focus on: rhode island

50 Art New eNglANd M a y / J u n e 2 0 1 4

RHODE ISLANDRHODE ISLAND

S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N

Rhode Island knows how to make a name for itself. Scattered around the state are eclectic galleries and histori-

cal sites, famed arts festivals and diverse townscapes, each one fondly contributing to Rhode Island’s budding reputation as a pre-eminent arts and culture destination.

On December 1, 2013, Rhode Island became the first state in the nation to stop collecting sales tax on original and limited edition, locally made art. Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed was at the forefront of establishing this incentive, and in brand-ing Rhode Island with the fitting nickname, “State of the Arts.” Fine art created in the

state, including books, plays, musical compo-sitions, paintings, prints, photography, sculp-tures, jewelry and ceramics, are now exempt from sales tax.

The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts has been hard at work with the State Division of Taxation, tourism agencies, cham-bers of commerce, and local governments to ensure artists can use the new tax incentive to promote and sell their work and build Rhode Island’s creative economy. In 2013, the Arts Council awarded more than $1 mil-lion dollars in grants to schools, community centers and artists doing community based arts programming throughout the state. The

smallest state in the nation is known for hav-ing the largest number of artists per capita, and the Arts Council helps build a vibrant cultural life for Rhode Islanders.

With so much for a visitor to explore, where do you start? Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau is here to provide expert advice on how to make the most of your stay in the Providence area. Stop by a Visitor Information Center at the Rhode Island Convention Center or nearby GTECH Center and hear what they have to say about where to eat in the #1 Place for Food in the U.S. (Travel + Leisure 2012 Poll) or what’s hot on the scene in the Arts and

The Basin, downtown Providence, RI. Photo: PWCVB/Nicholas Millard.

FOCUS ON RHODE ISLANDFOCUS ON RHODE ISLAND


M a y / J u n e 2 0 1 4 Art New eNglANd 51


Entertainment District tonight. The “Creative Capital” is home to an eclectic mix of cut-ting-edge art ventures and deeply rooted cultural touchstones.

One Providence staple is The Providence Art Club, the oldest art club in the nation after the Salmagundi Club in New York. “Our distinguished institution has been here so long that no one can remember a time when Thomas Street was not synonymous with the Providence Art Club,” notes gallery coordinator Tessa Freas. Lined up as a pictur-esque procession of historic houses, studios, galleries, and the clubhouse, the Club con-tinues a tradition of sponsoring and support-ing the visual arts through public programs, classes for members, and an active exhibition

schedule. You can find yourself delightfully lost wandering through the interconnected maze of galleries, soaking in the unique architecture and exhibitions characteristic of the city’s offbeat charm.

Providence’s engaging arts scene makes it a cultural playground for the students who flock to live and study there, and it carries no shortage of top-notch facilities and emerging young artists. The Perry and Marty Granoff Center for the Creative Arts at leading Ivy Leaguer Brown University is a cutting-edge arts facility complete with production and recording studios, auditorium, multimedia lab, and the Cohen Art Gallery, where the center has hosted 30 full-scale exhibitions over the years. The center’s programs and

courses are developed in collaboration among artists, scientists and scholars seeking to create new art forms and exploring, examin-ing and extending the understanding of creative process.

On the East Side of the city, near Brown and RISD, the Wheeler School is a day school founded by American Impressionist painter Mary C. Wheeler in 1889. At Wheeler, The Chazan Gallery serves as a nonprofit exhibi-tion space for contemporary artists living or working in the area, and is a gift to the Providence arts community from the school. Through an open jury process, the gallery shows work pairing the strongest artists in the region for a consistent series of quality exhibitions throughout the school year.


