The Room of Silence

"I've never been in a place where I've been more confused about race."

In the spring of 2016, Eloise collaborated with the student group Black Artists and Designers (B.A.A.D.) to document the difficulties students of color face at RISD, and other predominantly white art schools.

B.A.A.D. released “The Room of Silence” to the RISD community on social media. It spread across campus in a matter of minutes, raising support for a rally scheduled two days later (”Not Your Token”), and attracting the attention of local newspapers. It began a dialogue about race where previously there had only been frustrating silence.

While Eloise is responsible for shooting, cutting and hosting the film in perpetuity, this project was fundamentally a collaboration. This video was conceived of by the B.A.A.D. student organizers led by Olivia Stephens, Utē Petit, Chantal Feitosa. You can listen to Chantal and Eloise discuss the origins and impact of the project in this episode of Bad at Sports, which was recorded live at Hauser & Wirth in Chelsea, NYC, on January 18, 2019.

Since the “Not Your Token” movement, the film has spread to other art schools internationally. At the time of writing in December 2023, “The Room of Silence” has been included in curricula, conferences and resource guides at academic institutions and organizations such as MassArt, University of the Arts London, MICA, and the Association of Independent Colleges of Art & Design. Publications like The Guardian, Hyperallergic and Print Magazine have cited the film to provide context for their articles.

These accolades are appreciated. But the true legacy of “The Room of Silence” is the students it has inspired to take action. The art students who authored this film didn’t make it to get accolades. They made it to escalate demands on a system that continues to fail marginalized students around the world. Thus: the long term impact of this project remains to be seen.

Organizing a screening or citing the work?

Screening and reproduction of this film is free of charge. However, if you were moved by the piece or found it helpful, please consider compensating the organizers of “Not Your Token,” without whom this project would not exist:

Olivia Stephens, Venmo: @Olivia-Stephens-1

Utē Petit, Venmo: @BabeTone

Chantal Feitosa, Venmo: @cfeitosa

If attributing the work, please acknowledge the efforts of both B.A.A.D. and their allied organizers, in addition to Eloise. For example:

“The Room of Silence,” 2016, dir. Eloise Sherrid, in collaboration with co-producers Olivia Stephens, Utē Petit, and Chantal Feitosa, and the organizing efforts of the student group Black Artists and Designers.”

2016