Warwick Valley High School art teacher hired by NY Jets as 3D artist

WARWICK — Anyone who has driven from Warwick to Sugar Loaf on Kings Highway has seen the huge murals honoring the 9/11 heroes on the side of one barn and the group of well known Hollywood actors on another.
The buildings are on the Manno family farm and the artist is Rocco Manno, who teaches art at Warwick Valley High School.
Manno was recently hired by the New York Jets professional football team to work during pre-game activities at all the home games as the team's first 3D artist.
A former student and football player, Ryan Darcy, who works for the Jets, had called Manno and said that the Jets were looking for an artist. And he had given them his name.
Manno said he would be willing to try it and the Jets contacted him and said they had checked out his Website and wanted him to do it
"What I do," he explained, "is basically entertain by creating virtual sculptures that can be seen on TV screens behind me as people wait in line to use the virtual reality goggles for a Jets experience."
Manno uses Google Tilt Brush, which lets the artist paint in 3D space with virtual reality.
"It allows me to literally paint in the air," he said. "I look crazy if you only look at me but if you look at the screens it all makes sense. And it's been a fun experience that has allowed me to do a whole new form of artwork. I'm lucky in that I can create anything I want, but I try to keep it football related."
Working for the New York Jets has other perks. "I get to watch all the home games," he said.
The talented artist and teacher will again be involved with this year's Warwick Middle School craft fair. He will be selling seasonal signs and historic Warwick images that are silk-screened onto reclaimed lumber.
And on Dec. 11 he will also hold a holiday open barn sale at the Manno farm where he will be selling those items along with handmade furniture such as tables and benches as well as art from reclaimed lumber.
- Roger Gavan