March 21 Gallery Night - 5:30 pm tour details announced!

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We will leave at 5:30 pm from the Graduate Hotel at 11 Dorrance Street, and return to the Graduate around 7:30 pm.

This tour will be led by Gallery Night Guide Bradly VanDerStad. We will visit the following locations and exhibits:

  • The Gallery at City Hall is joining forces with the SGCI (Southern Graphics Council International) Printmaking Conference, which is coming to Providence in April. They are curating a group print show, “Making an Impression: Building on Knowledge in Providence Printmaking.” The show will let us see the relationships, inspirations, and influences that contribute to a vibrant printmaking community over time, all in the backdrop of our own City Hall, reinforcing our commitment to artmaking as a civic-minded act that requires us to learn, experiment and pass it on.

  • BankRI Turks Head Gallery is showing “Drawings and Watercolors by Thea Ernest.” Ernest’s watercolor sketches are spontaneous reactions to her environment. She is curious and willing to draw anything that catches her eye – an industrial building, tomato plants in their cages, people in a cafe, a sycamore tree or her neighbor’s house. She has an intimate, easy style that’s more about capturing the feel of a place than cataloging details. She loves to be out in the world chronicling the ever-changing landscape of the state.

  • Galerie le Domaine at Domain Properties  is opening its 2024 season with the printwork of Lois Harada. Lois holds a BFA degree from RISD and has been working at DWRI Letterpress since 2011. She is an accomplished and creative printmaker and received several awards and residencies.

  • Paper Nautilus Books is showing “New Works” by Dianne Wilkinson. Dianne's sculptural pieces are mostly created from common and recycled textile materials. They hang like curtains and burst from the wall like organic growths.”Much of my inspiration comes from organic forms found in nature, and I select materials that reflect that–some reclaimed and some ordinary. I love the texture of the raw material as I work with it by sewing, knotting, and felting.”

REGISTER IN ADVANCE OR SHOW UP THE NIGHT OF!

Half of the seats on the trolley or mini coach will always be available (first-come, first-served), completely free, to anyone who shows up on Gallery Night! The other half of the seats are available to reserve in advance via Eventbrite. We ask that you donate $1 when you check out, for the convenience of guaranteeing your spot on the tour of your choice ahead of time.

save your spot on Eventbrite

Accessibility notes:

  • Many of the Gallery Night art spaces are wheelchair accessible. However, the trolleys we hire for Gallery Night cannot accommodate wheelchairs.

  • All tours involve some walking and some stops may include stairs.

  • We invite wheelchair users to enjoy self-guided tours on Gallery Night, and have created some suggestions (Make Your Own Tour tab page) where we note which galleries are wheelchair accessible.

Some notes to help you out the night of the event!

  • We recommend arriving to the Graduate 5 to 10 minutes before your tour time. One of our volunteers will be at a podium with a Gallery Night banner, near the main entrance, and will check you in and answer any questions!

  • If your plans change, please remember to cancel your Eventbrite reservation so that someone else can enjoy the tour.

  • Tours occasionally run late. We recommend allowing buffer time if you're planning on attending another event after ours.

And…enjoy a sneak peek of some of the artwork you can see at these spaces on gallery night!

March 21 Gallery Night - 5 pm tour details announced!

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We will leave at 5:00 pm from the Graduate Hotel at 11 Dorrance Street, and return to the Graduate around 7:00 pm.

This tour will be led by Gallery Night Guide Jenn Wilson. We will visit the following locations and exhibits:

  • AS220 Aborn Gallery is showing “Dear You” by Ruby T. Lopez Rios. Ruby (she/her/hers) is a Puerto Rican poet and visual artist that works with a fusion of mixed media such as acrylic paint, charcoal, textiles, and poetry. Her artwork acts as an outlet to understand the surreal nature of life’s absurdity and explores the finite nature of not only life and interpersonal relations, but culture and struggles of disenfranchised people.

  • David Winton Bell Gallery at Brown University will present a comprehensive survey exhibition of artist Barbara T. Smith. The exhibition will survey Smith’s bold experimentation and celebrate Smith’s incomparable contributions to contemporary art, feminism, performance, and technology. This includes the artist’s radical Xerox works, mixed media assemblages, sculptures, artist’s books, drawings, paintings, photographs, and videos.

