Rhode Island School of Design
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Rhode Island School of Design |
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| Established | 1877 |
| Type | Private |
| Endowment | $220 million |
| President | Roger Mandle |
| Faculty | 146 full-time, 336 part-time |
| Students | 2,282 |
| Undergraduates | 1,883 |
| Postgraduates | 399 |
| Location | Providence, Rhode Island, USA |
| Campus | Urban 13 acres (53,000 m²) |
| Website | risd.edu |
The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD, pronounced /RIZ-dee/) is one of the premier fine arts institutions in the United States. Often referred to as the "Ivy League" of the art schools, it was founded in 1877 and is located in Providence, Rhode Island at the base of College Hill and contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources. They offer joint courses, and students at each institution may cross-register in courses offered by the other institution.
RISD is widely regarded as one of the best art schools in the country. It has been consistently named the best Master of Fine Arts program by U.S. News & World Report and has the lowest admissions rate of all art schools in the United States, except for the free Cooper Union.[1]
In May 2006 the RISD Board of Trustees approved this mission statement:
"The mission of the Rhode Island School of Design, through its college and museum, is to educate its students and the public in the creation and appreciation of works of art and design, to discover and transmit knowledge and to make lasting contributions to a global society through critical thinking, scholarship and innovation."
The school includes about 350 faculty and curators, and 400 staff members. About 1,880 undergraduates and 370 graduate students enroll from all over the United States and 50 other countries from other parts of the world. It offers 16 undergraduate majors and 17 graduate majors. RISD is a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD), a consortium of thirty-six leading art schools in the United States. It also maintains over 80,000 works of art in the RISD Museum.
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[edit] History
The Centennial Women were a group formed to raise funds for Rhode Island's exhibit at the Centennial Exposition in 1876. The group had $1,675 left over after the exposition, and, inspired by foreign exhibits on design and interior decorating, Helen Adelia Rowe Metcalf persuaded the group to donate the money to found what would become the Rhode Island School of Design. The school was incorporated in 1877 and opened its doors the following fall. Metcalf directed the school until her death in 1895. Her daughter, Eliza Greene Metcalf Radeke, then took over until her death in 1931.[2]
The Rhode Island General Assembly ratified “An Act to Incorporate the Rhode Island School of Design” on March 22, 1877. “For the purpose of aiding in the cultivation of the arts of design.” Over the next 129 years, the following original by-laws set forth these following primary objectives :
First. The instruction of artisans in drawing, painting, modeling, and designing, that they may successfully apply the principles of Art to the requirements of trade and manufacture. Second. The systematic training of students in the practice of Art, in order that they may understand its principles, give instruction to others, or become artists.
Third. The general advancement of public Art Education, by the exhibition of works of Art and of Art school studies, and by lectures on Art.
[edit] Sports
Sports are not the focus of campus life but do provide a rare sense of school spirit. RISD sports have fluctuated over the years with the RISD archives containing photos of football, baseball, and basketball teams spanning the very early 20th century. Yearbooks and alumni reveal the RISD Student Association funded basketball teams throughout the 1950s and 1960s that were called the 'Nads'. An ice hockey team formed soon after using the same name, 'Nads'. The ice hockey team played through the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s with little record of other athletics. In 2000, a new basketball team was formed under the name 'Balls' to complement the ice hockey team, each with its own slogan: "When the heat is on, the Balls stick together", and "Go Nads" (deliberately sounding like "gonads"). Currently, these are the two most active and organized sports teams at RISD, with basketball the only sport played at varsity-level competition. Together, both teams provide a rally ground for students, faculty, administration, and staff alike. Intramural level teams round out the offering in rock climbing, men's and women's soccer, volleyball, and biking.
RISD students claim Cooper Union and Pratt Institute as their archrivals in sporting events, and the two hold an annual basketball match in both Providence and New York.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Keira Alexandra (B.F.A. 1990) – graphic designer
- Janine Antoni (M.F.A. 1989) – artist
- Whitney Bedford (B.F.A. 1998) - artist
- Deborah Berke (B.F.A. 1975, B.Arch. 1977) – architect
- Eli Bonerz (B.Arch. 1989) – co-founder, X-Large
- Mary Boone (B.F.A. 1973) – gallery owner
- Matt Brinkman (B.F.A. 1997) – artist, part of collective Force Field, musician, founded Fort Thunder
- Claudia Bruno (M.F.A. 1992) – former Associate Art Director Martha Stewart Living magazine, now Creative Director Dwell Magazine
- Morgan Calderini (B.F.A. 2007) - Printmaker and balloonist
- Cara Campagnoli (B.F.A. 2004)- Knitwear Developer T.S.E.
