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Above: Handmade paper created by POD teen Avari from our Wintersession Paper Making class!
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As RISD Project Open Door (POD) wraps up the 2022/2023 academic year, we have SO MANY exciting updates and news to share! Learn about some of our recent classes and events in our spring newsletter, and be sure to join us for our upcoming End of the Year Exhibition to celebrate the amazing work of POD teens. Invitation below!
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SATURDAY PORTFOLIO PROGRAM | |
In POD's intensive Saturday Portfolio Program, teens are introduced to foundational
and technical skills and encouraged to explore new ways of making. Over Wintersession,
POD ran three unique classes for teens to choose from based on their interests.
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SCULPTURAL ORIGAMI
Teaching Artist: Santrupthy Das
Teaching Assistants: Temilola Matanmi + Graciela Batista
In this Wintersession course, led by Santrupthy Das (RISD MA '23), teens were introduced to the basics of corrugations in origami and hands-on folding of tessellation patterns. Teens collaborated over the course of the semester to design and build and install an intricate, large-scale and site-specific origami sculpture outside of the POD studio. More images from the class here!
Above: DOP, the POD dragon, on instillation day
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OBSERVATIONAL DRAWING
Teaching Artist: Megan Tresca
Teaching Assistants: Naylea Hernandez, Tres Nadal
In Intro to Observational Drawing, led by teaching artist Megan Tresca (RISD MAT '18), teens experimented with new techniques for drawing from life! They learned to create interesting compositions and strengthen technical skills like proportion, perspective, line quality, and value while working from both still lifes and life models.
See more photos of teen work from this class in a recent Instagram post!
Left: A drawing by POD senior Kenny from Central Falls!
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PAPER MAKING
Teaching Artists:
Mindy Kang + Ashely Ro
In Intro to Paper Making, led by graduate student teaching artists Mindy Kang and Ashley Ro (both MAT '23), POD teens learned how to produce and transform handmade paper. They explored how to color paper, cast paper sculptures, paint with paper pulp, and more!
See more photos of teen work from this class in a recent Instagram post!
Right: Alisse makes paper in RISD's papermaking studio!
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Check out the April 14th, 2023 issue of The College Hill Independent for an article written and illustrated by POD Teaching Assistant Graciela Batista (RISD IL'24) that explores her work with POD and Providence City Arts! and features the voices and stories of several POD teens. Click the button below to read more.
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Above: A collaborative light drawing created by Onward We Learn teens during February Break |
POD + ONWARD WE LEARN
For many years POD has partnered with, Onward We Learn, formerly the College Crusade of Rhode Island, to bring creative out-of-school-time programming to Onward participants on the RISD campus during school breaks and over the summer months.
This year, during February break, long-time POD Teaching Artist, and professional photographer, Scott Lapham introduced teens to photography through exercises with camera obscurer, pinhole cameras, shutter speed, light drawing, and Photoshop. See more images from this engagement on Instagram.
Over the April school break, Onward Teens worked with Teaching Artist Cisco Gonzalez in Intro to Fashion. Teens learned the basics of hand sewing and how to use a sewing machine. Throughout the week, teens also experimented with tie-dying and cyanotype and created tote bags inspired by the artwork they were inspired by during a visit to the RISD museum. See more images from April vacation week in a recent Instagram post.
Below: Images from our week with Onward We Learn
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SEEING OURSELVES
The Future Belongs to the Youth
POD recently celebrated the opening of Seeing Ourselves: The Future Belongs to the Youth at The Wurks in Providence.
Designed and curated by artist and POD teaching artist Lilly Manycolors (RISD MA GAC '22), this interactive exhibition showcased a group of 10 POD teens who created personal artwork that speaks to current social issues impacting them and their futures.
The opening reception was a joyous evening spent celebrating the teens and their work, with many family and friends in attendance. Many thanks to everyone who attended, especially the teens and Lilly, for making this spectacular exhibition possible. See more images here.
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YOU'RE INVITED!
Please join POD teens, friends, and families on Thursday, May 25th, from 6 - 8pm for our
annual End Of Year Exhibition. This event recognizes and celebrates POD teens and the exceptional artwork they have created in POD's Saturday Portfolio Program this year.
