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AIAri - Window on Architecture
158 Washington Street
Open by Appointment Only
401 272-6418

AIA Rhode Island is a statewide component of the American Institute of Architects in Washington, DC. It is a professional association representing over 200 professionals and 50 affiliate members. On Thursday February 15th, 2007 the Rhode Island Chapter of the AIA celebrated the grand opening of its new headquarters at 158 Washington Street in Providence. The event named, “Window on Architecture” was a reception to introduce AIA members, Corporate Affiliates and the general public to the new space and to recognize the donors who made it all possible. Special thanks to Roger Williams University for allowing us to occupy this great storefront location. Also, AIA Board Members J Michael Abbott and Greg Spiess were instrumental in designing, planning and making it all happen.

This new space will have several functions in addition to hosting chapter events. AIA/ri groups such as the Executive Board, Emerging Professionals, and COTE (Committee on the Environment) will now have a home for their meetings. AIA/ri will also be hosting monthly Lunch and Learns which will offer AIA CEU units to AIA members. Please check the next issue of Premises and our new AIA/ri website for specific dates and times. The new headquarters will also be used to display new work and future award winners in the storefront windows. AIA/ri is very excited about this opportunity to have a recognizable face in our community.

BankRI Gallery
One Turks Head Place
March 4 through April 7
“White on Black: Scratchboard Art By Lisa Guarino”
Gallery Night Reception March 18 from 5 to 8:30 pm
with live music by guitarist Mark Armstrong and refreshments. 
 
MEET THE ARTIST – LISA GUARINO
Picture a little curly-haired girl, maybe three or four years old, sitting at a table next to her father.  He is an accountant and is busy crunching numbers; she has a pencil in her hand drawing pictures.  This is Lisa Guarino, budding illustrator.  “My mom’s story is I’ve been drawing ever since I could pick up a pencil,” Guarino relates.  “In fact, in a family photo album, there is a picture of us at the table, both of us working.”
 
The little girl grew up in Randolph, Massachusetts, always keeping a pencil nearby.  Her mother was struck by how realistic her young daughter’s drawings were.  A drawing of a poodle looked like a poodle.  Guarino’s parents encouraged her artistic abilities and she went on to attend Southeastern Massachusetts University (now UMass Dartmouth) majoring in design with a concentration in illustration.  She graduated in 1988 and juggled a lot of part-time jobs, none in the field that she loved, illustration.  
 
In 1989 she landed a job at Harding Uniform embellishing clothing for Masonic and Shriner organizations.  The illustrator was hand-sewing rhinestones and the metallic bead-like jaceron on ceremonial hats and bullion thread on Masonic aprons. “I didn’t happen to land a job in the field [of illustration], but I had a full time job that was actually artistic,” Guarino says,  “and I ended up being incredibly good at it.”  On the side, she created a logo and illustrations for a small theater company, Ubiquity Stage, based in Malden, Massachusetts. For the theater company's production of "EQUUS," she collaborated on and created wire horse masks. She worked at Harding until 2001 when it closed down.
 
Soon after Harding closed, she and her husband Max found out they were expecting a child.  They moved from Massachusetts to Rhode Island, bought and moved into a house, all while she was eight months pregnant.   Three weeks later, their first daughter Emily was born.  Two years later, their second daughter Amanda arrived.
 
Guarino has never stopped drawing.  While she worked at Harding, she set about creating a line of postcards, note cards and t-shirts.  Until her daughters were born, she sold them at local craft fairs and stores.  Now she sells them on line.  “I couldn’t do craft fairs with two babies,” Guarino explains. She has exhibited in several group shows, garnering a handful of awards along the way.
 
Guarino’s dream is to write and illustrate children’s books, but she realizes it takes more than talent.  “It takes drive and persistence,” she muses.  It also takes time, something a fulltime mother with two young girls has precious little of.  “It’s a work in progress,” she says.  “Balancing that is the reality, but I always keep at it one way or another.”
 
The BankRI Galleries are curated by Paula Martiesian.  Paula Martiesian is a Providence-based artist and arts advocate.

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Copacetic Rudely Elegant Jewelry
17 Peck Street * New Location

Ongoing: Copacetic Rudely Elegant Jewelry opened in 1985 and carries jewelry and clocks from over 120 artists, including 30 of which are local. Copacetic also carries a variety of unique gadgets and repairs are done not only on
fine jewelry, but also on sterling silver, antique, and costume jewelry.

Copacetic Rudely Elegant Jewelry Inc. after residing in the Arcade since 1985, is now located just 100 steps away, across Weybosset St. next to the Providence Cookie Co. at 17 Peck St.

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Picture This Gallery and Framing Center : Downtown
45 Weybosset Street
Monday - Friday 9-6

Ongoing: A truly unique gallery showing original works by Rhode Island artists, featuring limited edition photography of Richard Benjamin, an a large selection of framed antique maps of Rhode Island and around the world along with framed antique bird and fish prints, watercolor landscapes by Elsie Kalan, oil landscapes by Burl Dawson and works by other local artists.

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URI Feinstein Providence Campus Gallery
(1st and 2nd floor lobby) 80 Washington Street 
March 1-26 2010
Gallery Night Reception March 18th 5pm-9pm
URI Providence Campus Urban Arts and Culture presents
STOP THE ABUSE: Domestic Violence Awareness Exhibit
 
A mixed media exhibit of artwork focusing on Domestic Violence Awareness from professional artists, community artists and expressive arts therapy programs.   The artwork is inspiring and speaks to the strength, the perseverance and the will to make change and move forward.  Artists include Constance Allen, Ken Amoriggi, Sharon Armour, Ellen Blomgren,  Elizabeth Berroa, Jerock, Lisa Decesare, Celine DelPesco, Patricia Flyntz , Stephen Gross, Ann-Victoria Hilaire, Jade,  Lee Johnson, Kathy King, Debbie Amyulon, Maria Caban, Daniel Henriquez, Richard Jacobellis, Victor Martelle,  Robert McGloin, Donna McGowan, Meghan Reynolds, Fredrick Kent, Katrina Majkut, Zan Nordlund, Shirley Pryor, Jane Parillo, Lincoln Read, Hannah Resseger, Joshua Robinson, Nanda Shewmangal, Chris Sisson, Kathleen Sonier, Harry Stewart, Anna-Marie Still, Brittanny Taylor, Jessica Thurber,  Michele Vara, Dawn Valentim, Reuven Wallack.  The exhibit will also include the Silent Witnesses and The Clothesline Project.  

IN HIDING Performance
March 19 & 20 8:00 pm
URI Providence Paff Auditorium.
An original performance created by Deirdre McCarthy, MFA ’10 Rhode Island College, in partial fulfillment of the MFA. The performance is free.

For information call Steven Pennell 401-277-5206 or visit www.uri.edu/prov

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PARKING LOTS
Parking is free from 5 to 9 pm on Gallery Night only.
Free parking lots will be designated with Gallery Night signs.
Visitors do not need to show a voucher or ticket when parking.
Gallery Night Providence and lot owners are not responsible for damage, theft or injury.
Downtown
Closest Parking Lot:
One Regency Place off of Greene Street (near the Providence Public Library)