On Friday I had the terrific opportunity to sit in on a freshman final critique.  The class was 2 Dimensional Design taught by Todd Moore.  For a final project, these freshmen were asked to create a large painting that encompassed everything they had learned this fall.  I have known Todd for a long time, and have always appreciated his intelligence, sense of humor, and pragmatism, so it was a real treat to be part of this crit.

The studio is on the top floor of the new Chace Center–truly the penthouse of the building, with amazing views of the downtown of providence.  The sun was starting to get low in the sky, and the whole room had a kind of dreamy cast to it.  Todd welcomed me warmly when I walked in, and I was delighted to see the faces of many students I had worked with last year.

I was immediately struck by a massive painting of a man falling through empty red space.  Come to find out, the painting was done by Jeffrey, whose work I had reviewed last year in his high school.  At the time, I had advised him that he was somewhat object fixated, and that he might consider doing some three dimensional work.   Still object fixated, but using the layout of the page in a really dramatic way, Jeffrey has plans to major in Film/Animation/Video, which will certainly put to use his flare for the dramatic and his understanding of 3 dimensional space.

Seeing the students in the context of their RISD classes–so at home, and so eloquent–is the best reward any person in admissions can possibly have, so here’s to the class of 2012!

Lucy King, Assistant Director of Admissions

Contact me at lking@risd.edu