Dear Colleagues,

I write to wish you happy holidays from us at Providence College Galleries [PCG] and to share our "Year in Review." Please join me in reflecting upon a few bright spots that occurred over the last year and taking a glimpse of what's ahead for PCG. During this special time of year, I hope you too have the chance to take stock and look forward to new year of love, healing, and renewal.
 

Looking back, these moments in 2021 stand out to us:

1. PCG awarded more than $300,000 from National Endowment for the Humanities— One of our biggest moments was earlier this fall when we received robust support to integrate dozens of contemporary artworks into our permanent collection and create a collection study hub. Learn more in this article by the Associated Press.

2. On the Wall: Tamara Gonzales— The 2021 iteration of our site-specific, gallery-filling mural program opened to rave reviews like this Boston Art Review piece. A generous artist and intellectual partner, Tamara Gonzales visited campus multiple times to collaborate with students, faculty and staff on the creation towering yet whimsical wall drawings that alluded to ancient Latin America and the cosmos.

3. Galleries Rebrand & Website— Last month, PCG launched a new visual identity and website. Our new logo, with forms inspired by the College’s torch icon, is modular with infinite combinations. We will further promote the website as an academic and community resource throughout 2022.

4. Interlace Grant Fund Awards Inaugural Project Grants to Local Artists— Interlace, which PCG co-founded with Dirt Palace in 2020, awarded more than $50,000 to local artists for visual art projects happening within the city of Providence. Join us for an awards ceremony at PC’s Smith Center for the Arts on January 24. Also through Interlace, we continue to distribute monthly emergency grants to artists.

5. The Carriers: Joiri Minaya & Anne Austin Pearce— In October, we opened this gorgeous two-person exhibition in our Reilly Gallery. The works on view explore eco-feminist themes, tropical imagery, and post-colonial critiques of culture and collection. Read PCG Curator at Large Kate McNamara’s exhibition essay for The Carriers here.

Looking ahead, here's that little glimpse of what PCG has in store for 2022:

1. Art History Selects— PCG’s first-ever collection show, called Art History Selects, will be on view through April. Join us for a special tour with PC’s art history faculty on February 2, when they will expertly unpack the works on view and explain how they visualize elements of PC’s curriculum.

2. Art Collection Installed— In January and February, PCG will install displays of collection works with interpretive texts in various spaces on campus. Until then, you can peruse [a fraction of] the art collection on our website. Please note that we document artworks and add new images monthly.

3. Providence Centered— PCG will dedicate its 2022-2023 season to the city of Providence. That means you can look forward to presentations large and small that feature local artists and/or projects inspired by our beloved city. For example, Providence-based Lois Harada is our My HomeCourt 2022 artist, and we have commissioned Sheida Soleimani for the upcoming installment of On the Wall, which will be the first institutional show she’s ever mounted in Providence, her hometown.

In closing, thank you all for supporting PCG on another trip around the sun. Please keep in touch in the new year, and, as always, let us know if you have feedback or would like to be more involved in our work. Visit PCG's website, follow us on Instagram or drop me a note anytime.

In the meantime, I wish you and yours health and happiness this holiday season.

Jamilee Lacy
Director & Chief Curator
Providence College Galleries

💕 P.S. Per usual, we're sending our love through the mail! All PC faculty and staff will automatically receive a Valentine designed by one of our favorite artist(s). If you’d like us to send one somewhere off-campus, please email the name and snail mail address of the recipient to pcgalleries@providence.edu with the subject line "Valentine." 💕