New exhibition of work by women artists opens at URI

‘Vibrance/Essence(n)’ art exhibition showcases women artists

Tony LaRoche 

Works by URI alumnae AGonza, right, and Titilola O. Martins
are part of the exhibition “Vibrance/Essence(n): Defining Color
and Texture,” which opens Feb. 18 in the Higgins
Welcome Center and Lippitt Hall. (URI Photo)

The University of Rhode Island will showcase the work of a dozen women artists this spring with the exhibit “Vibrance/Essence(n): Defining Color and Texture,” in celebration of Women’s History Month.

The exhibition opens Tuesday, Feb. 18, in the Higgins Welcome Center and Lippitt Hall, third and fourth floors. The exhibit is free and open to the public Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A reception will be held Tuesday, Feb. 24, in Lippitt Hall from 4 to 7 p.m.

“Rather than focusing specifically on any one issue, I wanted to feature amazing artists who are women,” said Steven Pennell, gallery director in the Department of Art and Art History. “Their work is on a wide variety of topics with a tremendous range of media and materials. The link is to ‘color and texture’ in their chosen style and media, examining the innovative uses of materials that are textural and colorist, a significant element in the study of art.”

“Iris” by Madolin Maxey

Among the 12 artists are URI alumnae AGONZA (Angela Gonzalez), an expressive portrait painter and award-winning community muralist, and Titilola O. Martins, who majored in studio art, fabric and fashion design at URI. The exhibition also features the work of area artists Mary Jane Andreozzi, Janet Austin, Madolin Maxey, Saberah Malik, Cynthia “Listens to the Wind” Ross Meeks, Dianne Reilly, Kristen S. Street, Robyn Thomas, Anita Trezvant, and Judy Volkmann.

Pennell, a former, long-time coordinator of artist and culture at URI’s Providence campus and board member for Gallery Night Providence, First Works and other community-based organizations, selected the artists for the show. 

“These 12 individuals and their work really standout,” he said. “Each of these artists have notable educational backgrounds, have exhibited around the world in major galleries and museums and have work in major collections. We are fortunate to have a huge active arts community in Rhode Island and I have been fortunate enough to make connections with hundreds of amazing creative artists.”

Of the artists, five work in fabric and textiles. Their work includes the use of materials such as gauze, feathers, beads and many nontraditional fabrics.

“Supermoon” by Anita Trezvant

“I wanted to see a tremendous breadth of artwork, some very cutting-edge pieces,” said Pennell. “Fabric is often thought of as ‘women’s work,’ in an often dismissive way, but these individuals take their work in vastly different directions.”

The show includes Indigenous masks by Ross Meeks, 3D textile works by Malik, science-based paintings and ceramic totems by Street, and abstract oil paintings from Volkmann and Maxey. AGONZA contributed a unique painting that includes found objects and materials that add texture and color. 

The work reflects her Puerto Rican and Dominican heritage, said Pennell. Martins’ work – a painted fabric design framed and a garment made with the resulting fabric – combines her majors in studio art and textiles and fashion merchandising.

The exhibition, which closes April 24, is hosted by the Department of Art and Art History and the College of Arts and Sciences. An artist conversation on “Textiles as Art” will be held March 4 at 5:30 p.m. on the fourth floor of Lippitt Hall.