Portals: The History of the Future - Artists' Creations

July is for Artists' Creations.  We invite you see how Rhode Island artists were inspired by PORTALS and PPL's Special Collections!

Our 2016 exhibition, PORTALS: The History of the Future, highlighted the material trails left by the people of the past as they looked to the future, including imaginative visions of futures that never came to pass, illustrations of fantastical contraptions, reflections on the nature of time, and other artifacts testifying to a human desire to visit eras besides our own.

During the month of July, our exhibit cases will contain creative works by Rhode Islanders made during, and inspired by, PORTALS.  The huge variety of notes, originals, drafts, and finished products will illuminate artists' processes while showcasing the many ingenious ways that library users interact with our collections.

Cases will feature original drafts of comics from the most recent issue of Providence Sunday Wipeout, including work by 2016 Creative Fellow Walker Mettling, Jeremy Ferris, Dailen Williams, and others; candles from Burke & Hare Co. featuring historic images from Special Collections; song lyrics by Joe DeGeorge based on records in the Rhode Island index; futuristic headdresses and clothing designed by teens with instruction through RISD Continuing Education; sketches, letterpress prints, 2-dimensional action figures, and more!

Visitors can view the exhibition on display in the Providence Journal Rhode Island Room on the first floor of the Library July 1 - 30.  It can be viewed any time during the Library’s regular open hours:

Monday & Wednesday: 12:30 – 8:30 pm
Tuesday: 9:30 am - 5:30 pm
Thursday & Friday: 12:30 – 5:30 pm
Saturday: 9:30 am - 2:30 pm

For complete details and updates visit PORTALS.PROVLIB.ORG