This month, the URI Providence Gallery features an exhibit showcasing gorgeous artwork from more than 20 children’s book illustrators. Meet one of those talented artists, Natalia Bystrianyk.
Read MoreSpotlight on...Natalia Bystrianyk!
Spotlight on...Larisa Martino!
Meet Larisa Martino, who is both a guide for the Gallery Night guided tours, plus a skilled artist in her own right!
Read MoreSpotlight on...The Gallery at Sprout CoWorking!
This month we are spotlighting The Gallery at Sprout CoWorking located in the Olneyville neighborhood of Providence. Learn more about the story behind Sprout in our interview below with Shari Weinberger, the gallery's founder, curator, and manager.
Q: Can you tell me more about the Gallery at Sprout CoWorking's backstory? How did it start?
A: My husband Zachary is a compensation consultant. He has a lovely home office, but he found it a little isolating and he missed the collegiality of working around other people. So he looked for a coworking space in Providence.
In 2015, when he learned that Providence was too small a market to attract WeWork, or any of the other national coworking chains, he and his business partner John Kevorkian decided to open Sprout. After a bout with breast cancer, I decided to leave the education world where I’d spent the bulk of my career, and put my Bank Street master’s degree in museum education to work, so I agreed to Zachary and John’s business plan with the stipulation that I could open a community art gallery in the space and be the manager.
Before Sprout even opened its doors to the public, the first thing I did was join Gallery Night.
Q: Having a gallery in a coworking space is a departure from the traditional white-walled gallery space. How is your space unique?
A: Sprout provides a professional environment for remote workers to work that is not their kitchen table. The monthly changing exhibits in the art gallery provide a dynamic, creative work environment. Because we are a CoWorking business, we sell office space, meeting rooms, and event space. This provides me with the financial flexibility to show new, emerging and underserved artists. The artist does not have to make any financial contribution to have a show. We take only a 20% commission on sold works (way below industry standards), and that money is rolled back into the gallery to purchase hanging materials and provide gallery night snacks.
Because of the nature of the Sprout gallery, I often show local artists new to the Providence art scene. I take particular pleasure in shepherding artists through their first shows, teaching them about the process. There is nothing like seeing the excitement on the face of an artist as they make their first ever gallery night sale.
Q: I've noticed a lot of your exhibits have community-based organizations or causes that have a larger purpose than just aesthetics. Can you speak to this element of the gallery?
A: I am a very socially conscious person and I want to use my position as the Sprout gallery manager to do things to give back to our community.
As an out of the box thinker, I’m always looking beyond the walls for new ways to show art, hang art, engage artists, engage the public and build a stronger Providence. This is why I love creating exhibits that benefit nonprofit organizations. Over the years, I learned how to throw a great benefit party for Gallery Night. Recently I’ve kicked it up a notch and applied the same party principals to nonprofits like the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resources Foundation, or the RI Bike Coalition. These events, along with all Sprout Gallery events, are always free, fun, and open to the public.
Q: What's on display at Sprout in May?
A: For the month of May Sprout is partnering with the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation, a Rhode Island Nonprofit based in Pawtucket. The joint exhibition, "ScART," enables cancer survivors to tell their stories, share their cancer journeys through painting, and find community and emotional healing with other survivors.
The gallery will also showcase ceramicist Rick Martell's Raku pieces for the tea ceremony, including flower vases, water jars, and tea bowls. This process produces a very distinct glazing and lets the potter have intimate involvement with pieces from start to finish.
A third artist, Richard N. Eugene, is showing as well! A Haitian American artist based in Providence, Richard's artwork reflects the cultural richness of his background and upbringing. Come and wish Richard a Happy Birthday on Gallery Night on May 18th! You can stop by Sprout on your own that night, anytime from 5 to 8 pm, or as part of the 6:30 pm trolley tour.
Q: Anything else you want to add?
A: Sprout CoWorking and Gallery is staffed every M-F, from 9-3pm by Joe, our business manager. Stop by 166 Valley Street and say hi! Additionally we are open on the 3rd Thursday of every month until 8 pm for a gallery party. If you are an artist, or you know an artist, if you like art, or you don’t like art and want to learn how, you can reach me at gallerymanager@sproutcoworking.com.
Spotlight on...Elise Fortier!
