Artist Oscar Bedford discusses his sculptural assemblages, which are at once hyper-realistic yet impossible to fathom thanks to his surreal and humorous approach and impeccable workmanship. Bedford will share his new installation, a super-sized “drain” installed temporarily on campus as the first commissioned work in a new partnership with the RISD Sculpture Graduate Program.

Gaignard is a visual artist working across disciplines to address issues of race, class and femininity. Her provocative photographs, sculptures and installations are intended to confront assumptions around beauty and blackness. Gaignard, whose work and career are internationally acclaimed, discusses her work and process.

Did you know that Polaris won’t always be our North Star? Artist George Ferrandi will talk about this lesser-known fact and the future cultural customs she’s been inventing with communities around the world to say goodbye to Polaris and welcome our next North Star through her expansive interdisciplinary initiative, Jump!Star.