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Resilience Our community around the world has been rocked by the terrible COVID-19 global pandemic. It was heartbreaking to witness our students packing up and leaving campus early. The human toll has been devastating, especially for those with family and friends in the most affected regions and for those most vulnerable due to financial insecurity, homelessness and other forms of inequality. It is at times such as these that our connectedness is most vital. This issue of Momentum went to press in April, after our deep-rooted, immersive, studio-based teaching and learning pedagogies had to be adapted. The remaining weeks of the semester will not be the same as before. Nevertheless, we are forging ahead to teach remotely and to confront the very core of creative teaching and learning. Artists, designers and scholars have always reinvented practices in times of crisis, and the current response at RISD is impressive. In spite of distance, faculty members are integrating remarkable teaching innovations, and we are also evolving new ways to care for one another, to critique and to embrace community. Our focus is on supporting everyone’s health and well-being, participating in civic commitments to our broader communities and ensuring that our students can meaningfully earn the credits they need to complete the semester.
Although our campus has changed dramatically, you will read earlier stories that now seem more important than ever. They serve as powerful reminders of the many ways the RISD community steps up for one another—and will continue to do so. I hope you will immerse yourself in these stories of generosity and service that so aptly define who we are. Our students with financial need—buoyed by the financial aid made possible through philanthropy—are developing powerful, creative practices. Donors have given generously to establish scholarships, support learning and add to our Student Emergency Fund. Hundreds of alumni have stepped forward to offer career guidance to our students and recent graduates through the RISD Network. I encourage alumni who haven’t signed up to please consider it. Learn more on pages 30–31. As senior Shelby Bernard 20 ID said, the week she left campus, “It has been a rough week, but my life as a designer is just getting started. Pandemics don’t cancel creativity.” You can read more about this remarkable creative professional on page 10. These are difficult times, but we have reason to be hopeful. What we learn and how we grow will mark this time. Together, we will emerge stronger and more resilient. I send my deep wishes for good health and well-being to all of you. ROSANNE SOMERSON 76
Photo: Adam Mastoon
PRESIDENT
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The RISD community comes together to make a powerful difference in students’ lives.
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DONORS JOINED THE METCALF SOCIETY BY COMMITTING TO A LEGACY GIFT FOR RISD
435 DONORS GAVE
FOR THE FIRST TIME OR INCREASED THEIR GIVING
562
RISD FUND DONORS EACH GAVE $100 OR LESS
$19.7m TOTAL GIFTS AND NEW PLEDGES
Figures are for the period of July–December 2019.
Rising Philanthropic Investment
Together, these RISD Fund donors made an impact large enough to
SEND
7
5
AWARD
or
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STUDENTS
STUDENTS
ON A RISD GLOBAL
WITH PAID
EXPERIENCE
INTERNSHIPS
Breaking Down Barriers Recipient of the Ken Dresser 61 Scholarship and a Parents’ Council Internship Award
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RISD donors offer Sophia-Yemisi Adeyemo-Ross the opportunity to pursue a career in the arts. With additional support from a Parents’ Council Internship Award, she accepted an unpaid internship at the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco this summer. “It gave me the tools to pursue a career in museum education,” she says.
“My mother taught art to elementary-age children and would paint beautiful portraits when she had time. I desperately wanted to paint like her, but I also worried as I watched her struggle financially. As she picked up more jobs to support us, she had less time to paint. I wondered if life as an artist was sustainable,” says Sophia-Yemisi Adeyemo-Ross 21 PT.
“Many individuals from similar backgrounds can’t afford to do this and lose out on gaining professional experience and contributing their talents—and art institutions don’t benefit from their perspectives. Empowering students with these opportunities makes institutional change happen. I envision myself continuing this legacy of giving with the intention of breaking down historical barriers.
Despite her concerns, Adeyemo-Ross chased her dream. “I was attracted by RISD’s reputation but worried I would feel isolated due to class, race, differences in upbringing and other things,” she recalls. “While I have found that to be somewhat true, I also have been surprised. The Painting department regularly discusses the politics of making, and I’m surrounded by thinkers. We constantly examine the past and dig for answers to resolve deeply rooted problems that persist today.”
My experiences as a woman of color have led me to believe that connection, sensitivity and actualization become tangible at the intersection of art and community,” she says. “My ultimate goal as a painter and a future professor or teacher of the arts is to pose questions that facilitate healing, mend trauma and change institutions for the better.”
Her time at RISD has been buoyed by the Ken Dresser 61 Scholarship. “This support has been everything—I wouldn’t be here without it,” she reflects. “It allows me to access all the school offers and to work toward deep artistic and intellectual growth.”
