Commencement 2014

“Love is our highest purpose,” noted design visionary Bruce Mau in delivering the Commencement keynote at last Saturday’s ceremony. “Work on what you love and starve the things you do not respect. Protect your time and your mind and give all that you can of these great treasures to the work you love the most.” The Canadian designer was addressing the approximately 700 jubilant art and design graduates who collected their hard-earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the 2014 commencement event.

Mau’s message of love was the centerpiece of Commencement 2014, a raucous celebration marked by boisterous brass-and-percussion numbers courtesy of Providence’s Extraordinary Rendition Band, festive decorations that transformed a huge plain vanilla hall in the Rhode Island Convention Center into a colorful installation and a series of inspiring speakers from on campus and off, including RI Congressman David Cicilline and Providence Mayor Angel Taveras. To set the tone after the informal, New Orleans-style processional, Tony Johnson 93 SC, RISD’s director of Intercultural Student Engagement, belted out a campy musical rendition of protocols about exit signs and cell phones, accompanied by interplanetary electric guitarist Skyjelly (aka Office of Information Technology Analyst Rick Lescault).

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Schedule
2014
Saturday, May 31st
12:00 AM

Commencement 2014 Board of Trustees Chair Michael Spalter Opening Remarks

Michael Spalter, Rhode Island School of Design
RISD President, Rhode Island School of Design

12:00 AM

12:00 AM

Commencement 2014 Congressman David Cicciline Opening Remarks

David Cicciline
RISD President, Rhode Island School of Design

12:00 AM

12:00 AM

Commencement 2014 Jordan Taylor, Graduate Student Speaker

Jordan Taylor, Rhode Island School of Design
RISD President, Rhode Island School of Design

12:00 AM

12:00 AM

Commencement 2014 Keynote Address | Bruce Mau

Bruce Mau
RISD President, Rhode Island School of Design

12:00 AM

12:00 AM

Commencement 2014 Leah Chung, Undergraduate Student Speaker

Leah Chung, Rhode Island School of Design
RISD President, Rhode Island School of Design

12:00 AM

12:00 AM

Commencement 2014 Mayor Angel Tavares Opening Remarks

Angel Tavares
RISD President, Rhode Island School of Design

12:00 AM

12:00 AM

Commencement 2014 President Rosanne Somerson Opening Remarks

Rosanne Somerson, Rhode Island School of Design
RISD President, Rhode Island School of Design

12:00 AM

12:00 AM

Commencement 2014 Provost Pradeep Sharma Opening Remarks

Pradeep Sharma, Rhode Island School of Design
RISD President, Rhode Island School of Design

12:00 AM