April is National Volunteer Month, a time to recognize all those who give their time and energy to causes they care about. We at Gallery Night are grateful for the many volunteers and the hours they've spent, directly or indirectly, helping us bring people to art spaces in Providence. This month we are spotlighting volunteer Elise Fortier, who organized the silent auction and raffle for our fundraiser in February!
Q: When and how did you first hear about Gallery Night?
A: I was first introduced to Gallery Night in October of 2019 by my dear friend Mike Ryan, who is one of the board members. I had just moved to Providence and would arrange my social calendar by what was advertised in his publication Motif Magazine. He and I went on one of the tours and I was hooked.
Q: What made you want to go on a tour? What keeps you coming back?
A: I grew up surrounded by art. Both my parents and my godmother were talented artists. My parents made a point of bringing us to museums as children, and taking us to cultural events and encouraging an appreciation and interest in art. I studied graphic design, drawing and art history in college. It’s just always been a part of my life. I can easily walk into a museum and pass five hours as if it was nothing. I become mesmerized. The Gallery Night tours appealed to me because I could visit so many spaces in one evening that I would most likely never go to on my own. Some studios can feel intimidating, especially if you’re solo. With Gallery Night, I’m with a group and we are warmly welcomed. There’s an abundance of art in varying mediums in interesting spaces. There’s nothing I don’t love about it. It always feels fresh and new, regardless of how frequently I go.
Q: What is your favorite part about Gallery Night?
A: Along with all of the amazing artwork being shown at some truly spectacular venues, is the sense of camaraderie that is present amongst everyone attending. There’s an element of shared awe, appreciation and joy that permeates the group. The tour guides are knowledgeable and informative and in some cases you get to meet the artists and learn about their work firsthand.
Q: What motivated you to volunteer to organize the silent auction and raffle for our fundraiser?
A: I love the city of Providence and our community. I have done a good bit of volunteering in the past and it had been my desire once I moved here to find an organization that was aligned with my values and interests.
I knew Gallery Night was something that resonated with me personally, as art has always been integral to my life and I believe it should be accessible to all. I fully and wholeheartedly support the mission of Gallery Night Providence and it was my honor to be able to help out in whatever way that I could. I thoroughly enjoyed my role and it was an absolute pleasure meeting all the talented artists who generously donated to our cause and to be able to familiarize more people with their work by including them in our auction and raffle.
Thank you to intern Justin Medeiros for interviewing Elise and writing up this feature!
Spotlight on…Quang Hong!
Quang Hong is a glassblower, ceramicist, painter, sculptor, and designer who recently moved to Providence and started his own gallery and studio, QzillaBlue. Gallery Night’s Outreach Coordinator Sarina Mitchel had the pleasure to visit Quang at his space, see his art, and ask him a few questions!
Q: You're new to Providence; where were you based before?
A: I’ve lived in Chicago, Japan, San Francisco, and most recently Brooklyn, before moving to Providence. I’m always working in the studio, so I don’t travel much. Instead, I do this thing where I move every 5 to 10 years.
Q: What drew you to come relocate to PVD?
A: I went across the US for 6 months just traveling, looking for where to move. At one point one of my old professors suggested Providence. I was like, “Providence? Where’s that?” The next day, I saw an ad for this space right in Providence on Craigslist. I went to see it and immediately knew I wanted to take the leap and that this space would become my gallery and studio. People here seem happy.
Q: I saw some of your work on Instagram and am interested to learn more about it! Tell me more.
A: Because the world is intense, I try to keep things lighthearted, but there’s also a bit of dark comedy in there. I believe you have to choose to laugh at the absurdity of life. I look for the balance of humor, storytelling, and technical skill of painting, while not being too preachy. I find beauty in the struggle, in the sincerity of people. I hope to bring back positive imagination and levity in my work. My images are open ended and so they ask you questions. These are the tools to develop your story.
Q: What made you want to start a gallery here?
A: My main motivation is getting back to painting in Providence. In Brooklyn a friend and I ran a high end furniture company. It was very successful, but being a boss and running your own company comes with all sorts of stresses. I wanted to get back to the fun part of art, and we wanted to end on a high note, so we closed the company when the pandemic started. Being here and painting, that’s my dream!
I also put in a ceramics studio, complete with a kiln, in the basement of my gallery, where I create mugs, plates, and bowls (including a shallow bowl/plate hybrid that I designed specifically to be able to eat pasta while sitting on the couch!).
