Public Art

STEWP! is about creating a gathering space where none existed before. Iconic in cities like New York, Chicago, and Philly—Stoop fronts are more than a means to enter and exit a home. They’re meeting places for the neighborhood, especially within communities of color. These are places where neighbors talk and greet one another, elders share stories, kids play, hair gets braided, aunties sit and protect the neighborhood, small businesses thrive, food is shared and secrets are told. Stoops are where community naturally forms.

There are many ways to create climate outcomes for communities, and one such is by building resilient and inclusive local food systems. Natalie Moreno creates a reflection on the grounding practice of keeping a garden by presenting her piece Community Garden.

Family of Rabbits is a piece that platforms threatened species in our natural environment, inviting the viewer to stay in curiosity about the presence of rabbits in our gardens and parks and reminding us to distinguish between native and invasive species.

Where Children Should Bloom is a piece that brings our attention to childhood memories of parks, of playing, and the feeling of belonging in green spaces. The artist was inspired by a quote by a resident with a strong desire to increase the number of natural places available to kids and their future and depicts a humanoid sunflower longing for more space.

Rooted in Care is a piece inspired by the Providence Climate Justice Plan that speaks to the artist’s desire for clean air, increased care for the health of our waterways, and land conservation as ways to develop in partnership with nature. “This piece reflects the belief that our environment is the foundation of our collective well-being. The deity rising from the trees carries the earth as a symbol of care and responsibility, reminding us that the health of our planet and our communities are deeply connected.”

Michelle Perez presents Soar, a colorful reflection on the flora and fauna of our natural world, allowing us to stop and enjoy depictions of birds sweeping through a colorful sky. It reminds us to consider how nature and health are intertwined, highlighting access and equity. Perez has two boxes in the park, Soar and Swim.

Michelle Perez presents Swim; a colorful reflection on the flora and fauna of our natural world allowing us to stop and enjoy depictions of fish inhabiting their verdant home. It reminds us to consider how nature and health are intertwined, highlighting access and equity. Perez has two boxes in the park, Soar and Swim.

Cloud Watching depicts clouds cascading across the Providence skyline, meant to show a joyful desire for improvements in air quality for our city and the world at large.

Growing Through is inspired by the Providence Climate Justice Plan’s vision for a low-carbon future, one where your race or zip code no longer determines your health or economic outcomes. It takes visual inspiration from the architectural structures of The Manchester Street Power Station, interpreted to host natural and native flowers in a future state of green energy.

Future Story: Black Locust is a piece reflecting on the Providence Climate Justice Plan’s goal of partnering with community organizations to expand green spaces and parks in frontline communities, which centers on prioritizing tree plantings wherever the heat index is high. The artist provides a musing and a solution for the passerby:

Nature’s Abundance is a piece inspired by the Providence Environmental Justice Plan. It depicts two types of animal cohabitants that we can encounter in urban parks: the squirrel, which happily goes about its task of securing acorns in preparation for the upcoming season, and the falcon. The latter seems to ponder a longer timeline in this piece, perhaps one spanning the creation of the stars and the construction of the City of Providence.

Thawra! (Revolution!) honors the artist’s Palestinian heritage and the current geopolitical issues facing her community. It connects the sometimes distant-feeling theme of climate change with the real experiences of people, land, and displacement.

In collaboration with Ryan Dean from LUMUKU, Buena Gráfica Social Studio designed a 1,295-foot-long scrim/banner to serve as a temporary fence covering for the new pavilion being built in the park. The design features large-scale geometric shapes inspired by the building, along with vibrant colors, and Ryan’s fun construction illustrations.

This sculpture, titled “Mother & Child,” represents two themes related to the I-195 Redevelopment District. The Mother figure is there to nurture and guide her Child, looking to the future of this creative mile, while the colorful elements reference the iconography of the construction trade and the work being done in developing new Providence.

Inspired by the dazzle patterns, the mural design provides a dynamic composition that changes from different perspectives due to the uneven surface of the container. Its bright color palette brings color to the 195 District Park year round.

The two playful banner sets (summer and winter) combine the 195 District Park’s logo, color, geometric compositions, and custom illustrations to create a sense of place around the park while highlighting the local fauna and flora.

This piece was originally created for PVDFest 2020, although it was canceled due to the pandemic, it was installed during the Black Lives Matter protest march through the city in front of Providence City Hall.

A mural commissioned for Tizzy K’s Ice Cream storefront shows Tizzy herself in the summer sun as she eats her delicious fruity pebbles ice cream cone!