Read the entire story on The City of Providence’s website here.
PROVIDENCE, RI – Mayor Brett P. Smiley, The Avenue Concept’s new Executive Director, Tracy Jonsson-Laboy, FirstWorks Executive Director Kathleen Pletcher and Department of Arts, Culture and Tourism Director Joe Wilson Jr. today announced that a new Downtown mural has been commissioned by the City of Providence in commemoration of PVDFest 2024. The project, spearheaded by Mayor Smiley and the Department of Art, Culture and Tourism, celebrates the history of theater, Providence’s Chinese American and Southeast Asian communities and LGBTQ+ contributions in Downtown Providence. The City worked with The Avenue Concept and Paolino Properties to select an artist and location for the signature public art piece.
Additionally, details were announced today for this year’s PVDFest public art installations, parade grand marshals and artist maker spaces. Providence’s signature arts festival returns Downtown this September with an exciting lineup of main stage performers and an array of highlights that promise to captivate attendees. This year’s festival, set to take place on September 6 and 7, with a rain date of September 8, will transform Downtown Providence into a dynamic hub of creativity, community and celebration.
“This mural embodies the spirit of PVDFest and the creative energy that makes Providence unique,” said Mayor Smiley. “Public art is fundamental to Providence, and this mural will not only beautify Downtown, but also tell a powerful story of our community’s rich history and vibrant diversity. By celebrating the contributions of our theater, cultural heritage and LGBTQ+ communities, we are honoring the past while inspiring future generations.”
The mural by artist Lauren YS, which is not yet titled, is located at 40 Snow Street and spans 27 feet by 85 feet of wall surface.
Design elements were selected by the artist following robust historical research and community engagement.
• The mural features a figure on the far left holding scissors and thread, honoring Perry Watkins, the first Black scenic designer on Broadway from Providence. This figure also holds a fan with the Port Arthur logo, representing a key Chinese restaurant and dancehall that was a haven for the Asian and LGBTQ+ communities.
• Curtains highlight local theaters like PPAC and Trinity Rep, while arches reference the Chinese restaurants and dancehalls that were central to the theater experience from the 1950s to the 1980s. These venues also served as unique performance spaces, nodding to Trinity Rep’s non-traditional stages.
• Two middle figures blend ancient Chinese opera with modern drag, symbolizing Providence’s Chinatown and referencing Rhode Island’s former “Kings & Queens” community hub.
• The right figure honors Providence’s LGBTQ+ history, inspired by 1910 drag performer Francis “Auriema” Renault. The jewelry in the mural is a nod to Beatrice Temkin, a pioneering LGBTQ+ ally and namesake of the Beatrice Hotel. The Beatrice and the Snow Street building are owned by Paolino Properties.