Q: Who do you think is the audience who comes to your gallery? Is there a specific audience that comes to your gallery, or who you are aiming to reach?
A: I end up shipping a lot of my art to Chicago, because I have a good base there, and have found the people who like my work there. I’m also involved with galleries in Texas and Louisiana. I’m still exploring the landscape here in Rhode Island to find the folks who find resonance with the work I make. I’m hoping being part of Gallery Night will help make those connections! I believe for every painting there is a person out there who is meant to connect deeply with that work.
Q: Favorite artists / artistic influences?
A: I grew up spending so much time reading art books at the public library. Influences include anime, comics, children’s book illustration, old masters. I’m a big student of art. I value discipline, technique, and craftsmanship when creating art.
Q: I hear that high schoolers are stopping by after school–I’m curious what they think of the art? Any hot takes?
A: They often ask, “Do you teach?” and I say no, because I curse too much. Some of the high schoolers are regulars and like to check in on the paintings they like, saying they’re going to save up to buy their favorites someday. Some show me their art or sketches they’re working on, and are curious about painting techniques, like oils versus acrylics. Others tell me their interpretations of my work.
Q: How did you hear about Gallery Night Providence?
A: I had a lot of people who came through the gallery and mentioned gallery night. Eventually someone had the website and so I checked it out. I attended a tour and love that you get to see so many different places in one night!
Sarina and the rest of the team are looking forward to having QzillaBlue be part of Gallery Night this season. Even before the start of the Gallery Night season, you can visit QzillaBlue, located at 745 Westminster Street, on your own. Gallery hours, free and open to the public, are Thursday through Sunday, 12 to 5 pm, or by appointment through direct message on Instagram @Qzillablue.
Color of the Year
Written By: Alyssa Ann Heller, GNP Coordinator
Pictured is Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute
Ever heard of a "Pantone Color"? The Pantone Color System is used across the world for calibrated color matching, whether it be in digital or physical form. For example, marketing materials are consistently printed to meet brand standards. This system is also used heavily in the design and manufacturing industries to ensure accuracy: paint colors, fabrics, and children's toys are but a few applications.
In 2000, Pantone debuted its first color-of-the-year: powdery cerulean. It was chosen to represent the new millennium as the image of tranquility and calm. Each year since then, Pantone has continued to study color trends and psychology, which ultimately influences designers and manufacturers around the globe.
"Classic Blue" is the color of the year for 2020. Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute had the following to say:
"We are living in a time that requires trust and faith. It is this kind of constancy and confidence that is expressed by PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue, a solid and dependable blue hue we can always rely on.
Imbued with a deep resonance, Classic Blue provides an anchoring foundation. A boundless blue evocative of the vast and infinite evening sky, Classic Blue encourages us to look beyond the obvious to expand our thinking; challenging us to think more deeply, increase our perspective and open the flow of communication."
We at Gallery Night Providence find this statement to be particularly serendipitous as it relates to our mission (and logo!) as well as the changes that we are making for our upcoming 24th season.
Interview transcribed and edited by gallery night intern Debby de Afonseca
Anthony Tomaselli
Kelly Brown : So how did you get involved with gallery night? Were you involved from the beginning?
Anthony Tomaselli : I did not get started at the beginning, but I'm very good friends with Steven Pennell, who was one of the organizers.
KB: Yes, Steven’s the vice president. And he also runs the URI Providence Gallery.
AT: So, once I had a studio at the Deacon Taylor House beginning in 2004, It was then, soon thereafter got involved in Gallery Night.
KB: So what do you think is beneficial about gallery night to the city?
AT: For the city? I think at the beginning, it was very new in the country, I think Providence was one of the forerunners. But it was great for people to be acquainted with the galleries and the different kinds of galleries. And it was great for the galleries to know who else was out there. I think networking is a very large component of the success of the event. But I think it allowed people to do a great job and they still do a great job.
KB: Where do you think the Providence art scene, in general, is going to be going? Do you think it's just going to keep growing? Do you think it's going to become more inclusive?
