Our RISD

Everyone had a blast at the RISD|NY Design Week Reception on May...

risdalumni — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:40:00 -0400

Everyone had a blast at the RISD|NY Design Week Reception on May 20 at the new Bernardaud Showroom in Chelsea. Surrounded by the porcelain work of Jeff Koons and David Lynch, RISD alumni and students mixed and mingled in celebration of their accomplishments during Design Week.

Thank you to Chardonnay Pickard 07 IL for welcoming us to the gallery and to Provost Rosanne Somerson 76 ID for sharing campus updates with our guests.

Visit our online guide to see all the alumni work featured during Design Week!

Yes, FAV seniors got to go first with last week’s big film fest. And they got some great...

liisasilander — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:11:52 -0400

Yes, FAV seniors got to go first with last week’s big film fest. And they got some great coverage on the local NBC station Channel 10 and in the Providence Journal.

But that doesn’t mean this year’s junior films are any less deserving of our collective attention. And how often do you get to go to a premiere anyway? Two nights only: Wednesday + Thursday!

(And though the Senior Show is a done deal, the poster lives on – as do the films, many of which will hit the festival circuit in the coming year!)

Trustee and alum Pat White receiving congratulations from the...

johnmaeda — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:06:11 -0400

Trustee and alum Pat White receiving congratulations from the RISD Student Alliance for her long service on the Board in support of student life. -JM

Photo credit: Trustee Bob Glass

As students leisurely inspect the engaging body of work on view...

abigailcrocker — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:27:00 -0400

On Thursday, the Rhode Island Convention center was mobbed with students, faculty, designers who attended the Graduate Thesis Exhibition.

A student looks at Amphitheatre, a rotating piece made from a motor, a plastic bucket, wood and stainless steel.

Two of the show's attendees observe intricate glass work lit up on a wall.

Quintin Rivera Toro MFA 13 SC adjusts the fulcrum of Shush, a wooden statement piece inspired by the unconscious.

As students leisurely inspect the engaging body of work on view at the Graduate Thesis Exhibition, their musings are interrupted by a loud crack resounding throughout the custom-constructed galleries. The sound emanates from Shush, a wooden statement piece rooted in psychology. Its hammer slams down on a lever that pummels a bronze face.

“It’s a metaphor for the influences that silence us – whether they are subconscious or blatantly obvious to us, ” notes Quintin Rivera Toro MFA 13 SC, the creator of the piece.

After a few good whacks at the opening, the fulcrum snapped. The sculptor stood guard to protect the piece from further damage. “Sorry everyone. It’s out of commission for now,” he said. “But I’ll get it back in working order.”

Students were also drawn to Good Object 2, a large installation by Anna Huemmer MFA 13 SC made of orange traffic cones. “There’s so much to see,” said one student while making his way through the crowd. With almost 200 grad students showcasing work at the show, it’s a definite understatement.

The exhibition continues through June 1 in the Rhode Island Convention Center.

Professor Andrew Raftery in Printmaking shared with...

johnmaeda — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:32:03 -0400

Professor Andrew Raftery in Printmaking shared with me:

“For the past year and a half I have been working on an exhibition of American Narrative Prints at the National Academy Museum. It has been a great experience, and there are some really beautiful and unusual prints in the show.”

The opening for the summer exhibitions is on Wednesday, May 22. There will be panel at which you can see Andrew in action on Wednesday, June 26 from 6:30 PM, and on Friday, July 26 at 3 PM. Congratulations Andrew! -JM

Wayne Assing, Director of Student Development and...

johnmaeda — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:08:00 -0400

Wayne Assing, Director of Student Development and Counseling, sent me a few photos from our dedication ceremony of two trees planted in celebration of RISD parents Dick and Catherine Haining (pictured above next to the plaque that sits between the trees) located in RISD’s new stone sitting garden, located in Thompson yard.

Wayne says of the garden project, “I believe that in the days and years ahead this will become a respite for students to have a quiet and relaxing moment or to have a good conversation with a good friend.”

Thanks to the fine folks in Facilities and in Wayne’s office, and special thanks to Pat Brown in Institutional Engagement! -JM

Billowy capes, structured jackets, sophisticated evening gowns ...

abigailcrocker — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:27:00 -0400

Daniela Czenstochowski 14 AP created this look for Puer Aeternus, a collection of sophisticated women's wear.

A student puts on five-inch heels backstage while preparing to model an avant-garde dress by Zebinah Masse 14 AP.

Hannah Soukup 13 AP constructed Opalescent, a collection of blue and green-hued garments made out of light-weight materials.

Brianne Benack 14 AP designed dance attire for Festival Ballet Providence's performance of Little Red Riding Hood.

A collection by Emma Altman 13 AP, titled Pinned Up and Punked Out, is inspired by 1950's models and Tokyo street fashion.

