my class at brown

Wilson Building on Brown campus:

Brown is the University that basically shares the campus with RISD, well, they intermingle a little bit, but are actually side by side in the area of Providence called College Hill. It is an Ivy League college, and students from RISD can take classes at Brown and vice versa. Unfortunately, exchange students cannot sign up for classes at Brown.
But there was a seminar that takes place at Brown and was advertised around both campuses called FemSex. I applied by writing answering a few essay-style questions, and luckily, I got in! We meet Monday & Wednesday nights for two hours each night. There are about 20 people in the class. It is in the Wilson Building on the Brown campus. Here's what the building looks like inside:



So far we have met for two sessions, and it has been extremely positive and engaging. We've been discussing "What is woman?" and next will be body image. Our assignment is to make a body image collage.
With all of my interactions with Brown students, I've found them to be very open & welcoming, and people really participate in the class in a thoughtful way.
In FemSex, at first I thought it was strange that we were made to refer to people as Phe and not He or She. And the two facilitators snapped when they appreciated what people said. But actually Phe is becoming second nature, and creates a gender-neutral space, which is relieving for some reason, I'm not sure exactly why. And at first I was like, "I am NOT snapping, heck no" but I have found myself snapping along, and it's actually really supportive.
FemSex is a great anti-dote for me, in my painting class people seem reticent to engage in class discussion, people are too cool for school, and I feel like a nerd when I make comments in class, whereas FemSex is kind of more my style, people are interested in exploring topics and engaging in discussion readily and in a supportive manner, so it's been really nice to go to.

boston

After a tough critique for my painting in painting class on Thursday, I was very eager to get outta town, to go to Boston, and not have to think about risd for a while.

A group of about 20 of us exchange students all took the train at 8:35 to Boston which is an hour north. We all agreed it was nice to get out of Providence because it is actually a pretty small city. Providence feels smaller to me than Victoria, just because a lot of where we go around Providence is a homogenous population of students and school life. It's kind of like living at your school on a permanent basis.

First thing we did was to go to Harvard:

On a Saturday morning, there were more tourists out and about Harvard than students. It was nice, but not too different than Brown, just more tourists. I actually liked the Brown campus better.

Next we went to Beacon Hill in Boston, the historical and nice part of Boston:

It's full of brick rowhouses and brick sidewalks.

Then we had a picnic in the park, I think it was the Boston Commons park. It was beautiful there. There were about a half dozen wedding parties having their pictures taken in the park. I've never seen so many brides and bridesmaids at once. I think brown is the current "in" colour for bridesmaids dresses, by the way.


One thing I noticed about walking through the downtown core in Boston on Saturday was that it felt deserted. I guess it does make a difference to have quite a bit of people living in condos downtown, as Vancouver does, it makes for a more alive city centre when all of the workers have left the office buildings.

All in all it was a nice day and Boston is a pretty city, but didn't have a "big city" feel, but we will probably go back as we only did see a small slice of it.

Doris & Delores

On Wednesday I had my kids book writing and illustration class. We had to create a 6 page book with words, the layout of the book was to be roughly sketched out, and do one finished illustration from the book. I stayed up until around 2 am trying to finish the finished illustration. Here it is in progress:


It turns out that my instructors didn't like the finished version of the characters, they liked the simple roughed-out version of the characters much better, and I have to agree with them there. I was trying so hard with it, that I tried too hard, I was trying to be all "professional" like the other illustration students here. I was feeling like my rough version was so inadequate, everyone else's was so polished and full of professional technique. Here is the rougher version:


The good news was that everyone really loved the story, I was surprised at this actually, as I waited until I was almost the last person to read it because I just thought my illustrations were so bad. I just need to find an illustration style that works for me and that isn't pretending to be so professional. So I think my style will be to do simple collages for my illustrations. Here is another student's illustration that I really like, and which the instructors thought would be a good, simple style for my illustrations.
Or, I may just find, as my teacher said, that I will only be a writer, and let others do the illustrating. This was actually a relief to hear. But I think I can figure out a style that will work for me.