AT: Providence has always been a more Underground art scene. You know, I'm involved in many galleries outside of Rhode Island, commercial galleries, and many of them are suffering in terms of just staying open. So the gallery scene in Rhode Island has always had this teeter-tottering of academic galleries; museum galleries; for-profit galleries; and now you have the open studios that are going on, like me, and whoever else is doing what I'm doing. So it's, it's always in flux. And I think the for-profit galleries have had a hard time. I mean, Berge has been an anomaly, with one of the only galleries staying open all these years. I'm not sure if there's anyone else that's open or that have been open all these years. Galleries come in and try to make a goal, and for some reason, they either go in a high end, very avant-garde edgy direction, of a commercial gallery, which is very difficult in Providence, and very few of them do a very traditional kind of gallery. But I mean the gallery scene is very diverse as I see it.
KB: So tell me about yourself and your work.
AT: Well, I graduated from Rhode Island College 1976 way back when and decided that I was going to paint the rest of my life. And I have, my wife and I own three restaurants. And you may not know that, but in 1982 we opened up a little convenience store so I could paint more. And I didn't paint more, but I didn't stop. So that was the key ingredient, not stopping being involved with some of the Providence painters at the time, and some painters who are still around. About 96-97, I decided to come back to more traditional looking paintings, using the painterly methods that I like to do. And then I got involved in galleries outside of the state. I also teach here at the Providence Art Club, I've been a member of the club for 25 years. I've had a studio on this street since 2004. From 2004-2012, I was at the Deacon Taylor House, and then I moved here. As I learned in the world of marketing, name recognition is very important. And I learned that through my restaurants, so I decided to market my name. It's worked to an extent, people know who I am, they come and see my work, I sell a lot of art in and out of Rhode Island. My art is not cheap, but it's not expensive. I mean, it has a price point that works for me. I love teaching, I do private workshops. My studio is open to the public, it's open to anybody that walks in, members of the Art Club come in. And I'm constantly in contact with people who are either making art; looking at art; people coming in out of the building. So that way there's always bits of inspiration, which is what I wanted in my life because we all need that, I need that. I need the other.
KB: What advice would you have for young artists just getting out of school?
AT: Stay in touch, don't stop. Get a job. Preferably not in your field. Because when if you want to paint and you get a job in the art world, you'll never paint. You'll use up all of your creative energies. I think if you want to paint just know that it's hard. But that's kind of what I did. I went into the business but I got a job as a waiter. Stay in touch with other artists, which we've just talked about. Don't leave the spectrum. Don't stop. Don't go thinking you're going to put it aside and get a full-time job and pick it up somewhere along the line.
KB: Would you tell me a little bit about this building?
AT: So the building is part of the Providence Art Club. It was built in 1885 by Sydney Burleigh. In 1885 Providence had the number one per capita income in the country. Think about that. So in 1880, when the Providence Art Club was formed, Providence was a thriving place. They formed the club so that they could bypass the Commissions because they wanted to deal directly with their clients. It was founded by thirteen people, with five of them being women, one African American. So five women being part of the founders of this institution is fabulous. It was built in the arts and crafts era. It's one of the first arts and crafts buildings in America. It is a historic landmark, there very few of them in the country. So a lot of the details are handmade because arts and crafts movement in a very pedestrian way were rebelling against mass production. There are six studios here, and I'm the sixth artist to house this particular space.
KB: So one more question. Do you have any like do you have like a recommendation on where you would like to see gallery night going?
AT: I started thinking about that. Because I'm always thinking like a business person. I'm always trying to figure out how to increase usage, so you could be looking to increase your demographic or your usage, and at the same time looking at what is the mission. At one time I think was pretty much educational. But I don't think that is the mission anymore. So, maybe one way to increase usage could be by reducing the number of days gallery night does it, and maybe it should be quarterly. I don't know. Would more people use it if it was less? and if so, what does that mean? But focus on the mission and that should dictate what the model will be going forward. I'm glad the trolleys are back, those were pretty big. But now you also have to think about that the galleries are more spread out and that the Providence art scene is a little different. So, one of the things you might consider, maybe you've done it, I don't know, is a public art tour. Because in the nice weather you could have a nice bike tour or even a walking tour. Also, if I may, I think you should make it a conversation about the wealth of the local history. Try to make it interesting by not just documenting, that way you can create an interest in wanting more to see the city and not just the individual parts. You can focus on making it more of a choreographed experience, it should be about the experience, about the art. And maybe it's called Providence Night. And it's not just galleries. I've always said there should be a restaurant stop. I don't know how that works. I don't know if the restaurant is in a gallery where they volunteer. But make it food and art. And maybe that's the last stop and that stop is an hour stop. Providence has so much history so perhaps you can start bringing in historical stops too, so one piece of the thing could be history.