“This support has been everything— I wouldn’t be here without it,” she reflects. “It allows me to access all the school offers and to work toward deep artistic and intellectual growth.”
Adeyemo-Ross has found meaningful work as a teaching assistant. “I take part in artistic dialogue with students, and I love seeing them light up when they see work that resonates,” she says. “Their reactions show the powerful effect that art can have upon creative thinkers.”
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Paying Homage through Making
Recipient of the...
Receives support from the Windgate Foundation, the Gene Verri Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund, the Robbins Company Today, Inc. Scholarship Fund and the Dorothy Nisbet Kison Scholarship Fund
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Thanks to financial aid, Steven Kaplan-Pistiner is growing as an artist and honoring his grandfather, who fled Nazi Germany and passed down his love of making. Introduced to the craft of carpentry by his grandfather, Steven Kaplan-Pistiner MFA 20 JM has chosen Jewelry + Metalsmithing for his creative practice. “My grandfather Lew was a third-generation German Jewish carpenter, and everything I learned in childhood about making was from him,” he says.
Kaplan-Pistiner earned his BFA in metalsmithing and print media at the University of Wisconsin. After connecting with RISD faculty member Timothy Veske-McMahon and guest lecturer Lori Talcott, he decided to pursue an MFA. “RISD promised an environment that would allow my voice to develop, provide allies and offer critical feedback,” he says.
“It wasn’t until I was older that I fully understood why it was so important to him. When he came to America during World War II and the Holocaust, he had lost his home, contact with his family and any belongings he couldn’t carry. Like many displaced people, my family doesn’t have heirlooms,” adds Kaplan-Pistiner. “The silver Judaica and ritual objects so important to our sense of self and cultural identity were lost, but his skills and stories told us who we were. I attribute my interest and work to his lessons and love of material and to growing up amidst perpetual construction.”
Kaplan-Pistiner receives financial aid from the Windgate Foundation, the Gene Verri Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund, the Robbins Company Today, Inc. Scholarship Fund and the Dorothy Nisbet Kison Scholarship Fund. Without this assistance, RISD would be an impossible dream for this independent young artist from the rural Midwest. “Financial aid makes studying at RISD possible. Because I am here my career is developing, my art is growing and I am able to practice at my full capacity,” he explains. “A Graduate Commons Grant, RISD’s competitive grant program for graduate students, allowed me to spend the summer working as an artist assistant and intern for jeweler and internationally renowned artist Tanel Veenre in Estonia. This experience changed my work and outlook, and I developed a more international and diverse community and dialogue for my work and my practice,” he says. “Through my teaching assistantships and roles as instructor of record, I have confirmed my passion for teaching and will pursue a faculty position and residencies after graduation.”
“Financial aid makes studying at RISD possible. Because I am here my career is developing, my art is growing and I am able to practice at my full capacity.” His grandfather’s influence continues to resonate. “My work has evolved from my training in metalsmithing to handcarving wood. My thesis body of work consists of carved wood knots, nets and folds that exist in conversation with the body as brooches, pendants and necklaces. I am interested in exposing their power to reinforce or destabilize how we see ourselves, one another and the systems we exist in,” he explains.
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Pursuing Her Dreams
Recipient of the Talbot Rantoul Scholarship, the Fred M. Roddy Foundation Scholarship and a RISD travel grant
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Financial support catalyzes Shelby Bernard to expand her creative and career horizons. “I was doodling in my notebook in high school biology class. My teacher saw and asked, ‘So, you want to go to RISD?’” recalls Shelby Bernard 20 ID. “I had not heard of RISD, but when I started to look at colleges, I realized that RISD was the best place for really invested, talented and hardworking students.”
While she appreciates the support from RISD, Bernard is committed to supporting herself as much as possible. She works as a residential assistant, a position that covers her housing and boarding costs. She also works in the Industrial Design model shop and does freelance graphic design to gain client experience.
“I needed and wanted rigor—and, boy, did I ever find it! I knew it would be very challenging,” she says. “I discovered how good my RISD peers were, and I found my people. I love how much we have in common. Whenever I leave campus, I’m faced with the fact that not everyone knows or appreciates what I do.”
“Last year I thought I might want to design toys and landed an internship at Hasbro as a model artist. Now I’m getting into storytelling, world building and brand experience design,” she says. “I’m good at cultivating a feeling and atmosphere. I create sets and three-dimensional computer models with industrial design tools. It is very exciting.”
“I received offers from other schools, but I wanted to take what some may consider the riskier path of studying art and design. I don’t think attending RISD would have been possible for me without financial aid,” she says. Bernard receives the Talbot Rantoul Scholarship and the Fred M. Roddy Foundation Scholarship. “It is nice to know others believe in me and want to see me succeed. I don’t have as much pressure to take a specific job just to make enough money to pay my loans,” she says.
