This is the time for some English text, trying to do my best to avoid odds mistakes, but I need to. I need because the source of it is in Newport (Rhode Island), pictures and inspiration are taken at IYRS, and I need because I’d like to dedicate these words not only to my town here, in order to give an inspiration to think out of the box, but also to people that make it, in Newport or anywhere in the World, supporting, maintaining and bringing culture and opportunity.
Yeah, because this matter is not just wood, saw, glue, nails and lot of sawdust; it’s not just a matter to create opportunity for a job or employment; it’s not just a school; it’s not just past history. It’s culture. And the culture is making the difference, the culture is helping the growth of humans or communities or a town. And the culture starts from a nail and a hammer, not from tons of words and titles.
My last visit in Newport on end of August was very short, I had just two days to spend and I did so much that I was more in rush than a normal working day! But it was worth to do, so much, and I came back home with some new lessons learnt, with some new knowledge, with some confirm: I grew up a bit. Among all these activities, I ended up into the IYRS building: too bad my time was very short so I could get just a brief introduction of what it is and a quick tour in the premise. Too quick, I would have probably stayed for hours if Brenda wasn’t chasing me around trying to do the right thing for that moment .. putting me on a train to NY.
IYRS is a school, the beginning of description on their website is: “IYRS is a world-class experiential learning school in Rhode Island with a hands-on education model dedicated to teaching highly technical and deeply craft-oriented career skills. IYRS currently has three accredited schools, School of Composites Technology, School of Boatbuilding & Restoration and School of Marine Systems.” I was particularly appealed by the restoration area, but as I said, it is not just past history, is bringing up a culture around boatbuilding, from wood to modern composite tech.
From the “Coronet” project, a rebuilding/restoration of a 130 years old, 133 feet schooner, to smaller educational project, I had a walk into a very interesting world. It was Sunday morning, so no teacher and no students around, and the place was very quiet. The harmony between the salty New England breeze filtering through windows and the Coronet’s frames was something so beautiful and warm (also if the sky was a bit cloudy) that I could smelt old legends and tales, from any pieces of boat I was seeing around me.
I could probably talk for hours, or write hundreds and hundreds of lines, about a 30 minutes visit in a place that opened a door on a ocean-wide field, but I would condensate all my thinking just on a “couple” of comments, or questions:
“everyone from our area who likes, or love, or just interested in boatbuilding that will transit through Newport should go and visit IYRS”
“everyone from our area who works for the economic, cultural or educational growth, should purposely go and have a look, and get inspired”
“these are the kind of things that Imperia City delegates should learn when they go and visit our Sister City, Newport: this would mean a lot in term of making this twinning very helpful”
Imperia lives on the Sea and with the Sea, but often is shy about it. Why, I did not understand yet, and I want stubbornly reject the idea that there are still hidden interests keeping everything in this limbo. What a dream, building a School instead “houses” to go out of it!
Thank you to all my friend in Newport, old and new, that made my visit there so nice and very informative.
gicojuice 