ART! Listen! – RISD Art Circle

Meredith Stern, We Are Power (detail). Gift of Edward Morris.

The RISD Museum announces a new exhibition, Listen!, a selection of 30 historical and contemporary works on paper curated by the members of the RISD Art Circle (RAC), a community group of local high school artists and art enthusiasts from across Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Listen! opened July 6, 2024 and will be on view through January 5, 2025.

Since RAC began in 2014, the teens have had several opportunities to work with curators and museum staff doing groundbreaking work, including the acquisition of two artworks for the Museum’s collection. This is their largest project so far.  

The RAC teens and staff, including Graciela Batista, Mindy Ji, Sherly Torres, Gina Vestuti, worked with Christina Alderman, Director of Family and Teen Programs, and Conor Moynihan, Associate Curator of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs to develop the show. Christina said of the exhibition process, “Conor and I quickly agreed that this exhibition would be different from other teen-curated exhibitions we knew or had experienced. We did not want to create a ‘how to become a curator’ curriculum or give them a theme and let them select works. We wanted the exhibition to be driven by their ideas from the start. We believed that experience is a form of knowledge and that the teens already had what they needed to curate a meaningful exhibition.”

RAC members extensively explored and discussed the museum’s collection to carefully select works they found urgent and powerful, and offer hope for the future. RAC members explain: “We have shared some of our personal reflections, poems, and memories on the labels throughout the galleries, signing them with pseudonyms. Our individual journeys shape the way we interpret these works and allow for a variety of meanings to emerge. Listen! is a selection of works that resonated with us because of our lived experiences and interests. We believe creativity sprouts from places of struggle, and that imaginative possibility pushes all of us further in our search for equality and the freedom to be ourselves.”

Conor Moynihan had this to say about the show: “It was thrilling to work collaboratively with the RAC members on this project, and they have activated the gallery with such a vibrant and compelling installation that welcomes visitors to sit down and hang out. Their selections were also quite exciting, bringing together work by a diverse range of artists from Julie Mehretu and Nelson Stephens to Providence-based artists Meredith Stern and Jazzmen Lee-Johnson.”

Director Tsugumi Maki says: “Listen! is a powerful example of how we translate our values into action. This exhibition is a reminder that art isn’t just for the select few but for everyone. It’s a platform where diverse voices can be heard, new ideas can flourish, and a more inclusive and meaningful future can be imagined. This exhibition is one of the many ways we try to engage with our community, inspiring change and encouraging people to see the world in new ways.”

Listen! was curated by RISD Art Circle (RAC) 2023–2024 members Abigail, Alaina, Audrey, Brenna, Deliska, Hope, Jasmine, Joshua, Lena, Olivia, Rayna, Seoyon, Tamar, Toby, and Viva; in partnership with RAC staff Graciela Batista, Mindy Ji, Sherly Torres, Gina Vestuti; as well as Christina Alderman, director of family and teen programs; and Conor Moynihan, associate curator of prints, drawings, and photographs.

Listen! is curated by us, the current members of the RISD Art Circle, a group of teens from across Rhode Island and Massachusetts. United by our passion for art and creativity, we spend our Saturdays at the museum hanging out with each other, making art and creating opportunities that center our voices within the galleries. We, like many other teens, see the importance of fighting for what we believe in, and of pushing back against larger societal systems that don’t share our beliefs or values.

After more than 80 hours discussing and exploring the RISD Museum’s collection, we selected these 30 historical and contemporary works on paper because we found them urgent and powerful, directly addressing the issues we face while offering hope for the future. We have shared some of our personal reflections, poems, and memories on the labels throughout the galleries, signing them with pseudonyms. Our individual journeys shape the way we interpret these works and allow for a variety of meanings to emerge. 

Listen! is a selection of works that resonated with us because of our lived experiences and interests. We believe creativity sprouts from places of struggle, and that imaginative possibility pushes all of us further in our search for equality and the freedom to be ourselves. We hope that as you explore this exhibition, you’ll listen closely to the ideas that we present, as well as your own personal reflections and feelings. 

– Curated by RISD Art Circle (RAC) 2023–2024 members Abigail, Alaina, Audrey, Brenna, Deliska, Hope, Jasmine, Joshua, Lena, Olivia, Rayna, Seoyon, Tamar, Toby, and Viva; in partnership with RAC staff Graciela Batista, Mindy Ji, Sherly Torres, Gina Vestuti; as well as Christina Alderman, director of family and teen programs; and Conor Moynihan, associate curator of prints, drawings, and photographs.