As the glistening novelty of freshman year wears away, I find myself still yearning for the thrill of new experiences. Wherever you are on the spectrum of basically-a-RISD-student to a STEM concentrator just trying to increase their exposure to art (like me), these activities are a fun way of getting out and re-discovering Providence!
Providence’s organisation The Avenue Concept collaborates with local artists, architects, and building owners on public art projects in an effort to bring more art to Providence. On their website you can download a map which locates murals and public art in Providence. Take some friends, and explore! For added guidance, the organisation has also installed QR codes beside each artwork that when scanned provide information on the artist and their process.
If you would like to learn more about murals and design, Ave Magazine and the company’s blog are published on their website. Reading their articles will allow for a taste of this bold and eclectic world before you jump in head first, and at the very least prove to be an enriching read.
A little Venetian oasis in none other than Providence Rhode Island, Gather Glass located at 521 Atwells Avenue offers public and private glass blowing demonstrations, in addition to glass blowing classes.
Their one hour workshops enable you to create your own paperweight, decorative piece or drinking glass as the team walks you through the process of inflating, colouring and shaping your piece. Conversely, they also sell individually crafted glass pendants, cups and other trinkets on their website, of which 10% is donated to worthy causes.
An activity like glass blowing promises the thrill of a new experience, and is a rare opportunity to appreciate the process of making art instead of just the finished piece.
Whether you’ve taken VISA100or you’re just looking to liven your Saturday afternoon, Muse paint bar, located 8 minutes from campus, offers wine-and-paint classes almost every day of the week for you to unwind with and enjoy. Express your creativity, expose your artistic abilities (or lack thereof), and most of all detach from the thrumming heartbeat of campus life with this fun and lighthearted experience. Get those creative (and other) juices flowing, take your friends, and make the most of your weekend at Providence’s very own paintbar!
Albeit a classic, no article on art in Providence would be complete without mentioning the RISD museum. Home to works by Renoir and Cezanne, Warhol and David Hockney, the museum holds an extremely impressive collection. Each visit unwraps a new perspective on their extensive displays, and I would definitely recommend going more than once. The museum has rotating exhibits in addition to their permanent collections, information for which can be found on the RISD museum website.
Every Sunday from 10am to 3pm artisans ranging from candle sellers to empanada trucks gather on South Main street by the river. On a good day the place is buzzing with college students and Providence locals alike, all browsing through the vast collection of trinkets and boutique goods on display.
Some stores are run by small businesses selling handmade products like postcards, clothes and customised signs. These are interspersed by stalls overflowing with beautifully disharmonious collections of old paintings, ceramics, fans, carved wooden pieces and more.
The highlight of this experience for me was a vintage photography stall nestled deep in between dream catchers and beaded jewelry. A very sweet older man sold posters and news clippings from the 50s and 60s, in addition to the most gorgeous old cameras. The store was also bordered by boxes of vinyl records in mint condition featuring artists like Frank Sinatra and Joao Gilberto.
Overall, the Providence Flea Market is a magnificent display of local art in a variety of shapes and forms, and I would highly recommend paying a visit.
Another place where you can get something unique is at Benefit Street Antiques. A mere 14 minute walk from the Main Green, Benefit Street Antiques is a glimpse into the grandeur of old Providence. Exposed brick walls and floors carpeted in detailed embroidery enclose the most exquisite collection of vintage houseware. This ranges from chandeliers dripping in crystals to laboriously carved wooden furniture. Albeit a little impractical, the stately upholstery and floral ceramics that adorn the store are absolutely stunning.
Buy one of their vintage hand painted lamps, or transcend into the 19th century by basking in the store’s ambiance. Each piece is unique and tells a story, which in my books classifies it as artwork hidden in plain eyesight.
I hope these enable you to look at this city with a new, opportunistic perspective!
Parsa Zaheri considers the evolution of Renaissance art and the differing artistic styles found within the two-hundred years of the Renaissance. He pays particular attention to identifying the key historical moments serving as the birth and death of each Renaissance art movement.
This article delves into the fluid yet complex "whiplash" motif of Art Nouveau, tracing its aesthetic grace back to unsettling colonial histories. Drawing from Debora L. Silverman’s work, the essay explores how Belgian modernism, particularly the works of Henry van de Velde, is rooted in the brutal exploitation of Congo's rubber industry. It calls for deeper reflection on the role of art in representing, confronting, or even concealing the painful legacies embedded within its fluid lines.
Eiden talks with the Art Review about his recent capstone show, his architecture thesis, and craft in the age of technological innovation.