This event is part of a series – see below for details.April 3, 2026 10:00 a.m.
Spring Tide, a solo exhibition of artist Avery Li
Portal (jianzhi), 2025; and Portal (jianzhi), 2025 detail.
Spring Tide presents an alternative to harshly delineated borders and means of identification, displaying a world in which seemingly disparate parts may be recombined. It opens a portal to another world, populated by chimeras of a transcultural nature.
The sculptural paper of this exhibition is made with a combination of the Amate paper technique practiced by the Mexican Indigenous Otomi people and cyclical East Asian papermaking. Amate, currently created mainly in the mountainous town of San Pablito, Puebla, is a form of pounded bark paper traditionally used to make farming almanacs and religious texts; after Spanish conquest, it was targeted and destroyed by colonizers who viewed it as blasphemous. Few historical examples survive, but its reformulation here lends itself to extending its presence in the current.
The paper is ornamented with seaweed and coastal debris gathered in Rhode Island and inedible fragments left over from communal and personal gatherings.
These once-vilified techniques and recycled materials reflect the malleable nature of identity and acceptance. Spring Tide asks viewers not to conclude and classify but to accept the seeming contradictions and new conditions that arise from embracing opaque differences.
Gallery Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Thursday until 9:00 p.m.
Admission is free and open to all; donations are encouraged.
EVENTS & RELATED PROGRAMMING
Artist Reception
Thursday, April 2, 2026 | 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Join us for a special artist reception celebrating Spring Tide. This informal gathering offers an opportunity to experience the exhibition, connect with fellow supporters, and learn more about the works on view.
Artist in Conversation
Thursday, April 9 | starting at 6:00 p.m.
Join the conversation between artists Avery Li and Joanna Cortez.
Gallery Night Providence
Thursday, April 16, 2026 | 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Jump on a trolley from the WaterFire Arts Center, explore multiple local partner galleries, and then return back to the WFAC to check out Spring Tide. Check back for more information about how to secure your spot on the trolley.
About the Artist
Avery Li is a multimedia artist who mainly uses recycled and organic materials to make chimeric paper. By shaping these works by hand and in relationship to the surrounding environment, Avery questions and reformulates what it means to inhabit and create a body that is part of a bigger whole.
Avery earned a BFA in Printmaking from RISD in 2025, is the recipient of the Printmaking Senior Award, and has exhibited in group shows at the RISD Museum, Newport Art Museum, and various venues locally and internationally.
","location":[{"@type":"Place","name":"WaterFire Arts Center","address":{"@type": "PostalAddress","streetAddress":"475 Valley Street"}}],"organizer":[{"@type":"Organization","name":"WaterFire Providence","url":"https://waterfire.org"}]}
Event Details
Spring Tide
A solo exhibition of artist Avery Li
In collaboration with Ireoluwatoni Asojo, Jude Bigboy, Kayla Bryant, Tony Torres, and Yuqi Liu
On view in the gallery at the WaterFire Arts Center
475 Valley Street, Providence, RI 02908
Exhibition on View: Thursday, April 2 – Sunday, April 26, 2026
Artist Reception: Thursday, April 2, 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Artist in Conversation: Thursday, April 9, starting at 6:00 p.m.
Gallery Night Providence: Thursday, April 16, part of a citywide arts activation with trolley rides and self-guided tours
Portal (jianzhi), 2025; and Portal (jianzhi), 2025 detail.
Spring Tide presents an alternative to harshly delineated borders and means of identification, displaying a world in which seemingly disparate parts may be recombined. It opens a portal to another world, populated by chimeras of a transcultural nature.
The sculptural paper of this exhibition is made with a combination of the Amate paper technique practiced by the Mexican Indigenous Otomi people and cyclical East Asian papermaking. Amate, currently created mainly in the mountainous town of San Pablito, Puebla, is a form of pounded bark paper traditionally used to make farming almanacs and religious texts; after Spanish conquest, it was targeted and destroyed by colonizers who viewed it as blasphemous. Few historical examples survive, but its reformulation here lends itself to extending its presence in the current.
The paper is ornamented with seaweed and coastal debris gathered in Rhode Island and inedible fragments left over from communal and personal gatherings.
These once-vilified techniques and recycled materials reflect the malleable nature of identity and acceptance. Spring Tide asks viewers not to conclude and classify but to accept the seeming contradictions and new conditions that arise from embracing opaque differences.
Gallery Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Thursday until 9:00 p.m.
Admission is free and open to all; donations are encouraged.
EVENTS & RELATED PROGRAMMING
Artist Reception
Thursday, April 2, 2026 | 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Join us for a special artist reception celebrating Spring Tide. This informal gathering offers an opportunity to experience the exhibition, connect with fellow supporters, and learn more about the works on view.
Artist in Conversation
Thursday, April 9 | starting at 6:00 p.m.
Join the conversation between artists Avery Li and Joanna Cortez.
Gallery Night Providence
Thursday, April 16, 2026 | 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Jump on a trolley from the WaterFire Arts Center, explore multiple local partner galleries, and then return back to the WFAC to check out Spring Tide. Check back for more information about how to secure your spot on the trolley.
About the Artist
Avery Li is a multimedia artist who mainly uses recycled and organic materials to make chimeric paper. By shaping these works by hand and in relationship to the surrounding environment, Avery questions and reformulates what it means to inhabit and create a body that is part of a bigger whole.
Avery earned a BFA in Printmaking from RISD in 2025, is the recipient of the Printmaking Senior Award, and has exhibited in group shows at the RISD Museum, Newport Art Museum, and various venues locally and internationally.
Organizer
