PUBLIC ART

“Artworks born of creative collaboration foster community, empathy and understanding.” ( Marie Watt )

In 2020 I started work on a 20 foot mural below the fish tank at Save the Bay Aquarium and Education Center in Newport.

Then Covid came and everything shut down. Public Art became a way for people to still experience art, just OUTSIDE! So in 2021 I initiated a “mural project” and several Artist Members from Deblois Gallery collaborated on a series of rotating paintings that were installed on the second floor outside balcony. The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Newport County awarde “Found at the Reservoir” that year’s Artist Award. It was later donated to Save the Bay Aquarium and Education Center in Newport. In my Public Art Installations I focus on local landmarks and views. I paint these on Hardboard panels using commercial Latex paints which helps to defray the cost of working BIG: 4ft.x8ft, 4ft x4ft and 4ft x6ft. My painting “ Brenton Point” from the “HOPE” series is installed at Clean Ocean Access. In the summer of 2022 my series Bridges and Lighthouses was exhibited outside at the Deblois Gallery and in the Art League of Rhode Island Arts Festival 2022 Exhibition.

“Pawtucket Skyline: Slater Mill” was included in “Windows on Pawtucket 2022”. This exhibit was Juried by Art League of Rhode Island and the Pawtucket Foundation. My 4’x6’painting received a Second Place award. In 2023 it moved to the Blackstone Valley Visitors Center on Main Street. It is currently on view in the TFGreen/RISCA “Green Space Gallery”.

For the 2023 “HOME” Exhibit at Deblois Gallery artwork was installed both inside and outside the Gallery. My painting “Earth from Space” was part of our four section outdoor mural. It is now installed in the Upper School Science room at the Pennfield School.

As a RISCA Teaching Artist at the Martin Luther King jr. Community Center in Newport I completed several Tape Art Murals, Community Quilts and Ceramic Tile Installations over the years. Children in the Out of School Art Program collaborated to created a large Tape Art mural outside their classroom. Another one was done on portable panels as a collaboration between the MLKCC, the Newport Art Museum and Bank Newport. The panels traveled to each site and were exhibited there. Two Ceramic Tile Installations were created by children and adults working together. One is installed upstairs in the Office entrance to the classrooms, the other is permanently installed in the Main Entrance. This series was completed during Covid by Members of the Deblois Gallery while the Center was closed. Our Community Quilts were made in both Children’s and Adult Art Time and by people from the community dropping in for dinners and special events.

As the Middle School Art Teacher at the Pennfield School I helped initiate the “ Wall of Respect” in 2001. This is a permanent installation of colorful Ceramic Tiles that is ongoing. Each year the 8th Grade adds to the Wall’s expression of the Mission of the School. Students also painted tiles that are installed around the entrance to the Portsmouth Veterinary Clinic. During the annual Arts Festival I have worked with students and faculty to create TapeArt Murals around campus.

I coordinated the Theater Tech. Crew at Pennfield for several years. Students built and painted sets, masks and props for productions of annual Disney musicals such as “Lion King”, “Cinderella”, “The Little Mermaid”, “Peter Pan” and more. Our musical productions were open to the public and always well attended. I was also commissioned to paint a thirty foot backdrop for Newport Children’s Theater production of “Oliver”.

Contact me for an Installation, Collaboration or RISCA Teaching Artist Residency at your School or Organization!