News + Events

04/07/2011

RISD Exposé, a student-run temporary art and design gallery and gift shop, has been attracting crowds in downtown Providence during its 2010 holiday run. Working with the Office of Student Life, organizers Misha Kahn 11 FD and Kellie Riggs 11 JM led this year’s effort – the second for this festive “pop-up” destination – in collaboration with fellow students Paul Brazio 12 IL, Jason Huff MFA 11 DM, Alica Fujun Lew 11 ID and Kyla Paolucci 11 GD.

Like true “artrepreneurs,” students scouted out a space in Providence’s growing Downcity arts district – choosing, somewhat ironically, the site of the recently closed Design Within Reach store at 210 Westminster Street. They then invited all undergrad and grad students across campus to submit work. In order to ensure the “artistic integrity” of this year’s sales exhibition, they created a new Gift Space to complement the month-long show and invited Tim Goossens, a curatorial assistant at MoMA P.S.1, to jury the work shown. Students have also learned a lot about presenting work to the public by hanging the exhibition, designing the displays and publicizing the temporary retail gallery.

So far, the second edition of RISD Exposé is proving to be as popular as the first, with the inviting space bursting with extraordinary handmade gifts you can’t find anywhere else, from paintings, photography, prints, glass and sculpture, to jewelry, ceramics, clothing and furniture. In the 2009 “edition” of RISD Exposé, approximately 80 students submitted work and 36 sold at least one piece, with total sales bringing in more than $10,000.

Located at 210 Westminster Street in Providence, RISD Exposé is open daily (except for Mondays) from 11 am to 6 pm through December 3.