This summer she worked for an advertising agency. “I collaborated with copywriters, did graphic design and learned more about the film industry,” says Bernard. “It was my first time working in New York City—something I’ve dreamed about since I was a little kid.” “The greatest artists and designers can come from anywhere, but not everyone can come to RISD,” she concludes. “Those who support RISD are helping the best of the best be where they need to be, and we are grateful.”
RISD also provided a travel grant for her to attend the winter session travel course See Naples and Die: Panorama & the Poetics of a City. “It was the experience of a lifetime,” she says.
“I received offers from other schools, but I wanted to take what some may consider the riskier path of studying art and design. I don’t think attending RISD would have been possible for me without financial aid.”
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Building Impactful Partnerships Endowment support gives one faculty member the freedom to advance research and create new collaborative programs that benefit RISD students.
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“RISD’s great asset is how seriously we take our teaching,” says Anais Missakian 84 TX, who holds the PevaroffCohn Family Chair in Textiles. “But it can be challenging for faculty to balance the time they invest in teaching with what is required to advance research and creative practice. The support I receive from this position provides me with the much-needed flexibility to do both.”
When asked about how the study of textiles is evolving at RISD, Missakian notes that in addition to advanced textiles research, there is the important collaborative work being done with the RISD Museum. Kate Irvin, curator of costume and textiles, selects items for the students to study. They create works in response that are then shown in the Designing Traditions biennial next to the objects referenced. Through the support of the gift, Missakian traveled with Irvin to Oaxaca, Mexico, to research local weaving and dyeing methods. They hope this will expand into a larger collaborative project between the museum and department.
“I am incredibly grateful to Lisa Pevaroff 83 TX for her generosity in endowing this professorship. It is an honor to hold the position that bears her family’s name. She’s an accomplished practicing artist and designer, so her recognition and support of my career and the department is particularly meaningful.”
“Interest in textiles spans from its importance in human history and culture to being one of the most interesting areas of exploration for the future. It is important that RISD be engaged at both ends of the spectrum,” she says. “I’m delighted, through my own interests and professional work, to be able to participate in bringing this range of opportunities to our students.”
Missakian is engaged in collaborative work with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, an institute dedicated to transforming traditional fibers, yarns and fabrics into highly sophisticated, integrated and networked products and systems.
“Anais Missakian is an extraordinarily gifted artist, teacher and researcher. I am thrilled see how she is making the most of the support she receives from the endowed chair,” says RISD trustee Lisa Pevaroff 83 TX. “It is exciting to watch her advanced textiles work flourish. RISD students are fortunate to learn from such a committed professor who chooses to create new opportunities for her students through her research partnerships.”
“The advanced textiles research space is very exciting but very difficult to pursue in a serious way without collaborating with engineers and materials scientists,” explains Missakian. “We are working on integrating new fibers into fabrics, and I work with students to help construct these fabrics. I’ve also brought some of my former students, now RISD alumni, into the institute. “It is vitally important to have the time to work with other institutions. Because of the flexibility afforded by this endowed professorship, I have been able to create niche projects within the department in which students are invited to participate. It is not a shift in the curriculum per se, but opportunities that would not be offered otherwise,” she adds.
“Interest in textiles spans from its importance in human history and culture to being one of the most interesting areas of exploration for the future. It is important that RISD be engaged at both ends of the spectrum.”
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Nurturing Curiosity An alumna’s lifelong love of discovery leads to an extraordinary commitment to support the RISD Library.
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“RISD gave me the tools to research, organize and solve problems. That ability has never left me and allowed me to do a variety of things over the years.”
The library across the street from her childhood home was a source of fascination for Judith Bowering Funkhouser 63 IL P 89. “We didn’t have much money, so the library was a place where I went to explore. I loved unearthing hidden gems and following my interests wherever they led.”
organization that builds bridges between American and Chinese people throughout New England. She curated many exhibits of Chinese artifacts for the organization and constantly added to her collection, named for her mother Ella V. Bowering. She has also shown some of that collection at RISD. The Puppets Have Arrived! was a much-loved exhibition of Chinese puppets from her collection that was on view at the library in 2011.
Her appreciation for libraries endured when she came to RISD to study art and design. “I developed my discovery process and way of seeking out new things at RISD. I enjoyed doing research at the library and at the Nature Lab,” she recalls.
Funkhouser is also a dedicated painter. Since 1999 she has studied Chinese ink painting with Ma Qingxiong and was the founding president of the Chinese Painting Guild, an association of artists whose work blends traditional Chinese brush painting with western modes of expression. The association organizes exhibitions of members’ artwork, including Funkhouser’s, throughout New England.
