This week, we bring you a live performance and interview with Rhode Island psychedelic soul artist Melo Green. It’s part of Ocean State Sessions, a collaboration with our colleagues at Rhode Island PBS. Artscape editor Mareva Lindo spoke with Melo Green earlier this year at Big Nice Studio in Lincoln, R.I., where he and his band performed three songs from his latest album “Laminar Flow.” The post Ocean State Session: The psychedelic soul of Melo Green appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
Jun 26, 2025•4 min
Every year, the James Beard Foundation recognizes exceptional restaurants and chefs throughout the country, one of the highest honors in the culinary field. Earlier this week, they announced this year’s winners. Sky Hanuel Kim, the chef at Gift Horse in Providence, won “Best Chef Northeast.” The win came just a year after Kim was a semifinalist for “best emerging chef.” I visited Sky Kim at her restaurant, Gift Horse, shortly after she was named a semifinalist in 2024. The post Sky Kim wins ‘Bes...
Jun 18, 2025•2 min
A local artist poses the question “WTF Can Artists Do During a Fascist Takeover?” - that’s the title of a new web comic by Providence-based artist, educator and organizer Jordan Seaberry. He joined me in the studio to talk about the inspiration of the comic and his advice for artists. Plus: The latest plays on now at Trinity Rep and the Gamm Theatre. The post Providence artist Jordan Seaberry asks: ‘WTF Can Artists Do During a Fascist Takeover?’ appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
Jun 12, 2025•5 min
This week on Artscape, producer James Baumgartner and editor Mareva Lindo highlight a few of their favorite festivals coming up this summer, from Providence Porchfest to New Bedford's Roots & Branches Festival. The post 12 summer festivals to check out in Rhode Island and the South Coast appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
Jun 05, 2025•2 min
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which protects people with disabilities from discrimination in areas such as employment, education, and public accommodations. A new documentary tells the emotional story of the activists that led the determined effort to achieve equality and accessibility that culminated in the passage of the ADA. It’s called Change, Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act, and it’s being screened today at the Westerly Library...
May 29, 2025•2 min
This week, we’re highlighting two exhibits in Newport: “Sean Landers: Lost at Sea” at the Newport Art Museum, and “Newport 1775: Whose Side Are You On?” at the Newport Historical Society. The post Loyalists, Patriots and a colossal plaid whale in Newport appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio .
May 22, 2025•2 min
Back in the 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s in Providence, Leo’s bar and restaurant was an institution and a pioneer in the city’s Jewelry District, known for its support of local artists, and its eclectic clientele, late hours, and great food. And the man behind it all was John Rector. John passed away March 6 at the age of 75. When she heard the news, Artscape editor Mareva Lindo started asking around to see who might want to talk with us about John and the bar. And people came out of the woodwork. So m...
May 15, 2025•4 min
As we move closer to summer, we edge closer to the first WaterFire lighting ceremony of the year. It will take place at the end of the month. WaterFire Providence is going through some changes. This year they named Mark Allan as the interim Executive Director. We'll talk with him about the future of WaterFire. Plus: ArtWeek SouthCoast runs from May 8th to May 18th and offers more than 50 different experiences all over Bristol County, Massachusetts. We talk with two of the event organizers. The p...
May 08, 2025•4 min
There’s a painting on display right now in the Rhode Island Statehouse that tells an important tale of American history: It’s the story of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment — a military regiment composed mostly of Black enlistees. The painting is called “Brave Men as Ever Fought.” It’s by historical military artist Don Troiani. Morning host Luis Hernandez talked with Ray Rickman, the co-founder of the non-profit Stages of Freedom, which addresses racial inequities in Rhode Island, and Rhode Island S...
May 01, 2025•2 min
On this week’s show: A profile of artist Ian Cozzens. Cozzens moved to Providence in 1999, and quickly started making screen prints for bands, art gallery shows, and community events. He also documented the buildings of Providence, using his architectural training to depict a half-demolished mill in Eagle Square and the three smokestacks of a power station on the Providence River. Since then, he moved on to screen prints depicting a single word, including “dissonance” and “QUEERS!” His latest in...
