves. We'll begin at river level, ascending to the top of the ridge, with the finale being a climb up Mt. Beacon to the fire tower where you can see Manhattan, the Shawangunks, and the Catskills. Participants are expected to bring their own lunch and cover the costs of transportation via Metro North. Further details provided upon RSVP.
Cost: $10 per person
Please RSVP by October 10th.
Happy Hour with the YPG!
Thursday, October 23
6:00 to 8:00pm
Stone Creek
140 East 27th Street (3rd/Lexington)
Come reconnect with old friends and meet new ones over cocktails after work! Learn more about how you can get involved with the YPG and support The Nature Conservancy’s efforts to protect the last great places on Earth. Happy Hour specials will be available from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Special thanks to Jon Pirozzi of Stone Creek for hosting this event!
Please RSVP by October 16th.
Click here to see photos of our recent outings, including our hike at Bear Mountain, fall trip to Mashomack Preserve, and our YP Real Estate Group's tour of One Bryant Park!
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Conservation Spotlight:
The Coastal Resilience Project
70 years ago, the Long Island Express made landfall on the coast of New York with an impact that registered on seismographs in Alaska. With today's rising sea levels and increased vulnerability to storm surge flooding, experts consider New York City the third most dangerous major city for a potential hurricane. To confront these threats, The Nature Conservancy is leading a new initiative to help decision makers prioritize environment and public safety.
Partnering with public, private, academic and not-for-profit institutions, The Nature Conservancy is developing tools to help public policy makers and other stakeholders take into account rising sea levels and coastal hazards, enabling them to make better informed decisions about issues like land-use planning and development in vulnerable areas. At the same time, conservation programs like our shellfish restoration project help to build natural barriers to mitigate the damaging effects of coastal storms.
Click here to learn more about the Coastal Resilience Project.
The Nature Conservancy hosted a special reception on Monday, September 22nd, where several YPs mingled with fellow Conservation Partners and Legacy Club members at Bryant Park, learning about shoreline adaptation from our coastal experts. Click here for photos. Contact us to learn how you can support The Nature Conservancy as a Conservation Partner or Legacy Club member.
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Congratulations to Jin Jin Huang, the winner of our Summer Membership Challenge!
Jin Jin Huang won the summer membership challenge by bringing in the most new members, and enjoyed a free weekend at Mashomack Preserve this fall, full of lobsters, steak, swimming in the ocean, and clamming under the sun.
Since the beginning of June, the number of YP members has increased 25%! Thank you to everyone who participated in our first membership challenge.
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