KB: Thank you so much for taking the time to talk.
AT: All right, kiddo. I gotta get back to work.
NOTE: Gallery Night does do walking and Bike tours; weather permitting
Sprout Coworking Gallery
We spoke to our Gallery Night President, Shari Weinberger, about her representation of the Sprout Coworking Gallery on Valley Street…
Can you talk a little bit about the Sprout Gallery? How did it come to be in a coworking space, and what is the mission?
Zachary retired from corporate life and started to do consulting. He has a nice home office, but he found working at home too distracting and he missed the collegial atmosphere, so he looked for a coworking space in Providence and there wasn’t one. So he and his partner John opened Sprout.
The community gallery was my idea. I had left my job as a school administrator and I was looking for my next thing. I thought an art gallery at Sprout would help promote energy and creativity. The gallery was a nice way for Sprout to quickly become part of the community, and also a way to introduce Sprout to different populations of people who might have never heard of coworking. It’s a fast growing industry, but 4 years ago, most people in Providence had never heard of it. Joining Gallery Night was the smartest thing I did.
How do you feel Gallery Night Providence impacts the community in Providence?
I think GN does a lot for Providence, more than the credit it gets in return. GN could be so much more with a little extra money and support.
JANUARY PRESS RELEASE
URI Providence Gallery
Talking to Steven Pennell of the URI Providence Gallery and the GNP Board about the gallery, gallery night, and the community…
Tell us about the URI gallery, how long has it been open and how long have you been involved?
I founded the URI Providence Campus Gallery as part of the URI Providence Campus Urban Arts and Culture Program in 1999 and we became a Gallery Night Member in 2020. I have been coordinating and curating monthly exhibits since the founding of the gallery.
What do you think makes Gallery Night Providence important to the community?
Gallery Night Providence provides connections and communication between area artists, and between artists and Providence based galleries. We provide connections to new and non-member galleries, between galleries and other arts organizations across the state and throughout the region. We have aided other communities in organizing their own Gallery Night or Gallery collective. We provide free access and accessibility for students, Providence and area residents, and for visitors to the community. Gallery Night is a fun and activating force providing educational tours, panel discussions, workshops, and demonstrations along with music, theater, dance and spoken word performances on the 3rd Thursday each month and at other times throughout the season. We promote the visual arts as an integral part of the creative capitol. We foster diversity and mutual understanding through the presentation of art by people of all ages, races, ethnicities, religions, gender identities and sexualities.
Is there anything you hope to see in the future for GNP?
There is a perception that art is only for a select group of people. The initiated, the wealthy, or the degreed. The heart of what we do is making art accessible to everyone - all ages, all abilities, all walks of life. We are always seeking new ways to grab people's attention, and provide opportunities to introduce them to art as an integral part what it is to be human. So more visibility, more opportunities, being more inclusive for the public, for artists and art institutions.
What is the next show for URI?
For Black History Month I am hosting "We Shall Overcome" an exhibit of Black Americana from the private collection of Onna Moniz-John from East Providence, The exhibit includes: art artifacts and memorabilia that illustrate the conscious construction of racism, and also celebrates individuals who have fought this injustice and made a difference in our perceptions and understanding about Race and Racism
How do you think art benefits humanity?
Art is inspiring and education, it is unique to human kind to express who we are as individuals and as a people through visual and performing arts
The Bank RI Gallery
Paula in front of her work
I recently spoke to Paula Martiesian about her involvement with Gallery Night Providence and her work at the Bank RI Gallery at Turks Head;
Tell us about the Bank RI Gallery, how long has it been open and how long have you been involved?
The bank galleries have been around since the 1990s. There are galleries in three BankRI branches – Pitman Street, Turks Head and North Kingstown. BankRI branches are unlike many banks, each branch reflects the community it is in.
One of the bank's vice presidents, Jim Derentis (now a real estate agent at Residential Properties), came up with the idea of the gallery at Turks Head. He wanted to support area artists and give them a place to showcase their work. He ran it himself for a year, expanded to the two other branches, and then hired others to run it. I came along in 2003 with the official title Exhibitions Curator. The galleries feature work by artists from Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts.