Apr 24, 2025•4 min
Kwame Dawes is a poet, actor and musician whose work is shaped by a journey that started in Ghana, where he was born, all the way to Jamaica, where he was raised. Dawes, who joined the staff at Brown University in 2024, was recently named the poet laureate for Jamaica. Morning host Luis Hernandez spoke with Dawes about his journey, his poetry, what it means to be a poet laureate, and the current environment on college campuses. The post Meet Kwame Dawes, Brown University professor and new poet l...
Apr 17, 2025•14 min
Can you name five women artists? That’s the question posed by Erin L. McCutcheon, as part of a course she teaches as assistant professor of arts of the Americas at University of Rhode Island. In her work as an art historian, researcher and teacher, she aims to raise the profile of women artists. And she was recently appointed to the Committee on Women in the Arts for the College Arts Association. The post Most people can’t name five women artists. URI art historian wants to change that appeared ...
Apr 10, 2025•2 min
There are two plays on now in Providence that start with a work of Shakespeare and then take it in a new direction: “Fat Ham” at the Wilbury Theatre Group, and “La Tempestad — The Tempest” at Trinity Rep. Artscape producer James Baumgartner spoke with the plays’ directors for this week’s show. The post Re-envisioning Shakespearean classics: ‘Fat Ham’ and ‘La Tempestad’ appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
Apr 03, 2025•2 min
Every January, Italian American families in Westerly, Rhode Island gather together to start making soupy, a dry-cured pork sausage that’s specific to the town. A new film called “Westerly’s Gold: Sweet, Spicy, and Full of Tradition” documents the process and stories of the families who’ve been making the local delicacy for decades. The post ‘Westerly’s Gold’: New documentary tells the story of soupy sausage appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
Mar 27, 2025•4 min
In a few minutes, we’ll hear about the new documentary “Secret Mall Apartment” that will be screening at the Providence Place Mall. But first, I recently visited the studio of artist, fishmonger, knifemaker, and North Providence resident Joyce Kutty. Her studio in an old Fall River textile mill has several workbenches filled with neatly arranged tools, a band saw, and a sketchbook. There’s a woodblock print on the wall that has three women hammering an anvil. And in one corner, there’s a large p...
Mar 20, 2025•4 min
This is The Public’s Radio, I’m James Baumgartner. At a time when the longstanding friendship between the US and Canada is fraught with a trade war sparked by the Trump administration, a Rhode Island museum is mounting a celebration of the Ocean State’s ties with French Canadian culture. It’s called “La Francophonie”. In this week’s Artscape segment, reporter David Wright sat down with Anne Conway, Director of the Museum of Work & Culture in Woonsocket. The post Series explores French cultur...
Mar 13, 2025•2 min
Brutalism had its heyday 60 years ago, but this polarizing style of architecture is back in the spotlight. At the Oscars, Adrien Brody won Best Actor for his performance of a Brutalist architect. In Washington, President Trump has re-issued an executive order deploring Brutalism. And in southeastern Massachusetts, our reporter Ben Berke brings us this story about a Brutalist college campus designed by a celebrated architect whose buildings are disappearing across the country. The post UMass Dart...
Mar 06, 2025•8 min
Providence's historic Union Station was once a hub for 14 intercity train tracks, a crucial stop in southern New England that helped the city’s jewelry, textile and machinery industries thrive. In just a few weeks, it’ll be home to Track 15: a food hall and plaza that will feature local chefs offering everything from Indian plates to Mexican fare. Morning host Luis Hernandez met with developer Chris Marsella in January at the construction site behind the building which currently houses our studi...
Feb 27, 2025•2 min
Artists throughout Latin America have long used graphic posters as a form of storytelling, cultural celebration, political expression, and resistance. A new exhibit at Waterfire Arts Center features roughly 100 posters from across Latin America, spanning more than 70 years. Morning host Luis Hernandez spoke with the curators of the exhibit, Jose Menendez Lopez and Tatiana Goméz Gaggero. The post Posters display creativity, culture and resistance in ‘Graphic Voices of Latin America’ appeared firs...
Feb 20, 2025•2 min
A historic cottage situated in Westerly Library’s Wilcox Park is home to an Artist-In-Residence program that attracts creatives from around the country. It offers artists of all levels and disciplines to take risks and pursue new projects, while also providing creative and educational programming to the surrounding community. The latest artist-in-residence is Dave Solomon. He’s an award-winning, New York-based writer and director of film and theater. Morning host Luis Hernandez spoke with him fo...