Funkhouser so values her time as a student that she has included RISD in her estate plans. Her future bequest will support the Fleet Library at RISD and establish the Judith Bowering Funkhouser 63 IL Fund to assist RISD in attracting experienced library professionals to guide students in their research endeavors and keep pace with technology and an evolving curriculum.
Through her volunteer efforts, artwork and philanthropy to RISD, Funkhouser is dedicated to strengthening art and design. “I believe artists and designers improve the world and how we experience it. I am thankful for my time at RISD and pleased to champion the library’s work supporting student research.”
Of the gift, she says, “I want to advance exploration for all RISD students and ensure that they will always benefit from a well-supported library. They deserve to have the enriching research experiences there that I enjoyed.” “RISD gave me the tools to research, organize and solve problems. That ability has never left me and allowed me to do a variety of things over the years, such as designing new houses and restoring a badly burned estate. I was able to accomplish the restoration on a limited budget. RISD taught me how to do that,” says Funkhouser.
If you would like to learn more about how you can support RISD through your estate plans, contact Chad Nelson at cnelson@risd.edu or call toll-free at 844 454-1877.
She remains committed to sharing art and knowledge. Funkhouser became involved with the Chinese Culture Connection in Malden, Massachusetts—a non profit
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Finding Inspiration To celebrate their daughter’s transformative experience at RISD, the Hetfield family offers support to future students.
Because the Hetfields’ daughter struggled with dyslexia, she found doing homework and work in the classroom during her precollege years to be very difficult. School was not a source of joy.
“RISD students are amazing, outside-the-box thinkers. They see things differently and can come up with creative solutions that nonartists would never consider. That is very inspiring,” she adds.
“She had to work very hard, was often frustrated and never felt completely satisfied with what she was able to do then,” recalls Francesca Hetfield P 20. “But coming to RISD was a whole new world for her. The RISD faculty and classes inspired her. For the first time in her life she felt really good about her work. She fit into the community so well and was excited to be here. As a parent, it was wonderful to see her thrive.”
“We saw our daughter thrive at RISD like never before. She was welcomed warmly into the community and received incredible support. We want to offer other students the same opportunity to learn and grow with RISD,” says Hetfield of the family’s decision to endow the Hetfield Family Scholarship to support future generations of students. “I also enjoy seeing what RISD alumni are doing out in the world. It is exciting to observe how students form such strong bonds on campus and continue to choose to be part of the RISD community after graduation. As our daughter completes her senior year, it is nice to know that sense of connection is not lost,” she adds.
The positive impact RISD had on her daughter has reinforced Hetfield’s belief in the importance of supporting creative students. “Art school can seem frightening to some parents. We are not all artists, so this creative world can seem scary. Parents wonder how their student will find a job when they get older,” says Hetfield. “But, if someone loves what they are doing, they will find a job and love their life. Forcing them to do something they don’t enjoy won’t work.
“RISD students are amazing, outside-the-box thinkers. They see things differently and can come up with creative solutions that nonartists would never consider.”
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Investing in Greater Equity Three classmates build a thriving contemporary-lighting brand and pay forward their success by endowing a scholarship.
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Chandelier produced and donated by Rich Brilliant Willing in the newly built North Hall student residence.
A friendship formed at RISD has blossomed into an enduring and productive partnership. Charles Brill 06 FD, Theo Richardson 06 FD and Alex Williams 06 FD all moved to New York City after graduation and worked independently for a time in the fine arts, architecture and interior design.
Rich Brilliant Willing is proud to hire RISD graduates, and the team includes Project Manager Mayela Mujica MFA 16 FD and Product Designer Colin Williams 16 ID. The company also donated a beautiful chandelier, Palindrome 8, which is installed in North Hall—much to the delight of all the students who live there.
“We decided to share a studio in the East Village in 2007, and, although working on individual projects, we created an environment for collaboration. This eventually fostered a partnership that turned into what Rich Brilliant Willing is today,” says Brill of the company that is renowned for its design and manufacture of contemporary LED lighting for residential, workplace and hospitality spaces. It also recently achieved B Corporation status after undergoing a rigorous independent assessment of the company’s impact on its workers, customers, community and environment.
The partners stay connected to RISD in many ways. They have participated in portfolio reviews, come back to campus for crits and given lectures. “It has been a way for us to pass on some of what we know to current students, and we’ve found that to be very rewarding,” says Brill.
