There were four conditions in place that enabled Samuel Slater to launch the Industrial Revolution here in Rhode Island: the Blackstone River’s natural falls and its access to the bay; local financiers whose fortunes were made in shipping; Rhode Island’s unique environment which was accepting of new ideas; and the high level of technical artistry in Pawtucket due to the shipbuilding industry – weavers, spinners, sail makers, blacksmiths, rope makers and the like. This was true in 1793, and it continues to be true today.
Established in memory of Davis Jencks, The Jencks Education Center is Slater Mill’s major initiative to link knowledge of the past with the rich opportunities of modern Pawtucket by connecting our history of fine crafts to Rhode Island’s burgeoning community of talented, professional craftspeople. Slater Mill plans to establish a vibrant Center that hosts a wide variety of arts and handcraft workshops, educational programs, after school learning opportunities and business and group events. The high caliber of talent within our local community will be brought to the public through individual and culturally themed exhibits and educational programs. In conjunction with the Center, The Slater Mill Gallery, across Roosevelt Avenue in the Visitors’ Center, will be re-branded to exhibit the work of national and regional fine craftspeople. The adjoining gift shop will serve as an outlet to purchase their work.
The Jencks Education Center will be located on the physically accessible second floor of Slater Mill in Autumn 2008. At one point the Mill considered building an additional structure in the parking lot but the leadership of the Board of Trustees has now determined that making the most of under-utilized space and breathing more life into the spaces we have is more responsible and economical.
The Board of Trustees has made a deliberate choice to honor the historic character of the interior of Slater Mill. With the exception of a bit of paint and floor repair, the build out for the Center involves furnishings and fixtures. Storage is always a primary concern for a multiuse community space. Instead of building closet-like rooms that block the wonderful windows in the Mill, our architect, Luke Mandle, is working with a fine cabinetmaker to design custom storage units. Fixed to horizontal poles, the units will be accessible from either side and will leave all windows unobstructed and maximize open, programmable space. Some units will include a rollout partition so that space can be sectioned off during peak scheduling times. Fixtures and furnishings will reflect an industrial feel rather than attempt a colonial reproduction style that serves to confuse visitors and chip away at the true authenticity of the Mill space. For these reasons, we believe this project will be an example of the innovation that characterizes Slater Mill.
The Innovation Room (currently used as a large storage area) is a gorgeous space with banks of windows overlooking the Blackstone River on three sides. It essentially heats itself and is an inspiring, rustic space. This room will serve 45-60 people and will be outfitted with conference/work tables using recycled textile machinery as bases. It will be wired for technology, which will be stored behind secured wooden panels. The room will serve current rental needs for retreats, corporate meetings, community programs, the Mill’s own interpretation programs with school children and as a space for workshops with regional and national craftspeople.
The Confluence Room will be designed as an extremely inviting library with large, comfortable seating and warm lighting. The space will be open on one side so that it can be as inviting as possible for all who use the Center and so that furnishings can be consolidated when major events are held. It also will serve as a breakout space for meetings held in the Innovation Room.
The Artifact Access Space will use innovative collections storage methods (currently being put into use at the RISD Museum and across the country) called “visible storage” to bring our vast collection to the public. We will rotate exhibitions of tools, historical documents, textiles, printing items, early hand machines, and other items so that students, historians, artists and the public can study, read, draw and explore the fantastic collection that is now hidden away in a physically inaccessible third floor archive. This will be a boon to the Mill’s programming opportunities and considerably increase our relevance and credibility as a museum.
The Community Guild Studio will be the creative space that ties the Center together. Essentially, it will be a well-designed and well-equipped workshop space to translate the skills, craft and techniques that were the cornerstone of Rhode Island’s artisan workforce when Samuel Slater arrived and that still thrive here today. Set up with movable walls to allow maximum programming options, the Community Guild Studio will consist primarily of a multipurpose textile studio – ultimately expanding into other fine crafts. A lab area, which will be used for interpretive programs tied to the River, dying projects and other creative uses, will support the Studio. Through this Studio, the Center will serve as a regional association of artisans and craftspeople. Essentially functioning as a guild house – a home to the multitude of guilds and groups comprised of woodworkers, quilters, basketmakers, spinners, fullers, dyers, surface designers and weavers. These guilds are sources of educators for community programming and are vibrant community organizations that contribute greatly to the arts, cultural life and tourism economy here in Rhode Island. The Center will host meetings and events of these groups, as well as programs, meetings and lessons for the public.
In addition to the in-school curriculum opportunities that Slater Mill currently offers, the Jencks Education Center will address a need for after school programming in several areas, particularly for middle and high school students. There is significant evidence that the pool of incoming workers is increasingly technologically savvy but few actually possess the ability to work and create with their hands. We will work with urban schools in the surrounding metro areas to offer quality fine craftsmanship and hands-on after school opportunities for a new generation of youth. Learning opportunities involving woodworking or textile projects that demonstrate the applied use of science, math, art and communication will be offered to engage students in group projects. In addition, keeping young people engaged, especially in the hours between 2PM and 6PM, is proven to keep them safe, healthy and outside the juvenile justice system.
Final design has been completed and construction begins this Summer. Relocation of part of our collection will be completed early Autumn. Purchase of hands on studio equipment will take place in the fall in order to begin classes. The Mill is forging formal partnerships with several arts and cultural organizations, guilds and interested groups.