Mayor Smiley Announces New Downtown Mural

Details announced for PVDFest Public Art Installations, Parade Grand Marshals, Maker Spaces

PROVIDENCE, RI – Mayor Brett P. Smiley, The Avenue Concept’s new Executive Director, Tracy Jonsson-Laboy, FirstWorks Executive Director Kathleen Pletcher and Department of Arts, Culture and Tourism Director Joe Wilson Jr. today announced that a new Downtown mural has been commissioned by the City of Providence in commemoration of PVDFest 2024. The project, spearheaded by Mayor Smiley and the Department of Art, Culture and Tourism, celebrates the history of theater, Providence’s Chinese American and Southeast Asian communities and LGBTQ+ contributions in Downtown Providence. The City worked with The Avenue Concept and Paolino Properties to select an artist and location for the signature public art piece.

Additionally, details were announced today for this year’s PVDFest public art installations, parade grand marshals and artist maker spaces. Providence’s signature arts festival returns Downtown this September with an exciting lineup of main stage performers and an array of highlights that promise to captivate attendees. This year’s festival, set to take place on September 6 and 7, with a rain date of September 8, will transform Downtown Providence into a dynamic hub of creativity, community and celebration.

“This mural embodies the spirit of PVDFest and the creative energy that makes Providence unique,” said Mayor Smiley.  “Public art is fundamental to Providence, and this mural will not only beautify Downtown, but also tell a powerful story of our community’s rich history and vibrant diversity. By celebrating the contributions of our theater, cultural heritage and LGBTQ+ communities, we are honoring the past while inspiring future generations.”

The mural by artist Lauren YS, which is not yet titled, is located at 40 Snow Street and spans 27 feet by 85 feet of wall surface.

Design elements were selected by the artist following robust historical research and community engagement.

·       The mural features a figure on the far left holding scissors and thread, honoring Perry Watkins, the first Black scenic designer on Broadway from Providence. This figure also holds a fan with the Port Arthur logo, representing a key Chinese restaurant and dancehall that was a haven for the Asian and LGBTQ+ communities.

·       Curtains highlight local theaters like PPAC and Trinity Rep, while arches reference the Chinese restaurants and dancehalls that were central to the theater experience from the 1950s to the 1980s. These venues also served as unique performance spaces, nodding to Trinity Rep’s non-traditional stages.

·       Two middle figures blend ancient Chinese opera with modern drag, symbolizing Providence’s Chinatown and referencing Rhode Island’s former “Kings & Queens” community hub.

·       The right figure honors Providence’s LGBTQ+ history, inspired by 1910 drag performer Francis “Auriema” Renault. The jewelry in the mural is a nod to Beatrice Temkin, a pioneering LGBTQ+ ally and namesake of the Beatrice Hotel. The Beatrice and the Snow Street building are owned by Paolino Properties.

PVDFest organizers also announced the festival’s temporary public art installations, PVDFest Parade grand marshals, and details about the new maker spaces joining the festival this year.

This year’s festival will bring two temporary public art installations to Downtown Providence.

·       “The Art of Play,” Doorley Building, 444 Westminster Street:  “The Art of Play” by Julio Berroa and Haley Peters is an immersive sculptural art installation that explores the themes of play, identity, and cultural fusion. Drawing from the artists’ journeys growing up LGBTQ+ in and around Rhode Island, the work creates a multi-sensory experience that reflects the complex layers of intersecting identities and the blending of cultural heritage. “Play is an integral part of learning about yourself and those around you,” said Berroa and Peters. “By supplying vibrant opportunities for cohesive play, we hope to build connections between those who interact with this installation’s moving, spinning, and visually captivating elements regardless of race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.” 

·       “Public Property,” 25 Dorrance Street: “Public Property” by artist Sylke “Sy” Meyer is a social sculpture that presents a commentary on public space and the evolving nature of collective memory. The installation of a large camera obscura brings together elements from different times and places, such as the Soldiers and Sailors monument, City Hall, and the viewer’s present moment, into a single point of intersection. The interactive piece invites the public to consider the evolving concepts of ownership and access through time.