- Karin Campbell (B.F.A 1984) – artist
- Dale Chihuly (M.F.A. 1968) – famous glass-blower/artist, co-founder of Pilchuck School
- Joseph Coates (M.F.A. 1991) - university professor, designer
- Ben Coccio - director of Zero Day
- Linda Connor - large-format photographer, currently teaches at the San Francisco Art Institute
- Martha Coolidge (B.F.A. 1968) – film director: Valley Girl (1983), Real Genius (1985), The Prince and Me (2004), Material Girls (2006)
- Tiffany Laine De Mott (M.F.A 2005) - graphic designer/photographer/filmmmaker/musician/art educator
- Cheryl Donegan (B.F.A. 1984) – video artist and painter
- Jim Drain (B.F.A. 1998) – artist, part of collective Force Field
- Eric Alan Edwards (B.F.A. 1975) – cinematographer: My Own Private Idaho (1991), To Die For (1995), Cop Land (1997), Crossroads (2002)
- Benjamin Edwards (M.F.A. 1997) – artist
- Diana Eng - fashion designer and contestant on Project Runway
- Shepard Fairey (B.F.A. 1992) – graphic designer, creator of the Obey Giant campaign
- Henry E. Ferreira (B.F.A 2007) - artist/printmaker
- Jon Foster (1989) – illustrator
- Tobias Frere-Jones (B.F.A. 1992) – type designer
- Alissa Imre Geis (class of 1998), children's book author and illustrator
- Katherine Gerdes (B.F.A. 2003) - fashion designer and contestant on Project Runway
- Charlotte Perkins Gilman - author and feminist
- Kenneth Goldsmith (B.F.A. 1984) - poet, WFMU DJ, founding editor of UbuWeb
- Kristen Hassenfeld (B.F.A. 1994) – artist
- Jenny Holzer (M.F.A. 1977) – installation artist, famous for her "Truisms"
- Roni Horn (B.F.A. 1975) – artist
- Natalia Ilyin (M.F.A. 1991) - design critic, author, educator
- James Jaxxa - Multi-media artist
- Allan Merrick Jeffers - 1875-1926, architect of the "Beaux Arts" style.
- Stuart Karten - (B.F.A. 1979) - industrial designer
- Jennifer Kellogg (B.F.A. 1993) - jewelry designer
- Steven Kellogg (B.F.A 1963) – children's book illustrator
- Bryan Konietzko (B.F.A. 1998) co-creator and executive producer, Avatar: The Last Airbender
- Fran Krause (B.F.A. 1999) – Animator
- Jarrett J. Krosoczka (B.F.A. 1999) – author/illustrator
- Mary Lambert (B.F.A 1974) – film director: Pet Sematary (1989), The In Crowd (2000)
- Grace Lin (B.F.A. 1996) – author/illustrator
- Justin Lo (B.F.A. 1999) - Hong Kong singer, composer and record producer.
- Michele Macrakis (B.F.A.) - photographer Fulbright Fellow
- David Macaulay (B.Arch. 1969) – writer/illustrator
- Seth MacFarlane (B.F.A. 1995) – creator of the animated series Family Guy and American Dad
- Michael McPherson (M.F.A. 1979) – graphic designer
- Josiah McElheny (B.F.A. 1988) - artist/sculptor
- Julie Mehretu (M.F.A. 1997) – artist
- Nicole Miller (B.F.A. 1973) – fashion designer
- Matthew Monk (M.F.A. 1991) – RISD design professor, graphic designer
- Martin Mull (B.F.A. 1965, M.F.A. 1967) – actor/comedian, painter
- Marissa Nadler – singer/songwriter
- Gregory Ng (B.F.A 1997) – creative director, former Chelvis: The Chinese Elvis, founder of Noodad.com
- Heather Nova – singer/songwriter
- Starr Ockenga (M.F.A. 1974) – photographer
- Alex O'neal (B.F.A. 1979) – artist
- Jose Clemente Orozco (MFA 1990) - graphic designer, illustrator, book designer, grandson of Mexican muralist
- Laura Owens (M.F.A. 1992) – painter
- Jane Pallera (B.F.A. 1991) – industrial designer
- Mark Pollack (B.F.A. 1976) – textile designer
- Joanna Priestley- independent animator
- Lucy Puls (M.F.A. 1980) – artist
- Clare Rojas (B.F.A. 1998) – artist
- Mark Badum (B.F.A. 2006) – illustrator
- Michael Scheiner (B.F.A. 1980) – glass sculptor/ RISD professor
- Denyse Schmidt (B.F.A. 1992) – modern quilt entrepreneur, founder Denyse Schmidt Quilts
- Susan Sellers (B.F.A. 1989) – graphic designer
- Shazia Sikander (M.F.A. 1995) – artist
- Walt Simonson (B.F.A.) – comic book writer/artist
- Sonya Sklaroff (B.F.A. 1992) – artist/painter
- Helen Stickler (B.F.A. 1991) – film director
- Charles Stone III (B.F.A. 1988) – film director: Drumline (2002), creator of Whassup? Anheuser-Busch Budweiser commercial campaign
- Georgie Stout (B.F.A. 1989) – graphic designer
- Scott Stowell (B.F.A. 1990) – graphic designer, former designer M&Co./Colors Magazine
- Jesse Sykes – singer/songwriter
- Howard Ben Tre (M.F.A. 1980) – artist
- Ryan Trecartin (B.F.A. 2004) – artist
- Peter Van Lancker (B.F.A. 1978) - renowned boat designer and builder
- Gus Van Sant (B.F.A. 1975) – film director: My Own Private Idaho (1991), To Die For (1995), Good Will Hunting (1997), Finding Forrester (2000), Elephant (2003) Last Days (2006)
- Yvonne Force Villareal - art patron and socialite
