“Two years ago, a trio of local artists banded themselves together for mutual protection, intending to make a united stand against their arch enemy, the dealer.” – Dec 3, 1880 Providence Press

Even with the founding of RISD in 1878, the local artist community recognized a need for their own association and thus organized the Providence Art Club for the purpose of elevating local taste along with exhibiting and selling their art. Evidence of the desire that the Providence Art Club be independent was an early vote by its members in the 1880’s not to merge with RISD. The Providence Art Club and RISD were both housed in the Hoppin Homestead Building and the club rented exhibition space from the school but the institutions remained separate entities in the early years.

Art exhibitions at the Providence Art Club offered artists the opportunity to sell works, receive critical reviews and develop patronage. Watercolors became quite popular because of its affordability to patrons and the income provided for artists. By 1896 a separate Watercolor Club and annual watercolor exhibit emerged at the PAC.

Selected sampling of historic Providence Art Club artists currently on view in Divine “Providence” include Charles Stetson, Sydney Burleigh, Elijah Baxter and Stacy Tolman.

The Centennial Celebration in Philadelphia marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of the United States and Rhode Island was the fifth highest state contributor to the event. Local painters Edward Bannister, Thomas Robinson were juried into the competitive art tent, along with RI women artists – Rosa Peckham, Emily Selinger and Clara Maxfield Arnold.

By the 1876 Centennial celebration, yet another layer of artists was added to the Providence cultural contingency. This group more sophisticated, more pro-active, well read in the arts and better trained with European instruction in Paris or Munich. Some benefited from instruction at the Lowell Institute, which was running Saturday classes in Providence on Benefit Street. George Whitaker, Rosa Peckham, Charles Stetson, Marie Chapin, Sydney Burleigh, Stacy Tolman and Edward Bannister added to the numbers of professional artists. At the Centennial Exhibition not only were Rhode Island artists selected to exhibit but also the triumph for the hard working local artist was sweetened when fellow Rhode Islander Edward Bannister received the bronze painting medal. He became the first African-American artist to receive a national award in 19th century America and he promptly sold his painting Under the Oaks for $1,500 to an enthusiastic Boston buyer.

A selected sampling of artists from the Centennial exhibit currently on view in Divine “Providence” includes Edward Bannister, Thomas Robinson and Emily Selinger.

The 1855 Group

Even given a harsh cultural climate in the United States, history shows us that artists are a stubborn lot and in the 1850’s a young determined group of painters assembled in Providence.

Frederick Batcheller (1835-1899), John Arnold (1834-1907), Marcus Waterman (1834-1914), James Lewin (1836-1896) and Thomas Robinson (1834 -1888) witnessed Providence emerging as a prominent urban center in New England. Sailing wooden ships unloading China Trade fineries had been displaced by smoke stacks and cogwheels evidence of the surge of industrialism in American society. Providence, as the nation, was forced to grapple with the upheaval caused by rapid growth. A growing body of concerned citizens started to recognize that “the arts” were an important asset for the state.

This “1855 group” was the earliest in Providence to band together to grow their artistic thoughts and talents. The only exhibit opportunities available to them were in the tents of the “Rhode Island Society for the Encouragement of Domestic Industry” – a local community fair.

A selected sampling of The 1855 Group of artists currently on view in Divine “Providence” includes John Arnold, Thomas Robinson and Frederick Batcheller.

Why become an artist? Gain insight into why artists make art in this series of Bert Gallery podcasts, organized by curator Elizabeth Sawtelle. Eight contemporary Rhode Island artists, now on view at the gallery, share their delight of the artistic profession.

Visit our Facebook page to see the “full” portrait of each artist. Click on the links below to listen to each artist’s podcast, each of which are up on our YouTube site. See the exhibit and meet these artists on Gallery Night Providence, June 17th, at our closing reception!

Carmel Vitullo
Paula Martiesian
Kenn Speiser
Kathy Hodge
Robert Thornton
Frank Gasbarro
Dana Levin

1. Among the Living: Favorite Contemporary Artists slideshow is now online.

2. Visit the Contemporary Artists section of our website to view the pieces featured in our Pocket Show.

3. Join us during June Gallery Night Providence for our closing receptions for James Herbert and the Contemporary Artist exhibit. Meet the artists during the evening.

Gallery hours for 2010 are Wednesday-Friday 11am-5pm, Saturday 12-4pm, closed Sunday and by appointment Monday-Tuesday. Call ahead – we are often at the gallery working during off hours!

For information to attend other venues for May Gallery Night Providence, please click here.

2. From 1934-1936, Herbert was the Associate Art Director on Fashion Publications at Butterick Publications. He went on to become the Art Director of Brides Magazine from 1936-1937. On view at Bert Gallery is an original mock up of a Butterick catalogue from the 1930s.

3. Herbert moved to Rhode Island to teach at RISD in 1947. He joined the Rhode Island art scene, exhibiting at the Providence Art Club and the Newport Art Museum.

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.