Newport Art Museum
401-848-8200
Rhode Island Artists: Rightful Recognition
An exhibition celebrating the creative spirit of Rhode Island artists
who have faced special challenges, "Rhode Island Artists: Rightful
Recognition," features the work of 15 historical and contemporary artists
and runs until June 11, 2000 in the Museum's Cushing Galleries. (left:
Nancy Elizabeth Prophet, Negro Head, wood, Courtesy of Museum of
Art, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI. Gift of Eleanor Green)
The exhibition focuses on deserving artists who have had
to struggle more than usual 
to achieve recognition. Past artists include Nancy
Elizabeth Prophet, James O. Cathers, Florence Leif, Edna Martin, Alfredo
Sciarrotta and James Simpson, while present artists include Andrew Bain,
Shirley Bell, Umberto Crenca, Joyce Devine, Chris Hart, Morgan Monceaux,
Jacqueline Ott, Niculae Petcu and Arnold Prince. (right: Joyce Devine,
Good Fortune (detail), 1999, watercolor on paper)
Prophet, a sculptor of Native American (Narragansett) and African heritage. exhibited successfully in Paris for a time but died in extreme poverty and obscure circumstances in 1960. Her works are on loan from the Rhode Island School of Design, the Black Heritage Society and Rhode Island College.
"Rhode
Island Artists: Rightful Recognition" has brought together people and
organizations from across Rhode Island in an exploration of common issues
and concerns. To accompany the show, video producer Robert Poniatowski and
art students from Newport's Rogers High School, led by Richard Carbotti,
have cooperated to produce a video of interviews with participating artists.
In addition, the state's college art departments, professional artists and
arts organizations nominated artists they felt were deserving of "rightful
recognition." Well-known artist Willy Heeks of Wakefield, Rhode Island
has been the consultant for the exhibition's contemporary aspects.
(left: Arnold Prince, Hawk, 1998, wood assemblage)
"Rightful Recognition" is supported by Rhode
Island 2000, a joint project of First Night Providence, the Rhode Island
Committee for the Humanities and the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts,
with funding from the State of Rhode Island.
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