Open to the public | Refreshments provided
POD Studio @ 355 South Water Street
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DELCI R
Delci, a junior at Blackstone Academy in Pawtucket, was recently awarded a scholarship from the Leading Ladies Initiative, a nationally recognized mentorship program that gives 11th and 12th-grade students confidence, and unique experiences, builds relationships, and empowers future leaders with the tools to succeed.
As a selected participant in this initiative, Delci received a scholarship and a stipend for professional clothing and sessions to practice resume building and professional headshots.
Delci has been a part of POD for two years and is an awesome, dedicated student!
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SHILOH LEMAIRE
Congrats to POD senior Shiloh Lemaire for being admitted to Rhode Island School of Design for fall 2023! This year was the most selective in RISD admissions history, with an 18% acceptance rate. Shiloh is currently a senior at Hope High School in Providence.
We are also excited to announce that Shiloh will be the first official recipient of the POD Alumni Scholarship. This newly named and announced scholarship covers full tuition and mandatory fees for all four years of RISD undergraduate studies for eligible POD Alumni.
Congrats Shiloh, we are so excited for you to begin your next chapter at RISD!
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Francy (left) stands in front of their selected piece and is supported by another POD alumni, Alia who is studying printmaking at Rhode Island College. | |
FRANCY HINDS
Congrats to POD alumni Francy Hinds, who recently had their work selected for the Pawtucket Foundation's Juried Prize Exhibition.
Francy graduated from POD and Jacquline M. Walsh High School in Pawtucket in 2020.
Francy recently received their associate's degree from the Community College of Rhode Island and is now considering where to continue their studies. Francy was accepted to and is deciding between the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), and Maine College of Art (MECA).
Congrats Francy!
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DOMINGO PABLO GUTIERREZ
POD alum Domingo Pablo Gutiérrez (RISD IL '23) recently had his first solo exhibition at La Galería del Pueblo in Central Falls, RI.
Pablo was selected among a list of highly competitive Latinx applicants statewide to be Rhode Island Latino Artists' (RILA) first Emerging Latin Visual Arts Fellow. This fellowship awards $1,000 to emerging Latinx artists studying and residing in Rhode Island, a portion of which will go toward school tuition and/or summer courses. Pablo's solo exhibition was the culmination of his year-long fellowship with RILA.
Read more about this Pablo and this exhibition on the RILA website and Instagram
Pablo participated in POD programs for two years as a high school student attending Mt. Pleasant High School in Providence. He currently has a work-study position as POD's Studio Assistant and is instrumental in keeping the POD studio clean, stocked, and well-organized. Pablo will also be graduating from RISD this spring! We will miss him but are so proud of him and his accomplishments.
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LESLIE PONCE DIAZ
While not technically a POD alumni, Leslie Ponce Diaz (RISD ARCH '23) has been an essential part of the POD team for the past few years as a teaching assistant and mentor to teens.
Leslie is graduating from RISD this spring and is pursuing a Masters of Architecture II degree at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design and was awarded the Dean Merit Scholarship. Leslie was also accepted into Master Architecture programs at Yale, Princeton, and Columbia, and was a semi-finalist for the U.S. Fulbright Award.
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INTERESTED IN JOINING POD?
We are currently recruiting teens for our Saturday Portfolio program on a rolling basis for the 2023/2024 academic year! If you know any creative and driven teens who attend public high school in Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, or Woonsocket, please direct them to our website for eligibility requirements and more information on how to apply!
Additionally, we are always interested in speaking with experienced teaching artists who might be interested in working with POD in the future. If this sounds like you or someone you know, please reach out to POD Staff at pod@risd.edu.
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We are endlessly grateful for the generous support of
Hasbro Children's Fund
Rhode Island School of Design
RISD Center for Community Partnerships
whose generous investments in POD
make our work possible and sustainable.
If you are interested in supporting POD please reach out to:
Bridget Wiffin (RISD Institutional Advancement): bwiffin@risd.edu or 844.454.187 (toll free)
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RISD | PROJECT OPEN DOOR
355 South Water Street
Providence, Rhode Island, 02903
401.277.4826 | pod@risd.edu
www.risdprojectopendoor.com
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