  • Studio Hop is a local studio and shop specializing in contemporary fine art, hand crafts, jewelry, ceramics, and clothing.

  • RI Center for Photographic Arts is showcasing their “10th International Juried Exhibition,” juried by Karen Haas of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. The work in this exhibition was selected from an international call for entries to provide an updated look at current photographic practice, with 60 photographs from artists from 20 different states and Washington DC.

REGISTER IN ADVANCE OR SHOW UP THE NIGHT OF!

Half of the seats on the trolley or mini coach will always be available (first-come, first-served), completely free, to anyone who shows up on Gallery Night! The other half of the seats are available to reserve in advance via Eventbrite. We ask that you donate $1 when you check out, for the convenience of guaranteeing your spot on the tour of your choice ahead of time.

save your spot on Eventbrite

Accessibility notes:

  • Many of the Gallery Night art spaces are wheelchair accessible. However, the trolleys we hire for Gallery Night cannot accommodate wheelchairs.

  • All tours involve some walking and some stops may include stairs.

  • We invite wheelchair users to enjoy self-guided tours on Gallery Night, and have created some suggestions (Make Your Own Tour tab page) where we note which galleries are wheelchair accessible.

Some notes to help you out the night of the event!

  • We recommend arriving to the Graduate 5 to 10 minutes before your tour time. One of our volunteers will be at a podium with a Gallery Night banner, near the main entrance, and will check you in and answer any questions!

  • If your plans change, please remember to cancel your Eventbrite reservation so that someone else can enjoy the tour.

  • Tours occasionally run late. We recommend allowing buffer time if you're planning on attending another event after ours.

And…enjoy a sneak peek of some of the artwork you can see at these spaces on gallery night!

Thank you for making it a great night: Kick-Off & Fundraiser Recap!

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It was wonderful to see so many people show up to our Kick-Off & Fundraiser and make it a great “Leap” night! Attendees enjoyed making origami frogs (and cranes!) while listening to live music and catching up with friends new and old. People also got to have tasty desserts and snacks, get their tarot reading, enjoy artwork on the walls, and participate in the raffle drawings.

We have so many people to thank for making this a great night. We’d like to thank Sprout CoWorking for offering the physical space where we held the event, and Bottles Fine Wine for the libations of the night.

We’d also like to say special thanks to…

  • Sarah Jane Lapp / Puzlkind

  • Beth Barron

  • Anahid Ypres

  • Gianna Auger

  • Sin Bakery

  • Reiners

  • RISD Museum

  • Foolproof Brewing

  • Dark Lady

  • Avanti

  • T’s Restaurant

  • Anthony Tomasselli

  • Nathaniel’s Bistro

  • Jerry’s Artarama

  • Kreatelier

  • Plant City

  • Salon Inspirations

  • Rhode Island Hot Yoga

  • Wildflour

  • Ewa Rose

  • Stellar Art Pottery

  • The Jungle Personal Training

  • Seven Stars Bakery

And thank you to our intrepid volunteers, including…

  • Elise Fortier

  • Irene Yibirin

  • Heebe-Tee-Tse Lee

  • Rosemary Rocchio

  • Laura Lee Brady

  • Lorna Clause

  • Michelle Lee

  • Zack Kroeger

  • Cassandre Fiering

  • Mike Ryan

  • Eric Barao

  • Sarina Mitchel

  • Michelle Maynard

THIS THURSDAY: Join us for our Kick-Off!

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Join us THIS THURSDAY!

Leap with us into our 2024 Season. Get excited and join us on Thursday for our Kick-Off & Fundraiser at Sprout CoWorking at 166 Valley Street, Building 6M, from 5 to 8 pm! 

We will have live music by Beth Barron, a guided origami demonstration, tarot readings, group puzzle-making, raffles with great prizes, wine from Bottles Fine Wine, Jamaican food (for purchase) by JaPatty, and some surprises!

We are excited to unveil some new Gallery Night Merch at this event as well!

