Diane Becker Mark Pompelia Tutor Craft the Leather Art Librarian for Visual + Material Resources Fleet Library at Rhode Island School of Design It is very rare today to really know is the sense of respect for nature, Mark Pompelia, joined us, with his highly Craft the Leather offers an incomparable School of Design happened to spend into an upcoming sabbatical proposal. where “things” come from. Products, most obviously present in the research informed interest in the process of the experience as both immersion and formative time in San Miniato. The very next day after submitting that materials, ingredients are just there (or facilities dedicated to the reduction of development and qualities of leather, exhibition program. As a librarian who oversees the non-text proposal, I was asked to be the tutor for easily accessible)- ready to be used, the environmental impact of the tanning and Dean Snyder, an artist who has From its focus on a single material and collections in the Fleet Library at RISD the 2015 program: instead of waiting two transformed, consumed. But even as industry and the impressive water worked extensively sculpting rawhide, a particular process - vegetable-tanned (digital images, video, and a six year old years for this experience, I waited only we have become aware that there is no treatment plants, but echoed in the who focused on the plasmatic qualities leather in the San Miniato leather district collection of 32,000 material samples) two months. “away” to throw things after our use, we strongly rooted sense of seasonality in of the skins on their way to becoming the of Tuscany - we learn the totality of - an exhilarating charge at such a Without doubt, Craft the Leather is an also realize we need to look upstream the food (Slow Food and Kilometer 0), finished leather. Dinner conversation and that material: its centuries-old mission preeminent institution, I work not just idyllic week in the heart of Tuscany to understand the whole picture. the local wines and olive oil. Then there the creative exploratory workshops were and purpose, the trajectory of that to acquire items and provide the best that few tourists will ever enjoy. But Designers and makers know that it is is a strong sense of the continuity of enriched by their contributions. origin to continued relevance, and access to them, but to activate them, to the program has generated a forward- indeed our concern and responsibility to aesthetics and ethics in the stewardship Ultimately, we can appreciate that the ways to engage anew through creative foster their teachability. All those parts, looking legacy for me: overwhelmingly comprehend the impact of our work and of this area along the Arno River valley, value of inspired hard work has informed inspiration. but especially the latter, require my own positive feedback from colleagues led the choices we make. so rich in art and architecture. Even the the creation of the individual collections We learn its culture. learning. Craft the Leather provided a to the idea to modify the program for The values that determine our choices choice of hosting this activity honors presented in this book. Everyone shared This is of huge importance to an unique and unforgettable experience librarians whose subjects and collections create the structure of our lives. the practice of apprenticeship as an the same experience and had access to institution such as Rhode Island School where that material can no longer remain cover materials, fashion, costume, In Tuscany, in the Leather District, we can approach to knowledge, learning through the same raw materials. The final results of Design. One of the oldest art schools just static samples in a bin on a shelf. and textiles, to be offered in autumn perceive directly the culture of values of the experience of working along side a reflect both the culture of each learning in the United States, it was born of a Craft the Leather set a standard by 2016. This coming spring I will speak a community that shapes the production master, to understand the gestures of institute and personal vision of each time when manufacturing production which I hope to engage other materials. formally on the experience at several of an iconic traditional material, Tuscan the craftsman that transmit far more than student as they “craft the leather”. and artisanal design were the two I came to Craft the Leather through a different conferences: as a way to learn veg-tanned leather. technical knowhow. chambers of a still-young nation’s very fortuitous process. Having hosted qualitatively more about our collections, Each year Craft the Leather brings Every Craft the Leather workshop has its industrial heart. In the 21st century, RISD part of the exhibition in my library space as a model for embedded librarianship together a group of exceptional talents, own distinct character, created by the - with its continued focus on discipline- when it traveled in October 2014 to where we participate in the educational inviting them to share in the daily life interests of the members of the group. based learning - teaches students that Providence, I met the key organizers and life of our students, and as a model for of the territory to experience first hand This year, in addition to a well-rounded critical thinking + critical making = the personnel of the program. That made our profession where digitization has how these values are expressed across company of designer/makers, the best design. It makes me wonder if the such an impression that I added a Craft taken us too far away from the material. multiple activities. First and foremost director of the Material Library at RISD, founding women of the Rhode Island the Leather style immersion experience ArtEZ - Institute of the Arts Arnhem - The Netherlands Fashion Institute of Technology New York City, NY - USA The ArtEZ Product Design Department it makes our department energetic FIT’s Accessories Design Program - the industry. FIT’s Manhattan location values ambition, craftsmanship and and enterprising. Our teachers work first of its kind in the U.S. - offers the provides unparalleled opportunities know-how. Being a successful student internationally, connecting a network to Associate in Applied Science degree for real world experience through field to us means making the field of design our department. All this makes Product and the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, trips, networking, industry-sponsored your own, reinterpreting existing ideas Design Arnhem an educational node of plus the country’s only certificate competitions, and internships at top and standards. We ask our students to expertise and diversity. Our network is programs in Millinery and Performance accessories firms. The Fashion Institute foster an inquisitive attitude, a workshop extensive and includes collaborations Athletic Footwear. Students learn how of Technology (FIT), a college of the mentality and a critical view of the world. with companies, so our students can to design, construct, and produce a full State University of New York, has been a Educating a new generation of designers develop a unique perspective on material range of accessories. Faculty members leader in career education in art, design, is possible only in close cooperation and collaboration. are industry professionals who teach business, and technology for 70 years. with the field of professional design. www.artez.nl the skills needed for success in the www.fitnyc.edu. We would not want it to be otherwise, HAMK - Hämeenlinna - Finland Bunka Fashion College Tokyo - Japan Häme University Häme University of Applied Sciences manufacturing process of the product, A school that is a world leader of fashion, Accessories and Textile Department aims of Applied Sciences (HAMK) is a multidisciplinary higher with a customer orientated approach Bunka Fashion College is a forerunner to teach expertise and skills that can education institution situated centrally and understanding the importance of of fashion education in Japan. respond to footwear, bag, millinery and in the most populated area of southern economic and ecological standpoints Knowing that it must produce powerful jewelry industries’ trends, and to develop Finland. HAMK has 7 campuses with in the design process. The students leaders for the fashion industry, human resources that can demonstrate around 7200 students, 750 teachers and gain expertise in the materials of their the college has established four creativity with imagination. other staff and 30 degree programmes, of design field and product-specific quality courses that follow all aspects of the www.bunka-fc.ac.jp which 6 are delivered entirely in English. requirements.Our footwear department industry. Among these courses, Fashion HAMK Design studies are divided into is the only one giving Bachelor-level three study paths: clothing, footwear, education in the whole of Scandinavia. glass and ceramics. The studies aim www.hamk.fi Central Saint Martins - London - United Kingdom at mastering the entire design and University of the Arts London MA Design; Jewellery is part of the renowned for the creative energy of its renowned ‘by project’ Masters in Design students, staff and graduates with an Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry Tokyo - Japan at Central Saint Martins where specialist exceptional reputation for educating students from jewellery, ceramics and foundation, undergraduate, postgraduate Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry is of developing design fields. furniture, design and innovate together. and research students in arts, design the only government authorized Our educational policy “Man & Object” Course Alumni include Fernando Jorge, and performance. Alumni include jewelry college in Japan. As a college informs all areas of study: all products Gunjan Gupta, Alice Cicolini, Noor Fares Francesca Amfitheatrof, Emilia Clarke, nurturing “making” and creative design are designed with a good understanding and many others who are changing the Gilbert and George, Christopher Kane, techniques, it has grown with the of the human structure and the face of the industry.