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Megan and Murray McMillan’s “The Coal Bin Project”

The McMillan's "The Coal Bin Project"

Please join us for a special evening with WaterFire Providence’s first Artists in Residence, Megan and Murray McMillan, for a Processional and Launch Performance of “The Coal Bin Project.”

In November 2012, WaterFire Providence purchased a historic, industrial property at 475 Valley Street which we are transforming into the organization’s headquarters, a public art incubator and multi-use arts center.

We are pleased to announce our first public arts event at the WaterFire Art Center when WaterFire Artists in Residence Megan and Murray McMillan host a performance event on Friday, Aug 16 from 8-10 pm to launch the their latest work “The Coal Bin Project.”

The McMillan’s create large-scale video and photography projects, where they build large-scale sets that performers then activate. These sets become video installations for exhibition. The project they are working on this summer in the WaterFire space will be shot on location at MASS MoCA and will be in an exhibition at the museum in 2015.

This one-night performance will be a celebratory processional where musicians, artists and friends will gather to march the McMillans’ nine enormous constructed “coal boulder” sculptures through the WaterFire space to be loaded into waiting trucks. These boulders will then be driven to North Adams, MA where they will be installed for a video shoot in an unused coal bin in the Boiler Plant building at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA). There will be food trucks, music, and audience participation is welcomed.*

The McMillan’s project has been generously supported by the Rhode Island State Council for the ArtsRoger Williams University, the John Anson Kittredge Educational Fund, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) and WaterFire Providence via an ArtPlace grant.

*This event will be recorded, so attendance and participation is considered as authorization to reproduce images and recordings.

Where: WaterFire Art Center, 475-485 Valley Street, Providence, RI

When: Friday, August 16, 2013 from 8:00 to 10:00 PM

Cost: Free

Directions and parking information on the below Google Map.


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About the author

Managing Director + CoCEO | + posts by author

Peter joined the WaterFire Providence team in March 2011 to co-lead the organization with Barnaby Evans, founder and executive artistic director. Previously, Peter served as executive director, ceo and board member of the American Sail Training Association (Tall Ships America). In 2006, he founded Sea-Fever Consulting LLC, a management consulting firm focused on strategy, communications and leadership development and launched the Weekly Leader blog and podcast. Prior to that he had a 20 year career in financial services working in New York, Boston, San Francisco and London. Life long mariner, photographer, hockey player and art fan, he lives in Fall River, MA with his dog Zane. Peter proudly serves as a board member of the Fall River Museum of Contemporary Art.

2 thoughts on “Megan and Murray McMillan’s “The Coal Bin Project””

  1. How may one learn of events at the Valley St location prior to reading about it after the event already took place? I cannot find a link of scheduled events specifically for the Valley St location. Thanks!

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