More simple styles of illustrations which I love (these are actual books):
George & Martha - I absolutely love the quirky stories and excellent illustrations with only 2 or 3 colours:

The mitten: such colours!

campus

Looking at risd from across the river:

After walking around risd's campus for a couple weeks now, I was surprised to find out that risd has a population of approximately 1200 - 1500 undergrad students, plus 500 grad students. I think the undergrad population is very close to Emily Carr's size. But RISD has at least 20 buildings to ECI's 2 (+ 1 senior painting studio). RISD has 2 cafeterias, at least 3 coffee shops (that I know of), an art supplies store, apartments and dorms, work out facilities, a fleet of trucks, vans, and van/shuttles, and probably a bunch of other facilities I don't yet know of.

I was telling someone in my class today about the size of Emily Carr and she said, "Where do they fit everyone?" But I think ECI gets a lot of use out of its two buildings, it must cost a lot of money just for the overhead of RISD!

studio space

Yesterday I worked in my painting studio for the first time. The night before last I asked another student if there was going to be a class in there in the morning, or anything like that. She seemed to think that was a bit of a funny question. I've been so used to not being able to paint at ECI during weekdays because there was always a class being held in our painting room. It's a little hard to wrap my head around the fact that this space is mine all mine, no strings attached.

I came in pretty early in the morning, so there was no one to ask if they could take my photo, so I took it myself. In front of a blank canva:


I hate the fact that I had to buy a pre-made canvas! For all of the facilities here at risd, there's only a small workshop with one table and one saw for making canvas stretchers. They don't seem to provide glue, and each student has their own canvas stretching pliers and stapler. There is also no tool crib for signing out these items. So I will have to buy them. It made me appreciate ECI's workshop.

Some people have already pimped out their studios:


But I prefer a more minimal look, mostly because I don't have any stuff:


Another great thing is that we have 24 hour access, although I've been going to sleep around 10 or 11, so I probably won't use it that late, but it's good to have in case of last minute painting.

miscellaneous houses of Providence

For my kids book class, I took some photos of some houses to put in my upcoming illustration assignment, but I like all of them a lot, so I will add them here to show some various architecture around Providence. These are all located on "College Hill".

The house on the right is called New Empire style of architecture (I looked that up in a book today).


This home is unusual here because it's been left weathered as most homes here are painted and fixed up, although apparently a lot of the historical houses had fallen into disrepair at one point, but not anymore.



This is one of the oldest houses I've seen in Providence, it was built in the 1750s. I like how the trim and siding are all one colour. I was surprised to read that this is called the Greek Revival style, but the more I notice the faux-columns by the door, and the triangle above the door, it makes sense. It was moved from down the street. Many houses around Providence were moved at one point or another.

risd picture library

Today was my second painting class in which our instructor, Carrie Moyer, a painter who lives in New York, gave us an interesting reading by David Levi Strauss about how capitalism hems in the free expression of artists. Then she showed a series of slides that were all painters that had political statements, from Otto Dix to Gerhardt Richter. Most of the images she showed were incendiary, especially one called Hitler in Hell. And then she gave an assignment to paint a painting that would cause people to join our cause, to believe in our strongly held beliefs. Yikes! I have beliefs but don't believe art necessarily must be about that. She said that art isn't all about your own expression, which I understand, but I was really looking forward to exploring some abstract paintings, some colours & compositions, no messages.

Anyhow, I was quite disappointed by that. So I wasn't really sure what to do, and I was really resisting this assignment. So I went to find out about RISD's picture library just to avoid sitting in the studio trying to figure out what to do until classtime was done. The picture library has many many file folders on hundreds of topics. Inside each folder is a wad of laminated images relating to the topic. There are also folders on images of work by different artists.



The topic I wanted to check out was Canada! There were two folders on Canada, and one on the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Most of the images were older and showing the natural beauty and splendour of Canada. Within the folder I happened upon an image which struck me which I'll use for the "change the world" painting assignment, so that makes me feel more at ease about the assignment, and I am now very interested in it. The painting is due Thursday, so I'll document it and put it on this blog.



All in all, I think this RISD picture library is a really great resource for artists, and just looking through the images sparked a lot of ideas.

first day of classes

Wow, I have been here for ten days now, and classes finally have started today. It feels good to be here for a purpose! I was automatically signed up for a six-credit painting class because I am a painting major here, but for any other classes it was up to me to wait for the day of the class and ask permission of the instructors.

