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Thank you to all who attended April 18 Gallery Night!

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Spring is in the air...on our last Gallery Night, we had April showers!

Between our 5 guided tours and folks who visited the galleries and exhibits on their own, we had at least 300 people attend this Gallery Night…some of whom braved the weather for a walking tour to galleries in the downtown area!

More than 20 people joined Gallery Night Guide Frank Toti on a walking tour of downtown art spaces, including stops at the AS220 Main, Aborn, and Project Space Galleries and the BankRI TurksHead Gallery, and discussions about public art and architecture.

We had folks attend Gallery Night from Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and all the way from Illinois, Texas, South Carolina, and Virginia, not to mention from cities and towns throughout Rhode Island!

“Our tour guide (Frank) was excellent. Learning about the history of Providence and the buildings was very enlightening. Enjoyed the murals-they are spectacular. The locations we visited were very interesting.”
— Richard, 5 pm Tour Attendee
“I was at the very first Gallery Night - the Providence Art Trolley - hop on, hop off. Tonight I like the guided interaction with the tour guides, curators, artists, and gallery staff. I LOVE bringing friends to Gallery Night for the first time. I also enjoy the camaraderie among guests on the trolley coaches. I’ve made friends on the trolleys.”
— Lee, 5:30 tour
“Gathering with friends and learning about local area artists, history, and culture. (I’m relatively new to RI — two years — and still exploring…)”
— Susan, 6 pm tour attendee

Thank you to all who attended March 21 Gallery Night!

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It was a great night, with printmaking, alien friends, urban sketching, retrospectives, women’s month exhibits, and more! Between our 4 guided tours and folks who visited the galleries and exhibits on their own, we had at least 303 people attend this Gallery Night.

We had some out-of-staters as well, from Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Indiana, and Texas!

“The guide was knowledgeable! Professional and friendly! He took advantage of the extended daylight to point out historical places along the trolley route! Also like discovering the small out of the way places, as well as major venues.”
— 5:30 pm Tour Attendee
“It was great to get to see some work by local artists, new gallery spaces, meet new people and learn a bit about each artist from our guide. In addition to the fun and convenience of the trolley and art I have experienced live music, free snacks and wine, and great architecture during the tours.”
— Elizabeth, tour attendee
“The guide, Irene, was lovely and informative. The stops were all unique with something different to offer.”
— 6 pm tour attendee

Spotlight on...Elise Fortier!

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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!