Classes in weaving, spinning, knitting and heritage artsExhibition and demonstration in fiber and textile artsFolk music and heritage dance

TradArts Studios @ Slater Mill

[email protected] • 401-725-863867 Roosevelt Avenue • Pawtucket, Rhode Island

• Housed in the National Historic Landmark John N.A. Griswold House

• Historic and Contemporary Exhibitions

• Art Classes for Adults and Children

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Dean Richardson, Joe DiMaggio at Bat, 1992, Oil on canvas

76 Bellevue Ave. newportartmuseum.org



The students and aspiring musicians at the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School in East Providence enrich and transform their community through superior, inspiring music performance and education. The school is currently the only comprehen-sive, non-profit community music school in Rhode Island and engages approximately 1,500 students on a weekly basis, and an additional 13,000 students through partner-ships, residencies, education concerts and in-school performances. The Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates its 70th anniversary this fall. “This season offers a greater variety of music than any I can recall,” said Larry Rachleff, music director. “From a Bach concerto to a freshly-minted world

premiere, the season spans four centuries of musical masterpieces.”

At Rhode Island College, the E. M. (Edward Mitchell) Bannister Gallery has presented a yearly calendar of contemporary art exhibitions since 1978. Art faculty mem-bers serve as curators on a revolving commit-tee and bring in projects related to their par-ticular area of studio expertise. Through May 17, the gallery is showcasing their Annual Student Exhibitions. The featured student artists have worked under the guidance of faculty who challenge them to create original content demonstrating the skills and tech-niques needed for informed studio practice.

The Krause Gallery at Moses Brown School, an independent, college-prep, Quaker

day school, coincides with course work in the arts and exhibits a diverse selection of contemporary work by local and national visiting artists. Through May 11, the gallery will present the MB Alumni Exhibition fea-turing photographer Michael McLaughlin, Class of ’79. A world traveler with a unique perspective, McLaughlin’s work captures the odd corners and forgotten shapes of the cities and landscapes he stumbles upon. “Rhode Island is still my favorite place, out of everywhere I have ever visited,” he says. “It has influenced me greatly, and I adore its quirks and unique character.”

Speaking of quirks, Three Wheel Studio on lively and colorful Wickenden Street invites a delightful break from tradition.


436 Wickenden StreetProvidence, RI 02903

(401) [email protected]

THREE WHEEL STUDIO

STUDIO POTTER: DWO WEN CHEN

Founded in 1880, the Providence Art Club is a picturesque procession of historic houses; home to studios, galleries and a clubhouse. Through its public programs, its art instruction classes for members and its active exhibition schedule, the Art Club continues a tradition of supporting the visual arts both in Providence and beyond.

THE GALLERIES OF THE PROVIDENCE ART CLUB

ALWAYS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Mon–Fri 12pm–4pm

Sat–Sun 2pm–4pm

11 Thomas Street Providence, RI 02903

401.331.1114

providenceartclub.org





Working with clay, RISD alumnus and studio potter Dwo Wen Chen creates fanciful pots, bowls, mugs and plates to make your dinner parties the talk of the town. “Since I was not classically trained as a potter, I see no do’s

and don’ts in my pottery making,” he writes. His gallery holds beautiful handmade pottery such as the botanical stoneware collection that is hand thrown or sculpted and carefully imprinted with real Japanese maple leaves,

wild flowers, bamboo leaves and shoots, and other greenery.

Like the work at Three Wheel Studio, the contemporary art in Providence doesn’t hesi-tate to push the envelope. At “The Plant,” a historic mill complex in Olneyville, Yellow Peril is a contemporary art gallery fostering modern art critiques on popular culture and society by emerging, mid-career and estab-lished artists. Through June 1, Yellow Peril presents Bradley Wester’s newest body of work, DISCOurse #1: Pinup, a hybrid-practice that combines painting, drawing, sculpture and digital imaging into larger installations. Yellow Peril has become an active force out-side Providence as well, with exposure on the international art fair circuit. It will present its most cutting-edge artists at Cutlog NY 2014 during Frieze Week in May.

From July 14–19, the Handweaver’s Guild of America brings to Providence the 2014 Convergence Conference. Immerse yourself in the ultimate international fiber arts experi-ence in a region known for its textile history and innovation. Thousands of fiber enthusi-asts and hundreds of vendors from all over the world will be exhibiting contemporary yardage and fashion, and offering classes in weaving, dyeing, basketry, knitting, and many more useful fiber crafts.