- Kara Walker (M.F.A. 1994) – artist
- Kurt Wenner (Attended) – anamorphic street painter
- Tina Weymouth – musician, Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club
- Francesca Woodman - photographer
- Michael Yurgeles (M.F.A. 1985) - photographer/arts educator
- Michaela Colette Zacchilli (B.F.A 2007) - artist/printmaker
- Andrea Zittel (M.F.A. 1990) – artist
- Kevin Zucker (B.F.A. 2000) – painter
[edit] Groups formed at RISD
- Black Dice – formed in 1997
- Hisham Bharoocha (B.F.A. 1998) – artist
- Forcefield – art collective
- Jim Drain (B.F.A 1998) - artist
- Ara Peterson (B.F.A 1997) – artist
- Matt Brinkman (B.F.A 1997) - artist
- Leif Goldberg (B.F.A. 1997) - artist
- Les Savy Fav – formed in 1995
- Lightning Bolt – formed in 1994
- Brian Chippendale (B.F.A 1997) – artist, founded Fort Thunder
- Brian Gibson (B.F.A. 1998) – artist
- Talking Heads – formed in 1974
- David Byrne – musician
[edit] Notable current and past faculty
- Yvonne Andersen – Professor Emerita, Department of Animation/Film/Video
- Steven Subotnick-fomer Head, proffesor in animation
- Harry Callahan – photographer, former Chair of the Department of Photography
- Henry Horenstein - photographer
- Joseph Goto - Sculptor, Painter
- Malcolm Grear – former RISD professor, graphic designer
- Barry Gerson - avant-garde filmmaker
- Mikyoung Kim - chair, Department of Landscape Architecture
- Krzysztof Lenk – designer, founder Dynamic Diagrams information design
- David Macaulay (B.Arch. 1969) – Illustrator and author
- Rodolfo Machado – former Head of the Department of Architecture, now Professor in Practice and Chair, Department of Urban Design and Planning, Harvard University
- Marian Marzynski – Independent filmmaker
- Richard Merkin (M.F.A. 1963) – former RISD professor, painter, appears on the cover of The Beatles album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
- Mihai Nadin – theorist, semiotics, computational design
- Tom Ockerse – former Head, Graphic Design Department and MFA graphic design program
- Ootje Oxenaar – Dutch graphic designer, designer of acclaimed but now vanished Dutch currency
- Karim Rashid – industrial designer, formerly of industrial design department (1992)
- Michael Rock – graphic designer, writer, now design professor at Yale University MFA graphic design program
- Douglas G. A. Scott – Designer Director WGBH, design historian
- Nancy Skolos – Graphic Design Department Head
- Henry Ferreira - printmaker, Printmaking Department Head
- Friedrich St. Florian – architect, designer of National World War II Memorial
- Chris Van Allsburg – children's book author/illustrator, Caldecott winner for The Polar Express
- Jan Van Toorn – Dutch graphic designer
- Wendy S. Walters - English professor, poet, and lyricist; author of Birds of Los Angeles and Golden Motors, a musical with composer Derek Bermel
- Tom Wedell – Skolos + Wedell
- Whitney Anderson (2005) – Professional Ventriloquist
[edit] References in Popular Culture
- Seth Cohen, from the tv show The OC, is accepted at RISD after being declined at Brown
[edit] References
- ^ "America's Best Graduate Schools 2007: Master of Fine Arts." U.S. News & World Report.
- ^ Kirk, Laura Meade. "From bonnets to baccalaureates", The Providence Journal, 2004-3-21.
[edit] External links
| Northeast U.S. Art Colleges |
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| AIB • Cooper Union • FIT • MECA • MICA • MassArt • Paier • Parsons • Pratt • SMFA • SVA • RISD • UArts |
| Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design |
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| United States:
• Art Academy of Cincinnati • Art Center College of Design • Art Institute of Boston • CCA • CalArts • CIA • CCSCAD • CCAD • Cooper Union • Corcoran College of Art and Design • Cornish College of the Arts • Cranbrook Academy of Art • KCAI • LCAD • Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts • MECA • MICA • MassArt • MCA • Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design • MCAD • Montserrat College of Art • Moore College of Art and Design • Oregon College of Art and Craft • Otis College of Art and Design • Pacific Northwest College of Art • Parsons • Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts • Pratt Institute • RISD • RSAD • SFAI • SCAD • School of the Art Institute of Chicago • SMFA • SVA • UArts • Alberta College of Art and Design • Burren College of Art • Design Academy Eindhoven • Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design • NSCAD University • OCAD • Osaka University of Arts • VCA |