Feb 13, 2025•8 min
LitArts RI started in 2018 as a shared creative workspace for writers. Since then, the nonprofit has grown to offer events, workshops, and other support to Rhode Island writers and readers. They recently announced their new executive director, Christina Bevilacqua, who has been a part of the literary world of Rhode Island for a while now at the Providence Athenaeum, Trinity Rep, and the Providence Public Library. The post Meet LitArts RI’s new executive director: Christina Bevilacqua appeared fi...
Feb 06, 2025•2 min
Rel’s debut EP “Big Try” comes out March 7, and they’re performing at a release party at AS220 March 14. You can find out more about Rel’s music at HeyRel.com. Luis Hernandez: When did you start playing music and what got you into music as a performer? Rel: So I started playing guitar when I […] The post Studio Session: The earnest shoegaze pop of Rel’s ‘Big Try’ appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
Jan 30, 2025•4 min
For most of us, the days of keeping a stash of folded-up maps in the car glovebox are behind us. So in a world of smartphones and GPS, why go to a store that specializes in maps? That’s the question that Andrew Middleton is trying to answer at the Map Center in Pawtucket. The post The Map Center explores the stories, art and creativity of maps appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
Jan 23, 2025•2 min
The Electromagnetic Pinball Museum is home to over 100 pinball machines, from the 1940s to today. Emily Rose and Michael Pare are two of the co-founders who started the museum when they found that they had too many pinball machines to fit in their home. Luis Hernandez visited the museum earlier this week. The post Electromagnetic Pinball Museum celebrates the game’s history and visceral joy appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
Jan 16, 2025•2 min
Every month, the “Weird Island” podcast delivers weird and wonderful stories from Rhode Island, like the origin of the Turk’s Head building, the creation of a gym for women in the 1880s, or the story of the fearless lighthouse keeper of Lime Rock. It’s all the creation of Sara Corben, who started the podcast in 2021. Artscape producer James Baumgartner spoke with her for this week’s show. The post ‘Weird Island’ podcast spotlights strange stories from the Ocean State appeared first on TPR: The P...
Jan 09, 2025•2 min
This week, we’re looking ahead to the next few months in local arts and culture. Here to share what they’re most excited about for the winter and spring of 2025 are Artscape producer James Baumgartner, and Tracy MacDonald, arts and culture executive producer at Rhode Island PBS. The post What are we looking forward to in arts and culture for 2025? appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
Jan 02, 2025•2 min
The Vox Hunters are a duo-turned-trio defined by their affinity for unaccompanied vocal music, a unique mix of folk influences, and the traditional songs and tunes of Rhode Island. If you’re a player or a fan of folk music in Rhode Island, there’s a good chance you’ve been to a Vox Hunters show, or attended one of the many community jams and sings they’ve led over the years. “I would say that our music would fall under the category of social music,” said Ben Gagliardi, one of the two founding me...
Dec 19, 2024•4 min
Hundreds of years ago, wallpaper looked very different than the simple repeating patterns we often see today. Originally done on wood blocks, early designs were extremely decorative, colorful, and labor-intensive. “The Art of French Wallpaper Design” is the latest exhibit at the RISD Museum, featuring samples of salvaged wallpapers, fragments and drawings of designs from the 18th and 19th centuries. Morning host Luis Hernandez visited the exhibit to talk with Emily Banas, the museum’s Associate ...
Dec 12, 2024•47 sec
Since 2008, Providence-born writer, podcaster and public radio alum Nate DiMeo has been producing short, narrative essays through his podcast, “The Memory Palace,” featuring real-life stories pulled from lesser known corners of American history. His new book, “The Memory Palace: True Short Stories of the Past,” features nearly 50 stories, some from the podcast, some new, and accompanied for the first time by illustrations and archival photos. Now based in Los Angeles, he’s coming back to Provide...
Dec 05, 2024•1 min
Lithuanian-American siblings Vija and Dovas Lietuvninkas have been singing traditional Lithuanian folk music since they can remember. “One of my earliest memories in general is of my grandfather singing Lithuanian folk songs to us as we were going to sleep, as lullabies as we’re sleeping over at their houses,” Dovas said. “So, literally from the […] The post Studio Session: Traditional Lithuanian folk songs with Dovas and Vija Lietuvninkas appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio ....
Nov 21, 2024•3 min
