February 18, 2008

The Silk Road Project Focuses on Storytelling for Spring Residency at Rhode Island School of Design

Studio collaboration combines writing, picture-making, music and performance to explore traditional folktales and storytelling as part of 'Folktales in the Digital Age' courseStudio collaboration combines writing, picture-making, music and performance to explore traditional folktales and storytelling as part of ‘Folktales in the Digital Age’ course

PROVIDENCE, RI — February 18, 2008 — The Silk Road Ensemble will be artists in residence at Rhode Island School of Design [RISD] throughout the spring 2008 semester to collaborate with students as part of a course entitled Folktales in the Digital Age, an interdisciplinary class that combines writing, picture-making, music and performance.

During the course RISD students will work with five members of the Silk Road Ensemble, including master storyteller Ben Haggarty, to explore traditional folktales from the Silk Road region and take on the challenge of re-telling the ancient stories through contemporary media for a new audience.  The Ensemble will be in residence February 18–22, April 4-9, and May 13–20.  The class will be co-taught by RISD Illustration Professor Judy Sue Goodwin-Sturges and English Department Lecturer Jenn Brandt. 

On February 21 and 22, Ben Haggarty will present a two-part student workshop on “Storytelling and the Expression of the Imagination” for the RISD community.  In April, a larger group of Silk Road Ensemble musicians will be in residence and will perform two family concerts for the RISD community at the RISD Auditorium on Sunday, April 6, at 4:00 p.m. and Monday, April 7, at 7:00 p.m.  The semester-long residency will culminate in a performance by students from the Folktales in the Digital Age class with Silk Road Ensemble members on May 20.

The Silk Road Ensemble, a collective of internationally renowned artists and musicians, is a central part of the Silk Road Project, a not-for-profit arts and educational organization founded by Yo-Yo Ma in 1998 with a vision of connecting the world’s neighborhoods by bringing together artists and audiences around the globe.  Viewing the historic Silk Road trade route that connected Asia and Europe in a modern context as a metaphor for multicultural and interdisciplinary exploration, the Silk Road Project promotes innovation and learning through performance, workshops, residencies, commissioning of new musical works and partnerships with leading cultural and educational institutions.

Since the announcement of the Silk Road Project’s partnership with RISD in March 2005, the multi-year affiliation has resulted in numerous collaborative studio projects.  These annual residencies provide members of the Silk Road Ensemble and RISD students and faculty the opportunity to work together in exploring cross-cultural and interdisciplinary artistic expression through workshops centered on music, storytelling, art and other cultural traditions. 
The 2007 residency focused on the development of two performance pieces: Indigo, which traced the evolution and cultural migration of the dye, and Blue & White, which explored the development of the ceramics characteristic of regions along the Silk Road.

The fusion of fine arts, design, music and storytelling facilitated through RISD’s partnership with the Silk Road Project underscores the philosophy of both organizations about the value of global exchange: “When we enlarge our view of the world, we also deepen our understanding of our own lives and culture,” Ma says. “Education that makes a subject memorable, is driven by passion, develops a disciplined imagination and fosters empathy with others will result in citizens who are active participants in shaping a future of which we can all be proud."

“This semester, RISD students are fortunate to have three full weeks to work with Ben Haggerty and the Silk Road Ensemble, creating a rare catalyst for creativity,” said RISD President Roger Mandle.  "This melding of visual art and musical talent is an extraordinary opportunity to explore a variety of innovative and traditional forms of art."

“We are excited to bring the Silk Road Ensemble to RISD for an extended collaboration this semester,” says Laura Freid, Silk Road Project CEO and executive director. “Working together with RISD faculty and students, we all benefit by examining in depth how traditional music, art and narrative remain part of the essential fabric of our modern lives.”

The Silk Road Project, Inc.

Inspired by the interchange of culture, ideas and innovations along the historic trade route, the Silk Road Project is a not-for-profit arts and educational organization that connects musicians, composers, artists and audiences from Asia to Europe to the Americas.  Founded in 1998 by cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who serves as its artistic director, and led by Laura Freid, CEO and executive director, the Silk Road Project is a catalyst for promoting innovation and learning through cross-cultural and interdisciplinary partnerships.  The Silk Road Project presents performances by the Silk Road Ensemble; commissions interdisciplinary works of music, visual art, and storytelling; and develops educational materials and programming.

About Rhode Island School of Design

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) has earned a worldwide reputation as the preeminent art and design college in the country.  Today, with more than 22,000 alumni, the college enrolls roughly 1,900 undergraduates and 400 graduate students from the United States and almost 50 countries, offering degree programs in the fine arts, architecture, and design disciplines, and art education.  Academic programs include research and design initiatives, the exploration of art criticism and contemporary cultural concerns, as well as international exchange programs. Each year, RISD hosts prominent and accomplished artists, critics, and authors to its campus. Included within the college is The RISD Museum of Art, which houses a world-class collection of art objects from Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome and art of all periods from Asia, Europe and the Americas, as well as the latest in contemporary art.  For more information, visit www.risd.edu.