ART is Everywhere: ART inc., A Rhode Island PBS Exhibition

The month-long exhibition, ART is Everywhere, brings the essence of Rhode Island PBS‘ short-video series ART inc. from the screen to the gallery at the WaterFire Arts Center. Delving into the heart of human expression, the series illuminates the transformative power of art—from its ability to soothe and inspire to its role as a catalyst for societal change.

Participating artists and performers from ART inc. Season One and Two are Sam Heydt, William Heydt, Jeff Palmer, Willa Van Nostrand, Eva Goodman, Jennifer Gilooly Cahoon, LaDiva Jonz, Zuly Palomino Jimenez, Eben Horton, Jen Nauck, Dan Fischer, Sam Allerton Green, and Joel Rosario Tapia. Additional artists included are AGONZA, Savonnara Alexander Sok, and Kent Stetson.

The exhibition is on view in the WaterFire Arts Center gallery from Thursday, April 4 through Sunday, April 28, 2024 with an opening reception on Thursday, April 4th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The third Thursday of the month, April 18th, is Gallery Night Providence, the WFAC gallery as well as other art spaces in the city are open late and trolley tours are available. Join mixologist, Willa Van Nostrand in the gallery for a special garden-to-glass experience. In addition, sign up for ArtLab@WaterFire Creative Labs Workshops (waterfire.org/workshops) including a potato-plaster retablos art workshop by Zuly Palomino Jimenez on Wednesday, April 10th. More details coming soon.

A related event, is the food and wine fundraising event, Uncorked! to benefit Rhode Island PBS on April 12. The theme for this year’s Uncorked! draws inspiration from Pop Art and centers around the Rhode Island PBS original series, ART inc. Attendees and the community will have the opportunity to explore the curated work of artists profiled in the series, displayed in the gallery.

“My definition of art is broad. As human beings, we’re innately creative. When we open ourselves to this possibility, we realize that art is everywhere. 

Rhode Island PBS gave me the opportunity to create ART inc. as a platform for sharing the stories and processes of our local artists through first person storytelling and creative expression. It’s journalism, but it’s also art. 

We’re thrilled for the opportunity to collaborate with WaterFire for this exhibition. WaterFire shifted the creative culture of the city of Providence and the state of Rhode Island. Their work continues to serve local communities and expand creative possibility.

This exhibition is the perfect way to bring ART inc. stories to life in person. This collaboration and curation is its own form of art.” 

Tracy MacDonald

Executive Producer, Arts and Culture
Rhode Island PBS

The WaterFire Arts Center store + gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The exhibition is free and open to all, donations encouraged.

ART inc. graphic opening by Matt Zodrow

About ART inc.

Art is central to the human experience. It can be a calming presence or a powerful tool for social change. It connects us and challenges us. It stokes our curiosity, invites us in, and shows us what’s possible. It’s everywhere we look, and sometimes invisible. ART inc. pulls back the curtain on the people and the process. 

watch.ripbs.org/show/art-inc

About the Show

A Rhode Island PBS Original, ART inc. is a digital-first series plus a half-hour magazine-style broadcast exploring the art around us, from the traditional and iconic – music, performance, visual arts – to unexpected discoveries: the art of crafting reef to table sea salt, of the Chinese tea ceremony, of creating a prosthetic eye.

Through dynamic footage and narrative storytelling, ART inc. explores the full possibility of the arts: the diversity of who creates it and why, where art can take us, and why it takes us there.

The style of each story reflects the artist, art form, or subject. The tone can be playful or serious, but it will always be visually exquisite; a show about the arts should, in itself, be art. Use of narration will be limited, letting the art and artist’s voice speak instead. Whenever possible, local musicians provide the soundtrack.

About the Producer

Tracy MacDonald is an Emmy award-winning writer and producer who has produced broadcast and digital content for PBS from coast to coast. She’s thrilled to be back in her home state, working at Rhode Island PBS. Tracy loves creating documentary style content – especially about all things art! Driven by curiosity, warmth, and a desire to connect to the world around her, Tracy invites viewers to immerse themselves and experience the world of ART inc.