The class I really wanted to get into was a combination writing and illustrating class for children's picture books. Luckily, I was able to get in, and since it's a six credit class as well, I now have a full schedule. Today in the class we drew a story without words, with six pages. It was really good for learning about pacing. One of the instructors works for Houghton Mifflin, the publishing company (not sure in what capacity really as I missed her introduction). At the end of the semester some editors of publishing houses will be coming to critique our final book projects. This is exciting. Our instructor showed us some books of students who were once students in this class, so it is good to know that this class seems to be quite a good preparation for getting books published.

The illustration department has its own building, it is the brick building on the right:



I found out some interesting disctinctions between painting in the painting department and painting for illustration at RISD by talking to some students this morning. The painting department is all about experimentation and doing abstracts and whatever you want, whereas the painting in the Illustration department is about being trained to paint, gaining skill, and I suppose really learning how to paint figures and objects. This distinction is not made at Emily Carr, but might be good, as I know some people, including myself, just want to gain some skill sometimes. But I also love the experimentation and free expression side of painting, so I am really happy to be in the painting department here.

Last night a group of exchange students and I went to the welcoming party for grad students. There are about 500 grad students here. There was dj and food and wine and such. I went into the small gallery and checked out some of the grad student work. This is a painting, about 6' x 6', oil on canvas. Its done by David Baf, MFA 2008. I liked it, overall I thought it was pretty good, although I can't say I'm a big fan of the lips, it's like the painter wanted to ensure that the viewer knew he had some skill.

convocation

Last night the some of the exchange students and I went to the Freshman BBQ, which was supposed to be held on RISD's property on the beach, but it was supposed to rain, so we stayed in risd's cafeteria. It seems as though both risd and Brown are really into acquiring property and adding to their endowments. All of us exchange students were again really impressed by the great food, there were roasted veggies like asparagus and nice mushrooms, tomato and bocconcini salad, other rice salads, chicken, beef and even grilled tofu. Also, there were heaping bowls of local peaches and apples, cookies and trays of peach cobbler.



We all couldn't believe the quality of food and that there weren't students milling around trying to stuff free food in their backpacks and such, as would probably happen at our own schools. A woman told us that all the food that was put out and not eaten would be thrown out, so of course we exchange students felt it was our duty to save the poor food from the garbage, and give it a nice home in our fridges. I was able to get 11 peaches and apples, and the guys at the table filled their backpacks with cookies.



Today there was a convocation ceremony, filled with speeches from the president and provost (which I suppose is like the head dean). Someone in the audience commented that it looked like Hogwart's school with all of the robes.



I found the final speech by the provost to be quite didactic, speaking about global warming a lot and how it was our duty as artists to change the world. Which was way too preachy in my opinion. Sure, if you want to save the world, all power to you, but I don't feel it's my duty as an artist. So I was disappointed about that. It will be interesting to see if they have this kind of attitude in individual departments like painting & photo. I hope not!

The magic card

Our student id cards give us free bus rides on Rhode Island transit. Anywhere in RI you want to go, it's free so we've nicknamed our id cards the magic cards because of all the access to activities we are discovering come with that card. A small group of exchange students and I took a one hour bus trip south of Providence to Newport, which is on an island.

from left to right: Anjali from England, myself, Amaury from France, and Katharina from Germany.


Newport is a lot like Providence with its old homes, but windy with the ocean wind. The tourist info guy said that during the Revolutionary war, the British blockaded Newport, if they had not, Newport would have been as big as New York. But it isn't.



USA's oldest pub is in Newport:




But one thing that is different from Providence is that Newport is quite tourist-y. It's the home of former "summer homes" of the likes of the Vanderbilts and Astors. These mansions are so huge no one can afford to live in them so they're just museums people pay to tour inside. They looked menacing and over the top to me.



I saw some photos of the interiors and they look like faux-Versailles Donald Trump style.

So we did a lot of walking that day and then were invited to a house party that night, which had a lot of positive vibrations, the mostly Brown students were super friendly.



Last night our id cards gave us access to a free concert on the Brown campus with free pizza, curry, ice cream and coffee, and then a midnight showing of This is Spinal Tap where popcorn was provided. There are so many activities around college hill, it's almost like a summer camp. As exchange students we're benifiting from the high tuition these kids pay, and we're constantly surprised at the little privileges that come with this magic card.

painting studios

Yesterday I went to the painting department to register for my painting class. At first I went to the old painting building headquarters:



The painting department was all the way up on the 5th floor, and while being really nice, it felt so hot and stuffy and claustrophobic to me. And while looking airy and light, it actually felt cramped:





So I was happy to hear that the painting department headquarters had moved to newer offices, and that the studios for third year students were in a different building all together. They are in the "What Cheer" building (the What what?), and each studio space will be allocated with a lottery. The class is called Painting III and it's a 6 credit class but it happens over two days - Thursdays from 1pm - 6pm and Fridays 9am - 1pm. That's a lot of class time.