We'll have water bottles printed with the Gallery Night logo, plus puzzles for sale (pictured below) designed by artist Sarah Jane Lapp, with proceeds to benefit Gallery Night and keep the trolleys running.

And we have some new raffle items added just in the last few days! There will be $100 worth of gift cards to T's Restaurant (which can be redeemed at any of their 3 locations) and a $50 gift card to Plant City (great vegan and vegetarian options!), in addition to a brand new Stanley Cup, art supplies, spa items, a free stay at the Graduate Hotel, and much more. See photos and read more on our other blog post!

One special raffle item is an original painting that was generously donated by artist Anahid Ypres. If you have been on a Gallery Night tour in the past, you may have seen Anahid’s art studio and some of her in progress and finished paintings!

To learn more about her work, check out her website here, or read this article written by Michael Rose to learn more about her background and process. 

During the event you will also be able to see artwork on display from The Gallery at Sprout CoWorking's February gallery show, “En Garde!!” This show is guest-curated by Kelly Brown and will display work from current guards at the RISD Museum.

All are welcome to join us for our Kick-Off & Fundraiser!

Please note that there is free parking in the parking lot at Sprout CoWorking.

There is a suggested donation of $25. Your donation includes dessert (which includes selections from Sin and Seven Stars Bakery), one free soft drink ticket (soda, seltzer, bottled water, etc.), and entertainment.

Register ahead of time on Eventbrite here, or join us on the night of the event. We can't wait to see you!

Spotlight on...I Will Not Bend an Inch exhibit

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We're excited to feature a new show at one of our Partner Galleries, the RISD Museum, this month!

Nancy Elizabeth Prophet: I Will Not Bend an Inch celebrates the work and legacy of this underrecognized 20th-century sculptor who is best known for her contributions to expatriate culture in Paris during the interwar period.

Prophet (1890-1960) was one of the first known women of color to graduate from RISD and her work reflects skills developed through academic training with a distinctly Modernist sensibility. The first museum survey will feature three-dimensional sculptures of marble and wood, painted wood friezes, and watercolors as well as photographic presentations of archival documents and lost or destroyed sculptures.

“We are thrilled to share the story of this underrecognized artist, Nancy Elizabeth Prophet, RISD’s first known woman of color to graduate. The exhibit features three-dimensional sculptures of marble and wood, painted wood friezes, and watercolors.”
— Deborah Clemons, Director of Public Programs, Education Department

Can’t make it on a Gallery Night? You have plenty of time to plan your visit to Providence and to the RISD Museum. The show will be on view February 17 through August 4 2024. For information on how to visit the RISD Museum, visit their website here. 

So many great Raffle items - join us on February 29

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If you’re not already excited for the origami demos, live music, and new merch that will be at our Kick-Off and Fundraiser on Thursday, February 29th, then get excited for some hot ticket raffle items!

Raffle items include a brand new Stanley cup, gift certificates to T’s Restaurant (at any of their 3 locations!) and other local restaurants (including Plant City), mini version of Jeff Koon’s “Rabbit” sculpture, a RISD Museum Plus One Membership (and a tote bag), special Estee Lauder Skincare set, art supplies from Jerry’s Artarama, a one night stay at the Graduate, and much more!

 

One special raffle item is an original painting that was generously donated by artist Anahid Ypres. If you have been on a Gallery Night tour in the past, you may have seen Anahid’s art studio and some of her in progress and finished paintings.

 

Additionally we have a Foolproof Gift Basket (a Pawtucket-based brewery known for unique brews and adorning their walls with local art), and comfy pillows from local design concept store Kreatelier.

more details on the fundraiser & kick-off

New Gallery Night Merch coming out on February 29!

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Get excited for our Kick-Off and Fundraiser on Thursday, February 29.

In addition to a good time with live music, guided origami demos, and group puzzle making, we will have new Gallery Night merch for sale!

We’ll have water bottles printed with the Gallery Night logo on the side. The color is classy black, which goes with everything and hides scuff marks easily.

We’ll also have puzzles for sale, with 3 beautiful designs created by local artist Sarah Jane Lapp.

Appreciation Party!

