B.F.A. 2003
"Congratulations, but why are you going to Cornell to study art?" was a recurring question before attending AAP. In defense of Cornell's interdisciplinary approach, I firmly believe the combination of studies in liberal arts, studio art and the Rome Program is incredibly advantageous in the visual arts field. You learn to think analytically and to synthesize content with technique. Most importantly, you develop your ability to connect with others through art and culture, and to better communicate ideas, which in my opinion is the essence of art making.
Connecting with specific professors such as Stan Taft, Buzz Spector, Porus Olpadwala, etc., also provided invaluable mentorship that continues today. Of course, one of the cultural highlights of AAP was studying with Jeffery Blanchard during the Rome Program. He stated, more eloquently than I paraphrase here that, "Rome is like an onion; the more time you spend here, the more layers you realize there are to peel back." Cornell is also like an onion. These essential experiences have led me to develop a content driven approach to art making, as Cornell has forever whetted my appetite for intellectual exploration.
education
Earning a BFA from Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art and Planning in 2003, and having studied painting and architecture in Rome under the auspices of Cornell University, Gerakaris subsequently established a New York City studio. He is currently an MFA painting candidate at the City University of New York’s Hunter College in Manhattan.
work
Gerakaris’ work has appeared in Beijing at Chinese Contemporary Gallery, The Bronx Museum of the Arts (NYC), the Scope International Art Fair (Hamptons), and Rocketart Gallery (Australia). His work will be shown at the RxArt Ball (NYC) and Gavlak Projects (West Palm Beach) in the fall of 2006. Gerakaris’ work also appears in various collections in the USA, Europe, China and Mexico.
