LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION paying tribute to Pratt Institute upon the occa-
sion of hosting its Legends 2009 Awards Ceremony and Scholarship Benefit
on October 29, 2009

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to commemorate those
events of historical significance which add strength, vigor and inspira-
tion to the cultural diversity and quality of life in the communities of
the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Pratt Institute upon the occasion of hosting its Legends 2009 Awards
Ceremony and Scholarship Benefit to be held on Thursday, October 29,
2009, at 7 World Trade Center, New York, New York; and
WHEREAS, The mission of the Legends Awards, which were conceived in
1999 by the Board of Trustees to celebrate distinguished figures in the
world of art, design, and the humanities, is to raise funds to provide
financial aid to Pratt students based on need and merit; and
WHEREAS, The 2009 honorees are: world renowned designer and architect,
David Rockwell; iconic performer, poet and visual artist, Patti Smith;
and illustrious fashion designer, Marc Jacobs; and
WHEREAS, David Rockwell is the founder and CEO of Rockwell Group,
based in New York with satellite offices in Madrid and Dubai; he brought
his eye for the color and spectacle of Mexico to his architecture train-
ing at Syracuse University where he received a Bachelor of Architecture
degree and to his studies at the Architectural Association in London;
these formative influences continue to have strong reverberations
throughout his practice; and
WHEREAS, Patti Smith, an American singer-songwriter, was a highly
influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her
1975 debut album "Horses"; known as the "Godmother of Punk", her most
widely known song is "Because the Night", which reached number 13 on the
Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1978; in 2005, she was named a Commander of
the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of Culture, and
two years later, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame;
and
WHEREAS, Marc Jacobs graduated from the High School of Art and Design
in New York City in 1981; at 15-years-old, he worked as a stock boy at
Charivari, an avant-garde clothing boutique in New York City; from
there, he entered Parsons The New School for Design in New York City;
during his tenure at Parsons, he won the Perry Ellis Gold Thimble Award,
the Chester Weinberg Gold Thimble Award, and the Design Student of the
Year Award; he is the head designer for Marc Jacobs, as well as the
diffusion line Marc by Marc Jacobs; currently, he is the Creative Direc-
tor of the prestigious French design house Louis Vuitton; and
WHEREAS, It is most fitting that we take time to celebrate the arts of
our Nation, to honor our artists, and to express our appreciation to
everyone who patronizes the arts; and as we celebrate the arts, we cele-
brate and give thanks to our American freedom, the only atmosphere in
which artists can truly create and in which art is truly the expression
of the soul; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Pratt Institute upon the occasion of hosting its Legends 2009
Awards Ceremony and Scholarship Benefit; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Pratt Legends 2009 Honorary Committee, and this year's
honorees, David Rockwell, Patti Smith and Marc Jacobs.