Thank you to all the board members, guides, staff, and volunteers who made the time to come to our Appreciation Party in December. We had a great turnout!

Thank you to New Harvest Coffee Roasters for hosting us, and a special thank you to our Executive Director Michelle who made it happen and brought us all together!

Leap with us into the 2024 Season!

Kick-off coming up!

Leap with us into our 2024 Season on Leap Day! Our Kick-off & Fundraiser is coming up in just one month. 

Where: Sprout CoWorking at 166 Valley Street, Building 6M, in Providence RI

When: Thursday, February 29, from 5 to 8 pm

What: A fun and enjoyable evening to kick off the 2024 season! There will be...

  • Live music by Beth Barron

  • Guided origami demonstration 

  • Raffles! (including restaurant certificates, art supplies, spa items and more!) 

  • Puzzle-making and puzzles by Sarah Jane Lapp for purchase

  • Tarot readings

  • Wine from Bottles Fine Wine 

  • Jamaican food (for purchase) by JaPatty

  • Gallery Night merch sales

  • ...and some surprises! 

Who: All are welcome to join us! There is a suggested donation of $25. Your donation includes dessert, one free soft drink ticket (soda, seltzer, bottled water, etc.), and entertainment. 

Register ahead of time on Eventbrite here, or show up on the night of the event. We can't wait to see you!

On View until Jan 8 at the WaterFire Arts Center

Although our next Gallery Night Third Thursday event isn’t until March 21, our Partner Galleries are still showing exhibits and having receptions on their own. Read below for more information on what’s showing at WaterFire Arts Center!

WaterFire Arts Center

Photograph by Melanie Steinbrecher

The WaterFire Arts Center presents “BuyArt,” a show of small works by a group of over 30 contemporary Rhode Island-based artists. The BuyArt show and sale encourages visitors to support local artists by giving the gift of art for the holidays.

The WaterFire Arts Center’s regular store + gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm and late every Thursday night until 9 pm. They are closed from Christmas Eve until January 1, so the 'last day' will be Friday, Dec. 23 closing at 5 pm and opening again on January 4. The last day of this gallery show is Sunday, January 8.

Join the artists at the BuyArt Sip ‘n Shop event from 5 to 9 pm on Thursday December 21 for a night of complimentary wine and shopping.

WaterFire Arts Center is located at 475 Valley Street with free parking in the building’s parking lot.

On view through Dec 29 at RI Center for Photographic Arts

RI Center for Photographic Arts

“Night Conversations 18” by Joyce P. Lopez

RI Center for Photographic Arts is hosting an exhibition of work by members of FRAMES Photography Circle, an international group of photographers who are passionate about furthering their knowledge and expertise in the world of photos. The group is directly associated with FRAMES Magazine, a well-respected quarterly photography publication.

This exhibit is up through December 29th.

RI Center for Photographic Arts is located on the 2nd Floor of 118 North Main Street. Regular gallery hours are Wednesdays - Saturday 12:00 – 6:00pm. The gallery is available by appointment on other days and times; please email gallery@riphotocenter.org to make an appointment or call 401-400-2542

Some street parking is available, or you can check out our parking suggestions for downtown Providence here.

On view until Dec 23 at AS220 Galleries

AS220 Galleries

Close up of artwork by Marjorie Hellman.

As usual, AS220 Galleries have new artists in each of the galleries this month. The galleries will all be open from 12 - 5pm, Thursday - Saturday. All shows are up through December 23rd!

  • AS220 Main Gallery at 115 Empire St. is showing “The Con Artist Family Reunion: Where Art and Mischief Meet.” A visceral art extravaganza exploring the interdisciplinary practices of The Conlin Family, featuring two parents, an eight-year-old, and three cousins. Through exhibiting various works and interactive installations, the exhibit presents these multigenerational artworks as a family portrait.

  • Aborn Gallery at 95 Empire St. presents “Jelly Side Up.” Formed initially as an artist support group during the pandemic, “Jelly Side Up” showcases the diverse works of Ali Buffum, Harry Buffum, Jim Chapin, Tom Emmet, Karen Lee, and Pike Powers. This collaborative group show celebrates the collective energy and bond of friendship, encouraging us to seek the positives in everyday life.