Amanda Coe 15 AP constructed this costume for Festival Ballet Providence's performance of Little Red Riding Hood.

A model bides her time backstage at the Rhode Island Convention Center before strutting down the runway.

Presence & Void, a collection by Betty Wang 14 AP, features urban men's wear.

Geometry comes to life in Night & Fog, a collection by Maria Canada 14 AP/SC.

Billowy capes, structured jackets, sophisticated evening gowns – and even avant-garde bodysuits that take the shape of rhombuses – were some of the fantastical fashions modeled at Collection 2013. The annual runway show was held this Saturday at the Rhode Island Convention Center.

The popular show gives the public a taste of the trendsetting looks crafted by students in the Apparel Design department. In the moments leading up to the start of the show, Maybelline make-up artists were busy primping models as the designers made last-minute adjustments to their garments.

Tommy Hilfiger enjoyed the show from a front row seat. The founder of Tommy USA was one of the guest critics who gave students feedback on their work throughout the year.

Click through the photos to read up on the designers who made these fashion-forward works of art!

This past weekend’s This American Life was all about fresh takes on the hackneyed debate about...

abigailcrocker — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:10:00 -0400

This past weekend’s This American Life was all about fresh takes on the hackneyed debate about climate change – and new ways to spur action. The segment that aired on National Public Radio featured this year’s honorary degree recipient Bill McKibben, whose 350.org is leading a grassroots movement on this critical issue.

Divest RISD, our own student-run environmental group, was included in the national media coverage. Senior Emma Beede 13 IA, its leader, was interviewed as part of the story. Also this weekend, at the RISD’s Board of Trustees meeting, an official Study Group was appointed to examine the Divestment issue.

Architecture crits are happening at Woods Gerry … -JM

johnmaeda — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:28:05 -0400

Architecture crits are happening at Woods Gerry … -JM

Subotnick Films at Festival of Nations

simonesolondz — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:11:47 -0400

Two short 2011 films by Steven Subotnick (Critic, FAV), Two and West, will screen this June at the Festival of Nations in Ebensee, Austria. Two is a visual dialogue based on timing, gesture, mark-making and sound. West is one in a series of short animations about the destruction of the American wilderness.

Latest Issue of Int|AR Now Out

simonesolondz — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:31:12 -0400

The Interior Architecture department just released Volume 4 of its annual journal Int|AR (Interventions|Adaptive Reuse). Edited by Department Head Liliane Wong, Assistant Professor Markus Berger and Critic Maya Marx, each iteration of the journal examines various issues related to preservation, conservation, alteration and sustainability in the realms of architecture, landscape design and urban design. Volume 4 focuses on how designers can overcome negative public associations with a building site so that the space can be successfully adapted and reused.

Life After Art School

simonesolondz — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:42:41 -0400

On Wednesday interdisciplinary artist Adriana Farmiga presented the third and final lecture in this spring’s Painting Department Visiting Artist Lecture series. A faculty member and graduate of Cooper Union, she discussed her work in terms of her personal history as a first-generation American of Ukrainian descent, a feminist, a New Yorker and a practical working artist.

Last year Farmiga had the opportunity to try her hand at set design for the independent film Higher Ground. Although most of the scene with her painstakingly created set ended up on the cutting room floor, the experience inspired her to take a new approach and resulted in Versus, a solo exhibition at NYC’s La Mama Gallery.

The 2012 exhibition featured photographic and sculpted representations of ancient lichen-spackled tombstones and a 10-monitor loop showing out-of-focus black-and-white credits from 10 of her favorite New York City films and TV shows.

The whole experience was a fine example of how Farmiga “tricks herself” into trying new approaches in her art – a bit of advice she offered students at the lecture. Other practical advice included learning how to photograph one’s own work and writing readable installation instructions when shipping pieces off to an exhibition. And finally, Farmiga advised: wherever life takes you after art school, “love what you do.”

Mazumder Wins 2013 KPCB Fellowship

simonesolondz — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:14:00 -0400

Congratulations to Amrit Mazumder 15 GD, who today became one of 12 student designers nationwide to be named a 2013 KPCB Fellow.

Created by venture capitalists Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, the program pairs top US design and engineering students with innovative Silicon Valley startups for a three-month summer internship. Mazumder will be working with Palo Alto-based Flipboard, a company “on a quest to transform how people discover, view and share content by combining the beauty and ease of print with the power of social media.”

Greg Victory, director of RISD’s Career Center, describes Mazumder as “an amazing designer with an intense entrepreneurial spirit” and points out that he’s one of the founding members of E’ship, RISD’s new student group of aspiring entrepreneurs.

