A Look Back at 2013
What a year it has been here at The Magenta Foundation! Like many of you, we’re often too busy thinking ahead to the next big initiative that we fail to realize just how much we’ve accomplished in the past twelve months. As we enter this Holiday Season, we are finally taking a moment to pause, breathe, and reflect on the year that has passed. From international festivals and exhibition openings to the launch of our new website, Magenta has grown in so many ways! Here’s a look back at some exciting highlights from 2013.
Our third annual Flash Forward Festival was our biggest and brightest yet! With over 10 pop-up exhibitions, 3 full days of free industry programming, and a 150 ft outdoor photography fence, Flash Forward Festival truly took over the city of Boston and captured the imagination of arts lovers, students, professionals, and media alike. This would never have been possible without the support of our sponsors, committees and volunteers who work tirelessly every year to bring the festival to fruition. Take a look back here and stay tuned for exciting news about Flash Forward Festival 2014, returning to Boston next May!
After months of exhaustive planning, programming and proofing, the new and improved MagentaFoundation.org launched to glowing reviews in September 2013. Our new website offers a fresh and contemporary design that makes keeping connected that much easier and enjoyable! In conjunction, we also launched the sleek new Magenta Magazine that is optimized and compatible with all smartphone and ipad devices. If you haven’t yet, check it out!
This year we were thrilled to expand our partnership with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts with the launch of Magenta POP: Pittsburgh, a dynamic outdoor photography exhibition that was launched in Triangle Park this past September. The goal of the installation was to celebrate local artists and add vitality to an otherwise blank urban landscape, creating renewed community spirit and inspiring public conversation. To make this vision a reality, Magenta collaborated with Fairmont Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, and PNC Bank. Featuring the outstanding work of local artists Sue Abramson and Philomena O’Dea, the exhibitions were on display from September through to November. We look forward to growing this exciting public art initiative in 2014!
Magenta’s acclaimed Flash Forward competition kicked off its ninth anniversary tour with a very special debut at the Neubacher Shor Contemporary gallery in October 2013. The opening night celebration was one of our most exciting to date, with over 400 guests in attendance and CTV and Global News on hand to capture the evening. This year also marked the first chapter of the Flash Forward Emerging Artists Incubator Program. Through this new project, high school students are engaged and encouraged to showcase their early interest in art and photography. Take a look back here. To complete the year, the Flash Forward travelling exhibition then moved on to the United Kingdom, where it was celebrated with an intimate and inspiring evening at Photofusion. If you didn’t get a chance to see the show this year, it will be back on display in Boston next Spring!
And now after a few days of rest and relaxation, we gear up for our biggest year to date. We wish all of you a safe and happy holiday season and look forward to seeing you in 2014!
