In Providence this April:
Bold, colorful, and 2 very different mediums!
For the month of April the Gallery at Sprout Providence (166 Valley St) is presenting a two-person exhibition of colorful works by artists John Chamberlin and Debra Bretton Robinson. This eye-popping show will feature Chamberlin’s bold handmade quilts and Bretton’s vibrant natural landscape paintings. The Gallery at Sprout Providence will be open to the public to see the artwork in-person weekdays from 9am to 3pm, or by appointment. The exhibition will be on view April 4th-27th.
Gallery Night Providence April 21st:
Gallery Night Providence is back for the second opening in the 2022 season this month. Please join us at Sprout CoWorking Providence on Thursday April 21st 5-8pm for an opening celebration of John Chamberlin’s and Debra Bretton Robinson’s works. All are welcome to stop in to the Gallery at Sprout Providence anytime between 5-8pm on April 21st to enjoy the artwork, wine and appetizers.
If you’d prefer a guided tour experience, free guided Gallery Night trolley tours will be available to visit multiple galleries throughout Providence with the Gallery at Sprout as a stop on the itinerary. We hope to see you there!
About the Artists:
Photos Courtesy John Chamberlin: FB
John C. Chamberlin is a retired fulltime faculty member of the Department of Teaching + Learning in Art + Design at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). During the thirty-one years at RISD he held numerous leadership positions in art and design education, locally, regionally, and nationally, such as President, RI Art Education Association.
While primarily an academic, John has always had a studio practice. For decades he was a ceramic tile maker, creating and installing handmade custom tiles in kitchens, bathrooms, and on fireplaces for clients in Rhode Island.
Several years ago John learned how to quilt and has since created more than one hundred (100) pieces that have been donated to Child Family Services (CFS) of RI. John works with a national non-profit, MY VERY OWN BLANKET, headquartered in Westerville, Ohio, who has the formal relationship with CFS of RI. CFS distributes the quilts to foster children and youth. Most of his pieces are gender neutral and made in bold colors. The idea is to have each quilt function initially as a comforter and then be repurposed as a wall hanging remembrance as the child ages.
John is also the director of the Quilting Ministry at Grace Episcopal Church, Providence. The Quilting Ministry also donates completed quilts to CFS.
Photos Courtesy Debra Bretton Robinson: IG
Debra Bretton Robinson is a Massachusetts artist and a participant in the vibrant Lowell art scene. Debra’s acrylic paintings on canvas concentrate on the natural landscapes and architecture of New England in vibrating colors, Most of her work is done ‘en plein air’ Her style borders between representational and abstract. The colors and lines of her paintings are inspired by Matisse during the Fauvist movement. The talents of several other artists she continues to draw upon are: William Henry Johnson, ‘The Seven’ from Canada, Alice Neel, and the artists of Gee’s Bend. Jazz and Blues music continue to be a force in her work.
Debra works out of her studio at 122 Western Avenue, Lowell MA #A409 and can be contacted through her email address, [email protected]. Debra currently has her work in several online galleries including the Saatchi Gallery in London. Her work is held in many collections including: The South Shore Hospital in Weymouth and The Lahey Clinic, Burlington, MA.
If you’d like to know about the artists’ work, process and inspiration, you can check out a wider selection of quilts and paintings online here.
Sprout is in accordance with the Reopening RI guidelines and is protected by Ocean State Shields. Contact: [email protected] for more information.