RISD Students Open Innovative Retail Space in Downcity

Two student-run organizations at the Rhode Island School of Design have teamed up to launch Exposé + 2ndLife, a permanent storefront in the heart of Providence. Exposé is an art space that gives RISD artists and designers a place to display and sell their work in a gallery setting, while 2ndLife up-cycles and redistributes art supplies and materials. The two combined because students felt that they wanted a space that was true to their artistry–more than just a fine arts gallery.

Exposé

Curated by Hannah Antalek ('13 Painting) and co-directed by Sarah Lammer ('13 Printmaking) and Emily Jenne ('13 Printmaking), Exposé is more than the run-of-the-mill student gallery. The art space displays a wide variety of student artwork and designs, a careful move on Exposé's part. "The show is very eclectic and doesn't really have a particular 'feel'," said Jenne. "It's really a representation of what students are actually making at RISD, as opposed to other galleries that come up with a theme and kind of stay inside that box. We just want it to be really honest, because all the different work is so impressive."

Exposé is not a formal RISD gallery, but also no place for amateur hour arts and crafts. Exposé is a real-world gallery environment giving the students a chance to engage in something more than RISD as a school. "We want this to be something bigger than just the school," said Lammer. "We want students to be able to show their work and be included in the community, not to just be students from that big art school up on College Hill." The two admit that RISD students do not seem as connected to the greater Providence art scene as they should be, which is why they intend for the storefront to be a stepping-stone to help the students and the community meet halfway.

2ndLife

2ndLife, co-directed by Joseph Escobar ('13 Industrial Design) and Hilary Wang ('14 Glass), is RISD's non-profit, student-run up-cycling materials center. Now in its eighth year, the organization collects and redistributes art supplies and materials back into the local Providence and RISD communities. Managed by RISD alum James Harrison ('11 Printmaking), the store is a beautiful and surprisingly organized hodgepodge of paints, canvases, drawing pads, charcoal, scrap wood, tools, fabrics, metals, paper, and more. They also have a delightful collection of unique vintage items from little toy soldiers, to large film reels, to rolls of vintage fabric labels, to old generators, to a fantastically ancient Macintosh computer monitor.

Great launch

Exposé + 2ndLife celebrated its opening earlier this month, logging more than $1,000 that night and almost $500 the next day. With over 630 people in attendance, it was a great start in getting to know the very big community of independent designers in Providence.

Exposé + 2ndLife is very excited about their ambitious plans for the storefront. In addition to a lounge space in the front window display, the organizers plan to make the storefront home to film screenings, workshops, performances, installations, 'zine and comic stands, local music, and even themed dance parties. A large showcase will be held in mid-November featuring the work of students, alum, and independent artists. Stay tuned to Exposé's Facebook page in the next few weeks for details and a submission call.

Exposé + 2ndLife is located at 204 Westminster Street. The current Exposé show will be on display until October 7, with the pieces slowly being replaced as they are purchased. Fall hours for the storefront are 11:30am-6:30pm Tuesday-Thursday, 1pm-5pm Saturday-Sunday.