As many families prepare to make the journey for RISD’s...

johnmaeda — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:29:33 -0400

As many families prepare to make the journey for RISD’s Commencement 2013 here in Providence, I wanted to share a few of the many picturesque views you will find in our fair city. We’re looking forward to welcoming you all! -JM

The biggest and most anticipated student exhibition of the year...

liisasilander — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:58:42 -0400

Julie Kumar MFA 13 SC » A Chemical Conviction (detail)

Mallory Weston MFA 13 JM

Carley Eisenberg MFA 13 FD

Joe Bochynski MFA 13 SC » William and Patty Hearst

Lindsay Carone MFA 13 SC

The biggest and most anticipated student exhibition of the year opens tomorrow – Thursday, May 16 from 6–8 pm. And while some grad students may not be quite ready, the rest of us can’t wait to see the work they’ve thrown their hearts, minds and incredible skill into making this year.

The Graduate Thesis Exhibition totally transforms the Rhode Island Convention Center’s cavern of a space – Hall A – into an edgy contemporary gallery showcasing the work of almost 200 students from all 16 graduate departments.

So know that the handful of images shown above are just a tease (click on them for credits). You’ll need to go see for yourself – either at the opening and/or any day thereafter from 12–5, through Commencement day, June 1.

How do the notions of value and currency enter into art and...

simonesolondz — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:08:19 -0400

How do the notions of value and currency enter into art and personal adornment? Jewelry designer Lauren Tickle MFA 09 JM plays with this question in her Increasing Value series, using American dollars to create awe-inspiring brooches, cufflinks, and other pieces. “My work takes underlying materialism and makes it explicit,” says Tickle.

Tickle was recently named one of eight winners (out of more than 200 entries) of the Preziosa Young 2013 Design Competition run by Le Arti Orafe — a contemporary jewelry school in Florence, Italy. Her work will be on display in Italy, Germany and Poland this summer as part of the contest’s traveling exhibition. She had the added distinction of being named winner of the Special Award at Inhorgenta Munich 2014.

Closer to home, Tickle has been busy creating Increasing Value earrings and necklaces for sale at the MoMA Design Store in NYC. MoMA chose her as one of 175 designers to participate in its Destination NYC show this summer, which focuses on innovative materials and production methods as well as relevance to contemporary design.

RISD alumna Lisa Pevaroff’s solo show of her new work...

johnmaeda — Wed, 15 May 2013 09:17:18 -0400

RISD alumna Lisa Pevaroff’s solo show of her new work opens tonight in NY. If you are a fellow RISD graduate and you’re in the neighborhood, you know exactly where to go tonight. Congratulations Lisa! -JM

Icy Exploration

abigailcrocker — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:13:00 -0400

Amanda Thackray MFA 12 PR will soon be spending her summer solstice suited up in a cold weather gear. The RISD alum is among a small crew of artists and scientists chosen to participate in a two-week residency program that takes place on Barquentine tall ship bound for the Arctic Circle.

“I am extremely excited to be a part of this voyage,” notes Thackray. “I’m intrigued by the Arctic’s landscape.”

While aboard the wooden vessel, the printmaker anticipates that the ship’s nautical line will deeply inspire her sketches. “I will learn to tie knots with traditional rope and my own paper rope. These structures will form the foundations of my still life drawings.”

To help fund the icy expedition that departs in June, the printmaker launched a Kickstarter campaign to partially fund her flight to Longyearbyen, Norway. Donors will receive tokens of Thackray’s appreciation in the form of graphite drawings inspired by the ship’s rigging.

“Your thoughtful contributions to this project will help to further my research and allow me explore the Arctic through collaborative artistic experimentation,” writes Thackray. “I can’t wait to embark on this journey.”

I noted this short 7-minute film made for Mother’s Day...

johnmaeda — Tue, 14 May 2013 06:22:00 -0400

I noted this short 7-minute film made for Mother’s Day (which was just two days ago) by Class of 2016 freshmen Matthew Lim and Victor Gan from Singapore. Well done, Matthew and Victor, and thanks for your inspiration! -JM

PS It reminds me of one of my favorite pieces by Wieden+Kennedy for P&G entitled “The Hardest Job in the World” that ran during the Olympics.

Modi Among Top Tech Designers

simonesolondz — Sun, 12 May 2013 21:10:00 -0400

Business Insider has dubbed Shaun Modi 07 ID #33 in its new list of the top 75 Best Designers in Technology. The list includes designers of mobile apps, websites and user interfaces, among others, with the ranking based on experience, quality of work, number of nominations from readers and the size of the company where the designer works.

Modi, who worked at Google before joining Airbnb as an interaction designer, recently led the web and mobile design for Wish Lists at Airbnb (the popular lodging company founded and run by Joe Gebbia 05 ID/GD and Brian Chesky 04 ID). He also helped the company revamp its iPhone app last summer. David Lee 00 GD and Willem van Lancker 10 GD also made the top 75. Congrats all around!