New Group Exhibition by ‘The Vanta Guild’ Artists
at the WaterFire Arts Center 

Presented by WaterFire’s New Flame Initiative

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: December 17, 2020

Providence, RI -  WaterFire’s New Flame initiative is pleased to present a group exhibition of current photography curated by The Vanta Guild in the WaterFire Arts Center Gallery. “The Let-Out” show run is December 9, 2020 - January 15, 2021.

Six photographers are featured in the show: Jonathan Pitts-Wiley, Dee Speaks, Nicholas Mendes, Shaun Morse, Rafael Medina, and Marlisse Payamps. Featured images in “The Let-Out” exhibit focus on the joy, anger, and uncertainty of Black American experiences in Rhode Island as people grapple with the realities of pandemic-induced lockdowns, socio-political uprisings, and the struggle to maintain a sense of beauty, joy, and balance in the century’s most turbulent year.

The show's title, “The Let-Out”, derives its name from nightlife culture and is that period of time when people are congregating just after bars and clubs close for the evening. The energy is electric, both comforting and, at times, volatile.

The Vanta Guild was founded in the spring of 2020 by Jonathan Pitts-Wiley and Dee Speaks. The Vanta Guild is a Rhode Island-based photography collective that seeks to create community by cultivating and celebrating the work of Black photographers who unapologetically depict the experiences and imagination of those of the African diaspora. 

WaterFire New Flame programs seek to connect millennial and other emerging artists with the next generation of arts supporters through a series of exhibitions, artist talks, and other social activities.

Gallery hours are Wednesdays - Saturdays Noon - 6:00 p.m. The WFAC will be closed from Christmas Eve (12/24) through New Years Day (1/1). 

About WaterFire Providence

WaterFire Providence® is an independent, 501(c)3 non-profit arts organization whose mission is to inspire Providence and its visitors by revitalizing the urban experience, fostering community engagement and creatively transforming the city by presenting WaterFire for all to enjoy. Each year nearly 1 million people come to downtown Providence to experience WaterFire spending over $114,000,000 to the local economy, generating over $9,000,000 of direct tax revenue for the State of Rhode Island and supporting 1,294 jobs for community residents and strengthening Providence’s Creative Capital and Rhode Island’s State for the Arts brands. https://waterfire.org/

WaterFire Providence purchased the Art Center in 2012 and began rehabilitation for the vacant, historic, industrial building in the underserved Olneyville/Valley neighborhood of Providence. The 37,000 sq. ft. multi-use arts center has become WaterFire’s first permanent home in the community and serves as its headquarters, production complex, and a multi-purpose arts venue as well as a social enterprise platform strengthening the organization’s long-term financial sustainability. Exhibitions presented at WaterFire Arts Center will further the organization’s agenda of providing arts and culture opportunities and experiences for all, regardless of social, cultural, or economic background. For more information about the WaterFire Arts Center including rental inquiries, please visit: https://waterfire.org/wfac