  • AS220 Project Space at 93 Mathewson St. presents “FROM THE CATALOGUE OF LOST PARTS” by Marjorie Hellman. Focusing on the dichotomy between painting as a flat object and depicting dimensional forms, this exhibit examines contrasting colors and illusions of abstraction. A process involving close observations of the natural and artificial world, this collection of paintings and drawings applies the simplicity of line and the complexities of color usage.

See our parking suggestions for downtown here.

On view in December - The Gallery at Sprout CoWorking

Although our next Gallery Night Third Thursday event isn’t until March 21, our Partner Galleries are still showing exhibits and having receptions on their own. Read below for more information on what’s showing at Galerie le Domaine at Domain Properties!

The Gallery at Sprout CoWorking has a “cash and carry” show for the month of December!

Come in to Sprout for handmade shell ornaments, only $5 each, or wooden serving boards, only $20. They will also showcase pressed flower glass coasters, and other new surprises arriving every day for quick and easy holiday shopping. 

The Gallery at Sprout CoWorking is located at 166 Valley Street, Building 6M, Suite 103. There is free parking in the building’s parking lot!

On View in December! - Galerie le Domaine at Domain Properties

Although our next Gallery Night Third Thursday event isn’t until March 21, our Partner Galleries are still showing exhibits and having receptions on their own. Read below for more information on what’s showing at Galerie le Domaine at Domain Properties!

Galerie le Domaine at Domain Properties

Galerie le Domaine at Domain Properties will be having an End of Season Celebration on Friday, December 15 from 4 to 6 pm. All are welcome to join!

On view is “Betwixt & Between, A Selection of Prints by Denny Moers.” Known for his imaginative monoprints, Moers creates his work using an innovative print developing process that allows him to achieve a range of tones on black and white photographs. You can see the show at the End of Season Celebration, or by appointment through February 15.

To make an appointment, call or text 401-864-9006. If someone does not pick up, please leave a voicemail (without a voicemail or text message, the call is assumed to be spam).

Galerie le Domaine is located at 173 Waterman Street. If you are arriving by car, expect to find street parking.

Spotlight on...Our November Guest Guides!

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Gallery Night Providence is pleased and honored to welcome two very special guest guides who will join us on two of our November 16 tours. Meet Crystal Williams, President of Rhode Island School of Design, who will be a guest guide on the 5:30 pm tour, and Joe Wilson, Jr., Director of Providence Art Culture + Tourism, who will be a guest guide on the 6:00 pm tour.

Photo of Crystal Williams. Photo credit, Jo Sittenfeld.

Crystal Williams, RISD’s 18th President, is a teacher, leader, advocate and poet who believes that education, art and design, and commitments to equity and justice are essential to transforming our society. 

As a faculty member, she has focused on advancing artistic inquiry and engagement. As a leader, her work has ensured that institutions are more effective, mission-aligned and diverse, equitable and inclusive.

Prior to coming to RISD in 2022, she was Boston University’s inaugural vice president and associate provost for community and inclusion. Williams held similarly catalytic roles at Bates College (2013–17) and Reed College (as a faculty leader from 2000–11 and as a dean from 2011–13). She began her academic career at Reed as a professor of English.

An award-winning poet and essayist, Williams has published four collections of poems. She is the recipient of several artistic fellowships, grants and honors, including a fellowship from the MacDowell Arts Colony, an appointment as the Distinguished Visiting Professor of University Writing at DePauw University, and a Master Poet residency at Indiana University. Williiams’ poem Elegy for Us, in response to Faith Ringgold’s American People Series #20: Die, was commissioned by and is part of MoMA’s Poetry Project, a tour of poems responding to pieces in the museum’s permanent collection.

The daughter of an educator and a musician, Williams was raised in Detroit, MI and Madrid, Spain and holds a BA from New York University and an MFA from Cornell University.

Joe Wilson, Jr.  is currently the director of Providence Arts Culture + Tourism. Many will recognize him from his previous role as a member of the Resident Acting Company and Artistic Staff at Trinity Repertory Theater, where he founded Trinity Rep’s Center for Activism and Performance. He has shared his knowledge of the arts through lectures at educational institutions and conferences around the country.

