A Conversation with the Artist, Umberto Crenca

Umberto Crenca joins us in discussion with WaterFire Programs Coordinator, Grechel Rosado and ArtLab@WaterFire Fellow, Calvin Sangster Jr. in the gallery among Crenca’s current work in the series, DIVINE PROVIDENCE.

DIVINE PROVIDENCE, is a salon-style month-long exhibition by Umberto “Bert” Crenca on view from Thursday, October 12 through Sunday, November 12, 2023 at the gallery of the WaterFire Arts Center. Crenca’s paintings offer a genuine, loving yet unsentimental perspective of urban Providence. His art portrays the lesser-explored aspects of the city, from its corners and crevices to the in-between spaces. Each piece celebrates the beauty found in everyday life and captures the essence of the city’s neighborhoods from the perspective of a longtime resident. Although each individual DIVINE PROVIDENCE painting can captivate with its unique details and character, the series, consisting of over 250 pieces, is best seen as a cohesive installation.

Additional exhibition-related events:

• Thursday, October 19, FireBall Gala, a fundraiser for WaterFire Providence, honoring Umberto Crenca with a WaterFire Impact Award for Creative Impact
• Sunday, October 29, beginning at 7pm, Umberto Crenca and The Gillen Street Ensemble will be performing, People of Earth, in the Wilbury Theatre Group’s performance space at the WaterFire Arts Center. The musical improvisation collective is composed of nine members including Crenca, Susan Clausen, Christopher Anderson, Alan Greco, Alice Jackson, Armando Crenca, Cliff Wood, Mitch Mackenzie, and Heather Ahern. Guests can anticipate a combination of music, spoken word, movement, and video projections. More information and tickets available at thewilburygroup.org.