SchoolArts - October 2008

High School Studio Lesson

Inside Out Studio

Hope Arts Providence Project

N a d i n e

G e r d t s

Thestreets,neighborhoods, downtownProvidencethroughdirect theirroutesthroughthecity,indi-andpublicspacesweinhabit experienceandobservationusing catingplacesandspacesthatwere arefilledwithsensoryexpe- mapping,photography,andmodel- familiarorimportanttothem.These riencesandcollectiveand making.TheHopeHighSchool initialexercisesbeganadialogue personalmemories.Theordinary studentswereintroducedtonew withtheRISDstudentsandinstruc-patternsofday-to-daylifetakeon mediaandmethodsofdocumenting torsabouttheprocessofassigning newmeaningsasyoulookcarefully architectureand valuetoelements atthedetailsofthebuiltandnatural urbanspacewhile Students were challenged ofthebuiltenvi-systemsthatformoursenseofplace. theRISDstudents _{todesignpossibilitiesfor}ronment. This Theconstructionandinfrastructure learnedtohelpthe introducedcon-

change that would make

ofacityprovidethefoundationof high-schoolstu- ceptsofreading

the city a more vibrant and

anidealurbanlabforhighschool dentsgivephysical physicalrelation-
studentstodiscoverhowtodissect formtoideasfor welcomingplace. shipsbetween
themultifacetedlayersofaplaceand theircity. spacesinthecity
makeittheirown. Workingwithmethodologiesthat andnewwaystothinkaboutthe
arecommontothepracticesofarchi- choiceswemakeinmovingthrough
Design Collaboration tects,urbandesigners,andlandscape streets,neighborhoods,andpublic
Forsixweeksinthewinterof2008, architects,studentswerechallenged spacesinourdailyroutines.
ninth-gradestudentsinProvidence, todesignpossibilitiesforchangethat

RhodeIsland’sHopeHighSchool/ wouldmakethecityamorevibrant UsingPhotography HopeArtsCommunitylearnedto andwelcomingplace. Photographywasselectedasthepri-lookcloselyandimaginechangefor ThestudiobeganwiththeHope marymediumtodocumentthecity theircity’sdowntownwhilework- HighSchoolstudentsdescribingtheir environment,sinceitenabledstu-ingwithgraduatestudentsinthe impressionsofdowntown Providence. dentstoexpresstheirpersonalvisions RhodeIslandSchoolofDesign(RISD) Theirwordsincludedpeople,gangs, whilealsoproducingasubstantial InsideOutStudio.TheteamofRISD buildings,buses,cars,awkward,and bodyofimagesthatillustratedthe studentsandninthgradersexplored noisy.Studentsthenmademapsof group’sexperiencesandproposals.

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realities of urban living with dreams for a more livable city are the first steps in creative citizenship. Too often the city is seen as something monumental and outside the range of change when in reality, it can be broken down into manageable components. With an understanding of urban systems and scale, it becomes possible to advocate for new ideas that will improve quality of life.

In urban centers, teenagers are often looked at warily, sometimes pigeon-holed as boisterous loiterers accompanied by skateboards and loud music. This studio project was structured to counter such stereotypes, putting students in the roles of responsible designers and planners working to develop new ideas for their city. Through their insightful observations and enthusiastic imaginations, students produced projects that demonstrated options for a more ecologically, socially, and economically vibrant Providence.

Nadine Gerdts is a senior lecturer and critic in RISD’s Department of Landscape Architecture and Department of Art and Design Education, and has run InsideOut Studio since 2005. ngerdts@comcast.net

Students initiate, define, and solve challenging visual arts problems independently using intellectual skills such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.

www.risdpublicengagement.net/id4. html

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