WaterFire Providence’s New Flame millennial initiative sponsors emerging artists to participate in new ArtMart, pop-up artist markets at the WaterFire Arts Center. ArtMart takes place Saturdays, October 3, 10, and 24. Additional November dates TBD.
“We are so excited to introduce New Flame sponsored artists to our new ArtMart events. It’s a great way for young artists to get exposure and help turn their craft into a business.”
– Nicole Nehiley, WaterFire Providence Development Assistant
Meet the first New Flame Artists
Sydney Sousa
Rhode Island based artist Sydney Sousa creates abstract paintings motivated by moments and experiences that evoke an emotional response. Receiving her bachelor’s degree from Rhode Island College in painting and psychology allowed her to find a love for oil paint and abstraction. Sousa strives to take something intangible and make it tangible in the form of a painting. Her organic mark-making moves across the surface in various directions playing off the edge of the canvas. Sousa’s color choices are often influenced by places visited, the seasons, or the atmosphere around her. The process of painting for Sousa is shaped by her intuition. Sousa’s work is not created to be perfect it is created to gain an emotional response by the viewer. She is constantly investigating through painting what it means to be human with personal experiences and emotions.
Medium: Oil paint and mixed media
IG: @sydsousa
Amanda, Benjamin, Danielle, & Nathan Sharples
Amanda Sharples – Moon Realm Studio
Medium: Illustration
IG: @moonrealmstudio
Etsy: MoonRealmStudio
Tumblr: Amanda Sharples Illustration
Danielle Sharples – Fernweh Prints Co
Medium: Photography
IG: @dani.sharples
Etsy: FernwehPrintsCo
Ben Sharples
Medium: Photography + Cinematography
IG: @bensharplesdp
YouTube: Ben Sharples
Nathan Sharples – Nathan Sharples Music
Medium: Music
IG: @nathan_sharples_music
Spotify: Nathan Sharples
Danielle Sharples is a graphic designer + photographer based in Providence, RI. She graduated with a BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and studied as an exchange student at Hochschule Darmstadt in Hessen, Germany. She designs packaging at Hasbro Gaming for adult party games by day and is a freelance designer for local small businesses in New England by night.
Outside of her design career, photography has been her outlet to stay sane ever since she lived abroad. Her photos capture the vibrancy of well-known places to destinations less traveled. Her Etsy shop, Fernweh Prints Co launched in 2020 featuring her travel + street photography from good ol’ Rhode Island to Germany, Italy, Morocco, Hungary, and more.
Ben Sharples is a Photographer and Cinematographer based in Massachusetts. He graduated with a BFA in Communications with a concentration in Film / Video Production from Fitchburg State University. He was the Director of Photography on various projects during his years at FSU; including: 2017 Vision’s film “Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church”. He also went on to direct 2020 Vision’s film “Session Zero”. With experience in directing, editing, lighting, coloring in addition to camerawork, he’s well rounded in the craft. His love for cinematography stems from his photography background, where he started on 35mm black and white film shooting urban street and portrait photography.
He explores other avenues outside of his filmmaking work, including Photography and Educational Content Creation for YouTube. His Photography focuses on 35mm and 120 film documenting urban and natural landscapes across New England. He’s going to be launching his print shop and upcoming zine chronicling his college town of Fitchburg MA during the month of October. Ben also runs a small YouTube Channel focused on Filmmaking and Photography Educational Content that includes video essays, conversations and analyses of his favorite works.
Nathan Sharples is a multi-instrumentalist and composer based out of Massachusetts. He studies Music Composition and Music Education at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, while simultaneously serving in the National Guard as a musician for the 215th Army Band.
His work is all performed and written by himself, in efforts to create honest and personal music. Nathan’s style is derived from all ends of music ranging from metal to jazz, hip hop to orchestral, and everything in between. Outside of his own music he also performs as the keyboardist of Mr. Thinwheel and scores short films on the side.
Jillian Lauren
Jillian Lauren is a Rhode Island based artist who predominantly paints portraits using acrylic paint and some form of glitter mediums. In doing this, Jillian aims to create pieces that when seen at different angles in the same room, display slight variations based on the point of view of the person looking. Her work has been a part of six shows including in Tribecca, NY, and Boston, MA as well as at Del’s Headquarters in Cranston, RI, and the Wickford Art Gallery in North Kingstown, RI.
Medium: Acrylic paint and metallic media
IG: @jilliankelshaw
Jared Winslow
Jared Winslow is a Rhode Island based street photographer/visual storyteller. He graduated from New England Institute of Technology with a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphics, Multimedia, and Web Design, which landed him in his current role as an Animator / Video Editor. As a side project or hobby, one of his favorite things to do is explore the streets of Providence with his camera.
Whether it’s alone or with friends, it’s been his favorite creative outlet over the last few years. He has a passion for storytelling, and photography has given him a voice to express himself like he’s never had before, capturing scenes of everyday life.
Street Photography, and Providence both hold a very special place in his heart, as he says it’s where he believes he found his creative independence. With this – he’s also started a brand called PVDLUV, which creates merch to spread and show love for PVD. It’s a simple ode to providence, the city we love.
Medium: Photography + Graphic Design
IG: @winslow_j + @pvd.luv
Harry Cassell
Harry Cassell is a craftsperson based in Providence, RI. Her work focuses on material properties, processes, and skeuomorphic design.
Since graduating from Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Furniture Design, Harry has been working as a blacksmith at a local forge where she is making everything from hooks to ornamental railings.
In her spare time, Harry has been creating a variety of household goods, often one-off pieces that let her explore different techniques and design ideas.
Medium: Mixed Media
IG: @sassafrassell
Web: https://harrycassell.com/
Derek Raymond
Mixed media artist and graphic designer based in Providence, RI, with a BA in Graphic Design & Digital Media from Johnson & Wales University. For fifteen years Derek obsessed over his creative pursuits and continued to develop his style and technique. Derek’s inspiration largely comes from traveling, reading, walking the streets, taking photographs, and visiting museums to see works by the greats.
Impulsivity is his process. Like a game of cat and mouse – making a move, and exploring ways to find balance or composure amongst the chaos of how he paints.
Past exhibitors include:
Anchor Gallery | Providence, RI
Uncharted Gallery | Lowell, MA
Loading Dock Gallery | Lowell, MA
Curation 250 | Lowell, MA
Attleboro Arts Museum | Attleboro, MA
Greenpoint Gallery | Brooklyn, NY
Medium: Mixed Media
IG: @two_tears
Web: https://www.derekraymonddesign.com/
About the author
Over the last 10+ years, alongside some incredible co-workers and volunteers, I've worked to build the organization that WaterFire Providence is today. As Director of Creative Services, my team and I work on visual communications, graphic design, the visitor experience, merchandising as well as project management for programming at the WaterFire Arts Center. Being a part of the 'Rhode Island' experience for tens of thousands of people is incredible and I have an intense pride in place for both Downtown Providence and the Valley neighborhood.
