This week, I’m throwing it back to my trip to Providence, Rhode Island, in October 2019. Providence is where it all started for me. I graduated from RISD1877 in ’92, and ran a print studio there until ’96. I experienced many early career and personal milestones there, along with creating long-standing friendships and relationships. Last year, I returned to the community and worked with AS220 to collaborate on my 100th mural as part of the #FACINGTHEGIANT tour. The mural features Anjel Newmann, AS220’s Youth Director, and Director of Programs to help send a message about the power of public art and access to art.
AS220 is a non-profit community arts organization based in downtown Providence that I’ve worked with since the ’90s. They have cultivated a creative community that continues to have a profoundly transformative impact on the city. Anjel’s dedication to this organization inspires me. Since she was 13 years old, she’s been a member, learning from a diverse set of communities and facilitating access to opportunities for young people across the city of Providence. Thank you, Anjel, for being a leader within the community, and AS220 for all that you do for the people of Rhode Island!
-Shepard