Keith Campbell BARCH ‘78 hosted a reception for President Maeda at RTKL Architects in Chicago last night.  It had been some time since the Chicago alumni had gotten together, and the air was full of the energy created by alumni and parents connecting with each other. The President shared some of his thoughts about his paths of discovery as he looks to articulate RISD’s core beliefs, and his experiences meeting new alumni, many of whom do not fit into traditional molds - words that resonated with many of the alumni in attendance, among them an artist residency administrator, a painter and fashion designer who teach in an after school arts program, and an architect turned architectural photographer. Proof that a RISD education allows for endless possibilities!

Photos by John Weinstein ‘78 PH

At their meeting earlier this month, The RISD Parents’ Council participated in a “play date” with students and faculty involved in an interdisciplinary studio sponsored by local toy giant Hasbro. After parents played and interacted with prototypes-in-progress (see above photo by Jennifer Garza-Cuen MFA ‘10 PH), they gave students feedback that will be helpful as they continue their semester-long investigation of the intriguing concept of play.

Parents also engaged in a discussion about how they can continue to create and support more internships for RISD students. Janie and Leland Wong, parents of Sarah Wong ‘11, shared details about Sarah’s experience working with alumna Michelle Martini ‘95 FAV last summer in New York, whose clients include Macy’s and the New York State Lottery. Sarah worked on the costume and set design for this spot - check it out!

From thoughtful presentations, studio tours, faculty demonstrations and  lively workshops to John Maeda’s discussion on critical thinking and critical making, the alumni entrepreneurship panel and the warmth of the reunion dinners, there was a lot packed in to this year’s RISD by Design celebration for Parents and Alumni. Attendance at reunion dinners was more than double that of previous years, with special events for many of the reunion classes.  Click here for a glimpse of the fun, selected from the thousands of photos taken during the weekend!

Photo: Linda Coulombe MAT ‘86 explores visual math in Carl Fasano’s hands-on class Design Science.

Scott Indermauer Photography

RISD has made the list of the country’s top 25 “best neighbor” colleges and universities, which was released yesterday at the annual conference of the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities in Philadelphia. The 25 leading institutions cited in Saviors of Our Cities: A Survey of Best College and University Civic Partnerships were selected based on demonstrated efforts to make a positive impact on their urban communities through activities such as revitalization, economic and urban development, community service and cultural renewal (see this New York Times blog post for more). Penn and UCLA tied for first place, while RISD ranked 20th in the survey, making it the only college in New England and the only art school in the country to rank in the top 25.

Thanks to the fine work of our Institutional Engagement division and their enthusiasm for my priority to build greater support for scholarships and scholarly work, I was happy to visit the Lenore Tawney Foundation last month in New York to personally thank them for their generous creation of a fine arts scholarship to support our legendary Textile Department as led by Prof. Anais Missakian.

As I toured the studio of the late Ms. Tawney, I was struck by the incredible richness of vocabulary in which she practiced and lived. Natural elements like bones, feathers, shells, rocks were abound and placed in direct harmony with found objects from all over the world. There were a multitude of little cabinets like the one I show in the video above. Cabinets of mystery. Cabinets of the incredible mind of Lenore Tawney.

We are so proud to honor Ms. Tawney’s memory with this new fine arts scholarship. -JM

Little Eva said it in the song: A little bit of rhythm and a lot of soul. And that’s what Mark Moscone ‘88 PR, Director of Campus Exhibitions, and his assistant Gunnar Norquist, brought to ALCO (American Locomotive Works) for a reception with President Maeda on Thursday. Mark and Gunnar transformed the undeveloped space with recent work by Hugh Zeigler ‘09 PT, Allison Roberts, MFA ‘09 PR, Greg O’Malley ‘09 PT, Joseph Segal MFA ‘09 TX, Michael Green MFA ‘09 FD, Martin Smick MFA ‘09 PT, and Luke O’Sullivan MFA ‘09 PR, demonstrating that drive and creative energy so unique to RISD. Area alumni, Museum members, and parents turned out to meet President Maeda, hear his thoughts and reflections on his first year at RISD, and ask provocative questions about the future of art + design.

I am on the W. Coast talking with our alumni, parents, and supporters about the three ways they can all make a big difference for RISD’s future. Because RISD is such a visual place and as I’m an avowed disciple of the Circle, Triangle, Square trinity of art and design, I hereby give you the “RISD Triangle of Engagement”:

• Say and shout RISD/  Every day when you meet anybody, pick up the phone, check out at the grocery stand … I’ve asked you all to slip in the word, “RISD” in all forms of casual conversation. The perfect answer to a “yes, no, maybe” question? “RISD” of course.
• Hire from RISD/  If you’re interested in an intern or full-time authentic RISD student or graduate, be sure to contact Steve Whitten (swhitten **at** risd.edu) and we’ll help you find just the right one for your interests, dreams, and hopes for the future of your small business, studio, or major corporation.
• Give to RISD/  Participate in giving to the place where you first connected with “y(our) tribe” — support y(our) future and the possibilities we will unlock for the future of art and design. Visit the new www.risd.edu/giving page and add your name to the growing list of RISD lovers around the world.

To all supporters of RISD out there I say just pick two and we will be on the way to ensuring that *the* voice of American creativity in our world will be heard louder and prouder than ever before. Thank you, -JM

You’ve seen it everywhere since September: START HERE. With that beckoning space in the middle that invites your participation. What Starts Here? The presidency of John Maeda? The beginning of Foundation Studies? An impossible new idea? In the past month, we’ve been inviting alumni, parents and friends to start ENGAGING here - to engage with RISD to help recruit the next generation of students, to support the current students and to imagine a future where artists and designers lead in unimaginable ways. As the Vice President of Institutional Engagement, I have the privilege of encouraging everyone to engage in new and meaningful ways. At the moment, the most tangible and important way to engage is through a gift to the Annual Fund to support the ongoing needs of RISD and to increase the available resources for our current students’ financial aid. Participation of many really does make a difference for individual students today - so START HERE. And let me know if you have more ideas of how we should, collectively, start here in new and imaginative ways.

Beth Garvin
RISD Vice President of Institutional Engagement
bgarvin*AT*g.risd.edu