The partners and friends also have chosen to advance social equity with the establishment of the RBW Endowed Scholarship. “RISD is more than the school that we happened to graduate from. Certainly, we are a product of the thinking and process we developed and learned while there,” adds Brill.
If you would like to learn more about how you can endow a scholarship, please contact Joanne Ferchland-Parella at jferchla@risd.edu or call toll-free at
“RISD offered us a world-class creative education, and we are interested in generating greater equity at RISD, which in turn helps build a more equal world. Our donation is meant to make it possible for students of diverse economic backgrounds to afford the excellent educational experience we received,” says Richardson.
844 454-1877.
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Transforming a Historic Campus RISD is investing heavily in the execution of a comprehensive Campus Master Plan to enhance living and learning experiences, improve energy efficiency and better serve its students and faculty.
PROJECTS IN PLANNING/DESIGN 1.
Homer Hall Residence hall renovation, May 2021
2.
Metcalf Refectory Back of house renovations, August 2020
3.
Metcalf Refectory New roof including solar shingles and new fire alarm system, August 2020
4.
Memorial Hall Brownstone facade restoration Phase 1, Fall 2020
5.
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South Hall Elevator upgrade and HVAC, August 2021
6.
20 Washington Place Elevator modernization, Fall 2020
PROJECTS IN CONSTRUCTION 7.
123 Dyer Street* Renovations to administrative office spaces, Spring 2020
8.
Nickerson Hall Residence hall renovation, May 2020
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COMPLETED PROJECTS 9.
Auditorium HVAC, painting, LED lighting, audio/ visual enhancements, August 2019
10. Central Power Plant* New steam boilers and technology, December 2019 11. North Hall
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New residence hall housing 148 students, August 2019 12. 30 North Main Street Renovations to the RISD Store,
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August 2019 13. RISD Museum Metcalf Galleries Upgrade of life safety systems and
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renovations to reopen for exhibition use, Fall 2019 14. Waterman Building HVAC, Fall 2019
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15. 20 Washington Place, 1st floor Financial aid, advising and career services, April 2019 16. Roger Mandle Center for Living and Learning, 1st Floor
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Portfolio CafĂŠ back of house renovation, August 2019 17. Roger Mandle Center for Living
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and Learning, Mezzanine
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Sound Studio, January 2019 18. Roger Mandle Center for Living and Learning, 2nd Floor Renovation for the Center for Arts & Languages, August 2019
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18 *Not pictured on map
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Map Illustration by Carol Vidinghoff 84 IL
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Empowering Creative Aspirations Project Open Door advances social equity and access for teens attending public and charter high schools in Rhode Island’s urban core.
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Creativity and talent are not bound by zip codes. The Rhode Island cities of Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence and Woonsocket are home to many gifted students who want to study art and design. Unfortunately, these cities’ public schools and charter schools have extremely limited resources to fully nurture their students’ creative potential. RISD’s Project Open Door (POD) was founded in 2005 to help solve the problem.
RISD students play a large role in delivering these programs. “Undergraduates volunteer or work in paid positions as teaching assistants and become mentor figures for the teens. Students tell me they value the opportunity to share their practice, creative work and path to RISD. Some are interested in going into teaching or other types of community work, and their time with POD can be an informative step along these career paths,” says Lauren Allen MA 14, associate director of Project Open Door.
POD supports teens as they move toward graduating high school and provides students with opportunities to advance their creative development. It also offers guidance on the college application process, especially portfolio preparation for art and design programs.
“Teaching + Learning in Art + Design graduate students can be even more deeply involved through assistantships and embedding their work with POD within their research and studies,” she adds. “POD teaching artists plan and implement semester-long after-school programs with partner schools and take on other roles that help them learn to run programs.” These experiences help prepare them for work as artist-educators in schools and diverse community-based settings.
The Angell Foundation, the Hasbro Children’s Fund and the Surdna Foundation have made leading philanthropic investments in the program. The generosity of these foundations and other supporters has made it possible for POD to expand its programming over the years. POD now offers after-school programs at local high schools as well as Saturday portfolio development classes and summer studios on the RISD campus. The portfolio program this year serves 75 teens from 14 high schools throughout the school year.
77%
“The engagements between POD teens and RISD students are mutually beneficial and a large part of what makes POD such a distinct and special program,” she says.
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OF POD TEEN PARTICIPANTS
TEENS WERE SERVED
POD ALUMNI HAVE
IDENTIFY AS PEOPLE
BY POD IN THE 2018–19
GRADUATED FROM RISD
OF COLOR
ACADEMIC YEAR
SINCE 2006
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“I discovered that art is a celebration of subject matter, concepts and media. When college application time came around, I had already developed a strong visual portfolio of my work.” ANTHONY AZANON, BARCH 19
“I found a strong and supportive community and was encouraged to research and explore different media and keep a sketchbook for ideas,” says Anthony Azanon BArch 19, who attended POD programs as a teen and later became a teaching assistant in the program. “I discovered that art is a celebration of subject matter, concepts and media. When college application time came around, I had already developed a strong visual portfolio of my work.”
