There is something wonderfully Rhode Island about filmmaker Kirk Benttinen’s approach to storytelling: start with curiosity, find the people doing interesting things, and see where the story takes you. His project, RI Docs, began as a way to reconnect with his home state after moving back to RI, following years away. It’s evolved into a […]
For many of us, our most common run-ins with the scientific disciplines happen in two places: the classroom or a news headline. I think it’s safe to say both might elicit quite the negative association for many people. Reading a research paper, as Ellen Matesanz, director of The Synergy Project put it, “is like going […]
What does it feel like to be in a room beaming with creative thinkers and artists? What does it look like when a group of motivational, dedicated, hard-working artists comes together? What creative forces can we generate when we all gather together to inspire and contribute to a positive impact on our state? At The […]
For cover artist Mishki Thompson of Hopkinton, love helped her conquer a disability and embark on a journey of learning and practicing the art of beadworking, and passing on her Indigenous traditions to the next generation, she relates. A member of the Narragansett Tribe, Thompson was forced to go on disability in 2012 due to […]
Do you know how many filmmakers either live or make movies here in Rhode Island? I don’t, but I do know there are quite a few of them creating all kinds of films. In my work as an actor, I have crossed paths with many talented folks on set and at events. Today, I would […]
Jennifer Ugarte is a woman who lived most of her life in Guatemala, where she studied marketing and photography. She loves being part of the greater RI community and giving back. She has used her education, skills, and artistic talents to help others. When Jennifer came to RI a few years ago, she volunteered before […]
“My heritage colors who I am, and my art is pieces of who I am.” Niko was born here in PVD. As a young child of about 5 years old, he remembers visiting his relatives in the Dominican Republic. He recounted hearing the rain bounce off their corrugated roof. Niko grew up here in RI […]
Rene Gomez was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to Providence as a young child. He is immensely proud of his heritage. It was no accident that he walked into our meeting wearing a shirt that read, “Dios, Patria, Libertad,” which translates to, “God, Homeland, Liberty.” This is the official national motto of the […]
What can I say about Lydia Pérez? She is a local gem and a talented artist, fluent in Puerto Rico’s history. She is always ready to share its history and folklore with anyone who will listen. She can sing you a song, lead a drum circle, and even carve a saintly statue in the tradition […]
Cover artist Nilton Cárdenas of Cranston refuses to stand still. “I am constantly moving, and creating art,” he says in an interview at Sharks Peruvian Cuisine on Broad Street in Central Falls. And when he’s not putting a brush to canvas, or a pencil to a sketchbook page, he’s curating art exhibitions. For instance, Cárdenas […]