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Rhode Island School of Design Partners with the U.S. Department of State’s Office of ART in Embassies
01/30/2012
Collaboration On Art for Moroccan
Embassy Kicks Off with Wintersession Course
Led by Renowned Artist and RISD
Alumnus Jim Drain
January 30, 2012 – PROVIDENCE,
RI – Visiting artist Jim Drain (RISD BFA 98/Sculpture) is leading
Art in Embassies: Morocco, a
Wintersession 2012 studio course at Rhode Island
School of Design (RISD), as the first phase of a multiyear partnership
between RISD and the U.S. Department of State’s Office of ART in Embassies (AIE), made possible through
the generous support of RISD alumna and Board Vice Chair Lisa Pevaroff (RISD
BFA 83/Textile Design).
This
collaborative project has been designed to promote cross-cultural exchange, and
to recognize and nurture the talents of the next generation of professional
artists. Ultimately, the collaboration will yield a large-scale
outdoor work of art for the U.S. Embassy building currently in the design phase
for Rabat, Morocco.
Drain is leading RISD students in the exploration and
research of the rich culture in Morocco, examining the deeper meaning and
significance behind the surface and visual culture. The class has also taken a
close look at AIE’s mission and objectives; at the architectural design for
this particular embassy so that the site-specific piece truly fits within the
unique plans for the structure; and will work with visiting textile artist,
Soukaina Aziz El Idrissi from Morocco. Dean of Fine Arts Anais Missakian, a professor
of Textiles, and Interim Associate Provost Patricia Phillips, a professor in
Graduate Studies, are also involved in the process.
“We are approaching this installation not from specific
disciplines, but rather from a materials and cultural approach. The crossover
between disciplines is valuable, as each student brings a specific interest and
expertise to the ideation process,” notes Drain. “In this course I am working with the class on something with
real consequence, and we have an incredible opportunity to have real input into
the nuts and bolts of the work itself. It is a challenging way to do a
commission, but one that I find very thrilling. Together, we are focusing on
how to incorporate materials in new and unorthodox ways, building models,
researching and discussing issues relating to cultural diplomacy.”
The work will continue beyond the initial studio,
culminating in the debut of the artwork at
the State Department’s 50th anniversary celebration on November 30
in Washington, D.C., where Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will acknowledge
the important work that AIE has done to enhance foreign relations through
visual art at the Department of State; and ultimately, the permanent
installation of the piece at the embassy in Morocco once the building is
completed in 2014–15.
”The mission
of the ART in Embassies is to advance our nation’s cultural diplomacy through the
international exchange of visual arts, culture and ideas,” explained Chief
Curator Virginia Shore, ART in Embassies. “While AIE has worked with more than
10,000 artists, museums, collectors, universities, and dealers over the past 50
years, this project with RISD is one of the most involved collaborations to
date. Led by artist Jim Drain, along with
ten RISD students, this project is engaging talented artists from both the U.S.
and Morocco. As part of our 50th
anniversary, this project is representative of the culmination of our
collective efforts, and one worth celebrating.”
AIE Director Beth Dozoretz noted “the generosity of Lisa Pevaroff
enabled AIE to further realize one of our goals to work with RISD and the
students. This collaboration is not Pevaroff’s first involvement with AIE. An
artist in her own right, she currently has work on exhibition at the US
Embassy, Montenegro.”
“As
a participating artist in ART in Embassies, I was very excited to be able to
involve RISD students in the process,” said Pevaroff. “Of course, I'm
especially pleased that the studio is being led by a fellow RISD graduate, Jim
Drain.”
About Rhode Island School
of Design
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
has earned an international reputation as the leading college of art and design
in the United States. Approximately 2,400 students from around the world study
at RISD, pursuing full-time bachelor’s or master’s degree programs in a choice
of 19 studio majors. RISD is known for its phenomenal
faculty of artists and designers, the breadth of its specialized facilities and
its hands-on, studio-based approach to learning – one in which critical
thinking informs making works by hand. Required courses in the liberal arts
provide an essential complement to studio work, enabling graduates to become
critical and informed individuals eager to engage with the world. Through the accomplishments
of its 26,000 alumni, the college champions the vital role artists and designers play in satisfying
the global demand for innovation. Founded
in 1877, RISD (pronounced “RIZ-dee”) and the
RISD Museum of Art help make Providence, RI among the most culturally active
and creative cities in the region. For more information, visit www.risd.edu.
About ART in
Embassies
Established
in 1963, the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations’ office
of ART in Embassies (AIE) plays a vital role
in our nation’s public diplomacy through a culturally expansive mission of
temporary exhibitions, permanent collections, artist exchanges and residencies,
and publications. AIE produces temporary exhibitions of original art by
American and host-country artists, on loan from a variety of sources, for the
representational spaces of U.S. chief-of-mission residences worldwide. Equally
important is the Program’s commitment to create permanent art collections for
all newly built U.S. embassies, consulates, and annexes. These exhibitions
and collections form cultural connections through contemporary art works by
artists from the U.S. and the host countries. Related artist exchange
programs establish more deeply rooted ties through two-way dialogues structured
around the visual arts. AIE provides international audiences with a sense
of the quality, scope, and diversity of American and host country art and
culture, building lasting cross-cultural bonds. http://art.state.gov/