Last Friday kicked off the touring gallery exhibition for New Era Introducing, an art initiative from New Era that invited up-and-coming artists to submit their original work for a chance to ultimately win a $10,000 grant to launch their career. Following the submissions, the second phase of the competition invited the top 100 submissions to put their spin on a blank 59FIFTY fitted cap. Approximately 70 Phase two submissions were submitted to be exhibited in the traveling gallery experience that’s slated to go to Chicago, LA, Miami and Toronto.
On Friday guests gathered at 82 Mercer in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood to check out the works of art submitted and the winning cap from North America designed by artist Marconi Calindas of San Francisco. Calindas’ brightly-hued cap was inspired by the tragedy bullying and teen suicide. (More information about the cap is available here.) Attendees sipped cocktails courtesy of Double Cross Vodka while admiring each cap and taking their turn snapping photos on a custom step-and-repeat.
