Spotlight on...Emily Gray!

Emily Gray is a Gallery Night Guide as well as a talented local artist and curator. Check out our interview with her below!

Q: You are an artist and also work at the WaterFire Arts Center gallery.  Can you tell us a little about your art and how it impacts what you bring to your perspective as a guide?

A: It is a wonderful thing, to be on both sides of the artist/curator relationship. Having both experiences makes both roles better. My artistic practice is deeply rooted in spirituality and family history and feminine identity, concepts which I explore through painting and sculpture mostly. Being an artist is to look at the world and see beauty and pause to be inspired and receive. This aids me as a curator to connect with artists and take joy in collaborative vision and spatial design. As a Guide, both identities are beneficial - I can speak to both the meaning and curatorial designs of an exhibition and also honor the artists who are showcased. 

Q: Art can be experienced many ways.  What do you see as the difference in the experience of seeing art with others on a Gallery Night tour and viewing art on one's own?

A: Experiencing art with others on a Gallery Night tour offers a chance to have a conversation about the artwork with tourgoers, artists, and curators. The format is a collective journey that can give way to really fun connections, allowing folks on the tour to exchange interpretations that can deepen everyone's appreciation. As a guide, I’m able to provide context and stories that might not be immediately apparent, enriching the experience further. Viewing art alone is also very important. It allows for a more personal, introspective engagement. Both ways are valuable. I see Gallery Night as a great way to get to different art spaces, to then come back to, on your own time.

Q: Besides the WaterFire Arts Center, of course, what are some of your favorite galleries and/or public art spaces in Providence?

A: I am always impressed by the intentionality and research that goes into shows at Brown’s Bell Gallery. It’s nice to have longer exhibitions to have the chance to experience them several times at different stages of the year.  I am also entranced by our peers, AS220, who are on a similar monthly schedule to our exhibitions at the WaterFire Arts Center. In addition to other Gallery Night partner spaces, I love the new pop-up apartment gallery spaces like Apartment 13 and East Manning St Projects. These spaces embody the spirit of Providence and are confirmation to me of our artistic Renaissance. 

Spotlight on...New friends!

You never know who you’re going to meet on the Trolley Bus!  Last year two people sat next to each other and immediately struck up a friendship. Sarah Jane Lapp, well-known multimedia artist, and Grace Carcich, motivational speaker, life coach, and author, got chatting about projects.

An artist and a writer talked quite a lot that night, but didn’t yet know the other was also a writer and the other loved to paint! A mutual sense of humor and a love of making people laugh was also something they had in common.

Grace is the author of Buddha Rebel The Bridge. She invites readers to take on the soul challenge to look at life through a different lens to make discoveries, shed limiting belief systems, and to venture with eyes wide open.

Sarah Jane Lapp started Puzlkind Jigsaw Puzzles and is the originator of Puzzical Chairs & Pie with Live Music, a wonderful public event of building puzzles in the park with friendly rotating partners. The event is similar to musical chairs but with puzzles and pie. It's a great way to connect with new friends!

Please check out the next Puzzical Chairs Event on Thursday, July 11th, outside the Drawing Room, in New Bedford MA.

And at the check-in table on each Gallery Night, you can purchase 3 different puzzles by Sarah Jane that benefit Gallery Night.

Image borrowed from the Puzlkind website!

Save the Date!

August 15 is not only Gallery Night, but on that date Gallery Night Providence will be the highlighted at the TroopTop Thursday event at WaterFire Arts Center. 

These summer Thursday evenings on the roof at WaterFire Arts Center showcase art experiences and live music as well as cocktails in support of local non-profit organizations highlighted each week.

Stay tuned - more details coming soon!

Spotlight on...Rene Gomez!

La Galería del Barrio, located in Southside Cultural Center on Broad Street opened earlier this spring, and we are pleased to announce that the Galleria will be part of our June 20 Gallery Night.  

We asked Rene Gomez, one of the artists with pieces in the opening exhibit, "A Soulful Sazón," a bit about the new gallery, his art, and baseball. To read more about Rene and see a gallery of his work, visit RI Latino Artists • Rene Gómez (rilatinoarts.org).

Q: You work both as a mural artist and as a painter on a smaller scale.  What are the main differences in the process and do you prefer one more than the other?

I enjoy both murals and paintings and always see in my eyes my canvas paintings as potential murals being painted on walls. But my canvas paintings usually have a more meaningful connection with me since they have a connection with my life experiences. The primary challenge when creating a mural lies in scaling the artwork accurately. Various techniques, including freehand rendering and projector assistance, are available for this purpose plus many more methods. Personally, I employ a European-style method that suits my workflow in creating murals. I utilize the gridding method on my paintings when creating from sketch to canvas.

Q: Congratulations on being part of the opening exhibit at La Galería del Barrio.  What are your thoughts about La Galleria del Barrio being one of the first - if not the first - gallery on Broad Street in Providence?

The establishment of a gallery dedicated to showcasing the remarkable artwork within the Hispanic community, particularly in the region where I have resided for the entirety of my life South Providence is meaningful. This space "La Galería del Barrio" is providing a platform to illuminate the richness of beauty and creativity of many artists in the local area and Rhode Island.

Q: You have a couple of portraits of baseball players in the opening exhibit.  Are you a baseball fan?  What is your team?  

A: I have been crafting paintings inspired by my personal experiences and journey, particularly focusing on my upbringing, which involved actively watching baseball games and participating in Little League and Senior League baseball, as well as avidly collecting baseball cards during my teen years. Currently, I am engaged in developing a series depicting iconic figures from the New York Yankees, rendered in a pop art style within the format reminiscent of baseball cards. Following this project, I intend to pivot towards capturing the essence of Boston Red Sox legends. I'm still a Boston Red Sox fan; the 2004 team is my favorite because my dad got to see them win the championship before he passed away in 2007.