Can you tell us about yourself and your own work?
I'm a lifelong artist. I've first trudged up the granite stairs at RISD when I was six years old and have been painting and drawing ever since. Along the way, I became an arts advocate - serving on boards, starting and running various arts organizations such as Quix Arts Magazine (an arts magazine that my husband Ken Carpenter and I developed, designed and published for almost a decade), Centercity Contemporary Arts, Raku Rhody-o, and Gallery Night Providence.
I've almost entirely retired from my community work to focus on my painting. I exhibit and sell my work through the Bert Gallery in Providence and the Charlestown Gallery in Charlestown
What do you think makes Gallery Night Providence important to the community?
Along with Teresa Level (Gallery Flux) and Cathy Bert (Bert Gallery), I founded Gallery Night in 1996. The creative culture here in Rhode Island is huge. There are so many artists of incredibly diverse viewpoints and talents, but there was no cohesive way to access them. Gallery Night provided the vehicles (quite literally) for people to search out and find artists and the galleries that exhibit their work. We were the first organization to embrace the concept of cultural tourism and we hoped to build a gallery community worthy of the artists that live here.
Is there anything you hope to see in the future for GNP?
More on line access, more commercial galleries, more access points for people to find the wonderful art and artists that live and work in Providence.
How do you think the arts benefit humanity?
Arts do not benefit humanity, they are humanity. People use to make everything they needed. They made their own clothes, their own houses, their own food. Everything they did was creative. It's only recently that humanity has separated everyday life from the arts. When you distill art down to its most basic core, it is the making. The making is what elevates humanity from other creatures. People today do not make much. They absorb and want to be entertained. We are beginning to lose what makes us truly human.
“The Wire” 2018
The John Nicholas Brown Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage @ Brown
Can you talk a little bit about The John Nicholas Brown Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage at Brown? How did it come to be and what is the mission of the Center?
Brown's M.A. degree in public humanities offers a unique program of study for those interested in public engagement and the work of cultural organizations. Founded as the John Nicholas Brown Center for the Study of American Civilization in 1979, and part of Brown University since 1995, the Public Humanities Center is the leading graduate program in the Public Humanities. In addition to its coursework in digital humanities, preservation and heritage, museum skills, public art and nonprofit management, the Center develops research initiatives, exhibitions and public programs with local and national partners in public history, culture and the arts.
How do you feel Gallery Night Providence impacts the community in Providence?
Providence has such a deep and rich arts community; without a lot of open studios events that get people into studios in Providence, GNP provides the public an easy way to be in touch with the arts and culture scene.
What is next for the JNBCPH? Do you have an off-season show?
For the first part of 2020, we have two exhibitions coming that we are very excited about. Defiant Spirits (January 31 - April 17, 2020) is an exhibition of the award-winning photo-journalist Fernando Brito's portraits of life in Sinaloa, Mexico, showing both the ravages of the drug wars and the resilience of the local community. Brito and the show's curator, Didier Aubert, will participate in a panel conversation about the work at the Public Humanities Center on Monday, April 6 at 5pm, so mark your spring calendar!
The Providence Album, Vol II: 1970-1979 will open in early May; it follows our exhibition on Providence in the 1960s in the spring of 2019 with a look at the city during another intense decade of change, featuring some never-before exhibited photographs of this city in transition.
What would you like to see from GNP moving forward?
Keep doing what you are doing -- working to make GNP a terrific learning and social experience that brings people out to some of the city's most creative spaces. Maybe expand to operate year-round?
Our GNP President
Gallery Night President Shari Weinberger and her husband Zachary mentioned in Jewish RI Article
MICHAEL SCHEMAILLE
When Zachary Weinberger and Shari fishman met at Hunter College, in New York City, they had no idea of the extraordinary life together that awaited them. They quickly grew close, forming a bond that would take them around the world together before they landed in Rhode Island where Zachary is a partner in Sprout CoWorking, while Shari is Sprout’s gallery manager and president of Gallery Night Providence.
The Weinbergers arrived in Providence 10 years ago, after Zachary accepted a position in Mansfield, Massachusetts. By this time, the married couple had three children, and, recognizing the problems inherent in Zachary’s six-hour daily commute, the family knew they had to move.