Just north of Providence thrives Pawtucket, one of the country’s most arts-friendly cities, renowned as Rhode Island’s original creative community. Pawtucket’s arts and entertainment district has been sales


IN CELEBRATION OF THE BRISTOL ART MUSEUM’S 50TH YEAROn view: Friday, May 2–Sunday, July 6, 2014Artist reception: May 2, 2014, 7:00pm

RHODE ISLAND ARTISTS OPEN JURIED EXHIBITION

10 Wardwell St., Bristol, RI • (401) [email protected] • bristolartmuseum.org

Spring House Hotel, New Shoreham, RI. Courtesy of Block Island Board of Tourism.



tax free since 1999. Serving as a success story and encouraging the statewide exemption, this small industrial town became a powerful economic engine, enticing working artists to the area and revitalizing the community. On Pawtucket’s Blackstone Avenue, Mad Dog Artist Studios and Gallery meets the studio needs of artists working in jewelry, non-metal sculpture, ceramics and painting. Studio members find access to tools and equipment, including ceramic and jewelry kilns, open space with lots of natural light, and a gallery with rotating contemporary exhibitions.

Slater Mill, a National Historic Landmark on the Blackstone River, brings the American Industrial Revolution to life. As a museum complex, it tells the story of innovation, labor, artisans, women’s rights, cotton econo-my, immigration and assimilation, and indus-try. Save the date for “A Grand Fête by the River,” a celebration to benefit Slater Mill and its education scholarships beginning at sunset at Slater Mill Museum on Saturday, May 31. Enjoy live jazz, cocktails and comestibles, and candlelight tours of the grounds.

One of Pawtucket’s most exciting art and design ventures, Exchange Street Open Studios (XOS 2014) will take place September 20 and 21 in Pawtucket’s Armory Arts District. Visitors will see more than 50 artists display their work and give demonstrations in studios and live-work lofts located in the renovated mill buildings along the Blackstone River.

Located in an historic lakeside boathouse

in Slater Memorial Park, Rhode Island Watercolor Society is one of the oldest water-color organizations in America. Through classes, workshops and demonstrations, RIWS provides artists and the general public the opportunity to view, purchase, exhibit, and learn about water media art. RIWS fea-tures a library, studio space, and an art gal-lery which hosts 15 shows annually, includ-ing a National Water Media Competition.

In October of 2000, 25 artists led by Pat Zacks met at Slater Mill for the first time to establish goals, bylaws, and a mission

statement and formed the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative. The Collaborative now resides at Lorraine Mills, a “bastion for Rhode Island artists, craftspeople and businesses,” filled with work studios for artists. The PAC Gallery is on the first floor and presents the Pawtucket Foundation Show, juried by Didi Suydam and Peter Diepenbrock, from May 8–June 2. Nearby neighbors iolabs offers exceptionally fine quality photographic, fine art and exhibition printing, finishing and framing services. It specializes in prints ranging from custom, single fabrications to

Copy the Masters May 10–30 Open Reception: Saturday, May 10, 6–9 p.m.Guest artists by jury. Light refreshments. Art By The Dozen June 7–28Open Reception: June 7, 6–9 p.m.hopegalleryfineartfinecraft.com

(401) 396-9117 435/437 Hope Street, Bristol, RI


Visit Providence, RI, and enjoy the city’s acclaimed arts and culture, renowned restaurants and exciting attractions.

GoProvidence.com

Edward Mitchell Bannister Gallery

Visit us at

ric.edu/bannister

Charlestown Gallery central view, Charlestown, RI. Courtesy of Charlestown Gallery.





innovative gallery and museum exhibition panels, scrims and wall displays. Whatever your need, iolabs works to customize prints in a range of materials and finishing solutions ,including metallic and pearlescent canvas, fabrics, films, wood veneer and sheet alumi-num, and LED image light panels.

