Bert Gallery

Divine “Providence” and Its Arts Destiny
July 14 – September 24, 2010

Providence, RI. Bert Gallery, located along the Providence waterfront at Corliss Landing, 540 South Water Street, continues its silver anniversary celebration with the exhibit, Divine “Providence” and Its Arts Destiny, which runs July 14 through September 24. In 1776, President George Washington, in his inaugural address, confirmed independence was won with Divine Providence and so, too, has “divine providence” fueled the Rhode Island art scene in its capital city. This survey exhibit unveils the many painters and intrigues of art life in Rhode Island that have marked the state since the 19th century.

New 2010 gallery hours during exhibitions are Wednesday through Friday from 11am-5pm and Saturday 12pm-4pm, closed on Sunday, by chance Monday and Tuesday. Call ahead – we are often at the gallery working during off hours! Free parking is available on the street in front of the gallery or in the parking lot across the street. Exhibits are free and open to the public. Please visit our website at www.bertgallery.com to preview our inventory of paintings in the gallery collection.

A remarkable number of artists have live and painted in Rhode Island over the years, but the 19th century brought together artists, collectors and institutions that fostered a distinct art culture recognized both nationally and internationally. This exhibit explores many of the artists beginning in the 1870′s along with their story in context to the local creative community and American art historical developments.

The artist narrative is unfolded with paintings and text. Why did all of these artists congregate in Rhode Island in 1880? In 1850? Who purchased their paintings? Where did they exhibit their works? Did RISD, the Providence Art Club, Newport Art Museum and Brown University facilitate the cultural development of this artist community? What was the art gossip of the time? Why, why, why? These are the questions we have been asking here at Bert Gallery for twenty-five years and continue to ask with exhibits, lectures and publications throughout our silver anniversary year.

Many historic Rhode Island artists have become household names since the surge of interest in American painting in the mid 1980′s. Edward Bannister (1828-1901) is recognized as among the first wave of talented African American Artists to rise in the art community with his spiritually moving landscapes. Painters of fruit and flowers like E.C. Leavitt (1842-1904) and F.S. Batcheller (1837-1927) dominated the craft in their medium. The figurative works of Charles Walter Stetson (1859-1911) beguiled many a prominent Rhode Island collector and women artists such as Mabel Woodward (1877-1945) and Eliza Gardiner (1871-1955) elevated women artists to a significant professional level for their generation. Foreign lands were traveled and masterfully painted by Walter Francis Brown (1853-1929) and H. A. Dyer (1872-1943). These artists and many others from the 19th century through the 20th century will be displayed throughout the gallery as a celebration of Bert Gallery’s twenty- five-year anniversary and a special tribute to Rhode Island’s rich cultural heritage.

Bert Gallery celebrates twenty-five years in business in 2010. Founded by Catherine Little Bert and Hugo Bert in 1985, the gallery was located for seven years in the Biltmore Hotel and has exhibited the rich artistic heritage of Rhode Island. In 1991, Catherine Little Bert became sole proprietor and re-located to the present location in Corliss Landing, 540 South Water Street. Over the past twenty-five years the gallery has organized over 120 exhibitions, been open for 90 Gallery Night Providence celebrations, lectured and published on historic Rhode Island artists. The gallery website was launched in 2001 and documents past and current exhibits, videos and podcasts.