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Providence Curates--the first mentoring program of the Providence Biennial--celebrated concurrent exhibitions exploring the theme of Commemoration by two unique Providence curators

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Poiesis curated by Melaine Ferdinand-King

Remedy curated by Joel Rosario Tapia

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July 13 - August 20, 2023

Thank you to all who visited.

Nearly 4,000 in person visitors enjoyed their experiences and many returned avidly, more than twice.

 

THIS EXHIBITION WAS CREATED THROUGH THE PROVIDENCE BIENNIAL 

BY THE PROVIDENCE-BASED RISING CURATORS
MELAINE FERDINAND-KING and JOEL ROSARIO TAPIA.

By unanimous vote, the board in 2021 expanded the Biennial’s mission by launching Providence Curates, an initiative that focuses specifically on recruiting emerging curators and assisting them in developing exhibitions of contemporary art. The collaboration with seasoned professionals is intended to strengthen activist curatorial practice in realizing ambitious, creatively conceived presentations that cross borders, identities and circumstances. It goes without saying that this approach includes consideration of alternative spaces and sites across Providence County. Stimulating diverse audiences is another key goal.

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The overarching title of our initial mentored exhibition, Curating Commemoration: Poiesis / Remedy, affirmed a vigorous connection between remembrance and the contemporary art/culture matrix. As the emerging curators investigated the perpetuation of historical memory through current memorializing practices, they found these often sustain a condition of power and domination. A reconsideration of memorializing encouraged the curators to move beyond the self-serving values of earlier (and persistent) 'timeless' monuments to propose and realize new perspectives on commemoration.

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Research and reflection on curating commemoration hastened the development of an activist curatorial response. Each curator selected and has determined ways to juxtapose thought-provoking, culturally distinctive, medialogically diverse works of art created locally, in Greater Providence. The two concurrent exhibitions that together comprised Curating Commemoration reflect the unique lens of each curator. In summer, 2023, they were presented for broad public response and debate.

 

(Read the Curators' Reflections)

 

(image of curators ©JustinCase Media, Inc.)

MEDIA COVERAGE
Viewers can link to reviews automatically by clicking on each entry with an online presence.

6/20/23
Boston Art Review (in advance of Opening) 

BAR summer exhibitions roundup

Jacqueline Houton for BAR Editorial

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7/13/2023

The Public's Radio

James Baumgartner

 

7/19/2023

Go Local

Michael Rose

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7/24/2023

Daily Kos

LauraZ

               

7/25/2023

Two Coats of Paint (blogazine) 

D. Dominick Lombardi

 

8/01-15/2023 

MOTIF Magazine (hard copy only)
"Curating Commemoration, " pp. 4-5

Meg Cross

 

8/17/2023

13th State"Concrete Evidence"

Alexander Castro

 

Sept-Oct/2023

Art New England (hard copy only)
"Art Seen" Column

Opening photo featuring the exhibiting artists  Shey ('Ri Acu') Rivera Ríos and Jenny (Luna) Hernandez Watson

 

RISD Alumni News/Institutional Advancement

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