OneWay Gallery—a contemporary gal-lery showcasing all mediums with a focus on up-and-coming artists—can be found in two parts of Rhode Island. Based in Narragansett for 12 years, OneWay expanded to Pawtucket just a year ago to join the eclectic enclave at the Hope Artiste Village, and within months of opening, was voted “Best New Art Gallery” by Rhode Island Monthly. At OneWay’s original location, just a few blocks from Narragansett Beach, owner Stephen Cook is busy remodeling and expanding the original space to include a larger gallery, second-floor space, and a community block of 15 artist studios.

Moving around the state at leisure will show you the range of creative endeavors that contribute to Rhode Island’s individual-ity. IMAGO Art Gallery in scenic, waterfront Warren is a gallery run by artists for artists. It was first located at 16 Cutler Street, the site of a refurbished auto showroom in a mill com-plex owned, at the time, by David Wescott, a believer in providing community space for artists to display their work. IMAGO moved to its current location, 36 Market Street, in the fall of 2009. For the past 11 years, IMAGO has hosted six-to-eight shows featuring close to

200 regional and nationally recognized artists.For a small peninsula town, Bristol holds

an abundant wealth of historic and cultural charm. Hope Gallery, fittingly situated on Hope Street, seeks to promote diversity, individuality and a distinctive scope of fine art and craft. Anita Trezvant, a Portsmouth native, shepherds the gallery’s mission and creates mixed media figurative sculpture and original jewelry. Inspired by myths, legends, and ancient peoples, Trezvant’s art actualizes her belief that “man is capable of tracing his-tory and transforming it into contemporary thoughts, ideas, and feelings.”

After three years of transforming and pre-serving the 1867 Carriage House at Linden Place, the Bristol Art Museum’s vision to

convert an historic building into a beauti-ful new home for the arts for Rhode Island’s East Bay region has become a reality. Doors opened on December 7th in downtown Bristol’s Wardwell Street, inviting an exu-berant audience to peruse several galleries, a lecture room, and expanded space for art classes and programs. In celebration of the museum’s 50th year, it will present the Rhode Island Artists/Open Juried Show May 2–July 6.

Situated in South County, the Wickford Art Association is an art gallery and orga-nization where artists meet and create. Celebrating 52 years, the WAA proudly pro-motes the Wickford Art Festival, America’s longest running outdoor fine arts festival. Set on the streets of historic Wickford Village,

Hope/Angell show at the Chazan Gallery, October–November 2013

228 Angell Street, Providence, RI 02906p: 401.421.9230e: [email protected] Hours: Tue–Sat 11–4; Sun: 2–4

CHAZAN GALLERYat Wheeler


FINE ART & CONTEMPORARY CRAFT

SHOW & SALESEPTEMBER 20th & 21st

Armory Arts Ctr.172 Exchange St. Pawtucket, RI

FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

artsmarketplacepawtucket.com

May 8 - June 12Pawtucket Foundation Exhibit

Opening Reception May 8th_____________

Sept. 11 - Oct. 16CALL TO ARTISTS:

Annual Open Juried Exhibit (theme exhibit)

560 Mineral Spring Ave, Pawtucket RIpawtucketartscollaborative.org

PHOTO, FINE ART + EXHIBITION

Reflections . May 17–June 12Open Show juried by Nancy Friese, landscape painter and RISD Professor. All New England artists eligible.

Please visit riws.org for a full Prospectus. Jurying drop off: May 6–May 13.

Opening Reception: Saturday, May 17, 4 p.m.–7 p.m.

Diane Taylor, Forestscape, exhibiting in the RIWS Member Group Show, April 27–May 15.



more than 200 artists from New England, the US and beyond show and sell a wide range of work. Glass, ceramic, clay and steel sculptures, water-color, acrylic and oil paintings, photography, ink drawing, and mixed media can all be found lin-

ing the Wickford waterfront. The festival takes place Saturday and Sunday, July 12 and 13.