Finding Mansfield too small for their liking, they decided to look at homes in Providence. It was love at first sight, and they knew right away that they wanted to live on the city’s East Side.
Since then, they’ve become well-established in Rhode Island’s secular and Jewish communities. Zachary has a background in human-resources compensation consulting, while Shari is an accomplished Jewish educator.
During a warm, comfortable conversation with the couple at Sprout’s Providence location, they spoke about their lives, work and family.
The couple met when Zachary was an undergrad at Hunter, where Shari was taking classes as part of a University of Connecticut arts program. They hit it off and began dating.
In October of 1983, Zachary made aliyah to Israel. Shari soon followed, and they spent two years on a kibbutz, with Zachary serving in the Israeli army while Shari worked with the kibbutz’s children.
Zachary and Shari married in 1984, and in 1986, they left Israel to move to New York.
(TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE- CLICK THE LINK BELOW)
October is Arts and Humanities Month in Rhode Island
Governor Gina Raimondo signed a declaration on October Third, declaring October Arts and Humanities Month in Rhode Island!
RISCA, Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, and Providence Art Culture Tourism have a lot of fun things happening this month - check our their website — and don’t forget to come to Gallery Night Providence this month in celebration!
Gallery Night Yard Sale!
Next Saturday, September 21st is the Gallery Night Yard Sale at the Eastside YMCA!! All proceeds go towards Gallery Night and bringing art to the public for free! If you have items you wish to donate, you can do so at Sprout Coworking to our fearless leader Shari Weinberger!
RSVP to the Facebook Event;
What Cheer Flower Festival 2019
You're invited to What Cheer Flower Farm's annual benefit outside at the Farm, featuring:
Food, drink, live music
An Art Show
Flowers, flowers, flowers, flowers, flowers, flowers, flowers and more flowers
Gallery Night Patrons who are on our Trolley Tours will get into the Flower Festival for FREE!
For anyone coming not on the trolleys; Tickets start at $20 at the door -- or just $10 on their website…
More Festival Details:
If you love flowers, you'll adore our giant 18' floral wall (hello, photo-op!) plus glorious floral displays from top RI designers, including:
Blooming Blossoms
Flowers by Semia
Island Boy
Petal Gypsy
Robin Hollow Farm
Sarah Haile
Studio Choo East in partnership with Little State Flower Co.
If you love art, you'll enjoy our Art Show Tent featuring exclusive new paintings and glorious photographs of flowers created by local artists in the Farm's fields this summer. (In fact, the art exhibit you'll see has been chosen as an official stop for Gallery Night Providence!)
Plus, at the Festival you will tour our flower fields and high tunnels, sip bubbly drinks, nibble on treats from top Providence chefs and enjoy live music under the stars.
Casual Attire & Accessibility
We're flower farmers, not fashion models. The Festival is being held outside on land that includes soil, gravel and asphalt. We suggest casual attire and low heels. Yes, we will have plenty of seating under canopy tents as well as port-o-potties. The space is wheelchair accessible.
Parking Notes
The Festival entry will be at 48 Plainfield St, at the parking lot of the central Olneyville Family Dollar, across the street from Fete Music Hall. (It sounds prosaic, but our decorating committee will make it magical for you.)
There's also free on-street parking and the parking lot at Fete Music Hall will be available. If you live in Providence, consider taking a Lyft or Uber, or taking a RIPTA bus to Olneyville Center. If you live on the West Side or in Silverlake or Olneyville, consider walking.
In Case of Rain
In case of dramatically inclement weather, the Festival will move indoors to Fete Music Hall, which is literally across the street from the outdoor Festival entrance. So, date, parking, hours, etc will remain the same.
Charitable Purpose
Thanks to your generosity, the Farm grows and gives away 30,000 flowers per year to hospitals, recovery centers, hospices, shelters and other vulnerable populations across Rhode Island... because like you, we believe everybody deserves a bouquet.
The Farm is a 501c3 charity, so your tickets may be tax deductible. :-)
Lola is the young woman with red hair
Special Thank you and See You Soon to Lola Rael
Lola Rael has been an intern with Gallery Night for the past 18 months. She came to us when she was half way through her junior year at School One. Her maturity, insightfulness and eagerness to participate has helped Gallery Night grow stronger and more diverse. She is reliable, with good follow through. She stepped up the organizations data collection and analytics. We are forever grateful and we wish her joy and excitement as she begins the next part of her life in NYC at The New School. Learn great things and bring them back to share. You will always be part of the Gallery Night family.
