**CASE STUDY: FUTURE 50 PORTRAIT STUDIO**

Rhode Island Humanities · Interactive Civic Installation (2023)

A hybrid portrait and public-writing activation recording collective reflections on the future of Rhode Island across a participant-authored canvas.

THE COMMISSION

Commissioned by Rhode Island Humanities for its 50th anniversary 50 Fest, this activation was tasked with capturing a broad cross-section of the state's public. The objective was to create a living civic document that combined visual presence with written commentary on Rhode Island's next half-century.

FIELDWORK & DIRECTORIAL METHOD

To handle high public volume without sacrificing visual density, the studio deployed a multi-format setup: digital medium format (Fujifilm GFX 50S II with vintage glass) alongside classic medium format film (Mamiya RZ67). Participants were invited to write handwritten reflections directly onto a massive physical seamless paper backdrop using permanent markers before taking their mark. This merged portraiture with public graffiti and archival record, transforming the background into a layered, participant-authored document.

SPECS & PRODUCTION SCOPE

Scope: Civic engagement studio & anniversary public archive

Environment: Festival hall / public gathering space

Format: Medium format analog film (Kodak TMax 400/Ektar 100) & medium format digital

Output: Cohesive portrait series, participant-written spatial artifact, and anniversary monograph archive