Jamestown Arts Center is quickly becoming a leading arts and cultural hub, for the island community of Jamestown and Rhode Island, where creativity, ideas and innovation flourish. A multi-disciplinary visual and performing arts space, JAC engages, enriches and inspires the community with arts and educational experi-ences. Running through May 23, The Flower Show, Paintings by Georgia Marsh is Marsh’s debut solo show in Rhode Island and the first time these recent paintings will be exhibited. Her paintings combine both abstraction and representation and pose a challenge to our pre-conceptions of painting nature.

Charlestown Gallery, in seaside Charlestown, is dedicated to the exhibition of fine contemporary American art with an emphasis on regional painting, sculpture and photography. Owners Renee O’Gara and Dave

Gilly Gilstein are artists with an appreciation for a variety of styles and showcase excep-tional, new works of art. Their goal: to help people experience art that will leave a lasting personal connection.

Newport, known for spectacular coastal scenery and a thriving downtown waterfront, is situated at the southern end of Aquidneck Island in Narragansett Bay. For more than 100 years, the Newport Art Museum has been a cultural gathering ground for the community, and is one of only 5% of American museums to be fully accredited by the American Association of Museums. The collection and exhibitions duly reflect Rhode Island’s cultural heritage and lively contemporary art scene. This sum-mer, visitors will witness a rich array of insight-ful and imaginative depictions of the natural world. Opening May 17, native Rhode Islander Mary Chatowsky Jameson’s Marine Botanicals is on view in the Wright Gallery.

DISPERSIONAn installation by Daniel ClaymanMAY 16 - JUNE 27

COHEN GALLERY Granoff Center, Brown University154 Angell Street, Providence, RI

OPENING RECEPTION: MAY 22 AT 5PMGallery Hours: M-F | 9am - 3pmSpecial Hours:

May 24 | 10am - 6pm May 25 | 12pm - 4pm


Rhode Island PhilharmonicOrchestra

Larry Rachleff, Music Director

“Glorious” - Providence Journal

401.248.7000 • riphil.org/tickets

CharlestownGallery-SoRI-2014-02.pdf 1 3/22/14 5:27 PM





Across the state border, among acres of meadows and forests in Westport, Massachusetts, Dedee Shattuck Gallery is a contemporary art gallery and cultural site exhibiting an ever-broadening selection of international, national, regional and emerging artists. Owner Dedee Shattuck defines the rela-tion between contemporary art and the envi-ronment by remaining eco-conscious, featuring outdoor sculpture, taking care to show work in a space architecturally designed to be congru-ent with the landscape, and offering a sustain-able artist residency program.

With spring in full bloom and summer close by, it’s a perfect time to plan a visit to Rhode Island. Feel free to re-read these pages again with a Sharpie to start your itinerary! You’ll have fun collecting (tax free) art and memories along the way.


OneWay Gallery Hope

The Hope Artiste Village999 Main St.

UNIT 712Pawtucket, RI

02860

onewaygallery.com

OneWay GalleryNarragansett

140 Boon St.Narragansett, RI

02882

Artists: Elizabeth Billings, Andrea Wasserman, and Wagner Hodgson Partnernship, Heber Youngken Medicinal Garden, completed in 2013, University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy, Kingston, RI. Courtesy of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts.



BLOCK ISLANDTwelve miles off the coast sits Block Island,

one of New England’s brightest gems and best-kept secrets. Rated as one of the top ten “wonders of the world” by The Nature Conservancy, approximately 50% of the island is protected from development and instead laced with walking paths and open spaces, bare beaches and beautiful vistas. The Block Island community is one-of-a-kind, a fine art and fiber arts destination, and passionate about preservation. The community eagerly invites visitors to share in the care and com-mitment they have for their home. The Block Island Board of Tourism is a nonprofit orga-nization and travel resource for curious wan-derers. Perusing a copy of the Block Island Tourism Guide you’ll learn the essentials: how to rent a moped, where to find the most beautiful scenes and relaxing beaches, what’s going on in the lives of locals, and much more.

