About John Chamberlin

John C. Chamberlin is a retired fulltime faculty member of the Department of Teaching + Learning in Art + Design at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).  During the thirty-one years at RISD he held numerous leadership positions in art and design education, locally, regionally, and nationally, such as President, RI Art Education Association.

While primarily an academic, John has always had a studio practice.  For decades he was a ceramic tile maker, creating and installing handmade custom tiles in kitchens, bathrooms, and on fireplaces for clients in Rhode Island. 

Several years ago John learned how to quilt and has since created more than one hundred (100) pieces that have been donated to Child Family Services (CFS) of RI. John works with a national non-profit, MY VERY OWN BLANKET, headquartered in Westerville, Ohio, who has the formal relationship with CFS of RI. CFS distributes the quilts to foster children and youth.  Most of his pieces are gender neutral and made in bold colors.  The idea is to have each quilt function initially as a comforter and then be repurposed as a wall hanging remembrance as the child ages. 

John is also the director of the Quilting Ministry at Grace Episcopal Church, Providence. The Quilting Ministry also donates completed quilts to CFS.