Join us for a Private Tour, Demonstration and Reception
Friday, April 25, 2025
1:00 to 5:30 p.m
20 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02903
$60 per person
Celebrate spring and with a panoply of pattern and color alongside Attingham alumni in the charming college town of Providence, Rhode Island, for a farewell tour and hands-on demonstration celebrating the exhibition The Art of French Wallpaper Design.
At 1:00 p.m., our group will convene at the RISD Museum, located at 20 N. Main Street, where our expert hosts, Attingham alums Emily Banas ’19 and Professor Andrew Raftery ’23 will welcome us to the RISD campus and museum.
After a brief introduction, Emily Banas ’19, Associate Curator of Decorative Arts and Design, will lead us into the galleries for a private tour of their exhibition, which closes May 11. Featuring more than 100 eighteenth- and nineteenth-century wallpaper samples, this gorgeous exhibition examines the design, production, and use of these papers through the lens of the Huard Collection, named for Charles and Frances Wilson Huard, who assembled these works in the early 20th century. The Art of French Wallpaper Design explores the remarkable innovation and craftsmanship of these historic pieces.A comprehensive digital publication, edited by Banas, features essays by Raftery and Conservation Assistant Brianna Turner, as well as new cinematography showcasing the work of Adelphi Paper Hangings.
Following the tour, guests will be treated to a special demonstration and workshop led by Attingham alum and RISD Professor Andrew Raftery ’24, who will showcase traditional printing techniques that will enliven these historical examples. Professor Raftery will also highlight contemporary examples produced by talented RISD students from his spring term, as well as his own work inspired by historic techniques and designs.
After time at your leisure to explore the rest of the galleries, we will enjoy a short stroll north through the historic College Hill neighborhood before enjoying drinks and canapés at the home of a local alum. Our program concludes around 5:30 p.m.
Capacity: Our group is limited to 20 people. There is no limit for guests planning to attend the optional Saturday symposium (see details below).
Registration: Registration via Eventbrite is preferred and prioritized above registration by phone or email. Registration opens March 15. If you are unable to complete your payment via Eventbrite, please purchase your ticket using the AFA website (click link HERE). We expect this program to sell out, but will gladly add your name to a waitlist, should a place become available.
Attire & Accessibility: Please wear comfortable shoes, as the tour requires some physical stamina and the ability to stand for prolonged periods. Both museum entrances and all galleries are wheelchair accessible and a limited quantity of wheelchairs are available for visitor use. Service dogs are welcome in the Museum.
Transportation: Transportation to Providence is on your own, however there is free/metered? street parking around campus near the museum. Guests are encouraged to arrive by public transit and walk to the museum. After the printing demonstration, our group will walk leisurely from the museum a half-mile to the reception. Guests may return to their vehicles or depart for public transit from the reception at their convenience.
BY TRAIN: Providence is conveniently located on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor route, which runs from Boston to Washington, D.C. and back. The train station is located at 100 Gaspee Street, in the heart of downtown. Check the Amtrak website for departure schedules to buy tickets in advance. AFA recommends arriving anytime on or before 12:30 p.m. to adequate time to get to campus. From the station, you can call a taxi, walk, or bike. RISD encourages guests to walk or bike from the station along Canal Street, and there are bike rakes located around the corner at 224 Benefit Street.
BY CAR: Discounted parking is available to Museum visitors at all Metropark locations. The closest lot is Metropark Location P5: South Main St Lot at 131 Canal St. Parking is also available at metered spots on adjacent streets. Please do not park in RISD faculty/staff lots.
BY BUS: The Museum is easily accessible by state- and city-wide bus services and is located 0.2-miles to the east from the city’s main transportation hub, the Kennedy Plaza bus station. Bus information and schedules are managed by Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA). For example, the museum is just one stop away from Kennedy Plaza via Bus 33 towards Shaw’s (Riverside). The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) also runs low-cost, round-trip rail service from Boston to downtown Providence.
For more information to guide your travel, consult the museum’s instructions Getting Here. Please also kindly review the Visitor Guidelines to ensure we all share a successful visit.
Want to bring your family? Children are welcome to explore the museum for free! Please call the museum at 401-454-6500 to learn more about family-friendly visits and art-making opportunities.
OPTIONAL EXTENSION: Guests may also choose to stay overnight on their own and continue their wallpaper studies at the free symposium at RISD on Saturday, April 26. More details coming soon.
We expect this program to sell out. Please register and purchase your ticket today. Thank you for your interest in the programs of the American Friends of Attingham. All exhibit installation images courtesy RISD Museum.