Third year or "junior" classes will be more self directed, but with a lot of critique. There are two other Painting III classes being held on different days.
I'm not sure where I'll go with painting this year, probably continue with abstract mixing together with figurative.

Junior painting studios:


At any rate, it's comforting to know that these painting studios also double as a fall out shelter.

carded

Yesterday I finally got legitimized when I received my RISD id card, which literally opens doors (at least to the library anyway).



It turns out the old fashioned technology of knocking on doors leads to some fun times. Not having a computer or phone, in order to connect with people, I will just say, for example, to Amaury, "see you tomorrow", and having no idea when or how, we usually connect. Yesterday I just "popped in" to his apartment, and it led to an impromptu dinner party with Amaury and his Wisconsin roommate (oops, forgot his name) who is attending Illustration at RISD. It was his first time cooking he said (Wisconsin roommate), not his first time ever, but his first time in which if he didn't cook, he'd go hungry. It was spaghetti. I almost never just pop in on people, it's something my Mom used to do with her neighbours, but watch out, I just might try it in Vancouver! Here is a photo right after leaving Amaury's:

a little blurry


I don't feel quite as at home in my own apartment for some reason, I usually just leave in the morning at around 8 or 9, and come back around 8 or 9 in the evening, and eat the lunch that I pack. But the weather is so nice, I just leave the house wearing a t-shirt and come home in the same shirt, and it's completely warm! Here is the temperature a few minutes ago. 78 degrees. I've lost my farenheit/celsius translation skills - maybe 25 celsius?



Today I'm going to the painting department to check out the studios and sign up for my class, hopefully buy a phone - but maybe I shouldn't, this semester could be an experiment in non-phone, no-computer-owning living. I'll think about it. And will meet up with a German exchange student who is sounds like she is feeling as isolated as I did/do.

Brown campus:



looking up a hill:

ivy league tourist

Hello! This is my first blog post from Providence.

I've been here for 3 days already, the first two days were very lonesome, as it was a long weekend and I didn't know anybody, I don't have a phone or a computer, and it seemed like the 9 days until class starts would be an eternity of lonesomeness. My first day I just walked around all day on "College Hill" in Providence, mostly around Brown University. Brown and RISD buildings are clustered together, but Brown classes start today, so there was a lot of activity, whereas RISD starts in one week, so it's very quiet around there. There were a lot of parents saying goodbye to their kids:



Just as my parents had done the day before at the Vancouver airport, which seems like a different stratosphere of socio-economics realities:




But yesterday, I was able to meet with Amaury Poudray, another exchange student from France. Since I have no phone or email, I could only connect with him through the old technology of door-knocking. We walked around a lot, since I was here one day earlier than him I had so much more wisdom to impart such as where the best coffee shop is and where the interesting streets are. It was nice to connect with someone, I didn't feel so lonely. Amaury taking a photo on Thayer Street:



The houses here are really old Americana, lots of brick, clapboard siding & real working shutters. I learned from a house owner named Peter who was watering his flowers near the sidewalk that these old houses are the Federal style, most of the houses I have seen are built in the early 1800s.




Here is a shot of a house built in the 1790s - really nice wide plank flooring (Don't forget to click on the images to enlarge them) -



My room is okay, pretty dirty though! A lot of dirt on the window sills and the bathroom floor is crunchy with dirt - I felt so envious of Amaury's place all clean and furnished. I still need to find a bed, this is one from the apartment for guests to sleep on. I woke up the other night thinking I had a kidney disease, but it was only the futon frame sticking into my back.


My roommate Thomas letting me in the apartment for the first time. I still don't have keys though, so annoying.


Well, that's a lot of photos, but it's been three days, so there is a lot to show. I'll probably be posting something new everyday. I'm looking forward to the farmer's market tomorrow in a quad at Brown - I'll have to figure out where that is. Now that my camera is empty of photos, I can start filling it up again for tomorrow's post!