Fortunately, his teachers noticed his aptitude for art and steered him toward the school’s art classes and Project Open Door. This connection with POD was an important step toward his application and admission to RISD. Today he works as an architectural designer at an architecture firm in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he creates construction documents, renderings and plans. He hopes to pursue a master’s degree in architecture and aspires to teach in higher education and build his own architecture practice. “I have recently gotten into storytelling to share some of what I have experienced as a first-gen immigrant,” he adds. “I’m also expanding my visual-arts portfolio in the hopes of showing in galleries, as this work also tells stories that I want to share.”
His path was not easy. He was born in Guatemala, came to the US when he was 14, and was the first in his family to attend college. “I started high school without speaking English. I was alone most of the time because of the language barrier. I sat in the back of the classroom and doodled in my notebook because I could not really understand what my teachers were saying,” he remembers.
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POD ALUMNI MATRICULATED AT THESE INSTITUTIONS
100%
IN 2018 AND 2019:
Community College of Rhode Island Howard University Johnson & Wales University
OF POD SENIORS GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL FOR
Lasell College
THE PAST THREE YEARS
Massachusetts College of Art and Design Maine College of Art Pratt Institute Rhode Island College Rhode Island School of Design Ringling College of Art and Design Savannah College of Art and Design School of Visual Arts, New York City Smith College Temple University University of Massachusetts Dartmouth University of Rhode Island Wellesley College Wheaton College
If you would like to learn more about how you can support Project Open Door, please contact Joanne Ferchland-Parella at jferchla@risd.edu or call toll-free at 844 454-1877.
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Unveiling an Extraordinary Restoration The RISD Museum has completed extensive renovations at its very heart— the historic original building and galleries.
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Originally commissioned by Jesse Metcalf in honor of his wife, Helen Metcalf, the founder of RISD, the galleries of the museum’s original historic building have been named the Helen and Jesse Metcalf Galleries. The naming honors the generational legacy of the Metcalfs. Members of the family have remained among the museum’s most generous benefactors and loyal supporters since its founding. A generous and anonymous $500,000 gift concluded the $4.5 million fund-raising campaign to renovate the space. Additional significant funders included the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, The Champlin Foundation, the Rockefeller Family, Ida Ballou Littlefield Memorial Trust, and members of the RISD Museum’s Board of Governors and Fine Arts Committee.
Raid the Icebox Now Raid the Icebox I with Andy Warhol (1970) presented entire sections of objects at the RISD Museum as they appeared in storage, with little or no regard for their condition, authenticity or art history status. It remains one of the most celebrated and subversive exhibitions in contemporary art. Raid the Icebox Now celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Warhol exhibition.
The renovations, which took place over the course of eight years, presented the museum with an invaluable opportunity to reinterpret its collections. Curators played a central role in renovation planning and gave careful consideration to how items could be shown in these reimagined spaces.
Artists Pablo Bronstein, Nicole Eisenman 87 PT, Pablo Helguera, Beth Katleman, Simone Leigh, Sebastian Ruth, Paul Scott and Triple Canopy have created new bodies of work that use the museum as a site for critical creative production and presentation. The artists interact with the collection as an extension of their studio practice and explore ideas they otherwise would not have the opportunity to pursue. Galleries throughout the museum have been activated by immersive installations, which bring together new work with a collection of art and design that spans from ancient times to the present.
“The restoration of the galleries allows us to fulfill our mission in increasingly innovative ways. I am deeply grateful for the commitment and support of our donors, particularly the Museum’s board of governors, who have rallied behind this essential and transformative work,” says museum director John Smith. One of the galleries now serves as a special exhibition space dedicated to temporary installations. The first such exhibition is Raid the Icebox Now, a 10-artist celebration and response to the 50th anniversary of the RISD Museum’s groundbreaking Raid the Icebox I with Andy Warhol exhibition.
A free digital publication features new writings and multimedia projects by each of the artists. Museum objects, spaces and the stories they hold have provided the catalysts and fertile ground for new narratives and experiences.
Right: Original galleries circa 1915.
Sidebar, top right: Artists at a Third Thursday event in the RISD Musuem’s newly renovated Metcalf Galleries.
VIEW:
publications.risdmuseum.org/raid-icebox-now
Please visit risdmuseum.org to see which installations will remain on view through the summer and early fall.
