Alum Profile: Tom Weis
We reached out to Tom Weis recently to ask him a few questions about his experience at the ‘Shop and what he’s doing now. Tom was an apprentice from 1997-1999, back when the ‘Shop was off of Tilson Ave. in Rockland.
Tom (right) as an apprentice.
What are you up to now?
Currently I'm an Associate Professor at the Rhode Island School of Design. I've taught in the Industrial Design department for ten years. My work and research interests focus on the intersection of design practices and global security issues. Since 2015, I've worked with partners in the nuclear threat reduction space and have designed and facilitated workshops for organizations such as the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, The International Atomic Energy Agency and West Point. I've been the co-lead on the development of new foresight exercises with strategists at Sandia National Laboratory. This work explores emerging trends and has led to collaborations with Officers from the US Army and the Navy SEALs, along with nuclear fuel cycles experts and defense analysts. In 2018, I was able to initiate a Global Security Fellowship program for postgraduate fellows at the Rhode Island School of Design that was funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
Earlier in my career, I had the great fortune to lead projects that were acknowledged by the New York Times, Time Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2010 and the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum’s 2010 Design Triennial. My deep rooted interest in traditional crafts led me to the Apprenticeshop and as the studio assistant to the artist Martin Puryear. Puryear is regarded as one of the most distinguished US artists and most recently represented the US at the 2019 Venice Biennale. I'm currently on leave from RISD for the year and many days you can find me in my corner office at the Steel House, which is located where the former Apprenticheshop office once sat. While I still love to make things and use my hands, my current work unfortunately requires long hours on Zoom. I have a house in Warren, ME with my girlfriend, our dog Clover (a beagle that you occasionally see romping through the Ashop yard) and our three-legged cat named Tony. Next fall I'll resume my split life back and forth from RISD, but for now I'll hopefully ride out this pandemic in the relative safety of the midcoast.
What was valuable to you about your experience at the ‘Shop?
I arrived at the ‘Shop shortly after getting a BFA and thought I knew a thing or two. I quickly realized I didn't know much at all, or at least the things that I knew were not that useful for what I was trying to do at the time. Aside from the office space, the shop off of Tilson Ave was not insulated. We had several wood stoves that would eventually warm things up but it was not uncommon to come into the shop on a winter morning to discover mounds of snow that had blown through the cracks of the wooden siding. In the middle of my apprenticeship, the ‘Shop purchased the current location on Main Street. It wasn't long before boatbuilding transitioned to full time work building the new shop. We spent close to nine months shoring up what was a dark, neglected building that was in need of some serious attention. In many ways, my time as an apprentice was perhaps similar to others that passed through the various shops that were the previous homes for our community. There were times of struggle, occasional drama and never enough cash coming through the door. The obstacles and constraints presented throughout my experience became opportunities for creativity, hard work and camaraderie. I left my two years at the shop feeling like I could overcome just about anything.
How do you use what you learned at the Apprenticeshop in your current work?
I've drawn upon my Apprenticeshop experiences consistently throughout my career. One might point to specific skills or tricks that continue to be passed down by Kevin or the senior apprentices on the shop floor. It certainly helps to know how to build something as complex as a boat when you're restoring a crooked house built in the 1800s, or to have the knowledge of specific wood species and their characteristics that are tested under the extreme conditions that a wooden boat might see. I'd say that what I really draw from is an attitude born from the shop experience. An attitude that gives me enough confidence to work through a complicated problem with limited resources or equipment; but also an understanding that there is a time and place to rely on others to lend a hand or to listen to new perspectives. What I value the most about my time at the ‘Shop is that it taught me that there are many forms of knowledge and ways of knowing.
Why is it important to you to support others in having the Apprenticeshop experience?
There are many ways to support the ‘Shop. I've experienced this as a former apprentice, as well as during my short time as a board member. The shop will always need funds to run the programs, to support the overworked staff, to pay down the debt. I've seen the generosity of shop friends who have written big checks, donated hours of their time and expertise or brought visitors that might have something to contribute but would have otherwise not been aware of the ‘Shop. I've given my time, and the occasional modest check to the ‘Shop because it reflects many of the values that I believe in. The Apprenticeshop will never look like a well-funded vocational school or like the latest fabrication lab. In my experience, the ‘Shop was never about the fetishization of craft. It offers something much deeper. Since the 1970s, it has offered a model of learning that has been based on community, shared knowledge and hands on learning. If there was ever a time when we were in need of less screen time, more curiosity, more peer to peer learning (with peers from diverse regions, backgrounds and ages) I'd say that time is now. I will never forget the expeditions I was able to take as an apprentice, or the sense of accomplishment I felt when a small team would launch a completed boat or, most importantly, the friendships I made over twenty years ago that continue today. I want others to experience these things as well.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience at the ‘Shop?
The last thing I'd mention about my experience at the ‘Shop was the rich exposure I had to other cultures. It was much easier to get a visa back in the late 90's to receive training here. When I arrived, we had apprentices from Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France, Spain, the Basque Country, the UK and throughout the US. I learned how to cook from my international friends, and what real bread and cheese was supposed to taste like. We exchanged stories, traditions and, most importantly, different perspectives.
The visa situation is much more challenging today and as a result, the ‘Shop looks far less international than it did when I was there. My hope for the ‘Shop is that it continues to push for more diversity. Rarely have I seen a person of color in the ‘Shop and I hope that changes. We learn more about ourselves and one another when the room is more diverse. I am encouraged, however, to see young women continue to join the program and it would be great to see even more. I applaud the ‘Shop, under Bella's direction, for creating scholarship opportunities to increase gender equity. That's where I'd like my donation to go this year. I hope others will consider how the shop might reflect the things that they hold dear and make a contribution as well.