Artclectic New England

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 ...

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 ...

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...

·         An interview with Maureen Taylor of Photo Detective and oldpvd.com .   Maureen has been enjoying solving mysteries around old photos for years and has been called the ‘nation’s foremost photo detective’ by The Wall Street Journal. She is based in Providence and recently, launched a mapping site of historic properties in Providence. You can learn more about Maureen, her work with photos, her site about historic homes in Providence, and her podcast by visiting maureentaylor.com . ·         The Southside Cultural Center of Rhode Island has been a space for community offerings since the mid-1900s.   Today, it looks to be the “go to” location for an eclectic assortment of arts, culture, and community celebrations.   Recently, Richardson Ogidan, the executive director of the center, and the newly appointed program director, Taylor Jackson, joined me in the studio at What Cheer Writers Cl...

This podcast was created to celebrate…spotlight…and elevate the variety of incredible arts, culture, lifestyle, and beauty found here in New England. On today’s show, the phenom known as Anita Crackinstuff returns with Don’t Save the Laughter for After...a new segment about local history, and a song by local band, Belly . But first, an interview with Sokeo Ros of Everett Company Stages School. He serves as the Co-artistic director and director of hip hop program. Everett is a multi-disciplinary performance arts incubator. It includes a Company, Stage and School, with a group of artists who create, perform, teach and mentor students. The school explores complex social issues through a combination of theater, dance, music and video. At the heart of the organization is the belief that the arts can transform lives across cultures, generations, and economic backgrounds, and create a more just, equitable and joyous future. Anita Crackinstuff. She is Big Nazo's most loyal fan, ...

Podcasting is a great way to share information, whether it has a local or global perspective.   If you have just starting producing your show – or you are thinking about launching one – this is going to be a very helpful session for you! I have over two decades’ experience in the world of radio and producing other audio content.   A few months ago, I launched an audiozine called Artclectic New England. It spotlights arts, culture, and lifestyle in the region.    You can listen to it here:   https://soundcloud.com/artclectic-new-england This two class session will feature tips and tricks on how to rock your podcast because it is all about the planning, the execution, and the distribution so you can share it with the world.   Here are some of the things we will be talking about: interview prep, working with a co-host, creating an editorial calendar, creating a script – just to name a few. The cost is $30 for both classes – that’s it! And, I’ll eve...

I attended a really fun event at AS220 Industries back in April: DRINK + INK!  It is a ticketed event at the space that provides supervised access to some of their equipment to make things and, of course, there is wine (plus some tasty snacks). I was familiar with the general scope of offerings made by the arts organization  which includes a performance space and gallery along with classes.  I had an impressionable conversation with their community membership manager, Edwige Charlot, that led me to sign up for my very first class: Intro to Letterpress (the special discount I received from attending the social event helped, too!). A class on letterpress had been on my bucket list for quite a few years now, so I was pleased as punch to see that my June schedule aligned with the date the two-part class was taking place. I had a great time with the other attendees learning how to make a plate to make my very first letterpress art.   If you have in a s...

I took my very first class with  Frequency Writers  this past weekend at  What Cheer Writers Club  and what a fantastic class it was! Frequency is a growing community of writers based in Providence, Rhode Island. Through workshops, free events, talks, readings, and open mics, they aim to engage writers of all levels of experience, ages, and backgrounds. The studios they offer are both to challenge and support students, while also encouraging collaboration with other local creative communities. Frequency is a moving creation of the people in it. Kristen Falso-Capaldi  is a writer and teacher who served as our instructor for the four hour session on how to manage your time so you can prioritize your writing. There were nine of is in the room and each of us came with our own unique story as to why we want to write and what prevents us from doing it. I walked away with a fantastic reading list and share it here with you (thanks, Kristen!) if you are inter...

I am one of the sixteen people who has never seen Little Shop of Horrors.  How can that be?  Well, it took me some time but I did get to see a very fine production of it this past week at Trinity Rep. If you are on of the other fifteen people who have also never seen the show, here is a quick rundown: A strange and unusual plant seems like just the thing to save a beleaguered Skid Row flower shop and its hapless employees, Seymour and Audrey. But when that plant turns out to feed only on blood and is inclined toward world-domination, well… things get a little messy. The off-off-Broadway show of the early eighties was based on the low budget film from 1960.  Later, in 1986, Frank Oz directed a film that started Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, and Bill Murray (!). It has a typical Hollywood ending from what I gather. Trinity Rep, set designer, Sara Brown, offered up a colorful stage set up that offered ample opportunity for actors to move around and really use the spa...

I am so excited to launch my new podcast, Artclectic New England !  Thanks to What Cheer Writer's Club, Anita Crackinstuff, and The Callouts for being part of this program.  Here is the script to give you and idea of what is included in the show! Hello and welcome to the first episode of Artclectic New England…I’m your host, Dennise Kowalczyk.  This is a new podcast created to celebrate…spotlight…and elevate the variety of delicious arts, culture, lifestyle, and beauty found here in New England. It is a work in progress but expect to hear a lot about my new hometown, Providence, in every episode because, well, it is that amazing. On today’s program, a reflection piece that includes a song by local band, The Huntress and Holder of Hands , but first, an interview with the staff of What Cheer Writer’s Club – it is a non-profit located in downtown Providence, RI – and full disclosure:  I am a new member and producing Artclectic New England in the new podcast st...

What a fine day in Rhode Island to go see some art!  It was raining today which reminded me of my days of living in Portland, Oregon and the 'liquid sunshine' was comforting. Today, I ventured down to the   Warwick Center for the Arts   for a closing reception and artist talk.  It was my first visit to the center and after some wrong turns in the traffic circles, I found the building - an old armory.    From the website: The Kentish Guards Artillery Armory located in historic Apponaug Village has housed WCFA formerly Warwick Museum of Art since 1976—making it the oldest arts center in Kent County. The center offers all kinds of classes for the community to attend ranging from painting to collage making to digital painting. The space is also available to rent for special events. The event was presented by The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts in celebration of 25 awardees for 2019.     I arrived just after the...

Upon arriving in Providence, I started hearing about a new resource:  What Cheer Writers Club .  It is a non-profit supporting Rhode Island's makers of written, spoken, and illustrated word.  As a blogger and a podcast producer, I made beeline down the space on Westminster Street to get the scoop. What Cheer Writers Club is a membership community supporting all kinds of writers in Rhode Island, including: Writers, editors, journalists Graphic novelists, illustrators, comic creators Indie publishers, agents, writing-related organizations Podcasters, narrators I met with one of the founders, Anne Holland, a co-founder of the non-profit to do a tour and to learn about the benefits of becoming a member.       The gorgeous space offers an option to use co-working spaces, a board room for meetings, and classroom to teach a workshop, and a salon to host an evening celebration.  There is also a podcast studio...