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08.20.08 | issue #41

partly sunny in denver

If you're in Denver next week or watching the coverage, chances are you'll catch on to the RISD presence at the Democratic National Convention. A group of students, faculty and alumni is presenting Partly Sunny: Designs to Change the Forecast, a project meant to spur grassroots action on climate change. It's just one component of Dialog: City, a public arts program sponsored by the Denver 2008 Host Committee and curated by Seth Goldenberg '03 PT. Click here to watch faculty member Charlie Cannon's overview of the project.

risd celebrates

Please join us on Friday, September 12, for the inauguration of John Maeda as RISD's 16th president. The ceremony begins at 5:30pm in the First Baptist Church of America (at the foot of College Hill), with a festive block party and campus celebration following from 7-9pm at Market Square. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, but the ceremony will be simulcast in the RISD Auditorium. And later in the month, you are also invited to celebrate the long-awaited opening of the Chace Center, the stunning new facility at 20 North Main Street designed by world-renowned architect Rafael Moneo. Alumni are welcomed at a preview opening on Friday, September 26, when you can check out the new building from 10am to 7pm and preview three new exhibitions associated with the festivities: Chihuly at RISD, Studio Glass in Rhode Island: The Chihuly Years and Building Books: The Art of David Macaulay. At the public opening festivities on Saturday (10am-10pm) there will be music, performances and other special events, culminating in WaterFire at sundown. Make sure to bring your RISD alumni ID card and come to these free, festive events.

video: doubling up

As 13 freshmen begin the new Brown/RISD dual degree program next month, Andrew Bearnot '08 GL talks about the benefits of taking classes at both institutions in this short video clip.

from alumni relations

If you're toying with the idea of attending RISD by Design weekend in October (10-12), be sure to log in and participate in the conversation leading up to it at our new RISD by Design blog. And if you're on the fence about coming, maybe the comments from the community will inspire you to make the commitment.

The RISD NYC Alumni Biennial 2008, featuring works by 55 alumni living in the NYC region, opens with a reception on Sunday, September 7 at The Old American Can Factory in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Organized by the NYC alumni club, RISD Career Services and XO Projects, the show is on view Thursdays through Sundays from September 11-28. Click here for a full schedule of related gallery talks, studio tours and other special programs.

look around

As Beautiful Losers, a documentary about the surprise successes of a group of 1990s "underground" artists, continues its US, Canadian and European tour this month, you may want to check it out - not only because Shepard Fairey '92 IL is one of the "losers" featured, but because the film looks at contemporary ways of making it as an artist while also raising the very gnarly subject of selling out. On the political front, Fairey is co-sponsoring an international art competition to help raise funds for the Obama campaign. Called Manifest Hope, the initiative culminates with an exhibition next week in Denver during the Democratic National Convention.

If all goes well, a striking piece of towering sculpture by Nick Hollibaugh '03 FD and Joshua Enck MFA '03 FD will grace the Blackstone Valley Visitors Center in Pawtucket, RI, once funds for the $50,000 project have been raised. Earlier this month the two furniture designers won the commission to create the piece - the largest public art project they've ever tackled. Hollibaugh also recently designed a series of massive display cases for the new risd|works store in the Chace Center (which opens next month - see above).

It may not exactly look or feel like RISD, but when Alexis Bledel's character in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 begins her freshman year in college, she purportedly reaches new levels of introspection through a classmate in her Foundation Studies drawing studio. (Hint: You might want to leave your RISD crit-eyes outside the movie theater for this one.)

You'll find RISD references in four magazines on the newsstand this month: the August issue of Esquire features new graduates from various disciplines modeling what's known as "Intelligent Design," the magazine's look at fall fashions for men. The September issue of Popular Science takes a look at the Industrial Design Department's most recent collaboration with NASA; the September issue of O, The Oprah Magazine includes a piece on risd|works; and the September issue of Town & Country mentions the Chace Center opening.

on campus

"I have somewhat of a messy way of keeping things ordered," admits Ryan Waller '03 GD about his own way of working. The art director and creator of The New College Beat zine will be a featured speaker at Orientation, helping new Foundation Studies students to adjust to life at RISD. You're invited to attend the lecture, too, at 7 pm on Monday, September 8 in the RISD Auditorium.

e-views is produced by RISD's Division of Communications + Design and is e-mailed to readers monthly. Questions? Comments? Send a message to risdviews@risd.edu. Alumni with other questions should contact Director of Alumni Relations Christina Hartley '74 IL or call 401 454-6794. If you would like to receive e-views at a different e-mail address, please update your information here.

(C) 2008 Rhode Island School of Design

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