2010 Celebrating Diversity Exhibit at the Attleboro Arts Museum

Rhode Island State Council on the Arts presents the "2010 Celebrating Diversity Exhibit" at the Attleboro Arts Museum. This exhibit features a variety of media from over 40 New England artists and is part of the Diversity Exhibit and Atrium Gallery Traveling Exhibit Program. Celebrating Diversity represents the greatness that can be achieved when we embrace diversity and inclusion.

Celebrating Diversity – a multi-cultural exhibition honoring communities, backgrounds and points of view. Gallery-goers will view personal responses to life in, for example, the Dominican Republic, Japan, Mexico, Indonesia, China; examine artwork developed for the visually impaired; discover the creative strength of an artist with developmental challenges; and explore contemporary visual statements of global importance. Celebrating Diversity offers a range of media and concepts. Celebrating Diversity was initially on display at the Atrium Gallery August and September of 2009. The exhibition was launched as a group show that included the work of artists currently living in Rhode Island. Due to popular demand and interest, it has grown to incorporate a range of artists that live and work in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York. This expansion has made for a very intriguing collection of reflections and statements.

“Regardless of where we come from or who we are, we all can be moved by a powerful concept and well executed visual work”, comments Mim Brooks Fawcett, Executive Director of the Attleboro Arts Museum. Fawcett continues, “The vibrant and varied art in this exhibition is thought-provoking and will undoubtedly touch all viewers. Using a rich mix of personal messages and a range of creative techniques Celebrating Diversity truly reflects the idea that art is a universal language.”

Elena Calderón-Patiño, RISCA’s Arts and Cultural Sustainability Program/Atrium Gallery Director, remarks “The motivation behind the 1st Annual Celebrating Diversity exhibit at the Atrium Gallery in Providence, RI, was to promote art as a means of facilitating cross-cultural dialogue. After an overwhelming response to the exhibit, I envisioned the show traveling throughout the New England area. This led to a conversation with Mim Brooks Fawcett, Executive Director of the Attleboro Art Museum, to discuss the prospect of moving the show to her location and she welcomed the idea.” Calderón-Patiño continues, “We then began working on an expanded version of the Celebrating Diversity exhibit for the Attleboro Arts Museum, featuring over 40 artists from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. We also talked about hosting future regional multicultural exhibits that will include nationally and internationally renowned artists, as well as Southern New England artists with a range of challenges.”

“Since 2001, The Rhode Island Department of Administration, Human Resources Outreach & Diversity Office (HROD) has partnered with Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) to showcase the work of black and Latino artists from the Rhode Island area. Our shows have served as a means through which their artistic voice could be heard,” comments Cheryl Burrell, Administrator, Rhode Island Department of Administration, Human Resources Outreach & Diversity Office (HROD). “In 2009 we launched our first Celebrating Diversity exhibit featuring the work of a more diverse group of Rhode Island artists. The show was a huge success, largely due to the efforts of our curator, Elena Calderón-Patiño, RISCA’s Arts and Cultural Sustainability Program/Atrium Gallery Director. I look forward to the Attleboro Arts Museum’s expanded Celebrating Diversity exhibition.”

Curator: Elena Calderón-Patiño

Performances: Live music

Partnerships: Attleboro Arts Museum

Attleboro Arts Museum
The Attleboro Arts Museum involves audiences of all ages and backgrounds in the visual arts through diverse educational programs and engaging arts experiences. We work to support the creative and artistic development of both promising and professional artists. The Museum is a privately supported, non-profit arts institution whose core commitment to Arts for Everyone guides the Museum's programs and operations. For information visit www.attleboroartsmuseum.org

Atrium Gallery Traveling Exhibit Program
The Traveling Exhibit Program showcases the artwork of diverse artists throughout Rhode Island and New England. Exhibitions usually starts at the Atrium Gallery and travel to different locations including the Attleboro Art Museum, Newport Art Museum, and Warwick Center for the Arts. These intercultural exhibitions provide an opportunity to experience the artwork of diverse artists and represent the connections that can be achieved when we embrace diversity and inclusion.

State Diversity Art Exhibits
Diversity Exhibits promote intercultural collaborations while play tribute to the diverse artists, mediums, and cultural traditions throughout Rhode Island, they represent a universal form of creative expression that can transcend cultural boundaries. Though the years, over 500 artists have exhibited their artwork in the state-run gallery. The exhibits honor the unifying force of visual creativity and the ALAANA (Africa, Latin American, Arab, Asian, Native American) artists and cultural organization of Rhode Island. These exhibitions often include traditional music and dance performances, making these highly anticipated events.

The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts is a state agency supported by appropriations from the Rhode Island General Assembly and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. RISCA provides grants, technical assistance and staff support to arts organizations and artists, schools, community centers, social service organizations and local governments to bring the arts into the lives of Rhode Islanders. To learn more visit www.arts.ri.gov