He has an extensive background in theater, holding an MFA in Acting from the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theatre Training Program. He has worked both on and off Broadway (2000 Tony Award-nominated production of Jesus Christ Superstar, and 2018 Tony Award-nominated Iceman Cometh starring Denzel Washington).

Joe has received many honors, including from the Rhode Island Black Heritage Foundation, and received the City of Providence 2020 MLK Hall of Fame for Outstanding Service. In awarding Joe the Rhode Island Council for Humanities Public Scholar Award, the Council stated that, "Joe Wilson Jr. is a force who uses his skills, his talent, and his passion to enact, concretely, what the humanities can do to change the world."

Joe serves on the boards of the Providence Tourism Council, the Providence/Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau, and WaterFire Providence. 

Spotlight on...Adèle and Antoine!

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This month, The Gallery at City Hall will be featuring the work of two talented artists, Adèle Saint-Pierre and Antoine Soued in an exhibit titled "Mondes cachés / Mondes cochés." Catch it as part of the 5:30 pm guided tour, or stop by City Hall on your own anytime between 4:30 to 6:30 pm on Gallery Night. The exhibit is on view during regular City Hall business hours, Monday to Thursday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, through January 17.

Q: Antoine, you are a native of Beirut, and worked in Tokyo, and Adèle you are from Quebec City.  How did you each come to make Providence your home?

Adèle: I moved to Providence in July of 2021 from Brooklyn, NY, where I had been living and working since 2010. Prior to that I lived in Boston, Québec City, and Le Mans (France). Though I was born and raised in Maine, my soul is in Québec City, the heart of both my paternal and maternal heritage and ancestry and the cradle of the French language I grew up speaking. I spend my summers there, and the academic school year here in Providence.

Antoine: Born and raised in Beirut, I studied architecture and spent my early professional years working in various studios that were developing interesting projects and ideas. I traveled the world quite a bit and landed a job in Tokyo in 2019. After Covid I headed to the United States to discover the wonderful town of Providence. I fell in love with this city and its people, and it has been my home ever since.

Q: Adèle, your artist statement says that your watercolors are inspired by "stains and cracks" in Providence sidewalks. Please tell us more about that!

Adèle: For as long as I can remember, animals and human figures have been jumping out at me from things like creases in fabric or wood grain patterns on floors. The water stain on the ceiling of my childhood bedroom, for example, was a big wolf howling at the moon. After reading Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way in the months leading up to Covid, I started taking pictures of the stains and cracks I was noticing on the sidewalks during my walks in Brooklyn and then painting the worlds of animals, humans and fantastical creatures they contained. Since moving to Providence, it is the stains and cracks I see on the sidewalks here that inspire my work, including the pieces I will be exhibiting at the Gallery at City Hall. I have been writing about this process and exploring what my earlier pieces communicate in my weekly blog.

Q: And Antoine, you are an architect by day.  How have architectural drafting methods influenced your work?  

Antoine: My illustrations are a natural extension of my profession and design process. I work based on models and images, extracting the essence of their atmosphere by abstracting the subject to its bare essence. I rely heavily on the contrast of shadow and light.

Q: Tell us more about the name of your exhibit, Mondes cachés / Mondes cochés, and what visitors can expect to see.

Adèle: Hidden in the stains and cracks of the sidewalks are entire worlds of people and animals doing everyday things, hence the first part of the title Mondes cachés. My show will feature an eclectic collection of new pieces ranging in themes from weight lifting to bread making, as well as a series of portraits of the quirky personnel of the imaginary Pharmacie Vachon. Finally, one of the walls will feature a cigar-themed work in collaboration between Antoine and me. 

Antoine: By changing the a of cachés to o, we get cochés, which means “to (make) check (marks),” a movement that loosely describes the process behind the pieces that make up my show. The work I will be exhibiting depicts scenes from daily life in the different cities I have lived in or visited. These scenes are suspended in time.

Spotlight on...The Gallery at Sprout CoWorking!

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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!

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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!