We are pleased to announce the fourth cohort of WaterFire Accelerate, a professional development program for artists under 30. The fourth cohort includes six prolific young artists spanning a variety of mediums including graphic design, illustration, mixed media, photography, printmaking, and interdisciplinary. The new WaterFire Accelerate cohort embarks on their journey in September and will conclude with a group exhibition in July of 2025 while engaging in monthly meetings, events, and site visits.
“We’re thrilled to welcome the fourth cohort to WaterFire Accelerate. Their diverse talents across various mediums promise to bring fresh energy and innovation, and we’re eager to see how their artistic journeys will unfold throughout the program,” says Barnaby Evans, Artistic Director and CEO of WaterFire Providence.
This year’s cohort was selected by a WaterFire Accelerate Selection Committee that included local leaders in the arts: Melaine Ferdinand-King, independent Curator, Creative Producer, Writer, and Cultural Researcher; Gabrielle Walker, Curator at the RISD Museum; Andrea Pascual, 2023-24 Accelerate Artist and owner of Make Me Feel Better; Peter Mello, Managing Director + coCEO of WaterFire Providence; and Grechel Rosado, Programs Coordinator at WaterFire Providence.
WaterFire Accelerate is a year-long professional development program for emerging artists under 30 that is specifically designed to provide access to resources that will further participants’ artistic careers. WaterFire Accelerate engages young artists in areas outside the traditional art school experience through a series of meetings, workshops, site visits, and discussions. Professionals in the field share their experiences and learnings in open discussions where topics involving best practices, self-representation, marketing, finance and taxes, and technology surrounding art are explored. Each cohort represents the Providence community and is diverse in both the makeup of participants and their chosen mediums.
WaterFire Accelerate artists receive a stipend that helps them produce new works during the program and aligns with WaterFire Providence’s overall mission of supporting artists and recognizing the value of their craft. Aside from the group show, WaterFire Providence provides various opportunities for WaterFire Accelerate artists to showcase and sell their work throughout the program at WaterFire ArtMarts, downtown lighting events, as well as inclusion of their artworks and merchandise at the WaterFire Arts Center store.
On October 17th, WaterFire Providence will be hosting the 8th Annual FireBall Gala with proceeds from the night going to support the WaterFire’s workforce development programs like WaterFire Accelerate.
Elizabeth Alice-Isam Jweinat (Lizzy Sour) is a Providence-born artist with Jordanian roots who transforms public spaces into vibrant, abstract canvases. Her distinctive style, developed from a lifelong love of freehand drawing, blends shape, color, and typography into a unique visual language. A Rhode Island School of Design graduate, community organizer, and mentor, Lizzy is dedicated to supporting marginalized artists and fostering creative expression in the next generation. Through her murals, sculptures, and diverse artistic mediums, she weaves together her Middle Eastern heritage and the dynamic spirit of her city.
Janelle Geraldine Castillo – Janelle’s artistic journey began as an art student in Dallas TX, where she honed her skills and gained recognition through numerous painting competitions. Her passion for creativity led her to the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design, where she immersed herself in industrial design, graduating in 2021. Now, Janelle is forging her path in the design field, driven by a deep desire to explore and expand her artistic tendencies. This year, she’s focused on pushing the boundaries of her creativity with a clear goal: to elevate her design career to new heights.
Dorian Epps was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, and has always loved sports, community, and the arts. In 2017 he moved to Providence to attend Rhode Island School of Design where he graduated in 2021 with a BFA in Industrial Design. Today his work is centered around the importance of sustainability, collaboration, and boundless exploration through creative means. As storytellers and artists, it is our responsibility to find ways to pass on the stories of our individual and shared experiences. A way that Dorian currently strives to achieve this is through apparel, accessories, and textile manipulation.
Caterina Maina is a Providence-based artist who engages in fine art projects with a focus on portraiture and environmental photography. She graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 2020 with a BFA in Photography and a minor in Sustainability. Caterina works primarily with a 4×5 large-format view Camera. Her photographs range from examining the close relationships between her family and friends to exploring the natural world and the connection one has to it through landscape and portraiture work.
Sissy Rosso is a mixed media artist and designer from the Bronx, New York, and raised in Providence, Rhode Island. Their work delves into the intricate connections between space and memory, using collage, printmaking, and painting to evoke a sense of place and personal history.
Ariel Tavares is a multi-hyphenate funky storyteller born and raised in Providence, RI. She is a poet, photographer, host, model, creative director, visual artist, and most importantly a fierce learner – constantly trying new mediums to just express what she feels inspired to create. She believes in the power of words, the power of people, and the power of art to bring people together. Her work aims to make people feel seen, feel less alone, and feel beautiful – she aims to capture that same beauty from everyday life, mining magic from the mundane.
For more information about the WaterFire Accelerate program, visit waterfire.org/accelerate.
