Monthly Musings

This is the second in an ongoing series of informal communications with Portsmouth Abbey School’s constituents. Current parents, alumni/ae, past parents and friends have all expressed an interest in hearing more about our school, more often. It is meant to be one element among a number of activities designed to keep you better informed about the School, the Monastery and our community.

Student Council Election Held: Lawrence Slocum (President) and Chris Fleming (Vice President) were elected as school leaders for the next academic year. Thirteen members of next year’s Sixth Form stood before the school community, gave 2-minute speeches and ran on platforms that ranged from heightened school spirit to school unity to strength of character.

Pell Center Essay Winner: Each year the Pell Center at Salve Regina University hosts the Aquidneck World Affairs Essay Contest. For the second year in a row a Portsmouth Abbey School student won the contest. This year, Ali Sacco, only a Fourth Former, won for her essay entitled, “The Role of the United States in the United Nations”. Dr. Fred Zilian helped our three entrants in the contest.

Groundbreaking for Squash & Fitness Center: At the end of classes on May 17th ground was broken for the new Squash & Fitness Center. The School community and the Board of Regents, along with local newspapers were all in attendance. Abbot Mark blessed the land and Board Chairman, David Moran ‘71 and Headmaster, Dr. Jim De Vecchi made remarks.

Philanthropy: Approximately 33% of the total funds ($4M+) required to build the Squash & Fitness Center have been raised. An additional $2.7M is needed.

Monastic Activities: Dom Paschal Scotti recently had his essay, “Necromancy and Monsignor Robert Benson” published in the Downside Review (April, 2003). Dom Christopher Davis ’48 (who celebrates his 45th year of ordination on May 31st) is the school chaplain at Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI. Abbot Mark is just completing an assignment as a counselor at a social service agency in Woonsocket, RI. This volunteer assignment allowed the Abbot to lend his help to impoverished citizens of Woonsocket, RI one day each week since last November.

College Counseling 2003: Director of College Counseling, Susan Wells, held an Admissions and Application Workshop for all Fifth Formers on a Sunday late in April. Members of the Admissions Offices of Holy Cross, Wheaton and Union College all participated. Students joined small groups to read actual applications in order to decide who to admit to these schools and who to reject. The lively discussions that ensued demonstrated a greater appreciation gained by the students of the role of the application in the college admissions process.

Campus Architectural Tour: Professor James Yarnell, of Salve Regina University, brings his art and architecture classes to our campus to show them the best example of Modernist architecture in the Northeastern region. He gave the same tour for our own students and faculty in May. The twenty minute tour (which will be repeated in the fall) reminded the school community of the remarkable architecture, sculpture, art and furniture that graces our campus.

Dr. Yarnell discussed the progressive architecture of the German Bauhaus School, which was also known as functionalism and came to be identified as international modernist architecture. This style was characterized by rigid geometry, no ornamentation, and modern materials like steel and concrete.

The other form of modernist architecture is the conservative modernist style, also associated with the Scandinavian style, which was derived from 19th century Arts & Crafts tradition. This style of modern architecture was in some ways a reaction to the more rigid functionalism of the Bauhaus style. Curved shapes and a sleek, streamlined look characterize it.

Pietro Belluschi became the Dean of the Architecture & Planning Department at MIT in 1951. He had done design work on small buildings and churches up until that point in his career. He was hired to do a Master Plan for the school and monastery in 1954. His first plan for a church and courtyard, which had a distinctive Scandinavian style, with curved roof and sleek lines, was rejected by the monks. It was a traditional style church where the nave was quite separate from the choir and altar. This separation was not favored by the monks.

Belluschi had traveled extensively in his native Italy and in those travels had come across the famous church of San Vitale in Ravenna (built circa 547AD). This structure with its circular theme and large octagonal base is topped with a smaller octagonal upper area. Portsmouth Abbey’s church looks very similar to this sixth century Italian church. Professor Yarnell noted the sleek lines of the church and the presence of curved structures particularly above the altar canopy or ‘baldacchino’. He also noted the extensive use of natural materials such as fieldstone and redwood, representing not only a reaction to the modern materials of the International style, but also a definitive connection to nature and natural beauty.

As Professor Yarnell viewed the other buildings around the school’s quadrangle, he suggested that Pietro Belluschi had achieved a unique accomplishment by creating a suite of buildings that worked so well as a whole. This ‘gesamte Kunstwerke’ or ‘total work of art’ was quite unique and remarkable in the view of Prof. Yarnell.

The foresight to employ furniture makers and sculptors who also embodied the spirit and theme of the Scandinavian modernist style was also noted. George Nakashima’s natural furniture made of rough-cut woods and smooth lines coupled with Richard Lippold’s bold crucifix above the main altar in the church were cited as examples of this. The school possesses one of the largest collections of Nakashima furniture anywhere.

Yarnell closed by citing the unified artistic expression created by these artists, the integration of modern and traditional themes and the significance of these works on Portsmouth’s campus.

Strategic Plan: The Board of Regents reviewed a draft Strategic Plan at its May meeting. The School Administration and Board Chairman, David Moran ‘71, presented the plan to the faculty and administration in early June. The School Administration will work on detailed implementation plans this summer. In the early fall, the plan, with detailed implementation steps and budgets, will be presented to the Board for final approval. It will be communicated to our broader constituency as we move into the fall of this year.

If you have questions, comments or ideas, please contact Tony Klemmer or Jim DeVecchi. We welcome the opportunity.