SATURDAY PORTFOLIO PROGRAM

This academic year, POD has 62 teens from 15 public high schools and public charter schools enrolled in our Saturday Portfolio Program. In addition to the 75 hours of class and instructional time per year on Saturday mornings, teens in the portfolio program also have access to the RISD campus, free art supplies, transportation, individual mentorship, unique scholarship opportunities, and over 125 hours of additional programming offerings, including open studios, community events, college and career info sessions, field trips, etc! In the fall and winter sessions, POD teens are in cohorts divided by grade level and working on foundational and exploratory skills with amazing teaching artists. In the upcoming spring semester, teens will have unique medium-focused course options to choose from based on their interests.

This fall in Portfolio I (9th and 10th grades), led by Brianna DeLuca (BA FAV '18, MAT '19) with support from undergraduate teaching assistants Kara Lee (PT '24) and Prophet Raines (SC '25), teens have worked on foundational skills like observational drawing and perspective and visited Special Collections at RISD's Fleet Library for a dazzle camouflage assignment. 

Teens in Portfolio II (11th grade), led by Teaching Artist Megan Tresca (BA PT '17, MAT '18) with teaching assistants Vethlie Millcette (FAV '26) and Temilola Matanmi (FAV '24), have created some excellent portfolio-worthy work in figure drawing, painting, printmaking, etc. 

Senior Portfolio (12th grade) students, guided by Triton Mobley (MFA DM '08) and teaching assistants Naylea Hernandez (PT '24) and Anja Drakulovic (GD '26), worked on a semester-long biomimicry project, which started in the microscope room at the RISD Nature Lab and resulted in beautiful Die Cut cards with a focus on design thinking and craftsmanship. During this winter session, seniors will have time to work independently to complete college applications, portfolio pieces, and pursue personal projects. 

See more pictures from our fall semester below and in our recent Instagram post! 

POD + SCHOOLS: After-school programs

POD ran three after-school programs this fall led by graduate student Teaching Artists from the Department of Teaching + Learning in Art + Design (TLAD). POD + Schools programs are an informal opportunity for teens to learn new ways of creating and thinking about art and design that they may not experience during the school day. 

Meital Smith (MAT '24) taught "Rendering Rhythm" at Shea High School, in which teens explored different ways to illustrate music through various fun, student-led exercises such as making a multi-media accordion book and reduction printmaking. 

Mei Zheng (MA '24) led "To Design With Hope" at Hope High School, where teens explored art and activism through collage and zines. Teens took a trip to the RISD museum, and their work is now on display in the high school!

In "Mixed Media Mania," held at the POD studio for teens from any eligible high school, teens were guided by Sylvia Rodriguez (MA '24) and explored making art and storytelling through various media. 

JOHANNA BENITEZ

POD Alumni Johanna Benitez recently had work on display at Public Shop & Gallery in Providence and was featured in Go Local Pro. (See Article to the left!)

Johanna graduated from J.M. Walsh School in 2021 and plans to continue her studies at Rhode Island College, pursuing a degree in Art Education. Congrats on your amazing work, Johanna!

TEMILOLA MATANMI

We are grateful for the generous support of 

Hasbro Foundation

Ocean State Charities Trust

 Rhode Island School of Design

The Geneviève McMillan-Reba Stewart Foundation

whose generous investments in POD

make our work possible and sustainable.

If you are interested in donating to POD, please reach out to:

Maghan Bolles

Assistant Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations

mbolles@risd.edu | 401.454.6762

OR

Check out the NEW donate page on our website!