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The Providence Improv Guild

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For May, I thought it might be time to bring a little fun to this quarantine situation, so I reached out to the Providence Improv Guild. I first learned about PIG at my first Pecha Kucha event held in the PIG rehearsal space. The event was aptly titled “When Pigs Fly,” a saying that feels somewhat less comical now that the impossible seems to happen each day. But let’s take a break from the neverending sad type of craziness and learn about the happy type of craziness of the Providence Improv Guild. Back in 2012, a group of local improvisers looking to create a more cohesive community for other improv groups and improv enthusiasts around Providence started the Providence Improv Guild. The Guild is a school and performance space for improv and sketch theater and is currently located in the Southside Cultural Center at 393 Broad Street in Providence. They teach four levels of improv classes, do workshops for businesses, students, or any group that wants to build up their “so-called ...
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Episode #12 - I {heart} Rhody, Old Roommates, WTF?!, Eating RIght - Adventures in Dining in the Ocean State, & Steve Volkmann

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I started doing this podcast about a year ago and it was created to celebrate…spotlight…and elevate the variety of incredible arts, culture, lifestyle, and beauty found here in New England. One of the reasons I moved to RI – sight unseen – was due to what I discovered about Providence: an abundance of arts, culture, and the humanities and all of those things are important to all who live here. My goal is to explore and share some of my discoveries with you. On Episode #12, local stand-up comic, Kristen Ferreira shares her musings about living the new now…I’ll also be sharing some music by local musician, Steve Volkmann… another 7 & 7 with a local podcasters Brian and Christina – hosts and producers of Old Roommates , and, a new segment from foodie, Jenny Currier . But first, my conversation with Erika Smith.  She has been exploring the Ocean State and has shared her discoveries on her blog, I {Heart} Rhody . If you want to read up on some of Erika’s discoveries, be sure ...
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The Providence Art Club

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To kick off April (and my first post on Artclectic New England ), I decided to reach out to one of the oldest arts organizations in the Creative Capital. As the gallery manager told me, " The Providence Art Club was founded in February of 1880 to ‘promote art culture’ in the City of Providence and beyond. Founded by six women and ten men, we are the first organization of our kind to be jointly founded by men and women and to include women as full and equal members from the start. We also count the noted African American artist Edward Mitchell Bannister among our founders. The Club is home to three gallery spaces, two classrooms, a café, and fifteen individual private artists’ studios.” The Providence Art Club is still home to many artists in the state and host new exhibitions every three weeks (totally free and open to the public) and have various classes and workshops available for the accomplished artist and those just starting. I was able to speak to Michael Rose, the ...
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Episode #11 - Jenny Currier, Girls Rock RI, Dave Ursillo

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Hello and welcome to Artclectic New England – this is Episode #11 -- it’s a program not about a particular style but a celebration of many…I’m your host, Dennise Kowalczyk.   When I moved to RI from OR in 2018, I was over the moon to discover a community filled with arts, culture, lifestyle and adventure.  This podcast was created to celebrate…spotlight…and elevate the variety of incredible arts, culture, lifestyle, and beauty found here in New England. One of the reasons I moved to RI – sight unseen – was found in that research. Arts, culture, and the humanities are as important as sunshine and refreshing air to breathe to many who live here. It is my intention to explore and share some of my discoveries with you – the listener – so thanks for tuning in! On today’s show, Maureen Taylor of Oldpvd.com shares some background on the  iconic structure, Temple of Music, and local stand-up comic, Kristen Ferreira shares her musings about living the new normal…I...
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A new contributor and a new website!

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I am pleased to share that Lulu Amirault will be joining me in providing some expanded coverage of arts, culture, humanities, and lifestyle for my podcast, Artclectic New England ! She will be reaching out to various organizations and individuals to conduct blog interviews. Please join me in welcoming her and thanking her for her willingness to help spread the good news about our thriving arts community here in the Ocean State and beyond! "At heart, Lulu is a pop culture and online media enthusiast. She's always had an interest in online media, from scrolling the Instagram explore page for hours on end to creating social strategies for local businesses to writing for the national publication Her Campus. As a fan of classics and media communications, she has an affinity for recognizing the ancient patterns in our modern culture (and could talk about this for hours). In her free time, she loves to bullet journal, read fiction, and spend way too much time scrolling Twitte...
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Episode #8 - April Brown, OldPVD.com, and What the Ferriera?

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Hello and welcome to Artclectic New England – this is Episode  #8  – and it’s a program not about a particular style but a celebration of many…I’m your host, Dennise Kowalczyk. This podcast was created to celebrate…spotlight…and elevate the variety of incredible arts, culture, lifestyle, and beauty found here in New England. Thanks for listening! On today’s show, Maureen Taylor of Oldpvd.com shares some nostalgia for a beloved Providence store and local stand-up comic, Kristen Ferreira shares her musings…I’ll also be sharing some music by Birdsongs of the Mezosoic…..But first, my interview with April Brown. She is a cultural historian here in Providence, born in Rhode Island, and the program director of the Langston Hughes Community Poetry Reading event. The Langston Hughes Community Poetry Reading is taking place on February 2 - 1 pm - Providence Career Technical Academy - 41 Fricker Street - Providence, RI Next up, WTF – that is, What the Ferreira – it is a ...
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Episode #7 - Patty J, OldPVD.com, and Lippitt House Museum

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On today’s show, a chat with Carrie Taylor with the Lippitt House Museum, two new segments: Maureen Taylor of Oldpvd.com shares some information about all things Providence and local stand-up comic, Kristen Ferreira shares her musings…I’ll also be sharing some music from local band, Alec K. Redfern and the Eyesores…..But first, my interview with lifestyle blogger, Patty J. We met in the What Cheer Writers Club studio to talk about all things Rhode Island. She’s a local with a passion for the Ocean State…. You can connect with Patty’s adventures by visiting her website – pattyj.com. It is also the place you go to connect with all of her social media channels. Next up, a new segment: WTF – What the Ferreira - Kristen Ferreira, local comic and cat lover, who will give us some insights about apartment life… Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective and the person behind Oldpvd.com is also new contributor to Artclectic New England. This month, another yummy bit of Providence history. Sh...
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