HELLO!
This is Dave Dvorchak, AS220’s Communications Director. I’m thrilled to be helping out with this issue of Motif, and all of us at AS220 are grateful for the opportunity to reach readers like you. I’ve been an avid reader of alternative papers (I know that’s not necessarily the term anymore) for most of my life, whether it was the Valley Advocate growing up in Western Massachusetts, the Providence Phoenix as a college student, or Motif as it established itself somewhat more recently. Big thanks to Mike and all of the staff at Motif for keeping this media format alive and thriving in Rhode Island. If you don’t know, AS220 is a non-profit community arts organization located in downtown Providence. We offer all Rhode Islanders the opportunity to perform, exhibit, and/or create their own original art (whatever that may be). To do that, we offer access to six gallery spaces; a performance stage; a black box theater; a print shop; a darkroom and media arts lab; a fabrication and electronics lab; a dance studio; a large youth program; 47 residential spaces (39 of which are designated affordable housing); and 7 work studios for artists. Oh yeah, we also have a restaurant and bar. August of 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of AS220. We were founded in 1985, by artist Umberto Crenca, in a couple of rented rooms on the third floor of the Providence Performing Arts Center. The original press release announcing AS220’s existence stated that the new organization’s purpose was “to generate and enhance communication among artists and the Rhode Island community.” Four decades later, I would argue that that idea is still core to what we do here.
The stories we’ve put together here may seem varied: breakdancing, youth homelessness, a photo darkroom, an artist marketplace, but a theme that runs through them is people getting together, talking, exchanging ideas and knowledge, and collaborating to create new things. If you’re already familiar with AS220, maybe you’ll learn some new things. If you don’t know us, maybe you’ll be inspired to come to downtown Providence and check us out. You can also check us out on the web at as220.org or @as220providence on Instagram. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that our legendary summer block party, Foo Fest, is happening on Saturday, August 9 – it has something for everyone. At the very least, our bar and restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday from 5pm on – who knows who you’ll meet and what a conversation might spark? •
