WaterFire’s New Flame initiative is pleased to present a group exhibition of current photography curated by The Vanta Guild in the WaterFire Arts Center Gallery. “The Let-Out” show run is December 9, 2020 – January 15, 2021.
Six photographers are featured in the show: Jonathan Pitts-Wiley, Dee Speaks, Nicholas Mendes, Shaun Morse, Rafael Medina, and Marlisse Payamps. Featured images in “The Let-Out” exhibit focus on the joy, anger, and uncertainty of Black American experiences in Rhode Island as people grapple with the realities of pandemic-induced lockdowns, socio-political uprisings, and the struggle to maintain a sense of beauty, joy, and balance in the century’s most turbulent year.
The shows title, “The Let-Out”, derives its name from nightlife culture and is that period of time when people are congregating just after bars and clubs close for the evening. The energy is electric, both comforting and, at times, volatile.
The Vanta Guild was founded in the spring of 2020 by Jonathan Pitts-Wiley and Dee Speaks. The Vanta Guild is a Rhode Island-based photography collective that seeks to create community by cultivating and celebrating the work of Black photographers who unapologetically depict the experiences and imagination of those of the African diaspora.
WaterFire New Flame programs seek to connect millennial and other emerging artists with the next generation of arts supporters through a series of exhibitions, artist talks, and other social activities.
Gallery hours are Wednesdays – Saturdays Noon – 6:00 p.m. The WFAC will be closed from Christmas Eve (12/24) through New Years Day (1/1).
About the author
I've worked at WaterFire Providence since 2003. For the first 9 years of my career, I worked in the Production Shop learning all of the details that go into the physical production of the event. In 2012 transitioned to the role of managing WaterFire's social media and web presence. I now head up WaterFire Providence's digital projects including, web, social, databases, and our physical IT infrastructure.