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Welcoming All Parents and Families The new Parents + Families Association offers a path to building deeper ties.
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The Parents’ Council—conceived more than 20 years ago to support parent philanthropy and engagement—is being transformed into a robust network. Open to families of all admitted students and alumni, the new Parents + Families Association facilitates volunteering, encourages philanthropy and provides enhanced access to the RISD resources that support students and alumni. A new website and an email newsletter are being developed to deliver the most relevant news and information to RISD families.
“We look forward to working with RISD to ensure that international families feel like welcomed members of the RISD community and can more easily access the services that the college offers.” The Association is planning a range of engagement opportunities to enhance the experience of students and their families. Please stay tuned for updates via email. These new resources for families will include timely news and alerts about new opportunities from RISD’s Office of Student Affairs, the Career Center and the Alumni Association.
Chaired by Deb Mankiw P 22 and Greg Mankiw P 22, an expanding leadership team is hard at work planning events, developing volunteer opportunities and guiding the creation of new communications tools. “Greg and I warmly welcome all RISD families to the Parents + Families Association. We look forward to meeting more of our community, hearing your ideas about programs of interest and working together on behalf of RISD,” says Deb Mankiw. “In the coming months, we will be launching new programs to better connect you to what’s happening on campus and strengthen the ties among us. We encourage everyone to get involved.”
For more information about the Parents + Families Association please contact Betsy Freedman Doherty at edoherty@risd.edu or 401 709-8637.
“Thirty-seven percent of RISD students come from countries other than the US, and international families have particular needs. We are delighted that the Parents + Families Association not only recognizes this, but also is actively working to support us,” say Dr. Shanming Shi P 21 and Mingyuan Song P 21, who are serving as international parent liaisons.
We encourage all RISD families to visit engage.risd.edu/family-update to ensure you receive the e-newsletter, event invitations and important news at your preferred email addresses.
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Introducing the RISD Network The new digital platform offers alumni and students enhanced opportunities to connect and learn from each other.
risdnetwork.risd.edu
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The RISD community has a wealth of knowledge, expertise and experience to share. Forty-three percent of respondents to the 2018 Alumni Survey said they were interested in more professional networking—and more than half encouraged RISD to enhance career preparation offerings. The RISD Alumni Association has launched the RISD Network to help the college to deliver on these interests and support community members’ creative engagements in their chosen fields. Last year, the Alumni Association formed a mentoring task force. Cochaired by Ryan Cunningham 02 FAV and Krista Ninivaggi BArch 02, the group has been exploring how best to provide mentorship opportunities for alumni and students.
New York City. “I didn’t have a great landing pad after RISD, and I think it’s something the school can improve. This mentorship program is a way to take advantage of the incredible alumni who want to give back and can remember when they were starting out and needed a little help.”
“Both Ryan and I are big supporters of creating a formal mentorship program at RISD. Creative industries are unique; there is never a straight path to get where you are going. There is a reason why so many RISD alumni become entrepreneurs—we all carve out space for ourselves,” says Ninivaggi. “I run an eponymous firm where we focus on commercial interiors. My field of architecture has a strong tradition in mentorship. Having this support has made a difference in the success of my career. I feel strongly about the role mentorship can play, no matter the creative field.”
“I take RISD interns at my company every summer and winter session. It is important to provide the next generation coming into my industry with as much exposure as possible. I feel good knowing that the people coming up and eventually taking my place as I advance my career are well trained and prepared to do an amazing job,” she adds. This new platform bolsters career development by helping to match alumni interested in being mentors with students and recent graduates seeking career guidance. For alumni well established in their careers, the program offers a meaningful way to stay connected to RISD, give back to students and other alumni and build coaching and leadership skills.
“I have a lot I can offer current students and recent alums in terms of guidance, advice and connections—and I know other alumni do, as well. I have been fortunate to have numerous mentors throughout my career. They were all important, but I also realized that not every mentor fits every stage of your education and career. It is vital to be reflective about these relationships,” she adds. “A mentor should be selfreflective, as well. I encourage people who want to mentor others to consider why things are the way they are in their industry so they can give context to their advice.”
Students and alumni just starting out in their careers can use the platform to develop their professional networks and learn from alumni who’ve been where they want to go. Alumni mentors can help with career exploration and identify career-building opportunities.
“I like to give newly graduated students the opportunity to get a foot in the door because it’s important to make the things you want to see in the world,” says Cunningham about hiring RISD grads at the company she founded in
For more information, visit risdnetwork.risd.edu, email alumni@risd.edu or call 401 709-8585.
