Poiesis: Street Culture & The Art of the City
WaterFire Arts Center, Providence, RI
July 13th-August 20th, 2023
Curated by Melaine Ferdinand-King
Featured Exhibition of the 2023 Providence Biennial for Contemporary Art
Poiesis is an invitation to commemorate the world around us, treasure the transient, and see the potential for beauty and creativity in even the most mundane spaces.
By highlighting the works of artists and creatives from the Providence metropolitan area, the exhibition encourages visitors to reflect on their own relationship to the local art scene and consider how art can help us honor and remember the past in new and meaningful ways. Poiesis, derived from the Greek term for “to make,” refers to the act or process of creation. In the context of the city, poiesis can be seen as transforming spaces through innovation that reimagines the built environment and engages with the communities that inhabit it. The art of the city, then, is the practice of using art to bring about this transformation. It involves a range of styles and approaches, from experimentation and improvisation to community-building and political commentary.
At its core, the art of the city is about creating connections between people and their surroundings. It seeks to break down barriers and open up new possibilities for relation and interaction. By using the language of art to communicate with and involve diverse audiences, the art of the city has the potential to foster a sense of belonging among residents, creating a shared understanding of place and history. The exhibition explores the poiesis of the art of the city, showcasing works that blur the boundaries between art and everyday life. From photography that preserves bygone moments to paintings that transform blank canvases into vibrant scenes, the works on display offer a glimpse into how contemporary creative interventions can change the ways in which we engage with the past.
The curatorial vision is organized around four themes: the social impact of city art and street culture, the politics of public space, ephemerality, and the aesthetics of the quotidian. Each featured work engages with these themes in various ways, from the playful and irreverent to the somber and contemplative.
At the same time, the exhibition invites visitors to consider the broader implications of these interventions. What role can art play in shaping the city? How can creative practices contribute to social and cultural change? And how can we harness the power of poiesis to create more equitable and sustainable futures?
We aim to inspire visitors to lean into the works in the exhibition and explore the poiesis of the city for themselves.
Designer: Ramon Tejada
Featured Artists: AGONZA, Isaiah 'PZAY' Aladejobi, Joshua Baptista, Julio E. Berroa, Big Nazo/Erminio Pinque, Kindell Brown, Ani Jacsmile Cassion, Quinn Corey, Umberto Crenca, Justin DeGraide, Joelle 'Artfulme' Dejesus, Raphael Serrano Disla, Dorian Epps, Fu'una, Kevin Saye Kehyei, Louie, Hannah Mackie, Rafael Medina, Lennox Orellana, Tyler Palmer, Autumn Perez, Isaiah 'Prophet' Raines, Derek Raymond, Archee Rhodes, Izzy Rodriguez, Savaree 'Sav' Hazard-Chaney, Spocka Summa, Stay Silent, Callum Sharkey, Daniel Sweet, Nyree Sylvia, Paige Huggon, Elijah Trice, Rachel Turner, Jared Winslow, Margery Fischer Winter, YSANEL.
