Videos from the Winter 2012 Symposium

Artist talk by Betsey Biggs on “The Providence Postcard Project”

Opening of the Providence Postcard Project

A love letter to, and ongoing exploration of, the city of Providence

Lower Lobby Gallery | Granoff Center for the Creative Arts | 154 Angell Street | Providence, Rhode Island

Opening reception: January 27, 2012 – 5:30pm

1000 postcards – 100 photographs – 22 neighborhoods. “The Postcard Project,” by artist Betsey Biggs, explores the familiar souvenir medium of postcards as a source of reflection by the residents of Providence on what meanings the city holds. Beginning this week, the project will be distributing pre-addressed, postage-paid postcards featuring photographs taken by Biggs during her visits to the neighborhoods of Providence. Local residents and members of the general public are invited to pick up postcards at Providence Community Library locations throughout the city, write to the Postcard Project, and share their own stories about the many places of Providence.

Biggs has designed the project to explore the many layers of both memories and imaginative associations that particular places in Providence hold for its residents. By using a combination of person-to-person engagement and postal circulation, the project spotlights the ideas of exchange and correspondence and their roles in the production of historical narratives. In the artist’s own words, “Cultural heritage is a palimpsest of recollections, associations, and stories; I have a particular interest in canonizing the personal, ephemeral, inconsequential stories that are often left out of heritage practices, and hope to create something beautiful out of these evanescent materials.”

Starting January 27, the images and stories of the returned postcards will be on display in the lower lobby gallery of the Granoff Center for the Creative Arts on Brown University’s campus, 154 Angell Street. Join us for the opening party to meet the artist, pick up a postcard and share your own stories on January 27 from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm.

This commission has been realized as part of the Urban Cultural Heritage and Creative Practice international research collaborative organized by Ian Alden Russell, Curator, David Winton Bell Gallery in collaboration with Prof. Sue Alcock, the Joukowsky Institute of Archaeology; Prof. Steven Lubar, the John Nicholas Brown Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage; Prof. Rebecca Schneider, the Department of Theatre Arts and Performance Studies.

Brown to host International Symposium on Urban Cultural Heritage & Creative Practice

A  Discussion of International Approaches

Heritage professionals from around the world converge on Brown’s campus for a day of conversation.

Cape Town – Dublin – Hong Kong – Istanbul – Providence – York

What is heritage, and what forms does it take in an urban environment?  How are creative practices affected by, and how do they form the urban contexts in which they take place?  How do we look at these issues in Providence, and how are people dealing with them in cities around the world?

On Friday, January 27, 2012 Brown University will host a symposium to discuss issues of Urban Cultural Heritage and Creative Practice.  All events will be held at the John Nicholas Brown Center (357 Benefit Street). The morning session, held from 9:00 am to 12:00, will include presentations from our international partners:

• Cape Town: Nick Shepherd (University of Cape Town, Center for African Studies)
• Dublin: Pat Cooke (University College Dublin, School of Art History and Cultural Policy and Director, Arts Management and Cultural Policy)
• Hong Kong: Oscar Ho (Chinese University of Hong Kong, Department of Cultural and Religious Studies and Director, Arts and Heritage)
• Istanbul: Lucienne Thys-Senocak (Koç University, Department of Archaeology and History of Art)
• York: John Schofield (University of York, Department of Archaeology and Director, Cultural Heritage Management)

The afternoon session will provide an opportunity for students and faculty to engage in conversation about these issues through a series of small, break-out meetings organized around participant interests.  These will take place from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, with lunch provided.

The Urban Cultural Heritage and Creative Practice international research collaborative is organized by Ian Alden Russell, Curator, David Winton Bell Gallery in collaboration with Prof. Sue Alcock, the Joukowsky Institute of Archaeology; Prof. Steven Lubar, the John Nicholas Brown Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage; Prof. Rebecca Schneider, the Department of Theatre Arts and Performance Studies.

Launch of the Providence Postcard Project

On January 15, 2012, at AS220 in downtown Providence, artist Betsey Biggs launched her Providence Postcard Project.

The project explores the familiar souvenir medium of postcards as a source of reflection by the residents of Providence on what meanings the city holds. Beginning this week, the project will be distributing pre-addressed, postage-paid postcards featuring photographs taken by Biggs during her visits to the neighborhoods of Providence. Local residents and members of the general public are invited to pick up postcards at Providence Community Library locations throughout the city, write to the Postcard Project, and share their own stories about the many places of Providence.

Biggs has designed the project to explore the many layers of both memories and imaginative associations that particular places in Providence hold for its residents. By using a combination of person-to-person engagement and postal circulation, the project spotlights the ideas of exchange and correspondence and their roles in the production of historical narratives. In the artist’s own words, “Cultural heritage is a palimpsest of recollections, associations, and stories; I have a particular interest in canonizing the personal, ephemeral, inconsequential stories that are often left out of heritage practices, and hope to create something beautiful out of these evanescent materials.”

Starting January 27, the images and stories of the returned postcards will be on display in the lower lobby gallery of the Granoff Center for the Creative Arts on Brown University’s campus, 154 Angell Street. Join us for the opening party to meet the artist, pick up a postcard and share your own stories on January 27 from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm.

This commission has been realized as part of the Urban Cultural Heritage and Creative Practice international research collaborative organized by Ian Alden Russell, Curator, David Winton Bell Gallery in collaboration with Prof. Sue Alcock, the Joukowsky Institute of Archaeology; Prof. Steven Lubar, the John Nicholas Brown Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage; Prof. Rebecca Schneider, the Department of Theatre Arts and Performance Studies. More information is available from: https://urbanheritages.wordpress.com/providence/providence-projects/the-postcard-project/

“An Arcade Project” by Elise Nuding

We are glad to announce the upcoming performances of “An Arcade Project” – a site-responsive dance performance choreographed by Elise Nuding. Nuding’s practice and methodology are informed by training as an archaeologist, archival researcher and a professional dancer. “An Arcade Project” marks the culmination of her unique line of research inquiry into the possibilities for lived heritage as a mode of performance. From Elise:

Dear friends and colleagues,

I would like to invite you to the performances of “An Arcade Project”, the placed-based choreographic work I have been developing over the last few months in collaboration with five dancers. The performances will take place on Friday 18th November at approximately 11:30am-12:30pm and Saturday 19th November at approximately 10:30am-11:30am (rain or shine). They will occur in and around the Providence Arcade, which is located at 65 Weybosset Street and 130 Westminster Street. As there is not a formal beginning or end to the performances, you should feel free to arrive at the time that is convenient for you and stay for as long as you wish.

In addition to the flyer attached, more information about “An Arcade Project” can be found at the project blog:

anarcadeproject.blogspot.com

I hope to see you at the performances!