Accessibility Tour- August 15, 2019
On August 15th, we have a FREE accessible trolley tour that departs from The Regency Plaza at 5:45pm.
Experienced Gallery Night guide, Barbara Barnes, and celebrity guide Kim Beretta ( United Cerebral Palsy of RI) will lead this fascinating adventure!
Stop 1 - Sprout CoWorking is thrilled to present an eclectic show for the month of August. In addition to the collection of images created by 20 artists at AS220 in our main gallery, Jide Adeleke will be back after 3 years with photos from his new series, and Marina Katayeva will display her large painted banners of tango dancers in our event space. On Gallery Night, dancers from Providence Tango will entertain us with their beauty and skill.
Stop 2 -The Red Gallery, at approximately 1000 square feet, is located on the first floor of our fabulous old New England Mill.
Stop 3 - The collection at RISD Museum currently contains more than 100,000 works of art and design dating from ancient times to today including paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, costume and textiles, and furniture from all over the world. We aspire to create an accessible and inclusive place for all, presenting ideas and perspectives that can be inspiring and complex.
You belong here!
Michele Aucoin - Funeral Announcement
AUCOIN-PACIOREK, MICHELE, 57, of Pawtucket, passed away at home surrounded by her loving family and friends on Tuesday, August 6, 2019. She was the beloved wife of Nick Paciorek. Born in Providence, she was a daughter of the late Emile L. and Anna S. (Padula) Aucoin.
Michele graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from Rhode Island College and was the owner of ArtProv Gallery in Providence, RI.
Michele is survived by her loving siblings, John L. and his wife Susan of Las Vegas, NV, Ronald J. and his wife Patricia of North Kingstown, Suzanne A. Moriarty and her husband Daniel of North Kingstown, and she was the beloved aunt and great-aunt to many nieces and nephews.
Her funeral will be Saturday, August 10, 2019 at 9:30 AM from the Iannotti Funeral Home AT MAPLE ROOT, 2000 NOOSENECKHILL ROAD (Route 3), Coventry, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM in St. Mary’s Church, Pawtucket. Interment to follow at Swan Point Cemetery, Providence. Visiting hours are Friday 4:00 to 7:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, donations made in Michele’s memory to Gallery Night Providence (GalleryNight.org) or the National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation (NPCF.US) would be appreciated.
Text and Photo from an article here:
https://www.springwise.com/design-innovation-climate-data-ba%C5%82tyk-tower/
Climate Crisis Influencing art around the world
Artist and designer Alicja Biała used climate change statistics to shape and form six public sculptures. Titled Totemy, the nine-metre tall towers each tell a story about a different aspect of the effects of humans on the environment.
One sculpture represents the volume of plastic produced worldwide in comparison to the amount that is recycled. Another tower compares the use of water in farming meat versus the amount used to produce vegetables. They stand in the public walkway beneath the Bałtyk tower in Poznań, Poland.
Biała worked with architect Iwo Borkowicz to produce the wooden structures and opened her workspace each weekend to host events to help share the story.
A QR code on each tower explains the data behind the visualisation, providing passersby with multiple layers of experience. The sculptures are a permanent installation.
11th July 2019
Email: ab@alicjabiala.com
Website: alicjabiala.com
Contact: alicjabiala.com/contact
Church Beyond the Walls: June Gallery Night 1-Time Stop
June Gallery night Press Release from CBTW:
“At Church Beyond the Walls, we believe that images have power. Most visual images of Christ, even in faith communities comprised of people of color, showcase a white Jesus. This is biblically incorrect. Jesus was a Middle Eastern Jew, and so he likely would not have had blond hair and blue eyes, but rather brown skin and dark hair and eyes. His mother Mary was also a Middle Eastern Jew, and would have had features that reflected that reality. But in most of our communities of faith we are surrounded by images of a white Jesus. We want to give new face to the church in order to reflect the diverse faces of its followers around the world.
In response, we want you to submit your non-white image of Jesus or Mary. Artworks can aim to show Jesus or Mary as they would have really appeared in history or how they appear to you — of all races, ethnicities, appearances.”
More information at http://churchbeyondthewalls.org/?p=5819