“If you arrive by air, one of the first things you’ll notice is the panoramic mural in the airport by island resident Marilyn Bogdanfy, a great evocation of Island life in all four sea-son,” points out Jerry Powers, a Massachusetts native who’s been living on Block Island year-round since the summer of 2000. Powers uses acrylics and water-soluble oils to paint expan-sive landscapes and non-objective, experimen-tal images, and you can see his work no fur-ther than a short walk from the ferry dock at Spring Street Gallery. Spring Street is a coop-erative gallery featuring a diverse display of paintings, photographs, ceramics and jewelry.

For more than 30 years, the gallery has oper-ated in an abandoned horse barn brought back to life by community members who wanted to improve Block Island’s economy. Doors open in May with new art, a new look and a fresh schedule of shows.

Overlooking Old Harbor, on the second floor of the Block Island Post Office, Jessie Edwards Studio specializes in contemporary American paintings, works on paper, wood-turnings, and fine ceramics. Through the sum-mer season, the gallery offers exhibitions, art-ists’ receptions, and demonstrations in addi-tion to ongoing shows of established gallery

artists. You’ll see Helen Frank’s delight in the details of daily life through her etchings; the interplay of afternoon light in Heidi Palmer’s quiet scenes of New England landscapes and interiors; and marine watercolor paintings by award winning artist, Victor Mays.

Block Island is a place known for its fiber arts and is where you’ll find the beautiful, handcrafted and minimally processed yarns of North Light Fibers, one of the only Micro Yarn mills in the country. The mill manages all aspects of yarn making, from skirting, washing, dyeing, and carding to spinning, ply-ing and skeining. Tours of the Micro Yarn mill


Stairs at the Mohegan Bluffs, Block Island, RI. Courtesy of Block Island Board of Tourism.




RHODE ISLANDRHODE ISLANDare offered daily, as are classes in needle felt-ing, knitting, and weaving. The mill store is a prime example of how year-round light indus-try can be sustainable and create full time employment on Block Island which also offers no sales tax on items like handwoven, hand-knit and handmade garments and home décor. When visiting, please remember to say hello to the alpacas and other animals on Abrams farm on the way to the mill. If you’ve never patted a yak, enjoyed kangaroos, talked to a llama or scratched a zeedonk, here’s your chance!

Enjoy your island getaway at The 1661 Inn and Hotel Manisses, a family-owned, full service resort spread throughout nine distinct locations. During your stay, you’ll welcome each morning with a full, complimentary New England champagne breakfast buffet, and for the most romantic dining on Block Island, you’ll look no further than your front door.

The Hotel Manisses dining room features sophisticated, fine dining fare from executive chef Ed Briones. His imaginative, seasonal menu is inspired by travels and experiences throughout the world and created from a sus-tainable seafood program and produce from local farms.

Before heading back to the mainland, peruse the local general store for Block Island Brands. Their all natural Block Soap Bars and Block Island Beach Balm recall a simpler time and will sweep you back across the sound to Rhode Island’s “Ocean Jewel.” The makers of Block Island Brands have captured the fresh scents inspired by daily Block Island life, like quiet walks to beaches in search of solitude or a honeysuckle blossom to snap, to take home with you as a fond reminder of your visit.

—Samantha DiMauro


HANDCRAFTEDARTISAN SOAP

for mind &

bodyTM

Inspired by the fragrances of Block Island, RIWest Beach Bayberry

Mansion Beach Plum Rose

Scotch Beach Honeysuckle

blocksoap.com

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800-383-2474

Tourism Council

www.blockislandinfo.com

Block IslandClose to home, but a world away

GalleriesArtisan FairsFarmer's MarketsAll Arts are TAX FREE on Block Island

www.blockislandinfo.com

Jessie Edwards Studio Fine Art Prints • Unique Gifts • Artist Receptions • Exhibitions

2nd Floor, Post Office Building

Old Harbor, Block Island, RI401.466.5314

JessieEdwardsGallery.com

focus on: rhode island

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