August 13, 2009
Artist drawn back to lacrosse
by Kyle Devitte/
What happens when athletic talent meets artistic talent? Meet Vincent Ricasio. A dominant goalie in the NYC club scene and an exceptional artist, he is the bridge between athleticism and cubism. And he was my goalie for the Lake Placid tournament the past four years. Vinnie is a rare breed of lacrosse player. If you have another dominant influence in your life other than lacrosse (which EVERYONE does), you should check out this interview. The way Vinnie has interweaved his interests with his talents is not only exceptional, it’s inspirational.
First off, where did you play high school lacrosse?
I played at the South Kent School, a boarding school in Connecticut, competing against powerhouses such as Salisbury, Hotchkiss, Trinity-Pawling and Kent Schools, among others. Boarding school was the most challenging yet best four years of my academic career. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.
Why did you decide to go to an art school as opposed to a traditional college with a lacrosse program? I’m pretty sure you could have played at a ton of places and had offers.
I was always known for my artistic talent at a young age, and growing up in NYC, the media capital of the world, I knew what I wanted to do in life before I graduated from high school. I eventually attended The Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, which is one of the best art schools in the nation, to turn my artistic talent into a career. Regardless of getting into my first choice, art school was “one-dimensional” for the most part and did not have the non-academic activities and interests I was looking for. The student body wasn’t diverse; everybody there was an artist. Sacrificing college lacrosse and a “normal” college experience is something I highly regret to this day.
What is the "Art of Lax"?
It is a graphic studio that specializes in generic and custom lacrosse-themed artwork done by me. The artwork is fit for all ages, positions played and genres as a souvenir, present, award and personal memorabilia for the lacrosse enthusiast in us.
How did you get the idea to do the Art of Lax?
The idea started out as my senior thesis in art school titled “Lacrosse: An Experience Through History,” but did not get rave reviews from my professors and the administration due to the fact that (let’s be honest here) artists are seldom known for being interested and/or savvy in sports. A number of years after graduation I went back to playing lacrosse and launched a personal website which included my artwork from college. The lacrosse art caught the immediate attention of my teammates and became the topic of discussions, requests and sales. Having finally found my target audience, I decided to shift gears and launched it to the lacrosse community at the 2009 US Lacrosse Convention in Baltimore.
What other businesses are you involved in in the lacrosse world?
I’m also the creative director for LuvLax, LLC, an off-the-field fashion apparel company for female lacrosse players. The female industry is huge with room to grow! The company was founded and operated by partners Ayana Green and my girlfriend, Rachel Moore, who both successfully started Gotham Women’s Lacrosse in NYC. LuvLax is mostly an online store, but we travel to numerous youth events during the summer to promote and sell. I also coach high school varsity lacrosse on the side at the Poly Prep School in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, and run the Brooklyn Lacrosse Club in the American Lacrosse League during the spring. Recently, I have contributed creatively to a new company called GrowLax, LLC, which is charged to increase the number of competitive lacrosse venues in the New York City metro area. In the past, I was hired by the professional lacrosse team the New York Titans (now Orlando) to produce their program guide and marketing concepts for their inaugural season back in 2007. Seeing it opening night at Madison Square Garden was a great feeling of accomplishment.
Where can people find the Art of Lax and your other projects on the web and in person?
www.vincentricasio.com
www.vincentricasioart.blogspot.com
www.theArtofLax.etsy.com
www.twitter.com/theArtofLax
Facebook group page — the Art of Lax by Vincent Ricasio
www.luvlax.net
2010 US National Lacrosse Convention in Baltimore
LaxFest USA — 2010 NCAA Division 1 Final Four of Lacrosse in Baltimore
How is lacrosse developing in New York City?
Lacrosse has increased about tenfold since my high school days. It’s not just found in the elite private schools of Manhattan but the outer-boroughs as well. Manhattan-based Doc’s Youth Lacrosse and CityLax, Inc. led by Mat Levine and Armando Taddei have increased the awareness in the public school system and the inner-city areas. Former/current teammates and friends L’Quentus (“Q”) Thomas, Wes Jackson and Dan Sheff started the Brooklyn-based youth program, the Brooklyn Crescents, and have helped tremendously with the growth and interest of the sport. A lot of companies especially in finance are known to be “bridges” employing college lacrosse graduates, so the demand for the post-collegiate teams and leagues has increased heavily. Maverik-sponsored Gotham Lacrosse League, a.k.a “the Wall Street League,” and nationwide University Lax (or “ULax”) have helped to meet the demand. However, very few people know that back in the late 1800s and into the early 20th century, the New York Metropolitan area was a hotbed of lacrosse talent competing with Baltimore-based clubs. Google it!
Do you have any other projects in the pipeline?
I do have more content regarding drawings and paintings in the works for the upcoming year and a very steady order for custom pieces, keeping me busy. There has been a heavy demand for my images to be put on T-shirts and a possibility for my Lake Placid team, “Stu-Funk,” to wear them for the 2010 Lake Placid Summer Lacrosse Tournament. The idea of compiling and illustrating a book of memorable lacrosse moments with former UMass great and 1982 World Games MVP for Team USA Brooks Sweet is in the infancy stage. Recently, the Art of Lax has gotten the attention and interests from the producers, director and marketing people behind the upcoming first lacrosse-based film in Hollywood titled “Crooked Arrows.”
Who is your favorite lacrosse player?
That’s like asking, Where’s the best pizza in NYC? I have a lot of favorite players, but I got to list two guys: Larry Quinn (Johns Hopkins ’86), which is why I’m acrobatic in goal, and Scott Bacigalupo (Princeton ’94), which is why I wear sweatpants no matter how hot the weather is!
If you could give one piece of advice to a young artist who is also a young athlete, what would it be?
Artists and athletes are both very talented people, and the two put together is uncanny (trust me!). If you want to develop your talent into something more, whatever it may be, DO NOT JUST RELY on your talent alone! An artist who treats their work like a business along with competitiveness fueled from athletics can be a very deadly combination.
Those are all the questions I asked Mr. Ricasio, but he had one more piece of advice for you prospective late bloomers and lax junkies that I URGE you to heed:
Getting back into playing lacrosse two years after college graduation was the best thing I have ever done for myself. I am constantly finding out the lessons and rewards. On the field, I am reminded how much I love the game, win or lose. Off the field, I’ve been so blessed to meet some of my closest friends from different backgrounds and professions of all sorts. Lacrosse has taught me to work very hard for the things I want, to look at opposition as opportunity and has enabled me to network and advance my career. I will play this game until my body tells me otherwise and will always be a part of it in some way or form.