Three arts champions have been named PVDFest Grand Marshals this year. 

·       Anjel Newman, a Black American artist, creative director, and educator from Rhode Island, who specializes in using design principles to transform organizations with a focus on empathy, storytelling, and social justice. She serves as Co-Executive and Youth Program Director at AS220, teaches art and social justice, and is a member of the PPSD School Board.

·       Chachi Carvalho, a talented emcee, song writer, poet, and entrepreneur who has performed for and captivated many PVDFest audiences over the years. He is the owner of We Own The Masters LLC. and co-owner of Beatbox Digital Recording Studio in Pawtucket. He is the founder and artistic director of the Culture Shock music festival and annual community celebration.

·       Rodney Davis, a leading community champion and LGBTQ+ activist who has served for more than twenty years as co-chair and president of Rhode Island Pride. Rodney has also served in leadership roles for the Rhode Island Alliance, and has personally and professionally supported numerous organizations that promote social justice and community advancement.

Numerous Artist Maker Spaces will join the festival this year, inviting attendees to participate in public art.

·       The PVDFest Mural Battle will feature muralists AGONZA, Niko Tolentino, Elton Duarte, and Natural, who will compete alongside each other to create four unique works of art on a mobile canvas. The winner will be selected through audience engagement. Hosts Club Ambition and Chip Douglas will be on the mic to hype up these artists and the crowd as they participate in Providence’s first ever Mural Battle.

·       TuftXPVD’s founder and owner Sav Hazard-Chaney is bringing the first “pop-up” community tufting station to PVDFest this year. Come be a part and watch the magic of rug tufting LIVE! This community engaging activation will invite festival goers to participant in the actual tufting of a PVD tufted design. Step up and add your touch to this one-of-a-kind experience. Participants will be guided and supported by TuftxPVD, Rhode Island’s first Black and Woman-owned rug tufting studio.

·       Podcasters and digital creators such as the Spark Up Podcast and Passion Street Media’s best friend duo, Lucas and Aaron, will be at the festival to interview attendees and creatives, capturing and highlighting Providence stories and experiences that inspire and connect.

·       The Peace Flag Project will host a booth inviting the public to design their own 9×9 in flags sharing messages and artwork promoting a better world.

·       Legos with Andy Grover, where participants are invited to unleash their inner architecta at the LEGO Build Zone! Join fellow festival-goers in crafting an iconic Providence building piece by piece. Connect with new friends, get creative, and soak up the vibrant downtown atmosphere.

·       Spark Up will be engaging with new and past guests and festival goers to talk about Providence related topics from the past, present, and future, collecting stories and experiences of the PVDFest and learning about creatives who stop by to share their personal stories.

·       Gather Glass, which invites the public to experience the magic of glass blowing at PVDFest. Watch live demonstrations, learn about this mesmerizing art form and the artists behind the creations, and see how molten glass transforms into stunning shapes and objects.

·       DWRI Letterpress will offer opportunities to print outside on their table-top portable press and will have a mix of DWRI and Linotype Daily prints and posters for sale, cards that attendees can print for free, and various other exciting letterpress printed goods and sundries.

·       At the Alley Cat Foam Pit, everyone is welcome to enjoy some foam-filled fun. Dive into the foam pit, groove to the artists on the dance stage, and explore cultural heritage partners nearby.

·       At the JWU Tent, students from the Center for Media Production at Johnson & Wales University and industry partner LittleFire Media invite attendees to visit their Makers on Matthewson space to share their personal stories about PVDFest. These confessional-style interviews will be recorded and edited into a video loop that celebrates Providence’s signature arts festival.

PVDFest 2024 is set to captivate attendees with a diverse array of cultural and artistic highlights. Visit pvdfest.com in the coming weeks for more updates and ways to get involved. View all previous 2024 PVDFest programming announcements at pvdfest.com/news.