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 Clubhouse Gallery and Event Space on Atwells Ave, an event took place that was cultivated to bring a variety of viewpoints and organizations together across many different artistic mediums. It created an open forum to share stories, worries, and stresses.
As you enter this vibrantly decorated space overflowing with colorful art and interesting sculpture, you hear volumes of different tones and pitches echoing SCREECH!!! Each speaker had three carefully guarded minutes to respond however they wanted to the prompt “What is the state of the arts in Providence?”
Under the enchantment of each presenter on the stage, calling out our new favorite line….SCREECH!!! Why screech… Well, it’s the sound of change and support for the Rhode Island arts community, an event created by Stink Tank, a loose organization formed to bring a wide variety of artists from all different backgrounds to form an alliance to support each other and form a plan for change with the cognitive platform for inspiration. Umberto Crenca, one of the founders (and a founder of AS220) stated, “This group will help guide future advocacy, policy recommendations, and collective action. Share experiences. Help shape solutions,” as the 20 presenters each take their turn on the newly constructed podium, handmade by artist and gallery owner Nick Paciorek for this special occasion, standing with the striking background composed of 3 giant wooden canvases brought to life in an earlier, graffiti-focused event- at the Pitcher-Goff House museum, where local artists delivered their own interpretations of “Screech.” One piece was created by writer and artist Safe One, who also curated a series called Acme, Axel, deluxe. Safe One describes fellow artists as “self-taught artists who help bring the streets to life with their respective styles, everyday people who just happen to have alter egos.” He was also one of the guest speakers who shared stories of how his art reflects the influence of a Providence landscape imprinted on his youth as the city became his playground for expressing his talents and thoughts, utilizing the blank spaces in our everyday life as billboards projecting an act of defiance through shared words sprayed in color.
Many told a common story about how they cope with the current times and the challenges for working artists, with similarities amongst them in finding creative ways to fund their passions and deal with the changing landscape. And the available spaces the artists used to call home that have been forcefully ripped out from under them, or are crumbling to the ground, in deplorable condition, or are riddled with health hazards creating lifelong illness, putting true meaning to the labor of love. And sharing tales of triumph over these obstacles. While watching their fellow artistic communities dwindle from a lack of public and private support.
Each artist, organizer, photographer, poet, painter, creator, writer, teacher, and art supporter who took the communal soapbox (it was a literal soapbox) left the air filled with inspiration, after unburdening themselves to collectively compose a list of grievances. In their stories of struggle and triumph, they create a safe space where change can foster into action! One speaker advocated for an arts district in PVD, one for a state-wide Arts Czar, and one for more affordable housing/studio space. There were poems, the touching tale of Hasbro’s Good Night Lights, songs and hula-hooping.
As we all scream screech in a call-and-response conducted by Bradly VanDerStad of Gallery Night, who called out organizers including Crenca, Paciorek, Marta Martinez, Cliff Wood, David Lee Black, Melaine Ferdinand-King and Mike Ryan. These are some knights of the RI art table, for decades creating art in many forms but also pathways, havens, outlets and support for so many creatives. Once again they suit up and prepare their steeds to triumph, unite, all artistic endeavors guiding us towards positive change. Come scream screech and embark on the sensational journey uniting all things creative! Forces will join once again in Providence, next time at the slick, artsy co-working space Slate, suite 102, 60 Valley St, across from the restaurant Troop, on Thursday, December 3.
I was thrilled to take part in the first SCREECH event. Here’s an excerpt from my presentation, which was tied together by some enthusiastic hula-hooping:
Art is the physical element in connection, constantly coming together through the ups and downs, rotating from one concept to another. Floating from one medium to the next. Rotating off ideas, looping around impressions from experience, from the encompassing way it makes us feel! Art is the orb that surrounds the community. MCORI: Motif Community Outreach of Rhode Island is Motif Magazine’s nonprofit entity that is here to help make sure every artistic community is celebrated. Providing a coterie of events. That focuses on a ring of fellowship, fostering Connection, with positive ripples, building, bonding, and support rings that spotlight the many talents of different artists and nonprofits in our RI ecosystem to create a pillar of positivity and structure!