You’ll want to be in the auditorium next Tuesday when Jim Drain ‘98 SC talks about his widely varied career and experiences. Jim was a member of the former art collective Forcefield, which was featured in the Whitney Biennial in 2002.  He also won the Baloise Art Prize at the 2005 Art Basel show in Switzerland.  He paints, draws and creates installations, collages, furniture, stained glass, silkscreen, performance art, mail art, book art, comics and video - a brilliant craftsman who is comfortable working in a multiplicity of forms. He is currently represented by the Greene Naftali gallery in New York.

Jim is speaking as part of our RISD Alumni Lecture Series on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, at 6:30 pm in the RISD Auditorium. This event is free and open to all.

I first met Banks Griffin ‘01 FAV in New York while working on the RISD Athena Awards, and found his easy, confident manner to be incredibly reassuring during an intense, chaotic time.  Banks is a film maker, now living and working in Brooklyn, and I was thrilled to learn that he has had his short film, GAUGE, selected for viewing as part of the New York Film Festival.   The film will screen on Oct.11 at the Ziegfeld Theater, more info here.  Kudos to Banks!

On Monday, September 8 at 7:00 PM in the RISD Auditorium, the RISD Alumni Association will present the first Alumni Lecturer of the 2008-2009 academic year, Ryan Waller.  A 2003 RISD graduate in Graphic Design, Ryan has become a designer, teacher and collector. He publishes the New College Beat, a small circulation zine of minority interest and is a member of Rad Mountain, a silkscreen studio collaborative in Gowanus, Brooklyn.  Don’t miss it!
(Drawing of Ryan by Jenny Moertsell)

(David Coulter ‘84 GD, RISD’s Director of Graphic Design Services submitted this article and images after attending a lecture yesterday at the Museum. Thanks, Dave!)

Nancy Skolos presented a lecture on the history of the modern poster today at the Museum. Her lecture covered history of the modern printed poster that included work by Jules Cheret considered by many to be the father of the modern poster. Nancy also showed some fine examples of her and her husband Tom Wedell (also a RISD faculty member) studio’s work.

Assistant Professor of Textiles Liz Collins ‘91 TX/MFA ‘99 TX is staging phase four of her Knitting Nation project on June 21 (12-6pm) at Waterplace Park in Providence. The piece, which will ascend the steps and hill at Waterplace Park over the course of six hours, will be an homage to and reconstruction of the original gay pride rainbow flag. Eight uniformed knitters will sit in a row and manually operate knitting machines and each knitt a continuous length of fabric under a tent on the stage. The other seven knitters will hand-stitch the yardage together as it comes off the machines. Every half hour, the knitters and stitchers will rotate positions and this activity will carry on over the course of the afternoon, until a large banner grows up the face of the hill.

Liz has also created a survey which asks: “How do you feel about the rainbow flag as a symbol of gay pride and why?” At the event speakers will take turns reading replies from the survey, further engaging all who enter this picturesque public space in the center of Providence. Please plan to attend — and don’t forget to take the survey!

SpRiNg ThInG
 
Join the party on May 11th on Benefit Street celebrating Spring RISD Style! The offices of Residence Life, Multicultural Affairs, Student Life, The RISD Rock Climbing Club and Alumni Relations and Special events will be hosting this event from 1 - 7:30pm. There will be music from RISD bands, food, inflatable rides, a rock climbing wall, and - best of all - a 25 person Junkanoo group from the Bahamas called the “One Love Soldier Junkanoo Group” who will be helping us to resurrect the “Colab” parade (remember Colab?) tradition by putting on their own parade which they call “RUSHING”. We encourage participation from the community in the Rush. (See an example of rushing here) For more information,  contact Tony Johnson, RISD Director of Multi-Cultural Affairs at 401.454.6638 or Phil Oliveira, RISD Assistant Director of Residence Life at 401.454.6653.
Bravo Tony and Phil for bringing us that SpRiNg ThInG!
 

Congratulations to the RISD students who took home “Best in Show” and “Best Green” honors at last night’s jam-packed Modern + Design + Function 2008 event at the Providence Design Within Reach studio.

Juried by local creative professionals in the design, architecture, art and fashion worlds, M+D+F is an exhibition of innovative furniture by emerging designers in the Providence area and provides an opportunity for peer, public and professional recognition for up-and-coming designers and firms.

RISD students Joesph Ng, Ethan Ballweber, Joyce Pang, Spencer Brown, James Lear and Chris Tolles exhibited work. James won Best Green Design and Chris won Best in Show. Congratulations!

Thanks to Joseph for reporting on the event and the fantastic RISD showing (9 of the 23 pieces were by RISD students or alumni) and inevitable successes! You can read more about the event and see more pictures, courtesy of Tino Chow, on the IDSA RISD blog.

[P.S. from Liz L.: I think I’m probably still missing a few names — please send them in!]

The 2008 Scholarship Luncheon was held this past Friday, April 18th. The weather was gorgeous, and the President’s house overflowed with over 75 scholarship supporters, student recipients, faculty and staff.

Among those in attendance were former RISD faculty who have been revered with scholarships in their names, RISD Trustees, representatives from a major living goods company, a co-founder of one of the top design companies in the world, and RISD alum’s parents whose scholarships have honored their children.

RISD President-Elect John Maeda and Provost Jay Coogan welcomed guests, while stirring words during the lunch from Jessie Shefrin, Dean of Graduate Studies, emphasized the dedication RISD faculty have for their students and the work they do. Gretchen Hooker, ‘08 MID and co-founder of Respond/Design and Ashleigh Smith ‘08 GD, both expressed their gratitude for the opportunities presented to them because of the scholarships they received. John Maeda, inspired by their words, made his own financial contribution to RISD scholarships that day! Thank you to John, and to everyone who attended. The wonderful spirit of the day was a true tribute to the students and supporters, and will carry us into next year’s event!

Amanda Wright
Assistant Director, Scholarships & Donor Relations

There is still time to purchase tickets to the RISD Athena Awards being held next Thursday, April 10, 2008, at 6:30pm, at the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia headquarters in New York. The event provides RISD with the opportunity to recognize those whose careers have made a significant impact on the fields of art and design - not only creators and practitioners, but those who support and promote art and design as well. Read more about the awardees here. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling 401 454-6379. Hope to see you there!

Isabella Rossellini (pictured center) appeared at the March 11 opening of the RISD apparel+textile collaboration with the Italian Trade Commission which was on display at Bergdorf Goodman in NYC the week of March 11, 2008. This collaboration was led by the Chair of the RISD Apparel Design Department, Prof. Donna Gustavsen, and Prof. Liz Collins of the RISD Textiles Department.