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Anticipating RISD Weekend 2020 Immerse yourself in all that is wonderful about RISD, connect with friends old and new, and revisit this special place where creativity thrives. We invite alumni, parents, families and friends to make plans to attend RISD Weekend on October 9–11. We are lining up an exciting array of programs, social gatherings, artist talks and open studios for our annual gathering on campus for alumni and families. Some highlights include a panel celebrating 60 years of RISD’s European Honors Program, affinity group gatherings, new awards to honor volunteers and a brand-new volunteer summit. Old favorites will return as well, including RISD Craft, class dinners, studio demonstrations, a WaterFire reception and free admission to the RISD Museum.
Please add risdweekend.com to your bookmarks. An updated schedule will be posted in June.
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Never Stop Learning with RISD
WEBINARS
Website Platforms Demystified July 2019 Protecting Your Work Online September 2019 The Art of Pricing October 2019
The Alumni Association’s Lifelong Learning program offers a variety of educational opportunities to help alumni manage their creative practices. Grounded by the findings of the 2018 Alumni Survey, RISD has developed a series of educational programs on business skills needed to run successful studios and creative businesses. In these programs industry experts deliver engaging skill-building presentations that can help alumni at any stage in their careers.
How to Write Awesome Contracts November 2019 Important Legal Doctrines for Creative Entrepreneurs
Do you have expertise you’d like to share in a Lifelong Learning program,
January 23, 2020
or would you like to suggest a topic of interest? Please contact Katie Cush at kcush@risd.edu or 401 454-4986.
Taxes for Artists, Freelancers and Creative Businesses February 11, 2020 Managing your Creative Practice Through a Crisis March 30, 2020
WORKSHOPS
Planning, Plain and Simple Los Angeles, October 2019 Understanding Your Visual-Art Practice as a Business
“I found the ‘Taxes for Artists’ webinar to be extremely helpful. It clarified several issues that I have been puzzling over since starting my art business in 2009. I have enjoyed many of the webinars that RISD has offered, and the tax webinar is definitely one of the best. Thank you for making this webinar available to the RISD community.”
Boston, December 2019 Marketing and Branding for Artists Los Angeles, February 12, 2020 Space and Time: Working Outside a City North Adams, MA, May 2, 2020
Please visit alumni.risd.edu/learning for upcoming programs.
—ALLEN S. 02 IL
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Delivering on Our Promises RISD’s commitment to supporting its global community of artists and designers has never been stronger.
One year ago, in the Spring 2019 issue of Momentum, I wrote about RISD’s aspirations to better serve alumni in response to the findings of the 2018 Alumni Survey. We set out to strengthen the RISD Alumni Association, build a new alumni website, introduce new alumni clubs and affinity groups, launch a mentoring platform and offer new lifelong learning opportunities. It is a pleasure to share that we have successfully built all of these new platforms and programs—and it is exciting to see our community embrace them. The new alumni website, alumni.risd.edu, is receiving a brisk pace of traffic and many news and event submissions from alumni. The Alumni Association continues expand its programs to connect alumni in more regions and professions and the RISD Network, our new mentoring platform, is off the ground connecting hundreds of alumni and students.
support our alumni and their creative practices that are challenged by this new public health and economic climate. I invite you to visit alumni.risd.edu/learning to learn more.
Although COVID-19 has forced us to suspend in-person gatherings, our efforts to develop creative ways to engage our community has only accelerated as we offer new opportunities to connect in the digital space and plan for community gatherings when conditions allow. One quick pivot we made was to begin offering free webinars to the community to
None of this would be possible without your active involvement. I thank you for your time, attention and generous support.
Looking ahead, we will grow the Parents + Families Association and launch their new website, form new multicultural and professional affinity groups, further expand our regional clubs, invest in our lifelong learning initiative and offer new volunteer opportunities.
O’NEIL OUTAR VICE PRESIDENT OF INSTITUTIONAL ENGAGEMENT
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Institutional Engagement at RISD The Institutional Engagement team is dedicated to advancing RISD’s mission by strategically fostering lifelong relationships with alumni, parents, friends and organizations that strengthen goodwill and philanthropy.
WEB alumni.risd.edu
risd.edu/giving EMAIL
giving@risd.edu
PHONE 4 01 454-6403
Momentum
Written and edited by Christy Law Blanchard
a magazine about donor and volunteer impact from Institutional Engagement,
Photos by Jo Sittenfeld MFA 08 PH, with
Rhode Island School of Design
additional images from Rebecca Greenfield,
Š 2020
Dean Liaw, Adam Mastoon and Matthew Watson 09 FAV.
toll-free: 844 454-1877
Design by Studio Rainwater 35
Rhode Island School of Design Two College Street Providence, RI 02903 USA
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